With February sweeps coming to a close, Denver CBS owned station KCNC has reason to be pleased.
A drop in viewership for NBC affiliate KUSA has helped KCNC see big gains over the past year in the 5:00 to 7:00 a.m. time slot. Joanne Ostrow, TV Critic for The Denver Post did the hard math for us:
From 5-7 a.m. weekdays among adults 25-54, the KUSA wake-up show holds the lead with a 1.3 rating, down 27 percent from a year ago. But KCNC is a close second with a 0.9 rating, up 69 percent from a year ago. KMGH is a very close third with a 0.7 rating, down 10 percent from last year.
AdvertisementThe 6 a.m. race similarly demonstrates alterations: KUSA scored a 1.8 rating, down 26 percent from a year earlier. KCNC scored a 1.2 rating, up 68 percent from a year earlier. Four-tenths of a point away from the leader. KMGH declined to a 0.8 rating, down 19 percent from a year earlier.
“At a time when more stations seem to be taking a lighter approach to morning news, we have consistently emphasized hard news and important information,” KCNC news director Tim Wieland told TVSpy. “That approach also happens to play perfectly into CBS This Morning – so viewers seeking that deeper content have a home on CBS4 throughout the entire morning news period.”
Weiland also says on-air chemistry and teamwork are a big factor in their recent success. “Everyone understands the mission, and understands the importance of consistency,” said Wieland. “The anchor team, in particular, is clicking. They’ve been working together for almost two years now, and have great chemistry. They drive the pace, and are able to handle quick changes and breaking/developing news with ease. On top of all that, they like working together – and I believe it shows to the audience.”