Interesting Stuff
Channel 7 Is 800lb Gorilla In News Ratings
January 13, 2011 
Michal Deeds, the media, entertainment, restaurant, music guru at the DAILY PAPER posted a tantalizing little CHART Thursday with the latest Neilsen ratings for local TV.
As usual KTVB, channel 7 dominates the standings–to the extent the newsies at the other stations appear to be talking mostly to themselves. Any time slot where they share the audience, Channel 7 clobbers the competition. Their closest rival is KIVI, channel 6 which has one-third the audience of KTVB at the 6-7 a.m. slot and less than one-sixth in the 6 p.m. dinner newscast.
For the evening show KBOI-2 and KIVI-6 are close at 15,000 and 16,000 viewers respectively with the giant KTVB-7 cashing in at 47,000 viewers. FOX-12 has only 3,000.
The GUARDIAN has been critical of the news products in the Valley in the past, but the truth is it is getting worse. The Statesman does well with things like BSU and the legislature, but coverage of daily events often take forever to get into print or are just missed.
It isn’t much better with the TV newsies. Some of the stations have done away with their camera crews, forcing the few remaining reporters to do their own camera work as they labor to fill the massive “news holes” created by continuous newscasts. With KTVB-7 offering remotes all over the state and a solid cast of oldtimers on camera, the others simply don’t have a chance.
The ratings aren’t lost on government PR people, coppers, and others who value public opinion. KTVB often gets more respect, tips, and access than their lower rated colleagues.
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Comments & Discussion
Comments are closed for this post.
Jan 13, 2011, 4:48 pm
¡¡Hostias!!
Perhaps The Statesman could do well with a new Slant from the genius of:: Rod in SE Boise, a True Crowd Pleaser.
Topics could include local Lefty politicos e.g., ad nauseam: Killen, LaFavour, Crony’n, Sue’n & Chew’n… Hey, Werk’s for me!
Ersatz cameos to supplement the above and further enlighten the North End Peoples RePuubLIK Proletariat (Serious Subscribing Statesman Sycophants) could include:
@ Sheriff Dupnik (pronounced Dupe)
@ Convicted Al Queda Terrorists
@ Charles Manson
@ Big Sis
@ Monica Lewinsky
@ Sundry Illegal Aliens
@ Persecuted Gang Members
@ Anonymous Anarchists at large
Pithy platitudes from such outstanding contributors would plow the fertile fields of journalism to the extent that Boise would be the New Paradigm of Capital City Literacy.
Jan 14, 2011, 10:34 am
You seem to be resentful of KTVB because they have successfully gained the majority marketshare. I get as sick of BSU coverage as anyone, but it obviously works for them.
EDITOR NOTE–No resentment at all. They have the viewers, advertising, staff, and money. There just isn’t room for 6 TV stations in the market. Same with the STATESMAN. They own the print slot, but have cut back staff, printing press, and coverage.
Jan 14, 2011, 2:25 pm
The anti-truth squad in action once again.
Jan 14, 2011, 5:55 pm
Clearly this is just not fair… they need to be restricted somehow so those other less popular programs can get their fair share of the limelight. Let us elect a liberal to make the field level for all the stations again…. some get to vote six times of course.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/06/15/politics/main6585088.shtml
Jan 15, 2011, 10:49 am
Zippo is correct. We truly need State law makers to force families to not watch Ch. 7 news. Federal law can be addressed as well. Fairness Doctrine NEEDS to be enacted. With the crime rates down in Boise, perhaps BPD officers can “spot check” homes during the news hour to make sure all stations are being watched fairly. Shame on you KTVB!! I thought you guys were fair. I guess not.
Jan 15, 2011, 11:50 am
The problem I have with local news on TV is there is very little news reported to viewers. What we do have is an abundance of advertising, lots of filler on the weather (over and over again and again) by someone trying to give some in depth analysis of the difference in temperture usually 1 or two degrees between Boise, Nampa and Caldwell. Then we get a rehash of the Nightly National Network News and then a close with some drivel that is not news.
We have a dearth of investigative reporting and scratching below the surface of the press releases handed out.
I long for the days when the newspapers and TV stations did some real digging into waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayers.
Jun 10, 2011, 1:51 pm
I don’t get the channel 7 thing, unless some people just personally know some of the anchors. Them and their church congregations. Rick Lance, always sounds like he has adnoid problems.