CBS shift in 2015 rejiggers TV ratings
When CBS jumped from WISH Channel 8 to WTTV-TV Channel 4 last year, the latter added another 24.5 hours. That move, plus a new ratings system, led to a tumultuous year for local TV broadcasters.
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Two local TV execs score national honors in wake of CBS swap
WISH’s Les Vann and WTTV/WXIN’s Kerri Cavanaugh received high-profile industry awards as their stations made major changes in 2015.
NCAA moving March Madness selection meeting from Indy to NYC
Next March's move from Indianapolis is intended to raise the profile of the session with more media exposure for the selection process.
IndyCar TV ratings hitting major milestones on cable
The Aug. 2 broadcast of the Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio drew 660,000 viewers, making it the most watched IndyCar race on NBC Sports Network since the open-wheel series signed its deal with the cable channel in 2008.
TV ratings overhaul worrying stations
Upcoming changes in the way local TV viewing audiences are measured have local broadcasters and advertisers confused and concerned.
Indy 500 draws most TV viewers since 2011
The race earned a 4.1 rating, averaging nearly 6.4 million viewers, according to Nielsen Fast National data.
New WRTV show joining TV-news binge
The arms race in local TV news continues to escalate. WRTV-TV Channel 6 is the latest station to up the ante, with plans to launch a local one-hour news program at 4 p.m. branded “The Now” on April 20.
NCAA final earns best preliminary TV rating in 18 years
Duke University’s 68-63 comeback win over Wisconsin in Indianapolis on Monday night on CBS-TV drew a 17.1 overnight rating and 27 share.
‘Pet Pals TV’ creators turn spotlight on baby boomers
The people behind locally produced “Pet Pals TV” launched a television show last month aimed at central Indiana baby boomers. “Boomer TV” is off to such a fast start, the show’s creators already have an eye on taking it national.
Fever hire new ad agency, plan early media blitz
KH Complete Advertising has replaced the Indiana Fever's long-time advertising agency and is promising to ramp up ticket sales for the upcoming season. New TV ads and billboards are coming in March.
WISH holds ground in local TV news battle
Despite losing its CBS affiliation Jan. 1, WISH remains No. 2 in the early evening news and No. 3 during the morning news. The station's late news ratings, however, are last in the market.
Luck-Manning duel fuels season-best local TV rating for Colts
Propelled by the intrigue of watching Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning square off for perhaps the final time, Indy-area viewership of Sunday's playoff game easily bested first-round numbers for the Bengals contest.
WISH-TV scoops up CW affiliation for prime time lineup
The move will give Channel 8 network programming for its evening schedule after it loses its CBS affiliation at the end of the year.
TV shakeup segues into news showdown
WISH-TV Channel 8 and WTTV-TV Channel 4 are at the center of the biggest shakeup the Indianapolis TV market has seen in 35 years. But the ripple effects are expected to rock the boat of every local station.
Traffic reporter, sales chief leave WISH ahead of CBS pullout
The loss of Julie Patterson and Julie Zoumbaris comes as Channel 8 prepares for life without its CBS affiliation and tries to make long-term deals with advertisers.
Will spurned TV station launch ABC courtship?
Channel 6's affiliation agreement with ABC expires in January, but the station's owner, E.W. Scripps, has strong ties to the network and will be highly motivated to avoid a parting of ways.
CBS affiliation switch means major changes at WTTV
Those changes are coming in the wake of Monday’s huge announcement that Chicago-based Tribune Broadcasting, parent to WTTV, has wrestled away the CBS-TV affiliation held by WISH-TV Channel 8 since 1956.
IndyCar’s TV ratings gaining momentum
TV ratings for the IndyCar Series zoomed 44 percent this year for the races leading up to the Indianapolis 500, compared to the same period a year ago, buoyed in part by a strong showing for the new Grand Prix of Indianapolis. But overall viewership remains anemic—less than one-fourth the audience for most NASCAR races.
Stations take news wars into wee hours
WTHR-TV Channel 13 recently stole a page from WXIN-TV Channel 59’s winning playbook by adding a 4 a.m. newscast. WXIN pioneered the ultra-early trend locally in 2009. But with a second station now on at 4 a.m., who is watching television at that hour?
Olympics, storms boost local newscast ratings
The Indianapolis station enjoying the biggest bump was WTHR-TV Channel 13, whose network affiliate NBC and some of its own staff covered the games in Sochi.