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Fox4's Doocy ends up going it alone after refusing to accept Jones' pre-existing condition for training camp interview (updated)

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Fox4 sports anchor Mike Doocy was ready for a round robin sit-down with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones at the team’s Oxnard, CA training camp. But he wouldn’t sit still for a ban on questions about the National Anthem policy. So Jones walked off. Fox4 photo

By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Veteran Fox4 anchor Mike Doocy took a stand Sunday night, and ended up empty-handed while competitors at NBC5, TEGNA8 and CBS11 got their one-on-one sit-downs with Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones at the team’s training camp in Oxnard, CA.

The sticking point: Doocy said he was told “at the last second” that any questions about the NFL’s or Joneses’ National Anthem policy were off limits. So Doocy said, “No thanks” before Jones can be seen saying on-camera, “If you don’t want me to sit in this chair I won’t sit in this chair.”

After an awkward pause, Doocy said, “OK, all right” and Jones replied “That’s good” as he walked off.

All owners reportedly are being muzzled by the NFL, which has an official policy that in part is at odds with Joneses.’ The league says players can stay in the locker room during the playing of the Anthem, but cannot kneel on the field in view of stadium fans and television audiences. Jones flatly has said that all Cowboys players will be on the field and standing. His position has stirred up a new national debate -- in some quarters. And Jones has yet to address that.

Doocy later explained himself to viewers after noting that this is his 25th Cowboys training camp, and that he’s had no previous problems with Jones.

“In some ways I’m violating my own policy here,” Doocy said. “I’ve always felt it’s better even if there are conditions put on an interview to talk to the newsmaker and get some information out of them that would be of value to our viewers and our audience. So if I let you down in this regard, I do apologize. I just couldn’t accept the way it happened in this particular case.”

NBC5’s Pat Doney, TEGNA8’s Dale Hansen and CBS11’s Bill Jones all accepted the pre-conditions and did their interviews with Jones, who wore the same light blue sport coat as he journeyed from deck chair to deck chair to talk with them.

Doocy, in a reply Monday to unclebarky.com, said he was “first in line” for the Jones interview with a 9:30 p.m. Dallas time taping. So his competitors all had ample time to reconsider in the interests of solidarity with Doocy or ethical considerations in times when journalists increasingly are being favored or shut out altogether based on whether they “offend” someone with otherwise solid reporting or questioning.

Since his incident with Jones, “I’ve heard nothing but support from station management and dozens in the media,” Doocy said. “Means the world to me. This wasn’t an ‘anthem’ issue. It was a timing issue, and learning at the last moment what would be off-limits. Cowboys made a call. I made a call. It happens. Not positive my move was the right one (but) I’d probably do it again. Hope I don’t have to.”

Among the three D-FW anchors who did play ball, Doney by far had the briefest chat, in terms of what’s posted to date on NBC5’s website. Bill Jones talked at length with Jerry Jones, passingly referencing quarterback Dak Prescott’s earlier answer to the Anthem question but never asking directly about it. His was the chummiest of the three sit-downs.

Doney, in a reply sent early Monday evening, said that “when the Cowboys informed me the NFL had asked all of its owners to not comment about the Anthem as it sorts out its policy with the NFLPA (NFL Players Association), our team felt there were enough other important topics to discuss with Jerry Jones to abide by that request -- but only after I disclosed those restrictions at the beginning of our live interview.”

CBS11’s Jones later said he has “nothing really to add other than to point out what we said on the air prior to the interview -- that we were informed by the Cowboys that the NFL instructed teams that they can’t comment on the Anthem issue at this time.”

Hansen came closest to having it both ways. His interview, also now posted on WFAA’s website, includes a tag that reads, “The topic of the National Anthem was off limits at the request of the NFL -- or at least that’s what the Cowboys PR team told us. But Jerry faced other tough questions from WFAA’s Dale Hansen.”

He never brought up the Anthem, but did pointedly ask Jones about the Papa John’s pizza controversy and drugs in the NFL. And in closing comments to viewers, Hansen said, “I wasn’t happy about that (the restriction on questioning), but I do like sitting down talking with Jerry Jones.”

In a separate reply Monday to unclebarky.com, Hansen said, “I’m with Mike, too. I thought about it but decided I would go the way I did. It (would have) left a huge hole in the show and I just didn’t want to do that. But it’s typical Doocy. Always making it about him. I hate sportscasters who do that. Hahahaha.”

But Hansen said he seriously does support Doocy, who “deserves any praise he’s getting. And we are still thinking and talking about the decision.”

Hansen’s Monday morning mini-commentary on TEGNA8’s Daybreak ripped Jones for his inflexible Anthem policy and then chided him for keeping his cap on -- even after prodding -- during the playing of the Anthem at the Cowboys’ camp.

We can only imagine what the reaction would have been had all four D-FW television stations joined Doocy in declining Jones’ annual training camp one-on-ones. Would the Cowboys owner have walked away from all of them -- or reached some sort of compromise? In this view, Jones doesn’t have to answer any question on anything. But an eleventh hour pre-existing condition tied to any interview at all is something Doocy couldn’t swallow while his three main competitors all decided to choke it down.

Jones could have made it easier on himself -- and certainly Doocy -- by agreeing to take the Anthem question and then responding, “I can’t comment on that any further due to NFL restrictions.” In its own way, that says a lot -- and viewers were entitled to hear it directly from his own seldom closed mouth.

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs-Sun., July 26-29) -- Big Brother still reigning on rivals' parades

By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
The most recent two episodes of CBS’ Big Brother again were the most-watched in both major ratings food groups.

Sunday’s 7 p.m. hour led all prime-time programming in both total D-FW viewers (199,419) and among advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds (102,980). And Thursday’s 8 p.m. episode likewise ranked fairest of them all with 170,930 total viewers and 78,015 within the 18-to-49 age range.

Nothing else came close among 18-to-49ers, but Fox4’s local 9 p.m. newscast ranked a competitive second in total viewers with 178,053 on Sunday night and 163,808 on Thursday.

Fox4’s news did emerge as Friday’s top overall prime-time draw with 106,832 total viewers while NBC’s Dateline had the most 18-to-49-year-olds (a skimpy 28,085).

Here are the Thursday and Friday local news derby results.

Thursday -- Fox4 swept the 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. competitions in both total viewers and with 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming). The station also added 5 and 6 p.m. wins in the 25-to-54-year-old demographic.

TEGNA8 ran first in total viewers at 6 p.m. and NBC5 won in that measurement at 5 p.m.

Friday -- Fox4 and CBS11 tied for the 10 p.m. top spot in total viewers while Fox4 had first place to itself with 25-to-54-year-olds.

The 6 a.m. sweep again went to Fox4. At 6 p.m., CBS11 had the edge in total viewers; NBC5 and TEGNA8 shared the 25-to-54 lead at the hour.

The 5 p.m. wins went to NBC5 in both competitions.

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues.-Wed., July 24-25) -- more high times for AGT & BB

By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Second verse, same as the first. In the hot summertime, Tuesdays and Wednesdays respectively belong to NBC’s America’s Got Talent and CBS’ Big Brother.

Airing in the 7 p.m. hour, Wednesday’s edition of Big Brother led all prime-time programming in both total D-FW viewers (156,686) and among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds (68,653).

And Tuesday’s prime-time parade again was headed by AGT, which drew 313,372 total viewers and 71,734 within the 18-to-49 realm.

Wednesday’s premiere of The CW’s Burden of Truth, a sturdy serial drama imported from Canada, had 28,488 total viewers from 7 to 8 p.m., with a sub-miniscule 1,560 in the 18-to-49 age range.

Here are the Tuesday and Wednesday local news derby results.

Tuesday -- Fox4 and NBC5 tied for the most total viewers at 10 p.m., but Fox4 easily won among 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).

Fox4 again ran the table at 6 a.m. and TEGNA8 did the same at 6 p.m. NBC5 had twin wins at 5 p.m.

Wednesday -- Fox4 swept the 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. competitions while adding 5 and 6 p.m. wins in the 25-to-54-year-old demographic. NBC5 drew the most total viewers at 5 and 6 p.m.

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net

RIP Walter Evans: vintage TV newsman had a 30-year career with Channel 4 (updated)


By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Walter Evans, who spent three decades anchoring and reporting for D-FW’s KRLD/KDFW-TV (now branded as Fox4), died Tuesday at age 86 after a lengthy bout with congestive heart failure.

He left the station at the end of 1993 after spending the last 14 years of his television news career co-anchoring the 6 a.m. and noon newscasts.

Veteran Fox4 anchor/reporter Richard Ray said he talked with Evans by phone about three weeks ago.

“He was failing but still had that great baritone voice . . . We both felt he retired too soon, that he was so loved and trusted that he could have stayed for years.” Ray said late Tuesday night via a direct message on Twitter.

Anchor Clarice Tinsley, in her 40th year at Fox4, remembers Evans as a “steady and serious” journalist who “had a quiet, yet powerful presence in our newsroom and was a wonderful leader. He also had a great sense of humor. I have great memories of a wonderful colleague.”

Former WFAA-TV anchor Gloria Campos, who retired in 2014, said Evans was “one of my favorites. I always thought he had (Walter) Cronkite quality. I trusted Walter, as I’m sure many fellow North Texans did as well.”

CBS11 sports anchor Bill Jones tweeted that he had never met Evans, but “grew up watching him. He always seemed like the consummate pro with a very likable personality, great voice and on-air presence.”

Also reacting on Twitter to Evans’ death, writer/photographer Mike McGee said he was two or three years old when he first started watching Evans on Channel 4. “I literally grew up with him. No joke. I was fascinated that a bald man was doing the news. He was ‘the best’ for just about all the decades I’ve been alive.”

A graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, Evans grew up in Dallas as an only child. His father was a deputy chief with the Dallas Police Department.

“My mother (the late Grace Evans) used to worry about me listening to the radio too much,” Evans recalled in a 1991 interview with your friendly content provider. “Just as today’s parents worry about their kids watching too much television.”

Evans’ first love was flying, though. And he yearned to be a civilian airline pilot after flying combat missions during the Korean War. But when he failed a Naval aviation cadet program physical, Evans enrolled at the University of Texas after first working two years with a railroad company. He majored in broadcast journalism and his first job in the profession was news director for a Tyler radio station.

Then Dan Rather called in 1958 and offered Evans a job at Houston’s KTRH radio, where he ran the news operation.

“My wife and I decided we didn’t want to live in Houston, so I turned the job down,” Evans recalled. He billed KTRH $25 for travel and meal expenses, but “I never got the money back,” Evans said. “So I like to say that Dan Rather still owes me $25. Actually, it’s not Dan. It’s the station. But it’s a much better story to say it’s Dan.”

Evans returned to Dallas in 1959, and rose to news director of WFAA-AM radio. He held that position on the day of President Kennedy’s assassination.

“And then I got sort of shuffled aside,” he said. “Not shuffled out. Just shuffled aside.”

He soon moved down the street, joining KRLD-TV/radio in 1964. Evans initially worked mostly for the radio station, hosting call-in shows with former Dallas mayor Wes Wise, the late sportscaster Frank Glieber and others. In Evans’ view, “they were the three most enjoyable years I’ve spent in broadcasting.”

Evans’ career at Channel 4 included on-site coverage of the 1976 Democratic and Republican national conventions. In 1979, he became the principal anchor of Channel 4’s early morning and noon newscasts. And he professed to be happier in those domains.

“I never really aspired to be an anchor. It just worked out that way,” Evans said. “People always sympathize with me for having to get up so early. But I always tell them, ‘Save your sympathy for somebody who needs it.’ I don’t really care for working at night. I perform better in the morning. I work better, think better . . . We’re not the focus of as much attention at the station, and I realize that. And it’s fine with me. There’s plenty of pressure in the morning, but a lot less than on the evening newscasts. That’s another reason why I enjoy it.”

Evans used to begin his days with a 3:30 a.m. wakeup call. That wouldn’t cut it these days. Fox4 now fires up its early morning newscasts at 4 a.m. (still earlier than any other station) and this fall will stretch the back end to 10 a.m. Morning newscasts now are the station’s biggest moneymaker, and Fox4 continues to dominate the ratings, particularly from 6 to 9 a.m.

Shortly after Evans left the early morning shift, Tim Ryan commandeered it and has been in place as the mainstay anchor since 1995.

Evans had planned to retire from Channel 4 at age 65, but instead opted for an early retirement package and left the station as a 61-year-old who finally had both the time and the money to travel extensively with his second wife, Marilyn.

“I don’t remember him ever having a cross word for anyone. I don’t ever remember him in conflict with anyone,” Ray said. “And that is very rare in a newsroom filled with type A personalities. He was sweet and funny and always a professional.”

In our 1991 interview, Evans said TV news has been a “fun business” for him. “And I’d be bored silly doing anything else. Except perhaps being an airline pilot.”

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., July 23) -- Ninja and The Bachelorette split spoils

By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
NBC’s high-flying American Ninja Warrior and ABC’s rose-plying The Bachelorette split Monday’s ratings proceeds as opposite attractions from 7 to 9 p.m.

Ninja drew the most D-FW viewers with 149,564 while Bachelorette breezed to a win with advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds (46,809).

Fox4’s local newscast then took the 9 p.m. hour in both ratings measurements, with a prime-time high of 185,175 total viewers and a second-best 37,447 in the 18-to-49 age range.

Here are Monday’s local news derby results.

TEGNA8 won at 10 p.m. in total viewers while Fox4 drew the most 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).

Fox4 as usual/always swept the 6 a.m. competitions and added 5 and 6 p.m. firsts with 25-to-54-year-olds. NBC5 had the most total viewers at both 5 and 6 p.m.

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., July 20-22) -- Big Brother again puts CBS on younger viewers' radar

By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Courtesy of another Big Brother booster shot, CBS drew the weekend’s biggest 18-to-49-year-old audience.

In the demographic that advertisers most covet, Sunday’s 7 p.m. hour of BB pulled in 102,980 D-FW viewers, well more than half the show’s overall crowd of 185,175.

NBC’s final round morning/afternoon telecast of The Open (which used to have British in the title) matched BB in total viewers, but had a higher peak audience of 249,275 between 11:15 and 11:30 a.m. The Open averaged 71,774 viewers in the 18-to-49 age range while equaling BB’s 102,980 viewers in two of the 15-minute segments measured by Nielsen Media Research.

In Friday’s prime-time festivities, NBC’s Dateline and CBS’ Blue Bloods repeat tied for the most total viewers with 99,709 while Dateline led outright among 18-to-49ers (a smallish 21,844).

Here are Friday’s local news derby results.

CBS11 was the top draw in total viewers at 10 p.m., and NBC5 led with 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).

Fox4 swept the 6 a.m. competitions and the Peacock did likewise at both 5 and 6 p.m.

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net

Having a record-setting heat wave, with some D-FW television news stations trying to keep their reporters out of potential harm's way

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By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
During this ongoing, record-setting heat wave, D-FW television audiences constantly are being advised to stay out of the not-so-great outdoors whenever possible.

As of this writing (2 p.m. on Friday), at least two local stations have decided that what’s good for viewers is also good for their reporters. Both NBC5 and CBS11 for the most part have temporarily suspended live shots from the field. Fox4 so far is still planning to go live, according to sources. There’s no word yet from TEGNA8, whose news management again threw shade on an inquiry from unclebarky.com -- by not responding.

A CBS11 memo to staffers from assistant news director Laurie Passman puts it this way: “With the extreme temps we’re having, let’s have you all plan to shoot ‘look lives’ . . . unless there’s breaking news or your story demands a live shot. Stay safe out there and make sure you’re drinking plenty of water!”

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed.-Thurs., July 18-19) -- Big Brother gives CBS another couple of uppers

By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Who’s your daddy? Once again -- make it twice -- that would be Big Brother.

CBS’ summertime heavy-hitter led Wednesday and Thursday prime-time programming in both total D-FW viewers and with advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds. The latter audience demographic otherwise remains elusive to a network that tends to skew older than some of Uncle Barky’s ties.

On Thursday night, BB pulled in 170,930 total viewers and 87,377 within the 18-to-49 age range. Wednesday’s edition likewise led all prime-time TV attractions with 170,930 total viewers while upping its 18-to-49-year-old haul to 96,739 viewers.

ABC devoted all three hours Wednesday night to ESPN’s ESPY awards, which attracted 99,709 total viewers and just 31,206 in the 18-to-49 realm.

Here are the Wednesday-Thursday local news derby results.

Wednesday -- TEGNA8 led in total viewers at 10 p.m. while Fox4 won with 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).

Fox4 otherwise swept the 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. competitions, and added a 6 p.m. win among 25-to-54-year-olds. NBC5 drew the most total viewers at 6 p.m.

Thursday -- The 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. results replicated Wednesday’s.

At 6 p.m., Fox4 and TEGNA8 tied for first in total viewers, with Fox4 alone on top with 25-to-54-year-olds. NBC5 ran the table at 5 p.m.

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon.-Tues., July 16-17) -- big whiffs on/off field for All-Star game

By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Baseball’s big boppers did their thing Tuesday night, both hitting a ton of home runs and striking out a lot in the annual All-Star game.

But the American League’s 10-inning, 8-6 win over the National League was a big dud in the D-FW Nielsen ratings. The game, featuring a combined 10 home runs and 25 strikeouts, again was easily out-hit by NBC’s competing America’s Got Talent before the Peacock’s followup act, World of Dance, also won its time slot.

Running from 7:23 to 10:58 p.m., this year’s All-Star game on Fox averaged 142,442 viewers, down from the 181,778 for 2017’s 2-1, 10-inning AL win. And among advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-olds, the All-Stars dipped to a puny 37,447 viewers, compared to last year’s 57,728.

Two years ago, the All-Star game drew 247,884 total viewers and 98,447 in the 18-to-49-year-old demographic for the AL’s 4-2 win. Downslides don’t get much worse in such a short period.

In contrast, America’s Got Talent flexed, amassing 363,227 total viewers from 7 to 9 p.m., with 74,894 of them in the 18-to-49 age range. Those were up from last year’s AGT audience hauls opposite the All-Stars. Summertime’s most potent attraction had 341,742 viewers a year ago, with 64,142 in the 18-to-49 motherlode.

World of Dance also outdrew this year’s All-Star game in the 9 p.m. hour, with 170,930 total viewers and 56,171 within the 18-to-49 realm.

This is very bad news for baseball, at least in this market. If you can’t improve the year-to-year ratings with a slugfest, then what’s left? One more nail in what’s looking like a coffin. Sunday morning’s World Cup Final on Fox and Telemundo pulled in a combined 669,478 total viewers, with 321,421 in the 18-to-49 measurement. That’s well over four times the total viewers drawn by Tuesday night’s All-Star game. And among 18-to-49-year-olds, the World Cup final had close to nine times as many viewers as the All-Stars did.

In Monday’s prime-time Nielsens, Fox4’s 9 p.m. local newscast and ABC’s The Bachelorette tied for the most total viewers with 135,320. ABC’s 9 p.m. episode of The Proposal led among 18-to-49ers with 56,171.

Here are the Monday-Tuesday local news derby results.

Monday -- TEGNA8 won at 10 p.m. in both total viewers and among 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).

Fox4 once again had no trouble sweeping the 6 a.m. competitions and also ran the table at 5 p.m. The 6 p.m. spoils went to TEGNA8 in total viewers and Fox4 in the 25-to-54 demographic.

Tuesday -- NBC5 topped a downsized 10 p.m. race in both total viewers and with 25-to-54-year-olds.

Fox4 logged twin wins at 6 a.m., but barely held off TEGNA8 among 25-to-54-year-olds.

The 6 p.m. firsts went to TEGNA8 in total viewers and Fox4 in the 25-to-54 realm.

At 5 p.m., NBC5 won in total viewers and nipped Fox4 for the top spot with 25-to-54-year-olds.

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Thurs.-Sun., July 12-15) -- World Cup final resoundingly hits back of net

By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
D-FW viewers swarmed to Sunday morning’s World Cup soccer final on two networks.

Airing in the 10 a.m. to noon slot, France’s 4-2 win over Croatia drew 462,937 viewers on Fox and added another 206,541 for Telemundo’s Spanish language telecast. That’s a very grand total of 669,478 viewers.

The percentage of advertiser-coveted 18-to-49-year-old viewers was likewise impressive. Fox pulled in 215,321 and Telemundo had 106,100 for a combined 321,421. That’s very close to the magic 50 percent mark and a significantly better percentage than the NFL or major league baseball usually has. That includes the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers locally.

In prime-time Sunday, CBS’ 7 p.m. hour of Big Brother led the way in both total viewers (170,930) and with 18-to-49-year-olds (102,980). No CBS program does better with 18-to-49ers than BB. In sharp contrast, the network’s preceding edition of 60 Minutes had 142,442 total viewers and a paltry 12,482 within the 18-to-49 realm.

Friday’s prime-time attractions were led by CBS’ Hawaii Five-0 in total viewers (128,198) while ABC’s 20/20 led in the 18-to-49 age range (28,085).

Fox4’s 9 p.m. newscast headed Thursday’s prime-time parade in total viewers with 185,175 and Big Brother scored highest among 18-to-49-year-olds (62,412).

Here are the Thursday-Friday local news derby results.

Thursday -- Fox4 won at 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. in both total viewers and among 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).

The 6 p.m. firsts went to TEGNA8 in total viewers and Fox4 with 25-to-54-year-olds. At 5 p.m., NBC5 won in total viewers and CBS11 was tops with 25-to-54-year-olds.

Friday -- TEGNA8 swept the 10 p.m. competitions and Fox4 again did likewise at 6 a.m., where it hasn’t lost in either measurement for what seems like forever.

NBC5 logged a doubleheader win at 5 p.m. The 6 p.m. golds went to the Peacock and TEGNA8 in total viewers while NBC5 was alone in first with 25-to-54-year-olds.

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Wed., July 11) -- soccer's tops

By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Fox and Telemundo scored big Wednesday afternoon with the extended World Cup semi-final match between Croatia and England.

Croatia’s comeback 2-1 win in “extra time” loomed largest on Fox, averaging 199,419 D-FW viewers while Spanish language Telemundo chipped in with 92,587 for a combined total of 292,006.

Among advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds, Fox had 81,136 viewers and Telemundo, 40,568. Hand calculator technology says that’s a grand total of 121,704. Croatia will now play France Sunday for the title.

In prime-time, CBS’ Big Brother reigned as usual, with 163,808 total viewers and 74,894 within the 18-to-49 realm. But those were smallish audiences compared to soccer.

Here are Wednesday’s local news derby results.

Fox4 won at 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. in both total viewers and with 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).

The 6 p.m. firsts went to TEGNA8 in total viewers and Fox4 among 25-to-54-year-olds.

At 5 p.m., NBC5 drew the most total viewers and CBS11 was tops with 25-to-54-year-olds.

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues., July 10) -- America's Got Talent only getting stronger

By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Summer’s dominant ratings force flexed even bigger Tuesday night, crushing the competition from 7 to 9 p.m.

NBC’s America’s Got Talent drew 334,739 D-FW viewers and also cruised to victory among advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds with 99,859. The closest competitors in those hours were CBS’ 7 p.m. rerun of NCIS in total viewers (135,320) and Fox’s new 7 p.m. hour of Beat Shazam in the 18-to-49 realm (37,447).

At 9 p.m., the Peacock’s World of Dance had enough juice to win the hour in total viewers (163,808). But Fox4’s local newscast easily took the top spot at 9 p.m. among 18-to-49ers (49,930).

The CW’s 8 p.m. premiere of The Outpost, starring a Wonder Woman-esque heroine, drew just 21,366 total viewers and had “hashmarks” (no measurable audience) in the 18-to-49-year-old demographic.

Here are Tuesday’s local news derby results.

TEGNA8 ran first at 10 p.m. in total viewers while NBC5 won among 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).

Fox4 once again swept the 6 a.m. competitions. At 6 p.m., TEGNA8 won in total viewers and Fox4 with 25-to-54-year-olds.

NBC5 and TEGNA8 split the 5 p.m. golds in total viewers while Fox4 and TEGNA8 tied for first at that hour in the 25-to-54 measurement.

Local TV news note: Former Fox4 and later CBS11 reporter Stephanie Lucero has joined NBC5, where she’s currently working in the station’s consumer response center.

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net

TEGNA8 traffic anchor Demetria Obilor puts some moves on

By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Demetria Obilor, traffic anchor for Dallas-based TEGNA8’s Daybreak program, shows off her dance moves in this video on her Instagram account.

It’s since been taken down after being posted earlier this week. But as the woman who sent it noted, “Everything that ends up on the Internet stays there.”

I’m not going to comment any further. And TEGNA8 management does not return requests for comment from unclebarky.com. So here’s the link. Readers can judge for themselves whether Obilor’s video is empowering, inappropriate or (fill in your own blank) in these ever-changing times for whatever TV journalism is these days.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BlCPqgTFHIv/?tagged=demetriaobilor

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., July 9) -- Trump bump

By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
President Trump’s prime-time announcement of his latest U.S. Supreme Court nominee skewed schedules Monday night while also providing him with a substantially larger television audience than a daytime reveal.

The selection of Brett Kavanaugh, followed by his brief speech and some analysis, occupied most of the 8 to 8:30 p.m. window. Here’s how the D-FW numbers broke down during that half-hour, with some networks resuming entertainment programming before 8:30 p.m.

Fox News Channel -- 142,442 total viewers
NBC -- 135,320
CBS -- 113,954
ABC -- 99,709
Fox -- 78,343
MSNBC -- 42,733
CNN -- 35,612

FNC’s audience outdrew any single entertainment program Monday night. ABC’s The Bachelorette was interrupted at its midway point, with the network opting to push back TEGNA8’s 10 p.m. newscast in order to air both Bachelorette and The Proposal in their entirety. NBC5’s late night newscast also was delayed while Fox4 and CBS11 started on time.

Here are Monday’s local news derby results.

We’re just going to throw out the 10 p.m. competitions because of the delays.

At 6 a.m., Fox4 as usual buried the opposition with another pair of wins in total viewers and with 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).

NBC5 drew the most total viewers at 5 and 6 p.m. while Fox4 won both of those hours with 25-to-54-year-olds.

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net

Andrea Parquet-Taylor rises to vice president/station manager at CBS11/TXA21

Andrea PT headshot
By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Incumbent news director Andrea Parquet-Taylor has been promoted to the position of vice president and station manager of CBS11 and its sister station, TXA21.

The announcement came Monday from CBS Television Stations president Peter Dunn and CBS11/TXA21 president and general manager Gary Schneider, to whom Parquet-Taylor will report. Her successor as news director will be announced later. Parquet-Taylor assumed that position in February 2017, when she arrived from WNCN-TV in Raleigh-Durham, NC.

The position of vice president/station manager had been vacant since 2010, when Schenider held it before being elevated to his current title. Parquet-Taylor will be the highest-ranking African-American woman executive in the history of D-FW television.

“Andrea has impressed us from Day One,” Schneider said in a statement. “As our news director, her poise, leadership and decision-making skills have been outstanding. It is clear that she has a lot more to offer as a leader, beyond the newsroom, and I am excited to see her take on this much bigger role at our stations.”

Parquet-Taylor said she “will miss being with my friends and colleagues in the newsroom on a full-time basis, but I am really happy to continue to be under the same roof with them while venturing into new areas.”

She is a graduate of Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in communications arts and sciences.

CBS11 still has much work in the D-FW newscast ratings, where it went winless during the May “sweeps” in the four major competitions at 6 a.m. and at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. But the station did show some year-to-year audience gains, particularly at 5 and 6 p.m. among 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net

Pow! my Twitter feed (@unclebarkycom) takes a pounding from the fans of Ginger Zee

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ABC chief meteorologist Ginger Zee & host Matt Iseman from Sunday night’s 3-hour Evel Live on the History channel. Photo: Getty Images


By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
A full-blown “Twitterstorm” wasn’t in my Sunday night forecast when I made an opening observation about History channel’s three-hour Evel Live.

Here it is verbatim: “ABC chief meteorologist Ginger Zee is official forecaster for History net’s #EvelLive. And that’s the way it is in a world where news/entertainment again are one/same. Oh well, Cronk once hosted CBS Morning News with a lion puppet named Charlemagne.”

The point -- or so I thought -- was that this blurring has been going on for a long, long time. And that even the sainted Walter Cronkite played a role in it before later becoming the gold standard of television news journalism. Namely, “The Most Trusted Man in America.”

Zee then responded: “I’m a meteorologist…what seems to be the problem? I didn’t study television or broadcasting -- only meteorology. I’m more than qualified.”

Yes, she is. But many of the hundred upon hundreds of responders -- we’ll get to them in just a bit -- somehow thought I had either called Zee a puppet or compared her to one.

“Wasn’t at all questioning your qualifications,” I tweeted back to her. “Just your judgment in being part of this circus. Nothing more than that.”

Zee then replied, “Ohhhhh that was unclear… the puppet comparison really threw me off…”

Here’s one last explanatory tweet from @unclebarkycom to @Ginger_Zee: “Just noting that lines between news & entertainment remain ever-blurred. And that even the iconic journalist Cronkite once worked with a puppet on a morning network news program. That was the point. Nothing to do with your abilities or gender, even if some want to make it that.”

Many wanted to make it that -- and in no uncertain terms. Here’s a sampling from the overwhelming number of tweeters who took offense after taking their cue from Zee’s first response. All are posted exactly as they appeared, with no grammatical or spelling corrections. And we’ll leave Dawn Ennis (@lifeafterdawn) until last because she’s in a league of her own in terms of both volume and umbrage.

Brandon J. Napier (@bnapier92) : “It is ok Ginger. Ed obviously has a problem with women being in a position of power. Kinda like a puxxy grabber (not sure if he intentionally substituted x for s) in a certain house that is white. Don’t let people like him get to you. Your a great woman, meteorologist and most of all a great mom.”

Ken (@KenStonebox): “The future seems to have left Uncle in the past.”

Stephanie Johnstone (@turnbuckle112): “I would just block Aholes. They don’t deserve a response.”

Richard J Lane (@RickBDLane): “Ignore the misogynist. You are quite definitely a knowledgeable science weather reporter.”

Al Pometto (@AlbertPom): “Hey Ed, find something better to do with your time. You are a loser trying to compete with a winner. Ginger has more class in her pinky than you have in your entire body. You picked the wrong person this time jerky.”

Lynn (@Areukidding1011): “don’t let this empty Loud wagon bother you..”

Bryan McLeod (@BryanTMcLeod): “Talk about sexist.” And also: “I think you’ve gone nuts.”

Terry Pearson (@Pearsontlee): “How do you become a T.V. Critic; from the couch?”

Bob Whitney (@BobBlwjr123): “I am constantly amazed at the people who trash you because you are an attractive woman. Most could not pass a basic weather test.”

Diorah Gonzales (@DiorahGonzales): “And this is how our world is today - Competent and beautiful women who know their stuff. Get with it @unclebarkycom.

Heidi (@Heidiv40): “it seems that @unclebarkycom is a sad, bitter little man that is jealous of you! Thnk God @ginzerzee is always #happy #cheery & is a regular person that does not deserve the negative comments from the keyboard bullies on the internet. We all widh we could be Ginger!”

Paula Farmer (@paulafarmer13): “You are such a jersey to say such things about @Ginger_Zee. She is a very intelligent woman, let alone a smart Meteorologist. She most definitely is not a puppet. Women can be SCIENTISTS!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Karen C Robert (@SchrantzKaren): ‘Ed is a jerk, bottom line.”

ryan c (@rpcseed): “@unclebarkycom what a dirt ball grow up slime ball @Ginger_Zee is the best around.”

Cindy Huard (@ADGKKCsNana): “She was there to offer information as to weather factoring in the jumps. She did that job, and did it well. That she’s fun and beautiful is a plus for most people. Maybe you didn’t ‘mean to offend,’ but dude! That’s exactly how it came across! You. Owe. Ginger. An. Apology!” And also: “Go back under your rock, dude. You won’t be missed by many, I’d wager…”

Patricia Martinez (@triciaonkiss): “I’m not sure how you see a ‘blurred line’ concerning a woman who has the qualifications for her position. Your insistence that you meant nothing by it is disingenuous at best, and cowardly at worst. I don’t see you questioning Al Roker’s tv appearances.”

Nicole Linsalata (@nlinsalataon7): “Since you are a writer, you should recognize that the majority of readers did not take your comment as you meant it. Therefore- your writing fell short. Own it.”

Stanley Knox (@StanleyKnox73) -- “If this many people are reading this much into your tweet, maybe you didn’t communicate your point well? Maybe some night classes on communication at the local community college would help?”

Patrick Foulks (@pfoulks): “Blurring news and entertainment? No! Really? C’mon guy that has been going on for a long time. No reason to take a cheap shot at the lovely and talented @Ginger_Zee CNN, Fox News and MSNBC do this 24/7 and all the major networks do too. Sorry that kids are stepping on your lawn.”

Guss57 (@Guss5757): “Ignore the hate! He’s just jealous!”

Ms. Mellow (@mellowlife): “Geez how old are you unclebarky.”

A relative handful of tweeters dared to go against the tidal wave. They included:

Matt Anthony (@Mattant12): “You mentioned her impressive credentials -- chief meteorologist -- , and didn’t even mention she’s a woman. Then you compared her to someone who made the same kind of judgment call. If anyone should be offended, and no one should, it should be puppeteers.”

Jeanne Brady (@jbrady1972): “Wow this got way out of hand..I did not read your comment the way most of the people here took it..that is quite a stretch.”

Neil Gow (@Lord_Gow): “No one needs to come to his defense as he has nothing to apologize for. Maybe set aside the perpetually offended hostility for a moment & actually peruse the entire thread?”

Kevin Jerpi (@KevinJerpi): “WTF is wrong with people. I read it as ed saying the line between news and entertainment is getting blurred. People need to grow up.”

Christy Morris (@kenpaymom): “I got it the first time. I continue to enjoy your writing, tweets, and critiques.”

Ann Barber (@AnnBarb60317122): “I think we all may be getting a little too sensitive. I got the point and I am always for Ginger. I do believe he was joking. Come on people. Ginger is a big girl. She can handle herself.”

And now, as promised, the big finish. Dawn Ennis (@lifeafterdawn) did not mince words, nor spare them. She posted at least 40 tweets in support of Ginger Zee and in opposition to yours truly while also drawing many more times that number of retweets and “likes.” We went back and forth a lot -- and probably way too much. But in no uncertain terms, here’s her side -- and just a wee bit of mine.

“Still no apology, Ed?” she began. “What’s your degree in? Misogyny? @Ginger_Zee has the CV and the smarts as well as balancing life, work and motherhood to put you to shame. Let’s see you own your mistake with a mea culpa.”

I told her what I meant by my original tweet. This did not go over well.

“I saw,” Ennis replied. “I also saw not one person come to your defense… other than you. You compared a woman with a meteorology degree to a man with a puppet. I’m old enough to have seen & met that man. You do yourself a disservice in not apologizing. It costs you nothing. Walter would have.”

Well, I’ve also met Cronkite and interviewed him a number of times. He always lamented that his stint with the lion puppet Charlemagne basically defined his short time as anchor of CBS News’ first morning show.

Ennis fired back: “Sigh…You can read, right? I said you compared her to a man with a puppet. I wrote & produced 30+ years in broadcast news, Ed. I’m familiar with your point. Are you familiar with misogyny? Look: I’ll write it for you: ‘Ginger, sorry that my tweet was offensive.’ Cuz it was.”

I still feel no need to apologize, although Ennis is insistent about this: “C’mon, Ed. Please just say it: “Ginger Zee, I’m sorry for my offensive tweet.” She added a hashtag -- #ApologizeUncleBarky.

But let’s move on to her “misogyny” label. Ennis tweeted that she never directly said that: “I asked if your degree is in misogyny. I asked if you realized your tweet was misogynistic. There is a difference between a misogynist and someone who does or says those things. You don’t know who I am, either. What matters is: owning our mistakes. If you took offense, I apologize.” And a kicker: “See how easy that is?”

Ennis eventually signed off for the night, tweeting, “You ‘win.’ I resign.” She accompanied this with a billboard reading: “Never argue with a fool. Onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.”

But on Monday morning, she was back, urging me to “consider being kind, instead of right.”

Many more tweets followed, prompting me to assure her that she’d be prominently featured in my subsequent blog post. Ennis initially seemed to take offense: “I asked you to apologize and instead you threaten me with your blogpost,” she tweeted.

So I said I wouldn’t include her for fear of threatening her -- followed by a promise to keep her anonymous if her tweets were posted. This didn’t sit well either.

“Or are you afraid?” she asked. “Is that it? Here’s the thing: If you do try to mask my identity, ALL of your 8k followers will know the truth. That you choose to conceal my identity out of fear. It’s your call, Ed. Being public means accepting criticism. Critics are not immune.”

She then upped the ante.

“Wow, you really are a piece of work,” Ennis tweeted. “I can’t dictate to you what you put in your blog and you know this. So I’ll say it clearly and publicly: i’m ‘insisting’ you use my name and/or Twitter handle in your blogpost if you include my comments. That’s not a threat. Stop playing games.”

OK, I think we’ve reached our end game on this. I know this won’t satisfy everyone, but I’ve tried to give a fair representation of what happened Sunday night on my Twitter thread. For me it was totally unexpected. Even in these highly polarized times, I just didn’t see it coming. But it came -- like a freight train. And as of this writing, it still hasn’t stopped.

Email comments or questions to: unclebarkycom on Twitter.

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., July 6-8) -- little traction for Evel Live

By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
The History channel’s heavily hyped, three-hour Evel Live achieved liftoff for its daredevil, but Sunday night’s D-FW ratings were basically flat.

For the record, motorcycle jumper Travis Pastrana successfully completed all three “iconic” jumps in a Vegas salute to the late Evel Knievel. Matt Iseman, who otherwise presides over NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, hosted the made-for-TV event, with contributions from ABC chief meteorologist Ginger Zee, Jackass creator/star Johnny Knoxville and others.

Airing from 7 to 10:05 p.m., Evel Live averaged 85,465 D-FW viewers and 34,327 in the advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-old demographic. Sunday’s top competing TV attraction, CBS’ 7 p.m. hour of Big Brother, drew more than twice those crowds with 178,053 total viewers and 81,136 within the 18-to-49 motherlode.

Not surprisingly, Evel Live soared above the ratings for History’s other Sunday programming. But in the grand scheme of things, it pretty much failed to take off in D-FW.

Saturday’s Nielsens were topped by Fox’s pair of World Cup soccer matches. England’s win over Sweden averaged 185,175 total viewers before Croatia’s penalty kick victory over Russia drew an identical number.

Friday’s World Cup matches, both on FS1, pulled in lower crowds. France’s win over Uruguay averaged 99,709 viewers while Belgium’s upset victory over Brazil drew 106,832. Telemundo’s Spanish language presentation of Belgium-Brazil matched the FS1 ratings. Otherwise, the matches on Fox and FS1 all drew larger audiences than the Telemundo telecast.

In Friday’s prime-time numbers, CBS’ Blue Bloods repeat set the pace in total viewers (149,564) while ABC’s canceled Quantico led among 18-to-49ers (40,568).

Here are Friday’s local news derby results.

NBC5 swept the 10 p.m. competitions in both total viewers and with 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).

Fox4 ran the table at 6 a.m., where it hasn’t been beaten for several months. At 6 p.m., TEGNA8 drew the most total viewers while Fox4 won among 25-to-54-year-olds.

NBC5 was tops in total viewers at 5 p.m. and tied Fox4 for first among 25-to-54-year-olds.

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net

Anchor/reporter Cory Smith leaving D-FW's NBC5, will be replaced by Laura Harris from Tampa Bay's ABC station

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NBC5’s outgoing Cory Smith and incoming Laura Harris.

By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Due to “family reasons,” NBC5 anchor/reporter Cory Smith will be leaving the Fort Worth-based station when his contract expires at the end of this year.

His eventual replacement, Laura Harris from ABC affiliate WFTS-TV in Tampa Bay, FL, was announced Friday to station staffers by vice president of news Mark Ginther.

Smith, who has been anchoring NBC5’s 5 and 10 p.m. weekend newscasts and also reporting three days a week, arrived in December 2015 from KSAT-TV, San Antonio’s ABC station. He’s a native of south Oak Cliff, and will now be looking for opportunities outside of Texas, according to Ginther.

Harris, who’s been reporting for WFTS since July 2012, earlier had been a morning anchor with Charleston, SC’s WCIV-TV, also an ABC affiliate. The Georgia Southern University graduate was a Division One soccer player while in college and is a “big sports fan,” Ginther said in his staff memo. She also has worked for CNN, TNT Sports and WNEG-TV in Athens, GA.

According to her WFTS station bio, Harris “lives by the motto, ‘If you find something you like to do, you don’t have to work a day in your life.’ “

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Tues.-Thurs., July 3-5) -- BB gun

By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
CBS continued to breathe the rarefied air of 18-to-49-year-old viewership on both the Fourth of July and Thursday. That’s what Big Brother will do for a network that doesn’t score that often in this advertiser-prized demographic.

BB led all Thursday prime-time attractions in the 18-to-49 realm with 59,291 viewers. It did the same on July 4th, with 53,050 viewers.

Other shows were tops in total D-FW viewers, though. Thursday’s most-watched program overall, Fox4’s 9 p.m. local newscast, drew 163,808 viewers. And NBC’s Macy’s fireworks show led all July 4th attractions with 185,175 viewers in the 7 to 9 p.m. slot. PBS’ competing A Capitol Fourth had 78,343 viewers for its first airing. TEGNA8’s homegrown Fair Park fireworks display matched the PBS number from 9 to 10 p.m., but CBS’ Code Black won the hour with 149,564 viewers while Fox4’s news ran second (128,198) and NBC’s condensed repeat of the Macy’s pyrotechnics took the bronze (121,076).

In Tuesday’s prime-time competitions, CBS’ 7 p.m. rerun of NCIS had the most total viewers (128,910) and Fox4’s 9 p.m. news was tops with 18-to-49ers (31,206).

Here are the four-way local news derby results for Tuesday and Thursday. A majority of the combatants took holiday exemptions on the Fourth.

Tuesday -- CBS11 drew the most total viewers at 10 p.m. while Fox4 won among 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).

Fox4 swept the 6 a.m. competitions and NBC5 did likewise at 6 p.m. The 5 p.m. golds went to the Peacock in total viewers and Fox4 with 25-to-54-year-olds. TEGNA8 had “hashmarks” (no measurable audience) at 5 p.m. in the 25-to-54 demographic.

Thursday -- Fox4 swept both the 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. races and also ran first among 25-to-54-year-olds at 5 and 6 p.m. NBC5 broke up the party with wins in total viewers at 5 and 6 p.m.

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Mon., July 2) -- Fox turns tables on Telemundo in Mexico's final World Cup match

By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
Mexico’s World Cup road again came to an end in the team’s first Round of 16 match, marking the seventh straight time that El Tri has hit a wall after qualifying for the “knockout” phase.

Brazil’s 2-0 victory Monday morning reversed another trend, though. Fox, which had been getting drubbed in the D-FW ratings by Telemundo in Mexico’s earlier games, outdrew the Spanish language network in both total viewers and advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds. Could this be in part because Fox replaced the controversial announcing team of Jorge Perez-Navarro and Mariano Trujillo with the appreciably more balanced duo of John Strong and Stu Holden? We’ll never know.

Airing in the 9 to 11 a.m. slot, Mexico-Brazil drew 199,419 total viewers on Fox and 185,175 for Telemundo’s coverage. Among 18-to-49-year-olds, Fox had 112,342 viewers and Telemundo, 87,377. Fox’s percentage of 18-to-49-year-olds easily exceeded the magic 50 percent mark while Telemundo came close to drawing half of its audience in this key demographic.

The soccer ratings for both networks are far above those for regularly scheduled entertainment programming.

For the record, Monday’s afternoon thriller between Portugal and Japan drew 121,076 total viewers on Fox, while Telemundo had 64,099. In the 18-to-49 age range, Fox pulled in 53,050 viewers and Telemundo drew 34,327.

The prime-time pacesetter in total viewers, Fox4’s 9 p.m. local newscast, had 156,686 total viewers. ABC’s two-hour dollop of The Bachelorette led among 18-to-49ers (62,412).

Here are Monday’s local news derby results.

TEGNA8 and CBS11 tied for the top spot at 10 p.m. in total viewers, but Fox4 won comfortably with 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).

Fox4’s multi-month winning streak continued at 6 a.m. with another pair of firsts. At 6 p.m., Fox4 and TEGNA8 tied for the most total viewers while Fox4 had the spoils to itself in the 25-to-54 demographic.

Fox4 drew the most total viewers at 5 p.m., and shared the 25-to-54 gold with NBC5.

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net

Local Nielsen ratings snapshot (Fri.-Sun., June 29-July 1) -- Big Brother again more than a BB gun

By ED BARK
@unclebarkycom on Twitter
ABC’s Sunday night editions of Celebrity Family Feud generally fare well among advertiser-prized 18-to-49-year-olds. But not when CBS’ Big Brother is in the house.

CBS’ longtime “reality-competition” slugger aired opposite Feud for the first time this summer. BB prevailed by a wide margin in prime-time’s most valued audience demographic, scooping up 68,653 viewers in the 18-to-49 realm while the competing FF had just 15,603.

BB also whipped FF in the total viewer Nielsens, but didn’t rank as Sunday’s top draw. CBS’ 60 Minutes took the top spot with 192,297 before the following 7 p.m. hour of BB hung onto 156,686 of ‘em. But 60 Minutes as usual skewed north of Forest Lawn with 18-to-49ers, luring only 15,603 in matching FF’s small haul.

On Friday, NBC’s 9 p.m. episode of Dateline led the prime-time parade in both total viewers (135,320) and 18-to-49-year-olds (46,809).

Here are Friday’s local news derby results.

NBC5 swept the 10 p.m. competitions in both total viewers and with 25-to-54-year-olds (main advertiser target audience for news programming).

Fox4 again ran the table at 6 a.m. and also had twin wins at 5 p.m. The 5 p.m. race in total viewers was extremely close, with Fox4 inching past NBC5, TEGNA8 and CBS11, who all tied for second.

The 6 p.m. firsts went to CBS11 in total viewers and Fox4 with 25-to-54-year-olds.

Email comments or questions to: unclebarky@verizon.net