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05-22-2002, 08:45 AM
Talk Shows' Popularity Plummets
Wed May 22, 5:59 AM ET
By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - Rosie O'Donnell is waving goodbye to the world of daytime talk. Unfortunately for television executives, much of the audience has already left.
Talk show ratings are plummeting, with daytime TV viewers increasingly likely to watch news networks, courtroom shows, relationship programs like TLC's "A Baby Story," or turn off the set entirely.
"Live with Regis and Kelly" is alone among the top 10 talk shows in not losing viewers this year. Jerry Springer, Rikki Lake, Montel Williams, even daytime queen Oprah Winfrey — four years removed from her planned retirement — have seen ratings drop.
O'Donnell's farewell show was planned Wednesday. Sally Jessy Raphael also called it quits, ending a two-decade run this week. Jenny Jones narrowly avoided cancellation. The E! Entertainment network even pulled the plug on "Talk Soup," a show based on funny clips from talk shows, as source material dried up.
Talk show ratings have been slipping for at least five years, accelerating lately, said Marc Berman, a television analyst for Media Week Online.
"The single-issue show as a genre has had a great run," said Jim Paratore, president of the syndicators Telepictures Productions. "It's grown a little tired and has a sameness to it and the audience is looking for something fresh. There's an opportunity over the next couple of years to breathe new life into the format."
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Article is much longer, mostly about Rosie, if anyone wants more, you can find it on Yahoo News...
;0))
PK
Wed May 22, 5:59 AM ET
By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - Rosie O'Donnell is waving goodbye to the world of daytime talk. Unfortunately for television executives, much of the audience has already left.
Talk show ratings are plummeting, with daytime TV viewers increasingly likely to watch news networks, courtroom shows, relationship programs like TLC's "A Baby Story," or turn off the set entirely.
"Live with Regis and Kelly" is alone among the top 10 talk shows in not losing viewers this year. Jerry Springer, Rikki Lake, Montel Williams, even daytime queen Oprah Winfrey — four years removed from her planned retirement — have seen ratings drop.
O'Donnell's farewell show was planned Wednesday. Sally Jessy Raphael also called it quits, ending a two-decade run this week. Jenny Jones narrowly avoided cancellation. The E! Entertainment network even pulled the plug on "Talk Soup," a show based on funny clips from talk shows, as source material dried up.
Talk show ratings have been slipping for at least five years, accelerating lately, said Marc Berman, a television analyst for Media Week Online.
"The single-issue show as a genre has had a great run," said Jim Paratore, president of the syndicators Telepictures Productions. "It's grown a little tired and has a sameness to it and the audience is looking for something fresh. There's an opportunity over the next couple of years to breathe new life into the format."
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Article is much longer, mostly about Rosie, if anyone wants more, you can find it on Yahoo News...
;0))
PK