"GMA" Ends "Today's" 16-Year Winning Streak

[JamesG]

Ratings: "Good Morning America" Ends "Today's" 16-Year Winning Streak
Apr 16, 2012
by Joyce Eng


The "Today" show's 16-year winning streak is over.

ABC's "Good Morning America" toppled its NBC rival for the week ending April 13 by 13,000 viewers, according to preliminary numbers. "GMA" averaged 5,147,000 viewers; "Today", 5,134,000.

Final numbers are due Thursday.





"This is an exciting day but we will save any celebrating for when the final numbers come in on Thursday," Tom Cibrowski, GMA senior executive producer, said in statement.

"Like every week, we want to thank our loyal viewers, our stations, our amazing team of Robin Roberts, George Stephanopoulos, Sam Champion, Josh Elliott, Lara Spencer, and our dedicated staff and crew for getting us to this amazing point."





"GMA's" victory came during a week when Matt Lauer was on vacation, which doesn't speak well for co-anchor Ann Curry. (Lauer recently signed a four-year deal to stay on)

The good news for "Today": It won the advertiser-coveted adults 25-to-54 demographic.





In a statement, "Today" executive producer Jim Bell congratulated "GMA" and said that "Today's" streak will likely never happen again in television.

"'Today's' 852-week winning streak had taken on a life of its own and as odd as it is to see it end, we should acknowledge just how remarkable it has been," Bell said.

"So as we tip our caps to the team at Good Morning America, we can also take a bow ourselves and recognize the work done by countless staffers for so long. It is not an overstatement to call it one of the most incredible achievements in television history, one that is not likely to ever happen again.

While the streak has been wonderful affirmation of our work, it has never defined us, and we will continue to innovate, take chances and lead the way."

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Ratings-...y-1046075.aspx

[ajgenard]

Originally Posted by JamesG

In a statement, "Today" executive producer Jim Bell congratulated "GMA" and said that "Today's" streak will likely never happen again in television.

"'Today's' 852-week winning streak had taken on a life of its own and as odd as it is to see it end, we should acknowledge just how remarkable it has been," Bell said.

"So as we tip our caps to the team at Good Morning America, we can also take a bow ourselves and recognize the work done by countless staffers for so long. It is not an overstatement to call it one of the most incredible achievements in television history, one that is not likely to ever happen again.

Wow, sour grapes much? Leave it to some TV exec to spin another show's victory into one for himself.

Originally Posted by JamesG

While the streak has been wonderful affirmation of our work, it has never defined us, and we will continue to innovate, take chances and lead the way.

LOL yeah such innovative measures have been accomplished in morning show history. Only thing morning talk shows ever "innovated" was maybe the makeup protocol for concealing botched face lifts.

[robyrob]

Originally Posted by ajgenard

LOL yeah such innovative measures have been accomplished in morning show history. Only thing morning talk shows ever "innovated" was maybe the makeup protocol for concealing botched face lifts.

what about J. Fred Muggs ?

[AKA]

I think Today could do itself and the network some favors if it scaled itself back to two hours. While I admit that I don't know how well the second half of the show performs in the ratings, four hours of Today still seems bloated to me. It's extra real estate that could be given to to up to four daytime shows, or back to the affiliates.

[ajgenard]

Originally Posted by Brad

It's extra real estate that could be given to to up to four daytime shows, or back to the affiliates.

Who would want the affiliates to have it back? All they would do is stuff another news hour or more infomercials in there.

[AKA]

Originally Posted by ajgenard

Who would want the affiliates to have it back? All they would do is stuff another news hour or more infomercials in there.

True. I'd much rather see the network do something wise with their allotted time, but they won't. Not in 2012, anyway. I long for the days of game shows and sitcom reruns in the morning. I enjoyed watching Wheel of Fortune and daytime Family Ties reruns on NBC with my mom when I was very young. Those days are gone forever.

[USATVFAN]

Something that should be noted: The Fast National Nielsen Ratings that were released Monday for the Morning Shows from last week are not official and they can still change slightly by Thursday. The Today Show could actively still come out on top...especially if the gap was 13,000 viewers between them last week and they make some adjustments that are in favor of the Today Show, 'Today Show' will win it's 853rd week and continue it's winning streak . But Its well be Very Close!


Also The Third and Fourth Hour of the Today Show do very good in the ratings for their timeslot.

The Third Hour of The Today Show averages 3.6-3.8 Million Viewers weekly, on some week the Third Hour get more then 4 Million Viewers! It's now even beating Live! with Kelly for the last Year. The 9am Hour Ratings have also gone up since Savannah Guthrie joined. Before she got there they were avenging 3.3 Million, They have gained about 360,000 Viewers since she joined the 9am Hour last June.

The Fourth Hour with Kathie Lee and Hoda is also doing good for it's timeslot. The 4th Hour has been averaging 2.5 Million Viewers weekly over the last 6 Months. That is 200,000 more viewers then last year.

TODAY !(7-9) 5.3 Million
TODAY II(9-10) 3.6 Milion
TODAY III(10-11) 2.4 Million

[biffbronson]

Originally Posted by JamesG

"GMA's" victory came during a week when Matt Lauer was on vacation, which doesn't speak well for co-anchor Ann Curry. (Lauer recently signed a four-year deal to stay on)

Ann seems highly intelligent and serious-minded -- she looks very uncomfortable doing fluff stuff. Today I think offers a more traditional morning show, while GMA has gone the airhead route (as in Lara Spencer) as an ET hybrid of sorts.

Anyway I would retain Curry and dump Lauer and Roker, though it would never happen. I've never understood the appeal of Lauer.

In my opinion, Hoda Kotb would be great in place of Lauer, but now that she and Kathie Lee are doing well, that wouldn't be an option. Finally, we have a very competent Natalie Morales (eat something girl, you're slipping into anorexia) -- also underutilized to some extent.

[TVFactFan]

Wasn't Matt Lauer on vacation during this week? So I can't say this is a huge deal just yet.

[Regulus]

Originally Posted by Brad

True. I'd much rather see the network do something wise with their allotted time, but they won't. Not in 2012, anyway. I long for the days of game shows and sitcom reruns in the morning. I enjoyed watching Wheel of Fortune and daytime Family Ties reruns on NBC with my mom when I was very young. Those days are gone forever.

I'm finished with TV, they only care about their money, and don't give a Rat's @$$ about their Viewers. I shudder to think of how they care about their Employees. IMO Television itself has "Jumped the Shark".

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by biffbronson

Ann seems highly intelligent and serious-minded -- she looks very uncomfortable doing fluff stuff. Today I think offers a more traditional morning show, while GMA has gone the airhead route (as in Lara Spencer) as an ET hybrid of sorts.

Anyway I would retain Curry and dump Lauer and Roker, though it would never happen. I've never understood the appeal of Lauer.

In my opinion, Hoda Kotb would be great in place of Lauer, but now that she and Kathie Lee are doing well, that wouldn't be an option. Finally, we have a very competent Natalie Morales (eat something girl, you're slipping into anorexia) -- also underutilized to some extent.

You want to dump Al Roker???

[JamesG]

Official: "Good Morning America" Snaps "Today's" 852-Week Winning Streak
4/19/2012
by Marisa Guthrie


It’s official: After 852 weeks and more than 16 years, "Good Morning America" has finally broken "Today’s" winning streak.

The ABC morning show drew 5.17 million viewers for the week ending April 13 compared with "Today’s" 5.13 million. That’s a difference of 31,000 viewers and snaps one of the longest winning streaks in modern TV history.





ABC News president Ben Sherwood, who was the executive producer of "GMA" from 2004-06 before returning to "ABC News" in December 2010, noted that the show’s "loyal and growing" audience "motivates us every single morning."

"Of course, we congratulate our friends at 'Today' for the greatest winning streak in broadcasting history and for their excellence and leadership during this historic run," said Sherwood. "It’s a special day for 'ABC News', and, after a proper celebration 852 weeks in the making, we'll get right back to work to be ready tomorrow to help 'GMA' viewers start their day with a rewarding experience and big-picture understanding of the world."





But "GMA" bested its rival twice during a week when longtime "Today" anchor Matt Lauer was on vacation. The ABC broadcast prevailed by 419,000 viewers on Wednesday, April 11, and by 359,000 on Friday, April 13.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, NBC News president Steve Capus noted that a one-week win does not a streak make.

"I really don’t think anybody in the audience at home is on the edge of their seats wondering how this is going to go," he said. "If we continue to keep our eye on the ball and perform at a level that the audience has come to expect every single morning -- and I would suggest we have -- then I think that’s what really matters."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/liv...ay-show-314162

[TVFactFan]

This is not even news to NBC and will continue to dominate

[Pavan]

Today Show hasn't "dominated" in a while, Solomon. They were just getting by every week for the last year or two. Now GMA beat it. And GMA has been winning in the larger markets like NYC for years. Their new updated 8am hour (as of last fall) is very refreshing and entertaining. I pass by GMA every morning and it is always interesting.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Pavan

Today Show hasn't "dominated" in a while, Solomon. They were just getting by every week for the last year or two. Now GMA beat it. And GMA has been winning in the larger markets like NYC for years.

But if Matt Lauer was on vacation what did GMA really accomplish?