Posted by chicagomedia.org on November 16, 2009 at 19:14:29:
In Reply to: Bill and Walter were great!!!!! posted by Just like old times on November 14, 2009 at 07:31:11:
Walter and Bill boost ratings, but still lag WLS
November 15, 2009
The overnight Nielsen ratings for the much-ballyhooed Friday night reunion of legendary anchors Walter Jacobson and Bill Kurtis at WBBM-Channel 2 were not through the roof, but they were impressive nonetheless.
Long a distant third to WMAQ-Channel 5 and the dominant WLS-Channel 7 in the flagship 10 p.m. newscast ratings, WBBM, with a 7.3 overnight rating Friday, managed to pull within a ratings point of WLS, which scored a 8.3 for the night for its 10 p.m. newscast.
WBBM, however, trounced WMAQ, which could do no better than a 3.7 rating.
WBBM management insisted from the moment they announced the reunion that it would be a one-night-only arrangement, while current solo anchor Rob Johnson was off. But the strong ratings may force WBBM to rethink its stance.
Jacobson capped off the well-produced newscast with one of his trademark "Perspectives." Even though he hasn't been doing a regular newscast for more than three years, Jacobson was on fire as he lashed out at Mayor Daley.
-Lewis Lazare | Chicago Sun-Times