Debmar-Mercury has announced that they are extending production for two months so that original episodes will continue to air in June and July, a time when most daytime shows are in reruns. The hope is that the move will help the show to continue to build ratings momentum.
Here are some additional details:
DEBMAR-MERCURY TO ADD TWO MONTHS OF ORIGINALS TO “THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW” FOLLOWING RECORD-SETTING FEBRUARY SWEEPS PERFORMANCE
“Wendy” Finishes 4th among Key Women 25-54 Demo in Crowded Metered Market Talk Field; Posts Dominant Share Growth of 47% Locally, 35% Nationally since November
New York, March 18, 2013 – Producer-distributor Debmar-Mercury today announced it will add two months of original episodes to the fourth season of The Wendy Williams Show, extending production through June and July, after it posted the biggest Nielsen sweeps gains of any talkshow competitor and surged to new ratings’ heights in the February sweeps.
“I have the greatest fans in daytime TV, and I’m so excited to be giving fans more fun throughout the summer,” Williams said. “If it were up to me, we’d have a show every day, all year long!”
Debmar-Mercury Co-Presidents Ira Bernstein and Mort Marcus commented. “Wendy is absolutely thriving and, with its record-breaking sweeps finish, continuing spectacular ratings growth and ability to build on its lead-in, it is clear that this is the hottest program in the genre. Expanding the number of original episodes will allow us to continue the program’s incredible momentum well into the summer, when our core audience grows with younger viewers drawn to Wendy and her unique take on hot topics of the day.”
The ratings surge started with the most recent expansion in mid-December of the Wendy fan-favorite “Hot Topics” segment, leading to tremendous ratings growth through January and into the recently concluded February sweeps. Wendy finished as the fourth highest-rated metered market talk show among women 25-54 – the key daytime demo – averaging a 1.1 rating and 7 share during the month. That represented a stunning 47% share increase in the demo from the most recent sweeps period in November 2012.
Nationally, in a sweep where several talkers suffered noteworthy audience erosion, Wendy was also able to buck the trend and scored the best gains by far of any talk show compared to November and February 2012.
Sweep to sweep, it leaped 35% to a 1.1 rating in women 25-54 and 29% to a 1.3 in households. Consequently, during February, the show saw year-over-year gains of 11% in households and 9% in the demo.
In addition to her talk show, Williams’ sixth book titled “Ask Wendy” is slated to go on sale May 7, 2013 (William Morrow). The book is based on the popular, recurring advice segment on The Wendy Williams Show. Williams recently announced the formation of Wendy Williams Productions, which will produce reality, game and talk shows.
About The Wendy Williams Show
The Wendy Williams Show is taped live in New York and features Williams’ distinctive and entertaining personality, as well as a diverse mix of celebrity guests from television, film, music and sports. Popular segments include “Ask Wendy,” during which she offers real advice to audience members looking for solutions to problems, and “Hot Topics,” where she delivers her own authentic take on the juiciest headlines. “The Wendy Williams Show” is produced and distributed by Debmar-Mercury.
For more information on The Wendy Williams Show, visit www.wendyshow.com. Fans can also keep up to date on the latest news by following @WendyWilliams on Twitter.
About Debmar-Mercury
Debmar-Mercury, a leading media company specializing in syndication, network, cable and ancillary markets, produces and distributes for daytime television The Wendy Williams Show; has U.S. distribution rights to FremantleMedia North America’s Family Feud; distributes Tyler Perry sitcoms House of Payne and spin-off Meet the Browns, Lionsgate Television/Revolution Studios/Evolution Management’s Anger Management (which stars Charlie Sheen and enters off-network syndication in September 2014) and Revolution/CubeVision’s Are We There Yet? (starring Ice Cube); and has U.S. TV distribution rights to South Park, Hell’s Kitchen and a movie library featuring titles from Revolution Studios. Debmar-Mercury is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), the leading next-generation studio.
What do you think? Is this a smart move or a waste? Do you think this will help keep viewers tuning in next fall?
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