WREG-TV shines in Nielsen sweeps

Preliminary results from Nielsen Media Research for February sweeps period that ran from Jan. 31 to Feb. 27 show that WREG-TV Channel 3 came out the big winner, claiming most of contests for local broadcast news.

Sweeps ratings released on Thursday show that the CBSaffiliate WREG scored the most viewers in all but one local broadcast news period, tying with NBC-affiliate WMC-TV Channel 5 at 6 p.m.

Here’s how the stations fared:

5 a.m. — WREG came in first with 6.4, followed by NBC-affiliate WMC-TV Channel 5 with 5.4, FOX 13 with 3.1, and ABC 24 with 1.6.

6 a.m. — WREG had 7.7, followed by WMC with 7.4, FOX 13 with 5.2, and ABC 24 with 1.6.

Noon — WREG scored 6.9 for its half-hour news broadcast and WMC came in with 4.8 for its hourlong news show.

4 p.m. — WREG came in first with 6.9, followed by WMC with 4.5.

5 p.m. — WREG had 8.9, WMC had 7.6, and ABC 24 had 2.1. FOX 13 had 4.8 for its hourlong broadcast.

6 p.m. — WREG and WMC tied, both scoring 9.8. ABC 24 had 1.7.

9 p.m. — FOX 13 had 5.7 for its hourlong news show, followed by CW 30 with 2.9.

10 p.m. — WREG claimed first with 10.8, WMC came in second with 8.3, followed by FOX 13 with 3.7, and ABC 24 with 2.0.

Each ratings point represents about 6,700 households and the figures help stations determine advertising rates.