November Nielsen Ratings Period Begins Today

The November Nielsen Media Research ratings period, generally regarded as the second-most important "sweeps" month (after May), begins today and runs through Nov. 29.

Here is a snapshot look at Omaha's four TV news operations and the challenges they face heading into the book:

KXVO (Cox Channel 11): In an interview published in The Reader last week, "KXVO 15 10:00 News" host Matt Geier hoped "buzz" about the program would translate into ratings. An improved network affiliate relationship (The CW instead of the now-defunct WB) should help.

KPTM (Cox Channel 10): The departure of News Director Allen Beckner in the middle of sweeps will make it all the more difficult for the "Nine O'Clock News" to improve on its respectable performance in the Nov. 2005 book.

KMTV (Cox Channel 5): The challenge for "Action 3 News" will be to pull closer to its competitors at 6 p.m. (when "Insider" was broadcast a year ago) and the all-important 10 p.m. time slot. The underlying issue is how much patience Journal Broadcast Group has to stick with its current line-up of front-line talent, which has been on the desk together since January of 2002 (as ratings have remained well behind WOWT and KETV).

KETV (Cox Channel 9): The ABC affiliate rides a wave of momentum into this book, with network prime-time programming finished first among viewers ages 18 to 49 for the fifth time in six weeks. KETV has also received plenty of (not-all-of-it-positive) publicity regarding its tangle with Cox Communications over re-transmission of its HD signal. We know viewers tune in for Nebraska football games. But will they stay tuned in for the news?

WOWT (Cox Channel 8): The station continues to advertise itself as "The Heartland's Most Watched Newscast" with no clarification of whether that pertains to household or demographic (adults 18-49) ratings. The fact is, in November of 2005, WOWT and KETV were in a dead heat in both categories at 5 and 6 p.m. Is this the book that the NBC affiliate finally gains ground on KETV in the early-evening news time slots?