KTLA leads locals by a nose in two slots

The Fox network’s ratings struggles during the November sweeps had a residual effect on Fox-owned KTTV, which barely lost out to long-standing rival KTLA Channel 5 in the highly competitive morning and 10 p.m. news races, according to local Nielsen ratings released Monday. But CBS’ strong performance during the just-ended sweeps gave a boost to KCBS’ long-struggling news programs.

“Good Day L.A.,” KTTV’s chatty newscast that scored two consecutive sweeps victories in the early morning race, dropped in November to place behind ABC’s “Good Morning America,” NBC’s “The Today Show” and “The KTLA Morning News.”

Also, “Fox News at 10” came in second -- in a race that went down to the wire -- just behind KTLA’s “News at 10” in the late prime-time competition. The two stations often grapple in a seesaw battle for first place. KTLA is owned by Tribune Co., which also owns the Los Angeles Times.

The phenomenal success of Fox’s “American Idol” and “Joe Millionaire” during the last two sweeps periods had spilled over to KTTV. But that synergy backfired in November with the failure of shows such as “Skin” and “The Next Joe Millionaire.” Fox is now looking forward to the return of “American Idol” to the prime-time lineup Jan. 20.

In other local news races, KABC’s “Eyewitness News” maintained its dominance in the late afternoon-early evening news race, while KNBC kept its long-standing winning streak at 11 p.m.

CBS’ victory in the November sweeps has helped its local owned-and-operated KCBS, which has traditionally trailed its rivals. Ratings for most of the station’s morning and afternoon newscasts were up as much as 75% over last year, while the 11 p.m. newscast is gaining on its competitors.

KCBS president and general manager Don Corsini attributed the increases to a busy news month, which included the recall of Gray Davis and election of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, wildfires, hail storms, the MTA and grocery workers strikes, and the criminal charges surrounding entertainer Michael Jackson.

“It was truly a crazy news month,” Corsini said. “But the success of prime-time did help us. We’re looking forward now to more growth.”

The network’s prime time showing also gave a boost to CBS’ “The Early Show,” which had traditionally trailed its network competition. Ratings for the show are up 50% over last November.

On the syndication front, “The Oprah Winfrey Show” scored its highest ratings in six years, while “Access Hollywood,” which airs locally on KNBC, had its highest ratings for a sweeps period in its eight-year history.