TV RATINGS Three local stations maintain their spots

WKBN began broadcasting a digital signal earlier this year.
By GUY D'ASTOLFO
VINDICATOR ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
The numbers from the May sweeps reveal a tightening in the race for viewers among Youngstown's television news programs, although the three stations held their positions.
WFMJ Channel 21 retained its long-time lead at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. But No. 2 WKBN TV-27 pulled even, or close to it, at 5 a.m. and 5:30 a.m.
Both stations posted a 2 rating/24 share at 5:30 a.m. At 5 a.m., WFMJ got a 2 rating/27 share, while WKBN got a 2 rating/25 share. WYTV TV-33 remained in third place in all categories.
A ratings point represents 1 percent of the 276,720 television households in the Youngstown market -- which includes Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana and Mercer counties -- that are tuned to a specific channel.
Share is the percentage of televisions in use.
Nielsen Media Research's May sweeps ran from April 27 to May 24. The next ratings period, June 29 to July 26, doesn't carry the weight of the others, because TV schedules are heavily weighted with reruns. Stations use the Nielsen numbers to set advertising rates.
While May is one of the key ratings indicators, because of the many series finales that take place, it also tends to produce some erratic numbers that reflect lower viewership. Jack Grdic, sales manager of WFMJ, says warm spring weather is one reason people shut off their televisions.
Gary Coursen, news director of WKBN, concurred that viewership was down.
"Things have tightened up in our market. It's a horse race in the morning and the evening," said Coursen. "But as a whole, [May] not that good for broadcasters. Total viewership went down. It's a concern."
Digital transmission
In April, WKBN became the last of Youngstown's three television stations to begin broadcasting in digital when it installed a 700,000-watt antenna 1,225 feet up on its 1,432-foot tower.
All U.S. television stations must begin broadcasting exclusively a digital signal by February 2009. After the current "overlap" period ends, the old analog band will be given over to other uses.
A digital signal allows for high definition broadcasting. Anyone who doesn't already have a high-definition TV set now will have to buy one by February 2009.
Non-news shows
Here's a quick look at the top non-news shows, listed in order of ranking, for the May sweeps:
Morning: "Today Show" (WFMJ); "Regis & amp; Kelly (WFMJ); "Today Show Extended" (WFMJ); "Judge Judy (WFMJ); "The Price is Right" (WKBN).
Soaps: "The Young & amp; The Restless" (WKBN); "The Bold and the Beautiful" (WKBN); "Days of Our Lives" (WFMJ); "As the World Turns" (WKBN); "The Guiding Light" (WKBN).
Prime time: "CSI" (WKBN); "Deal or No Deal" (WFMJ); "Without a Trace" (WKBN); "Desperate Housewives" (WYTV); "ER" (WFMJ); "CSI Miami" (WKBN); "Deal or No Deal Wednesdays" (WFMJ); "Two and a Half Men" (WKBN); "Grey's Anatomy" (WYTV); "Deal or No Deal Fridays" (WFMJ).