Chicago Market Tells the Story of Local News
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There is no doubt that less people are watching newscasts and even in a news heavy town like Chicago that is also the case.
A look at the numbers for September show that as usual WLS was the ratings leader with a 6.4 rating. But that number is down as viewers continue to tune out.
It is even worse for CBS’s WBBM which is doing awful in late news. The station pulled a dismal 2.4 rating, down 0.3 rating point year over year.
How bad is it for WBBM? Well WGN airs a 10PM newscast which is really nothing more than an add on to their “main” newscast that airs at 9PM and it is beating WBBM in the ratings.
WGN’s 10PM newscast pulled a 3.3 ratings and is the only station to show some growth in late news.
“Once the gold standard in late local news in Chicago, Channel 2 (WBBM) has been on a steady and depressing downward cycle for a number of years,” said the Chicago Business Journal.
The lowest rated late news in the market goes to Fox O&O WFLD. Their 9PM newscast pulled a 2.3 rating.
