Milwaukee ABC affiliate WISN-TV (Channel 12) retained its top rank in audience ratings for local newscasts in the May sweeps ratings period at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. weeknights.

Channel 12 expanded its lead — compared with the May 2012 sweeps — over second-ranked WTMJ-TV (Channel 4), an NBC affiliate, in the most-watched news at 10 p.m.

Channel 12 posted an 8.9 rating to Channel 4’s 6.0. Fox affiliate WITI-TV (Channel 6) ranked third with a 5.7 rating, while CBS affiliate WDJT-TV (Channel 58) was fourth with a 5.6 rating.

The household ratings are the first measure of viewership released by Nielsen. The more detailed demographic ratings figures, which advertisers use in buying decisions, will be available in June. One household ratings point represents approximately 21,650 people.

Channel 12 posted a 6.5 rating in the 6 p.m. news to beat Channel 4 and Channel 6. “Jeopardy” on WDJT actually attracted the second-largest household audience at that time with a 6.3 rating.

WISN also won at 5 p.m. but by a narrower margin over WTMJ.

At 6 a.m., WITI had the largest local-news audience with a 4.7 rating to WISN’s 4.4 and WTMJ’s 3.5.

Channel 6’s 9 p.m. newscast had a 5.9 rating compared with 6.9 a year earlier.

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