November 27, 2008 10:58 ET

New Measurement, Same Results: KARE 11 Is Still Top Local News Station

MINNEAPOLIS, MN--(Marketwire - November 27, 2008) - Preliminary results for the November 2008 ratings period indicate that KARE 11 News has maintained a formidable lead in viewers over all local competitors. Figures from Nielsen Media Research show that KARE 11 is the clear winner with every major demographic group for every newscast of the week.

This is the first Twin Cities ratings period for which Nielsen has released figures based on their new Local People Meter (LPM) measuring system. People meters are designed to provide overnight information that tells broadcasters and advertisers who watched which programs. Formerly, hand-written diaries attempted to do the same but were often shown to be incomplete or inaccurate. In-home meters only confirmed that a set was on and turned to a given channel.

"New technology has confirmed an old truth -- KARE 11 enjoys a special relationship with this community," said John Remes, President and General Manager of KARE. "It has been especially gratifying to study the LPM numbers and see that large numbers of people make a positive effort to turn to KARE 11 to join us for their news," he added.

Many stations around the country have been disheartened by LPM numbers; they are often lower than earlier estimates.

"Our strategy has remained unchanged," said KARE Vice President and News Director Tom Lindner. "Storytelling, photography, community. Whatever the rating system, our goal is that we connect with our viewers and we remain committed to being relevant to their lives."

M-F A25-54 Rating & Share

                  KARE        WCCO       KSTP        KMSP

5a              1.0 / 12    0.7 / 8    1.0 / 12    0.6 / 7
6a              2.3 / 19    0.9 / 8    1.5 / 13    1.4 / 12
5p              3.0 / 14    3.0 / 13   2.2 / 10    1.5 / 7
6p              4.3 / 15    2.6 / 9    2.2 / 8     1.2 / 4
10p             7.4 / 18    4.3 / 11   3.7 / 9     3.2 / 8
Rating Totals:  18          11.5       10.6        7.9

Gannett Co., Inc. is a leading international news and information company that publishes 90 daily newspapers in the USA, including USA TODAY, the nation's largest-selling daily newspaper. The company also owns nearly 1,000 non-daily publications in the USA and USA WEEKEND, a weekly newspaper magazine. Gannett subsidiary Newsquest is the United Kingdom's second largest regional newspaper company. Newsquest publishes nearly 300 titles, including 18 daily newspapers, and a network of prize-winning Web sites. Gannett also operates 23 television stations in the United States and is an Internet leader with sites sponsored by its TV stations and newspapers including USATODAY.com, one of the most popular news sites on the Web.