If you’re still scratching your head about KTRV Channel 12’s decision to dump local news programming last month, you might want to eyeball the November 2011 sweeps ratings.
Abysmal. Sure, a KTRV anchor was delivering the evening news. Her image was being shown in vibrant HD — the only Treasure Valley newscast to join the 21st century and do so.
But without lead-in prime-time programming from Fox Network — which dumped Channel 12 last spring — the local news transmission was like a looping, 10,000-year-old distress signal floating through the stars.
It’s like that movie poster from “Alien”: In space, no one can hear you scream.
The Nielsen ratings, which were released right before Christmas, paint a pretty clear picture of the local news hierarchy.
KTVB Channel 7’s evening and morning news obliterated the competition, as usual. Its biggest number was a 10.4 share for “News at Ten” during the week.
KTRV’s news couldn’t expect to survive with a 1.0 for “News at Nine.” And a 0.4 share for “News Edge at 10”? That’s about 2,000 viewers.
Those results didn’t make economic sense when there are 507,000 adults 18 and older in the target market. One rating point equals 1 percent — or 5,070 adults.
(Check my blog for more local-news ratings in November.)
Keeping with the sci-fi theme, let’s just imagine that Channel 12’s news programming got assimilated by the unstoppable Borg — KTVB.
Meanwhile, KIVI Channel 6 and KBOI Channel 2 fought over the scraps. Their 10 o’clock newscasts drew their largest shares during the week with 3.2 and 3.0, respectively.
New Fox affiliate KNIN Channel 9 pulled a disappointing 0.9 for its “News at Nine,” but that number probably will rise a tad over time.
Otherwise, the next 12 months should be just another predictable, year-long TV news cycle in the Treasure Valley. More quick-hit stories. More colorful graphics about neat-looking cloud formations. More promotional gobbledygook about “Storm Tracker” weather teams, being “first,” being “only” and — my personal pet peeve — being in “widescreen” format.
(Until it’s in HD, that is not something to brag about in 2012.)
Bottom line: High-fives to KTVB for another trouncing. And kudos to the survivors for licking their wounds and heading right back into battle.
ENTERTAINMENT NOTES
LET IT SNOW: It’s not the mountain’s fault. Let’s not hate on Bogus Basin. But it’s time to utter the unthinkable: At what point does Bogus quietly consider pulling the plug on the entire ski season?
Shhhh! Would it even be legal? Assuming the mountain could open for even one day, I’d suspect no. All those season passes need to be “honored.” Still. Could it happen?
All I know is that Bogus has its work cut out for it trying to sell season passes for next season.
The mountain will try to drum up goodwill with a “Get Louder for Powder” party Jan. 18 for season pass holders. (Details about the Basque Block event are on page 23.)
Singer Curtis Stigers will headline. Beers and burgers will be cheap. Nevertheless, for many Mother Nature-cursing skiers and boarders, it probably sounds about as much fun as catching an edge.
BOUQUET: News traveled quickly after I wrote on my blog last week that The Bouquet, 1010 Main St., had finally lived up to the rumors and closed. The Downtown icon has struggled mightily in recent years, plagued by what appeared to be poor management.
But a new owner — Mercury Management — plans to reopen The Bouquet as soon as March.
The name will stay the same. The wooden bar will remain. The pool table will go. Tables and chairs will be replaced. New decor is coming.
Live music will be part of its future equation. Club nights, too.
CONCERT NOTES: Rockers Nickelback are coming to the Idaho Center on June 20 with opening acts Bush and Seether. ... Local indie-rock band Low-Fi plans to go on hiatus indefinitely after a Jan. 20 gig at Tom Grainey’s. ... Hannah’s, 621 W. Main St., has launched a free “Reilly & Manion Americana Jam” Thursdays with local musicians Bernie Reilly and Dave Manion.
Michael Deeds appears Thursdays on Channel 6 News, at 12:40 p.m. Fridays on NewsRadio 99.1 FM, and from 9 to 10 p.m. Sundays on “The Other Studio” on 94.9 FM The River.
