KMBC #1 among ABC stations ... in big cities

Every now and then, I receive a version of the following press release from KMBC-9 (and yes, I'm going to keep calling it 9 even though it's broadcasting digitally off some UHF frequency) bragging about how it is the "Number One ABC Affiliate in America!"

This PR is done not so much to encourage the staff, though I'm sure it does, as it is to promote the Hearst-Argyle Television company, which is the largest independent owner of ABC affiliates in the country. It's a message to ABC's owner, Walt Disney, and to Wall Street that Hearst remains a force in broadcasting. (Wall Street not so much, actually — Hearst, a private company, holds most of HTV's stock.)

Note, however, that KMBC is only ranking itself No. 1 among the top 50 DMAs in America, which means for all we know there is an even more dominant ABC affiliate in Shreveport or El Paso or Fort Wayne or any of the other 160 markets not in Nielsen's nifty fifty.

How well it did in the May book won't be known until ... um, I find some time to go over the May book, which arrived Monday.

PR follows.....

KMBC IS #1 ABC AFFLIATE IN AMERICA! 

KANSAS CITY, MO (June 19, 2009) KMBC ranks as the #1 ABC affiliate in the country during the May rating period. 

KMBC ranked #1 among ABC affiliates in primetime programming with hit shows like “Dancing with the Stars,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and “Desperate Housewives.”  This marked the second time this year that KMBC has earned this distinction.  

KMBC 9 News also ranked #1 in late news among ABC affiliates.  During the month of May, KMBC audience shares grew 46% over its 9:45 p.m. network lead-in.  KMBC 9 News at 10:00 p.m. has consistently ranked among the top three ABC affiliates in the nation for late news ratings, three years in a row. 

Rank based on affiliates in top 50 DMA’s.