Even before effects of WGA strike are felt, Live program ratings for network daytime are down this season at a critical juncture as drama programming transitions to scripts written mostly by non-members of the Writers Guild.
On average, the three networks are down double digits this season versus year ago, and this is before we see any possible effects on dramatic storylines due to non-union scripts (note that ABC’s The View and CBS’s The Price is Right continue on largely unaffected by the strike, although ratings for both are down in key female demographics along with the rest of the daypart).
The good news? While “live” program ratings are down, a preliminary look at commercial minute ratings in this daypart (the “C3” metric which most ad buys were based on this season) reveal some of the lost “live” audience is being recaptured via delayed viewing on DVRs.
