Debmar-Mercury is extending production on its syndicated daytime talker, “The Wendy Williams Show,” through June and July. This is the second consecutive year that the production company will extend its production schedule on the show.
According to Friday’s announcement, the decision was made following the show’s recent metered market May Sweeps ratings a 1.4 metered market household rating and 5 share, That’s a 9 percent increase year-over-year on the share — despite a 3 percent decrease in the show’s lead-in programming.
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“We believe the ratings strength we’ve seen over the past season and during the May sweeps, despite having weaker lead-ins, is due in part to remaining in year-round production since last summer,” Debmar-Mercury co-presidents Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein said in a statement. “By keeping the lights on throughout June and July, in a quiet period traditionally reserved for first-run shows to take their summer hiatuses, we intend to once again follow a strategy that has worked very well for us this past year.”
The production company would also like to take advantage of the summer break for students.
“By remaining in production, we can offer Wendy’s younger fans that are home from school and college the opportunity to get their take on the day’s hottest topics and guests from a talented, multi-faceted host whose rising popularity is a reflection of her universal appeal,” the co-presidents added.
Also read: ‘Wendy Williams Show’ Renewed Through 2017
“The Wendy Williams Show” has already been renewed through 2017. According to the announcement, Wendy Williams is one of only four daytime talkers whose show premiered in the last 12 years that are still airing.
Dr. Phil, Ellen DeGeneres and Steve Wilkos are the other three.
Update: An earlier version of this article mistakenly reported a 5.0 rating when in fact it’s a 5.0 share.