ABC 7 leads in losing battle at 10 p.m.

Jerry Taft, Cheryl Burton, Ron Magers, Kathy Brock and Mark Giangreco

Jerry Taft, Cheryl Burton, Ron Magers, Kathy Brock and Mark Giangreco

Mild November weather and addition of a fourth competitor at 10 p.m. helped tighten the battle over a dwindling Chicago television news audience in the latest Nielsen ratings sweep.

Sporting a brand new set and the city’s most familiar anchor lineup, ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 again finished first in total viewership at 4, 5, 6 and 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. But its late news ratings were down 13 percent from one year ago, representing a net loss of more than 41,700 households.

Year-to-year at 10 p.m., NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 increased 2 percent, while CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 declined 29 percent. Correcting an earlier mistake here, Tribune Media WGN-Channel 9 increased 29 percent in the time slot.

November marked the first sweep in 35 years with WGN competing for news viewers at 10 p.m. Although winding up in fourth place overall, it still managed to siphon off more than 93,830 households, presumably at the expense of ABC 7 and CBS 2.

As always, the more important prize at 10 p.m. was for viewers between 25 and 54 — the demographic that translates into advertising revenue. While ABC 7 and NBC 5 tied in rating, NBC 5 led by one share point, according to Nielsen’s calculation. It marked the seventh consecutive month that NBC 5 won or tied for first place in the adult demo.

The winner in mornings was the “must watch” WGN Morning News, drawing more viewers at 6 a.m. than most newscasts throughout the day or night on any other station. Once again WGN also beat Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 at 9 p.m.

The November sweep period ran from October 29 to November 25.

Here are Nielsen ratings and shares for all television households at 10 p.m. Monday through Friday:

▪ ABC 7: 8.1 rating; 14 share
▪ NBC 5: 6.7 rating; 11 share
▪ CBS 2: 3.0 rating; 5 share
▪ WGN: 2.7 rating; 5 share

Here are Nielsen ratings and shares for 25-to-54 viewers at 10 p.m. Monday through Friday:

▪ NBC 5: 3.2 rating; 9 share
▪ ABC 7: 3.2 rating; 8 share
▪ WGN: 1.3 rating; 4 share
▪ CBS 2: 1.2 rating; 3 share

Here are Nielsen ratings and shares for all television households at 9 p.m. Monday through Friday:

▪ WGN: 4.1 rating; 6 share
▪ Fox 32: 2.7 rating; 4 share

Here are Nielsen ratings and shares for 25-to-54 viewers at 9 p.m. Monday through Friday:

▪ WGN: 1.8 rating; 4 share
▪ Fox 32: 1.5 rating; 4 share

One rating point represents 34,752 households; share is percent of sets in use.