Kerry, Bush Split Ohio

In the syndicated-TV talk race between the first couple and their Democratic challengers, John Kerry and Teresa Heinz Kerry, the results were as even as the political race seems to be.

In the key battleground of Ohio (no Republican has lost the state and captured the White House), the two split the state's four metered markets, with the Kerry's winning Cleveland and Dayton, and the Bushes Cincinnati and Columbus.

Each couple made an appearance on King World's Dr. Phil to talk about parenting.

Overall, the Bush's scored the highest numbers in the 56 metered markets with a 5.2 rating/13 share average for their Sept. 29 interview with Dr. Phil and his wife, Robin, compared with a 5.0/13 for the Kerry's appearance Oct. 6.

The Bush's won in two thirds of the markets (would that make them red markets?), but the Kerry's won in four of the top six markets, New York. L.A., San Francisco, and Boston.

John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.