KOB-TV has held on to the number one position in the crucial race for ratings at 10 p.m. It was a very narrow victory, but a win just the same. KRQE-TV was right behind and KOAT-TV found itself in the unusual position of number three at 10 p.m. when the three network affiliates showcase their news muscle. The tight ratings fight guarantees the intense local TV news wars are going to stay that way. February was a "sweeps" month when the stations load up on all kinds of bizarre crime stories and other such fare to boost their ratings and thus their ad revenue. Here's our exclusive report from our deep TV insider:

"KOB won the 10 p.m. news by a point or so, with KRQE in second and KOAT in third... if you're looking at weekdays. If you take a seven day average, KOB beat out KOAT by a fraction of a point with 13 in third place. KOAT won @ 5 & 6 p.m. with KOB edging up @ 5p.m. with newly added anchor Nelson Martinez.

Keep in mind, all of the numbers so far come from overnight household averages, and do not include age demographics, which are key to selling advertising. Those should be in by the end of March. It seems every ratings period it gets closer to a three-way horse race."

Thanks Mr. Insider. Those may be the closest news ratings in the history of the ABQ market.

THOMPSON SAGA UPDATE

Political insiders are still baffled as to who sponsored that 'push' poll that swept into Republican households in Bernalillo County Tuesday night. (See Mar. 10 report) State GOP Ex. Director Tom Carroll tells me the party had "absolutely nothing" to do with it, and have no idea who or why the poll bashing Thompson for his DWI arrest and Big Bill's support of him was done. Theories abound, including the unlikely one that Thompson's supporters commissioned the anonymous poll to gauge the damage done. Whoever did it was likely in violation of some election laws that call for disclosure.

Meanwhile, GOP business luminary Carol Monroe, head of "Republicans for Richardson" phoned in Wednesday to tell me she will not seek the seat Thompson is apparently vacating (we won't know for sure until filing on Mar. 16) Carol did say she had been 'getting "two or three phone calls a day" urging her to run, but business commitments make it impossible. She added that she still supports Big Bill and Thompson, who she would like to see stay in the race. As for Thompson, KOB-TV is reporting that he has checked into an alcohol treatment center.

ON THE MEDIA FRONT

A reader in D.C. reports that newsman Chris Wallace of the Fox News Network singled out Thompson and his sponsorship of DWI measures and his subsequent arrest labeling it "hypocrisy." That was the theme in general in the national media and local TV stations. As for the state's newspapers, the coverage has been lighter and contrasts with the heavy play in the electronic media and internet. The ABQ Tribune is the first to editorialize over Thompson's actions, damning him with faint praise. The Trib editors congratulate Joe for getting out of the Public Regulation Commission race and say after he clears up his DWI he might come back politically. The inference being he will NOT get the paper's endorsement for political office this election year.

SPECIAL AD RATES FOR NM PRIMARY CANDIDATES

Candidates will be at the starting gate next Tuesday when they file their petition signatures. I am offering special primary ad rates for political office seekers on this web site; an ideal way to reach the truly politically involved in NM--those who vote and those who frame the races. So give me a call (505-243-4059) or e mail and let's get your campaign before the state's most likely voters. Call now and do a two month agreement and I will post your ad for free for the rest of March!

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
Not for reproduction without permission of the author