What does Market 8 represent- a region, a number of viewers?

November 15, 2011 7:09 PM

Please explain to me the hierarchy of News Markets?

I work for the local news in Northern Arizona and my assignment today was big enough that my footage was picked up and used by the big boys (multiple stations I'm told) in Phx for their 10 O'clock news broadcasts. It isn't unusual for them to use our work (instead of sending their own crew out into the wild) but it happens to be my first. So my boss congratulated me on it and said "Your footage is great and I've uploaded it to all of them in Phx, I think that's Market 11.. no, I think it's larger than that, It's Market 8."

So neat, makes the resume portfolio that much broader and justifies the hard work I put in today, considering the shady shit being pulled to keep the press out. Buuut what does it really mean in technical terms? Is market 8 a regional term or does it indicate a level of viewership instead?


Thanks : )

posted by MansRiot to media & arts (4 answers total)

Market ranking is by viewership in a city/region. Nielsen has a pdf comparing market ranks for the 2008/09 and 2009/10 seasons. Phoenix was ranked 12th in both seasons.
posted by plastic_animals at 7:37 PM on November 15, 2011

I don't know about Arizona, but I've always heard it referred to in terms of Designated Market Area (DMA), which is how Nielsen designates media markets by number of "TV Homes." However, eight doesn't enter into it with Phoenix--it's currently ranked 13 (down one from the 12 of last year). You can see the list of DMAs in rank order here (PDF). Phoenix is certainly one of the largest DMAs in the West, however.

8, 12, 13... still a really great accomplishment in a big market. Congratulations!
posted by HonoriaGlossop at 7:39 PM on November 15, 2011

He initially said 12 or 13 which puts it right into what you've both said. I'll read that PDF and pass it along- Thanks to you both!
posted by MansRiot at 7:44 PM on November 15, 2011

Yes, number of viewers. Getting facetime on a bigger market means that of all the available coverage for that bigger market to use, yours was the best.

As far as the hierarchy goes, it is very vertical. I know a guy who (made up places) was a lead investigative reporter in Las Vegas, moved up to bottom-rung assignment reporter in LA, and then moved up to backup/weekend anchor in San Jose.

There is also a metric of the ratings of the station. Being on the highest rated station in a smaller market might be better than being on a lower rated station in a larger market. (This may track to actual viewers- if your viewership is 100,000 households in the smaller market, and 80,000 households in the larger market, the smaller market job would be viewed as the better job.)
posted by gjc at 7:16 AM on November 16, 2011