Ellen DeGeneres’ daytime talk show dropped dramatically in the audience after the star’s toxic workplace scandal that dominated the headlines last year.
Citing Nielsen’s ratings, the New York Times reports that “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” lost more than 1 million viewers over the course of the show’s 18th season.
The show’s final season began in September 2020 with an apology from the comedian about the allegations of a toxic workplace that ruined the show over the summer.
“I learned that things happen here that should never have happened,” said DeGeneres on the program at the time. “I take this very seriously. And I want to say that I am sorry for the people who have been affected.”
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According to the Times, the 18th season premiere had the biggest audience of any season opener in the past four years for “Ellen”. However, over the past six months, the show has averaged 1.5 million viewers.
The Ellen DeGeneres Show has lost more than 1 million viewers since the start of the current season.
(NBC)
In contrast, during the same period of the previous season, it averaged about 2.6 million viewers.
The show is being topped by other competing daytime shows, including “Dr. Phil” (3.1 million) and “Live: With Kelly and Ryan” (2.7 million).
It currently supports a handful of other programs hosted by celebrities like “Maury” (1.4 million), “The Kelly Clarkson Show” (1.3 million), “Rachael Ray” (1.2 million), “Tamron Hall “(1.1 million) and” The Steve Wilkos Show “(1.1 million), according to the outlet.
Some other daytime talk shows also dropped in audience last year, but none as high as DeGeneres’ 43% decline.
The drop in DeGeneres’ audience includes a 38% decline in the number of women under 54, his primary audience.
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In addition, the program’s ad revenue was also affected by the decline.
From September to January of the 2019-2020 season, the program raised $ 131 million from advertisers, the Times reports, citing research firm Kantar. This time, in the same period, “Ellen” earned just $ 105 million – a drop of about 20%.
In addition, DeGeneres’ prime-time game show, “Ellen’s Game of Games”, has also lost 32% of its viewers this season, according to the Times, including 35% in the advertiser-friendly adult audience.
Fox News looked for representatives from DeGeneres, its show and Warner Bros.
In a statement to the Times, David McGuire, a Warner Bros. executive. ‘Telepictures, which produces the program, said: “‘ The Ellen DeGeneres Show ‘remains one of the three most-watched syndicated interview programs this season.”
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He said the decline in audience may be a result of factors external to the program’s controversy, including changes in the television audience during the pandemic.
“While the broadcast is slowing down and Covid is challenging production, we look forward to bringing back our live audience and a 19th season filled with all the hilarious and moving moments that made ‘Ellen’ one of the oldest and most successful shows. most successful interviews in history, “said the executive.
The scandal broke out last summer, when officials anonymously reported having suffered “racism, fear and intimidation” on the set, while DeGeneres herself faced accusations of rude behavior.
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The report was followed by accusations of sexual misconduct and the promotion of a precarious work environment against superiors. Writer Kevin Leman and producers Ed Glavin and Jonathan Norman “separated” from the show after these charges.