In the big picture of TV, the rating for the live trial coverage would not reach into the weekly top 20 cable ratings. In addition, cable ratings often are a fraction of broadcast TV ratings. The Chmura trial estimate means 0.7 percent of American homes with Court TV were tuned to the channel between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday last week. Using the industry formula, Court TV was seen in an estimated 357,000 households during that period. Court TV reaches 51 million households nationwide.
Court TV is one of the mid-size cable channels.
Throughout the trial, coverage also was run on the channel's Internet site. Court TV ran highlights Monday. It also televised a 20-minute interview with Mark and Lynda Chmura, who spoke to anchor Fred Graham, as well as one with key witness Mike Kleber. The Chmura coverage followed on the heels of Court TV's coverage of the trial of former Carolina Panthers player Rae Carruth, who was acquitted of first-degree murder but convicted of conspiracy in the slaying of his pregnant girlfriend. It's an interesting issue, and it's a good trial for us to cover.