Iowa Public Television

IOWA PUBLIC TELEVISION’S STATE FAIR COVERAGE
AGAIN SERVES HUGE AUDIENCES

JOHNSTON, IA – On Wednesday, August 15, viewers in tens of thousands of central Iowa households watched Iowa Public Television’s Fair 2012 program – making it the most-watched program in its timeslot, according to a recent coincidental study by Nielsen Media Research. The study sampled the Des Moines-Ames market.

In addition, Fair coverage on www.iptv.org  – which includes 435 video features from this year and previous years’ coverage – was viewed more than 7,000 times.

The program was part three of a six-part series of Iowa State Fair highlights produced by Iowa Public Television. The hour-long program earned a 9 rating, 20 share in the Des Moines-Ames market. (This means 9 percent of households with televisions in the viewing area were watching Fair 2012, and 20 percent of households watching television in the viewing area were watching Fair 2012.) By comparison, the second-place program in this timeslot earned a 6 rating and a 13 share.

Statewide projections of ratings for Fair 2012, based on historical analysis and this year’s numbers, indicate 200,000 people watched the Wednesday evening episode of Fair 2012.

Iowa Public Television’s Fair coverage is consistently among the network’s most-watched programs. Now in its 42nd year, IPTV’s Fair programs feature highlights of everything from the tractor pulls to the Cultural Center, including Queen contests, food features, FFA profiles, and more.

 “More Iowans watched our State Fair coverage than any other program last week, which speaks to the keen interest Iowans have in coverage of events in our state, and shows that Iowans turn to Iowa Public Television for that coverage,” said Daniel K. Miller, executive director and general manager of Iowa Public Television. “These programs are an important part of our year-round commitment to showcase Iowa like no one else. These numbers – and the feedback we receive in our booth, on our website, via email, and on the phone – indicate viewers think we’re doing the right thing.”

Most of the stories featured in Fair 2012 are available to watch online at www.iptv.org/fair.

Funding for Fair 2012 was provided by EMC Insurance, MidAmerican Energy, and the Iowa Council on Foundations. For more information about Iowa Public Television’s market-leading Fair coverage, contact Jennifer Konfrst at 515-242-3146.