C.J.: KARE, 'CCO rassle over ratings, asterisk

There is no asterisk in KARE11's promo, marketing guy Erik Candiani said Tuesday, while affirming that his station is "The #1 newscast for adults 18-54 in this market."

As Discovery Channel celebrates "Shark Week," and FM107.1 observes "Snark Week," it looks as if some genuine animosity has surfaced between KARE11 and WCCO-TV. Fun!

I wrote Tuesday about WCCO being ticked with KARE for overstating its stature as the most-watched station at 10 p.m. WCCO-TV news director Mike Caputa said: "They had to change that because Nielsen told them that was not true. They put on the bottom an asterisk, they're using on 18 to 49. We told our staff last week, we had a station meeting, 'Don't be confused.' "

Caputa told me he told his troops WCCO "is most-watched in every newscast we produce" meaning viewers between "2 years old until you're dead."

Candiani got back to me after the deadline for Tuesday's column, and we've communicated via e-mail and phone.

"There has never been an asterisk anywhere to be found in the spot, and it actually lists 'Adults 18-54'. (Wouldn't want to miss those additional 5 years)," read an e-mail from Candiani.

"That was included the very first time it aired, and wasn't 'added' as someone incorrectly led you to believe. It was a genuine 'Thank You' to our viewers… and we are quite flattered that you took notice of our work. Simply because something is repeated over and over doesn't necessarily make it true, frustrating as it may be for those saying it. We are, without a doubt or any number manipulating — the #1 newscast at 10 p.m. for adults 18 to 54 in the state, and have been for some time."

He even brought up the conversational bullet point on which Caputa and I agree. "Like you mentioned in the article, they are able to look at the numbers however they'd like," said Candiani.

I don't want to upset Candiani, because edge should be cultivated, but in the promo in question, the note reading "Jan.-June 2013 Nielsen adults, 18-54" doesn't appear on screen until 26 seconds into the 30-second spot. So you could call it a footnote or asterisk. See for yourself at www.vimeo.com/71772491.

With a Nielsen staffer declining to take sides, I sought consensus by forwarding to WCCO these digits I received from Candiani for May: KARE11 had a 6.6 rating and a 17 share compared to WCCO's 6.1 rating and 15 share. I stupidly asked Caputa if that's how things shook out in May.

"No, but not sure which demo they would be talking about. Not impossible but my research guy can't find it," wrote Caputa attaching three other ratings categories in which WCCO had better numbers than KARE.

We all know they can't both be "Most Watched."

Sheletta Brundidge, the former Hubbard Broadcasting staffer, gave birth Thursday in Houston, Texas, to Cameron Joyce — or as the e-mail announced, "C.J. Jr. has arrived."

My kind of childbirth. No labor pains. No saving for college.

"We … look forward to watching her grow and mature into a strong black woman who will take over the world!" Sheletta wrote. "She's 7 pounds and 11 ounces. They took her early. Imagine how BIG she would be if she had stayed in another three weeks!?!?"

C.J. Jr. looks like a bruiser. She will have to be to wrestle brother Brandon, 1, for doughnuts and fried chicken, neither of which is heart-healthy. Andrew, 7, is probably in shock. Congrats!

C.J. can be reached at cj@startribune.com and seen on Fox 9's "Buzz." E-mailers, please state a subject.