ABC 7 Chicago

While overall viewership of Chicago’s 10 p.m. newscasts continued to decline, ABC-owned WLS-Channel 7 emerged the winner of the just-ended November sweep.

Preliminary results of the monthlong Nielsen ratings survey showed ABC 7 in first place among total households and among viewers between 25 and 54. Final figures will be released Monday.

But ABC 7’s 6.5 rating (211,334 households) was down 6 percent from last year, reflecting the overall decline of 6.8 percent in combined audience for the four 10 p.m. Monday-through-Friday newscasts. In second place was NBC-owned WMAQ-Channel 5 with a 4.4 rating (143,057 households) — down 8 percent. In third was CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 with a 3.0 rating (97,539 households) — down 16 percent.

The only station to increase year-over-year at 10 p.m. was fourth-place Tribune Broadcasting WGN-Channel 9 with a 2.5 rating (81,282 households) — up 8 percent.

At 9 p.m. weekdays WGN remained the news leader with a 3.6 rating (117,046 households) — down 2 percent from last year. Fox-owned WFLD-Channel 32 had a 2.1 rating (68,277 households) — up 16 percent.

WGN also led in mornings among total households and among viewers between 25 and 54.

Wednesday’s comment of the day: Ben Venuti: How about a belated turkey to ABC 7 and Cheryl Burton who teased last night during a “Wheel of Fortune” commercial break about a dangerous food you should avoid. She didn't mention the food . . . had to watch at 10 p.m. How many people consumed romaine lettuce in the interim? ABC is always looking out for the viewer.