Don't look now, but another TV sweeps period is fast approaching. On a national level it means blockbuster shows, major plot twists and and far fewer repeats. It is the time when TV stations set their ad rates. On a local level it means a steady diet of major news "investigations." The key segment is the 10 p.m. news and the winner of that time period generally can boast of being the "Most watched news station." Except for a brief period in the past few years the leader has been KMBC-TV9, the local ABC affiliate. The sweeps ratings period for May 2008 will run from Thursday, April 24 through Wednesday, May 21. That means the few folks who are filling out Nielsen ratings diaries and recording the TV shows they are watching will help determine the rates stations can charge advertisers. Nationally, since 1951, Nielsen has been keeping score of the top programs. Here are the top TV shows for each year (McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television, 4th ed):
