This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The household numbers are in from the February sweeps, and the late-news competition is the closest it's been for a while — although KUTV-Ch. 2 continues to lead pack.

Keep in mind that these are household numbers only. They don't include demographics, which are the numbers that stations use to sell advertising. And the whole reason for TV ratings is to sell advertising.

According to Nielsen, here are approximate household numbers — live plus same-day viewing on DVRs — for the Monday-Friday 10 p.m. newscasts on KUTV-Ch. 2, KSL-Ch. 5 and KTVX-Ch. 4 and the 9 p.m. newscasts on KSTU-Ch. 13:

KUTV-Ch. 2 • 65,500 homes (down 1 percent from February 2015)

KSL-Ch. 5 • 56,600 (up 7 percent)

KSTU-Ch. 13 • 41,600 (down 17 percent)

KTVX-Ch. 4 • 19,500 (down 16 percent)

In February 2015, Channel 2 led Channel 5 by approximately 13,500 households (20 percent); in February 2016 that lead was cut to 8,900 households (14 percent).

And here are the household numbers — live plus same-day, rounded off to the nearest 100 — for other local newscasts throughout the day:

4:30-5 A.M..

KUTV • 7,100

KSTU • 4,400

KSL • 3,500

KTVX • 3.500

5-5:30 A.M.

KUTV • 8,000

KSTU • 4,400

KSL • 4,400

KTVX • 2,700

5:30-6 A.M.

KUTV • 15,900

KSL • 7,100

KSTU • 5,300

KTVX • 4,400

6-7 A.M.

KUTV • 23,900

KSL • 15,000

KSTU • 12,400

KTVX • 7,100

7-8 A.M.

KUTV • 27,400

KSTU • 23,000

MIDDAY (KTVX 11 a.m-noon; KSTU noon-12:30 p.m.; KUTV and KSL noon-1 p.m.)

KUTV • 23,900

KSL • 12,400

KSTU • 9,700

KTVX • 7,100

5-5:30 P.M.

KUTV • 38,000

KSL • 32,700

KSTU • 22,100

KTVX • 18,600

6-6:30 P.M.

KSL • 41,600

KUTV • 41,600

KSTU • 23,900

KTVX • 15,000

6:30-7 P.M.

KSL • 27,400