It's almost a sweep for Channel 5 news

WCVB-TV (Channel 5) dominated the May sweeps rating period, beating its competition in total viewers in almost every newscast.

WFXT-TV (Channel 25), however, led the pack in terms of most total viewers in late-night news during the week, thanks to its 10 p.m. newscast, and WHDH-TV (Channel 7) won the hotly contested 11 p.m. newscast.

WCVB attracted an average of 188,400 viewers to its 6 p.m. newscast, followed by WHDH with 139,100 viewers, and WBZ-TV (Channel 4) with 84,500. WCVB's station manager and president, Bill Fine, said he was pleased with the May numbers, released yesterday, which put his station in first place in the 5 a.m., 6 a.m., noon, 5 p.m., and 6 p.m. newscasts. WHDH landed in second place for all of those slots except 5 a.m., where WBZ placed second.

"To win six out of seven is always an achievement," Fine said.

WFXT's 10 p.m. newscast averaged 186,100 viewers, the most that any Boston station got for a late-night newscast. "[O ur] focus on delivering the best news product in New England has never been stronger," WFXT vice president and news director Lisa Hall said in a statement.

WHDH topped the 11 p.m. newscast with 185,200 viewers, regaining its lead over WCVB, which had 176,800 viewers. The two stations have been in a dogfight over the 11 p.m. slot. In the February sweeps, WCVB beat WHDH, which had won the slot last November. WHDH has traditionally won that time slot.

"Even as NBC's primetime has really weakened pretty much, viewers still prefer our late news and that makes us feel good," said Mike Carson, vice president and general manager of WHDH.

Just over a week ago, WCVB began broadcasting its newscasts in high definition. Fine said it's too early to tell whether the change has made an impact in ratings. In March, Fine also introduced a new anchor team, pairing Ed Harding as a co-anchor with longtime veteran Natalie Jacobson for the 6 p.m. show.

The newer "7 News at 10," which airs on WLVI-TV (Channel 56) but is staffed by WHDH, captured 36,800 viewers for its second sweeps period since the Tribune Co. sold WLVI (known as the CW56) to Sunbeam Television last year.

WBZ remained in third place in most of the day and evening newscasts.