AFTER NBC AXES HIM, MIGHT LENO JUMP TO FOX?

Six weeks after Jay Leno moved to primetime, NBC's wait-and-see approach to his sinking ratings is testing the patience of affiliate stations across the country.

The Peacock network maintains that putting Leno on five nights a week will pay off when fresh episodes of his show go up against reruns on other networks, but so far Leno has been a disappointing lead-in for the late newscasts that follow him.

After a strong start, his program at 10 p.m. is down sharply from its premiere week and is drawing one-quarter fewer viewers than its scripted predecessors a year ago. This is having a ripple effect on the local newscast and late night.

Ratings for late newscasts at NBC affiliates in 44 of the top 56 metered markets are down this year, falling an average of 13 percent in the first four weeks of the season compared with a year ago. In 10 of the top 25 major markets, the numbers are worse, with New York down 22 percent, Philadelphia off 37 percent and Miami down 30 percent.

NBC argues there could more factors at work than Leno and points out that some stations, such as Detroit, are up this season. Still, ratings for NBC affiliates are down more than those of its competitors. ABC affiliates' newscasts are down 10 percent, while CBS' are up 8 percent.

MEMO TO MURDOCH AND AILES: WHEN NBC PULLS THE PLUG, SIGN LENO TO DO A LATE NIGHT SHOW ON FOX!