This news that The Ellen DeGeneres Show has been renewed through 2014 comes just as ratings showed her debut as the newest American Idol judge improved a whopping 10% over last week’s show. And last night’s show was taped — not live. She helped give the series its biggest audience since the season premiere as well as win the 8 PM-10PM primetime night in eyeballs and 18-to-49, according to preliminary nationals from Nielsen:

BURBANK, Calif. (February 10, 2010) – Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution (WBDTD) has renewed Telepictures Productions’ Emmy® Award–winning talk program “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” for three additional seasons on the owned-and-operated television stations of the NBC Local Media Division. The joint announcement was made today by Ken Werner, President, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, and John Wallace, President, NBC Local Media Division.

“Ellen is one of those unique personalities that comes along once in a generation,” said Werner. “Her program has been embraced by viewers as their generation’s talk franchise, and we couldn’t be happier that the NBC stations will continue to have ‘Ellen’ as the cornerstone of their syndicated lineup for years to come.”

Ellen DeGeneres said, “I’m so excited to sign on for three more years at NBC. They were the ones that believed in my show from day one. So, I’m thrilled to know I’ll be here ’til at least 2014. Things will be a lot different by then. I won’t be dancing over my coffee table anymore. Through the magic of 3-D, I’ll be dancing over YOURS!”

Under terms of the multiyear deal, “Ellen” will continue to be broadcast on NBC’s 10 owned-and-operated stations – including WNBC-TV in New York, KNBC-TV in Los Angeles and WMAQ-TV in Chicago – through the end of the 2013–2014 television season. The agreement furthers a long-standing relationship between WBDTD and NBC on behalf of “Ellen,” which launched on the NBC-owned stations in September 2003 and had been previously renewed through 2010–2011. The three-year extension will take “Ellen” through its 11th season on the air.

“Ellen is a singular talent who has the rare ability to truly connect and engage with the audience,” said Wallace. “Her show has been the foundation of our programming schedule since its launch, and we’re thrilled that ‘Ellen’ will remain with our stations for many years to come.”

“We are excited to be extending our relationship with NBC, who have been great partners for ‘Ellen’ and Telepictures over the last seven years,” said Hilary Estey McLoughlin, President, Telepictures Productions. “Ellen is a true icon, a brilliant and beloved personality who has universally connected with the audience, and we look forward to her continued ratings growth.”

Currently in its seventh season, “Ellen” ranks as the #2 talk show (tied) in syndication among the key talk demographic of Women 25–54, behind only “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” Season to date, “Ellen” posts yearly gains among Households and all Women demos versus the same time frame from last year: 2.3 Household rating is up +5% from 2.2, Women 25–54 rating of 1.6 is up +14% from 1.4, Women 18–49 rating of 1.4 is up +17% from 1.2, and Women 18–34 rating of 1.2 is up +20% from 1.0. (Source: Live + SD AA Ratings, Premiere–02/01/09 vs. Premiere–01/31/10)

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