In what undoubtedly will be an incredible blow to our community self-esteem, Sacramento has dropped from being the 19th to the 20th top TV market in the nation, according to Nielsen Media Services.

Orlando-Daytona Beach-Melbourne has passed us to claim the No. 19 spot. That market has 1,395,830 viewers, as opposed to our paltry 1,368,680 viewers. (Our market, it should be noted, also includes Modesto and Stockton). Not to fear, though: We're still ahead of St. Louis, at 21st, with 1,228,980 viewers.

What does this all mean, beyond civic pride?

Not much.

"It really doesn't affect ad sales for our stations," says News10 general manager Russell Postell. "As long as you stay in the top 20, you don't see much change. Now, in 1997, when we jumped from number 21 to 19, we saw an increase in revenue."