The numbers have changed slightly in the latest Nielsen ratings book for local television news, but Menands station WNYT, Channel 13, remains the leader in five of six slots.

The July book can be considered the least important of the four seasonal ratings periods. Television repeats and summer weather persuade many people to break away from their normal viewing habits. So ratings numbers dip.

“It’s the least watched of the books because the viewing patterns are not typical,” said Steve Baboulis, vice president and general manager at WNYT.

Still, news directors like to see numbers add up in their favor. “We’ll take it,” Baboulis said.

WNYT is the clear leader at 6 a.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. The NBC affiliate has a slight lead at 5 p.m., posting a 5 rating and 17 share to edge both Albany’s WTEN, Channel 10, and Niskayuna’s WRGB, Channel 6, each with 5 ratings and 15 shares. WXXA, Fox 23, registered a 2 rating and 5 share.

At noon, longtime midday favorite WRGB posted a 5 rating and a 29 share to lead WTEN with 3/14 numbers.

WNYT is no longer in the noon competition. In March, the station began an hourlong broadcast at 11 a.m.; the late morning show received a 1 rating and 7 share, similar to numbers earned in the May ratings book.

“I’m very happy with the program that we’re putting on,” Baboulis said. “When you change time periods, you have to give it some time for people to find it. I think as people find it, they like it, and we’re happy with the progress that we’re making.”

Progress is a key word for local television affiliates as summer ends. New shows, and new episodes of existing comedies and dramas, will return viewers to their remote controls and their favorites.

“Labor Day is the unofficial end of TV summer,” Baboulis said, looking forward to launch of the new prime time schedule Sept. 22.

Boost from Olympics

“The good news for us this time was we had the Olympics, which was a monumental way to promote NBC’s new shows,” Baboulis said. “And the Olympics was garnering double or triple the audience of every other network combined on certain nights.”