WHYY's Phenomenal Ratings Month... #1?

[atthestars]

So WHYY had a GREAT January Ratings period (#2 overall).

But I noticed they've been advertising on their great ratings. These three images were an ad in an article I was reading, and according to the fine print it's from the Nielsen January 2022 period. No further information if it's overall, or a specific demographic. But WHYY as #1 in Mornings? #1 in "late" afternoons? #1 on the weekends?

For the turmoil and turnover they've experienced recently, this is truly impressive.

 

[ZantennaG1]

So WHYY had a GREAT January Ratings period (#2 overall).

But I noticed they've been advertising on their great ratings. These three images were an ad in an article I was reading, and according to the fine print it's from the Nielsen January 2022 period. No further information if it's overall, or a specific demographic. But WHYY as #1 in Mornings? #1 in "late" afternoons? #1 on the weekends?

For the turmoil and turnover they've experienced recently, this is truly impressive.

Although the PPM meters should be able to distinguish time of day that people tune in, Nielsen does not, in fact, record this data. This is just the marketing department trying to go for an angle they can elaborate upon and exaggerate. After all, it's advertising, right?

 

[atthestars]

Although the PPM meters should be able to distinguish time of day that people tune in, Nielsen does not, in fact, record this data. This is just the marketing department trying to go for an angle they can elaborate upon and exaggerate. After all, it's advertising, right?

Oh I'm well aware. I once sliced and diced the ratings info for a station I ran to show that I had a 100 share of a specific demographic in a specific area during a specific time.

I'm more pointing out my surprise that WHYY is #1 in these timeframes, especially mornings.

 

[TheBigA]

I'm more pointing out my surprise that WHYY is #1 in these timeframes, especially mornings.

Morning Edition has been NPR's most-listened to show for a very long time. The time periods where WHYY is #1 is largely due to NPR programming, such as Morning Edition, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition. So the "tumult and turnover" you mentioned in the OP are not heard by the audience.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Although the PPM meters should be able to distinguish time of day that people tune in, Nielsen does not, in fact, record this data.

Um, yeah they do. Someone with access to the full data can break the ratings down by daypart. This has been the case for decades. With the PPM, it is possible to look at more specific times, so they could look specifically at the "Fresh Air" hour and compare its ratings to the rest of the market.

Sometimes you'll even see some daypart ranking data data published in newspapers or radio trades.

 

[TheBigA]

Sometimes you'll even see some daypart ranking data data published in newspapers or radio trades.

Correct, For example, Robert Feder lists the top Chicago radio shows in all day parts on his blog. Here are his "robservations" from the January book:

Chicago radio ratings: WBBM Newsradio, V103 tie for first place | Robert Feder

www.robertfeder.com

 

[xmtrland]

PPM encoders embed the time in the code they send. I have to check the timing on the PPM equipment used at the station I work for.

 

[Huff]

So WHYY had a GREAT January Ratings period (#2 overall).

But I noticed they've been advertising on their great ratings. These three images were an ad in an article I was reading, and according to the fine print it's from the Nielsen January 2022 period. No further information if it's overall, or a specific demographic. But WHYY as #1 in Mornings? #1 in "late" afternoons? #1 on the weekends?

For the turmoil and turnover they've experienced recently, this is truly impressive.

WHYY was indeed #1 in AQH Share among Persons 6+ in January in the following dayparts:
Mon-Fri 6a-10a
Mon-Fri 3p-7p
Sat-Sun 6a-Mid
(They were 7th in Mon-Fri 10a-3p)

Of course, 6+ means little but bragging rights, but it should also be noted that in the 25-54 demo, WHYY finished 2nd, 2nd and 1st in those same three respective dayparts.

 

[TheBigA]

WHYY was indeed #1 in AQH Share among Persons 6+ in January in the following dayparts:
Mon-Fri 6a-10a
Mon-Fri 3p-7p
Sat-Sun 6a-Mid
(They were 7th in Mon-Fri 10a-3p)

What airs between 10AM & 3PM you might ask?

10AM: Radio Times, a local Delaware Valley talk show
11AM 1A, an NPR talk show
Noon: Here & Now, from WBUR Boston
2PM: The Takeaway from WNYC
3PM: Fresh Air

The lower ratings during that time may have nothing to do with the programming, but more the activities of the listeners.

 

[CTListener]

What airs between 10AM & 3PM you might ask?

10AM: Radio Times, a local Delaware Valley talk show
11AM 1A, an NPR talk show
Noon: Here & Now, from WBUR Boston
2PM: The Takeaway from WNYC
3PM: Fresh Air

The lower ratings during that time may have nothing to do with the programming, but more the activities of the listeners.

However, there are also NPR stations like WFCR Amherst/Springfield, MA, which get consistently good 6+ numbers (4.6, second only to classic rock WAQY in the most recent book) despite playing classical music and jazz for all but eight hours of its broadcast day -- four hours in the morning for Morning Edition and four in the afternoon/evening for All Things Considered, Marketplace, and Fresh Air. No local content at all except for some of the musical programming (Beethoven Radio is used overnight), but I have a feeling that those morning and afternoon news/opinion blocks are pretty much carrying the station.

 

[TheBigA]

However, there are also NPR stations like WFCR Amherst/Springfield, MA, which get consistently good 6+ numbers

Springfield is a diary market, so it's possible the respondents give the station credit for listening even at times that they don't.

 

[atthestars]

What airs between 10AM & 3PM you might ask?

10AM: Radio Times, a local Delaware Valley talk show
11AM 1A, an NPR talk show
Noon: Here & Now, from WBUR Boston
2PM: The Takeaway from WNYC
3PM: Fresh Air

The lower ratings during that time may have nothing to do with the programming, but more the activities of the listeners.

Yeah... people are at work then and are less able to tune in for long-form programming... they might podcast those shows (I do with radio times) etc. It's always tough to pinpoint why people tune in and tune out.