January numbers are here

[Mediafrog+]

January numbers; Houston/Galveston - RadioInsight

Sunny back down to earth, as expected, but still high in the sky.

The Eagle flying higher.

KSBJ back in the sixes.

The Buzz buzzing louder.

Majic pulling less out of its hat.

KLTN heading back up.

Recent tweaks at KHMX helping a bit?

The Box and The Beat combining for only 6.0. What's going on?

KUHF back in the threes.

La Raza continues to have problems.

KHVU now tied with our favorite dumpster fire, KROI. At least there are no infomercials on Vida Unida. (Standard plea to Alfred)

610 clobbering its sportstalk competition.

Applause for Classical on an HD-2 (and no translator) now pulling a 0.6.

Edit to add: I see that the two sportstalkers in DFW pulled a combined 9.7, while the three Houston sportstalkers only manage a 3.0. Gotta wonder why?

 

[jt99]

Panel imbalances now affecting the black targeted stations? That's the only thing I can think of.

While KLTN did have a nice rise, it's still not back to the dominance it was at before. I'm interested to see where it ranks in the sales demos.

Also interested to see where KHMX finished in the sales demos. There's now some overlap witter KKHH in the '90s titles, but it isn't too significant. Definitely a lot more variety in the gold titles now than in the past.

 

[Mediafrog+]

Also interested to see where KHMX finished in the sales demos. There's now some overlap witter KKHH in the '90s titles, but it isn't too significant. Definitely a lot more variety in the gold titles now than in the past.

I've noticed recently that KKHH has tweaked its playlist (again) and is starting to sound as it did three or four years ago....not a significant change, but noticeable. Wonder if they are trying to add a little more separation from KHMX and its recent changes?

 

[pjc1961]

In case RadioInsight has not updated to "JAN23" for your web view:
RadioOnline Houston-Galveston Ratings - Jan. 2023

Demo rankings will be available via AllAccess.com on Wed. 2/22/2023.

 

[JustinT]

Edit to add: I see that the two sportstalkers in DFW pulled a combined 9.7, while the three Houston sportstalkers only manage a 3.0. Gotta wonder why?

Rockets are terrible. Texans are terrible. Hockey doesn’t exist. 2 of the 3 Houston sports stations are on AM and the other is 97.5. Limited marketing and visibility around town.

I’ve made this point before but nobody (that I’m aware of) is running anything like Boston’s Toucher & Rich —sports meets guy talk. Everything on the three Houston stations is sports, sports, sports. Would be great to see one of these three try something with sports meets local culture — 97.5, being co-owned with CultureMap, would seem the obvious choice.

 

[jt99]

I've noticed recently that KKHH has tweaked its playlist (again) and is starting to sound as it did three or four years ago....not a significant change, but noticeable. Wonder if they are trying to add a little more separation from KHMX and its recent changes?

Given that that's when they were most competitive with KODA (who is sitting pretty at the top with a near 10 share, even without Christmas music), I think that would be a good idea, but they still sound the same as they have for the past year or so to me. As for KHMX, I feel like they were previously afraid to overlap KKHH despite the latter not playing much 2000s music, so it's good to see that they've been playing more 2000s gold, along with all the '90s additions.

 

[Deleted member 108832]

Rockets are terrible. Texans are terrible. Hockey doesn’t exist. 2 of the 3 Houston sports stations are on AM and the other is 97.5. Limited marketing and visibility around town.

Go Roughnecks! They're undefeated, y'know. 5-0 in 2020, 1-0 so far this season.

I’ve made this point before but nobody (that I’m aware of) is running anything like Boston’s Toucher & Rich —sports meets guy talk. Everything on the three Houston stations is sports, sports, sports. Would be great to see one of these three try something with sports meets local culture — 97.5, being co-owned with CultureMap, would seem the obvious choice.

Except that 1560 The Game attempted this concept at launch, and ended up moving in the direction of a traditional sports format rather quickly.

 

[JustinT]

Go Roughnecks! They're undefeated, y'know. 5-0 in 2020, 1-0 so far this season.

And UH basketball ranked #1! And Texas joining the SEC sooner than anticipated. There's content out there to talk about, no question.

Go Roughnecks! They're undefeated, y'know. 5-0 in 2020, 1-0 so far this season.

Except that 1560 The Game attempted this concept at launch, and ended up moving in the direction of a traditional sports format rather quickly.

My counter: have there been any successful AM hot/guy talk stations since WLUP in the late-80's? FM is key to visibility, to younger demos, and to having the flexibility to squeeze in a song (or even just good bumper music) as needed.

 

[davideduardo]

Panel imbalances now affecting the black targeted stations? That's the only thing I can think of.

The sample in Houston is why the market is not accredited. It's severe.

While KLTN did have a nice rise, it's still not back to the dominance it was at before. I'm interested to see where it ranks in the sales demos.

The January numbers in 25-54 are barely in the top 10, while a year ago they were either second or third.

Also interested to see where KHMX finished in the sales demos. There's now some overlap witter KKHH in the '90s titles, but it isn't too significant. Definitely a lot more variety in the gold titles now than in the past.

KHMX is about where it was a year ago, around 15th or 16th. But it is well under the levels in the June, July and August books where it was as high as 8th for a moment.

 

[Deleted member 108832]

And UH basketball ranked #1! And Texas joining the SEC sooner than anticipated. There's content out there to talk about, no question.


My counter: have there been any successful AM hot/guy talk stations since WLUP in the late-80's? FM is key to visibility, to younger demos, and to having the flexibility to squeeze in a song (or even just good bumper music) as needed.

None of which I am aware in this area, Justin. That was the reason I was a bit puzzled that you had brought up the idea of a guy talk/sports talk hybrid as an alternative for one of the current traditional sports talkers. It was tried back in 2007, accompanied by much hoopla and fanfare of the launch. It didn't work, with John Granato and company steering the talk solely towards sports content within the first year. No one else has given it a second look in Houston, the current attempt at one in Dallas does not appear to be an improvement on what numbers it was pulling before with its long running rock format. The jury is still out on the Freaky ex Eagle,, but so far, it ain't looking good. Time will tell.

 

[jt99]

It's interesting that the changes to KHMX didn't seem to do anything to the 25-54 numbers. I was definitely thinking the increased play of late '90s and 2000s tracks would attract people in their late 20s and 30s.

As for the sample issue in the market, I do remember reading that those issues had actually predated the pandemic. I'm curious if that's something that was an issue for many years before the pandemic or if it was only something that became an issue in the months leading up to it.

 

[davideduardo]

As for the sample issue in the market, I do remember reading that those issues had actually predated the pandemic. I'm curious if that's something that was an issue for many years before the pandemic or if it was only something that became an issue in the months leading up to it.

It's always been a problem in Houston, and they have tried all kinds of techniques, such as door-to-door personal visits to get households.

 

[jt99]

It's always been a problem in Houston, and they have tried all kinds of techniques, such as door-to-door personal visits to get households.

If my memory is correct, I also remember reading that Houston was an accredited market in the past, so this is kind of surprising to learn. Regardless, it definitely seems like the pandemic has only exacerbated the issue in the sample.

Media Rating Council To Monitor Nielsen PPM Panel Performance In 8 Markets

The MEDIA RATING COUNCIL and NIELSEN have agreed to a panel performance monitoring process in eight PPM markets after the MRC's Radio Committee saw "ongoing performance declines in a substantial number of currently accredited PPM Audio markets" in recent audits. The markets to be monitored are...

www.allaccess.com

Somewhat of an old article at this point (from last April), but I do wonder if anything will ever come from that.

 

[BamaTX]

And UH basketball ranked #1! And Texas joining the SEC sooner than anticipated. There's content out there to talk about, no question.

Houston, like most major markets, is a professional sports city first. Sure, stations can get away with Aggie or Longhorn segments here and there, but the market for pro-sports talk is too big to ignore. Shows like Paul Finebaum's only work in select markets where college is more prevalent than pro-sports (Birmingham, Tallahassee, Columbus, Lexington, Huntsville, etc.)

Regionally speaking, the SEC novelty wore off in the market when A&M joined a decade ago.. There really isn't much to talk about in regards to CFB outside of national news. As far as UH, it sometimes feels like UH fans forget that they even have an athletic department. When UH is having an 8-4 season, you can practically have entire rows to yourself at TDECU Stadium. Hell, there is more talk about Mattress Mack's bet on UH than there is on UH's basketball team itself.

Personally, I would be interested to see if local stations make adjustments if Texas legalizes sports betting. Sports betting is a massive market. I know thousands of Texans would partake in betting if it became legal and secure.

 

[Huff]

It's interesting that the changes to KHMX didn't seem to do anything to the 25-54 numbers. I was definitely thinking the increased play of late '90s and 2000s tracks would attract people in their late 20s and 30s.

As for the sample issue in the market, I do remember reading that those issues had actually predated the pandemic. I'm curious if that's something that was an issue for many years before the pandemic or if it was only something that became an issue in the months leading up to it.

It's doubtful that changes to gold categories would have much of an impact in just three weeks' worth of data; it will take several more months to see how, or if, the audience reacts.

 

[JustinT]

None of which I am aware in this area, Justin. That was the reason I was a bit puzzled that you had brought up the idea of a guy talk/sports talk hybrid as an alternative for one of the current traditional sports talkers. It was tried back in 2007, accompanied by much hoopla and fanfare of the launch. It didn't work, with John Granato and company steering the talk solely towards sports content within the first year. No one else has given it a second look in Houston, the current attempt at one in Dallas does not appear to be an improvement on what numbers it was pulling before with its long running rock format. The jury is still out on the Freaky ex Eagle,, but so far, it ain't looking good. Time will tell.

The launch of 1560 was a little before my time here - will have to check into that.

Trying again - Houston’s local dayparts are hosted mostly by retired athletes and sports journalists. So the conversations can get dense and academic. The aforementioned T&R were rock jocks turned hot talk hosts turned sports hosts. So they’re entertainers above all. And the presentation of their show (and its ratings) follow accordingly.

That’s the missing piece to me in Houston sports radio. Be a sports show at the end of the day, but have a pulse on what folks are saying about life on Houston Reddit too.

 

[Mediafrog+]

The launch of 1560 was a little before my time here - will have to check into that.

I recall the beginnings of 1560 The Game but couldn’t stay with it as it came across as morons endlessly running their mouths. Richard Justice was the only intelligent host they had.

I finally dumped the station when the hosts (don’t recall who) started going on and on about their past sexual escapades, particularly threesomes.

Trying again - Houston’s local dayparts are hosted mostly by retired athletes and sports journalists. So the conversations can get dense and academic. The aforementioned T&R were rock jocks turned hot talk hosts turned sports hosts. So they’re entertainers above all. And the presentation of their show (and its ratings) follow accordingly.

That’s the missing piece to me in Houston sports radio. Be a sports show at the end of the day, but have a pulse on what folks are saying about life on Houston Reddit too.

Obviously KTCK has found the winning formula in DFW as the format has been going for 30 years. I don’t particularly care for it (preferring 105.3 The Fan when in DFW) but will admit KTCK is a winner that Houston sportstalkers should emulate. Helps that both DFW sportstalkers are on FM…which is why I constantly beat the drum for either Audacy or iHeart to buy KROI and move their AM sportstalker to 92.1.

 

[pjc1961]

Demo rankings analysis for ages 25-54, 18-34 + 18-49:

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25-54: 1. KODA 2. KTBZ 3. KSBJ 4. KKBQ 5. KGLK 6. KKHH
18-34: 1. KODA 2. KKHH (up from #6) 3. KTBZ 4. KHMX (up from #9) 5. KGLK 10T. KRBE 10T. KBXX (down from 4T)
18-49: 1. KODA 2. KTBZ 3. KKHH 4. KSBJ 5. KKBQ