radioinsight.com
WKQC's numbers have been in the toilet recently. I'm sure that's why they were cut. The PD is the only non-syndicated jock on the station now. They didn't touch the higher rated WSOC, WBAV or WPEG.
Music is the star and the reason most people tune in. Unfortunately, outside of morning drive, the jocks can’t make up for the identity crisis that WKQC has been having musically. WLKO is jockless and not even locally programmed, and they’re consistently #1 in cume. WKQC was #4 in cume last month, behind WLKO, WKKT and WLNK.
A year ago WKQC was above WLKO in cume and quarter hour. Maybe some of it goes with who is taking part in the ratings. How many of those devices are given out? They have got to be more expensive than a paper diary. I still don't know anyone who has ever received one.
It’s been more than a year since WKQC beat WLKO, and it was only AQH. WLKO has been # 1 cume for a while, with the holiday books being the exception.
I’ve heard stations complain about the cost of PPM, and the sample size. I’m sure Nielsen is trying to strike the right balance, but one side is always going to be unhappy.
I used to live south of Monroe where WNOK was a big problem.
South of Monroe, Lancaster, and Rock Hill in SC the signal from WKQC becomes problematic due to interference from WNOK. But WKQC seems to cover most of the major portion of the designated Charlotte market, especially on the eastern side where it is strongest. So not a major issue from a ratings standpoint, although it can be frustrating to some listeners due to the limitations of the signal. And you can forget WKQC in Spartanburg, but you can get WLNK and WLKO, not that it matters for Charlotte ratings. Although WLKO does begin to receive interference from a Spanish translator signal as you get closer to Greenville County.
The daily in-tab goal in Charlotte is about 1,100 meters
Do the math. PPM's are distributed by household / family, so with the average household around 2.5 to 3 persons, that means just over 300 of 'em at any time. Each dwelling unit can stay on the panel for up to 24 months, and the average monthly turnover... between end of time and failure to carry the meter... is around 6% to 8% depending on the month. So you are unlikely to ever know anyone with a meter, particularly since those households are sworn to secrecy.
WLKO comes in around east Charlotte but runs into trouble on a portable radio due to the strong signals on this side of town from WRFX, WSOC and WKQC all 100KW . Also WLKO is only 30.5KW ERP from Alexis, NC ( I thought it was 33KW until I checked). I realize they are 1500 feet up but the close in stations have an advantage even at 1200-1300 feet.
Noted but doesn't tell the whole story. As I said on a PORTABLE RADIO WRFX, WSOC, and WKQC swamp the WLKO signal.
WRFX, WSOC and WKQC are higher powered signals, but WLKO makes up for the lower power with height. I'm in East Charlotte, Mint Hill and Harrisburg all the time. I have no issues picking up WLKO.
On my portable Sangean HD radio (which I’m sure very few listeners have, if any, but I digress), I cant get the HD on 102.9 to lock easily in the University City/south Concord area. I’ve never noticed an issue in the car. Just for whatever it’s worth.
WRFX also has to deal with WMAG in Greensboro at 99.5 and WKSF in Asheville at 99.9. So like WKQC with WNOK, it can't be as powerful in very direction.
