January 2026 Numbers

[atthestars]

From what it sounds like, Audacy has started having their streaming numbers combined with their OTA numbers into a single line, so both WIP and KYW look like they had massive jumps. WPHT with a smaller bump.

K-Love has some very solid listenership in the Delaware Valley. Do they do much local advertising? I've seen a billboard here and there occasionally, but that's it.

Outside of that, pretty much the usual.

 

[Larry]

I think part of the KYW jump was the January weather. Snow has traditionally been good for all news stations ratings.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

I think part of the KYW jump was the January weather. Snow has traditionally been good for all news stations ratings.

Which makes me wonder if it’s still 1986 with snow driving people to a radio.

 

[TheBigA]

From what it sounds like, Audacy has started having their streaming numbers combined with their OTA numbers into a single line, so both WIP and KYW look like they had massive jumps. WPHT with a smaller bump.

It's so much easier when someone includes a link to the information so people can see:

Philadelphia

Nielsen Audio PPM Monthly Ratings Philadelphia (Market #9) Population: 4,774,100 Black: 971,900 – Hispanic: 499,800 Average Quarter Hour Share for Persons 6+, Mon-Sun 6AM-Mid All ratings are Copyright © 2005-2024 The Nielsen Company. All rights reserved. Nielsen radio audience estimates and data...

radioinsight.com

How, then, do you explain the 1 point jump for WMMR?? Perhaps because the Eagles were knocked out of the playoffs on 1/12.

K-Love has some very solid listenership in the Delaware Valley. Do they do much local advertising?

They really don't have to. They have a brand people who like that kind of thing seek out. They talk amongst themselves. Word of mouth is the best advertising.

 

[HGN2001]

From what it sounds like, Audacy has started having their streaming numbers combined with their OTA numbers into a single line, so both WIP and KYW look like they had massive jumps. WPHT with a smaller bump.

Based on my memories from 15+ years ago, the ratings numbers could not be lumped together if any commercials were different between streaming and on-air. To have them lumped together, they had to be a complete "simulcast". Is that still true?

 

[TheBigA]

Based on my memories from 15+ years ago, the ratings numbers could not be lumped together if any commercials were different between streaming and on-air. To have them lumped together, they had to be a complete "simulcast". Is that still true?

The rule stipulates they have to be the same "in the DMA." They can insert different commercials for the out of market stream, and your computer tells the streaming service where you are based on your ISP. So you hear local commercials in the market, and that qualifies for SLR.

Here is an article on the updated rule:

Nielsen Updates Total Line Reporting Guidelines.

Nielsen is tightening its Total Line Reporting (TLR) policy for radio stations that elect to combine over-the-air and online ratings. In a notification to clients, the measurement giant says broadcasters

www.insideradio.com

 

[atthestars]

It's so much easier when someone includes a link to the information so people can see:

Philadelphia

Nielsen Audio PPM Monthly Ratings Philadelphia (Market #9) Population: 4,774,100 Black: 971,900 – Hispanic: 499,800 Average Quarter Hour Share for Persons 6+, Mon-Sun 6AM-Mid All ratings are Copyright © 2005-2024 The Nielsen Company. All rights reserved. Nielsen radio audience estimates and data...

radioinsight.com

How, then, do you explain the 1 point jump for WMMR?? Perhaps because the Eagles were knocked out of the playoffs on 1/12.



They really don't have to. They have a brand people who like that kind of thing seek out. They talk amongst themselves. Word of mouth is the best advertising.

Ah my bad. I usually link to the RI ratings page and completely forgot to this go around.

 

[atthestars]

It's so much easier when someone includes a link to the information so people can see:

Philadelphia

Nielsen Audio PPM Monthly Ratings Philadelphia (Market #9) Population: 4,774,100 Black: 971,900 – Hispanic: 499,800 Average Quarter Hour Share for Persons 6+, Mon-Sun 6AM-Mid All ratings are Copyright © 2005-2024 The Nielsen Company. All rights reserved. Nielsen radio audience estimates and data...

radioinsight.com

How, then, do you explain the 1 point jump for WMMR?? Perhaps because the Eagles were knocked out of the playoffs on 1/12.

A little of that. A little of the January book being fully out of Christmas so no skewed numbers to B101. A little of Preston and Steve not on christmas vacation for a couple of weeks.

Probably can't point to one specific thing that allowed WMMR bounce back up to the normal-ish share they get.

 

[Larry]

Probably can't point to one specific thing that allowed WMMR bounce back up to the normal-ish share they get.

Some of it could be all or most of the listeners that left B101 post Christmas went back to listening to other radio stations.

 

[TheBigA]

Probably can't point to one specific thing that allowed WMMR bounce back up to the normal-ish share they get.

That's what I was getting at, because if you go back a few months, everyone was freaking out about MMR's falling share. Now it's recovered.

 

[pennsylvaniaradiofan]

Curious to hear from others how long WPEN will continue in its current form. While the afternoon show is better than it was (I'm sorry but Tyrone Johnson was insufferable), it still has a long way to go. I do have to say that Sylvana Kelleher is a breath of fresh air.

 

[davideduardo]

Based on my memories from 15+ years ago, the ratings numbers could not be lumped together if any commercials were different between streaming and on-air. To have them lumped together, they had to be a complete "simulcast". Is that still true?

That has always been the policy. Just in the last week or so, Nielsen had to re-release a period of Puerto Rico books because one operator had opted for single line reporting on their local network; they ran different ads on each station but claimed to be a simulcast.

Nielsen allows for a small number of monthly hours to not be simulcast, mostly to accommodate stations that have to limit to one signal play-by-play sports events. Otherwise, this rule still and always applies.

 

[atthestars]

Curious to hear from others how long WPEN will continue in its current form. While the afternoon show is better than it was (I'm sorry but Tyrone Johnson was insufferable), it still has a long way to go. I do have to say that Sylvana Kelleher is a breath of fresh air.

It seems like even as the distant second place sports station in Philly, they bill well enough to keep going. (Being able to be sold together with WMMR and WMGK targeting males I'm sure helps too!)

 

[TheBigA]

Curious to hear from others how long WPEN will continue in its current form.

They don't appear to be giving up the format, as they just announced this return to the station:

Sean Brace Reunites With Jon Marks On Philly’s ‘The Fanatic.’

Sean Brace rejoins Jon Marks to co-host middays on Beasley’s “97.5 The Fanatic” WPEN Philadelphia, reuniting the duo behind the popular Jon & Sean Show which aired on the station

www.insideradio.com

 

[Miguelito]

How do people not get this yet? The Fanatic, "low ratings" and all, is still doing what the company needs it to do. Consider the owner, consider the cluster, consider the business climate of the market, consider...a million things other than "sports station #1 is getting better ratings than sports station #2." It's 2026! There's more to it than that!

Seriously, if "low" ratings means that a station is a failure, then the terrorists have won. (And by "the terrorists," I mean that racist a-hole who used to complain about Rumba.)

 

[pennsylvaniaradiofan]

It isn't that I don't get it ..it's that WIP is the same regurgitated Eagles stuff (Is Jalen a great QB) and I personally feel most of WPEN is plain unlistenable. Just my humble opinion.

 

[TheBigA]

It isn't that I don't get it ..it's that WIP is the same regurgitated Eagles stuff (Is Jalen a great QB) and I personally feel most of WPEN is plain unlistenable. Just my humble opinion.

That's what they talk about at WIP. I was listening to them last week, and they declared this is a make or break season for Jalen.

 

[Larry]

How do people not get this yet? The Fanatic, "low ratings" and all, is still doing what the company needs it to do. Consider the owner, consider the cluster, consider the business climate of the market, consider...a million things other than "sports station #1 is getting better ratings than sports station #2.

And consider what alternative formats could WPEN switch to that would make Beasley more money? Not garner higher ratings but make more money. I am guessing Beasley has already done this analysis and came to conclusion there is no other radio format to switch to that would be more profitable for them than sports talk on WPEN.

 

[AbrahamJSimpson]

No doubt they, like others, would keep a close eye and analyze market trends and conditions before making any decision of that sort. Sometimes gambles make sense and don’t pan out for various reasons, but there isn’t any obvious direction to go that would seem better than even being the also-ran in the sports space in a sports-crazy market.

 

[Miguelito]

I am guessing Beasley has already done this analysis and came to conclusion there is no other radio format to switch to that would be more profitable for them than sports talk on WPEN.

Of course they have. It's not like they don't know that The Fanatic's ratings aren't great. If, at some point in the future, their research indicates that any other format could be more lucrative within their cluster (and would have a chance of staying that way), The Fanatic would cease to exist within months. There just isn't a format out there right now that would do the trick. Until that moment arrives, they're gonna keep on keepin' on, because they are making plenty of money with the cluster they have.