Bham Arbitrons

[passtheword]

The Bham arbitrons for Feb-Mar-Apr were posted this afternoon. Not too many changes...a slight bit up or down for most stations, and a few others unchanged. WZRR continues to slide into oblivion for the third straight ratings period in a row with a 2.0 share...I believe that's the lowest 12+ numbers I've ever seen for them. Is "News Talk 99.5, WAPI-FM" just over the horizon? Citadel fared very well moving the 'Jox sports programming off of 100.5 to the stronger 94.5 signal. Since WAPI-FM seems to be stuck in neutral, would moving the WAPI talk programming to the stronger 99.5 signal work wonders as well?

WYDE continues to hover at or below the 1.0 share, as usual. When is Crawford going to take the hint?? The "Peach" continues to do well, despite being just a C3 35 miles south of Birmingham. It seems after all these years the folks at 97.7 have finally gotten it together. GO, Peach, GO! The new Vulcan WVVB-AM shows up with a 1.7 share. Not sure if these are just the AM's numbers, or all of the Vulcan's personas combined (WVVB, WQEN HD2, and translator W276BQ).

 

[tomservo]

I imagine the Vulcan's numbers are all FM translator. I doubt many could stomach listening to rock on AM, and there just aren't enough HD listeners in Birmingham to matter. HD in Birmingham is way to frustrating to deal with in my opinion due to the terrain or some other mysterious problem.

I'm sure the corporate line of reasoning with WAPI is they won't move it because it's not doing good where it is. It's a shame, I rather enjoy Richard Dixon when he's not trying to be a blathering conservative clone and is just having fun. I tuned in online after the tornadoes and have kept on listening.

Who knows what it will take for Crawford to give up on WYDE. Who knows what format could work there with that big stick IN the sticks? LOL.

 

[jobhunter]

Does Arbitron count HD2's and HD3's for the actual format running on them, or credit the main signal only?

What I'm asking is: if WXYZ was COUNTRY and WXYZ-HD2 was CHR, would the Arbitron results of HD2/CHR go toward the country numbers or does Arbitron break it out?

 

[mikl73]

I think the HD2 and 3's have a unique encoder. An I know an HD2 in B'more was showing in the ratings at one point.

 

[jobhunter]

Right, but here is an example: WQEN-HD2 is HOT AC and I don't see that format in the ratings. Obviously, it could be because nobody is listening...

 

[Nate Wesley]

WYDE continues to hover at or below the 1.0 share, as usual. When is Crawford going to take the hint??

Death, taxes, and FM 101.1 being wasted in metro Birmingham. Count on all three!

 

[tomservo]

Right, but here is an example: WQEN-HD2 is HOT AC and I don't see that format in the ratings. Obviously, it could be because nobody is listening...

Last time I was in town (two weeks ago) WQEN-HD2 was "The Vulcan" with rock, being played on WERC-AM and a translator on 103.1. I have no idea how that trimulcast would be credited in the ratings.

 

[jobhunter]

Tying ratings to CALLS only is dumb.

 

[Charles1]

Nobody talks about it, but Crawford owns four worthless sticks in Birmingham. Not only is 101.1 a waste of power, but so, too are 92.5, 850 (after sundown) and 1260 (just about 24/7). I can't understand why the Barons even bother to broadcast their games on 1260. I don't think their signal covers downtown Birmingham after sundown, does it?

 

[tomservo]

Nobody talks about it, but Crawford owns four worthless sticks in Birmingham. Not only is 101.1 a waste of power, but so, too are 92.5, 850 (after sundown) and 1260 (just about 24/7). I can't understand why the Barons even bother to broadcast their games on 1260. I don't think their signal covers downtown Birmingham after sundown, does it?

Oh absolutely, it covers downtown really well at night. 1260's stick is within spitting range of downtown Birmingham, over by Sloss Furnace. Even on night power it's a great signal in that area. Trouble is, relatively few live there. But it's pretty solid in the valley east and west, just not north of I-20/59 or south of Red Mountain much, if I remember correctly. Seems like it gets lost in the din past the airport if you're heading east.

1260 is somewhat useful during the day because it helps cover some gaps in 101.1's signal south of Red Mountain. It's often pretty solid where the FM is lost to terrain shadowing. But at night, that advantage disappears. Not to mention how bad it sounds in HD. Bring back the C-QUAM stereo from the Legends 1260 days!

850 may not reach the money suburbs at night, but it's not that shabby of a night signal. If the format catered to a more urban audience it might do OK.

 

[WBGR FM 93.1]

Nobody talks about it, but Crawford owns four worthless sticks in Birmingham. Not only is 101.1 a waste of power, but so, too are 92.5, 850 (after sundown) and 1260 (just about 24/7). I can't understand why the Barons even bother to broadcast their games on 1260. I don't think their signal covers downtown Birmingham after sundown, does it?

I have to say that 850's nighttime signal isn't too shabby at night. One you get down 280 near hwy 119 it isn't very usable. However, It covers I65 very well from around Alford Ave (mm 254) up to the Mount Olive Rd exit (mm 272). However, 92.5 FM has very poor audio quality, and is really just a wase of signal in most of Birmingham, except MAYBE the far northwest suburbs.

One idea I have is since 101.1 is out in the middle of nowhere- a place I proudly call home - They should switch formats with 92.5 and go to a fulltime Southern Gospel format, which I believe would attract listeners out in the rural areas of North Alabama. Then, in the daytime hours, the 850 signal could cover the weak spots in the mountainous areas South of metro Birmingham. In addition, I believe 101.1 could possibly generate some ratings market in Huntsville too, since the area is saturated with talk already, and only has one rimshot FM Southern Gospel station - WRJL in Eva.

Since 92.5 may have a useful signal in the western metro, they could go Urban Talk or Urban Gospel, and simulcast to the downtown area on AM 1260.

After the swith and change, there could be "Alabama's only 100kW Southern Gospel Giant, playing a WYDE variety of Southern Gospel Favorites" - 101.1 FM/850 AM

And then FM 92.5/ AM 1260, "WXJC - Birmingham's station for The Truth"


just an idea ...


-Travis

 

[mikl73]

Makes sense to me so it probably would never happen.

 

[Nate Wesley]

If 101.1 has to stay a talk station, perhaps they should consider being a half-alternative to WJOX. Assuming my web searches are correct: No affiliates for Dan Patrick or Jim Rome in Birmingham, Gadsden, Huntsville, or Tuscaloosa. The station might still find a way to keep Laura Ingraham, Dennis Miller, and/or Dave Ramsey in the mix somehow, keeping the station's 'conservative street cred' intact.

As The Source currently stands, they've got a loser of a lineup that appeals to few people. They might as well see if they can't get some workplace traction from shows that would cover trending sports news outside of Tide, Tigers and the SEC (such news exists, Jox).

I have ZERO confidence anyone at Crawford Broadcasting has the courage to try, though.

 

[ALRocker]

If 101 won't change formats, they should change calls to WTWO as in Tax Write Off, since that's what it appears to me to be for Crawford.

 

[musicfan11]

How much longer will WZRR wait to make a change to the NO MO Mojo morning show? The station's ratings are dismal.

At WMJJ, the Magic has left the building. It is almost as much fun to listen to the daily "wedding" commentary as it was to hear daily about "Katybug". The big difference is the New Jersey accent. Thank goodness for Christmas music - just like in retail, that carries the rest of the year.

Nice going WHPH. Funny that the big stations are monitoring you! Talent comes in all sizes.