Buffalo 12+ Trend

[Element9]

The Arbitron Spring survey is in the books with only the final trend to be published in about a month. Persons 12+ ratings from phase two (March-April-May) have been released and there are some surprises in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls market.

Country WYRK leading the pack is no surprise and the continuing growth of WHTT begs the question, "why did the station ever switch to the ill-fated Mix format in the first place?" WHTT is up to its highest share since the pre-2007 days of Buffalo's Greatest Hits. WJYE is flat yet healthy, a positive sign, given the station's recent transition to Hot AC as "Joy."

97 Rock/WGRF might be expected to look stronger. Could Classic Hits have taken a few shares from its sister Classic Rocker? WBEN slipping to an 8.7 is a mild surprise but it's no shock that without the Sabres, WGR is trending down.

"It's different at the Lake," but the station and its crickets still wallow in a shallow 2 share. Time to fish or cut bait with that format, Entercom.

The big surprise of this trend is Star, falling to a 3.7. Have now Hot AC WJYE and Classic Hits WHTT combined to diminish the luster of the once powerhouse Hot AC?

Adult Standards CFZM AM 740 continues to garner listeners (who drive Grand Marquis, Crown Vics and Park Avenues) in Western New York. Could WECK improve its consistent point 5 share by making a switch? Heck, the bankrupt mess that is WJJL pulled a point 7!

Yes, it's only Person 12+ and as we all know, billing and Persons 25-54 tell the real stories. Now your turn. As usual, no wagering, please.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Started a new topic, but got interrupted and E9 snuck in before I posted it. Rather than have two threads about the May trends, let me just repeat my post here. Feel free to ignore the other thread.

March-April-May trends are out for Buffalo. Rochester numbers are embargoed. Some interesting movement with May added to the previous numbers:

http://www.radio-info.com/site/markets/grid/buffalo-niagara-falls

WYRK is king. Country gets a 10-share. Makes you wonder if somebody with an underperforming signal will take a run at them one of these days.

Looks like WHTT is really catching on. You'd have to go back years to see those kind of numbers, even if they are 12+. Must have been a BIG May for them.

Star continues to slide, while 'KSE continues to climb. Love to see the demos on those two.

97 Rock is flat. 'BEN and 'BLK drop, but are still strong. Lake ain't makin' any waves.

 

[Bob1370]

"'BEN and 'BLK drop,"

How much of that might be traced to gradual decline in certain dayparts for each station (evenings at WBEN, mornings at WBLK) where popular local hosts were replaced by syndicated fare over the last couple of years? These days most talkers go on the cheap with syndicated stuff at night and essentially concede evenings to TV, even if they had a recent record of success with local programs in the same daypart. So there's no direct comparison available for WBEN except WBEN's own past from 1978 to 2008, when a succession of local sports and issue talkers from Stan Barron to John Murphy to Bulldog Parker to Ron Dobson all had strong followings and billed well. But in the case of WBLK there is a standard for immediate comparison nearby in Rochester with similarly formatted but wall-to-wall local WDKX, which is strong and growing despite a far weaker signal. DKX has resisted using syndication and stayed local in every key daypart and that strategy is clearly paying off for them.

All the data show that losing local origination and focus has hurt WBEN and WBLK--wonder if they'll read the lesson the numbers clearly teach?

 

[TheBigA]

All the data show that losing local origination and focus has hurt WBEN and WBLK--wonder if they'll read the lesson the numbers clearly teach?

"All the data?" Sounds like you're using one ratings book to justify your own personal opinion. Nothing more.

The use of national syndication doesn't hurt NPR stations. In fact, most NPR stations have gone much further than their commercial competition in replacing local with national in all dayparts, not just evenings.

 

[heydaybegone]

I love the ratings threads!! ;D

1. Wait three months and things change
2. Justification makes all things correct.
3. Always hold the "diary placement" as the trump card and refer to #2

Passion is the new root of all evil (forget money!- LOL) Stay passionate to the industry, for gosh sakes...but remember that life is short and take some time to enjoy that too!

 

[Bob1370]

"All the data?" Sounds like you're using one ratings book to justify your own personal opinion. Nothing more."

Actually, I'm reaching that conclusion as a result of the last five or six rating books, not just the one. Check the numbers over the last six books as charted on this site and you'll see what I mean. Now, I don't have enough info about the Buffalo book to know the answer to my question before I ask it (otherwise I wouldn't ask to begin with)...but I do see an overall pattern in the 12+ numbers that makes me wonder if something's going on in the daypart and demo breakouts, and would love someone who has details tell us what those breakouts say.

 

[scottcleveland]

You know what's really sad? WWKB getting only a 0.7...beaten by WDCX, WXRL, WWWS, and getting only a third of the ratings of CFZM out of Toronto. Obviously, Entercom bought the station just so no one else in the market could do news/talk to compete with the "mighty" WBEN. As much as I enjoy Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz, I think that Adult Standards would be a much better fit. They can even simulcast it on FM on 107.7. How does "WWKB-FM Wethersfield-Buffalo" sound?

 

[therealjm12]

As much as I enjoy Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz, I think that Adult Standards would be a much better fit. They can even simulcast it on FM on 107.7. How does "WWKB-FM Wethersfield-Buffalo" sound?

Or how about a similcast of Stephanie & Ed on 107.7 with a few more local services. Naw, that won't happen. Not as long as Entercom owns the stations.

 

[TheBigA]

"It's different at the Lake," but the station and its crickets still wallow in a shallow 2 share. Time to fish or cut bait with that format, Entercom.

Here's a question for all you life-long Buffalonians: Was there ever a time when 107.7 was in the Top 10?

I remember when it was WNUC, before Entercom owned it, and they tried to compete against WYRK with country. They called themselves Buffalo's New Country, at a time when new country was hot. And I don't think they ever achieved a 2 share.

 

[SirRoxalot]

The Lake is in the uneviable situation of being a virtual rimshot in both Buffalo & Rochester. If they achieve a significant amount of success, they're likely have the format co-opted by a stronger signal.

I expect that Entercom is parking the frequency for the day that WBEN starts to slide, and they want an FM signal for their talk format. Go to mono, and pump up the processing, and 107.7 could give you a nice simulcast signal to attract FM-only listeners who are in their cars.

In the meantime, David Field has old hippie music to listen to when he's in town, or streaming. That's also about the time that they'll start kicking themselves for letting the WBEN-FM call letters go to Philadelphia.

 

[JustPastBuffalo]

Was there ever a time when 107.7 was in the Top 10?

There was one shining moment. 107.7 WBYR "The Bear" placed top 5 Persons 12+ and owned Men 18-49 in the Fall 1985 and/or Spring 1986 book. Every dog has its day. Buffalo was without an AOR or Classic Rock at the time as WGRQ/97 Rock flipped to AC and left a huge hole in the market. Later in 1986, WNYS would drop Churban and become Classic Hits WHTT, changing the landscape. In 1988, 97 Rock would return with Classic Rock, again changing the landscape as WHTT flipped from Classic Hits to Oldies. Big (Buffalo format) wheel keeps on turnin'.

 

[ThePickleReport]

Adult Standards CFZM AM 740 continues to garner listeners (who drive Grand Marquis, Crown Vics and Park Avenues) in Western New York. Could WECK improve its consistent point 5 share by making a switch?

I've always maintained that some of these smaller talk stations should at least consider doing music on the weekends. I find most of the weekend syndicated talk product unpalatable.

Who knows, they might get someone to tune in to what they do during the week!

 

[Play Freebird]

I've always maintained that some of these smaller talk stations should at least consider doing music on the weekends. I find most of the weekend syndicated talk product unpalatable.

Who knows, they might get someone to tune in to what they do during the week!

WKXW "New Jersey 101.5" has been doing this for many years - very successfully, I might add. I liken it to a "work hard, play hard" philosophy where they take a break from the BS on the weekends and try to have some fun.

 

[Seltzer]

You know what's really sad? WWKB getting only a 0.7...beaten by WDCX, WXRL, WWWS, and getting only a third of the ratings of CFZM out of Toronto. Obviously, Entercom bought the station just so no one else in the market could do news/talk to compete with the "mighty" WBEN. As much as I enjoy Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz, I think that Adult Standards would be a much better fit. They can even simulcast it on FM on 107.7. How does "WWKB-FM Wethersfield-Buffalo" sound?

Libs like Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz will never beat Rush, Glenn, or Sean because they are on the wrong side of the majority of the American people. You can't argue that signal is an issue. This just proves that so called "Progressive Talk" (I prefer LIberal Talk) is a massive failure.

Put Scott Shannon's True Oldies Channel on it and be done with it.

 

[cee]

Libs like Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz will never beat Rush, Glenn, or Sean because they are on the wrong side of the majority of the American people.

How do you figure that? While smart people know the pendulum always swings back n forth, um, who's currently in power? Or did ACORN produce massive voter fraud in '08? If Rush, Glenn, or Sean represent the majority of people(that is, a massive disconnect from reality), then we should have devolved into 3rd world nation status by now. The ratings of some AM talk stations is hardly an indication of the political leanings of the majority(most of whom never listen to these stations).

This just proves that so called "Progressive Talk" (I prefer LIberal Talk) is a massive failure.

If it's a massive failure, why has it been on the air all these years? Sounds like it's got a profitable little niche going, like all the other turnkey AM talk formats that get similar ratings. How's WROC doing since they dropped prog talk for sports talk? BTW, I'll bet Steph and Ed might not mind comparing paychecks with you.

Very few people can tolerate music on AM anymore - SS's True Gold would get (close to) zilch.

Take it outside.

 

[Bob1370]

Libs like Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz will never beat Rush, Glenn, or Sean because they are on the wrong side of the majority of the American people."

Then that must mean John McCain won the Presidential election, hmmm?

Actually in the real world Morning Edition and All Things Considered are damn near neck and neck with Rush and clobbering Glenn and Sean daily in 12+; in 25-54 it isn't even close.

 

[TheBigA]

Ahem...you're comparing what is meant to be impartial news reporting with clearly opinionated talk programming. The fact that NPR news is doing better than Beck or Hannity shouldn't be taken as a victory for anything other than in-depth reporting.

 

[cee]

Big A has a point. Morning Edition and All Things Considered are supposed to be impartial news shows, although it's widely perceived that NPR listeners tend to be libs and cons tend not to be NPR fans. But that's perception, of course.

 

[therealjm12]

Libs like Stephanie Miller and Ed Schultz will never beat Rush, Glenn, or Sean because they are on the wrong side of the majority of the American people.

If the American people are made up of a majority of angry old white men 54+ that barely graduated from high school -if they even went to high school. Sorry, that's ARB's talking not me.

 

[John C]

Big A has a point.

Wow! When was the last time you read that on this board? Let's see the Dems control Albany and Washington. How's the economy of either working out? There, that should get this to the "take it outside". ;D Trying to steer this thread back, how about country music on KB? I would think of any music would work on AM that country would be it. Just my two cents. Hurry, before Albany puts a tax on it and makes it two dollars!