Detroit September 2012 Ratings

[recto101]

Station Jun 12 Jul 12 Aug 12 Sep 12 Format Owner
WYCD-FM 7.6 7.0 7.2 7.7 Country CBS Radio Inc
WXYT-FM 6.7 7.0 8.4 7.4 Sports CBS Radio Inc
WOMC-FM 5.3 5.6 5.9 6.2 Classic Hits CBS Radio Inc
WWJ-AM 5.3 5.2 5.9 5.9 All News CBS Radio Inc
WMXD-FM 4.6 5.4 4.8 4.9 Urban AC Clear Channel Communications Inc.
WJR-AM 4.2 4.0 4.4 4.7 News/Talk Cumulus Media
WDVD-FM 4.6 4.8 4.6 4.6 Hot AC Cumulus Media

 

[chrocket87]

Not much has changed, as CBS still monopolizes the top of the books. A decent month for Bell, as 89x sees it's first top 10 book in a year and a half and CIDR makes a nice move. The D still seems to be cooling off and Amp is down again. Thoughts? Demo numbers?

 

[MattHollidaye OnAir]

Prediction; The holidays are coming up, so expect WNIC to bump into the Top 10 once they start playing Christmas music. As to how early they go....that's up for debate.

Apparently three of the five CBS Radio stations love switching between each other within the top 5. If XYT's not leading, then it's YCD. If it's not one of them, then it's WOMC. Whatever the case is, we can all agree that they know how to run certain formats in this market, as evident by the ratings book year-round.

Why is AMP Radio falling even further from their 5-share during the summer? While there is no definite answer, here's a guess; way too tight of a rotation within their play list. I'll admit, WKQI- despite being #11 this time around- aren't very loose with their play list as well, but I can guarantee you that they're not playing the same 15-20 songs something within 75-90 minutes from each other. Not taking anything away from AMP (which seems to break new music on a consistent basis with its world premiers, which is a plus), it's just between the two, whomever takes more risks by breaking newer music to the listening public will be the one to bust this CHR race open.

It's time to change WDFN. What they change it to is anyone's guess, but they're not gonna catch up to WXYT-AM anytime soon (and that's a extreme stretch) with its failing sports talk format.

I think I'm done here...for now

 

[wjf82]

Prediction; The holidays are coming up, so expect WNIC to bump into the Top 10 once they start playing Christmas music. As to how early they go....that's up for debate.

Apparently three of the five CBS Radio stations love switching between each other within the top 5. If XYT's not leading, then it's YCD. If it's not one of them, then it's WOMC. Whatever the case is, we can all agree that they know how to run certain formats in this market, as evident by the ratings book year-round.

Why is AMP Radio falling even further from their 5-share during the summer? While there is no definite answer, here's a guess; way too tight of a rotation within their play list. I'll admit, WKQI- despite being #11 this time around- aren't very loose with their play list as well, but I can guarantee you that they're not playing the same 15-20 songs something within 75-90 minutes from each other. Not taking anything away from AMP (which seems to break new music on a consistent basis with its world premiers, which is a plus), it's just between the two, whomever takes more risks by breaking newer music to the listening public will be the one to bust this CHR race open.

It's time to change WDFN. What they change it to is anyone's guess, but they're not gonna catch up to WXYT-AM anytime soon (and that's a extreme stretch) with its failing sports talk format.

I think I'm done here...for now

WXYT-AM is currently a talk station, but is supposed to go back to all-sports January 2nd, with CBS Sports Radio's lineup.

 

[Matt8650]

@MattHollidayeOnAir: I don't think there is a poorly ran station anywhere than WDFN. Period. Syndication heavy, zero creativity, and weird programming decisions. I honestly have no clue who Ron Cameron is and why he deserves a radio show, but seriously, during football season, you have to move him out of the 2-4 slot. It is bad enough that they carry Murray Gula noon-2. During Football season, you have to switch the schedule around. Okay, you won't go with local shows or something of the sort? Carry the Fox Sports show. It's pretty good, and beats listening to Ron Cameron read twelve sponsor cards. WDFN survived for years with no sports team deals because they took chances on certain speciality programming, and it was great. They seem to just seem defeated, lack creativity, and all that they can say in an attempt to draw listeners from 97.1 is "All sports, alll the time." Well when most of the time, it's from a studio in Sherman Oaks, I don't think it matters.

 

[MattHollidaye OnAir]

@MattHollidayeOnAir: I don't think there is a poorly ran station anywhere than WDFN. Period. Syndication heavy, zero creativity, and weird programming decisions. I honestly have no clue who Ron Cameron is and why he deserves a radio show, but seriously, during football season, you have to move him out of the 2-4 slot. It is bad enough that they carry Murray Gula noon-2. During Football season, you have to switch the schedule around. Okay, you won't go with local shows or something of the sort? Carry the Fox Sports show. It's pretty good, and beats listening to Ron Cameron read twelve sponsor cards. WDFN survived for years with no sports team deals because they took chances on certain speciality programming, and it was great. They seem to just seem defeated, lack creativity, and all that they can say in an attempt to draw listeners from 97.1 is "All sports, alll the time." Well when most of the time, it's from a studio in Sherman Oaks, I don't think it matters.

To be honest, this is the first time I've ever heard of Ron Cameron. Probably will be the last time as well. But I agree 200%; this station is poorly ran, almost to the point where it seems that CC just does not care about the station (or format, for that matter). If I wanted to hear Fox Sports Radio all day, I'd stream them online through THEIR website; anyone remember when WDFN used to be good with local programming during the day, Pistons games at night, and FOX Sports from maybe 10 pm-6 am?

 

[Matt8650]

@MattHollidayeOnAir: I listened to WDFN for over a decade, so I definitely know what you are talking about, and when WDFN was competitive and good, there wasn't so much syndication, and they took chances on shows, and had people(whether they lasted or not), that you at least wanted to try to listen to. That's no longer the case except for Matt Shepard, but when I wake up in the morning now, that's not even a third option. If I listen to 1130 am now, it's mostly on the weekend when 97.1(prepare yourself)GOES SYNDICATED....or when Pat Caputo is on.

 

[umfan]

WDFN was almost entirely local until CC's financial situation forced drastic budget cuts. Considering that they carry no sports games, they will never be a sports leader again.

Cameron's show is brokered time. Cameron is a longtime Detroit sports media guy. He is at least local. Were he not there it would be more out of market syndication.

WDFN should move to talk after AM1270 picks up the CBS Sports Network in January.

 

[Matt8650]

umfan, you are saying what I have been thinking for a while. WDFN should consider going talk in January. The problem is that it's probably going to be heavily syndicated, but hey, what's different from now huh? As for Ron Cameron, I won't say that he shouldn't have a show, but I just think that during football season, you should take advantage of the football craze, and have football coverage on. It's bad enough that for the first time that I can remember, there is no Lions pregame, or postgame show. Or you can even do this: Just move him noon-2. FSR coverage 2-4, and go from there. But then again, when you don't really care about programming a station properly because it's not a heritage Urban station, or a Top 40 station, what does it matter? WDFN at any point and time between 2006-2008 could have gone to 106.7 and put that struggling Country format out of its misery, but it never happened. As it turned out, that is a decision that burned Clear Channel (unless that wasn't an option, and there was no interest in 'DFN), and will hurt them in trying to make a worthy competitor to 97.1 The Ticket. If 1090 AM ever got their power increase, or 103.5 ever sold their frequency, they would offer more competition to 97.1.

 

[jry]

Prediction; The holidays are coming up, so expect WNIC to bump into the Top 10 once they start playing Christmas music. As to how early they go....that's up for debate.

Apparently three of the five CBS Radio stations love switching between each other within the top 5. If XYT's not leading, then it's YCD. If it's not one of them, then it's WOMC. Whatever the case is, we can all agree that they know how to run certain formats in this market, as evident by the ratings book year-round.

Why is AMP Radio falling even further from their 5-share during the summer? While there is no definite answer, here's a guess; way too tight of a rotation within their play list. I'll admit, WKQI- despite being #11 this time around- aren't very loose with their play list as well, but I can guarantee you that they're not playing the same 15-20 songs something within 75-90 minutes from each other. Not taking anything away from AMP (which seems to break new music on a consistent basis with its world premiers, which is a plus), it's just between the two, whomever takes more risks by breaking newer music to the listening public will be the one to bust this CHR race open.

It's time to change WDFN. What they change it to is anyone's guess, but they're not gonna catch up to WXYT-AM anytime soon (and that's a extreme stretch) with its failing sports talk format.

I think I'm done here...for now

WXYT-AM is currently a talk station, but is supposed to go back to all-sports January 2nd, with CBS Sports Radio's lineup.

Right but, they're starting to show a decent number as talk. They may never see a one share as a sports station.

 

[chrocket87]

Right but, they're starting to show a decent number as talk. They may never see a one share as a sports station.

They don't need huge ratings. CBS wants to promote their sports network and this can serve as a means of referring people to the TV network (more ad $ for that) and serving as a home for people who don't want to hear Tigers/Lions talk all the time. Plus, it can bring in some value added buys for The Ticket.

 

[jry]

What Radio Disney does for the whole Mickey Mouse brand, eh?

 

[chrocket87]

What Radio Disney does for the whole Mickey Mouse brand, eh?

Bingo. Plus if they can bring in value added buys for 97.1 (you buy x number of slots on 97.1, we'll throw in some freebies on 1270), even better.

 

[umfan]

I agree. What the switch also does is make WDFN even more of an also ran.

Make the move to talk and then the format is in place if Cumulus does drop the Preimere syndicated talkers in favor of it's own programs.

 

[Matt8650]

Right but, they're starting to show a decent number as talk. They may never see a one share as a sports station.

They don't need huge ratings. CBS wants to promote their sports network and this can serve as a means of referring people to the TV network (more ad $ for that) and serving as a home for people who don't want to hear Tigers/Lions talk all the time. Plus, it can bring in some value added buys for The Ticket.

I agree. What the switch also does is make WDFN even more of an also ran.

Make the move to talk and then the format is in place if Cumulus does drop the Preimere syndicated talkers in favor of it's own programs.

umfan and chrocket87,you both make good points. However, 1270 am shouldn't be seen as an alternative to Tigers/Lions talk because 97.1 already has a pulse on that. If people call about those teams, they talk about those teams. But if calls aren't coming in, they usually switch to a non sports topic. :see Valenti and Foster. The morning show, and....well pretty much all of the shows. As for WDFN looking at talk, I think that's a good idea since Clear Channel and Premiere Radio usually have plenty of programming ties. Maybe Talk can be the format that makes it to FM if The D bottoms out.