Re: Got Math?
> > Folks, the only conclusion possible at the moment is that
> > Christams Music was a really big winner for 93.3 in 2005.
>
> > All-Christmas did particularly well this time around for
> > AC's nationwide, and LZT was apparently among the top
> > benefactors.
> >
> > Do some math: LZT's fall Phase I and Phase II ratings
> were
> > only
> > about X, just a tad higher than they were all of 2005
> prior
> > to that. Add the Christmas season and the three-month
> > average jumps quite a bit to about X+2, so ALL-CHRISTMAS
> > must have been
> > monstrous for them. Maybe they'll retain *some* of the
> > CHRISTMAS momentum, but I'll bet by the time the final
> > Winter book comes out, 93.3 will be back to its deserved
> > spot as the lowest-rated big signal in town (based on the
> > format itself, NOT any problems with the quality of
> > execution).
>
> Yea and for what it's worth, WSNY went up this book too
> (almost a full share). If WLZT was actually making up some
> groud I would think WSNY would drop. We'll see what happens
> in the next few books... they might have gained some ground
> on WSNY but it will be hard to say how many made the switch.
> Personally when I listened to Christmas music this past
> season, it was on 93.3 and then once Dec 26th rolled around,
> it was right back to my other presets.
>
Good points. While maistream and soft AC is still a big, money-making format in many markets (e.g., look at NY and Philly), overall it's been level-to-eroding nationally most of the past five years. Hardly a growth format. And where it's getting boxcar numbers, that's often because the competitors have logically decided that it makes more sense to try something else rather than be a market's second or third AC. Most markets, especially the size of Columbus, don't have more than one mainstream or soft AC...amother reason CC's direction with 93.3's signal in a market short on big signals was dubious in terms of serving Columbus -- let alone in terms of optimally protecting revenue.
While those were the key observations I wanted to make, this whole All-Xmas phenomenon brings up a few more thoughts: 2005's all-Xmas was so huge it may actually bump up AC's FULL-YEAR national average rating a bit this time. Maybe we'll see AC's become like big retailers, where a short period at the end of the year makes or breaks their yearly revenue goals, since fall is an important book. Trouble is, they'd either have to sell Xmas ads based on the previous year's fall ratings, or hope that in early 2006 buyers don't realize that the big Fall numbers no longer reflect the station's current audience (as an example, recall CMHDave's deleted 93.3 preset). Some advertisers are screaming that they want the Personal People Meter with its almost-realtime reporting, and this is one case where I can really understand their wish.
<P ID="signature">______________
Nu_Roo_2 formerly Nu__Roo formerly Nu_Roo</P>