The government shutdown and fiscal cliff may not have been good for the country, but it was great for Talk Radio. Most Talk stations saw at least a slight boost from September ratings, and some saw a sizable bump. WMAL-AM-FM went from #14 to #8 in the nation's capital. KFI, which had been out of LA's top 10 all summer, re-entered it. So did WBAP Dallas, even as it was shedding its FM simulcast. And WSB stayed at #1 in Atlanta. Also in Atlanta, Clear Channel's WGST went back to its Talk Radio format, although it barely scored enough listeners to be rated.
1. New York...WABC (Cumulus) #14...WOR (Clear Channel) #22
2. Los Angeles...KFI (Clear Channel) #9...KABC (Cumulus) #36
3. Chicago...WGN (Tribune) #7 tie...WLS (Cumulus) #18 tie
4. San Francisco...KSFO (Cumulus) #16 tie...KKSF (Clear Channel) #18 tie
5. Dallas...WBAP-AM-FM (Cumulus) #10 tie
6. Houston...KRTH (Clear Channel) #7 tie
7. Washington...WMAL-AM-FM (Cumulus) #8
8. Philadelphia...*WWIQ(FM) (Merlin) 20...WPHT (CBS) 21...WKXW(FM) (Townsquare) #25
9. Atlanta...WSB/WSBB(FM) (Cox) #1
10. Boston...WRKO (Entercom) #14 tie
I only include commercial Talk stations that scored at least a one rating, except for heritage Talk outlet KABC. *WWIQ Philadelphia is being sold to religious broadcaster EMF.
1. New York...WABC (Cumulus) #14...WOR (Clear Channel) #22
2. Los Angeles...KFI (Clear Channel) #9...KABC (Cumulus) #36
3. Chicago...WGN (Tribune) #7 tie...WLS (Cumulus) #18 tie
4. San Francisco...KSFO (Cumulus) #16 tie...KKSF (Clear Channel) #18 tie
5. Dallas...WBAP-AM-FM (Cumulus) #10 tie
6. Houston...KRTH (Clear Channel) #7 tie
7. Washington...WMAL-AM-FM (Cumulus) #8
8. Philadelphia...*WWIQ(FM) (Merlin) 20...WPHT (CBS) 21...WKXW(FM) (Townsquare) #25
9. Atlanta...WSB/WSBB(FM) (Cox) #1
10. Boston...WRKO (Entercom) #14 tie
I only include commercial Talk stations that scored at least a one rating, except for heritage Talk outlet KABC. *WWIQ Philadelphia is being sold to religious broadcaster EMF.