NYC PPM RATINGS RELEASED - FEBRUARY 2009 - 2/5/09-3/4/09

[pjc1961]

To see the ratings grid for the publicly released (3/25/09) overall 6+ share/cume data for the period, check link below:

http://www.radio-info.com/site/markets/grid/new-york

Here's some demo analysis from allaccess.com:

18-34:

1. WHTZ
2. WQHT
3. WWPR
4. WSKQ
13. WPLJ
T23. WRXP, WALK, WKJY plus 2 others (unnamed)

18-49:

1. WHTZ
2. WQHT
3. (WLTW) ( ) = estimated guess
4. WWPR
T6. WKTU Clear Channel had 3 of top 4 & 5 of top 8 in this demo
T6. WQHT
8. (WAXQ)
11. WPLJ
T20. WRXP
T20. WEPN

25-54:

T1. WHTZ
T1. WLTW
3. WAXQ
T4. WBLS
T4. WSKQ
T6. WINS
T6. WRKS
9. WCBS-FM (off 21% since Sept. 2008 in this demo)
T10. WPLJ
T10. WWFS
13. WFAN
15. WCBS-AM
16. WPAT
17. WABC
19. WCAA
20. WRXP
25. WQBU

The next publicly released overall 6+ monthly report will be for March 2009 encompassing Thursday 3/5/09 to Wednesday 4/1/09, which arrives on Wednesday 4/22/09.

Note: WXRK format change occurred on Wednesday 3/11/09 @ 5pm - that will be reflected in the last 3 weeks of the next monthly report.

 

[nd2023]

How did WNYZ do with respect to the other stations?

 

[TTalkradio1]

How has WABC been doing in the 8PM-10PM times slot since Bob Grant was fired?

 

[pjc1961]

How did WNYZ do with respect to the other stations?

WNYZ's (Pulse 87) numbers are not included in this report; as of now, Pulse 87 gets a separate report from Arbitron. (See link to old results from Sept. 2008 here: http://www.urbaninsite.com/profiles...rk-gets-first-ppm-based-custom-ratings-report.) According to an earlier post on another thread, the latest cume figure that Pulse 87 has is around 600,000 per week.

However, starting in April (the April 2009 monthly report), Low Power TV stations that broadcast on TV Channel 6 & 87.75-6 FM will be included in the regular Arbitron Ratings reports. (See link to article here: http://megamediagroup.ir.stockpr.co...-under-arbitrons-standard-ppm-ratings-service and to another thread here: http://boards.radio-info.com/smf/index.php/topic,123537.msg1002063.html#msg1002063.)

 

[oldies76]

To see the ratings grid for the publicly released (3/25/09) overall 6+ share/cume data for the period, check link below:

25-54:

9. WCBS-FM (off 21% since Sept. 2008 in this demo)

CBS-FM was in the midst of huge specials in '08, like two A to Z promos. Why would they fall this much under regular programming? Could this mean that last year's promos attracted more listeners, than what is aired recently?

If CBS-FM tried new specials once again, similiars to 08's, could they ultimately increase once again?

 

[pjc1961]

To see the ratings grid for the publicly released (3/25/09) overall 6+ share/cume data for the period, check link below:

25-54:

9. WCBS-FM (off 21% since Sept. 2008 in this demo)

CBS-FM was in the midst of huge specials in '08, like two A to Z promos. Why would they fall this much under regular programming? Could this mean that last year's promos attracted more listeners, than what is aired recently?

If CBS-FM tried new specials once again, similiars to 08's, could they ultimately increase once again?

As it turns out, the specialty programming that has run since Sept. 2008 may have actually hurt CBS-FM. Some (younger) listeners possibly became disenfranchised & have been slow to return. They ran the 2nd A-Z promo during the 1st week in November 2008 for which they received some criticism for running it too soon after the first A-Z (1st week of July 2008). Then Holiday Music started in evenings on 11/21/08 & gradually weaved its way to all dayparts. 106.7 LiteFM got more of a ratings bump from their Holiday Music programming (6.8-8.3 overall) while CBS-FM got a slight uptick (4.7-5.0 overall). Both stations, however, were off in 25-54 PPM share about 25% from the same period in 2007.

CBS-FM's 25-54 position has wobbled from T8th in Oct. 2008 to T10th in Dec. 2008 to T7th in Jan. 2009 to 9th in Feb. 2009. I'm sure that share-wise they're bunched up closely within a group of stations. By comparison, WLTW has been between 1st & 3rd place in 25-54 in the same time period.

In concert with the above problems is the ongoing issue of CBS-FM's aging demos, where a majority of the station's listeners are in the upper part of the 25-54 demo or out of it completely (55+), not advertiser friendly. This explains why the station currently ranks #4 overall with a decent 4.8 share, yet places usually between 7th & 12th in the younger "money" demos (18-34, 18-49, 25-54).

Maybe in 2009, they'll rely less on specialty stuff in the November-December period & stick with the basics since the payoff ratings-wise was not sufficient enough. Only CBS-FM could say if it was financially worthwhile. Probably no sense going after LiteFM with Holiday Music and/or a week-long promotion that while not totally repetitious song-wise of the first one was a repeat of the same "idea" whose novelty had possibly worn thin.

 

[pjc1961]

Additions to NYC February 2009 Ratings Grid: (changes in green)

WWRL-AM - 0.2 - 131,000
WBAI-FM - 0.1
WCTZ-FM - 0.1 - 201,700
WHTG-FM - CHR
WRCN-FM - 0.1 - 100,000 - Barnstable

Three internet streams made the list: (none rated more than 0.0 in Jan. 2009)

WWFS-FM stream - 0.5
WHTZ-FM stream - 0.1
WLTW-FM stream - 0.1

 

[davideduardo]

As it turns out, the specialty programming that has run since Sept. 2008 may have actually hurt CBS-FM. Some (younger) listeners possibly became disenfranchised & have been slow to return. They ran the 2nd A-Z promo during the 1st week in November 2008 for which they received some criticism for running it too soon after the first A-Z (1st week of July 2008). Then Holiday Music started in evenings on 11/21/08 & gradually weaved its way to all dayparts. 106.7 LiteFM got more of a ratings bump from their Holiday Music programming (6.8-8.3 overall) while CBS-FM got a slight uptick (4.7-5.0 overall). Both stations, however, were off in 25-54 PPM share about 25% from the same period in 2007.

CBS-FM's 25-54 position has wobbled from T8th in Oct. 2008 to T10th in Dec. 2008 to T7th in Jan. 2009 to 9th in Feb. 2009. I'm sure that share-wise they're bunched up closely within a group of stations. By comparison, WLTW has been between 1st & 3rd place in 25-54 in the same time period.

In concert with the above problems is the ongoing issue of CBS-FM's aging demos, where a majority of the station's listeners are in the upper part of the 25-54 demo or out of it completely (55+), not advertiser friendly. This explains why the station currently ranks #4 overall with a decent 4.8 share, yet places usually between 7th & 12th in the younger "money" demos (18-34, 18-49, 25-54).

Maybe in 2009, they'll rely less on specialty stuff in the November-December period & stick with the basics since the payoff ratings-wise was not sufficient enough. Only CBS-FM could say if it was financially worthwhile. Probably no sense going after LiteFM with Holiday Music and/or a week-long promotion that while not totally repetitious song-wise of the first one was a repeat of the same "idea" whose novelty had possibly worn thin.

Terrific analysis. You hit all the signficant points in the center of the target!

I think that the PPM is proving that programming that deviates from the expected may cause fewer overall tune ins, and thus, over time, cume erosion too.

 

[scooty430]

As it turns out, the specialty programming that has run since Sept. 2008 may have actually hurt CBS-FM. Some (younger) listeners possibly became disenfranchised & have been slow to return. They ran the 2nd A-Z promo during the 1st week in November 2008 for which they received some criticism for running it too soon after the first A-Z (1st week of July 2008). Then Holiday Music started in evenings on 11/21/08 & gradually weaved its way to all dayparts. 106.7 LiteFM got more of a ratings bump from their Holiday Music programming (6.8-8.3 overall) while CBS-FM got a slight uptick (4.7-5.0 overall). Both stations, however, were off in 25-54 PPM share about 25% from the same period in 2007.

CBS-FM's 25-54 position has wobbled from T8th in Oct. 2008 to T10th in Dec. 2008 to T7th in Jan. 2009 to 9th in Feb. 2009. I'm sure that share-wise they're bunched up closely within a group of stations. By comparison, WLTW has been between 1st & 3rd place in 25-54 in the same time period.

In concert with the above problems is the ongoing issue of CBS-FM's aging demos, where a majority of the station's listeners are in the upper part of the 25-54 demo or out of it completely (55+), not advertiser friendly. This explains why the station currently ranks #4 overall with a decent 4.8 share, yet places usually between 7th & 12th in the younger "money" demos (18-34, 18-49, 25-54).

Maybe in 2009, they'll rely less on specialty stuff in the November-December period & stick with the basics since the payoff ratings-wise was not sufficient enough. Only CBS-FM could say if it was financially worthwhile. Probably no sense going after LiteFM with Holiday Music and/or a week-long promotion that while not totally repetitious song-wise of the first one was a repeat of the same "idea" whose novelty had possibly worn thin.

Terrific analysis. You hit all the signficant points in the center of the target!

I think that the PPM is proving that programming that deviates from the expected may cause fewer overall tune ins, and thus, over time, cume erosion too.

I love how you guys twist the facts to suit your already held viewpoints.

If CBS-FM had suddenly had a ratings surge following the A to Z and the Xmas stuff, you'd be trumpeting to the heavens that it "proves" that tight playlists and lack of specialty features wins over listeners.

I'm more inclined to agree with oldies76: Boring programming = nobody listening. Indeed, aside from the Top 20 Countdown, I haven't listened to CBS-FM since Xmas.

But it's not just the big A to Zs that are gone from CBS. Even the CBS-FM weekends, which used to be fantastic, have gone K-Earth style: a few treats sprinkled in amongst the same snooze-fest.

No wonder the ratings are down.

 

[davideduardo]

If CBS-FM had suddenly had a ratings surge following the A to Z and the Xmas stuff, you'd be trumpeting to the heavens that it "proves" that tight playlists and lack of specialty features wins over listeners.

Generally, any surge would be for the special programming during the special programming. The PPM reacts instantly.

Listeners are not won over; unlike a political campaign, listeners come and go and if they like what they hear, they stay a while. There is not anywhere near the station loyalty to music formats we thought there was. Since the average person listenes to 6 or 7 different staitons regularly, we find they change between stations more due to mood than anything else. In second place is when the station plays a song they don´t lke or a show does a long bit that is boring.

WCBS's average of 2 hours TSL in 25-54 is not that impressive... probably due to the overly large playlist. More focused and tight KRTH in LA gets around 2:45 in TSL, and LA's Spanish classic hits station gets 3:30 to 3:45 in TSL. Low TSL is very often the result of a station playing a list that is longer than the good scores justify... listeners go off looking for a station with "better" music.

I'm more inclined to agree with oldies76: Boring programming = nobody listening. Indeed, aside from the Top 20 Countdown, I haven't listened to CBS-FM since Xmas.

The symptoms of a too-large playlist and too many obsucre specialty shows are all there.

Maybe they will trim the list, particularly the 60's stuff, and rise again.

 

[scooty430]

Missing the point.

Let me make it simpler for ya:

A to Z and specialty programming = CBS-FM has higher ratings.

Latest ratings period: 'normal' (read: boring) programming, uneventful theme weekends = lower ratings.

 

[oldies76]

In other words, listeners are tired of the same ole, same ole. Specialties bring out the "rarities" and this is when listeners realize, there's more to just the everyday stuff. That's why ratings tend to increase when specials featuring "new" oldies are aired, like A to Z, top 101 British, top 20 countdowns..etc..

Let's see what CBS-FM has planned for this summer, to increase again. They'd be smart to air something huge once again to bring back listeners lost on song monotony.

Nobody appreciates excessive song repetition, day after day, week after week. It's a proven fact. People like their favorite hits, but also welcome something "new". This change, or added variety is what helps to increase overall performance and station ratings, exactly what A to Z did last year, twice!

 

[davideduardo]

Missing the point.

Let me make it simpler for ya:

A to Z and specialty programming = CBS-FM has higher ratings.

Latest ratings period: 'normal' (read: boring) programming, uneventful theme weekends = lower ratings.

Except that you have the real 25-54 ratings backwards. Of course, you don't have the source data.

 

[oldies76]

Generally, any surge would be for the special programming during the special programming. The PPM reacts instantly

Exactly, you've got an upswing in listeners for such specials and once some of these folks realize that it's back to the basics programming afterwards, they tune out or switch stations. The only exceptions are the ones who "enjoy" hearing their favorite hits repeated daily and frequently....and ratings drop some.

The symptoms of a too-large playlist and too many obsucre specialty shows are all there.
Maybe they will trim the list, particularly the 60's stuff, and rise again.

Nah....music from the 60's and 70's will remain the staple of today's classic hits stations and for years to come. Most people are not ready to call late 80's and 90's music...classic hits yet. The only trimming that might be done on CBS-FM would be the early 60's and 50's. (So little is played anyways , so trimming any more would leave out key songs from those years). Most of their 50's and early 60's are already played on Sundays, prior to the Top 20 countdown.

CBS-FM does not have any "obscure" specialty shows..They are all typical shows that any classic hits station should have to entertain it's core audience and to provide something different. A top 20 show or an A to Z is not considered "obscure".

KDZA 107.9 does the countdown garage at 12 noon (lunch hour) every weekday locally, playing the top 12 songs, this week in 19__. Another example of a typical special that a classic hits station would feature.

KRTH's 70's at 7 is another great example.

Featuring the Top 20 songs that peaked lower than position 80, in 1966....now that would be obscure.