PPM Summer Shake Up

[TakeItFromMe]

The WOLF now tied for number two with KMPS down to 12th last week ;D KQMV and KUBE growing and same with KRWM and KZOK. KZOK has edged ahead of KJR-FM STAR had been the big cowboy on the block but took a big ole nose dive last week from first to 11th place Seems their winning streak has come to an end. KIRO-FM smacked KOMO too so things must be glum at Fisher Who says change don't happen in the PPM world huh ;D WOLF, KRWM, KUBE, KQMV, KZOK on the rise and JACK moves up too. 8)

 

[dominic]

wondering if fisher's down number might be because thier encoded signal was off after the fire for a while?

 

[RadioRon]

I think you got it exactly right Dominic. If the encoders are located in "the plaza" then, although the stations were on the air, the listening wouldn't have been recorded for that period. Going from #1 to #12 in one week....something's up with that.

 

[Fornax]

I don't believe it is difficult for stations to get backup equipment from Arbitron. If stations choose to keep their PPM encoders at the radio station, most will have a back up unit at the transmitter. I'd certainly hope KOMO had done some basic emergency planning.

 

[djdan]

Much like the old monthlies in the diary, be careful quoting weeklies. They vary greatly. A three month book is the new gold standard. On that basis it is still a dead heat between KMPS and KWFF. They are both around eigth place. One shoots up, then the other based on the week. Fisher was not encoding for multiple days due to their fire from what I understand. That would explain the huge losses in cume for all their properties. STAR had a weak signal and just songs, KVI was not even on the air. How does arbitron handle a station that is on the air, but has an encoder failure? Just curious. Does Fisher get eliminated from the July ratings? That happened to a Cox station in Houston as I recall.

 

[TVradioguru]

TIFM will take any smallish sliver of hope that the Wolf will make an impact. Desperation? Perhaps!

You are correct Dan, a weekly measurement means nothing. Wait till another full month elapses with all the players in play. Assuming Star can keep the lights on, it will probably slide back into it's prior place in the race. Keeping the encoder encoding is key. In hindsight, perhaps the engineer at Star should have made arrangements to move the encoder to their temporary studio during their outage. But, on the flip side, in the final results it will just be a blip.

I imagine being down a week in ratings is the least of their problems with the amount of lawsuits from their tenants flying in the door.

 

[Bongwater]

I don't believe it is difficult for stations to get backup equipment from Arbitron. If stations choose to keep their PPM encoders at the radio station, most will have a back up unit at the transmitter. I'd certainly hope KOMO had done some basic emergency planning.

What's the bloody point? Seriously, the very last thing ANY programmer with half the brain of a germ would be thinking in the aftermath of The Big One is "Wow, I sure hope we got our PPM backup turned on, this is going to be HUGE!" I think it's also a fair bet that the PPM holders themselves (assuming they all make it out alive) are NOT going to be thinking "Call mom, call grandma and....oh my God....WHERE'S MY PPM??!!".

There are bigger, more important things in life.....

 

[radioprofessor]

True it is not life threatening but it is an interesting parameter.
Arbitron will not adjust numbers because an encoder is off or not working or a station is off the air? The case of the Fisher stations, as I understand it from these threads, is more problematic. As I understand it they were off the air for some time and then on the air but not encoding due to a fire in their building. This will result in zero listenership in the PPM, while they actually were on the air with listeners. In the PPM parameter, it isn't whether you are on the air, it is whether you are encoding. This happened in another market where an engineer actually turned off the encoder key and it took a couple of days for the station to correct it and I have it on good authority the station was stuck with the zero share and got a lousy week and month of ratings as a result. In the case of STAR, KOMO and KVI it was out of control of the station. I have not heard of a fire or natural disaster leaving a station unable to encode. Quite perplexing, in my humble view. At most it will only affect the July book. I would bet the Fisher stations will discount the July book, in this case with reason, and move forward with ratings in April, May, June and August. I am sure this will happen again in other markets and it will be perplexing there as well. A station is on the air with listeners, but has no ratings. There are some markets where hispanic broadcasters have refused to encode adding a whole new dimension to the issue. What happens if an encoder fails on its own? Does the station suffer even through no fault of its own. Quite perplexing.

 

[Shark]

Seriously, the very last thing ANY programmer with half the brain of a germ would be thinking in the aftermath of The Big One is "Wow, I sure hope we got our PPM backup turned on, this is going to be HUGE!"

Based on the PDs I've known over the years, that's EXACTLY what they'd be thinking.

 

[TakeItFromMe]

Oh come on cowboys KOMO, KVI and KING never had numbers. STAR might have a bone to pick but that dog don't bark. We all play by the same game and rules and if you aint got a back-up encoder (we don't either) tough luck DA WOLF actually is well ahead of KMPS in every demo under the age of 50 in all three books. The station has moved into second which I thought was worth mentioning :-\ Didn't mean to start a thread about encoding and PPM and mindless geek chat

 

[radioprofessor]

The discussion was part of the parameter you raised. THe WOLF and other stations may have recieved out of balance numbers in the past week released due to lack of encoding by at least three stations causing the swings you so proudly report. Looking at three book averages seems to be the proper parameter, not cheering for each week mr take it from me. See the response from the Houston board discussion about the Seattle fire. It may take four weeks for the Seattle numbers to return to normal, based on the Houston experience:



(David Eduardo) 10:48
Houston's only incident, that I am aware of, is Hurricane Ike in September of 2008. Not only did it disrupt many stations, it disrupted people's ability to charge and use their PPM devices. So the measurement was suspended and no reports issued for September and October.

Arbitron believes that, since there are no multi-month survey periods and no rolling averages of many months, that any problem will be flushed out within at most 4 weeks, and that the weeklies on either side of a problem will show the true level of listening. Otherwise, every technical problem will cause stations to be averaged, invisible, etc. and the process loses credibility.

That's my analysis, not Arbitron's, though. But having been involved directly since the original Philadelphia tests 6 years ago, I have never seen it suggested that any special treatment be given.

 

[LITTLEBOYBLUE]

Didn't mean to start a thread about encoding and PPM and mindless geek chat

My apologies...I probably contributed to the geek chat. This should have, above all, remained yet ANOTHER thread about how Wolf will kick KMPS ass (but has yet to actually HAPPEN). I apologize for my role in taking us off topic.

 

[Fornax]

I don't believe it is difficult for stations to get backup equipment from Arbitron. If stations choose to keep their PPM encoders at the radio station, most will have a back up unit at the transmitter. I'd certainly hope KOMO had done some basic emergency planning.

What's the bloody point? Seriously, the very last thing ANY programmer with half the brain of a germ would be thinking in the aftermath of The Big One is "Wow, I sure hope we got our PPM backup turned on, this is going to be HUGE!" I think it's also a fair bet that the PPM holders themselves (assuming they all make it out alive) are NOT going to be thinking "Call mom, call grandma and....oh my God....WHERE'S MY PPM??!!".

There are bigger, more important things in life.....

Sorry genius. I was talking about the type of emergency planning every radio should do, especially a news station. The most common emergency will most likely be the short term loss of your own studios, not the "Big One." There's no excuse for KOMO and the rest of the Fisher stations to not have a backup encoders in place so that when they broadcast from another location their signal is still being encoded. Probably the next most common "emergency" would affect only portion of a city -- so depending on the response rate and sample accuracy ratings might continue. I'm sure when the "Big One" hits the Emerald City PPM will be suspended for a period of time. But that still does not explain or excuse why backup encoders would not be in place at the transmitter. You've obviously never been responsible for operations at a radio station. PPM is encoding is carefully monitored at stations, alarmed in most cases. It should be treated with the same urgency as being off the air. Come on, use your head.

 

[SeattleRadioPro]

Sorry genius. I was talking about the type of emergency planning every radio should do, especially a news station. The most common emergency will most likely be the short term loss of your own studios, not the "Big One." There's no excuse for KOMO and the rest of the Fisher stations to not have a backup encoders in place so that when they broadcast from another location their signal is still being encoded. Probably the next most common "emergency" would affect only portion of a city -- so depending on the response rate and sample accuracy ratings might continue. I'm sure when the "Big One" hits the Emerald City PPM will be suspended for a period of time. But that still does not explain or excuse why backup encoders would not be in place at the transmitter. You've obviously never been responsible for operations at a radio station. PPM is encoding is carefully monitored at stations, alarmed in most cases. It should be treated with the same urgency as being off the air. Come on, use your head.

From what my tech buddies tell me, if you saw the way the engineering is done at Fisher you'd be amazed they even stay on the air - even considering the so-called "heroic efforts" during the recent fire at the Plaza.

 

[Bongwater]

I don't believe it is difficult for stations to get backup equipment from Arbitron. If stations choose to keep their PPM encoders at the radio station, most will have a back up unit at the transmitter. I'd certainly hope KOMO had done some basic emergency planning.

What's the bloody point? Seriously, the very last thing ANY programmer with half the brain of a germ would be thinking in the aftermath of The Big One is "Wow, I sure hope we got our PPM backup turned on, this is going to be HUGE!" I think it's also a fair bet that the PPM holders themselves (assuming they all make it out alive) are NOT going to be thinking "Call mom, call grandma and....oh my God....WHERE'S MY PPM??!!".

There are bigger, more important things in life.....

Sorry genius. I was talking about the type of emergency planning every radio should do, especially a news station. The most common emergency will most likely be the short term loss of your own studios, not the "Big One." There's no excuse for KOMO and the rest of the Fisher stations to not have a backup encoders in place so that when they broadcast from another location their signal is still being encoded. Probably the next most common "emergency" would affect only portion of a city -- so depending on the response rate and sample accuracy ratings might continue. I'm sure when the "Big One" hits the Emerald City PPM will be suspended for a period of time. But that still does not explain or excuse why backup encoders would not be in place at the transmitter. You've obviously never been responsible for operations at a radio station. PPM is encoding is carefully monitored at stations, alarmed in most cases. It should be treated with the same urgency as being off the air. Come on, use your head.

(DREAM SEQUENCE BEGINS)

It's Seattle....or was Seattle....after "The Big One". The city lays in ruins. The Space Needle has toppled over on top of Fisher Plaza, Columbia Tower is now half it's former size, there's twisted metal and rebar, rubble and broken glass everywhere. The Alaskan Way Viaduct is now pancaked slabs of concrete. Fires rage out of control. Search and Rescue dogs are barking as survivors wander in a daze, grateful they are alive, but not sure if they really are.

Every radio tower in the Puget Sound and the Seattle area has toppled over. The FM towers on Tiger and Cougar are leaning dangerously, if not completely fallen

The smell of leaking gas lines permeates the air.

Meanwhile, in the rubble of what was once an apartment building on Queen Anne, someone is frantically digging through it. But not for survivors.....

"OH.....YES?.....I'M LOOKING FOR SOMETHING!.....MY PPM!.....MY PPM!....IT'S A PORTABLE PEOPLE METER......A PORTABLE PEOPLE METER!......NO! ITS NOT FOR DIABETES, I'M NOT DIABETIC! IT'S FOR MY RADIO, I MUST HAVE IT!.....I ALREADY TOLD YOU I'M NOT DIABETIC....MY RADIO ISN'T DIABETIC....LISTEN TO ME!...MY RADIO NEEDS IT.....HEY! W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING? LET GO OF MY LEG! I AM NOT IN DIABETIC SHOCK! I DON'T NEED A CANDY BAR! PUT AWAY THAT INSULIN...ARRGH!...."

(DREAM SEQUENCE ENDS)

Seriously, it DOESN'T matter WHATSOEVER if some stupid gadget for measuring ratings, whether after "The Big One" or during a massive windstorm, works or NOT. As I said before, there are BIGGER things in life.....

Nothing is fail proof either.

I'm sure after Katrina, a lot of diaries in New Orleans didn't get turned in that week. And for a LONG time after. Did it matter to the stations? Did it matter to the listeners? Did it matter to ANYBODY? Even the most ratings bothered PD in New Orleans had other things on his/her mind....

Yes. Radio is a business. And like a supermarket after/during a catastrophic event, if it's open and has something people need, people aren't going to be picky about how popular the supermarket is, they're going to take whatever's available that works from it. A good example is this heatwave we've been having. Someone may not like Wal-Mart or Lowes for whatever reason, but if they're the only stores that still had air conditioners for sale and it's 103 outside Fisher Plaza. The vanities got put aside. If all electricity, TV, cable, internet and wired/wireless communication was down and CKWX was the only voice left on the air after "The Big One", (trust me, this would be big enough for them to send a few reporters down for), like I said people aren't going to be picky.....

It never ceases to amaze me how so much emphasis can be placed on something so trivial in the radio business in the most dire circumstances.....

 

[Fornax]

Sorry genius. I was talking about the type of emergency planning every radio should do, especially a news station. The most common emergency will most likely be the short term loss of your own studios, not the "Big One." There's no excuse for KOMO and the rest of the Fisher stations to not have a backup encoders in place so that when they broadcast from another location their signal is still being encoded. Probably the next most common "emergency" would affect only portion of a city -- so depending on the response rate and sample accuracy ratings might continue. I'm sure when the "Big One" hits the Emerald City PPM will be suspended for a period of time. But that still does not explain or excuse why backup encoders would not be in place at the transmitter. You've obviously never been responsible for operations at a radio station. PPM is encoding is carefully monitored at stations, alarmed in most cases. It should be treated with the same urgency as being off the air. Come on, use your head.

From what my tech buddies tell me, if you saw the way the engineering is done at Fisher you'd be amazed they even stay on the air - even considering the so-called "heroic efforts" during the recent fire at the Plaza.

That's a shame. I know over the years I've seen them make some rather bad business decisions. I guess that applies to engineering and emergency planning.

 

[Fornax]

I don't believe it is difficult for stations to get backup equipment from Arbitron. If stations choose to keep their PPM encoders at the radio station, most will have a back up unit at the transmitter. I'd certainly hope KOMO had done some basic emergency planning.

What's the bloody point? Seriously, the very last thing ANY programmer with half the brain of a germ would be thinking in the aftermath of The Big One is "Wow, I sure hope we got our PPM backup turned on, this is going to be HUGE!" I think it's also a fair bet that the PPM holders themselves (assuming they all make it out alive) are NOT going to be thinking "Call mom, call grandma and....oh my God....WHERE'S MY PPM??!!".

There are bigger, more important things in life.....

Sorry genius. I was talking about the type of emergency planning every radio should do, especially a news station. The most common emergency will most likely be the short term loss of your own studios, not the "Big One." There's no excuse for KOMO and the rest of the Fisher stations to not have a backup encoders in place so that when they broadcast from another location their signal is still being encoded. Probably the next most common "emergency" would affect only portion of a city -- so depending on the response rate and sample accuracy ratings might continue. I'm sure when the "Big One" hits the Emerald City PPM will be suspended for a period of time. But that still does not explain or excuse why backup encoders would not be in place at the transmitter. You've obviously never been responsible for operations at a radio station. PPM is encoding is carefully monitored at stations, alarmed in most cases. It should be treated with the same urgency as being off the air. Come on, use your head.

(DREAM SEQUENCE BEGINS)

It's Seattle....or was Seattle....after "The Big One". The city lays in ruins. The Space Needle has toppled over on top of Fisher Plaza, Columbia Tower is now half it's former size, there's twisted metal and rebar, rubble and broken glass everywhere. The Alaskan Way Viaduct is now pancaked slabs of concrete. Fires rage out of control. Search and Rescue dogs are barking as survivors wander in a daze, grateful they are alive, but not sure if they really are.

Every radio tower in the Puget Sound and the Seattle area has toppled over. The FM towers on Tiger and Cougar are leaning dangerously, if not completely fallen

The smell of leaking gas lines permeates the air.

Meanwhile, in the rubble of what was once an apartment building on Queen Anne, someone is frantically digging through it. But not for survivors.....

"OH.....YES?.....I'M LOOKING FOR SOMETHING!.....MY PPM!.....MY PPM!....IT'S A PORTABLE PEOPLE METER......A PORTABLE PEOPLE METER!......NO! ITS NOT FOR DIABETES, I'M NOT DIABETIC! IT'S FOR MY RADIO, I MUST HAVE IT!.....I ALREADY TOLD YOU I'M NOT DIABETIC....MY RADIO ISN'T DIABETIC....LISTEN TO ME!...MY RADIO NEEDS IT.....HEY! W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING? LET GO OF MY LEG! I AM NOT IN DIABETIC SHOCK! I DON'T NEED A CANDY BAR! PUT AWAY THAT INSULIN...ARRGH!...."

(DREAM SEQUENCE ENDS)

Seriously, it DOESN'T matter WHATSOEVER if some stupid gadget for measuring ratings, whether after "The Big One" or during a massive windstorm, works or NOT. As I said before, there are BIGGER things in life.....

Nothing is fail proof either.

I'm sure after Katrina, a lot of diaries in New Orleans didn't get turned in that week. And for a LONG time after. Did it matter to the stations? Did it matter to the listeners? Did it matter to ANYBODY? Even the most ratings bothered PD in New Orleans had other things on his/her mind....

Yes. Radio is a business. And like a supermarket after/during a catastrophic event, if it's open and has something people need, people aren't going to be picky about how popular the supermarket is, they're going to take whatever's available that works from it. A good example is this heatwave we've been having. Someone may not like Wal-Mart or Lowes for whatever reason, but if they're the only stores that still had air conditioners for sale and it's 103 outside Fisher Plaza. The vanities got put aside. If all electricity, TV, cable, internet and wired/wireless communication was down and CKWX was the only voice left on the air after "The Big One", (trust me, this would be big enough for them to send a few reporters down for), like I said people aren't going to be picky.....

It never ceases to amaze me how so much emphasis can be placed on something so trivial in the radio business in the most dire circumstances.....

What did I say? I'll try to make it simple. The most common "emergency" a radio station will face will be the short-term loss of their broadcast facilities. Fisher's fire is a perfect example. Confined only to their building. Everybody else in Seattle is ok. There is no excuse not to properly plan for such an event and insure that you continue to receive PPM credit for your broadcasts.

In a catastrophic event, ratings data collection will be suspended. As it was in New Orleans. I'm sure the fine broadcasters of Seattle would band together and provide emergency information services to the "dazed, grateful to be alive" survivors of the big one.

The point is we try to keep our stations on the air -- even when there are massive windstorms. We have plans for common disaster scenarios in the communities we serve. Even the big ones. Everything depends on the circumstances and the quality of the planning.

But as reported, the circumstances of the KOMO fire should never have resulted in a scenario where they weren't encoding, even if you had to send an engineer to the Island to "plug it in."

Now, of course, maybe KOMO was encoding and just really sucked that week...and KIRO suddenly didn't. Yeah that's it, pass the bong back.....