Rochester's Summer Book

[scooterodell]

I noticed that WXXI-AM's summer book showed a huge decline in audience (12+).
They went from a 3.1 to a 1.7 cume.

That is interesting... I wonder if some election fatigue, combined with summer flukeyness (look that up in your Funk & Wagnall's) lead to lower numbers. We have had an exceptionally long election cycle...

 

[Mark Giardina]

I was somewhat surprised considering the importance of this election year, plus the fact that the summer book is normally when WXXI's does well in the ratings.

Again these are 12+ numbers; but it doesn't bode very well when your previous share is over a 3 and the latest book has you at a 1.7.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

I was somewhat surprised considering the importance of this election year, plus the fact that the summer book is normally when WXXI's does well in the ratings.
Again these are 12+ numbers; but it doesn't bode very well when your previous share is over a 3 and the latest book has you at a 1.7.

What did the station do to lose that large of an audience? I haven't noticed any real changes in the station's format. They still maintained not only NPR programs, but local coverage as well with their news and talk show. Maybe someone with more knowledge of the book can enlighten the rest of us.

 

[SirRoxalot]

Could it be a diary placement issue? The growth of 'LGZ? Fluke?

 

[Element9]

Could it be a diary placement issue? The growth of 'LGZ? Fluke?

Sure 'nuff. Could also be Summer. Listeners go on vacation. John and Jill Public sleep late, don't need to get up at 6:45 in the morning, get the traffic and weather or even the news at the top or bottom of the hour... or maybe they get out of Dodge altogether. Listening habits and patterns change because listeners' needs change. WLGZ goes up perhaps because it is, in fact, summertime (and the livin' is easy, as Billy Stewart might sing, complete with the famous upper palate fricative.) John and Jill wanna chill and hear the Grass Roots and Beatles rather than the latest news about the this week's failed bank and the financial sector meltdown. Also, it's Rochester (it just as easily could be "Buffalo"), and it's Arbitron.

 

[alw]

A ratings change of the magnitude that's been reported for WXXI is clearly a fluke. They've changed nothing and half their audience has not moved away or died.

Book placement is a good suspect......when you're dealing with numbers the size we (public radio) do....a few books in the wrong hands can change things dramatically.

I have long stopped worrying about top-line 12+ numbers.
(We have virtually no use for listeners under 35-40)

Hourlys and Listener Behavior Report findings tell me much more important things that I need to know.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

A ratings change of the magnitude that's been reported for WXXI is clearly a fluke. They've changed nothing and half their audience has not moved away or died.

Book placement is a good suspect......when you're dealing with numbers the size we (public radio) do....a few books in the wrong hands can change things dramatically.

I have long stopped worrying about top-line 12+ numbers.
(We have virtually no use for listeners under 35-40)

Hourlys and Listener Behavior Report findings tell me much more important things that I need to know.

I can understand one, or even two books as being a "fluke" but WXXI going from a 3 share to a 1 share has happened repeatedly over the years. It just doesn't make sense that a station's audience would desert them during certain parts of the year.
I am no fan of Arbitron to begin with and believe there are better ways to gauge an audience.