Talk Radio Scoreboard for Large Markets: April 2014

[Gregg.]

The Clear Channel experiment to put Rush Limbaugh on new stations in New York, LA and San Francisco is generating some heat. Political websites have examined whether Rush no longer has the clout he once had. Why are his new stations struggling, they ask? WOR, while still only #22 in NYC, has seen some ratings growth recently. But is that more thanks to WOR being the flagship station for the NY Mets, not the addition of Rush and Hannity? And why are long-time Rush affiliates like WLS and WBAP doing so poorly?

But there's no joy among Progressive Talk stations either. After losing NYC, LA and San Francisco last year, it looks like Clear Channel's KKZN Denver will be the next defection, along with two of the four stations simulcasting Progressive Talk in Chicago, under the WCPT call letters. (The AM and one suburban FM remain Progressive Talk but two other suburban FM simulcasts will switch to Polish programming.)


1. New York...WABC (Cumulus) #15 ... WOR (Clear Channel) #22
2. Los Angeles...KFI (Clear Channel) #10 tie ... KABC (Cumulus) #38 tie* ... KEIB (Clear Channel) #38 tie*
3. Chicago...WGN (Tribune) #5 ... WLS (Cumulus) #22
4. San Francisco...KSFO (Cumulus) #22 tie ... KKSF (Clear Channel) #29 ... KNEW (Clear Channel) #30*
5. Dallas...WBAP (Cumulus) #19 tie
6. Houston...KRTH (Clear Channel) #9
7. Washington...WMAL-AM-FM (Cumulus) #13
8. Philadelphia...WPHT (CBS) #20
9. Atlanta...WSB/WSBB(FM) (Cox) #1
10. Boston...WRKO (Entercom) #16

* I only include commercial Talk stations that scored at least a one rating, except for heritage Talk outlet KABC and Rush's LA and SF outlets, KEIB and KNEW.

 

[Jul]

The Clear Channel experiment to put Rush Limbaugh on new stations in New York, LA and San Francisco is generating some heat. Political websites have examined whether Rush no longer has the clout he once had. Why are his new stations struggling, they ask? WOR, while still only #22 in NYC, has seen some ratings growth recently. But is that more thanks to WOR being the flagship station for the NY Mets, not the addition of Rush and Hannity? And why are long-time Rush affiliates like WLS and WBAP doing so poorly?

But there's no joy among Progressive Talk stations either. After losing NYC, LA and San Francisco last year, it looks like Clear Channel's KKZN Denver will be the next defection, along with two of the four stations simulcasting Progressive Talk in Chicago, under the WCPT call letters. (The AM and one suburban FM remain Progressive Talk but two other suburban FM simulcasts will switch to Polish programming.)


1. New York...WABC (Cumulus) #15 ... WOR (Clear Channel) #22
2. Los Angeles...KFI (Clear Channel) #10 tie ... KABC (Cumulus) #38 tie* ... KEIB (Clear Channel) #38 tie*
3. Chicago...WGN (Tribune) #5 ... WLS (Cumulus) #22
4. San Francisco...KSFO (Cumulus) #22 tie ... KKSF (Clear Channel) #29 ... KNEW (Clear Channel) #30*
5. Dallas...WBAP (Cumulus) #19 tie
6. Houston...KRTH (Clear Channel) #9
7. Washington...WMAL-AM-FM (Cumulus) #13
8. Philadelphia...WPHT (CBS) #20
9. Atlanta...WSB/WSBB(FM) (Cox) #1
10. Boston...WRKO (Entercom) #16

* I only include commercial Talk stations that scored at least a one rating, except for heritage Talk outlet KABC and Rush's LA and SF outlets, KEIB and KNEW.

WPHT should give on talk, period. Why keep running a failing format.

 

[davideduardo]

WPHT should give on talk, period. Why keep running a failing format.

Because it bills relatively well and makes money.

 

[Small Market Guy]

Why keep running a failing format.

At this point, I hope they're doing it to spite you.

 

[Jul]

Because it bills relatively well and makes money.

I don't care if it make several millions, the ratings have been poor for many years. CBS is going to pay attention to it soon and that I think will give them reason to make changes. You got to have good ratings and revenue to survive in radio, not one or the other. being in the top 15 in your demo and 20th in the 12 plus are not going to get it done IMO.

 

[flybynight]

I don't care if it make several millions, the ratings have been poor for many years. CBS is going to pay attention to it soon and that I think will give them reason to make changes. You got to have good ratings and revenue to survive in radio, not one or the other. being in the top 15 in your demo and 20th in the 12 plus are not going to get it done IMO.

Many of the suits at CBS don't listen to WPHT's programming. They just look at it's billing---and if it's making a decent ROI, then they're likely not changing anything, as they have bigger fish to fry.