Tyler-Longview TX Fall 2022 Ratings 12+ Mon-Sun, 6a-12m

[Deleted member 108832]

https://ratings.****************/content/arb502

Of note:

- KISX "107.3 Kiss FM" sees an uptick after shifting from "Hot" to "Kiss".
- KVNE is down the usual share and a half between fall and spring surveys, when running the regular programming, and not Christmas music.
- KKTX-FM up a full 2 shares over the past 2 surveys. Adding 90s grunge and Metallica back to the rotation for the 1st time post 96X appears to be working for them. This looked, to me, a likely candidate for the Spanish language initiative Townsquare had been rolling out around the State in places like Killeen and Lufkin just last year.

- 104.1 The Ranch claws its way back to a mid 3 with less 70s and more 90s country fare in rotation.

 

[Jay S]

KKTX-FM up a full 2 shares over the past 2 surveys. Adding 90s grunge and Metallica back to the rotation for the 1st time post 96X appears to be working for them. This looked, to me, a likely candidate for the Spanish language initiative Townsquare had been rolling out around the State in places like Killeen and Lufkin just last year.

I enjoy the added 90s on KKTX when I listen. It makes not having a modern rock station a little more tolerable. People still call it 96X. Lol.

What I find interesting is that KTUX shows up in the ratings even though they have the same playlist as KKTX and also that KKTX is stronger on the eastern side of the market. My guess is that it comes from the Walton and Johnson show.

I noticed that KTLH only had a 0.3. I figured they’d be higher than that given how poor the KOYE signal is over Longview. Also, I guess KTLH has to be listed separately since it is technically in the Shreveport market even though it is a KOYE simulcast.

 

[Deleted member 108832]

I enjoy the added 90s on KKTX when I listen. It makes not having a modern rock station a little more tolerable. People still call it 96X. Lol.

Been right at 10 years now, since the shift back to classic rock and associated rebranding, and I'm guilty as hell of referring to it as 96X to this day. I agree with your opinion; thought Townsquare was late to the game, myself, given K-TUX and 98 Rock delved into the 90s a good bit before CR 96.1. It, and Q107 in Lufkin-Nacogdoches really lagged behind in this latest move forward in the classic rock time line.

What I find interesting is that KTUX shows up in the ratings even though they have the same playlist as KKTX and also that KKTX is stronger on the eastern side of the market. My guess is that it comes from the Walton and Johnson show.

That pretty well sums it up, Jay. Q107 and CR 96.1 both run John Boy & Billy, while "The Highway" (not a fan of the branding, btw) instead goes the W&J route. The show has attracted, and now maintained, a pretty loyal following with our Louisiana neighbors for a number of years. I assume that's the reasoning behind the decision. Different strokes for different folks, as the old saying goes. I would personally like to have W&J cleared here in TYL, but I also haven't heard much of the show since the death of John Walton. He was one of the best straight men in the business, and without him, the show seemingly lost a step to me.

I noticed that KTLH only had a 0.3. I figured they’d be higher than that given how poor the KOYE signal is over Longview. Also, I guess KTLH has to be listed separately since it is technically in the Shreveport market even though it is a KOYE simulcast.

Just goes to show you, never underestimate Rick Reynolds. He searched for years to find a successful format for 99.3. I can't even remember what all he tried. He then carved a niche out of Invasora, and the results speak for themselves.

You are absolutely right about KTLH. It has to be listed outside of the market, or it would count against the cap. It is also the reason Hallsville is the community of license instead of Longview, as was originally intended.

It's kind of funny, in retrospect, as I never thought the application would be allowed to fly (pun intended), after the FAA shut down the original 107.9 KVMA and forced a channel change to 97.3, after it had been moved from Magnolia. It certainly was an impressive shoehorn job to fit her in.

 

[Jay S]

That pretty well sums it up, Jay. Q107 and CR 96.1 both run John Boy & Billy, while "The Highway" (not a fan of the branding, btw) instead goes the W&J route. The show has attracted, and now maintained, a pretty loyal following with our Louisiana neighbors for a number of years. I assume that's the reasoning behind the decision. Different strokes for different folks, as the old saying goes. I would personally like to have W&J cleared here in TYL, but I also haven't heard much of the show since the death of John Walton. He was one of the best straight men in the business, and without him, the show seemingly lost a step to me.

I remember Townsquare going all in on Walton and Johnson. At the beginning of 2018, they put on them on several of their classic rockers and flipped some of their rock stations to classic rock and added W&J, including KTUX. I recall a backlash when they swapped out John, Boy and Billy for W&J at the time. It was just a few months before they brought J,B&B back. I don’t know who could clear W&J. Maybe 99.3 could flip to compete against KKTX. Lol.

I agree. I’m not a fan of the Highway brand either. It can be corny. Although I don’t like how they got rid of 99X, I admit the classic rock format sounds good. I just wish KTUX was locally programmed. They might have one local DJ. Everybody else is voicetracked.

Just goes to show you, never underestimate Rick Reynolds. He searched for years to find a successful format for 99.3. I can't even remember what all he tried. He then carved a niche out of Invasora, and the results speak for themselves.

I’m surprised at the low ratings of the Spanish language stations. I figured Tyler-Longview could support two Spanish language music stations. A rebrand and tweak might help 99.3. I think a flip to AC would be a good move for them. Something like Star 102.1 in DFW. A good local morning show, Delilah in the evenings, and Christmas music for the holiday season. It can fill the void left behind by KOOI and make up for KTYL’s shift toward adult CHR.

It's kind of funny, in retrospect, as I never thought the application would be allowed to fly (pun intended), after the FAA shut down the original 107.9 KVMA and forced a channel change to 97.3, after it had been moved from Magnolia. It certainly was an impressive shoehorn job to fit her in.

I remember that. I’m surprised they let KTLH sign on. As I recall, the signals of KVMA on 107.9 and KAZE on 106.9 combined and caused interference to a Barksdale AFB communications frequency. If KTLH was a problem, I’m sure they would’ve been shut down by now.