• Get involved.
    We want your input!
    Apply for Membership and join the conversations about everything related to broadcasting.

    After we receive your registration, a moderator will review it. After your registration is approved, you will be permitted to post.
    If you use a disposable or false email address, your registration will be rejected.

    After your membership is approved, please take a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself.
    https://www.radiodiscussions.com/forums/introduce-yourself.1088/

    Thanks in advance and have fun!
    RadioDiscussions Administrators

WGN's Bob Sirott is #1 in the morning

KilowattKat

KilowattKat

The headline says it all. WGN is now mentioning at the TOH that Bob Sirott is #1 Nielsen rated in mornings on Chicago radio. The ratings overall for WGN have gone up, although I don't know how they do in ad agency important demographics.

Listening to WGN is like stepping back in time for a style of Talk radio that ended in the 80's. There's no divisive political talk. A lot of it is like chatting with a neighbor about everyday topics. Last night's 'Steve and Johnnie Show' is a good example (think Herb Jepko, but hosted by a married couple). For over 3 decades they hosted overnights, but 1-4 am is now syndicated. That's another thing, except for 3 hours overnight, the entire WGN lineup is live and local.

The ownership by Nextstar seems to be a positive for now. Can you you imagine what WGN would be like if they were owned by say, Cumulus or iHeart.
 
The syndicated 'The Other Side ofr Midnight with Lionel' is an awful addition to the lineup, and sticks out like a sore thumb. The host has the most irritating, brash ,new york accented voice that makes listening to him (especially in the overnight) impossible. He's rude, and seems to only take calls from people who either disagree or dislike him, for plenty of performative outrage...and of course he's conservative.

It just flies in the face of the type of talk radio WGN specializes in. It hurts the brand, even if were talking overnight hours when listening is at it's lowest. Why not just do 'A Best Of...' instead,. 3 hours of the previous day's highlights, an hour from each of the top 3 shows.
 
KilowattKat said:
The headline says it all. WGN is now mentioning at the TOH that Bob Sirott is #1 Nielsen rated in mornings on Chicago radio. The ratings overall for WGN have gone up, although I don't know how they do in ad agency important demographics.
Click to expand...

It's probably based on share. Because if it was based on cume, Sirott would be near the bottom:

www.insideradio.com

Chicago's Top Morning Shows, By The Numbers: WBBM-AM's Pat Cassidy, Lite FM's Melissa Forman Tops In Windy City.

Nielsen's deep dive into Chicago morning drive is the focus of this week's edition of Inside Radio's “By The Numbers,” reviewing the Windy City's top morning shows based on weekly
www.insideradio.com www.insideradio.com

KilowattKat said:
Can you you imagine what WGN would be like if they were owned by say, Cumulus or iHeart.
Click to expand...

We don't have to imagine. Cumulus owns WLS. We can see how they do. iHeart owns talk stations in NY and LA. Both of those stations are local all day.
 
TheBigA said:
It's probably based on share. Because if it was based on cume, Sirott would be near the bottom:

www.insideradio.com

Chicago's Top Morning Shows, By The Numbers: WBBM-AM's Pat Cassidy, Lite FM's Melissa Forman Tops In Windy City.

Nielsen's deep dive into Chicago morning drive is the focus of this week's edition of Inside Radio's “By The Numbers,” reviewing the Windy City's top morning shows based on weekly
www.insideradio.com www.insideradio.com



We don't have to imagine. Cumulus owns WLS. We can see how they do. iHeart owns talk stations in NY and LA. Both of those stations are local all day.
Click to expand...
That InsideRadio article is from October 2021!
 
KilowattKat said:
That InsideRadio article is from October 2021!
Click to expand...

Here are the latest cume numbers. WGN has 1/3rd of the cume of Mix or the other music stations. It has half of the cume of WBBM.

radioinsight.com

Chicago

Nielsen Audio PPM Monthly Ratings Chicago (Market #3) Population: 8,004,000 Black: 1,343,100 - Hispanic: 1,913,500 Average Quarter Hour Share for
radioinsight.com radioinsight.com

You can twist and turn the numbers to say anything. If you base it on cume, WGN is not #1.
 
TheBigA said:
It's probably based on share. Because if it was based on cume, Sirott would be near the bottom:

www.insideradio.com

Chicago's Top Morning Shows, By The Numbers: WBBM-AM's Pat Cassidy, Lite FM's Melissa Forman Tops In Windy City.

Nielsen's deep dive into Chicago morning drive is the focus of this week's edition of Inside Radio's “By The Numbers,” reviewing the Windy City's top morning shows based on weekly
www.insideradio.com www.insideradio.com



We don't have to imagine. Cumulus owns WLS. We can see how they do. iHeart owns talk stations in NY and LA. Both of those stations are local all day.
Click to expand...
WOR AM in NYC, the major IHeart station, only has local shows morning from 5-noon.
In the afternoon from 12-6 they broadcast the syndicated Clay and Buck show followed by Hannity.
 
ILOVERADIO said:
WOR AM in NYC, the major IHeart station, only has local shows morning from 5-noon.
In the afternoon from 12-6 they broadcast the syndicated Clay and Buck show followed by Hannity.
Click to expand...
In AQH, WGN is the top rated AM only Chicago station, since WBBM simulcasts on FM. Being number 6 in share is good for a non-FM station in Chicago. It is true the sports AM station (The Score) has a higher cume. Sirrott is impressive sounding young in his mid 70s. He’s a natural entertainer with a good sense of humor. Of course the WGN audience is pretty old like most AM stations.
 


Back
Top Bottom