from fmqb.com
The noose keeps getting tighter around Howard Stern's radio empire as WBZX (The Blitz)/Columbus becomes the latest station to drop The King Of All Media's syndicated morning program, citing an FCC investigation "relating to four separate incidents in which The Blitz allegedly broadcast indecent material contained in The Howard Stern Show."
News of the investigation at WBZX comes just over a week after it was revealed that the FCC's Enforcement Bureau was looking into an early February broadcast in which allegedly indecent material was aired on Beasley Broadcast Group’s WRXK/Ft. Myers and Infinity Broadcasting’s WXRK/New York. The FCC investigations come less than a month after the hiring of Penny Nance as an advisor. At the time of her hiring, there was some speculation that Nance, a lobbyist for conservative Christian organizations, would heat up an apparently stalled "war on broadcast indecency."
PD Hal Fish made the announcement today that Stern's run had ended in Columbus, stating: "Ever since Howard Stern announced that he was leaving for satellite radio, we have known this day would come. Despite that, it's not without a certain degree of sadness that today was the final broadcast of The Howard Stern Show on 99.7 The Blitz. North American Broadcasting Company, the company that owns The Blitz, is currently cooperating with the FCC in response to a Notice Of Inquiry relating to four separate incidents in which The Blitz allegedly broadcast indecent material contained in The Howard Stern Show. The people who advise our company about such matters believe the incidents place our station and license at risk. As a result, effective today, The Blitz will no longer broadcast The Howard Stern Show."
Fish followed the company statement with a personal note, saying, "It's been a gas. It's been a pleasure being associated with The Stern Show. It would have been great if he could have faded into the sunset and headed to satellite at the end of the year. Quite frankly, I think it was highly unlikely he would have made it to the end of the year anyway."
Fish then introduced his new morning show, The Grego Show, which starts Tuesday, September 6. On Friday (9/2), Fish will host the morning show and take calls from listeners regarding the station's announcement about dropping Stern, along with indecency and the FCC.
The Howard Stern Channel launches on Sirius Satellite Radio on September 29. Channel 100 will be the home of the newly created Stern programmed content, with channel 101 also designated for Stern's creative outlet on Sirius.
from the Columbus Dispatch
August 3, 2005
Young listeners and the stations that serve them came on strong in the spring Arbitron radio ratings.
The quarterly survey of listening habits showed that WNCI (97.9 FM) rebounded strongly from winter. The contemporary-hits station enjoyed broad support, finishing first among listeners ages 18 to 34 -- a typical stronghold -- and those 25 to 54. WNCI's morning show was tops among these groups, too.
The impressive popularity of WCKX (107.5 FM) -- built on teen and young-adult listeners -- grew stronger. The urban-contemporary station echoed WNCI's broad-based support, placing second among the 18-to-34 and 25-to-54 groups. Overall, WCKX improved from the winter and from a year ago.
WTVN (610 AM) was down in the spring ratings, due at least in part to a lessening interest in politics, one of the news-talk station's specialties. But the ratings were up from a year ago, an indication that WTVN kept at least some of its election listeners.
WCOL (92.3 FM) remained the most popular country station. While the ratings were lower than in winter, the move seemed a seasonal swing. WCOL was third among listeners 18 to 34 and 25 to 54, and did well among female listeners.
That competition -- the race to attract adult women -- became especially intense in the spring.
WSNY (94.7 FM), which has dominated that group for years, suffered a blow in the latest ratings. Among female listeners 25 to 54, for instance, WNCI and its morning show beat WSNY. Even worse for WSNY, so did rhythm-and-blues oldies station WXMG (98.9 FM), adult-contemporary station WBNS (97.1 FM) and the increasingly popular Christian station WCVO (104.9 FM).
Rock stations, which endured a slide in the winter ratings, returned strong in the spring. WLVQ (96.3 FM) was first among male listeners 25 to 54, and its morning show was second in that group, finishing just behind WBZX (99.7 FM) with Howard Stern.
WBZX will have one more ratings survey in which Stern is a factor, then will face the fall with a new sound in the morning.
from the Columbus Dispatch
At least that's what the latest Arbitron radio survey indicates. The winter radio poll, which surveyed Columbus listeners from Jan. 6 to March 30, saw an established winner, news-talk station WTVN (610 AM), remain dominant and country station WCOL (92.3 FM) draw strong ratings all day.
Longtime market leader WTVN was first in the morning, midday and afternoon. Bob Conners' Saturday morning open-line call-in show drew almost a quarter of all listeners -- and this was after the presidential election and before the Mifflin High School controversy.
WCOL's morning show, Woody and the Wake Up Call, was tops among an important listener group, those ages 25 to 54. The other programs on WCOL's schedule did well, too, helping the country station enjoy superb ratings overall.
The Power Morning Crew at WCKX (107.5 FM) saw a big surge as well, helping the hip-hop and rhythm-and-blues station win among its prime target, listeners ages 18 to 34.
Power 107.5's sibling station, WXMG (98.9 FM), also enjoyed a ratings rise.
Both stations' jump might have affected two competitors that slipped some -- WNCI (97.9 FM) and WSNY (94.7 FM).
WNCI placed second among listeners 18 to 34 and the station's The Morning Zoo was third in the same age group -- far from a disaster but an anomaly for the usually reliable station.
WSNY struggled a bit among listeners ages 25 to 54, but it likely won't hit the panic button. Sunny continued its six-year dominance among women ages 25 and older, the "lite-rock" station's target audience.
Rock stations, on the other hand, were on the rebound, with WLVQ (96.3 FM) beginning to climb out of its fall doldrums; and WBZX (99.7 FM) building on the performance by syndicated shock jock Howard Stern, who was second among listeners 25 to 54 and first among those 18 to 34.
Other notable points in the survey:
* WBNS (97.1 FM) might have been jolted by the same survey peculiarities that afflicted WSNY and WNCI. The "hot-contemporary" station's usually stable ratings took an unexpected drop, tying it with WCVO (104.9 FM).
* WLZT (93.3 FM), led by Shawn and Starkey, and Air America affiliate WTPG (1230 AM) continued their rise. The addition of Jerry Springer's radio show to WTPG's schedule occurred too late to affect the survey.
* The unusual "we-play- everything" format at WTDA (103.9 FM) has yet to catch on. Since the station changed from '70s and '80s rock to the "TED-FM" format, ratings have done little better than remain the same.
Sibling station WMNI (920 AM), on the other hand, is on the upswing after dropping a syndicated format and shoring up its adult-standards playlist.
from the Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)
January 25, 2005
Taking advantage of news, sports and weather stories that became big topics of conversation in the fall, news-talk WTVN (610 AM) reached the top of the Arbitron radio ratings.
Two of its prime assets -- the newsroom and the Bob Conners morning show -- helped WTVN rocket almost three share points from the previous survey, with listeners tuning in most likely for updates on the presidential election and the Ohio State football program.
Conners, who was edged out of first place in the summer by youth-oriented stations, returned to his usual spot as morning king.
The stations targeting the young, however, continued to demonstrate their appeal.
A fellow Clear Channel Communications station, WNCI (97.9 FM), ranked first among listeners ages 18 to 34 as well as 25 to 54.
And, though down from its summer high, hip-hop station and Radio One powerhouse WCKX (107.5 FM) improved from the previous year -- finishing second to WNCI among listeners 18 to 34.
Country music dipped in the fall, with market leader WCOL (92.3 FM) unexpectedly dropping on weekends even as the Woody and the Wake-up Call morning show performed reliably.
The numbers for the classic country on WHOK (95.5 FM) were off, too -- seemingly in keeping with Columbus oldies stations in all genres.
Fans of "light" rock, meanwhile, stuck with their favorite: WSNY (94.7 FM) placed first among adult female listeners for the 24th ratings period in a row, with the Dino & Stacy morning show tops among women 35 to 54, beating the next-highest competitor by 36 percent.
WLZT (93.3 FM), another station that features an easygoing sound, showed improvement, too -- thanks to the continually rising Shawn and Starkey in the Morning, the fastest-growing morning show in the market.
Holding steady from the summer was WBNS (97.1 FM), whose morning show, J.T. and Company, became settled.
While the light stations did well, their rocking counterparts suffered.
WBZX (99.7 FM) waned, with the Howard Stern syndicated show back to a more-typical range from its summer breakthrough. (Have listeners tired of hearing Stern talk about his upcoming gig on satellite radio?)
WLVQ (96.3 FM) struggled without a promotional budget, although the station still stood at No. 1 among men 35 to 54. Hard rock at WAZU (107.1 FM) fell, and WFJX (105.7 FM) stagnated.
On the upswing:
* Sports scored higher ratings for WBNS (1460 AM), which rode various controversies to a tie in the top 10 -- an unusually good showing for the sports-talk station.
* The syndicated Tom Joyner morning show gave WXMG (98.9 FM) a boost in the rankings.
* For the former oldies station WTPG (1230 AM), the new liberal-progressive talk format Air America, featuring Al Franken, delivered the best figures in four years.
from the Columbus Dispatch
November 5, 2004
Remember summer?
The Arbitron radio-ratings folks do.
And so, in the recent survey of Columbus listener choices, they share the memories.
The fondest of those recollections should be held by Clear Channel Communications officials and by Howard Stern.
Three of radio giant Clear Channel's stations were in the top five, with perennial powerhouse WNCI (97.9 FM) at the top of the heap.
Stern, self-proclaimed "King of All Media," deposed longtime morning monarch Bob Conners as the most popular a.m. host in Columbus.
The summer ratings, which surveyed listener choices from June through September, often are seen as different from those of the rest of the year. Younger listeners, for instance, are out of school and have more time to tune in.
That favors younger-skewing stations such as WNCI and Radio One's top urban station, WCKX (107.5 FM) -- and it favors young-male favorite Stern.
Stern, whose syndicated show airs on locally owned WBZX (99.7 FM), was far and away the top pick among listeners ages 18 to 34 and also No. 1 among listeners 25 to 54.
Most other stations, which depend on adults listening in the office or car, stood pat or took minor steps up or down.
They included Infinity Broadcasting rock station WLVQ (96.3 FM), always a durable performer; WBNS (97.1 FM), with a pop-rock format that draws well among adults; entrenched adult-urban favorite WXMB (98.9 FM); and news-talk Clear Channel station WTVN (610 AM), home of Conners and syndicated host Rush Limbaugh.
Country stations, including Clear Channel's WCOL (92.3 FM) and Infinity's WHOK (95.5 FM), did well with their target audiences even if their overall numbers were off a bit.
WSNY (94.7 FM) remained the choice for adult female listeners, with its morning hosts holding loyal listeners through summer.
from the Columbus Dispatch
July 29, 2004
Upstart WCKX (107.5 FM) muscled its way up the ladder to prevent a Clear Channel sweep of the top three spots in the spring Arbitron ratings, released yesterday.
The urban-contemporary station, owned by Radio One, jumped from fifth to second among listeners 12 and older.
It placed first among men and women ages 18 to 34.
Finishing first, third and fourth, respectively, among all listeners were WNCI (97.9 FM), WTVN (610 AM) and WCOL (92.3 FM), all owned by the radio giant Clear Channel.
The spring quarter covered April 1 to June 23.
Some observers attributed the strong showing of WCKX to a "seasonal effect," noting that its listenership increases during warm-weather months, especially when school is out.
In spring 2003, for instance, WCKX placed third in the overall standings.
General manager Jeff Wilson credited carefully researched programming and community involvement for his station's ascent.
"We went into this year with an elevated work ethic, and we are happy to see it reflected in the numbers," Wilson said.
The station has been a presence at community festivals and other events and helped orchestrate the Ohio Hip-Hop Summit and voter-registration drive at Ohio State University on June 3.
"We are not just doing radio but trying to be community leaders and touch our listeners one by one," Wilson said.
It doesn't hurt, he added, that "hip-hop is the hottest genre on earth."
Meanwhile, the city's top country station, WCOL-FM (92.3 FM), has dipped from first to second to fourth over the last three ratings periods.
Its top rival, WHOK (95.5 FM) improved from 13th to ninth during the past year, suggesting success for its country-classics format.
The spring ratings, for the most part, reflected a stable market with little dramatic movement.
Contemporary-hits station WNCI solidified its grasp on the top overall spot.
Strange bedfellows -- Bob Conners, the Morning Zoo and Howard Stern -- each claimed victories during morning drive time.
Conners, of WTVN, was No. 1 among all ages; Stern of WBZX (99.7 FM), topped the 18-to-34 demographic; and the Morning Zoo of WNCI led among ages 25 to 54.
Light-rock WSNY (94.7 FM) slipped from fourth in the winter to fifth among ages 12 and older, but program director Chuck Knight cared little about the overall number.
"This is our 22nd book in a row in which we have been No. 1 with adult women, and that's what we are all about," he said.
In other developments:
* Album-rock WLVQ (96.3 FM) moved from a disappointing eighth in the winter into sixth this spring.
* Despite a low overall number, "Smooth Jazz" WJZA/WJZK (103.5/104.3 FM) tied for third among 25- to 54-year-old women at night (behind WNCI and WCKX, respectively).
* WODB (107.9 FM) oldies dipped from 10th to 15th since last spring but doubled its weekend female audience between the ages of 35 and 64.
from fmqb.com
April 29, 2004
FMQB reporterd earlier on dramatic increases for Stern stations in New York, L.A., Chicago, Boston, and Cleveland. Other stations experiencing the Stern affect* include:
FM Talker KLLI/Dallas: 2.7 (13T) - 3.9 (7)
Active Rock KISW/Seattle: 4.1 (5) - 5.7 (2T)
FM Talk WXYV/Baltimore: 3.1 (10) - 4.5 (8)
Active Rock WBZX/Columbus: 5.9 (7) - 7.2 (4)
Rock WBUF/Buffalo: 6.8 (4T) - 7.2 (4)
* Ratings cited above are 12+ morning drive, Fall to Winter.
But not all of Stern's stations trended up in the Winter. Modern Rock KITS/San Francisco slipped from fourth (4.2) to fifth (3.6) in mornings. Ditto WAQZ/Cincinnati: 3.6 (12) - 2.9 (13T).
from The Columbus Dispatch
October 18, 2003
The last vestige of summer has arrived with the release of the Arbitron radio ratings, and the warmest afterglow may be coming from WNCI (97.9 FM).
The summer ratings, which surveyed listener choices from June 26 through Sept. 17, often are seen as favoring stations with young listeners, who are out of school and have more time to tune in.
That thinking might favor WNCI, which did well among younger listeners. Oddly, for reasons that will be debated for a while, the station was up more among listeners 25 to 54. Its Morning Zoo held up well with only two co-hosts during most of the survey, finishing first among listeners 25 to 54, second among those 18 to 34 and second among those 12 and older.
Tied for second were two stations that, other than having the same rating, have almost nothing in common.
WCKX (107.5 FM) continues to be on fire among younger listeners and serves as a constant threat from the rhythmic/urban end of the spectrum to WNCI. Meanwhile, WTVN (610 AM) has seemingly cornered the market on listeners who want talk radio, with Bob Conners the morning monarch.
WCOL (92.3 FM) was down from spring's exceptional survey but continued significantly better than last year. The country format seems to be on an upswing, and WCOL is profiting.
WLVQ (96.3 FM) was second among listeners 25 to 54, as was its morning show. Apparently, slightly weaker ratings in the last month of the quarter blunted the station's momentum.
While summer is rarely favorable to WSNY (94.7 FM), the station maintained dominance among female listeners, finishing first among those older than 25 for the 19th rating period in a row.
WBNS (97.1 FM) rebounded from a disappointing spring and may have profited from some weaknesses in other pop and rock formats. WBNS often seems to gain at WNCI's expense, and WNCI's summer success may have stunted a better survey for WBNS.
WBZX (99.7 FM) seemed especially hurt by focusing its publicity and programming efforts on Metallica's new album, which proved a disappointment. While Howard Stern was first among morning listeners 18 to 34, his vacation days drove some WBZX listeners away.
WXMG (98.9 FM) has settled into its adult-urban format and become an entrenched favorite, drawing solidly in almost every group and making itself a good complement to sibling station WCKX.
In an ironic circumstance that always seems to happen in radio, WHOK (95.5 FM) rebounded from a series of poor surveys with one of its better showings -- and then changed formats to a country-oldies sound. The upside: WHOK saw its biggest jump among listeners 25 to 54, the group the station will need to succeed.
from the Columbus Dispatch
April 26, 2003
When news breaks, radio listeners tend to tune in to news stations.
Such was the case from Jan. 2 through March 26 -- the period during which Arbitron surveyed listener habits for its winter 2003 ratings.
During those three months, the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated while coming in for a landing, winter storms pummeled central Ohio and the war in Iraq began.
Little wonder, then, that news-talk station WTVN (610 AM) was No. 1 in Arbitron's winter survey. Both WTVN's morning and afternoon shows were tops in their time periods, an indication that listeners during those prime radio hours were trying to catch up on fast-breaking events.
That pattern of listening tends to be typical during winter months, and much of the survey could be described as typical, too.
WNCI (97.9 FM), for instance, is always strong but saw its morning show take a dive among listeners ages 25 to 54 -- a possible result of that segment's interest in news over the station's fun, games and pop music. WNCI also has to contend with the fickleness of its younger listeners. Some in the young crowd were lured away by the chat and hip-hop music at WCKX (107.5 FM), which displaced WNCI as the top station among the 18-to-34 age group.
The "lite rock'' and good-natured banter at WSNY (94.7 FM) always draws female listeners: In this survey, WSNY was tops among women ages 25 to 54 -- a favorite of advertisers -- and has been for 14 of the past 15 quarterly surveys. Like WNCI, however, WSNY was down among news-hungry listeners 25 to 54. While WSNY and other music-oriented stations bolstered the number and length of their news breaks, the emphasis remained on music.
The popularity of the WCOL (92.3 FM) morning show may have helped staunch a similar move away by 25-to-54 listeners there. Woody Johnson and company actually saw a rise in ratings among that group.
Also doing well among listeners 25 to 54: WLVQ (96.3 FM), which bounced back from the fall survey, when its heavily male listenership drifted to football games. WLVQ was No. 1 among listeners 25-54 this time, the third time in the past four surveys it has topped that category.
WBNS (97.1 FM) increased its ratings from the previous survey, but some younger listeners seem to have drifted away from the popular-hits music. The station remains strong, but its ratings were down from a year ago among 18-to-34 listeners.
Meanwhile, syndicated shock jock Howard Stern was doubly effective for WBZX (99.7 FM). His antics gave WBZX the No. 1 morning show in two big categories -- listeners ages 18 to 34 and listeners ages 25 to 54.
The top 10 was completed by two stations that have been slowly building audiences.
The rhythm-and-blues oldies music at WXMB (98.9 FM) tends to appeal to listeners ages 25 to 54 and -- again, no surprise -- the morning show did best in that age group. And WFJX (105.7 FM), a classic rock station, is seeing its syndicated morning team Bob and Tom gather listeners in the 25-to-54 age group, too.
from the Columbus Dispatch
January 18, 2003
But not entirely new. Longtime news-talk favorite WTVN (610 AM) repeated its feat of a year ago, becoming the top choice among listeners ages 12 and older during Arbitron's fall ratings period.
The survey, taken from Sept. 19 to Dec. 11, showed that WTVN morning host Bob Conners was No. 1 in his time period, as was afternoon host John Corby. The station's 6 to 10 a.m. Saturday call-in show was the overwhelming choice of listeners, with almost triple the audience of the next-best station.
WSNY (94.7 FM) may have been second among all listeners but was No. 1 among ages 25 to 54. Its popular Christmas music programming helped, but holiday tunes were a small part of its success. The morning show drew higher ratings among several age groups, and the station was tops among female listeners, its target audience. Among women 25 to 54, WSNY has been No. 1 for 14 of the past 15 quarterly ratings surveys.
WNCI (97.9 FM) came in third with its popular Morning Zoo placing first among the 18 to 34 crowd. The show dropped from first to third among listeners 25 to 54, which helped explain the station's overall fall after three straight firsts.
Among other news:
* Country perked up with WCOL (92.3 FM) in fourth. In addition to the cyclical rise in the format's popularity, WCOL may be profiting from listeners realizing that Woody Johnson is back as morning host.
* WCKX (107.5 FM) dropped a bit as its morning show saw losses in several age groups. On the other hand, the urban station's sister station, WXMG (98.9 FM), enjoyed an uptick, particularly among listeners 18 to 34.
* Rock took some hits. In addition to WNCI, other stations -- WBNS (97.1 FM), WLVQ (96.3 FM) and WBZX (99.7 FM) -- were down from the previous ratings period. Smaller rock stations such as WFJX (105.7 FM), WEGE (103.9 FM) and WAZU (107.1 FM) also fell.
The New 97.1 FM and its corporate sibling, WBNS (1460 AM), did enjoy the expected sky-high ratings during Saturday afternoon OSU football games.
WLVQ was down in several categories but held ground in the morning among its younger listeners.
WBZX was down in several categories but was well-served by syndicated shock-jock Howard Stern, who was No. 1 among the 25-to-54 age group and No. 2 among ages 18 to 34.
* Among rockers, the only station that saw an increase in overall listener share was WWCD (101.1 FM), which returned to the top 10 for the first time in more than a year. It was helped by a big jump among listeners 18 to 34, particularly in the morning.
from The Columbus Dispatch
October 19, 2002
The last vestiges of summer have arrived in the form of the Arbitron radio ratings.
The summer ratings, which surveyed Columbus listener habits from June 27 to Sept. 18, have a familiar look, with longtime top performer WNCI (97.9 FM) at No. 1 overall and among listeners 18-34. The popular music station's Morning Zoo was the top morning show among listeners ages 25-54 and was second among listeners ages 18-34.
In the overall category -- listeners 12 and older -- Bob Conners of WTVN (610 AM) was the top morning host. Partly through Conners' lead, as well as that of afternoon host John Corby, the news-talk station was a comfortable No. 2 among all listeners.
WCKX (107.5 FM) remains the top-ranked urban contemporary station in Columbus. In a David-and-Goliath situation, Power 107.5 FM broadcasts a far less powerful signal than WNCI but gives the bigger station a run for its money in attracting young listeners.
WSNY (94.7 FM) continues to score heavily among female listeners, although the summer survey showed a slight crack in the station's dominance despite the efforts of morning duo Dino Tripodis and Stacy McKay. While WSNY remained No. 1 among women 25-54 during the Monday-Friday workweek -- the morning show's time to shine -- the station dropped to No. 3 among women 25-54 for the entire week.
Part of the reason for WSNY's slight stumble may be WBNS (97.1 FM), which tied with WNCI for the top spot among women 25-54 and also tied with WLVQ (96.3 FM) for the top spot among all listeners 25-54. The New 97.1 FM totally reshaped its listenership when it changed formats and won 10 times the ratings share among listeners ages 18-34 that it had two years ago when it was still an oldies station.
WLVQ's Wags and Elliott did very well with their core audience. They were No. 1 among men 25-54 and tied for second among all listeners 25-54.
The top syndicated morning show was Howard Stern, who made WBZX (99.7 FM) the No. 1 morning show among listeners 18-34. Stern was third overall, helping the Blitz to finish second in its target audience of listeners 18-34.
WCOL (92.3 FM) remains hamstrung by the dearth of new, popular songs in its country format. Woody Johnson, the station's popular morning host, returned to Columbus too late to affect the summer ratings. WCOL's top country rival, WHOK (95.5 FM), showed little change overall from the previous survey, another indication of the stagnation in the genre.
Not surprisingly, WXMG (98.9 FM) did better among listeners 25-54 than among younger listeners. The station remains entrenched among those who grew up listening to the Magic's format of old rhythm and blues hits.
WMNI (920 AM) was off from its showing during the summer a year ago, perhaps an indication of the slippage in fortunes of the Cleveland Indians, whose games air on the station.
from The Columbus Dispatch
July 31, 2002
Tim Feran/Radio
The spring Arbitron ratings, which surveyed the listening habits of central Ohioans from March 28 through June 19, gave bouquets to some stations.
The evergreen plant goes to WNCI (97.9 FM), which enjoyed one of its better quarterly surveys. The popular-hits station, led by its Morning Zoo, was No. 1 overall and among listeners ages 18 to 34 and No. 2 among listeners 25 to 54. Despite assaults through the years, WNCI uses its flamethrower signal, hyperactive morning show (second overall but first among listeners 18 to 34 and 25 to 54), attention to what's hot on the pop charts and giveaways and stunts to hang on to an audience.
At No. 2, WCKX (107.5 FM) is a hot-weather flower. It usually does well in spring and summer as its young audience parties to the urban contemporary format. WCKX was No. 2 among listeners 18 to 34.
Two perennials -- WSNY (94.7 FM) and WTVN (610 AM) -- tied at No. 3 but have little in common otherwise.
WSNY's morning show was third among listeners 25 to 54 but first among women. Its "lite rock" format has a lock on female listeners in their mid-20s and older.
WTVN, meanwhile, stands on two pillars -- Bob Conners, the No. 1 morning host in town, and afternoon host John Corby. The news-talk format is back to normal levels after the post-Sept. 11 surge, but other parts of its schedule are up, with Glenn Beck's addition in the middle of the day improving on the sagging ratings of now-departed Laura Schlessinger.
The market's two country stations have rebounded despite the relative lack of activity in the music itself. WCOL (92.3 FM) came out on top with its best showing in more than a year. WHOK (95.5 FM) also moved up smartly.
Two rock stations bounced back, too.
WLVQ (96.3 FM) did well, essentially back to where it was a year ago, and was No. 1 among listeners ages 25 to 54. Morning team Wags and Elliott garnered second place in that group.
WBZX (99.7 FM) was third among listeners 18 to 34, led by syndicated morning jock Howard Stern, who was No. 2 in that young age group. The New York-based "king of all media'' has been on the rebound since last fall.
WBNS (97.1 FM) was off from its high point last fall but still was No. 3 among listeners 25 to 54, edging WSNY. A year ago, WBNS actually had a few more listeners overall, but its listenership is far younger since it switched from oldies to a format of "hot'' contemporary hits. WBNS-FM was fourth in the spring among listeners 18 to 34, a group that barely listened a year ago.
Finally, the spring quarter was the first time the Smooth Jazz stations hit the top 10. WJZA (103.5 FM)/WJZK (104.3 FM) hit the mark by making its mix of light jazz attractive to listeners ages 25-54.
--snips--
from the Columbus Dispatch
April 29, 2002
--snips--
Among rock stations, WLVQ (96.3 FM) flexed its muscles among men 25 to 54. Q-FM was No. 1 for the guys, thanks in part to the Wags and Elliott morning show, the top choice for men 25 to 54. The closest rival, WBZX (99.7 FM), tied in overall ratings. But Howard Stern's syndicated morning show -- always an important lure for WBZX -- dropped somewhat after a strong autumn.
from the Columbus Dispatch
January 19, 2002
The aftershocks of Sept. 11 and the introduction of the town's newest radio format shook the fall Arbitron ratings, with a few stations making big moves.
At the top of the charts was WTVN (610 AM). The news-talk station, like many across the country, was the choice for listeners wanting to keep track of rapidly changing events during the October-December period in which the survey was compiled. Bob Conners' morning show retained its dominance, placing first among all listeners in its time period.
WNCI (97.9 FM) was second, and the station's ever- popular Morning Zoo remained in the top three. Although the cumulative numbers remained high, the station's ratings took a slide from the summer survey and from the previous fall.
The likely reason: the new kid on the block, WBNS (97.1 FM). The station's switch from oldies music to a popular format situated somewhere between WNCI and WSNY (94.7 FM) has paid off. Helped by money spent advertising its launch, coupled with its annual Buckeye football rating bump, "The New 97.1 FM'' garnered some of its best ratings in years, taking first place among listeners ages 25-54 and 18-34. If WBNS- FM's new morning team, Paul Peterson and Valerie Knight, begin to pick up a following, the station could dominate the market.
While WNCI took a hit from its new rival, WSNY battled back to finish on an even keel from the summer and a year ago. The station finished the three-month survey strong with its Christmas song marathon, holding on to its core listenership of adult women. Sunny 95 is No. 1 among women 18 and older, and among women in the categories 25-54 and 35-54.
Like WNCI, WCKX (107.5 FM) saw some of its young listeners drift away. But the continuing popularity of its urban format among teens and young adults helped it tie for second among listeners 18-34.
On the other hand, the stagnation in another music genre, country, was a problem for WCOL (92.3 FM), giving its new morning host, Steve Harmon, little help in attracting listeners. WCOL's main rival, WHOK (95.5 FM) staggered, too.
In some ways, WLVQ (96.3 FM) was the mirror, male image of Sunny 95. Like Sunny, Q-FM held steady in an unusual quarter. It did so by hanging on to its core listeners, adult men. Wags and Elliott helped hold the line, attracting more listeners 18-34 and retaining those they already had among the 25-54 set.
The biggest turnaround in the morning came from syndicated shock jock Howard Stern, who helped WBZX (99.7 FM) immensely. Stern's show was second overall, right behind WTVN's Conners. Most impressive were Stern's ratings in two subcategories -- he was No. 1 among those 25-54 and 18-34. Stern's ratings among the 18-34 crowd were at record highs.
Mornings also were important at WFJX (105.7 FM), where The Bob and Tom Show began to garner some fans, particularly among listeners 25-54.
from the Columbus Dispatch
July 31, 2001
WNCI (97.9 FM) made it three in a row as it took the top spot in the latest Arbitron radio survey of listeners.
The poll, conducted March 29 through June 20, held few changes from the previous one. But changes in formats at several stations and the departure of a morning-show host at one could mean some volatility in the pecking order.
WNCI may hope that the third time is a charm, as it faces a challenge on two fronts. On the younger end of its listenership, WNCI is up against WCKX (107.5 FM), which seems to be entrenched among teens looking for hip-hop and rap.
Meanwhile, WNCI faces a new challenge from WBNS (97.1 FM), which had one of its better surveys in the spring, albeit as an oldies station. WBNS-FM changed formats a few weeks ago to adult contemporary, which could steal some listeners from WNCI.
Among the steady stations: WNCI's Clear Channel sister WTVN (610 AM) remains the dominant news-talk outlet in the market and is up from a year ago. Also, WSNY (94.7 FM) celebrates the 11th straight quarterly survey in which it is No. 1 with women 25 to 54.
WLVQ (96.3 FM) continues its dominance in the 25 to 54 age group. The station, which tends to be a kind of male mirror image of WSNY, gained listeners from a year ago, and its morning show -- No. 1 among listeners 25 to 54 -- is up from last year, too.
WCOL (92.3 FM) remains the top country station, but once again it faces a big chore: replacing morning-show host Woody Johnson, who will leave at the end of September. When WCOL lost its previous morning duo, it went through months of turmoil, finally bringing in Johnson. The station's main rival, WHOK (95.5 FM), is using country consultant Rusty Walker and had its best ratings in more than a year. With NASCAR bringing in new listeners, WHOK could be a tough opponent if WCOL takes too long hunting for a new morning-show host.
WBZX (99.7 FM) had its best ratings in more than a year. The station's combination of a rock format and Howard Stern's syndicated morning show has put it solidly in second place among listeners 18 to 34.
Oldies of the rhythm-and-blues variety continue to serve WXMG (98.9 FM) well, and the format's strength among baby boomers is why WXST (107.9 FM) has abandoned '80s music -- a format it pioneered -- to become WODB.
Even though WXST had one of its best surveys, the new B107.9 theoretically could double its ratings if it grabs listeners who used to tune in to WBNS-FM.
from the Columbus Dispatch
May 1, 2001
--snips--
The latest Arbitron radio survey of listener habits seems like old times.
With just a few exceptions, the stations are in the same position they were during the same three-month period last year. Few can complain about the results.
The survey of listeners, conducted Jan. 4 through March 28, has WNCI (97.9 FM) at the top of the heap. It is an exceptionally good report for the station, which frequently has lagged in winter surveys. WNCI's Morning Zoo stunts -- especially Shawn Ireland's heavily publicized cosmetic surgery -- apparently drew many curious listeners.
WNCI battled WCKX (107.5 FM) for teens and young adult listeners, but WNCI's broader reach -- both in signaland in format -- keeps it ahead.
Power 107.5's urban sound draws an intensely loyal audience, however, and the station essentially has no rival inits niche. Its continued good ratings seem secure for quite a while.
WTVN (610 AM) did well in the winter. News-talk stations usually do because they draw listeners looking forschool closings and weather reports during bad weather. WTVN might have finished No. 1 except for a slightdownturn in March.
WSNY (94.7 FM) was No. 1 among adult women listeners for the 10th straight rating period. It typically battlesWLVQ (96.3 FM) for listeners ages 25 to 54, with Sunny 95 garnering the lion's share of women and Q-FMtaking the bulk of men. This time Q-FM took a few women, too, helping it to continue its dominance of the 25-to-54 age group.
In the country battle, WCOL (92.3 FM) was off slightly, while WHOK (95.5 FM) improved a bit. With countrymusic at what seems to be a saturation point, the two stations should face no big downturns, only small alterationsdepending on contests, stunts, promotions and the idiosyncracies of disc-jockey popularity.
WBZX (99.7 FM) was unchanged from fall, mirroring the performance of the Blitz's morning standard-bearer,syndicated shock-jock Howard Stern. Stern's popularity may have peaked, but it is far from being on the decline.
WBNS (97.1 FM) saw a slight downturn from the last quarter and from the year before. Winter is often a lackluster time for oldies stations, however; and B97 could point to one element of the ratings that indicates good times ahead: an increase among adult women listeners. In a survey that is notable for favoring stations with heavily male listenerships, that is encouraging news.
WMNI (920 AM) continues to be the second most popular AM station in Columbus, drawing big numbers among its core audience of older listeners. With Cleveland Indians baseball games beginning again, WMNI may see a rise in the spring.
from the Columbus Dispatch
January 24, 2001
The fall Arbitron radio ratings have a familiar look, as WNCI (97.9 FM) is back on top after slipping to second place in the summer.
The return came with an irony, however: WNCI actually had more listeners in the summer.
Thanks to the usual frenzy of contests, games, pop music and shenanigans from the station's Morning Zoo (No. 2 among morning shows with all listeners and those ages 18 to 34), WNCI finished with almost the same market share as fall of last year.
The fall radio survey of listeners -- conducted by Arbitron in the Columbus market from Sept. 30 through Dec. 13 -- is much more hotly contested than the summer survey. Among the contenders was another Clear Channel Communications station, WTVN (610 AM).
The November election was especially good for news- talk stations. WTVN, for example, jumped more than two full ratings shares overall and gained listeners ages 25 to 54. Bob Conners' morning show remains No. 1 overall.
The reign was short for WCKX (107.5 FM), but last summer's winner has plenty to celebrate, trailing WNCI and WTVN by fractions of a point. Its urban contemporary sound continues to dominate the young audience. Among listeners 18 to 34, WCKX had almost four more ratings shares than the second-place station, WNCI.
The folks at WCOL (92.3 FM) may be feeling better, too. The country station rebounded even while rival WHOK (95.5 FM) remained flat.
For the ninth straight rating period, WSNY (94.7 FM) finished No. 1 with adult women. The "lite rock, less talk'' station dominates the female categories: Among women ages 25-54, it has been the top-rated station for 17 of the last 20 quarterly surveys. Morning duo Dino and Stacy paralleled the station's success among female listeners, and the huge midday listenership shows the station's popularity among office workers. Sunny 95's challenge will be to not take its success for granted.
The summer ratings dropoff at WLVQ (96.3 FM) must have been just a fluke because it came back strong. Among listener groups key to the station's success, such as men ages 25-54, Q-FM performed well. It was No. 1 among all listeners 25-54, and morning duo Wags and Elliott moved up in rank and share.
The election bump that was so good to WTVN was a hindrance to WBNS (97.1 FM). Like many oldies stations, it saw listeners move to a news-talk station during the election. Oldies fans tend to be faithful, however, and B97.1 should regain momentum in the next survey.
Other oldies stations suffered, too. WXMG (98.9 FM) lost more than a share, and WXST (107.9 FM) slid.
Howard Stern's wavering over whether he would stay in radio kept listeners' attention, and the syndicated shock jock's local affiliate WBZX (99.7 FM) was the benificiary. Stern was No. 3 among morning shows, and the rock station was No. 3 among listeners 18 to 34.
WWCD (101.1 FM) is having ratings problems with Blue Jackets hockey. CD101, which usually is strong at night, saw its alternative music fans turning elsewhere when the new NHL team's games were on.
Moving up:
Smooth Jazz simulcast stations WJZA (103.5 FM) and WJZK (104.3 FM) are increasing their audience now that WJZA/WJZK is sole proprietor of the format.
WEGE (103.9 FM) is showing that its classic rock mix still has plenty of life. However, those listeners apparently haven't found the similar format at WFJX (105.7 FM), which has remained flat.
from the Columbus Dispatch
October 24, 2000
It had to happen. The quarterly Arbitron radio ratings have been dominated by the same stations for a long time, but the summer survey of listeners shows there is a new top dog in town.
WCKX (107.5 FM) is the new No. 1 station among all listeners, a first for the station. The urban contemporary station better known as Power 107 has been building to this moment for months, attracting listeners with its dynamic mix of rhythm and blues, hip-hop and rap, as well as a high-energy on-air staff.
The formula is an especially good one in the summer, as young listeners search the dial for something fun on the air, which is as good a description as any for WCKX.
Power 107's owner, Blue Chip Broadcasting, can boast of an even bigger victory: The minority-owned broadcasting company has more than one station in the top 10, putting it in the company of mega-broadcasters such as CBS and Clear Channel.
Like WCKX, its No. 9-ranked sister station WXMG (98.9 FM) has a sharply honed mix of music -- including Motown oldies and rhythm-and-blues classics.
WNCI (97.9 FM), normally in the top spot during the summer, was No. 2, although the Morning Zoo can brag that it was No. 1 in the morning, displacing eternally top- ranked Bob Conners at WTVN (610 AM).
While WTVN can attribute its drop to the fact that news/talk stations usually fare poorly in the summer, WNCI was whipsawed by Power 107's lure to younger listeners and the attraction of WSNY (94.7 FM), which was tops among listeners ages 25-54. WNCI can console itself with the knowledge that advertisers pay more attention to fall ratings than the summer survey.
WSNY -- Sunny 95 -- was once again dominant among female listeners, ranking No. 1 in virtually every age category for women older than 25. The station seems to have found an unstoppable combination: a pleasant morning show, a nighttime love song dedication program and innocuous "lite rock" during the day.
As is often the case, rock stations such as WBZX (99.7 FM) and WLVQ (96.3 FM) split much of the male audience. While WBZX -- The Blitz -- was unchanged from past surveys, WLVQ dipped slightly. Q-FM remained strong among its 25-54 core audience, however.
Oldies station WBNS (97.1 FM) rose from a year ago and from the spring. Although B97 shares some female listeners with Sunny 95, its rise seems to have been driven by an influx of male listeners.
In the country battle, WCOL (92.3 FM) slipped slightly from spring and from a year ago, although it nearly matched the combined audience of country stations WHOK (95.5 FM) and WCLT (100.3 FM).
from the Columbus Dispatch
August 3, 2000
The resurgence of familiar stations gave the spring Arbitron radio survey a look of been-there, done-that.
The survey, conducted from April through June, showed that WNCI (97.9 FM) was the most popular station in the market. Thanks to the opularity of WNCI- friendly artists such as 'N Sync and Britney Spears as well as cash giveaways, the station bounced back from some disappointing performances. The survey had WNCI in the top spot in two important age groups: 18-to-34 and 25-to- 54. The Morning Zoo morning show was No. 1 among those groups, too, its best showing in a long time.
Only Bob Conners of WTVN (610 AM) surpassed the Zoo among all listeners. As always, Conners' appeal was chiefly among older listeners. Those in the 18-to-34 crowd put him at No. 13. But WTVN's lineup of syndicated talkers Rush Limbaugh and Laura Schlessinger, its popular afternoon host John Corby and the largest news staff among radio stations in Columbus should keep WTVN in the top five for a long while.
Serving a niche can be quite profitable, as WSNY (94.7 FM) proves. Sunny 95's format of "Lite Rock, Less Talk," its wholesome morning show and love songs at night makes it the top pick among female listeners. The station is so dominant in its niche that it's only a slight exaggeration to say that every woman in Columbus who is 25 or older listens to Sunny 95 at some point during the week.
Meanwhile, if teens aren't listening to WNCI, chances are they listen to WCKX (107.5 FM). Power 107.5's stature as a top-five station seems solid, thanks to the programming of popular music such as hip-hop, rhythm & blues and rap. The Morning Crew's mix of games and music is fast-paced enough to please younger listeners.
WCOL (92.3 FM) was up -- good news for the country station, which dropped from No. 1 a little more than a year ago to No. 6. Instability in WCOL's on-air lineup has ended, and new morning host Woody Johnson seems to be gaining acceptance. WCOL's rival, WHOK (95.5 FM), stumbled but stayed strong among female listeners.
WLVQ (96.3 FM) cooled slightly. The adult-oriented rock station was in the top three among listeners 25-to- 54, and its performance during the past year has been strong. Even with the other drops, Wags and Elliott's morning show gained listeners in the 18-to-34 age group.
WBNS (97.1 FM) dipped slightly from the winter, but the trend for the station is promising. A year ago, B97 was No. 8 among those 25-to-54; this time, it is No. 6 and hopes to improve in the summer.
Oldies music in other variations did well, too. WXMG (98.9 FM), which airs a "jammin' oldies" format of Motown and rhythm & blues classics, and WXST (107.9 FM), which airs an '80s oldies format, continued to rise.
WBZX (99.7 FM), the Blitz, struggled with the relative lack of new rock -- normally a major selling point at the station and at its rival WAZU (107.1 FM). Also, syndicated shock jock Howard Stern finally cooled off after garnering enormous publicity over his separation from his wife.
Alternative rock station WWCD (101.1 FM) is proving that sometimes music and talent -- not cash giveaways -- can attract listeners. CD101's climb should continue: Main rival Channel Z (WZAZ, 105.7 FM) abandoned the format during the final days of the spring survey and is playing classic rock.
from the Columbus Dispatch
May 3, 2000
Fragmentation, Howard Stern's separation from his wife and the continuing battle for country-music supremacy helped shake up the winter Arbitron radio ratings.
As it has so often in the past, WNCI (97.9 FM) was No. 1 in the overall category of listeners ages 12 and older. But the victory may ring hollow: The station's flagship program, The Morning Zoo, was No. 4 among all listeners. That translated into a drop in two categories: among 18- to 34-year-old and 25- to 54-year-old listeners.
What happened? WNCI typically attracts plenty of younger listeners. However, that audience may have migrated to urban-contemporary station WCKX (107.5 FM). WCKX had one of its better market shares and was right on WNCI's heels in the 18-34 crowd.
Market fragmentation, the result of many formats aggressively pursuing listeners, showed impact, too. A year ago, WNCI scored almost double-digit market shares in overall ratings. This year, however, no one came close. Listeners seem to have dispersed among many stations.
The Morning Zoo's slide may also be attributable to the performance of syndicated shock jock Howard Stern. Stern, who airs on WBZX (99.7 FM), announced he had separated from his wife. Public interest kept him at No. 2 overall in the morning and among listeners 25-54.
However, the monarch of the morning remains Bob Conners who with afternoon host John Corby provided WTVN (610 AM) with a potent one-two punch. The winter Arbitron book typically reflects listener interest in weather and traffic reports, perfect for Conners' news-oriented show.
Although Corby slipped from No. 1 to No. 2, his talk show's strong performance will keep him firmly ensconced as WTVN's next local star after Conners.
WSNY (94.7 FM) was a model of stability amid the change. Although it slipped from the autumn ratings, it scored exactly the same overall ratings from a year ago. The station also was No. 2 among listeners 25-54, and Dino and Stacy in the Morning improved its ratings. The morning show and the station's "lite rock" format are especially popular among women.
The country battle drew tighter, perhaps because of on-air changes at WCOL (92.3 FM). The longtime country titan was less than a market share ahead of WHOK (95.5 FM), a far cry from the days when WCOL almost doubled K95.5's ratings. WCOL's new morning host, Derald "Woody" Johnson, signed on late in the winter book, so the station has hopes of a spring rebound.
Is the oldies format, in all its incarnations, beginning to wear thin? Not from the long-term trend at WBNS (97.1 FM). Oldies B97 was down overall from the fall, and down in the morning; but it improved from a year ago.
Meanwhile, urban oldies WXMG (98.9 FM) showed a similar pattern, dropping from the fall but improving from a year ago.
The experiment in '80s oldies at WXST (107.9 FM) is showing mixed results, improving in the morning but drooping overall.
WMNI (920 AM) completes the top 10 with continued improvement. While the station's format of old standards appeals mainly to an older audience, the ratings are the best in many years.
Also in the ratings:
The station is a desktop computer programmed by the brain trust at WLVQ and WHOK, but hard rock WAZU (107.1 FM) tied the all-sports WBNS (1460 AM) and classic rock station WEGE (103.9 FM).
WWCD (101.1 FM) kept its grip on the alternative-rock throne. It will need that hold as rival WZAZ (105.7 FM) prepares to improve its antenna location.
Country fans may have been dialing around while WCOL and WHOK dueled: WCLT (100.3 FM) had one of its best surveys in years.
from the Columbus Dispatch
February 15, 2000
Valentine's Day was hearts, flowers and champagne for Clear Channel Communications, owner of WNCI (97.9 FM), WTVN (610 AM) and WCOL (92.3 FM).
The three stations finished 1, 2, 3 in the fall Arbitron radio ratings.
The fall survey of listeners, delayed by almost a month because of computer problems at Arbitron, held a few disappointments and some surprises for other stations.
WNCI continued its winning ways, helped by the Morning Zoo's No. 3 ranking in its time period. WNCI's fast-moving mix of pop tunes, contests and high-energy chatter is especially popular among younger listeners, and in this survey it was No. 1 among ages 18-34. Not surprisingly for a station that parents love to hate, WNCI dropped among listeners 25-54.
WTVN's perennial morning monarch, Bob Conners, continued to be king of the early shows. More good news for the station came in the afternoon: John Corby's steady climb is complete. For the first time, Corby was No. 1 in his time period.
As if in fond farewell to one of its original morning hosts, Dixie Lee, who is giving up disc-jockey duties, WCOL finished as the top country station for the 24th consecutive Arbitron survey. WCOL switched to country on Valentine's Day 1994, with Lee as a morning host. The station is in a good position to hold onto its listeners and continue to frustrate rival WHOK (95.5 FM).
WSNY (94.7 FM), in fourth, was off by a hair, even though morning co-hosts Dino Tripodis and Stacy McKay repeated their summer performance. The "lite rock" station no doubt will monitor the situation closely because listeners usually flock to Sunny 95 during office hours.
WLVQ (96.3 FM) was stable overall even as morning co-hosts Wags and Elliott slipped. The good news for the album-oriented rock station: It was No. 1 among listeners 25-54, the audience it craves.
WCKX (107.5 FM) dropped slightly. Power 107.5's hip, urban format is strongest among younger listeners, who are prone to wander among stations. In contrast, the "jammin' oldies" format of classic Motown and rhythm-and-blues music at sister station WXMG (98.9 FM) -- Magic 98.9 -- is moving up with listeners 25-54.
WBNS (97.1 FM) -- Oldies B97 -- posted a particularly strong fall showing, but sister station WBNS (1460 AM) -- the Fan -- fell. Oldies B97 gained listeners in the morning after Maureen Paraventi joined Barry Beck as co-host. Meanwhile, Ohio State football's off year didn't help the Fan, the flagship station for the Buckeyes.
Howard Stern's syndicated morning show scored its best marks ever in Columbus, helping WBZX (99.7 FM) maintain its market share despite slight drops in other parts of the day. The Blitz's mix of alternative and hard rock appeals especially to younger listeners, who made it No. 2 among listeners aged 18-34.
from the Columbus Dispatch
October 22, 1999
WNCI (97.9 FM) was the most popular radio station among listeners 12 and older in the summer Arbitron ratings, released yesterday. WNCI bolstered the Morning Zoo -- third-ranked in its time slot -- with some big giveaways. In two key age groups used by advertisers -- 18-34 and 25-54 -- WNCI was No. 1.
The victory was more for bragging rights, however. Listener patterns are different during the summer, and most stations and advertisers look to the fall as a better indicator of the radio market.
Two of WNCI's sister stations in the Clear Channel Communications family also did well. WTVN (610 AM) held strong at No. 2. The news-talk station, which always appeals to an older audience, gained among listeners 25- 54. WCOL (92.3 FM) remained No. 6 but erased some recent losses, especially among listeners 25-54. WCOL lost listeners 18-34, however, and the state of country music (viewed by some as stagnant artistically) may be affecting the fickle younger audience. WCOL's rival WHOK (95.5 FM) wilted in several groups, too.
Meanwhile, WSNY (94.7 FM) forged ahead with its pleasant combination of light rock, evening love songs and Dino and Stacy in the morning. Sunny seems to own the market for young female listeners.
WCKX (107.5 FM) increased its share of listeners in several categories, boosted by urban music's continuing popularity and Power 107.5's lively morning show.
Wags and Elliott posted a strong summer at WLVQ (96.3 FM). The morning duo pulled in more listeners than in the last survey, even as other Q-FM shows drooped.
The story at WBZX (99.7 FM) was Howard Stern, whose syndicated show was second only to WTVN's morning monarch, Bob Conners. Stern's popularity is not duplicated elsewhere in the Blitz's schedule, however.
WBNS (97.1 FM) was up a bit overall, picking up some listeners in the morning, a trend that may continue, thanks to the recent addition of a new co-host. B97 and sister station WBNS (1460 AM) also should benefit from Ohio State football broadcasts.
WMNI (920 AM) broke WTVN's lock as the only AM station in the top 10, possibly due to the popularity of its Cleveland Indians broadcasts.
from the Columbus Dispatch
Tuesday, August 03, 1999
The top of the heap stayed on top, but the rest of the pack jostled for position in the spring Arbitron survey.
The radio ratings showed that WNCI (97.9 FM) and WTVN (610 AM) remain ensconced in first and second place overall.
Both stations stuck with proven formulas -- WNCI with a combination of Morning Zoo antics and pop music the rest of the day; WTVN with Bob Conners' top-rated morning show, John Corby's increasingly popular afternoon program and a news-talk lineup that includes the three top syndicated chatterers: Rush Limbaugh, Laura Schlessinger and Art Bell.
The rest of the top 10 showed some big shifts, however.
WSNY (94.7 FM) jumped from fifth to third place. As many other stations fight over young men, Sunny 95 successfully continues its focus on female listeners. The station airs a fun but purposely inoffensive morning show and light rock music.
One of the male-focused stations, WLVQ (96.3 FM) enjoyed another big gain, from sixth to fourth. Q-FM was No.1 among listeners ages 25-54 and in the top five in the 18-34 category. Wags and Elliott's morning show helped the album-oriented rock station with a No. 4 showing in the time slot, right behind Howard Stern's syndicated show on WBZX (99.7 FM).
The Blitz, meanwhile, capitalized on Stern's morning numbers and on changing its music mix to include more alternative rock to increase its popularity.
The cycles of popularity in musical genres may be helping one station, urban contemporary WCKX (107.5 FM), eat away at the ratings of another, country station WCOL (92.3 FM).
WCKX Power 107.5 is riding the crest of the wave for urban music -- rhythm and blues, hip-hop -- to capture a large number of young listeners, black and white.
Meanwhile, WCOL's morning show dropped by three shares, going from third place to seventh. But where did the country fans go? WCOL's biggest rival, WHOK (95.5 FM), remained essentially the same in its morning and overall ratings. With stars such as Garth Brooks moving toward pop music, country's most recent cycle of popularity may be over.
Adults who want oldies moved their dials to WBNS (97.1 FM) while those who wanted R&B tuned in to WXMG (98.9 FM). Oldies B97 is deeply entrenched with its format of '50, '60s and '70s oldies. Listeners are still discovering Magic 98.9.
WWCD (101.1 FM) showed that its resurgence isn't a fluke. The alternative rock station tied for No. 11 overall and among listeners 25-54. Among younger listeners, CD101 barely missed tying with WSNY.
CD101's main competitor, WZAZ (105.7 FM), continued to drop. Since moving to 105.7 FM from 98.9 FM, Channel Z has lost significant audience share. Even two small-signal rock stations, WAZU (107.1 FM) and WEGE (103.9 FM), beat Channel Z.
from the Columbus Dispatch
April 29, 1999
The folks at Jacor Communications should be partying hard this week: Three of the company's Columbus stations sit at the top of the heap in the latest Arbitron radio ratings.
At numbers 1, 2 and 3: WNCI (97.9 FM), WTVN (610 AM) and WCOL (92.3 FM).
WNCI rebounded in the winter survey after a brief retreat in the fall. In addition to overall dominance, WNCI used its sure-fire combination of fun and games to pin down the top spot among the sought-after 25-54 age group. The Morning Zoo was second in its time slot only to WTVN's ever-popular Bob Conners.
In addition to Conners' morning dominance, WTVN was No. 1 at midday with Dr. Laura Schlessinger and Rush Limbaugh's popular syndicated talk shows. Afternoon drive-time host John Corby moved up to No. 2, earning a reputation at the station as a miracle worker in a tough time slot. WTVN's news operation also draws listeners during weather emergencies.
Dominant country station WCOL held essentially the same share of listeners overall, but the station dropped in the 25-54 category. Whether the erosion is a temporary situation or can be attributed to such long-term problems as a lack of progression in the music or several changes in on-air talent remain to be seen.
Other significant points in the winter survey:
The power is with Power 107.5 FM. Urban contemporary station WCKX (107.5 FM) almost edged WCOL out of the top three. WCKX has a less powerful signal than WCOL, so the strong showing is indicative of the urban format's appeal.
Howard Stern is back. After a drop in the fall, the syndicated shock jock rocketed almost two full shares to tie for third in the morning. More important for WBZX (99.7 FM), Stern's numbers outpaced rival WLVQ (96.3 FM). The Blitz may have helped itself through the efforts of its sister station, WEGE (103.9 FM), a classic rock station that has been steadily attracting listeners who ordinarily would be in Q-FM's target audience.
For the first time in several years, the alternative rock battle has a new champ. WWCD (101.1 FM) tied for No.10, edging WZAZ (105.7 FM) overall, among listeners 25-54 and 18-34. CD101's philosophy of playing what the other guys don't may be working; and Channel Z has probably been hurt by its move to a different spot on the dial following corporate wheeling and dealing.
from the Columbus Dispatch
By Tim Feran
Dispatch TV-Radio Critic
One, two, three. Three stations owned by Jacor Communications seemed to find it that easy to finish in the top three of the summer Arbitron radio ratings.
Two -- WNCI (97.9 FM) and WCOL (92.3 FM) -- combine strong morning shows with the appeal of pop music (at WNCI) and country music (at WCOL).
But both stations face some bumps in the road. WNCI's dominant Morning Zoo is losing Matt Harris. WCOL's third-ranked morning show is losing Skip Mahaffey. Broadcasters and ad buyers will be watching closely to see whether the chemistry on the shows continues to appeal to listeners.
The third ranking Jacor station, WTVN (610 AM), roared along at its usual clip, with Bob Conners' morning show ranked No. 1 and the rest of the day generating appeal from local news and syndicated shows such as Rush Limbaugh and Laura Schlessinger.
Meanwhile, new quarters and a new owner seem to have jump-started the venerable adult-oriented rock station WLVQ (96.3 FM). Now owned by CBS, Q-FM edged its archrival, WBZX (99.7 FM), for the first time in months. Q-FM's Wags and Elliott led the charge by beating the Blitz's morning show, which features syndicated "King of All Media" Howard Stern.
Other tidbits from the summer ratings:
Although WTVN is dominant among morning shows, its audience skews older. Without listeners 65 and older, WTVN dropped to second place in the morning, a few tenths of a ratings share behind WNCI.
Signal strength is crucial. Who has the most powerful signal in the market? WNCI. Who is No. 1? WNCI. On the other hand, when WWCD (101.1 FM) was the only station playing alternative music, it was in the top 10, but when another station entered the format and was easier to tune in, CD101 lost ground.
Format is important, too. Under another owner, WXMG (98.9 FM) aired alternative music and was among the top 10 stations. Now the station airs adult urban music and has plummeted to a tie for 24th.
from the Columbus Dispatch and robk...
Some people know how to win by losing.
Just ask the folks at Jacor Communications, who "lost" three stations recently in a swap with CBS Radio, then sold another station to Blue Chip Broadcasting.
The company's new lineup (once all the documents are signed) will include three of the top five stations in Columbus, according to the spring Arbitron ratings. That should ease the pain of loss.
Jacor's new lineup includes longtime contemporary hits champ WNCI (97.9 FM), once again ranked first among all listeners and those ages 18-34, and second among those 25-54. The Morning Zoo, able to remain popular through numerous staff changes through the years, was in the top five among morning shows for all listeners, as well as the younger and older categories. The gang's recent striptease for charity must have appealed to more viewers than it repulsed.
Jacor's country king WCOL (92.3 FM) bounced back after an unusually lackluster winter survey to place third overall. The Dixie and Skip morning show was in the top five overall and among listeners 18-34.
Jacor's WTVN (610 AM), the news-talk station, retains its dominance with a familiar mixture: Bob Conners' popular morning show and the syndicated talk show powerhouses hosted by Rush Limbaugh and Dr. Laura Schlessinger.
But Jacor isn't the only story in town.
WSNY (94.7 FM) -- owned by Saga Communications -- was a close second overall, and the station was first among listeners 25-54, fifth among 18-34. The morning show with Dino Tripodis and Stacy McKay mirrored the station's performance, taking second place overall, first among listeners 25-54 and fifth among 18- 34. Sunny recently added the syndicated Love Songs With Delilah to its nighttime programming.
Among urban stations -- typically aimed at black listeners -- WCKX (107.5 FM) has a viselike grip. Power 107 does best among younger listeners. Sister station WMXG (106.3 FM) also airs an urban format, but it is after an adult audience.
The results at WMXG are staggering, partly because its tower is located out of town, which makes the signal difficult to tune in. The station's owner, Blue Chip, has bought WZAZ (98.9 FM), which could remedy that problem.
WBZX (99.7 FM) can thank syndicated shock jock Howard Stern for keeping it in the hunt. Stern's morning show was the overwhelming victor among listeners 18- 34, and took third place overall and fourth among listeners 25-54. The Blitz's sister station, WMNI (920 AM) combines the appeal of Cleveland Indians baseball and an adult standards format featuring artists such as Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett.
Also of note:
* Two of the three stations that CBS will own include album-oriented rocker WLVQ (96.3 FM) and country station WHOK (95.5 FM). Q-FM took a hit among listeners 18-34 after a resurgence in the last survey. Meanwhile, K95.5 has been the picture of consistency, holding the same audience share overall for the past several years, despite the dominance of WCOL.
* After a winter survey in which it gained its best ratings this decade, WBNS (97.1 FM) dropped to one of its worst showings in the past few years. Oldies B97 recently hired a new morning host.
WNCI (97.9) made something of a clean sweep in the winter Arbitron ratings, but all is not right at Nationwide Communications, which owns the station.
The ratings, announced yesterday, placed WNCI tops among all listeners, among listeners ages 25-54 and those 18-34. WNCI's popular Morning Zoo was second in its time period among all listeners -- and probably will remain so until Bob Conners at WTVN (610 AM) decides to give up his throne. The Zoo's high- profile high jinks kept it first among listeners 25-54 and second among listeners 18-34.
However, WNCI's usually potent sister station, country kingpin WCOL (92.3 FM), dropped significantly. Some theories: Arbitron may have missed polling country listeners; country music may be fading in popularity; or several stations that usually share WCOL's audience may have siphoned away listeners.
In regard to the last theory, at least a few thorns in WCOL's sides may not be in the same format. Two oldies-oriented stations -- WBNS (97.1 FM) and WKFX (105.7 FM) -- looked very healthy, quite possibly at WCOL's expense. Oldies B97 had its best ratings in years, while the Fox made its debut with a 2 share -- about how much WCOL lost.
Meanwhile, the market's second-most popular country station, WHOK (95.5 FM), remained stable by appealing to traditional country listeners with a format that now includes music by Johnny Cash, Roger Miller and Patsy Cline.
The flip-flop in formats and call letters among two urban stations provided a boost to one.
The new WCKX, now at 107.5 FM, seems to have attracted more listeners overall. WCKX's urban contemporary format is especially popular among young listeners. The station was third among 18-34s, behind powerhouses WNCI and WBZX (99.7 FM).
Other top performers:
* Gliding along in second overall and among listeners 25-54 is WSNY (94.7 FM). Sunny 95 and its genial morning team were virtually untouched by movement of listeners at other stations.
* WTVN makes success look almost easy. In addition to Conners' perennial appeal, the station is riding the continued success of Rush Limbaugh and syndicated advice host Dr. Laura Schlessinger.
* WLVQ (96.3 FM) has rebounded after its usual autumn slide. In addition, Q-FM is up from a year ago, possibly the result of subtle fine-tuning in its playlist. Among listeners 25-54, Q-FM was a strong third; and among 18-34s, fourth. Morning-show hosts Wags and Elliott were third among listeners 25-54 and 18-34.
* At WBZX the big story is self-proclaimed "King of All Media" Howard Stern. The syndicated shock jock is first in the morning among listeners 18-34 and third among 25-54s. After Stern is off the air, ratings drop almost by half. The rest of the day, a competitor, WZAZ (98.9 FM), was very close in ratings with its "mainstream alternative rock" format.
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