SYRACUSE and UTICA-ROME -- While Arbitron's longstanding (and always unexplained) embargoes continue for all four markets covered by CNYRadio.com, the Eastlan Ratings service has released its P12+ radio audience estimates for a second time. New numbers from Eastlan's Spring 2010 survey period are now available for the Syracuse and Utica-Rome markets. Updated 1/6/11 with corrections to Utica-Rome recap.
Click here for the full chart.
Our coverage area's biggest market saw no changes at the top of the list, with Clear Channel news/talker WSYR retaining the top spot for the second book in a row, gaining a half-point in the process with a 12.4. WSYR's sister station and the former longtime leader, country station B104.7 (WBBS) stays in second, virtually flat from the fall with a 10.2.
While SUNY Oswego-based WRVO (and Syracuse repeater WRVD) lose a full point, their 8.9 is good enough to retain 3rd place.
Things get interesting after that: Clear Channel CHR Hot 107.9 (WWHT) swaps places with direct competitor 93Q (WNTQ) from the Citadel camp. WWHT's slight gain plus WNTQ's loss of nearly two points is enough to give WWHT a lead of 0.4 ratings points.
Rock: Galaxy's classic rockers TK99/105 (WTKW/WTKV) retain their lead in the overall rock format. In the race among stations playing newer rock, Citadel's 95X (WAQX) gains nearly a full point, enough to outdo Galaxy's K-Rock (WKRL/WKRH) by just 0.3 point.
AC: You have to get down to 10th place before you find Clear Channel's Y94FM (WYYY), staying virtually flat with a 3.2, enough to stay ahead of Galaxy's Sunny 102 (WZUN)'s 2.0 rating and the 0.9 chalked up by Rhythmic AC MOViN 100.3 (WMVN).
New stations: Ratings at Galaxy's WTLA/WSGO remain virtually unchanged following a flip from adult standards to ESPN Radio. Citadel's WSKO, the former ESPN affiliate now affiliated with Sporting News Radio, saw ratings fall from 1.2 to 0.6 since the fall book. New Country WOLF 105.1 checks in with a 1.7, tied for 16th place in the market.
Click here for the full chart. Story updated 1/6/11, after a "first update" on 7/17/10. While the original article was correct, we at-first thought we had made a mistake in posting the Spring 2010 ratings chart. As a result, we "corrected" the chart, and subsequently corrected this article. But when the Fall 2010 ratings came out, we realized -- we had the right numbers in the very original article. As a result, we're now restoring what we had originally written. Our sincerest apologies to our readers for all of the confusion created by this series of events.
Almost no changes in the top three rankings in Utica: the former Regent cluster leads the market, with country Big Frog 104 (WFRG), Newsradio 950 WIBX, and AC Lite 98.7 (WLZW) retaining their rankings. Frog gained nearly 2 points, while WIBX loses a point and WLZW gains a point.
The only change -- last book, Roser CHR duo Kiss-FM (WSKS/WSKU) had tied with WLZW for 3rd place, but an 0.8-point loss is enough to fall to 5th place. That makes room for Galaxy classic rocker WOUR and its nearly 2-point gain to take over 4th place.
At Oldiez 96 (WODZ), the switch from Citadel Media's syndicated "Classic Hits" format to the Scott Shannon-hosted True Oldies Channel doesn't appear to make a big difference: the station is down by 0.7 since the fall book.
Relocating the transmitter of 92.7 The Drive (WXUR) appears to have an impact: the move to Smith Hill atop Utica helped the station garner a 2.5; that's compared to the 1.9 last book when the station was transmitting from Frankfort.
The numbers provided by Eastlan represent the "entire" audience, persons age 12+, for the entire survey period, Mon-Sun, 6am-12mid. They do not necessarily represent the performance of stations that may be specifically targeting particular demographics.
Looks like CNY Talk Radio is #3 and WXTL #4. Funny how WFBL dips to a 0.4 for the one period, averages about a 1.0 across the others. So maybe WXTL's 0.3 could pick up. Would be interesting to see the breakdown by hour. Have to expect WSYR will stay #1 as long as they have their big four shows.