SYRACUSE -- No major surprises at the top of the latest radio ratings report from Arbitron. Clear Channel country station B104.7 (WBBS) keeps the first row in the ratings company's latest audience estimates. And it looks like there are no changes in the ongoing battle between the market's CHR competitors.
Although B104.7 lost a fraction of a ratings point since the Fall 2012 survey, it's still the only station in the market to boast a double-digit rating, posting a 10.8.
See the full chart of Arbitron's latest Syracuse radio ratings
But it appears CHR is the most popular format in the market, with Cumulus-owned 93Q (WNTQ) gaining slightly, finishing the winter survey with a 7.9. Combined with a flat 6.5 for Clear Channel's Hot 107.9 (WWHT), the two contemporary hits radio (or top 40) stations captured 14.4 percent of the market's radio listening. Even after adding the 2.7 posted by New Country WOLF 105.1 -- a half-point improvement since the Fall -- country's combined total for the market fell nearly a point short of the CHR stations.
Next on Arbitron's list is Clear Channel adult contemporary Y94 (WYYY), posting a 6.1, unchanged from the Fall book. Nipping at Y94's heels is the AM/FM simulcast of news/talker WSYR. For the Winter book, 570AM and 106.9FM posted a 5.9, down nearly three full points from the Fall -- and its lowest going all the way back through the past 9 books to Winter 2011.
Meantime, it was the best book out of the last 9 for sister station WHEN, whose "Power 620" urban AC format posted a 4.4 during the Winter survey.
Across town, Cumulus Media rocker 95X (WAQX) posted a 2.9, the lowest number the station has posted since Arbitron resumed releasing the station's numbers to the public. Things are holding steady for 95X's classic rocker sister station, 105.9 The Rebel (WXTL), which remains in the lower 2's for its third book in a row.
Next on the list is MOViN' 100.3/96.5. The rhythmic AC station rebounds from a low 0.8 Fall 2012 finish, earning a 1.5 for the Winter 2012 book.
Cumulus sports talker The Score 1260 (WSKO) posted a 0.8, double its Fall 2012 number, and tying for its second best out of the last 5 ratings periods.
The Winter 2013 survey period ran from January 3 to March 27. By comparison, the Fall 2012 survey covered September 13 through December 5.
As always, in the interest of full disclosure, we must include the usual disclaimers about the ratings data discussed in this article and listed on our Syracuse Arbitron Ratings page. Arbitron's "subscriber only" policy means that we are only allowed to view and share ratings data for stations which subscribe to Arbitron's full ratings report. You'll notice we did not specifically "rank" any stations mentioned above, as there are several Syracuse market radio stations which do not subscribe to Arbitron, and thus, they were omitted from the list Arbitron has released for public review. It would not be accurate to "rank" stations with an incomplete list.
Furthermore, Arbitron's long-standing policy is to release only "top line" estimates, an overall average audience size including all persons, ages 12+, for all seven days of the week, from 6am to midnight. It is important to note that many stations have specific target demographics. The numbers discussed within this article and on our ratings page do not reflect any station's performance within any specific audience demographic nor any specific timeslot. Full breakdowns of demographics, timeslots and non-subscribing stations are only available to subscribing stations and advertising agencies.