Posts Tagged ‘WCTL’

Fall ratings: Connoisseur strengthens Erie radio domination

The twice yearly ratings horse race between Star 104 and Classy 100 has turned into a yawner.

The Fall 2009 Arbitron ratings released Friday afternoon confirms the amazingly strong hold that the Connoisseur Media cluster has over Erie radio listeners. Although it’s lead 12+ has softened, WRTS/Star 104 continues as Erie’s most listened to broadcast radio station. Meanwhile the flagship station for the Citadel group in Erie, WXKC/Classy 100 has continued its slide in share of audience over at least five books to be ranked fourth.

The big winner of the Fall was WTWF/93.9 The Wolf who garnered their best book ever, good for second place. Rounding out Connie Media’s top stations was WXBB/Bob FM, who scored their best book since they debuted in 2007.

Been a long time since we rock and rolled the ratings. WRKT/Rocket 101 and WQHZ/Z-102.3 have taken what was 17 shares of listenership two years ago and grinded it down to 11. It looks like Rocket especially hasn’t put the jets onto expanding its base.

As far as AM goes…simply, nothing to see here. While AM stations crush their competition in the markets surrounding us in ratings and billing, our offerings have received no investment from their owner companies and so they got what they paid for.

Finally, the third biggest jump up came from my alma mater WCTL, who scored their best book in memory and is knocking on the door of once-prominent WXTA/Country 98.

You can see all the hard numbers at AllAccess.com (registration required).

Poll: Who will survive until 2020?

P&T readers tend to have a love/hate relationship with radio stations that offer the all-Christmas formats during the holidays. In our poll, the same percentage said that they were more likely as said “less likely” to go to a “Holly, Jolly”-formatted station.

As I said yesterday, the “aughts” has been a tumultuous decade for media, even locally. Remember it was nearly  ten years ago when Myron Jones sold Jet-FM and Froggy to Next Media, ending local control. And then we truly became a one-newspaper-town in September 2000, as the long and painful process of merging the Morning News and Erie Daily Times came to fruition. Of course, P&T has covered extensively the merger of the WICU and WSEE newsrooms this past June.

Even with all that change, we have not seen a media outlet go dark since the Daily Times stopped landing on our stoop in the afternoon sun. Since World War II, that’s the only major media stream to stop cold: every licensed radio and television station continues to operate with FCC authority, and the Times Publishing  Co. still delivers seven days a week.

So my question to you is, will that be the case in the next ten years? Will we actually lose media streams, or will they morph to an online presence and dump their transmitters or presses? Honestly, the question makes me shiver, but it is worth the ask.

On a scale from 1 to 5, will the current traditional Erie media streams (newspaper, TV, radio) exist in ten years?

  • 2 - It's not likely (49%, 21 Votes)
  • 4 - I think so (19%, 8 Votes)
  • 1 - Not a chance (16%, 7 Votes)
  • 3 - I'm not sure (12%, 5 Votes)
  • 5 - Absolutely (4%, 2 Votes)

Total Voters: 43

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Poll: are you listening to all-Christmas radio?

If the Press and Tower poll is any indication, Erie’s Clara Ward story on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition which aired on WJET/ABC last night got a huge share in the Erie DMA. Our poll had 7 of 10 of respondents definitely or possibly watching the two-hour tear-jerking special.

Both WXKC/Classy 100 and WCTL 106.3 have exchanged their regular music  rotations for all-Christmas since at least Black Friday. I personally love it…but what about you?

Are you more or less likely to listen to an all-Christmas radio station?

  • Definately more likely (39%, 11 Votes)
  • Less likely for sure (39%, 11 Votes)
  • About the same (22%, 6 Votes)

Total Voters: 28

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Happy Thanksgiving, Erie Media!

At some times in the past 12 months, these pixels have fraught with negativity. I for one am tired of the gloom and doom, so for a least a moment, lets turn our thoughts to what we can be thankful for from the local media that we produce and consume.

So follow me as I count my blessings in my Erie media Thanksgiving list:

  • I’m thankful for the late John Kanzius, who even as his body deteriorated in his final months, engaged his spirit and drive to ensure that the important work of research surrounding his amazing RF machine to fight cancer would continue on.
  • I’m thankful for Dwight Miller and WQLN, who in the face of devastating budget cuts has continued to maintain a strong programming schedule on the public broadcasting stations, including keeping my radio favorite, Marketplace.
  • I’m thankful for the Dave and Jimmy show, and the mighty Dave Kaelin himself, who is the first direct advertiser on Press and Tower. Wanna join him?
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Spring ARB: Star increases lead over Classy

Connoisseur Media continued its position at the top of the Erie radio ratings, with their flagship CHR WRTS (Star 104) increasing the total audience lead that they hold over Citadel Broadcasting’s AC WXKC (Classy 100) by a half-share in the Spring 2009 ratings just released by Arbitron.

In fact, none of the stations in the Citadel stable increased their share of the Erie audience this Spring compared to last Fall. On the other hand, only WRKT (Rocket 101) joined Star in an increase in share for Connie Media. In fact the rankers for this Spring book were quite stationary, with a few exceptions.

News/Talker WJET fell one rank and lost over a third of it’s share of audience in the first book since the dropping of Rush Limbaugh from its lineup. Nostalgia CFZM, which had a big fall book here in Erie fell two positions in the Spring.

The most improved station in the Erie market this book: Christian AC WCTL, with an over 20% increase in share audience and a two position jump in the rankers 12+.

It was a bad book for sports radio as WRIE share was cut in half. Meanwhile, WFNN 1330 was again a “no show,” falling under the line this book.

All the 12+ ratings are available on AllAccess.com (registration required).

RIP: Radio & Records last issue Friday

Radio & RecordsMy addiction to the trade newspaper Radio & Records began at age 17. 29 years later, it’s over.

Nielsen Media announced that the last issue of R&R will be Friday’s, and the radioandrecords.com website has already been taken down.

My first exposure was those many years ago in the lounge area on the second floor of the old Gannon Theatre, where outside of the faculty offices, you could do some last minute homework, get your WERG or theatre mail, pontificate on the latest move in Erie media (had to start somewhere!), and read R&R.

I did a lot of reading R&R.
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Fundraising week on Erie radio

Up and down the radio dial this week, you’ll hear a request for donations on at least three stations. It’s not a April Fool’s joke that our non-profit broadcasters coincidentally are holding their radiothons this week.

WQLN began its Listener’s Choice radiothon on Monday. They will keep going with pleas for support between regular programs until they hit their goal of $55,000 or Friday evening, whichever comes first. Things are a little precarious for our public media outlet, as Gov. Rendell has proposed dropping state support for all public TV and radio stations. You can get involved by calling 1-800-727-8854.
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