WAMU HITS HIGHEST WEEKLY CUME EVER • MORE COMPETITIVE BATTLES IN PPM MARKETS

According to Nielsen Audio PPM data for September 2016, WAMU can claim a couple of notable achievements. WAMU’s estimated weekly cumulative listeners hit 832,100, a record high. WAMU also edged out commercial news giant WTOP in average-quarter-hour share: WAMU 9.0% – WTOP 8.7%.  WTOP’s weekly cume was 1,179,300.

WTOP is consistently one of the top performers for commercial radio revenue. Analysts at financial data firm BIA/Kelsey estimate WTOP’s current annual revenue is $65 million. In case you are interested, the most recent top ten commercial station revenues are on the right.

 WAMU also has a significant number of weekly listeners in the Baltimore metro.

DENVER: TWO COMPETITIVE FORMAT BATTLES

Though KUNC and KJAC are located outside of the Denver metro market, they both attract sizable listening in the metro.  The estimated number of KCFR’s weekly listeners fell by 9% between March 2016 and September 2016.

The competition is tighter for two Triple A noncoms.  In the September PPM ratings KJAC a/k/a 105.5 The Colorado Sound almost doubled its number of weekly listeners between the station’s first book in March 20016 and September 2016 within the Denver metro. 

All four of the stations have many additional weekly listeners beyond Denver.

FYI – Modern Rock commercial station KTCL (also licensed to Ft. Collins) had 660,600 estimated weekly listeners. Heritage commercial Triple A KBCO had 542,500 weekly cume listeners.

TWO MARKETS WHERE THE NUMBER OF WEEKLY LISTENERS IS UP

In Detroit WUOM and WDET are using different programming strategies and both are reaching more estimated weekly listeners.  WUOM is straight-ahead news and has many more listeners outside of the Detroit metro. WDET has added a new Triple A-ish midday program. Both seem to be doing well.

Atlanta’s battle between WABE and Georgia Public Broadcasting’s WRAS seems to prove the notion that same-format competition tends to increase the numbers for both stations.   

WRAS continues to gain weekly listeners even though they share their broadcast day with College Rock programming by students.

SEATTLE-TACOMA IS WAITING FOR THE “KNKS SHOE” TO DROP

KNKS is now operating with new, independent ownership. Now get ready for an epic noncom battle with KUOW. 

Radio everywhere should be as exciting as it is in Seattle!