Denver/Boulder January 2013 PPM Radio Ratings

[Chase]

The Denver/Boulder January 2013 Ratings came out today.

What are your thoughts on the ratings?

http://ratings.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/arb035

[Rob]

Denver/Boulder, Colorado Radio Ratings SUBSCRIBER ONLY* (*Arbitron's new subscriber-only policy eliminates all non-subscribing stations for this market from the public data. So many stations are left out of the we info we get if they don't pay Arbitron.) ARBITRON Monthly PPM 6+ Mon-Sun, 6a-12 Population: 2,366,900 Black: 128,600 (5%) Hispanic: 480,100 (20%)

Station	Format	Owner	Hol 11	Jan 12	Feb 12	Mar 12	Apr 12	May 12	Jun 12	Jul 12	Aug 12	Sep 12	Oct 12	Nov 12	Dec 12	Hol 12	Jan 13
KQKS 107.5 FM	Hip Hop/Rhy CHR	Lincoln	4.2	4.2	4.6	4.8	4.7	5.2	5.5	5.3	5.3	5.3	5.2	5.1	5.0	5.3	5.2
KOA 850 AM	Talk	Clear Channel	5.6	5.9	5.5	5.1	6.0	5.7	6.0	5.8	5.9	5.7	6.2	6.0	5.4	4.7	5.1
KOSI 101.1 FM	AC	Entercom	9.3	4.8	5.2	4.9	4.4	4.2	4.8	5.0	4.3	4.1	4.6	4.6	5.3	9.3	5.0
KTCL 93.3 FM	Alternative	Clear Channel	4.2	4.3	4.4	4.6	5.1	4.9	4.9	4.9	4.7	4.8	4.9	4.4	4.3	4.5	5.0
KBCO 97.3 FM	AAA	Clear Channel	4.2	4.6	4.5	4.2	4.7	4.3	4.7	4.3	4.3	4.5	4.2	3.7	4.1	4.4	5.0
KPTT 95.7 FM	Rhythmic CHR	Clear Channel	3.7	3.4	3.2	3.8	3.7	3.9	4.5	4.6	5.6	6.0	6.4	5.4	5.3	5.3	4.9
KYGO 98.5 FM	Country	Lincoln	4.1	4.3	5.0	4.9	4.6	4.1	3.7	3.7	4.0	4.3	4.1	4.2	4.0	3.9	4.9
KALC 105.9 FM	Hot AC	Entercom	4.2	4.3	3.7	4.0	4.0	3.7	3.8	4.3	4.9	3.9	4.0	4.6	4.1	4.4	4.5
KJMN 92.1 FM	Spanish Adult Hits	Entravision	2.3	3.0	3.2	3.1	3.8	3.9	3.8	3.5	3.6	3.5	3.9	3.7	3.7	3.9	4.1
KQMT 99.5 FM	Classic Rock	Entercom	4.3	5.1	5.4	5.3	6.4	6.1	5.7	5.4	5.7	5.0	4.4	4.7	4.8	4.2	3.9
KIMN 100.3 FM	Hot AC	Wilks	3.6	3.5	3.7	4.0	3.2	3.0	4.0	3.7	3.5	3.6	4.2	4.1	4.2	3.2	3.7
KXKL 105.1 FM	Classic Hits	Wilks	3.5	4.2	4.3	3.8	3.8	4.1	4.2	3.7	3.8	4.3	4.6	4.9	2.0	3.1	3.5
KXPK 96.5 FM	Regional Mexican	Entravision	5.1	4.5	4.9	4.4	4.1	4.1	4.0	4.1	3.4	3.6	3.6	3.3	3.4	3.9	3.4
KCFR 90.1 FM	News/Talk	CPR	2.8	3.2	2.7	3.5	3.1	2.9	2.1	2.7	2.6	2.8	2.8	3.5	3.2	2.9	3.2
KRFX 103.5 FM	Classic Rock	Clear Channel	3.9	3.8	4.0	4.3	4.2	4.5	5.0	4.7	4.8	4.8	4.4	4.3	4.2	3.4	3.4
KBPI 106.7 FM	Active Rock	Clear Channel	2.9	2.7	2.9	3.2	3.1	2.8	3.0	3.7	3.2	3.2	3.5	3.2	2.8	3.0	2.8
KKFN 104.3 FM	Sports	Lincoln	2.7	2.7	1.7	2.6	2.3	2.3	1.7	1.5	2.0	2.1	2.2	2.1	2.3	2.5	2.6
KJHM 101.5 FM	R&B Oldies	Max Media	1.4	1.5	1.5	1.4	1.6	1.6	1.6	2.1	2.1	1.8	1.3	1.7	2.4	2.3	2.5
K276FK 103.1 FM	Comedy	Lincoln	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	1.2	2.0	1.9	2.4
KWOF 92.5 FM	Country	Wilks	1.9	2.0	2.0	2.1	1.8	2.0	2.3	2.5	2.4	2.2	2.4	2.1	2.4	1.8	2.2
KEZW 1430 AM	Nostalgia	Entercom	2.8	2.6	2.8	2.7	2.6	2.2	2.0	2.0	2.1	2.4	2.1	1.9	2.0	2.0	1.9
KHOW 630 AM	Talk	Clear Channel	2.9	2.8	2.7	2.8	2.7	2.4	2.5	2.5	2.3	2.4	2.7	2.2	2.1	1.6	1.7
KRWZ 950 AM	Oldies	Lincoln	0.8	1.0	1.1	1.1	1.1	1.4	1.6	1.7	1.8	1.8	1.8	1.5	1.4	1.4	1.7
KVOD 88.1 FM	Classical	CPR	2.3	2.4	2.0	2.0	1.8	2.1	1.6	1.5	1.6	1.6	1.4	1.4	1.5	1.3	1.3
KDSP 102.3 FM	Sports	Front Range	0.2	0.7	0.8	1.2	0.9	0.8	0.9	0.7	0.9	0.9	1.0	1.0	1.0	0.8	1.0
KKZN 760 AM	Talk	Clear Channel	1.0	1.6	1.4	1.3	1.5	1.4	1.2	1.0	1.0	0.9	0.8	1.0	0.8	0.8	1.0
KUVO 89.3 FM	Jazz/Blues	Denver Ed.	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.9	0.7
KUNC 91.5 FM	News/Talk/Music	Community Radio	0.9	0.7	0.8	0.6	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.6	0.4	0.6	0.4	0.4	0.6	0.5	0.6
KDHT 107.1 FM	Variety Hits	Max Media	1.2	1.0	1.1	1.4	1.0	0.9	0.9	1.5	1.3	1.1	0.8	0.6	0.5	0.3	0.3
KMXA 1090 AM	Regional Mexican	Entravision	0.3	0.3	0.5	0.6	0.3	0.3	0.4	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.4	0.2	0.1
KEPN 1600 AM	Sports	Lincoln	0.3	0.3	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.1	0.1	--	0.1	--	0.1	0.3	0.2	0.1	0.1
KVOQ 1340 AM	Variety	CPR	--	--	--	--	--	1.1	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	0.1	--
KJAC 105.5 FM	Sports	Front Range	0.8	0.8	1.0	0.9	0.9	1.3	0.9	0.9	0.7	0.6	0.2	0.3	--	--	--
KXDP-LP 87.7 FM	Spanish Sports	Syncom	--	0.1	0.1	0.1	0.3	1.1	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.2	--	--	--	--	--

[Rob]

What I see:

KQKS claims number one.
KBCO jumps to third. KPTT after being first, drops to sixth.
KYGO jumps back into the top ten.
KJMN jumps a few spots to be the number one Spanish language station.
KXKL at twelve is still trying to get back inside the top 5 where they were before their big drop due their switch to Christmas music over the holidays.
Lincoln has to be very happy with this book.

Oh and KDHT's switch to "Jack FM" isn't paying off as they are still at 0.3. Their lowest in years. There are a lot of people on their Facebook page saying the signal is worse and can't be received like before. I'm not sure if they are talking about the old 105.5 Jack, or if Max Media is having trouble with the current 107.1 signal. Their web site seems to be gone as of now at: http://ilovejackfm.com/

[mustacheride]

How about the fact that a Comedy station beat the Wolf...ouch!!!

[Rob]

I was wrong about what I said a few months ago about the comedy format being a mistake. It is doing well and a very good decision for Lincoln. And I'm sure it doesn't cost Lincoln that much to run. It is a satellite delivered format with a very low overhead - no local jocks to pay, etc.

KRWZ dropped a little when they were dropped from 103.1 FM, but are back up near their highest.

Lincoln has to be very happy with this book. KQKS #1, KYGO going back up, KKFN up, 103.1 FM performing so well and KRWZ back up.

Since you brought up how KWOF is getting beat by the new Comedy 103.1 FM, Wilks seems to be happy with KWOF just staying in the rankings where it usually is... I'm not seeing anything they are doing differently to grab more of KYGO's numbers. I can see them dropping in the future since KYGO has their new PD tweaking things now.

[mustacheride]

The one thing to consider with the Comedy format...it's a novelty. It is going to be around as long as performing well. As soon as it hits a rough patch I am sure Lincoln already has another format ready to go.

The Wolf has been a dissapointment basically since it started. It was never a match for KYGO, and now seems to be struggling against Denver's less prestigious formats. Once they dip below a 2 for a couple of months I see Wilks dumping the format. For what? Hopefully a true Top 40 station...for a market this size it is amazing we still don't have one. (The Party has gone that direction, but still leans toward KS1075).

By the way I just want to say thank you for creating a board that covers the Colorado media landscape...unlike the other one that has some a-hole with an ego posting about himself every 5 min...YOUR NOT REALLY A GLADIATOR!!!

[Joshua]

Nice month for Lincoln; like it was said before I cannot believe a translator comedy station is beating a 50kw country stick. Wilks must be so proud. John Thomas departing KYGO was the best thing that could have happened, short of brining back Joel Burke. I can hear the difference in KYGO music, they are definitely focused on the newer tracks; whereas in the past you'd hear the new stuff on the Wolf or on XM long before it would end up on KYGO's playlist. KYGO could still be in the top 3 had they retained Paul Donovan and some of the other veteran air staff. I think KYGO should examine some of their part time air staff, they sound like they aught to be on the air in Hays, Kansas; not Denver.

[spikey]

after looking over the year, i can only say this:

the party... THE PARTY!!... the um.. party?!
the mountain.. THE MOUNTAIN!!.. the mountain.

i tried out 103.1... it's sorta fun, i just wish the audio were better.. i don't think it's the signal (although it's not great), but the audio is fatiguing .

[DenverDiamondJack]

KRFX looks like they are in a freefall, having lost almost one-third of their audience in a matter of months. Among other responses, they need to create some more significant local promotions and giveaways, and get Lewis & Floorwax to get their act together and stop focusing on sports, politics, popular culture, celebrities, and rap performers. Comedy and Rock music has faltered way down on their list of priorities. Their show has gone stale as they have both aged and become sedentary. The other hours of the days need a makeover and new fresh faces. The station used to be a must-listen destination back just a few to several years ago, but it is evident management has lost its creative and motivated edges. The commercial/ad blocks are a big issue as some run for several minutes unabated. The management needs to look at a better strategy to space these blocks out better. While it still is likely that KBPI, KPTT, or KTCL will become the KKOA-FM sports/talk outlet at some future point soon, KRFX could meet that fate if their product and personnel continue languish, stagnate, and flounder.

[Rob]

KRFX looks like they are in a freefall, having lost almost one-third of their audience in a matter of months. Among other responses, they need to create some more significant local promotions and giveaways, and get Lewis & Floorwax to get their act together and stop focusing on sports, politics, popular culture, celebrities, and rap performers. Comedy and Rock music has faltered way down on their list of priorities. Their show has gone stale as they have both aged and become sedentary. The other hours of the days need a makeover and new fresh faces. The station used to be a must-listen destination back just a few to several years ago, but it is evident management has lost its creative and motivated edges. The commercial/ad blocks are a big issue as some run for several minutes unabated. The management needs to look at a better strategy to space these blocks out better. While it still is likely that KBPI, KPTT, or KTCL will become the KKOA-FM sports/talk outlet at some future point soon, KRFX could meet that fate if their product and personnel continue languish, stagnate, and flounder.

They wouldn't change KTCL or KPTT since their ratings are still great.

They also haven't changed KBPI because they are basically using it to prevent anyone else from coming in with a new rock format. They won't change KRFX because then that would be giving a big chunk of ratings to KQMT. Also since KBPI plays a lot of classic rock, they are also gain a part KQMT would get.

The way Clear Channel has KRFX, KBPI, KTCL and KBCO setup, they are taking away any chunk of any genre of rock music for a new station to come in and easily get. Plus, they can sell advertising easily on them as-is as "combo" deals with all of their stations and still make a profit.

Sadly, this is what happens when big companies own so many stations in a market. If there were more different players, you'd see a lot more different formatted stations and stations doing more to combat competitors.