Ratings Takeaways

Round Two of January PPMs Released

imThe second of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s January 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Washington, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis. The survey period covered January 4 – 31. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Washington, Cumulus Media Group’s news/talk WMAL-FM jumps 1.4 shares to finish with a 4.5 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) that lifts it to the #7 rank, while Hubbard Broadcasting’s all-news WTOP-FM leaps two full shares to an 8.3 share good for the #2 rank. In Phoenix, iHeartMedia’s news/talk KFYI rises two-tenths to a 3.1 share but falls two posts to the #10 rank, while Bonneville’s news/talk KTAR-FM adds four-tenths for a 2.6 share finish and remains ranked #14. In Baltimore, Hearst Television’s news/talk WBAL-AM adds 1.6 shares to finish with a 4.3 share that boosts it to the #9 rank, while WCBM Maryland’s news/talk WCBM-AM tacks on four-tenths for a 1.9 share finish that lifts it to the #15 rank. See Mike Kinosian’s complete Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets here.

Industry News

January 2024 PPM Ratings – Part Two

imJanuary 2024 PPM Data – Information for the January 2024 PPM ratings period (January 4 – January 31) has been released for: Washington, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis.

The only requirement for a spoken-word station to be included below is that they be a Nielsen Audio subscriber – there are no share or rank thresholds.

NBA and NHL team names of corresponding spoken-word flagship(s) are bolded.

DNA – DNA = Did Not Appear – Does Not Appear

Comparisons are “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 (6+). 

WASHINGTON, DC

News/Talk

WMAL 3.1 – 4.5, #9 – #7

WFED DNA – .1, DNA – #29 (Capitals)

News

WTOP & WTLP 6.3 – 8.3, #4 – #2

WDCH .5 – .6, #23 – #23

WDCH Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Sports Talk

WJFK-FM 2.6 – 2.8, #15 – #15 (Capitals)

WJFK-FM Stream .6 – 1.0, #21 – #20 (Capitals)

WTEM .2 – .4, #26 – #25 (Wizards)

WTEM Stream .2 – .3, #26 – #26 (Wizards)

WJFK-AM DNA – .1, DNA – #29 (Capitals)

WSBN DNA – .1, DNA – #29

Public Radio News/Talk

WAMU 11.5 – 12.7, 27th month in succession at #1

Note: All-news WTOP & WTLP’s +2.0 (6.3- 8.3) represents a tie for the largest (6+) “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 increase by any station in these 12 PPM-markets. 

BOSTON

News/Talk

WRKO 3.1 – 2.8, #9 – #15

WXKS-AM .9 – .7, #24 – #23

News

News – Talk WBZ-AM 4.7 – 4.6, #5 – #6

Business news WRCA .1 – .1, #29 – #28

Sports Talk

WBZ-FM 9.2 – 11.2, #2 – #1 (Celtics, Bruins)

WEEI-FM 2.8 – 3.9, #13 – #11

WEEI-FM Stream .4 – DNA, #25 – DNA

WEEI-AM .1 – DNA, #29 – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

WBUR 6.1 – 6.0, #3 – #3

WGBH 3.9 – 4.2, #6 – #9

Note: Sports talk WBZ-FM’s +2.0 (9.2- 11.2) represents a tie for the largest (6+) “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 increase by any station in these 12 PPM-markets.

MIAMI

News/Talk

WIOD 1.2 – 1.4, #23 – #23

News

None

Sports Talk

WQAM 1.3 – 1.2, #22 – #25 (Heat, Florida Panthers)

WINZ .5 – .5, #27 – #27

WMEN .1 – .2, #36 – #33

WQAM Stream .1 – .1, #36 – #36 (Heat, Florida Panthers)

WSFS-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

WAXY DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

WLRN 3.3 – 4.1, #10 – #6

WLRN-HD2 .1 – DNA, #36 – DNA

SEATTLE

News/Talk

KIRO-FM 4.0 – 4.2, #6 – #7

KTTH 1.3 – 1.9, #23 – #21

KVI 1.0 – 1.3, #24  – #24

KPTR DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

News

KNWN-AM & KNWN-FM 2.3 – 2.6, #20 – #19

KHHO DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Sports Talk

KJR-FM 2.6 – 4.2, #17 – #7 (Kraken)

KIRO-AM 2.8 – 3.3, #15 – #14

KJR-AM .9 – .8, #25 – #25

Public Radio News/Talk

KUOW 6.2 – 6.9, #3 – #2

KSWS .1 – DNA, #32 – DNA

Note: Sports talk KJR-FM’s +1.6 (2.6- 4.2) represents a tie for Seattle’s largest (6+) “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 increase. 

DETROIT

News/Talk

WJR 2.4 – 2.1, #15 – #16

WFDF .4 – .5, #23 – #23

WJR Stream .1 – .1, #28 – #29

News

WWJ 4.3 – 5.6, #9 – #8 (Pistons)

WWJ Stream .2 – .4, #26 – #24 (Pistons)

WDFN .1 – .1, #28 – #29

Sports Talk

WXYT-FM 8.6 – 9.8, #2 – #1 (Pistons, Red Wings)

WXYT-FM Stream 1.2 – 1.8, #19 – #17 (Pistons, Red Wings)

WXYT-AM .2 – .3, #26 – #28

WXYT-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

WDET 1.2 – 1.6, #19 – #19

WUOM 1.1 – 1.1, #21 – #21

PHOENIX

News/Talk

KFYI 2.9 – 3.1, #8 – #10

KTAR-FM 2.2 – 2.6, #14 – #14 (Suns)

News

None

Sports Talk

KMVP-FM 1.5 – 1.9, #23 – #20 (Suns, Arizona Coyotes)

KDUS .1 – .1, #32 – #31

KGME .1 – .1, #32 – #31

KTAR-AM .1 – .1, #32 – #31 (Suns, Arizona Coyotes)

KTAR-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA (Suns, Arizona Coyotes)

KTAR-FM HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

KJZZ 2.6 – 3.0, #11 – #11

MINNEAPOLIS

News/Talk

WCCO 3.8 – 4.7, #10 – #10 (Minnesota Timberwolves)

KTMY 1.9 – 2.9, #17 – #14

KTLK-AM 1.6 – 1.8, #19 – #19

WCCO Stream DNA – .1, DNA – #31 (Minnesota Timberwolves)

News

KQQL-HD2 .1 – .1, #31 – #31

Sports Talk

KFXN 6.8 – 7.5, #3 – #2 (Minnesota Wild)

KQQL-HD3 .2 – .2, #27 – #27

KSTP-AM .1 – .1, #31 – #31

Public Radio News/Talk

KNOW 5.2 – 6.6, #4 – #4

KNOW Stream .7 – .8, #23 – #23

Note: Public radio news/talk KNOW’s +1.4 (5.2- 6.6) represents Minneapolis’ largest (6+) “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 increase.

SAN DIEGO 

News/Talk

KOGO 3.9 – 4.9, #6 – #5

KLSD .3 – .4, #28 – #25

News

None

Sports Talk

KWFN 2.8 – 3.9, #14 – #10

KGB-AM 1.0 – .8, #20 – #21

KWFN Stream .1 – DNA, #30 – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

KPBS 4.7 – 6.2, #4 – #2 

Note: Public radio news/talk KPBS’ +1.5 (4.7- 6.2) represents a tie for San Diego’s largest (6+) “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 increase.

TAMPA

News/Talk

WHPT 4.1 – 5.3, #7 – #3 (Lightning)

WFLA 3.2 – 4.1, #13 – #11

News

Business news WHNZ DNA – .1, DNA – #34

Sports Talk

WDAE 1.6– 2.1, #18 – #17

Public Radio News/Talk

WUSF 1.9 – 2.3, #17 – #16

WMNF-HD3 Stream .5 – .4, #23 – #26

WUSF Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Note: News/talk WHPT’s +1.2 (4.1- 5.3) represents Tampa’s largest (6+) “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 increase.

DENVER 

News/Talk

KOA 2.7 – 3.0, #14 – #14

KDFD 1.3 – 1.4, #22 – #22

KHOW 1.4 – 1.4, #19 – #22

News

None

Sports Talk

KKFN 3.5 – 4.0, #10 – #10

KKSE-FM 2.0 – 3.0, #18 – #14 (Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche)

KAMP DNA – .1, DNA – #35

KEPN .1 – DNA, #35 – DNA

KKSE-AM DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

KCFR 3.0 – 4.5, #13 – #7

KUNC .7 – 1.0, #26 – #25

BALTIMORE

News/Talk

WBAL 2.7 – 4.3, #11 – #9

WCBM 1.5 – 1.9, #17 – #15

News

WTOP & WTLP  1.0 – 1.4,  #20 – #17

WDCH  .8 – .9,  #22 – #19

WQLL DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Sports Talk

WJZ-FM 4.5 – 4.8, #6 – #6

WJZ-FM Stream .1 – DNA, #31 – DNA

WJZ-AM DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

WYPR 3.4 – 3.4, #9 – #12

WYPR HD2 Stream .2 – DNA, #28 – DNA 

Note: News/talk WBAL’s +1.6 (2.7- 4.3) represents a tie for Baltimore’s largest (6+) “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 increase.

ST. LOUIS

News/Talk

KMOX 2.8 – 3.7, #14 – #13

KFTK 1.5 – 2.2, #17 – #15

KTLK-FM 1.1 – 1.3, #18 – #18

KMOX Stream .2 – .4, #24 – #23

KFTK Stream .2 – .2, #24 – #28

News

KATZ-FM HD2 .2 – .3, #24 – #25

Sports Talk

WXOS 3.9 – 5.7, #12 – #7 (Blues)

Public Radio News/Talk

KWMU 4.5 – 5.1, #8 – #9 

Note: Sports talk WXOS’ +1.8 (3.9- 5.7) represents St. Louis’ largest (6+) “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 increase.

Up next: January 2024 overviews for Portland; Charlotte; San Antonio; Sacramento; Pittsburgh; Salt Lake City; Las Vegas; Orlando; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Kansas City; and Columbus.

Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com

Industry News

Round One of January PPMs Released

imThe first of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s January 2024 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey). The survey period covered January 4 – 31. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In New York, Red Apple Media’s news/talk WABC-AM adds half a share to finish with a 3.5 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) and remains ranked #11, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk WOR-AM rises half a share to a 1.7 share that lifts it to the #17 rank. In Los Angeles, iHeartMedia’s news/talk KFI adds nine-tenths for a 4.5 share finish good for the #3 rank in the market. In Chicago, Nexstar Media Group’s news/talk WGN-AM is up a half share, finishing with a 3.1 share and the #10 rank, while Cumulus Media Group’s news/talk WLS-AM rises two-tenths to a 1.9 share and moves up one spot to the #18 rank. And in Atlanta, Cox Media Group’s WSB-AM/WSBB-FM claims the #1 rank after rising 1.2 shares to an 8.6 share. See Mike Kinosian’s complete Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets here.

Ratings Takeaways

January 2024 PPM Ratings – Part One

imJanuary 2024 PPM Data – Information for the January 2024 ratings period (January 4 – January 31) has been released for New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey).

The only requirement for a spoken-word station to be included here is that they be a Nielsen Audio subscriber – there are no share or rank thresholds.

NBA and NHL team names of corresponding spoken-word flagship(s) are bolded.

DNA – DNA = Did Not Appear – Does Not Appear

Comparisons are “Holiday” 2023 – January 2024 (6+).

NEW YORK

News/Talk

WABC 3.0 – 3.5, #11 – #11

WOR 1.2 – 1.7, #21 – #17

WKXW .8 – 1.0, #27 – #24

WKXW Stream .2 – .3, #37 – #35

News

WINS-FM 3.9 – 4.7, #9 – #6

WCBS-AM 1.6 – 1.7, #19 – #17

WINS-FM Stream .4 – .5, #32 – #27

Business News WBBR .3 – .4, #34 – #31

WCBS-AM Stream .1 – .2, #46 – #39 

Sports Talk

WFAN FM & AM 2.3 – 2.7, #12 -#13 (Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)

WFAN FM & AM Stream .7 – .8, #28 -#25 (Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)

WEPN-FM 1.2 – DNA #21 – DNA (Knicks, Islanders, Rangers)

Public Radio News/Talk

WNYC-FM 4.1 – 4.5, #7 – #7

WNYC-AM 1.0 – 1.2, #23 – #22 

LOS ANGELES

News/Talk

KFI 4.6 – 5.5, #4 – #3

KEIB .4 – .8, #30 – #33  (Clippers)

KRLA .4 – .6, #30 – #34  

News

KNX-FM 2.5 – 2.8, #12 – #12

KNX-FM Stream .1 – .2, #40 – #39  

Sports Talk

KLAC .8 – .9, #28 – #32 (Clippers 

Public Radio News/Talk

KPCC 2.0 – 2.3, #14 – #15

Notes: News/talk KFI’s +.9 (4.6 – 5.5) represents a tie for Los Angeles’ highest (6+) Holiday 2023 – January 2024 increase.

Flagship of the Lakers is sports talk KSPN, which is unlisted in this sweep.

Kings’ games are heard on the iHeartRadio app, while games of the Anaheim Ducks are heard on the Ducks stream.

CHICAGO

News/Talk

WGN 2.6 – 3.1, #11 – #10  (Blackhawks)

WLS-AM 1.7 – 1.9, #19 – #18

WLIP .3 – .4, #38 – #35

WVON .1 – .1, #43 – #41

WLS-AM Stream DNA – .1, DNA – #41

News

WBBM-AM & WCFS 4.9 – 6.2, #4  – #2

WBBM-AM & WCFS Stream .1 – .2, #43 – #38

Sports Talk

WSCR 2.5 – 3.4, #12 – #8 (Bulls)

WMVP 1.5 – 1.5, #20 – #20

WSCR Stream .4 – .6, #36 – #32 (Bulls) 

Public Radio News/Talk

WBEZ 2.1 – 2.7, #15 – #13  

SAN FRANCISCO

News/Talk

KSFO 1.4 – 1.5, #22 – #22

KSFO Stream .2 – .3, #32 – #30 

News

KCBS-AM & KFRC 5.7 – 6.6, #3 – #3

KNEW .3 – .3, #29 – #30  

KCBS-AM & KFRC Stream .1 – DNA, #38 – DNA

KKSF DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA 

Sports Talk

KNBR 3.6 – 3.9, #7 – #6

KGMZ 2.0 – 2.4, #14 – #14 (Golden State Warriors)

KGO .2 – .2, #32 – #34  

KGO Stream .2 – .2, #32 – #34  

KTCT .4 – .2, #27 – #34  

KGMZ Stream .2 – DNA, #32 – DNA (Golden State Warriors)

Public Radio News/Talk

KQED 6.9 – 7.9, #2 – #2

KALW .2 – .3, #32 – #30

Note: Sports talk KNBR is the flagship of the 49ers, which lost to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

DALLAS

News/Talk

WBAP 2.8 – 3.7, #14 – #9

KEGL 1.4 – 1.2, #27 – #29  (Mavericks)

KSKY .6 – .6, #33 – #32

KLIF-AM .4 – .5, #34 – #33

KSKY Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA 

News

News – Talk KRLD-AM 1.4 – 1.7, #27 – #24

News – Talk KRLD-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Sports Talk

KTCK 4.2 – 5.6, #3 – #1  (Stars)

KRLD-FM 2.9 – 2.8, #13 – #17

KRLD-FM Stream .3 – .4, #35 – #35

Public Radio News/Talk

KERA 3.5 – 4.0, #6 – #7  

Note: Sports/talk KTCK’s +1.4 (4.2 – 5.6) represents Dallas’ highest (6+) Holiday 2023 – January 2024 increase.

HOUSTON 

News/Talk

KTRH 2.6 – 3.6, #17 – #9  (Rockets)

KPRC . 5 – .3, #28 – #28  

News

None

Sports Talk

KILT-AM 1.5 – 1.6, #21 – #21

KBME .6 – .6, #27 – #27  (Rockets)

KILT-AM Stream .3 – .3, #30 – #28

KFNC .2 – .2, #31 – #33

Public Radio News/Talk

KUHF 2.4 – 2.8, #18 – #19

ATLANTA

News/Talk

WSB-AM & WSBB 7.4– 8.6, #2 – #1

WFOM .4 – .6, #27 – #27

WGKA .1 – .3, #31 – #30

WAOK .1 – .2, #31 – #31

WAOK Stream DNA – .1, DNA – #36

WSRV-HD3 Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

News

WBIN  DNA – .1, DNA – #36

Sports Talk

WZGC 3.5 – 4.2, #9 – #8 (Hawks)

WCNN 1.4 – 2.2, #20 – #16

WZGC Stream .3 – .8, #29 – #24 (Hawks)

Public Radio News/Talk

WABE 3.3 – 4.0, #11 – #9

WRAS  .8 – .7, #24 – #25

WABE-HD3 DNA – .1, DNA – #36 

PHILADELPHIA

News/Talk

WPHT 1.7 – 2.2, #19 – #16

WKXW 1.2 – 1.3, #23 – #23

WPHT Stream .7 – .7, #26 – #26

WURD .3 – .4, #27 – #28

WURD Stream .2 – .2, #29 – #30

WDEL-AM DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

WKXW Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

News

KYW & WPHI 4.7 – 6.2, #6 – #5

KYW & WPHI Stream .1 – .1, #30 – #32

WTEL DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Sports Talk

WIP 5.7 – 7.0, #4 – #4

WIP Stream 1.5 – 2.3, #20 – #15

WPEN-FM 1.3 – 1.5, #22 – #21 (76ers, Flyers)

Public Radio News/Talk

WHYY 2.8 – 3.1, #9 – #10      

NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND)

News/Talk

WABC 1.1 – 1.5, #20 – #18

WOR 1.0 – 1.1, #22 – #19

WLIR .1 – .1, #35 – #32

News

WINS-FM 3.3 – 4.8, #9 – #5

WCBS-AM 2.5 – 2.2, #12 – #15

WINS-FM Stream .9 – 1.0, #23 – #20

Business News WBBR .2 – .3, #30 – #26

WCBS-AM Stream .1 – .1, #35 – #32

Sports Talk

WFAN-FM & AM 3.5 – 4.6, #7 – #7 (Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)

WFAN-FM & AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA (Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)

WEPN-FM 2.7 – DNA, #11 – DNA (Knicks, Islanders, Rangers)

Public Radio News/Talk

WSUF .2 – .3, #30 – #26

RIVERSIDE

News/Talk

None

News

KFOO DNA – .1, DNA – #21

Sports Talk

KPWK .2 – .1, #18 – #21

Public Radio News/Talk

KVCR .3 – .4 #16 – #20

KPCC DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

SAN JOSE

News/Talk

KSFO 1.5 – 1.8, #19 – #20

KSFO Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA  

News

KCBS-AM & KFRC 4.5 – 5.2, #4 – #4

KNEW .3 – .2, #28 – #28  

KCBS-AM & KFRC Stream .2 – DNA, #30 – DNA

Sports Talk

KNBR 3.9 – 4.7, #6 – #5

KGMZ 1.5 – 2.8, #19 – #10 (Golden State Warriors)

KGO Stream .7 – .8, #26 – #26  

KTCT .8 – .3, #25 – #27   

KGO .3 – .2, #28 – #28  

KGMZ Stream .2 – DNA, #30 – DNA (Golden State Warriors)

Public Radio News/Talk

None 

Notes: Sports/talk KGMZ’s +1.3 (1.5 – 2.8) represents San Jose’s highest (6+) Holiday 2023 – January 2024 increase.

Sports talk KNBR is the flagship of the 49ers, which lost to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

Sharks’ games are carried on the Sharks Audio Network.

MIDDLESEX-SOMERSET-UNION 

News/Talk

WKXW 5.7 – 7.4, #4 – #1

WOR 1.6 – 2.7, #15 – #9

WKXW Stream .7 – .8, #20 – #20    

News

WINS-FM 1.8 – 2.7, #13 – #9

WCBS-AM 1.0 – .9, #18 – #19

WINS-FM Stream .3 – .5, #23 – #22

WCBS-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Sports Talk

WFAN-FM & AM DNA – 2.7, DNA – #9 (Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)

WFAN FM & AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA (Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)

WEPN-FM 1.0 – DNA, #18 – DNA (Knicks, Islanders, Rangers)

Public Radio News/Talk

None 

Note: News/talk WKXW’s +1.7 (5.7 – 7.4) represents Middlesex-Somerset-Union’s highest (6+)Holiday 2023 – January 2024 increase. 

Up next: January 2024 overviews for: Washington, DC; Boston; Miami; Seattle; Detroit; Phoenix; Minneapolis; San Diego; Tampa; Denver; Baltimore; and St. Louis.

Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com

Industry News

Ratings Analysis: News/Talk During the Holiday Survey

imToday, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian does a deep-dive into the recent performances of the news/talk format during Nielsen Audio’s “Holiday” PPM ratings period. He writes, “Last week, we recapped how all-news stations have recently performed in (volatile) ‘Holiday’ survey periods. As a companion piece, the data summarizes ratings performances of news/talk stations in the two most recent ‘Holiday’ sweeps.” See the full story here.

Analysis

News/Talk Holiday 2022 & Holiday 2023 Overview

By Mike Kinosian
TALKERS magazine
Managing Editor

imLast week, we recapped how all-news stations have recently performed in Nielsen Audio‘s (volatile) “Holiday” PPM survey periods.

As a companion piece, the following summarizes ratings performances of news/talk stations in the two most recent “Holiday” sweeps.

“Holiday” 2022 – “Holiday” 2023 6+ Increase, 43%.

“Holiday” 2022 – “Holiday” 2023 6+ Decrease, 50%.

“Holiday” 2022 – “Holiday” 2023 6+ Flat, 7%.

Average “Holiday” 2022 – “Holiday” 6+ 2023 Increase, +.61.

Average “Holiday” 2022 – “Holiday” 6+ 2023 Decrease, -.98.

Typical “Holiday” 6+ Share, 3.19 (2022), versus 3.01 (2023).

Representative “Holiday” 6+ Market Rank, #12.42 (2022), versus #12.26 (2023).

News/Talk Composite 6+ Share/Rank Arranged By Market Size

                                    “Hol”      “Hol”

                                    2022       2023

WABC, New York                    3.1    #10    3.0    #11

KFI, Los Angeles                     4.4    #3     4.6    #4

WGN, Chicago                        2.8    #12    2.6    #11

WLS-AM, Chicago                   0.9    #24    1.7    #19

KSFO, San Francisco              1.7    #18    1.4    #22

WBAP, Dallas                         3.7    #8     2.8    #14

KTRH, Houston                      3.3    #12    2.6    #17

WSB-AM & WSBB, Atlanta      4.4    #7     7.4    #2

WMAL, Washington                3.4    #7     3.1    #9

WPHT, Philadelphia                0.8    #24    1.7    #19

WKXW, Philadelphia               1.2    #20    1.2    #23

WRKO, Boston                       2.8    #13    3.1    #9

KIRO-FM, Seattle                    5.5    #3     4.0    #6

KFYI, Phoenix                         3.3    #8     2.9    #8

KTAR-FM, Phoenix                 1.7    #22    2.2    #14

WJR, Detroit                          2.3    #15    2.4    #15

WCCO, Minneapolis                3.7    #12    3.8    #10

KTMY, Minneapolis                 3.1    #14    1.9    #17

KTLK, Minneapolis                 2.0    #17    1.6    #19

WHPT, Tampa                        3.7    #12    4.1    #7

WFLA, Tampa                         2.2    #17    3.2    #13

KOA, Denver                          2.4    #16    2.7    #14

KHOW, Denver                       1.5    #20    1.4    #19

KOGO, San Diego                   5.4    #5     3.9    #6

WABC, Long Island                 1.1    #21    1.1    #20

WBT, Charlotte                       3.7    #10    4.0    #9

KXL, Portland                         6.0    #5     4.9    #6

KEX, Portland                       2.2    #16    1.1    #21

WBAL, Baltimore                    3.6    #10    2.7    #11

WCBM, Baltimore                   1.6    #17    1.5    #17

WMAL, Baltimore                   0.6    #20    DNA  DNA

KMOX, St. Louis                     4.4    #9     2.8    #14

KFTK, St. Louis                      1.4    #17    1.5    #17

KTLK-FM, St. Louis                0.5    #23    1.1    #18

WOAI, San Antonio                 2.6    #13    2.4    #15

KTSA, San Antonio                 2.5    #14    1.8    #19

KSL, Salt Lake City                 4.6    #5     3.6    #9

KNRS, Salt Lake City              4.4    #6     2.2    #17

KFBK, Sacramento                 8.8    #2     6.1    #3

KSTE-AM, Sacramento            3.2    #8     2.1    #16

KLBJ-AM, Austin                    4.4    #5     4.1    #6

WTKS, Orlando                      5.1    #7     3.1    #12

WDBO, Orlando                     4.6    #8     3.1    #12

WFLF, Orlando                       0.7    #22    0.6    #20

KDKA-AM, Pittsburgh             2.8    #13    3.6    #8

KDKA-AM Stream, Pittsburgh 0.7    #19    0.4    #22

KDWN, Las Vegas                   2.3    #16    DNA  DNA

WLW, Cincinnati                    10.7   #1     10.8   #2

WKRC, Cincinnati                   2.8    #13    4.5    #6

KMBZ-FM, Kansas City           3.2    #11    4.1    #7

KCMO-AM, Kansas City          0.4    #25    1.8    #17

KMBZ-AM, Kansas City           1.4    #20    1.4    #19

WTAM, Cleveland                   4.6    #8     4.8    #8

WTVN, Columbus                   5.3    #8     4.5    #7

WTKK, Raleigh                       10.4   #2     5.0    #5

WIBC, Indianapolis                 5.7    #3     4.8    #8

KSFO, San Jose                     1.1    #22    1.5    #19

WWTN, Nashville                    4.9    #7     3.9    #12

WLAC, Nashville                     1.2    #17    1.2    #19

WKXW, Middlesex                   6.2    #4     5.7    #4

WOR, Middlesex                     0.4    #26    1.6    #15

WKXW-Stream, Middlesex       DNA  DNA  0.7    #20

WISN, Milwaukee                   8.8    #3     9.0    #1

WTMJ, Milwaukee                   6.2    #5     6.4    #5

WPRO-AM, Providence            4.5    #7     5.9    #5

WHJJ, Providence                   0.5    #18    0.8    #15

WNIS, Norfolk                        2.8    #11    2.0    #14

WOKV-FM, Jacksonville          6.1    #5     6.5    #3

WPTI, Greensboro                   3.2    #8     3.3    #8

WFTL, West Palm Beach         1.0    #15    2.1    #9

WZZR, West Palm Beach         1.7    #10    1.3    #13

WJNO, West Palm Beach        1.1    #13    0.6    #15

WREC, Memphis                    2.6    #13    1.0    #11

WKIM, Memphis                     2.1    #15    DNA  DNA

KWAM, Memphis                    0.4    #21    0.4    #13

WTIC-AM, Hartford                 5.1    #6     5.2    #6

WDRC-AM, Hartford               1.0    #17    1.5    #15

WTIC-AM-Stream, Hartford     0.2    #20    0.4    #19

WPOP, Hartford                      0.2    #20    DNA  DNA

“Holiday” 2023 6+ Share (Highest to Lowest)

WLW, Cincinnati                    10.8

WISN, Milwaukee                   9.0

WSB-AM & WSBB, Atlanta      7.4

WOKV-FM, Jacksonville          6.5

WTMJ, Milwaukee                   6.4

KFBK, Sacramento                 6.1

WPRO-AM, Providence            5.9

WKXW, Middlesex                   5.7

WTIC-AM, Hartford                 5.2

WTKK, Raleigh                       5.0

KXL, Portland                         4.9

WTAM, Cleveland                   4.8

WIBC, Indianapolis                 4.8

KFI, Los Angeles                     4.6

WKRC, Cincinnati                   4.5

WTVN, Columbus                   4.5

WHPT, Tampa                        4.1

KLBJ-AM, Austin                    4.1

KMBZ-FM, Kansas City           4.1

KIRO-FM, Seattle                    4.0

WBT, Charlotte                       4.0

KOGO, San Diego                   3.9

WWTN, Nashville                    3.9

WCCO, Minneapolis                3.8

KSL, Salt Lake City                 3.6

KDKA-AM, Pittsburgh             3.6

WPTI, Greensboro                   3.3

WFLA, Tampa                         3.2

WMAL, Washington                3.1

WRKO, Boston                       3.1

WDBO, Orlando                     3.1

WTKS, Orlando                      3.1

WABC, New York                    3.0

KFYI, Phoenix                         2.9

WBAP, Dallas                         2.8

KMOX, St. Louis                     2.8

KOA, Denver                          2.7

WBAL, Baltimore                    2.7

WGN, Chicago                        2.6

KTRH, Houston                      2.6

WJR, Detroit                          2.4

WOAI, San Antonio                 2.4

KTAR-FM, Phoenix                 2.2

KNRS, Salt Lake City              2.2

KSTE-AM, Sacramento            2.1

WFTL, West Palm Beach         2.1

WNIS, Norfolk                        2.0

KTMY, Minneapolis                 1.9

KTSA, San Antonio                 1.8

KCMO-AM, Kansas City          1.8

WLS-AM, Chicago                   1.7

WPHT, Philadelphia                1.7

KTLK, Minneapolis                 1.6

WOR, Middlesex                     1.6

WCBM, Baltimore                   1.5

KFTK, St. Louis                      1.5

KSFO, San Jose                     1.5

WDRC-AM, Hartford               1.5

KHOW, Denver                       1.4

KMBZ-AM, Kansas City           1.4

WZZR, West Palm Beach         1.3

WLAC, Nashville                     1.2

WABC, Long Island                 1.1

KTLK-FM, St. Louis                1.1

WREC, Memphis                    1.0

WHJJ, Providence                   0.8

WKXW-Stream, Middlesex       0.7

WFLF, Orlando                       0.6

WJNO, West Palm Beach        0.6

KWAM, Memphis                    0.4

WTIC-AM-Stream, Hartford     0.4

“Holiday” 2023 6+ Market Rank   

WISN, Milwaukee                   #1

WSB-AM & WSBB, Atlanta      #2

WLW, Cincinnati                    #2

KFBK, Sacramento                 #3

WOKV-FM, Jacksonville          #3

KFI, Los Angeles                     #4

WKXW, Middlesex                   #4

WTKK, Raleigh                       #5

WTMJ, Milwaukee                   #5

WPRO-AM, Providence            #5

KIRO-FM, Seattle                    #6

KOGO, San Diego                   #6

KXL, Portland                         #6

KLBJ-AM, Austin                    #6

WKRC, Cincinnati                   #6

WTIC-AM, Hartford                 #6

WHPT, Tampa                        #7

KMBZ-FM, Kansas City           #7

WTVN, Columbus                   #7

KFYI, Phoenix                         #8

KDKA-AM, Pittsburgh             #8

WTAM, Cleveland                   #8

WIBC, Indianapolis                 #8

WPTI, Greensboro                   #8

WMAL, Washington                #9

WRKO, Boston                       #9

WBT, Charlotte                       #9

KSL, Salt Lake City                 #9

WFTL, West Palm Beach         #9

WCCO, Minneapolis                #10

WABC, New York                    #11

WGN, Chicago                        #11

WBAL, Baltimore                    #11

WREC, Memphis                    #11

WDBO, Orlando                     #12

WTKS, Orlando                      #12

WWTN, Nashville                    #12

WFLA, Tampa                         #13

WZZR, West Palm Beach         #13

KWAM, Memphis                    #13

WBAP, Dallas                         #14

KTAR-FM, Phoenix                 #14

KOA, Denver                          #14

KMOX, St. Louis                     #14

WNIS, Norfolk                        #14

WJR, Detroit                          #15

WOAI, San Antonio                 #15

WOR, Middlesex                     #15

WHJJ, Providence                   #15

WJNO, West Palm Beach        #15

WDRC-AM, Hartford               #15

KSTE-AM, Sacramento            #16

KTRH, Houston                      #17

KTMY, Minneapolis                 #17

WCBM, Baltimore                   #17

KFTK, St. Louis                      #17

KNRS, Salt Lake City              #17

KCMO-AM, Kansas City          #17

KTLK-FM, St. Louis                #18

WLS-AM, Chicago                   #19

WPHT, Philadelphia                #19

KTLK, Minneapolis                 #19

KHOW, Denver                       #19

KTSA, San Antonio                 #19

KMBZ-AM, Kansas City           #19

KSFO, San Jose                     #19

WLAC, Nashville                     #19

WTIC-AM-Stream, Hartford     #19

WABC, Long Island                 #20

WFLF, Orlando                       #20

WKXW-Stream, Middlesex       #20

“Holiday” 2022 6+ Share (Highest to Lowest)

WLW, Cincinnati                   10.7

WTKK, Raleigh                      10.4

KFBK, Sacramento                8.8

WISN, Milwaukee                  8.8

WKXW, Middlesex                  6.2

WTMJ, Milwaukee                  6.2

WOKV-FM, Jacksonville         6.1

KXL, Portland                        6.0

WIBC, Indianapolis                5.7

KIRO-FM, Seattle                   5.5

KOGO, San Diego                  5.4

WTVN, Columbus                  5.3

WTKS, Orlando                     5.1

WTIC-AM, Hartford                5.1

WWTN, Nashville                   4.9

KSL, Salt Lake City                4.6

WDBO, Orlando                    4.6

WTAM, Cleveland                  4.6

WPRO-AM, Providence           4.5

KFI, Los Angeles                    4.4

WSB-AM & WSBB, Atlanta      4.4

KMOX, St. Louis                    4.4

KNRS, Salt Lake City             4.4

KLBJ-AM, Austin                   4.4

WBAP, Dallas                        3.7

WCCO, Minneapolis               3.7

WHPT, Tampa                       3.7

WBT, Charlotte                      3.7

WBAL, Baltimore                   3.6

WMAL, Washington                3.4

KTRH, Houston                     3.3

KFYI, Phoenix                        3.3

KSTE-AM, Sacramento           3.2

KMBZ-FM, Kansas City          3.2

WPTI, Greensboro                  3.2

WABC, New York                   3.1

KTMY, Minneapolis                3.1

WGN, Chicago                       2.8

WRKO, Boston                       2.8

KDKA-AM, Pittsburgh            2.8

WKRC, Cincinnati                  2.8

WNIS, Norfolk                       2.8

WOAI, San Antonio                2.6

WREC, Memphis                   2.6

KTSA, San Antonio                2.5

KOA, Denver                         2.4

WJR, Detroit                         2.3

KDWN, Las Vegas                  2.3

WFLA, Tampa                        2.2

KEX, Portland                       2.2

WKIM, Memphis                    2.1

KTLK, Minneapolis                2.0

KSFO, San Francisco             1.7

WZZR, West Palm Beach         1.7

WCBM, Baltimore                  1.6

KHOW, Denver                      1.5

KFTK, St. Louis                     1.4

KMBZ-AM, Kansas City          1.4

WKXW, Philadelphia               1.2

WLAC, Nashville                    1.2

WJNO, West Palm Beach         1.1

WFTL, West Palm Beach         1.0

WDRC-AM, Hartford              1.0

KDKA-AM Stream, Pittsburgh 0.7

WMAL, Baltimore                  0.6

WHJJ, Providence                  0.5

WPOP, Hartford                     0.2

WTIC-AM-Stream, Hartford     0.2

“Holiday” 2022 6+ Market Rank  

WLW, Cincinnati                   #1

KFBK, Sacramento                #2

WTKK, Raleigh                      #2

KFI, Los Angeles                    #3

KIRO-FM, Seattle                   #3

WIBC, Indianapolis                #3

WISN, Milwaukee                  #3

WKXW, Middlesex                  #4

KOGO, San Diego                  #5

KXL, Portland                        #5

KSL, Salt Lake City                #5

KLBJ-AM, Austin                   #5

WTMJ, Milwaukee                  #5

WOKV-FM, Jacksonville         #5

KNRS, Salt Lake City             #6

WTIC-AM, Hartford                #6

WSB-AM & WSBB, Atlanta      #7

WMAL, Washington                #7

WTKS, Orlando                     #7

WWTN, Nashville                   #7

WPRO-AM, Providence           #7

WBAP, Dallas                        #8

KFYI, Phoenix                        #8

KSTE-AM, Sacramento           #8

WDBO, Orlando                    #8

WTAM, Cleveland                  #8

WTVN, Columbus                  #8

WPTI, Greensboro                  #8

KMOX, St. Louis                    #9

WABC, New York                   #10

WBT, Charlotte                      #10

WBAL, Baltimore                   #10

WZZR, West Palm Beach         #10

KMBZ-FM, Kansas City          #11

WNIS, Norfolk                       #11

WGN, Chicago                       #12

KTRH, Houston                     #12

WCCO, Minneapolis               #12

WHPT, Tampa                       #12

WRKO, Boston                       #13

WOAI, San Antonio                #13

KDKA-AM, Pittsburgh            #13

WKRC, Cincinnati                  #13

WJNO, West Palm Beach         #13

WREC, Memphis                   #13

KTMY, Minneapolis                #14

KTSA, San Antonio                #14

WJR, Detroit                         #15

WFTL, West Palm Beach         #15

WKIM, Memphis                    #15

KOA, Denver                         #16

KEX, Portland                       #16

KDWN, Las Vegas                  #16

KTLK, Minneapolis                #17

WFLA, Tampa                        #17

WCBM, Baltimore                  #17

KFTK, St. Louis                     #17

WLAC, Nashville                    #17

WDRC-AM, Hartford              #17

KSFO, San Francisco             #18

WHJJ, Providence                  #18

KDKA-AM Stream, Pittsburgh #19

WKXW, Philadelphia               #20

KHOW, Denver                      #20

WMAL, Baltimore                  #20

KMBZ-AM, Kansas City          #20

WTIC-AM-Stream, Hartford     #20

WPOP, Hartford                     #20

“Holiday” 2023 6+ Fluctuation from “Holiday” 2022

WSB-AM & WSBB, Atlanta      +3.0

WKRC, Cincinnati                   +1.7

KCMO-AM, Kansas City          +1.4

WPRO-AM, Providence            +1.4

WOR, Middlesex                     +1.2

WFTL, West Palm Beach         +1.1

WFLA, Tampa                         +1.0

WPHT, Philadelphia                +.9

KMBZ-FM, Kansas City           +.9

WLS-AM, Chicago                   +.8

KDKA-AM, Pittsburgh             +.8

KTLK-FM, St. Louis                +.6

KTAR-FM, Phoenix                 +.5

WDRC-AM, Hartford               +.5

WHPT, Tampa                        +.4

KSFO, San Jose                     +.4

WOKV-FM, Jacksonville          +.4

WRKO, Boston                       +.3

KOA, Denver                          +.3

WBT, Charlotte                       +.3

WHJJ, Providence                   +.3

KFI, Los Angeles                     +.2

WTAM, Cleveland                   +.2

WISN, Milwaukee                   +.2

WTMJ, Milwaukee                   +.2

WTIC-AM-Stream, Hartford     +.2

WJR, Detroit                          +.1

WCCO, Minneapolis                +.1

KFTK, St. Louis                      +.1

WLW, Cincinnati                    +.1

WPTI, Greensboro                   +.1

WTIC-AM, Hartford                 +.1

WKXW, Philadelphia               Flat

WABC, Long Island                 Flat

KMBZ-AM, Kansas City           Flat

WLAC, Nashville                     Flat

KWAM, Memphis                    Flat

WTKK, Raleigh                       -5.4

KFBK, Sacramento                 -2.7

KNRS, Salt Lake City              -2.2

WTKS, Orlando                      -2.0

KMOX, St. Louis                     -1.6

WREC, Memphis                    -1.6

KIRO-FM, Seattle                    -1.5

KOGO, San Diego                   -1.5

WDBO, Orlando                     -1.5

KTMY, Minneapolis                 -1.2

KXL, Portland                         -1.1

KEX, Portland                       -1.1

KSTE-AM, Sacramento            -1.1

KSL, Salt Lake City                 -1.0

WWTN, Nashville                    -1.0

WBAP, Dallas                         -.9

WBAL, Baltimore                    -.9

WIBC, Indianapolis                 -.9

WTVN, Columbus                   -.8

WNIS, Norfolk                        -.8

KTRH, Houston                      -.7

KTSA, San Antonio                 -.7

WKXW, Middlesex                   -.5

WJNO, West Palm Beach        -.5

KFYI, Phoenix                         -.4

KTLK, Minneapolis                 -.4

WZZR, West Palm Beach         -.4

KSFO, San Francisco              -.3

WMAL, Washington                -.3

KLBJ-AM, Austin                    -.3

KDKA-AM Stream, Pittsburgh -.3

WGN, Chicago                        -.2

WOAI, San Antonio                 -.2

WABC, New York                    -.1

KHOW, Denver                       -.1

WCBM, Baltimore                   -.1

WFLF, Orlando                       -.1

Notes

  • News/talk stations appearing above typically posted a “Holiday” 2022 6+ share of 19, compared to “Holiday” 2023’s 3.01.
  • Even though news/talk’s year-to-year 6+ share dropped slightly, market rank managed to improve – albeit by a razor thin margin (#12.42 – #12.26, 6+).
  • Exactly half the news/talk stations in our sample (50%) faltered from “Holiday” 2022 – “Holiday” 2023, with the average dip roughly being a full-share (-.98).
  • Among all news/talk stations in the 48 PPM markets, Cincinnati’s WLW boasts the strongest 6+ share in “Holiday” 2023 (8) and “Holiday” 2022 (10.7).
  • Precisely four of every ten (40%) news/talk stations listed finished in the top ten (“Holiday” 2023, 6+), off marginally from “Holiday” 2022’s 43%.
  • Whereas WSB-AM & WSBB notches news/talk’s loftiest 6+ “Holiday” 2022 – “Holiday” 2023 gain (4.4 – 7.4, +3.0) – enabling “Atlanta’s News & Talk” to vault from seventh to second – WTKK suffers a more than 50% year-to-year erosion (10.4 – 5.0, -5.4, 6+), dropping from second in Raleigh to fifth.
  • All above data is based on news/talk stations that appeared in the top twenty in the “Holiday” 2022 and/or “Holiday” 2023 survey period.
  • “DNA” indicates a station “Did Not Appear” in that particular survey and/or wasn’t a Nielsen Audio subscriber in that sweep.

Contact managing editor Mike Kinosian at Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com

Industry News

Ratings Analysis: All-News During the “Holiday” Survey

imToday, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian does a deep-dive into the recent performances of the all-news format during Nielsen Audio’s “Holiday” PPM ratings period. He writes, “Ever since Arbitron (now Nielsen Audio) instituted the Portable People Meter as ratings currency in 2007, the ‘Holiday’ ratings period has been a veritable goldmine for stations employing the wall-to-wall Christmas music programming strategy. Adult contemporary comprises the overwhelming majority of those outlets. Usually substantial, however, is the negative impact on many other formats in ‘Holiday’ sweeps.” See his analysis of the past four “Holiday” surveys here.

Ratings Takeaways

Has All-News Taken A “Holiday?”

By Mike Kinosian
TALKERS magazine
Managing Editor

imEver since Arbitron (now Nielsen Audio) instituted the Portable People Meter as ratings currency in 2007, the “Holiday” ratings period has been a veritable goldmine for stations employing the wall-to-wall Christmas music programming strategy.

Adult contemporary comprises the overwhelming majority of those outlets.

Usually substantial, however, is the negative impact on many other formats in “Holiday” sweeps.

With that in mind, let’s review how all-news stations have performed in the last four “Holiday” survey periods.

The 2020 presidential election was held on November 3, thus exactly one month prior to the start of that year’s “Holiday” sweep (December 3). It should additionally be remembered that the COVID pandemic was roughly entering its tenth month. Eerily, the final day of that survey period was January 6, 2021, the day of domestic terrorism/insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Over the course of the “Holiday” 2023 ratings period (December 7, 2023 – January 3, 2024), all-news operations again battled for listenership in the ongoing annual all-Christmas music environment. Ostensibly working in their favor, however, was that the 2024 presidential campaign was waging and the previous president was embroiled in a record number of legal cases/charges/indictments.

The following chart summarizes ratings performances of all-news stations in the four most recent “Holiday” sweeps.

                                                                 2020       2021       2022       2023

“Holiday” 6+ Share                                       3.70        3.32        3.50        2.88

December – “Holiday” Increase                       35%        40%        30%        5%

December – “Holiday” Decrease                      50%        50%        65%        85%

December – “Holiday” Flat                             15%        10%        5%          10%

Average December – “Holiday” Increase           +.31        +.22        +.28        +.40

Average December – “Holiday” Decrease          -.68         -.21         -.29         -.40

“Holiday” 6+ Market Rank                             #10.40    #12.15     #10.55     #13.20

  • The typical (6+) high-water mark logged by an all-news facility was 2020’s 70, more than eight-tenths of a share better than 2023’s 2.88
  • Four of ten (40%) all-news stations improved December 2021 – “Holiday” 2021 (6+)
  • On the other hand, 85% of these formatted stations witnessed (6+) December 2023 – “Holiday” 2023 erosion
  • Note the virtual identical average increases/average decreases for all-news outlets in the last three “Holiday” sweeps
  • It was customary for an all-news facility to rank tenth in “Holiday” 2020 (#10.40), but thirteenthin “Holiday” 2023 (#13.20)

“Holiday” 2023 6+ Share (Highest to Lowest)

WTOP & WTLP, Washington            6.3

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Francisco    5.7

WBBM-AM & WCFS, Chicago          4.9

KYW, Philadelphia                         4.7

WBZ-AM, Boston                          4.7

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Jose           4.5

WWJ, Detroit                                4.3

WINS-FM, New York                      3.9

WINS-FM, Long Island                   3.3

KNX-FM, Los Angeles                     2.5

WCBS-AM, Long Island                  2.5

KNWN, Seattle                              2.3

WINS-FM, Middlesex                      1.8

WCBS-AM, New York                     1.6

KRLD-AM, Dallas                          1.4

WTOP & WTLP, Baltimore               1.0

WCBS-AM, Middlesex                     1.0

WDCH, Baltimore                          .8

WRAL-HD3, Raleigh                       .2

WNOH, Norfolk                             .2

“Holiday” 2023 6+ Fluctuation from December 2023

WCBS-AM, Long Island                  2.5   +.4

WWJ, Detroit                                4.3   Flat

WDCH, Baltimore                          .8     Flat

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Jose           4.5   -1.2

WINS-FM, Long Island                   3.3   -1.1

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Francisco    5.7   -.7

WTOP & WTLP, Washington            6.3   -.6

KYW, Philadelphia                         4.7   -.5

KRLD-AM, Dallas                          1.4   -.4

WBZ-AM, Boston                          4.7   -.4

WBBM-AM & WCFS, Chicago          4.9   -.3

KNWN, Seattle                              2.3   -.3

WCBS-AM, Middlesex                     1.0   -.3

WINS-FM, New York                      3.9   -.2

KNX-FM, Los Angeles                     2.5   -.2

WINS-FM, Middlesex                      1.8   -.2

WCBS-AM, New York                     1.6   -.1

WTOP & WTLP, Baltimore               1.0   -.1

WRAL-HD3, Raleigh                       .2     -.1

WNOH, Norfolk                             .2     -.1

  • WCBS-AM’s four-tenths uptick in Long Island represents the only all-news December 2023 – “Holiday” 2023 increase (6+).

“Holiday” 2023 By Market Rank  

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Francisco    5.7   #3

WBBM-AM & WCFS, Chicago          4.9   #4

WTOP & WTLP, Washington            6.3   #4

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Jose           4.5   #4

WBZ-AM, Boston                          4.7   #5

KYW, Philadelphia                         4.7   #6

WINS-FM, New York                      3.9   #9

WWJ, Detroit                                4.3   #9

WINS-FM, Long Island                   3.3   #9

KNX-FM, Los Angeles                     2.5   #12

WCBS-AM, Long Island                  2.5   #12

WINS-FM, Middlesex                      1.8   #13

WCBS-AM, Middlesex                     1.0   #18

WCBS-AM, New York                     1.6   #19

KNWN, Seattle                              2.3   #20

WTOP & WTLP, Baltimore               1.0   #20

WDCH, Baltimore                          .8     #22

WRAL-HD3, Raleigh                       .2     #24

WNOH, Norfolk                             .2     #24

KRLD-AM, Dallas                          1.4   #27

  • Forty-five percent (45%) of all-news stations ranked in the top ten (“Holiday” 2023, 6+).

“Holiday” 2022 6+ Share (Highest to Lowest)

WTOP & WTLP, Washington            7.8

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Jose           7.0

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Francisco    6.7

KYW, Philadelphia                         6.2

KNWN, Seattle                              5.5

WBBM-AM & WCFS, Chicago          4.8

WBZ-AM, Boston                          4.8

WINS-FM, New York                      4.6

WWJ, Detroit                                4.5

WCBS-AM, Long Island                  3.8

WINS-FM, Long Island                    3.0

KNX-FM, Los Angeles                     2.5

KRLD-AM, Dallas                          2.2

WCBS-AM, New York                     2.0

WINS-FM, Middlesex                      1.7

WCBS-AM, Middlesex                     1.2

WNOH, Norfolk                             .8

WDCH, Baltimore                          .6

WRAL-HD3, Raleigh                       .2

WYTS, Columbus                          .1

“Holiday” 2022 6+ Fluctuation from December 2022

WINS-FM, New York                      4.6   +.4

KYW, Philadelphia                         6.2   +.4

WCBS-AM, Long Island                  3.8   +.4

KNWN, Seattle                              5.5   +.3

WBZ-AM, Boston                          4.8   +.1

WINS-FM, Long Island                   3.0   +.1

WYTS, Columbus                          .1     Flat

WTOP & WTLP, Washington            7.8   -.8

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Francisco    6.7   -.7

WNOH, Norfolk                             .8     -.7

KNX-FM, Los Angeles                     2.5   -.4

KRLD-AM, Dallas                          2.2   -.3

WCBS-AM, New York                     2.0   -.2

WBBM-AM & WCFS, Chicago          4.8   -.1

WWJ, Detroit                                4.5   -.1

WDCH, Baltimore                          .6     -.1

WRAL-HD3, Raleigh                       .2     -.1

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Jose           7.0   -.1

WINS-FM, Middlesex                      1.7   -.1

WCBS-AM, Middlesex                     1.2   -.1

“Holiday” 2022 By Market Rank  

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Francisco    6.7   #2

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Jose           7.0   #2

WTOP & WTLP, Washington            7.8   #3

KYW, Philadelphia                         6.2   #3

KNWN, Seattle                              5.5   #3

WBBM-AM & WCFS, Chicago          4.8   #4

WINS-FM, New York                      4.6   #5

WBZ-AM, Boston                          4.8   #6

WWJ, Detroit                                4.5   #7

WCBS-AM, Long Island                  3.8   #7

WINS-FM, Long Island                   3.0   #10

KNX-FM, Los Angeles                     2.5   #12

WINS-FM, Middlesex                      1.7   #14

WRAL-HD3, Raleigh                       .2     #16

WCBS-AM, New York                     2.0   #17

WCBS-AM, Middlesex                     1.2   #18

KRLD-AM, Dallas                          2.2   #20

WDCH, Baltimore                          .6     #20

WNOH, Norfolk                             .8     #20

WYTS, Columbus                          .1     #22

  • One of every two (50%) all-news facilities finished in the top ten (“Holiday” 2022, 6+).

“Holiday” 2021 6+ Share (Highest to Lowest)

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Francisco    6.7

WBZ-AM, Boston                          6.5

WTOP & WTLP, Washington            6.4

WBBM-AM & WCFS, Chicago          5.6

KNWN, Seattle                              5.5

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Jose           5.4

WWJ, Detroit                                5.0

KYW, Philadelphia                         4.7

WINS, New York                            4.4

WCBS-AM, Long Island                  3.1

KNX-FM, Los Angeles                     2.8

WINS, Long Island                         2.7

WCBS-AM, New York                     2.6

KRLD-AM, Dallas                          1.6

WCBS-AM, Middlesex                     1.6

WINS, Middlesex                           1.1

WNOH, Norfolk                             .4

WDCH, Baltimore                          .1

WMMS-HD2, Cleveland                  .1

WYTS, Columbus                          .1

“Holiday” 2021 6+ Fluctuation from December 2021

WINS, New York                            4.4   +.6

WCBS-AM, New York                     2.6   +.4

KNX-FM, Los Angeles                     2.8   +.2

KNWN, Seattle                              5.5   +.2

KYW, Philadelphia                         4.7   +.1

WINS, Middlesex                           1.1   +.1

WCBS-AM, Middlesex                     1.6   +.1

WNOH, Norfolk                             .4     +.1

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Francisco    6.7   Flat

WYTS, Columbus                          .1     Flat

WTOP & WTLP, Washington            6.4   -.4

WBZ-AM, Boston                          6.5   -.4

KRLD-AM, Dallas                          1.6   -.3

WCBS-AM, Long Island                  3.1   -.2

WDCH, Baltimore                          .1     -.2

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Jose           5.4   -.2

WBBM-AM & WCFS, Chicago          5.6   -.1

WWJ, Detroit                                5.0   -.1

WINS, Long Island                         2.7   -.1

WMMS-HD2, Cleveland                  .1     -.1

“Holiday” 2021 By Market Rank  

WBBM-AM & WCFS, Chicago          5.6   #3

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Francisco    6.7   #3

WBZ-AM, Boston                          6.5   #3

KNWN, Seattle                              5.5   #3

WTOP & WTLP, Washington            6.4   #4

WWJ, Detroit                                5.0   #4

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Jose           5.4   #4

WINS, New York                            4.4   #5

KYW, Philadelphia                         4.7   #6

WCBS-AM, Long Island                  3.1   #8

KNX-FM, Los Angeles                     2.8   #11

WCBS-AM, New York                     2.6   #13

WINS, Long Island                         2.7   #13

WCBS-AM, Middlesex                     1.6   #19

WMMS-HD2, Cleveland                  .1     #21

WYTS, Columbus                          .1     #20

WNOH, Norfolk                             .4     #22

WINS, Middlesex                           1.1   #23

KRLD-AM, Dallas                          1.6   #26

WDCH, Baltimore                          .1     #32

  • Mirroring what happened in “Holiday” 2022, half the all-news facilities placed in the top ten (“Holiday” 2021, 6+).

“Holiday” 2020 6+ Share (Highest to Lowest)

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Francisco    8.1

WTOP & WTLP, Washington            8.1

WBBM-AM & WCFS, Chicago          6.8

WBZ-AM, Boston                          6.5

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Jose           5.6

KYW, Philadelphia                         5.4

KOMO, Seattle                              4.6

WWJ, Detroit                                4.5

WINS, New York                            3.6

KNX, Los Angeles                          3.2

WCBS-AM, Long Island                  2.9

WCBS-AM, New York                     2.7

WINS, Long Island                         2.6

WCBS-AM, Middlesex                     2.4

WBZ-AM, Providence                       1.4

KRLD-AM, Dallas                           1.3

WINS, Middlesex                            1.2

WNOH, Norfolk                             1.2

WDCH, Baltimore                          0.8

WMMS-HD2, Cleveland                  0.1

“Holiday” 2020 6+ Fluctuation from December 2020

KYW, Philadelphia                         5.4   +.5

WBZ-AM, Providence                       1.4   +.4

WINS, New York                            3.6   +.3

WCBS-AM, Middlesex                     2.4   +.3

WNOH, Norfolk                             1.2   +.3

WCBS-AM, New York                     2.7   +.2

WINS, Middlesex                           1.2   +.2

WBBM-AM & WCFS, Chicago          6.8   Flat

KRLD-AM, Dallas                          1.3   Flat

WMMS-HD2, Cleveland                  0.1   Flat

WTOP & WTLP, Washington            8.1   -1.6

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Jose           5.6   -1.4

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Francisco    8.1   -1.0

KOMO, Seattle                              4.6   -.7

WCBS-AM, Long Island                  2.9   -.7

WWJ, Detroit                                4.5   -.6

WBZ-AM, Boston                          6.5   -.3

WINS, Long Island                         2.6   -.3

KNX, Los Angeles                          3.2   -.1

WDCH, Baltimore                          0.8   -.1

“Holiday” 2020 By Market Rank  

WBZ-AM, Boston                          6.5   #2

WBBM-AM & WCFS, Chicago          6.8   #3

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Francisco    8.1   #3

WTOP & WTLP, Washington            8.1   #3

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Jose           5.6   #4

KYW, Philadelphia                         5.4   #5

KOMO, Seattle                              4.6   #6

WWJ, Detroit                                4.5   #6

WINS, New York                            3.6   #7

KNX, Los Angeles                          3.2   #9

WCBS-AM, New York                     2.7   #12

WCBS-AM, Long Island                  2.9   #12

WNOH, Norfolk                             1.2   #12

WINS, Long Island                         2.6   #13

WBZ-AM, Providence                       1.4   #13

WCBS-AM, Middlesex                     2.4   #14

WMMS-HD2, Cleveland                  0.1   #17

WDCH, Baltimore                          0.8   #21

WINS, Middlesex                           1.2   #22

KRLD-AM, Dallas                          1.3   #24

All-News Composite Arranged By Market Rank    

                                                  “Hol” 2020     “Hol” 2021     “Hol” 2022     “Hol” 2023

WINS-FM, New York                      3.6   #7           4.4   #5           4.6   #5           3.9   #9

WCBS-AM, New York                     2.7   #12         2.6   #13         2.0   #17         1.6   #19

KNX-FM, Los Angeles                     3.2   #9           2.8   #11         2.5   #12         2.5   #12

WBBM-AM & WCFS, Chicago          6.8   #3           5.6   #3           4.8   #4           4.9   #4

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Francisco    8.1   #3           6.7   #3           6.7   #2           5.7   #3

KRLD-AM, Dallas                          1.3   #24         1.6   #26         2.2   #20         1.4   #27

WTOP & WTLP, Washington            8.1   #3           6.4   #4           7.8   #3           6.3   #4

KYW, Philadelphia                         5.4   #5           4.7   #6           6.2   #3           4.7   #6

WBZ-AM, Boston                          6.5   #2           6.5   #3           4.8   #6           4.7   #5

KNWN, Seattle                               4.6   #6           5.5   #3           5.5   #3           2.3   #20

WWJ, Detroit                                4.5   #6           5.0   #4           4.5   #7           4.3   #9

WINS-FM, Long Island                   2.6   #13         2.7   #13         3.0   #10         3.3   #9

WCBS-AM, Long Island                  2.9   #12         3.1   #8           3.8   #7           2.5   #12

WDCH, Baltimore                          .8     #21         .1     #32         .6     #20         .8     #22

WTOP & WTLP, Baltimore               DNA DNA        DNA DNA        DNA DNA        1.0   #20

WMMS-HD2, Cleveland                  .1     #17         .1     #21         DNA DNA        DNA DNA

WYTS, Columbus                          DNA DNA        .1     #20         .1     #22         DNA DNA

WRAL-HD3, Raleigh                       DNA DNA        DNA DNA        .2     #16         .2     #24

KCBS-AM & KFRC, San Jose           5.6   #4           5.4   #4           7.0   #2           4.5   #4

WINS-FM, Middlesex                      1.2   #22         1.1   #23         1.7   #14         1.8   #13

WCBS-AM, Middlesex                     2.4   #14         1.6   #19         1.2   #18         1.0   #18

WBZ-AM, Providence                       1.4   #13         DNA DNA        DNA DNA        DNA DNA

WNOH, Norfolk                             1.2   #12         .4     #22         .8     #20         .2     #24

Notes

  • WINS-AM, New York added FM simulcast WINS-FM on October 27, 2022
  • KNX-AM, Los Angeles added FM simulcast KNX-FM on December 21, 2021
  • KRLD-AM, Dallas and WBZ-AM, Boston are news – talk hybrids
  • KOMO, Seattle changed calls to KNWN on February 2, 2022
  • WDCH, Baltimore is business news
  • WMMS-HD2, Cleveland and WNOH, Norfolk are Black Information Network affiliates
  • “DNA” indicates a station “Did Not Appear” in that particular survey and/or wasn’t a Nielsen Audio subscriber in that sweep
  • All above data is based on news stations that appeared in the top twenty in at least one of the four “Holiday” survey periods noted (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)

Contact managing editor Mike Kinosian at Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com

Industry News

Round Four of Holiday 2023 PPM Ratings Released

imThe fourth of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s Holiday 2023 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford. The survey period covers December 7, 2023 – January 3, 2024. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Raleigh, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WTKK-FM falls a full share to finish with a 5.0 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) that leaves it ranked #5, while Curtis Media’s news/talk WPTF loses two-tenths for a .6 share finish good for the #22 rank. In Milwaukee, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WISN sheds six-tenths to wrap the survey with a 9.0 share, but remains ranked #1 for the fourth consecutive survey, while Good Karma Brands’ news/talk WTMJ declines 1.2 shares for a 6.4 share finish that leaves it ranked #5. In Nashville, Cumulus Media’s news/talk WWTN-FM falls four-tenths to a 3.9 share good for the #12 rank, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk WLAC-AM dips three-tenths to a 1.2 share and remains ranked #19. See Mike Kinosian’s Ratings Takeaways for this group of markets – as well as the other 36 markets – here.

Ratings Takeaways

Holiday 2023 PPM Ratings Takeaways – Part Four

imHoliday 2023 PPM Data – Information for the Holiday 2023 survey period (December 7, 2023 – January 3, 2024) has been released for Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford.

The only requirement for a spoken-word station to be included here is that they be a Nielsen Audio subscriber – there are no share or rank thresholds.

NFL; NBA; and NHL team names of corresponding spoken-word flagship(s) are bolded.

DNA – DNA = Did Not Appear – Does Not Appear

Comparisons are December 2023 – “Holiday” 2023 (6+). 

AUSTIN

News/Talk

KLBJ-AM 4.6 – 4.1, #5 – #6

KJCE .3 – .1, #29 – #31

News

None

Sports Talk

KBPA-HD2  .8 – 1.4, #24 – #19

KVET-AM 1.4 – 1.1, #18 – #23

KTAE 1.0 – .9, #22 – #24

Public Radio News/Talk

KUT 5.1 – 5.3, #4 – #3

KUT-HD2 .1 – DNA, #33 – DNA   

RALEIGH

News/Talk

WTKK 6.0 – 5.0, #4 – #5

WPTF .8 – .6, #20 – #22

News

WRAL-HD3 .3 – .2, #24 – #24

Sports Talk

WCMC-FM 3.3 – 3.1, #12 – #12 (Carolina Hurricanes)

Public Radio News/Talk

WUNC 8.8 – 7.9, after back-to-back months at #1, slips to #2

INDIANAPOLIS

News/Talk

WIBC 5.3 – 4.8, #7 – #8

News

WOLT-HD2 .2 – .2, #25 – #25

Sports Talk

WIBC-HD2  3.5 – 3.0, #12 – #16 (Colts)

WNDE .9 – .3, #19 – #21

WXNT .2 – DNA, #25 – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

WFYI 4.2 – 3.4, #10 – #11

Notes: Adult contemporary WYXB registers the largest (6+) December 2023 – “Holiday” 2023 increase(11.0 – 19.5, +8.5) by any station in all 48 PPM-markets.

Sports talk WFNI (DNA – DNA) is the flagship of the Pacers.

MILWAUKEE

News/Talk

WISN 9.6 – 9.0, fourth consecutive month at #1

WTMJ 7.6 – 6.4, #3 – #5 

WLIP .2 – .1, #23 – #28  

News

None

Sports Talk

WRNW 3.4 – 2.7, #13 – #15 (Green Bay Packers)

WKTI 1.3 – 1.6, #18 – #17

WSSP .2 – .2, #23 – #22

WOKY .1 – .2, #27 – #22

Public Radio News/Talk

WUWM 2.7 – 2.5, #14 – #16

WHAD .7 – .8, #21 – #20

WGKB .1 – .1, #27 – #28

WHAD Stream  DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

NASHVILLE

News/Talk

WWTN 4.3 – 3.9, #9 – #12

WLAC 1.5 – 1.2, #19 – #19

News

WNRQ-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Sports Talk

WGFX 7.3 – 6.9, #3 – #2 (Tennessee Titans)

WPRT 1.6 – 2.0, #18 – #17 (Predators)

Public Radio News/Talk

WPLN 4.0 – 4.1, #11 – #11

WPLN-HD3 Stream .1 – .2, #23 – #23

PROVIDENCE

News/Talk

WPRO-AM 6.4 – 5.9, #5 – #5

WHJJ  .8 – .8, #15 – #15

News

None

Sports Talk

WBZ-FM 3.2 – 3.0, #8 – #8

WVEI 2.3 – 2.0, #11 – #10

WPRV DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

WGBH 2.1 – 1.6, #12 – #13

WNPN 1.5 – 1.3, ninth straight month at #14

WCAI .1 – .1, #20 – #20

NORFOLK

News/Talk

WNIS  2.5 – 2.0, #11 – #14

WGH-FM HD2  .2 – .2, #23 – #24

News

WNOH .3 – .2, #20 – #24

Sports Talk

WVSP 1.7 – 1.8, #15 – #15

WTAR .3 – .3, #20 – #20

WGH-AM .2 – .2, #23 – #24

Public Radio News/Talk

None

JACKSONVILLE

News/Talk

WOKV-FM 6.8 – 6.5, #5 – #3

News

None

Sports Talk

WOKV-AM .4 – .2, #21 – #21

Public Radio News/Talk

WJCT 2.1 – 1.8, #13 – #15

Sports talk WJXL-AM (DNA – DNA); sports talk WJXL-FM (DNA – DNA); and country WGNE are the flagships of the Jaguars.

WEST PALM BEACH

News/Talk

WFTL 2.5 – 2.1, #9 – #9

WZZR 1.2 – 1.3 #13 – #13

WJNO .7 – .6, #15 – #15

News

None

Sports Talk

WMEN .5 – .6, #16 – #15

WBZT .4 – .2, #18 – #19

Public Radio News/Talk

WLRN 2.0 – 1.9, #11 – #10

WLRN-HD2 Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA    

GREENSBORO

News/Talk

WPTI 3.5 – 3.3 #9 – #8

News

None

Sports Talk

None

Public Radio News/Talk

WFDD 4.0 – 4.2, #7 – #7

WUNC 1.7 – 2.2, #14 – #13

MEMPHIS

News/Talk

WREC 1.8 – 1.0, #10 – #11

KWAM .4 – .4, #13 – #13

News

None

Sports Talk

WMFS 2.6 – 2.8, #7 – #7 (Grizzlies)

WMFS Stream .2 – .2, #15 – #15 (Grizzlies)

Public Radio News/Talk

WKNO 1.8 – 1.6, #10 – #9

WKNO-HD2  .2 – .2, #15 – #15

HARTFORD

News/Talk

WTIC-AM 5.3 – 5.2, #5 – #6

WDRC-AM 1.6 – 1.5, #15 – #15

WTIC-AM Stream .4 – .4, #20 – #19

WPOP DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

News

None

Sports Talk

WUCS 2.5 – 2.5, #12 – #11

Public Radio News/Talk

WNPR 4.3 – 4.0, #9 – #8

WFCR .6 – .6, #17 – #18

Note: Country WWYZ registers the largest (6+) December 2023 – “Holiday” 2023 decrease (8.2 – 5.4, -2.8) by any station in these 12 PPM-markets.

Mike Kinosian can be reached at: Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com

Industry News

Round Three of Holiday 2023 PPMs Released

imThe third of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s Holiday 2023 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Portland, Charlotte, San Antonio, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Columbus. The survey period covered December 7, 2023, through January 3, 2024. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways for this group of markets. In Portland, Alpha Media’s news/talk KXL-FM falls a full share to a 4.9 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) dropping from the #3 rank to #6, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk KEX-AM loses one-tenth to finish with a 1.1 share good for the #21 rank. In San Antonio, iHeartMedia news/talk WOAI dips three-tenths to a 2.4 share good for the #15 rank, while Alpha Media’s news/talk KTSA sheds two-tenths to finish with a 1.8 share and is steady at the #19 rank. In Salt Lake City, Bonneville’s news/talk KSL-AM/FM declines 2.8 share for a 3.6 share finish that leaves it ranked #9, while iHeartMedia news/talk KNRS-AM/FM dips six-tenths to a 2.2 share good for the #17 rank. See Mike Kinosian’s complete Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets here.

Ratings Takeaways

Holiday 2023 PPM Ratings Takeaways – Part Three

imHoliday 2023 PPM Data – Information for the Holiday 2023 ratings period (December 7, 2023 – January 3, 2024) has been released for Portland, Charlotte, San Antonio, Sacramento, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Orlando, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Kansas City, and Columbus.

The only requirement for a spoken-word station to be included here is that they be a Nielsen Audio subscriber – there are no share or rank thresholds.

NFL; NBA; and NHL team names of corresponding spoken-word flagship(s) are bolded.

DNA – DNA = Did Not Appear – Does Not Appear

Comparisons are December 2023 – “Holiday” 2023 (6+).

PORTLAND

News/Talk

KXL 5.9 – 4.9, #3 – #6

KEX 1.2 – 1.1, #22 – #21

KUFO .6 – .5, #26 – #25

KPAM .1 – .1, #33 – #34

News

None

Sports Talk

KFXX 2.0 – 1.7, #20 – #20

KXTG 1.2 – 1.1, #22 – #21

KPOJ .7 – .7, #24 – #24 (Trailblazers)

KFXX Stream  .1 – .1, #33 – #34

KMTT .1 – .2, #33 – #31

Public Radio News/Talk

KOPB 6.1 – 5.5, #2 – #3

KOPB Stream  1.4 – 1.4, #21 – #21 

Note: News/talk KXL’s -1.0 (5.9 – 4.9) represents Portland’s largest (6+) December 2023 – “Holiday” 2023 decrease.

CHARLOTTE

News/Talk

WBT-AM 4.2– 4.0, #11 – #9

News

WRFX-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Sports Talk

WFNZ-FM 2.7 – 2.5, #13 – #15 (Hornets)

WSOC-HD3 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

WFAE 5.0 – 3.5, #8 – #11

WNSC 1.3 – 1.4, #18 – #18

WFAE-HD3 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA  

Notes: Public radio news/talk WFAE’s -1.5 (5.0 – 3.5) represents Charlotte’s largest (6+) December 2023 – “Holiday” 2023 decrease.

The Carolina Panthers’ flagship is classic rock WRFX.

SAN ANTONIO

News/Talk

WOAI 2.7– 2.4, #14 – #15 (Spurs)

KTSA 2.0 – 1.8, #19 – #19

News

None

Sports Talk

KTFM 1.3 – 1.1, #22 – #23

KTKR .8 – .7, #27 – #25

KZDC .3 – .2, #30 – #32

Public Radio News/Talk

KSTX 2.3 – 2.3, #17 – #17 

SACRAMENTO

 News/Talk

KFBK-AM 6.6 – 6.1 #3 – #3

KSTE-AM 3.1 – 2.1, #12 – #16

News

None

Sports Talk

KHTK 1.7 – 1.6, #18 – #19 (Kings)

KIFM .9 – .9, #22 – #21

KIFM Stream  .1 – DNA, #29 – DNA 

Public Radio News/Talk

KXJZ 2.3 – 2.4, #15 – #15

KQED .1 – .3, #29 – #28

KQEI .3 – .1, #28 – #30

KUOP DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

PITTSBURGH

News/Talk

KDKA-AM 3.8 – 3.6, #9 – #8

KDKA-AM Stream  .3 – .4, #24 – #22

News

None

Sports Talk

KDKA-FM 7.2 – 7.2, #5 – #4

KDKA-FM Stream  .2 – .1, #25 – #27

WBGG .1 – DNA, #27 – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

WESA 4.2 – 3.9, #7 – #7

Flagships of the Steelers and Penguins are rock WDVE and alternative WXDX, respectively.

SALT LAKE CITY

News/Talk

KSL-AM 5.4 – 3.6, #3 – #9

KNRS-FM 2.8 – 2.2, #14 – #17

KKAT .1 – DNA, #30 – DNA

News

None

Sports Talk

KALL 1.9 – 1.1, #20 – #22

KZNS-FM .5 – .6, #26 – #25 (Utah Jazz)

KZNS-AM .7 – .2, #24 – #27 (Utah Jazz)

KZNS-AM Stream  .1 – .1, #30 – #30 (Utah Jazz)

KZNS-FM Stream  DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA (Utah Jazz)

KOVO DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

KUER 2.4 – 2.2, #18 – #17

KBYU-HD2 Stream  .2 – .2, #28 – #27

KUMT .1 – .1, #30 – #30    

Notes: Adult contemporary KSFI’s +6.3 (13.9 – 20.2) is the largest (6+) December 2023 – “Holiday” 2023 increase in these 12 PPM-markets. Moreover, KSFI is the first station to reach a 20-share (6+) in the first three rounds of “Holiday” 2023 PPM results.

Conversely, news/talk KSL’s -1.8 (5.4 – 3.6) represents Salt Lake City’s largest (6+) December 2023 – “Holiday” 2023 decrease. 

LAS VEGAS

News/Talk

KMXB-HD3 .3 – .6, #29 – #28

KXNT .2 – .3, #31 – #31

KMZQ DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

News

None

Sports Talk

KWWN .8 – .8, #26 – #27

KKGK .4 – .3, #28 – #31 (Golden Knights)

KRLV .2 – .2, #31 – #33 (Raiders)

KENO .2 – .2, #31 – #36

Public Radio News/Talk

KNPR 1.6 – 1.5, #21 – #21

ORLANDO

News/Talk

WDBO 3.2 – 3.1, #13 – #12

WTKS 3.6 – 3.1, #10 – #12

WFLF .7 – .6, #20 – #20

WFYY-HD3 .1 – DNA, #27 – DNA

News

None

Sports Talk

WYGM .9 – .9, #18 – #19 (Magic)

WOCL-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

WMFE 2.8 – 2.7, #14 – #14

CINCINNATI

News/Talk

WLW 11.2 – 10.8, after 23 consecutive months at #1, slips to #2 (Bengals)

WKRC 4.9 – 4.5, #6 – #6

News

None

Sports Talk

WCKY 1.3 – 1.2, #19 – #18 (Bengals)

WSAI .5 – .5, #21 – #21

Public Radio News/Talk

WVXU 3.8 – 3.2, #9 – #10

CLEVELAND

News/Talk

WTAM 4.8 – 4.8, #10 – #8 (Cavaliers)

News

WMMS-HD2 .1 – DNA, #24 – DNA

Sports Talk

WKRK 5.8 – 6.5, #7 – #6  (Browns)

WKRK Stream .7 – .8, #21 – #20 (Browns)

WARF .2 – .1, #23 – #23

Public Radio News/Talk

WKSU 5.2 – 4.1, #9 – #10

WKSU-HD4 .1 – DNA, #24 – DNA

KANSAS CITY

News/Talk

KMBZ-FM 5.3 – 4.1, #5 – #7

KCMO-AM 1.9 – 1.8, #17 – #17

KMBZ-AM 1.6 – 1.4, #18 – #19

KMBZ-FM Stream .7 – .5, #21 – #23

KCMO-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

KMBZ-FM HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

News

None

Sports Talk

KCSP 2.6 – 2.1, #15 – #15

KCSP Stream  .2 – .2, #25 – #28

KWOD .1 – DNA, #29 – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

KCUR 2.8 – 2.4, #13 – #13

KANU-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Note: Country WDAF is the flagship of the Chiefs.

COLUMBUS

News/Talk

WTVN 6.0 – 4.5, #4 – #7    

News

WYTS DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Sports Talk

WBNS-FM 9.8 – 6.9, #2 – #4 (Blue Jackets)

WBNS-AM .3 – .3, #21 #21 (Blue Jackets)

WBNS-FM HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

WMNI DNA – .1, DNA – #23

Public Radio News/Talk

WOSU 4.0 – 3.6, #9 – #9

Note: Sports talk WBNS-FM’s -2.9 (9.8 – 6.9) is the largest (6+) December 2023 – “Holiday” 2023 decrease by any station in the first three rounds of “Holiday” 2023 PPM results.

Up next: “Holiday” 2023 overviews for Austin; Raleigh; Indianapolis; Milwaukee; Nashville; Providence; Norfolk; Jacksonville; West Palm Beach; Greensboro; Memphis; and Hartford.

Mike Kinosian can be reached at: Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com

Industry News

Round Two of Holiday 2023 PPMs Released

imThe second of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s Holiday 2023 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including Washington, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis. The survey period covered December 7, 2023 – January 3, 2024. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In Washington, Cumulus Media’s news/talk WMAL-FM dips four-tenths to a 3.1 share (weekly, 6+ AHQ share) but remains ranked #9, while Hubbard Broadcasting’s all-news WTOP-FM loses three-tenths to finish with a 6.3 share good for the #4 rank. In Boston, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WRKO added two-tenths for a 3.1 share finish that lifts it to the #9 rank, while sister all-news WBZ-AM declines four-tenths to a 4.7 share but remains ranked #5. In Detroit, Cumulus Media’s news/talk WJR rises one-tenth to a 2.4 share and climbs to the #15 rank, while Audacy’s all-news WWJ is steady at a 4.3 share and remains ranked #9. See Mike Kinosian’s complete Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets here.

Ratings Takeaways

Holiday 2023 PPM Ratings – Part Two

imHoliday 2023 PPM Data – Information for the Holiday 2023 ratings period (December 7, 2023 – January 3, 2024) has been released for: Washington, Boston, Miami, Seattle, Detroit, Phoenix, Minneapolis, San Diego, Tampa, Denver, Baltimore, and St. Louis.

The only requirement for a spoken-word station to be included below is that they be a Nielsen Audiosubscriber – there are no share or rank thresholds.

NFL; NBA; and NHL team names of corresponding spoken-word flagship(s) are bolded.

DNA – DNA = Did Not Appear – Does Not Appear

Comparisons are December 2023 – Holiday 2023 (6+). 

WASHINGTON, DC

News/Talk

WMAL 3.5 – 3.1, #9 – #9

WFED DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA (Capitals)

News

WTOP & WTLP 6.9 – 6.3, #3 – #4

WDCH .5 – .5, #23 – #23

WDCH Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Sports Talk

WJFK-FM 2.4 – 2.6, #17 – #15 (Capitals)

WJFK-FM Stream .5 – .6, #23 – #21 (Capitals)

WTEM Stream .2 – .2, #26 – #26 (Wizards)

WTEM .1 – .2, #28 – #26 (Wizards)

WSBN .1 – DNA, #28 – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

WAMU 11.3 – 11.5, 26th month in succession at #1

The flagship of the Commanders is classic rock WBIG. 

BOSTON

News/Talk

WRKO 2.9 – 3.1, #14 – #9

WXKS-AM .8 – .9, #23 – #24

News

News – Talk WBZ-AM 5.1 – 4.7, #5 – #5

Business news WRCA .1 – .1, #27 – #29

Sports Talk

WBZ-FM 9.2 – 9.2, #2 – #2 (New England Patriots, Celtics, Bruins)

WEEI-FM 3.2 – 2.8, #12 – #13

WEEI-FM Stream DNA – .4, DNA – #25

WEEI-AM DNA – .1, DNA – #29

Public Radio News/Talk

WBUR 5.6 – 6.1, #3 – #3

WGBH 4.2 – 3.9, #8 – #6

MIAMI

News/Talk

WIOD 1.4 – 1.2, #22 – #23

News

None

Sports Talk

WQAM 1.2 – 1.3, #24 – #22 (Heat, Florida Panthers)

WINZ .5 – .5, #28 – #27 (Dolphins)

WMEN .1 – .1, #36 – #36

WQAM Stream .1 – .1, #36 – #36 (Heat, Florida Panthers)

WSFS-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

WAXY DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

WLRN 3.6 – 3.3, #8 – #10

WLRN-HD2 DNA – .1, DNA – #36

SEATTLE

News/Talk

KIRO-FM 4.1 – 4.0, #9 – #6 (Seahawks)

KTTH 1.6 – 1.3, #22 – #23

KVI 1.6 – 1.0, #22 – #24

KPTR DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

News

KNWN-AM & KNWN-FM 2.6 – 2.3, #19 – #20

KHHO DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Sports Talk

KIRO-AM 3.0 – 2.8, #16 – #15 (Seahawks)

KJR-FM 3.6 – 2.6, #11 – #17 (Kraken)

KJR-AM .7 – .9, #26 – #25

Public Radio News/Talk

KUOW 6.2 – 6.2, #2 – #3

KSWS .1 – .1, #32 – #32 

DETROIT

News/Talk

WJR 2.3 – 2.4, #16 – #15

WFDF .4 – .4, #23 – #23

WJR Stream .2 – .1, #25 – #28

News

WWJ 4.3 – 4.3, #9 – #9 (Pistons)

WWJ Stream .2 – .2, #25 – #26 (Pistons)

WDFN .1 – .1, #30 – #28

Sports Talk

WXYT-FM 9.6 – 8.6, #2 – #2 (Lions, Pistons, Red Wings)

WXYT-FM Stream 1.7 – 1.2, #18 – #19 (Lions, Pistons, Red Wings)

WXYT-AM .2 – .2, #25 – #26

WXYT-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

WDET 1.2 – 1.2, #20 – #19

WUOM 1.0 – 1.1, #21 – #21

PHOENIX 

News/Talk

KFYI 3.2 – 2.9, #8 – #8

KTAR-FM 1.8 – 2.2, #23 – #14 (Arizona Cardinals, Suns)

News

None

Sports Talk

KMVP-FM 2.1 – 1.5, #19 – #23 (Suns, Arizona Coyotes)

KDUS .1 – .1, #33 – #32

KGME .1 – .1, #33 – #32

KTAR-AM .1 – .1, #33 – #32 (Arizona Cardinals, Suns, Arizona Coyotes)

KTAR-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA (Arizona Cardinals, Suns, Arizona Coyotes)

KTAR-FM HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

KJZZ 2.8 – 2.6, #11 – #11   

Note: Adult contemporary KESZ’s 18.5 represents the largest (6+) share by any station in the first two rounds of “Holiday” 2023 results.

MINNEAPOLIS

News/Talk

WCCO 4.0 – 3.8, #11 – #10 (Minnesota Timberwolves)

KTMY 2.3 – 1.9, #16 – #17

KTLK-AM 1.7 – 1.6, #17 – #19

WCCO Stream .1 – DNA, #29 – DNA (Minnesota Timberwolves)

News

KQQL-HD2 DNA – .1, DNA – #31

Sports Talk

KFXN 7.6 – 6.8, #3 – #3 (Minnesota Vikings, Minnesota Wild)

KQQL-HD3 .3 – .2, #27 – #27

KSTP-AM .1 – .1, #29 – #31

Public Radio News/Talk

KNOW 5.5 – 5.2, #5 – #4

KNOW Stream .7 – .7, #23 – #23

SAN DIEGO 

News/Talk

KOGO 3.8 – 3.9, #9 – #6

KLSD .2 – .3, #26 – #28

News

None

Sports Talk

KWFN 3.4 – 2.8, #11 – #14

KGB-AM 1.0 – 1.0, #21 – #20

KWFN Stream DNA – .1, DNA – #30

Public Radio News/Talk

KPBS 5.9 – 4.7, #4 – #4

TAMPA

News/Talk

WHPT 4.8 – 4.1, #8 – #7 (Lightning)

WFLA 3.9 – 3.2, #10 – #13

News

None

Sports Talk

WDAE 1.9– 1.6, #17 – #18

Public Radio News/Talk

WUSF 1.7 – 1.9, #18 – #17

WMNF-HD3 Stream .4 – .5, #29 – #23

WUSF Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Note: Rock WXTB is the flagship of the Buccaneers.

DENVER 

News/Talk

KOA 3.1 – 2.7, #13 – #14 (Broncos)

KHOW 1.8 – 1.4, #20 – #19

KDFD 1.4 – 1.3, #22 – #22

News

None

Sports Talk

KKFN 3.8 – 3.5, #10 – #10

KKSE-FM 2.4 – 2.0, #16 – #18 (Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche)

KEPN .1 – .1, #35 – #35

KKSE-AM .1 – DNA, #35 – DNA

KAMP DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

KCFR 2.7 – 3.0, #14 – #13

KUNC .4 – .7, #30 – #26  

Note: Adult contemporary KOSI’s +6.4 (10.1- 16.5) represents a tie for the largest (6+) December 2023 – “Holiday” 2023 increase by any station in these 12 PPM-markets.

BALTIMORE

News/Talk

WBAL 3.4 – 2.7, #10 – #11 (Ravens)

WCBM 1.6 – 1.5, #17 – #17

News

WTOP & WTLP  1.1 – 1.0,  #18 – #20

WDCH  .8 – .8,  #21 – #22

WQLL DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Sports Talk

WJZ-FM 4.2 – 4.5, #8 – #6

WJZ-FM Stream DNA – .1, DNA – #31

WJZ-AM DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

WYPR 3.3 – 3.4, #11 – #9

WYPR HD2 Stream .2 – .2, #26 – #28

Note: CHR WWMX’s -2.3 (5.3 – 3.0) is the largest (6+) December 2023 – “Holiday” 2023 decrease by any station in the first two rounds of “Holiday” 2023 results.

ST. LOUIS

News/Talk

KMOX 3.0 – 2.8, #13 – #14

KFTK 1.6 – 1.5, #17 – #17

KTLK-FM 1.1 – 1.1, #18 – #18

KMOX Stream .3 – .2, #23 – #24

KFTK Stream .2 – .2, #25 – #24

News

KATZ-FM HD2 .3 – .2, #23 – #24

Sports Talk

WXOS 4.1 – 3.9, #11 – #12 (Blues)

Public Radio News/Talk

KWMU 4.0 – 4.5, #12 – #8

Note: Adult contemporary KEZK’s +6.4 (9.3- 15.7) represents a tie for the largest (6+) December 2023 – “Holiday” 2023 increase by any station in these 12 PPM-markets.

Up next: “Holiday” 2023 overviews for Portland; Charlotte; San Antonio; Sacramento; Pittsburgh; Salt Lake City; Las Vegas; Orlando; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Kansas City; and Columbus. 

Reach Mike Kinosian at: Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com

Industry News

Round One of Holiday 2023 PPM Ratings Released

imThe first of four rounds of ratings data from Nielsen Audio’s Holiday 2023 PPM survey has been released for 12 markets including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey). The ratings period covered December 7, 2023 – January 3, 2024. Today, TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from this group of markets. In New York, Red Apple Media’s news/talk WABC adds two-tenths to finish with a 3.0 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) and remains ranked #11, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk WOR tacks on one-tenth for a 1.2 share finish good for the #21 rank, and Audacy’s all-news WINS-FM falls two-tenths to a 3.9 share but rises to the #9 rank. In Los Angeles, iHeartMedia news/talk KFI loses half a share to finish with a 4.6 share pulling it from the #2 to the #4 rank, while Audacy’s all-news KNX-AM/FM loses two-tenths to finish with a 2.5 share good for the #12 rank. In Chicago, Nexstar Media Group’s news/talk WGN-AM dips two-tenths for a 2.6 share finish leaving it ranked #11, while Cumulus Media’s news/talk WLS-AM is steady at a 1.7 share good for the #19 rank, and Audacy’s all-news WBBM-AM/WCFS-FM loses three-tenths to finish with a 4.9 share and remaining ranked #4. See Mike Kinosian’s complete Ratings Takeaways here.

Ratings Takeaways

Holiday 2023 PPM Ratings – Part One

imHoliday 2023 PPM Data – Information for the Holiday 2023 ratings period (December 7, 2023 – January 3, 2024) has been released for New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union (New Jersey).

The only requirement for a spoken-word station to be included here is that they be a Nielsen Audio subscriber – there are no share or rank thresholds.

NFL; NBA; and NHL team names of corresponding spoken-word flagship(s) are bolded.

DNA – DNA = Did Not Appear – Does Not Appear

Comparisons are December 2023 – “Holiday” 2023 (6+).

NEW YORK

News/Talk

WABC 2.8 – 3.0, #11 – #11

WOR 1.1 – 1.2, #22 – #21

WKXW .9 – .8, #24 – #27

WKXW Stream .2 – .2, #38 – #37

News

WINS-FM 4.1 – 3.9, #10 – #9

WCBS-AM 1.7 – 1.6, #19 – #19

WINS-FM Stream .3 – .4, #36 – #32

Business News WBBR .4 – .3, #32 – #34

WCBS-AM Stream .2 – .1, #38 – #46 

Sports Talk

WFAN FM & AM 2.5 – 2.3, #12 -#12 (Giants, Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)

WEPN-FM 1.3 – 1.2 #21 – #21 (Jets, Knicks, Islanders, Rangers)

WFAN FM & AM Stream .9 – .7, #24 -#28 (Giants, Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils) 

Public Radio News/Talk

WNYC-FM 4.3 – 4.1, #8 – #7

WNYC-AM 1.0 – 1.0, #23 – #23 

LOS ANGELES

News/Talk

KFI 5.1 – 4.6, #2 – #4

KRLA .6 – .4, #34 – #30

KEIB .5 – .4, #35 – #30  (Clippers 

News

KNX-FM 2.7 – 2.5, #11 – #12

KNX-FM Stream .1 – .1, #41 – #40  

Sports Talk

KLAC 1.0 – . #29 – #28 (Chargers, Clippers 

Public Radio News/Talk

KPCC 2.6 – 2.0, #12 – #14

Notes: Public radio news/talk KPCC’s -.6 (2.6 – 2.0) represents a tie for Los Angeles’ highest (6+)December 2023 – “Holiday” 2023 decrease.

Flagship of the Rams and Lakers is sports talk KSPN, which is unlisted in this sweep.

Kings’ games are heard on the iHeartRadio app, while games of the Anaheim Ducks are heard on the Ducks stream.

CHICAGO

News/Talk

WGN 2.8 – 2.6, #10 – #11  (Blackhawks)

WLS-AM 1.7 – 1.7, #18 – #19

WLIP .4 – .3, #36 – #38

WVON .1 – .1, #43 – #43

WLS-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

News

WBBM-AM & WCFS 5.2 – 4.9, #4  – #4

WBBM-AM & WCFS Stream .2 – .1, #41 – #43

Sports Talk

WSCR 2.4 – 2.5, #13 – #12 (Bulls)

WMVP 1.4 – 1.5, #20 – #20 (Bears)

WSCR Stream .9 – .4, #27 – #36 (Bulls)

Public Radio News/Talk

WBEZ 2.6 – 2.1, #12 – #15  

SAN FRANCISCO

News/Talk

KSFO 1.4 – 1.4, #22 – #22

KSFO Stream .2 – .2, #31 – #32 

News

KCBS-AM & KFRC 6.4 – 5.7, #3 – #3

KNEW .2 – .3, #31 – #29  

KCBS-AM & KFRC Stream .1 – .1, #37 – #38

KKSF DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA 

Sports Talk

KNBR 3.5 – 3.6, #10 – #7 (49ers)

KGMZ 2.3 – 2.0, #14 – #14 (Golden State Warriors)

KTCT .5 – .4, #27 – #27  

KGO .2 – .2, #31 – #32  

KGO Stream .2 – .2, #31 – #32  

KGMZ Stream DNA – .2, DNA – #32 (Golden State Warriors)   

Public Radio News/Talk

KQED 6.6 – 6.9, #2 – #2

KALW .2 – .2, #31 – #32

DALLAS

News/Talk

WBAP 3.4 – 2.8, #11 – #14

KEGL 1.5 – 1.4, #26 – #27  (Mavericks)

KSKY .5 – .6, #33 – #33

KLIF-AM .3 – .4, #36 – #34

KSKY Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA 

News

News – Talk KRLD-AM 1.8 – 1.4, #20 – #27 (Cowboys)

News – Talk KRLD-AM Stream .1 – DNA, #40 – DNA (Cowboys)

Sports Talk

KTCK 5.2 – 4.2, #2 – #3  (Stars)

KRLD-FM 3.4 – 2.9, #11 – #13 (Cowboys)

KRLD-FM Stream .2 – .3, #37 – #35 (Cowboys)

Public Radio News/Talk

KERA 4.2 – 3.5, #4 – #6  

Note: Sports talk KTCK’s -1.0 (5.2 – 4.2) represents Dallas’ highest (6+) December 2023 – “Holiday” 2023 decrease.

HOUSTON

News/Talk

KTRH 3.5 – 2.6, #10 – #17  (Rockets)

KPRC . 5 – .5, #26 – #28  

News

None

Sports Talk

KILT-AM 1.5 – 1.5, #21 – #21 (Texans)

KBME .5 – .6, #26 – #27  (Rockets)

KILT-AM Stream .3 – .3, #29 – #30 (Texans)

KFNC .1 – .2, #33 – #31

Public Radio News/Talk

KUHF 2.3 – 2.4, #20 – #18

ATLANTA

News/Talk

WSB-AM & WSBB 8.3 – 7.4, #1 – #2

WFOM .4 – .4, #29 – #27

WGKA .2 – .1, #31 – #31

WAOK .2 – .1, #31 – #31

WAOK Stream .1 – .1, #33 – #31

WSRV-HD3 Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

News

WBIN  DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Sports Talk

WZGC 2.8 – 3.5, #15 – #9 (Falcons, Hawks)

WCNN 1.5 – 1.4, #20 – #20

WZGC Stream .5 – .3, #27 – #29 (Falcons, Hawks)

Public Radio News/Talk

WABE 3.9 – 3.3, #8 – #11

WRAS  .6 – .8, #25 – #24

PHILADELPHIA

News/Talk

WPHT 1.7 – 1.7, #19 – #19

WKXW .9 – 1.2, #24 – #23

WPHT Stream .6 – .7, #27 – #26

WURD .5 – .3, #28 – #27

WURD Stream .7 – .2, #26 – #29

WDEL-AM DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

WKXW Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA 

News

KYW & WPHI 5.2 – 4.7, #7 – #6

KYW & WPHI Stream .1 – .1, #31 – #30

WTEL .1 – DNA, #31 – DNA

Sports Talk

WIP 6.6 – 5.7, #4 – #4 (Eagles)

WIP Stream 1.3 – 1.5, #22 – #20 (Eagles)

WPEN-FM 1.2 – 1.3, #23 – #22 (76ers, Flyers)

Public Radio News/Talk

WHYY 2.8 – 2.8, #11 – #9      

Notes: Adult contemporary WBEB makes the largest (6+) December 2023 – “Holiday” 2023 increase(+7.3) of any station in these 12 PPM-markets and logs the highest (6+) share (16.8).

Conversely, country WXTU has the most significant (6+) December 2023 – “Holiday” 2023 decline of any station in these 12 PPM-markets (5.3 – 3.7, -1.6). 

NASSAU-SUFFOLK (LONG ISLAND)

News/Talk

WABC 1.3 – 1.1, #20 – #20

WOR 1.0 – 1.0, #22 – #22

WLIR .2 – .1, #33 – #35

News

WINS-FM 4.4 – 3.3, #8 – #9

WCBS-AM 2.1 – 2.5, #16 – #12

WINS-FM Stream .7 – .9, #25 – #23

Business News WBBR .3 – .2, #30 – #30

WCBS-AM Stream .1 – .1, #36 – #35

Sports Talk

WFAN-FM & AM 3.7 – 3.5, #10 – #7 (Giants, Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)

WEPN-FM 2.5 – 2.7, #12 – #11 (Jets, Knicks, Islanders, Rangers)

WFAN-FM & AM Stream 1.1 – DNA, #21 – DNA (Giants, Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)

Public Radio News/Talk

WSUF .2 – .2, #33 – #30

RIVERSIDE

News/Talk

None

News

KFOO .1 – DNA, #23 – DNA

Sports Talk

KPWK .2 – .2, #21 – #18

Public Radio News/Talk

KVCR .3 – .3 #20 – #16

KPCC DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

SAN JOSE

News/Talk

KSFO 1.3 – 1.5, #22 – #19

KSFO Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA  

News

KCBS-AM & KFRC 5.7 – 4.5, #3 – #4

KNEW .2 – .3, #28 – #28  

KCBS-AM & KFRC Stream .2 – .2, #28 – #30

Sports Talk

KNBR 4.1 – 3.9, #6 – #6 (49ers)

KGMZ 1.6 – 1.5, #20 – #19 (Golden State Warriors)

KTCT .6 – .8, #26 – #25   

KGO Stream .6 – .7, #26 – #26  

KGO .2 – .3, #28 – #28  

KGMZ Stream DNA – .2, DNA – #30 (Golden State Warriors)

Public Radio News/Talk

None

Notes: News KCBS-AM & KFRC’s -1.2 (5.7 – 4.5) represents San Jose’s highest (6+) December 2023 – “Holiday” 2023 decrease. 

Sharks’ games are carried on the Sharks Audio Network.

MIDDLESEX-SOMERSET-UNION 

News/Talk

WKXW 5.2 – 5.7, #4 – #4

WOR 1.1 – 1.6, #20 – #15

WKXW Stream .7 – .7, #22 – #20         

News

WINS-FM 2.0 – 1.8, #11 – #13

WCBS-AM 1.3 – 1.0, #17 – #18

WINS-FM Stream .3 – .3, #26 – #23

WCBS-AM Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Sports Talk

WEPN-FM 1.3 – 1.0, #17 – #18 (Jets, Knicks, Islanders, Rangers)

WFAN-FM & AM 2.7 – DNA, #9 – DNA (Giants, Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)

WFAN FM & AM Stream .9 – DNA, #21 – DNA (Giants, Brooklyn Nets, New Jersey Devils)

Public Radio News/Talk

None

Up next: “Holiday” 2023 overviews for: Washington, DC; Boston; Miami; Seattle; Detroit; Phoenix; Minneapolis; San Diego; Tampa; Denver; Baltimore; and St. Louis.

Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com

Industry News

Nielsen Releases December 2023 PPM Survey Data

imOver the Christmas and New Year’s holiday break, Nielsen Audio released data from the December 2023 ratings period for all 48 PPM markets that covered November 9 through December 6. TALKERS magazine managing editor Mike Kinosian presents his Ratings Takeaways from all PPM markets. Some of the notable ratings stories from the December 2023 period include in New York City, Red Apple Media’s news/talk WABC falls two-tenths to a 2.8 share (weekly, 6+ AQH share) good for the #11 rank, while iHeartMedia’s news/talk WOR also dips two-tenths to a 1.1 share and remains ranked #22. In Washington, Cumulus Media’s news/talk WMAL-FM, sheds 1.1 shares for a 3.5 share finish that leaves it ranked #9, while Hubbard Broadcasting’s all-news WTOP-FM falls a half share to a 6.9 share but remains ranked #3. In Seattle, Bonneville’s news/talk KIRO-FM loses six-tenths for a 4.1 share finish and falls to the #9 rank, while the company’s sister news/talk KTTH-AM is steady with a 1.6 share good for the #22 rank, and Lotus Communications’ talk KVI-AM, rises one-tenth to a 1.6 share and ties for the #22 rank. In San Antonio, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WOAI falls four-tenths to a 2.7 share but remains ranked #14, while Alpha Media’s news/talk dips two-tenths to a 2.0 share that leaves it ranked #19. In Orlando, iHeartMedia’s talk WTKS-FM loses three-tenths for a 3.6 share finish but remains ranked #10, while Cox Media Group’s news/talk WDBO-AM sheds four-tenths for a 3.2 share and stays locked in the #13 rank. And in Milwaukee, iHeartMedia’s news/talk WISN finishes its third month in a row at #1 even though it lost 1.1 shares to finish with a 9.6 share, while Good Karma Brands’ news/talk WTMJ-AM is down one-tenth for a 7.6 share that pushes its back to the #3 rank. See Mike Kinosian’s Ratings Takeways from all 48 PPM markets here.

Ratings Takeaways

December 2023 PPM Ratings Takeaways – Part Four

December 2023 PPM Data – Information for the December 2023 survey period (November 9 – December 6) has been released for Austin, Raleigh, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Nashville, Providence, Norfolk, Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, Greensboro, Memphis, and Hartford.

The only requirement for a spoken-word station to be included here is that they be a Nielsen Audiosubscriber – there are no share or rank thresholds.

NFL; NBA; and NHL team names of corresponding spoken-word flagship(s) are bolded.

DNA – DNA = Did Not Appear – Does Not Appear

Comparisons are November 2023 – December 2023 (6+). 

AUSTIN

News/Talk

KLBJ-AM 4.3 – 4.6, #6 – #5

KJCE .3 – .3, #28 – #29

News

None

Sports Talk

KVET-AM 1.0 – 1.4, #22 – #18

KTAE 1.0 – 1.0, #22 – #22

KBPA-HD2  .5 – .8, #27 – #24

Public Radio News/Talk

KUT 5.8 – 5.1, #4 – #4

KUT-HD2 DNA – .1, DNA – #33

RALEIGH

News/Talk

WTKK 6.9 – 6.0, #3 – #4

WPTF .8 – .8, #19 – #20

News

WRAL-HD3 .3 – .3, #24 – #24

Sports Talk

WCMC-FM 3.0 – 3.3, #12 – #12 (Carolina Hurricanes)

Public Radio News/Talk

WUNC 9.8 – 8.8, repeats at #1

INDIANAPOLIS

News/Talk

WIBC 7.3 – 5.3, #2 – #7

News

WOLT-HD2 DNA – .2, DNA – #25

Sports Talk

WIBC-HD2  4.0 – 3.5, #12 – #12 (Colts)

WNDE 1.0 – .9, #20 – #19

WXNT .1 –.2, #24 – #25

Public Radio News/Talk

WFYI 4.3 – 4.2, #11 – #10

Notes: News/talk WIBC’s -2.0 (7.3 – 5.3) represents Indianapolis’ largest November 2023 – December 2023 decrease.

Sports talk WFNI (DNA – DNA) is the flagship of the Pacers.

MILWAUKEE

News/Talk

WISN 10.7 – 9.6, third consecutive month at #1

WTMJ 7.7 – 7.6, #2 – #3 

WLIP .2 – .2, #23 – #23

WRJN  DNA – .1, DNA – #27  

News

None

Sports Talk

WRNW 2.8 – 3.4, #14 – #13 (Green Bay Packers)

WKTI 1.2 – 1.3, #19 – #18

WSSP .2 – .2, #23 – #23

WOKY .3 – .1, #22 – #27

Public Radio News/Talk

WUWM 3.1 – 2.7, #12 – #14

WHAD 1.6 – .7, #17 – #21

WGKB .1 – .1, #27 – #27

WHAD Stream  DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

NASHVILLE

News/Talk

WWTN 5.7 – 4.3, #5 – #9

WLAC 1.5 – 1.5, #19 – #19

News

WNRQ-HD2 DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Sports Talk

WGFX 7.4 – 7.3, #3 – #3 (Tennessee Titans)

WPRT 2.0 – 1.6, #18 – #18 (Predators)

Public Radio News/Talk

WPLN 4.4 – 4.0, #10 – #11

WPLN-HD3 Stream .2 – .1, #23 – #23 

Notes: News/talk WWTN’s -1.4 (5.7 – 4.3) represents Nashville’s  largest November 2023 – December 2023 decrease.

PROVIDENCE

News/Talk

WPRO-AM 6.8 – 6.4, #5 – #5

WHJJ  .5 – .8, #16 – #15

News

None

Sports Talk

WBZ-FM 3.4 – 3.2, #9 – #8

WVEI 2.0 – 2.3, #11 – #11

WPRV DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

Public Radio News/Talk

WGBH 2.0 – 2.1, #11 – #12

WNPN 1.6 – 1.5, eighth straight month at #14

WCAI .1 – .1, #20 – #20

NORFOLK

News/Talk

WNIS  3.0 – 2.5, #13 – #11

WGH-FM HD2  .2 – .2, #23 – #23

News

WNOH .3 – .3, #20 – #20

Sports Talk

WVSP 2.4 – 1.7, #14 – #15

WTAR .3 – .3, #20 – #20

WGH-AM .2 – .2, #23 – #23

Public Radio News/Talk

None

JACKSONVILLE

News/Talk

WOKV-FM 8.3 – 6.8, #3 – #5

News

None

Sports Talk

WOKV-AM .3 – .4, #21 – #21

Public Radio News/Talk

WJCT 2.4 – 2.1, #13 – #13   

Notes: News/talk WOKV-FM’s -1.5 (8.3 – 6.8) represents Jacksonville’s  largest November 2023 – December 2023 decrease.

Sports talk WJXL-AM (DNA – DNA); sports talk WJXL-FM (DNA – DNA); and country WGNE are the flagships of the Jaguars.

WEST PALM BEACH

News/Talk

WFTL 2.7 – 2.5, #9 – #9

WZZR 2.0 – 1.2 #11 – #13

WJNO 1.2 – .7, #15 – #15

News

None

Sports Talk

WMEN .5 – .5, #16 – #16

WBZT .3 – .4, #18 – #18

Public Radio News/Talk

WLRN 2.9 – 2.0, #8 – #11

WLRN-HD2 Stream DNA – DNA, DNA – DNA

GREENSBORO

News/Talk

WPTI 4.4 – 3.5 #8 – #9

News

None

Sports Talk

None

Public Radio News/Talk

WFDD 3.6 – 4.0, #9 – #7

WUNC 1.5 – 1.7, #14 – #14

MEMPHIS

News/Talk

WREC 2.4 – 1.8, #9 – #10

KWAM .4 – .4, #13 – #13

News

None

Sports Talk

WMFS 2.8 – 2.6, #7 – #7 (Grizzlies)

WMFS Stream .2 – .2, #15 – #15 (Grizzlies)

Public Radio News/Talk

WKNO 2.0 – 1.8, #11 – #10

WKNO-HD2  DNA – .2, DNA – #15

HARTFORD

News/Talk

WTIC-AM 4.8 – 5.3, #6 – #5

WDRC-AM 1.9 – 1.6, #15 – #15

WTIC-AM Stream .6 – .4, after five consecutive months at #17, slips to #20

WPOP .2 – DNA, #23 – DNA

News

None

Sports Talk

WUCS 2.3 – 2.5, #13 – #12

Public Radio News/Talk

WNPR 4.0 – 4.3, #9 – #9

WFCR .6 – .6, #17 – #17

Mike.Kinosian@gmail.com