Bill Virgin's Radio Beat May 17, 2007

Includes archive of Bill Virgin's columns fromJ une 2006 - March 2009

Bill Virgin's Radio Beat May 17, 2007

Postby radiofan » Wed May 16, 2007 8:44 pm

On Radio: KUOW (not KZOK) tops the ratings
By BILL VIRGIN
P-I REPORTER


With additional data now in hand, it's time for a revision to our recent story about the highest-rated stations in the Seattle-Tacoma market during winter quarter.

KZOK-FM (102.5) was not the top-rated station, although it was the highest-ranked commercial station.

The overall winner, though, was KUOW-FM (94.9).

That information comes from Arbitron data as reported by the Radio Research Consortium, which provides audience data and research to non-commercial stations. The overall ratings reflect listeners 12 and older tuned in Monday through Sunday 6 a.m. to midnight.

When Arbitron releases its quarterly ratings and rankings, it lists just the commercial stations. RRC compiles its own list of non-commercial stations by market, although by interpolating the two it's possible to see how the two types of stations compare. In fact, Arbitron has proposed including non-commercial stations in its overall list.

KUOW has been near the top before, ranking as high as No. 2 in some books. A spokeswoman for National Public Radio said it appears KUOW is the only non-commercial station to place first in a major market in the winter book.

"We're quite pleased about that," said KUOW program director Jeff Hansen.

Just down the road in Portland, KOPB-FM, ranked third in the market in the most recent rankings.

KUOW wasn't the only non-commercial station with a strong winter-book performance in this market. KPLU-FM (88.5) placed ninth in the revised list. Also having enough of an audience to show up in the ratings were KEXP-FM (90.3), KBCS-FM (91.3), KVTI-FM (90.9) and KXOT-FM (91.7).

The big programming winners for KUOW, over a four-book period, are "Morning Edition" at 7 and 8 a.m. weekdays, and "All Things Considered" at 5 p.m. weekdays. KUOW also enjoys strong weekend listenership, with the top programs being "Car Talk," "Wait Wait, Don't Tell Me," "This American Life," "A Prairie Home Companion," "Weekend Edition Sunday" and the Sunday repeat of "A Prairie Home Companion."

In other radio notes:

Jay Coffey is out as program director and evening host on KBSG-FM (97.3). Scott Sutherland, Seattle market manager for Bonneville International (which is operating KBSG pending the closing of a deal to purchase it and two other stations from Entercom), said Laura Palmer has been named evening host. Bob Kaake has been named interim program director while KBSG posts the opening for a permanent director for the station.

And yes, Sutherland says, KBSG "absolutely" will continue with its oldies/classic-hits format.

King County Executive Ron Sims takes listener calls on "Weekday" at 10 a.m. Thursday on KUOW.

KUOW also begins a limited-run series of documentary shows, "Radio Lab," at 7 p.m. Friday starting this week. One of the programs in the series on zoos includes a segment on Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo.

Mary Rogers and Laurie Robbins, authors of "Homework From Heaven," are the guests on "Conversations With Father Bob" at 8 a.m. Saturday on KKNW-AM (1150) and 5 p.m. Tuesday on KBLE-AM (1050).

Guardian Ear performs on "Sonarchy" at midnight Saturday on KEXP-FM.

Lizz Sommars' guests on "Conversations" at 6 a.m. Sunday on KBSG, KISW-FM (99.9) and KKWF-FM (100.7) include Ellen Bravo, author of a book on employee rights, "Taking on the Big Boys."

Don Riggs' guests on "Introspect Northwest" at 7 a.m. Sunday on KMPS-FM (94.1) and 9 a.m. Sunday on KPTK-AM (1090) include David Shipley, author of a book on e-mail rules, "Send."

Tami Kosch interviews Nick Bicanic, producer of a documentary about mercenaries and war, "Shadow Company," on "Community Matters Weekend Edition" at 8 a.m. Sunday on KPTK.

RADIO STATIONS

AM STATIONS
Freq. Format
KVI 570 Talk
KCIS 630 Christian
KIRO 710 News/Talk
KTTH 770 Talk
KGNW 820 Christian
KIXI 880 Nostalgic pop hits
KJR 950 Sports/Talk
KOMO 1000 News
KBLE 1050 Religious
KPTK 1090 Air America
KKNW 1150 News/Talk
KNWX 1210 Spanish
KKDZ 1250 Radio Disney
KKOL 1300 Talk
KKMO 1360 Spanish
KRKO 1380 News/Talk
KRIZ 1420 Classic soul/R&B
KXPA 1540 Spanish
KLFE 1590 Christian
KYIZ 1620 Urban contemporary
KTFH 1680 Spanish

FM STATIONS
KPLU 88.5 Jazz/News
KNHC 89.5 Top 40/Dance
KGRG 89.9 Alternative rock
KEXP 90.3 Alternative/ World music
KSER 90.7 Public affairs/Music
KBCS 91.3 Jazz/Folk/World
KLSY 92.5 Adult contemporary
KUBE 93.3 Urban contemporary
KMPS 94.1 Country
KUOW 94.9 News/NPR
KJR 95.7 Classic Rock Hits
KRQI 96.5 Classic Alternative
KBSG 97.3 Oldies
KING 98.1 Classical
KWJZ 98.9 Smooth jazz
KISW 99.9 Rock
KQBZ 100.7 Talk
KPLZ 101.5 Adult contemporary
KZOK 102.5 Classic rock
KMTT 103.7 Adult alternative
KMIH 104.5 Contemporary hits
KFNK 104.9 Rock
KCMS 105.3 Contemporary Christian
KBKS 106.1 Adult contemporary
KRWM 106.9 Soft rock
KNDD 107.7 Modern rock


P-I reporter Bill Virgin can be reached at 206-448-8319 or billvirgin@seattlepi.com.

Bill Virgin's Radio Beat Thursdays in the Seattle P-I
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/tv/315931_radio17.html
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