Talk about a Fall Classic, KIRO AM Seattle Sports dramatically leaped into a first plade tie with KUOW. The latter had topped the charts alone for months. The M's playoff run and early Seahawks success profoundly pushed the portable people meters. Meanwhile, the big music radio story was the spasmodic slash southward for KZOK-FM. Radio Online has the numbers.
https://ratings.radio-online.com/content/arb039
I’m wondering if KUOW is more compelling than the competition or are the competitors that much worse. Rich
ReplyDeleteAt the same time that KUOW is riding high at the top of the radio ratings, fellow NPR station KNKX seems to be sinking fast. 3.1 in July. 2.0 in October. What is up with that?
DeleteI wonder if it's the federal cutbacks related to staffing and not making it back with pledges?
DeleteThat could certainly be the case. KUOW seems to be doing okay at the moment. I've heard very little about KNKX's financial position since the federal cutbacks started.
DeleteThe gap between KIRO-FM and KNWN really grew in October, fueled by growth at KIRO. It seems our region's radio listeners have figured out who they want to listen to in our current battle of the news radio stations. Having said that, KNWN's decline is only averaging 0.1 per month. They could turn it around. They have a good team in place. They just need some marketing.
ReplyDeleteKIRO FM has a much more varied program lineup so it is not exactly apples to apples. It's still early for KNWN''s new team to jell, plus Scott Carty was just added, but marketing is badly needed, I agree. These next darker months will be key for them in terms of listeners. But the Seahawks will help stave off the competition if they stay strong and make the playoffs. The Mariners come back in mid-Feb.
ReplyDeleteYou make very good points as always! KNWN's new team is only just getting established, whereas KIRO's team have been established for much longer. I reckon that KNWN will develop a loyal audience of its own in due course.
DeleteI should also mention that Manda Factor left KNWN to join 97.3 and probably brought some listeners along with her. And the ND at 97.3 was the news boss at KNWN before Brian Calvert got the job. Lots of variables out there.
DeleteThose are also good points. Manda's move to 97.3 likely didn't help KNWN, nor would losing their news director. I have faith in Brian Calvert that he'll be able to get KNWN stabalized and growing again. I honestly have more faith in KNWN being able to prosper than I do in KIRO-TV.
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