Boston’s Talk Wars: Ratings Are In
by Brian Maloney, January 13th, 2009 at 11:01am
For the all-important Fall 2008 Arbitron Survey period, the numbers are in, providing fresh ammo for Boston’s talk wars.
As could be expected, the election season provided an enormous boost for WBZ, WRKO and WTKK alike, with all three showing gains in the overall 12+ listener demographic.
Aided by Rush Limbaugh, WRKO rose from a 4.7 to 5.3 share of the audience, good for fifth place. WBZ hung on to first, barely, with a 6.6.
And continuing to take third place in the local news-talk marketplace, WTKK took eighth at 4.1.
Continuing their recent string of disappointing 12+ ratings, sportstalker WEEI finished in seventh with a 4.5.
Though it also increased its share during this period, I think WTKK has the least to crow about here. With a built-in advantage on the FM band, as opposed to its AM competitors, ‘TKK ought to dominate local news-talk.
But as we’ve mentioned many times before, it refuses to take the necessary steps to make that happen. What ought to be a more flexible operation is instead as stubborn as the oldest heritage station on the AM dial.
Soon, we will have more specific breakdowns, especially for the key 25-54 demographic.
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24 Comments Add your own
1. Joe | January 13th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Did the Felon even show up in the ratings book?
2. Celtic Frost | January 13th, 2009 at 11:21 am
Yeah, WTKK is really dropping the ball. Maybe when they get rid of Jim and Margery and that snarky Jimmy Severino they’ll improve? Graham is a keeper.
3. WRKO Staffer | January 13th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Joe and Huggy and McPhee are going to steal this ratings round. You watch!
4. bjd | January 13th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Lets see those AM drive RECORD SETTING numbers that I’m SURE rko is ready to release.
Advertisers, have those check books ready, it’s going to cost you BIG bucks to advertise during AM drive on rko. This is the big turn around. Everybody will hail j & j for making the decesions they did despite the scorn, complaints, and suggestions from this blog. They are true radio Hall of Fame material!
5. ChrisNH | January 13th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
speaking of ’stealing ratings,’ what ever happened to that disgraced DePetro dude and his welfare family that cheated on the ratings book? Is he working at McDonald’s now?
6. Celtic Frost | January 13th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
ChrisNH, I think DePetro is still toiling at that same station. With Finneran getting away with threatening Howie’s life on air, how can anyone be fired for trying to fudge the numbers? Plus, it was apparently DePetro’s wife, not him (yeah, sure)…
7. Ad Man | January 13th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
No, DePetro is still working at WPRO. Remains to be seen whether he gets renewed, but I suppose that will depend on his real ratings when his deal is up.
8. the real Barbara | January 13th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
RKO is in 5th place? How can that be? I don’t understand, with ALL the freakin’ sporting events they broadcast, plus all the “co-hosts” in the morning, I would think RKO would be number one…………sheesh, (shaking head, rolling eyes!!) : )
9. Celtic Frost | January 13th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Good one, Barbie. I am sure the J & J twins will spin this to make themselves look good, though. Bet on it.
10. DaveA | January 13th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Would WRKO’s ratings increase if Howie didn’t tell everyone to switch to WCRN at night?
11. JazzOrganist | January 13th, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Joe and Huggy? Oh, right… the hosts I listened to once or twice when they started, months ago. Yawn.
12. Joe from Brighton | January 13th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
How did Felon Finneran’s Forum do?
13. Celtic Frost | January 14th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Hello? Is this thing on? Is anyone home? Hello?
14. WRKO Staffer | January 14th, 2009 at 9:17 am
Celtic - Brian will post again when he has the specifics from the Abitron Survey or he will simply post up some sort of non-radio type story to buy some time (see the recent Menino one).
15. Celtic Frost | January 14th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Good one, Staffer. Tell Howie he can take today off…
16. WRKO Staffer | January 14th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Poor Howie. Well, maybe there is some sort of karmic thing going on given his use of the Ted Kennedy laugh whenever he reads those tragic news stories (my least favorite part of his show….way too mean-spirited and cruel).
17. bjd | January 14th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
staffer,
does the staff at rko listen to rko? i think the laugh is from ted knight, not fatboy.
18. WRKO Staffer | January 14th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
You’re right….Ted Knight. I accidently typed Kennedy. Yeah, I listen. I love Howie’s show except for that segment. How about you? Do you like to hear that (Ted Knight) laugh after Howie reads a story about someone accidently dying? Speaking of tasteless, Eagan and Braude are wondering why the media worships firefighters right when everyone is thinking of the tragedy with the BFD. Classy.
19. Celtic Frost | January 14th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
Margery is one classy dame.
Can’t you just imagine her drinking champagne “made from real grapes.”
Or showing up at the kids’ PTO meetings showing decolletage or showing a little too much leg?
Or bending her elbow a bit too much at a company function?
Or giggling her way through a wake?
You get the idea.
20. bjd | January 14th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
staffer,
i personally don’t mind the laugh, but it’s not one of the better parts of his show.
21. WRKO Staffer | January 14th, 2009 at 2:02 pm
Celtic, Do you remember that book, “Elvis: What Happened?”. Well, I think it should there should be a new blog, “Margery: What happened?”.
22. Celtic Frost | January 14th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Brian, can you add that to your family of blogs, please? Bwa-ha.
23. raccoonradio | January 15th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Media Biz
Jessica Heslam says that WTKK has re-signed Eagan and Braude, dashing WRKO’s hopes to lure
them to the morning show in place of Finneran
>>Sources say the “lucrative” deal is for a guaranteed five years but the pair’s agent and attorney, George Tobia, wouldn’t confirm the length or salary.
In the most recent 25-54s, she reports, Howie tied with Kiss for #1 in 25-54s, perhaps due to
election interest; Severin was in third. Finneran finished 15th in his time slot (Imus 10th)
24. susan mcbride | January 19th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
like what is up with that guy joe?
is he a member of the He-Man Woman Haters Club?…LOL
really……….he sounds really
FAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LIKE DISGUSTING……….
like dont come near me, because you smell………..
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