Next Ratings Trend Out Today

(23 DECEMBER 2002) - The next round of ratings are out today . . . I haven't had a chance to see them yet myself, but you can, as always, courtesy of Radio and Records Magazine: Radio & Records - Salt Lake City Ratings. Merry Christmas! I'll post the highlights of the ratings soon, but other than that, this should be the last update until next year. . . see you all in 2003!

(25 DECEMBER 2002) - Ouchie for Kisn 97, which only gains 0.1. FM 100 retains it's #3 place, while KSL jumps to #1. KSOP-AM appears in the ratings, while KOSY 106.5 hits a record low. Again, you can see the ratings yourself, by clicking the link above.

94.9 ZHT Shifts Rythmic

Clear Channel's CHR/Pop outlet, KZHT (94.9 FM) has moved over the last week toward a more CHR/Rythmic orientation. The new station promo, "A Better Mix of Today's Hit Music," rather than the old, "Today's Hit Music," likely refers to the new 6:1 ratio of rythmic music to pop. This is similar to Pheonix's KZZP which after a short while of being "104-7 Kiss FM," moved rythmic. Could this mean changes for KISN? Personally, I don't think so. I doubt that KISN will flip CHR/Pop in place of ZHT. Rather, I feel it will retain Hot AC, which plays much of the CHR/Pop format without the rythm. Clear Channel is trying to make their 4.0-share station "move out of the way," of the 1.7 station.

KJQ 'Moo'ves AAA

Simmons Media's KJQN Brigham City (100.7 FM) has tweaked to AAA over the past few weeks, and now is taking credit for it. Promo lines that once said "Utah's Original Alternative," now state "Utah's Modern Rock with Less Talk." Sound Simmons? Think about FM 100. . ."Continuous Soft Hits with Less Talk. . ." Our tipster calls them a "KENZ twin."

This Is My Salt Lake Christmas List . . .

Currently: FM 100, KOSY 106.5, and KKDS AM 1060 have flipped all-Christmas. Stations with large contents of Christmas music include B98.7 and 97.9 The Breeze. Likely even more stations will join as Christmas approaches. For state-wide listings, visit Utah Radio News. For nation-wide listings, visit 100000watts.com.

Almost all stations in Salt Lake City are now playing some Christmas. . . still haven't heard any on Kisn 97 or 94.9 ZHT though.

Tight Squeeze At The Triad Center?

Thanks to a tipster to Utah Radio Guide, a bit of insight into the question, "Where is Bonneville going to put all of their 'hope to soon acquire,' stations?" Our tipster answers that, "Bonneville is currently studying if the new stations will fit in the Triad Center. So far it looks tight." It may seem that a large amount of space would need to be vacated to make room for three top-10 stations, but as a relative of mine reminded me, "you only need a booth for each station." The original tipster did have a bit more information: "Simmons, that is Dave Simmons, looks to be building his own radio [group] seperate from Simmons Family. I'm getting indications that he's going to move somewhere else." So maybe, when the time comes that all of this has played out, maybe nobody will end up with the fancy building on 700 East. "I wouldn't rule out Bonneville building a new giant media center someday."

KOSY Moves Transmitter

KOSY 106.5 has apparantly moved it's transmitting tower from Utah County to Farnsworth Peak, west of Magna. This means a stronger signal for Salt Lake County, but a weaker signal for central Utah.

Clear Channel - Salt Lake City

A bit of insight into why Tom Sly may have lost his job this past September. One source says that the general status of Clear Channel's sales in respect to other groups is, "overall, a loser. . ." The reason? Simmons Media's good ratings cut into all the Clear Channel stations that could have a chance: FM 100 beats KOSY, KRSP is "a better buy," than Oldies 94.1, and other stations in the group are toward the bottom of the ratings. Citadel, this person mentions, "always undercuts Clear Channel." KSOP, not surprisingly, is cheaper than KKAT, and the ratings at KSOP are slightly better, and have been phenomenally better in the past. They also illustrate the point, by mentioning that while most markets needed only to meet with their regional VPs, Salt Lake City, hand-picked with six other markets, needed to go to the board of directors personally - sounds like hot water, huh? Our tipster left us with this: "Without revenue, the budget cuts will continue, and on and on it goes. . ."

KALL 910 To Receive New PD

Clear Channel talker KALL 910 is likely to receive a new PD in the coming months. Word is the current PD of Citadel Broadcasting's KBOI Boise.

KBNZ - KGNT Swap Frequencies

This past week Cache County's 104.9 Oldies, "K105 the Kar," and 103.9 Country, "103.9 The Giant," swapped frequencies. The new 104.9 is now playing Classic Country, and has a signal that is fairly receivable along much of the northern Wasatch Front. The station is owned by 3 Points Broadcasting, of which Millcreek Media is a partial-owner.

Why Are So Many Stations Jumping all-Christmas So Soon?

A bit of insight comes from a tipster to Utah Radio Guide as to why so many Lite ACs, and other station in general, have flipped to all-Christmas, or partial Christmas, so soon. It all comes down to two basic elements. First, is the obvious shortness between Christmas and a late-Thanksgiving. Typically there are five weeks, however the short four weeks this year have sent both radio and retail scrambling. Secondly, only two weeks fall into a ratings window, meaning that of the four weeks, only two will be apart of the Fall 2002 book. Stations, likely anticipating a repeat of last year's Christmas success, are hoping to soak up extra ratings in those two weeks.