Posted by John on December 16, 2012 at 21:20:41:
In Reply to: 93.1 jump? posted by Jamzy on December 16, 2012 at 19:41:13:
I wouldn't count on it.
There are lot of reasons for the gap in Jamz and Z104's ratings that have nothing to do with which station is more live and local than the other.
For starters, format: Z is running a relatively conservative mainstream CHR. Jamz is rhythmic CHR. Mainstream CHRs almost always beat rhythmic CHRs in the ratings because there are a lot more folks who will listen to a station like Z104 and Jamz. Likewise, there are a lot fewer workplaces that will be cool with having Jamz on than Z.
Second, signal, or lack thereof: Z104 has twice the power, at three times the height, giving them a monster signal on the Channel 15 tower versus a peashooter out in Sun Prairie. 93.1's signal isn't *bad* in Madison, but it's not nearly as good as Z's, either. It may not sound like a big deal, but 93.1 is harder to pick up in buildings in town, and there are lot of folks who aren't going to put up with static.
Last, as some have pointed out, live and local unfortunately isn't always a good thing. (I can't believe I'm saying this.) I absolutely hate the shift towards national syndication and "premium choice," but people listen to radio differently now than they did before. Folks mostly listen to radio in their cars now, and if the DJ talks too much or is annoying, they change the station. The main exception is morning drive and (on top 40), the nighttime show (call-ins, top 5, etc.). Jamz has been live-and-local (Fish) in the mornings versus syndication on Z for a while now -- with little to show for it.