Air America's numbers

[greenman3610]

anyone have any info re AAR's numbers?
This conservative blog seems to think they are
not doing well.
I'd like to hear analyis.

http://radioequalizer.blogspot.com/2005/03/update-liberal-talk-radio-continues-to.html


Despite a huge effort by radio syndicators and online supporters to make liberal talk radio appear successful, the truth is that it continues to struggle to gain listenership, as measured by the Arbitron ratings service.

Backers continue to point to the performance of KPOJ, Clear Channel's liberal station in Portland, but beyond that they struggle to show where there is actual ratings growth elsewhere. So far, the conversion of a significant conservative talker to a "progressive" format in Providence, Rhode Island, has been an unmitigated disaster.

At the same time Clear Channel is for some reason still converting a number of underperforming stations around the country to this "new" format.

[kaitykaity]

1. Get your ratings here.

http://ratings.radio-online.com/ARBFR.HTM

You have to go in by city and call letters, but
I did that for Portland and KPOJ had a 3.5 share.

Still pretty d*mn good.

[inchhigh]

2. Thanks for that link

I checked my closest local in Minneapolis and they are at .9 in only their 2nd quarter in operation. From a quick glance at a few markets, it seems clear that none of their stations are declining in ratings. Some are pretty small but they are all moving in the right direction.

[ireland]

4. AAR, Minneapolis, has been on the air for over a year

They just keep switching around on channels. Their .9 rating is not much more than the spanish speaking radio channel. Now they are on 950 AM along with Ed Schultz. I think they are on their 3rd channel now, but the same operators, some DNC people from St. Paul.

[newyawker99]

12. Hi inchhigh!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[otohara]

9. These Numbers Are Trends

not ratings - mini snap shot of how things are going until the true ratings come out.

[kaitykaity]

11. Thanks.

I did not realize that. They're still useful
though, I think.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. I doubt if Clear Channel

would be converting to this new format, if the numbers didn't look good. On the other hand, the numbers for hate radio must be starting to suck.

[ireland]

5. Did you read the article? Theory is that Clear Channel may be planning

on selling them with AAR as an "attachment" to get a few more bucks. That could be plausible since the group that are funding the Ed Schultz show are party leaders. Maybe Clear Channel thinks Soros will throw a bundle at them to buy them up before 2006 election.

[kaitykaity]

7. Democracy Radio is not "run" by the Democratic Party.

They raised investment capital from Democrats, but
they are not "run" by the party.

http://www.democracyradio.org/team

Get your facts straight please. That's a right-wing
talking point.

[ireland]

8. I did not say "run by the party" I said they are party leaders

"could be plausible since the group that are funding the Ed Schultz show are party leaders".

Would you not agree that the Board of Advisors for Democracy radio are party leaders?

[kaitykaity]

10. Did you click on the link I provided?

Do any of those resumes mention being in the
employ of the Democratic Party? Any official
titles? Anything?

:eyes:

[KharmaTrain]

6. Cheap Channel Is Covering Their Asses...

Clear Channel lost 5.7 Billion dollars last year. Almost all of it was on their radio operations. They flipped several of their bigger losers to AAR and right now it's a grace period...ratings have done well in some markets, not so well in others.

From one whose lived in Arbitrons for most of his life, I am always amused when people throw these numbers or TV ratings around, since almost always they're used out of context and never properly interpreted. No rocket science involved, just people using these numbers as Arbitron designed...for people to play with and stations that subscribe to use in their advertising and marketing materials.

Personally, I don't see AAR as "the answer" to Progressive Radio, but a starting point...and listeners are being tested. If these stations are supported by advertisers (based on response by listeners), the network will continue to grow.

The big key is to get more LOCAL Progressive talk programming. These stations need to bring in local hosts who can tie issues on that level and give more access to listeners to call in and participate.

Ratings are most important when they reach a target demographic Cheap Channel is looking for...and those numbers aren't made public (by subscription only)...and these results are a mixed bag. In some markets, AAR numbers have come from other Cheap Channel talk stations (not what they had in mind) or that this format is found in competition with another, more lucrative one (Cincinatti is an example...WLW & WSAI).

With Cheap Channel needing to rachet up earnings in the very near future or face serious economic problems, I actually see more AAR stations coming on in the next couple months (they're cheap to operate), but little local programming or support (most people don't know about AAR, yet alone where to find it in their area). However, knowing Cheap Channel as I do, they won't hestitate to go to another "flavor format of the month" or flip a format to take one station they own out of competition with another.

Thus, again, I put my call out for those who are interested in changing the media to go to your local Community College or Public station...a place that lives on donations and volunteers...it's a great training ground on how radio works and a great forum to develop both Progressive voices and listeners.

[yankeedem]

13. I stopped reading when he said he wrote for WorldNetDaily

12 and up numbers are pretty useless also. I would really want to see records for head to head in the dayparts, but of course that info is embargoed.

You have to ask why it is so important to pukes that AAR fail?