Springs TV Talk » Andrew Wineke

It’s the Elvira time of the year

Andrew Wineke — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:54:25 +0000

The Onion’s AV Club has a funny interview with Colorado Springs’ own Cassandra Peterson, aka Elvira. Check it out.

KVOR takes top spot in radio ratings

Andrew Wineke — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 21:29:00 +0000

A summer of contentious political debates helped launch news-talk station KVOR (740 AM) to the top of the local radio ratings.

Controversies over health care, the Tea Party tax movement and discontent with Democratic policies drew listeners to conservative talk show hosts like Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity, said Bobby Irwin, Colorado Springs operations manager for Citadel Broadcasting, which owns KVOR.

“There’s a lot to talk about and these guys seem to be capturing that attention,” Irwin said.

KVOR usually does better in the ratings during election years than in off years like 2009 and it hasn’t been No. 1 in more than 10 years, Irwin said.

Rock station KILO (94.3 FM), which had enjoyed a long run in the top spot, fell to fourth overall, although it held onto second place with listeners in the 25-to-54-year-old group.

Colorado Springs radio ratings
1. KVOR (740 AM)
2. KKLI (106.3 FM)
3. KATC (95.1 FM)
4. (tie) KILO (94.3 FM)
KKPK (92.9 FM)
6. KKMG (98.9 FM)
7. KIBT (96.1 FM)
8. KCCY (96.9 FM)
9. (tie) KBIQ (102.7 FM)
KKFM (98.1 FM)
11. KVUU (99.9 FM)
12. KRDO (105.5 FM and 1240 AM)
13. KRXP (103.9 FM)
14. KDZA (107.9 FM)
15. KGFT (100.7 FM)
Source: Arbitron

Post from: Springs TV Talk

Wanted: Someone to watch TV - for cash!

Andrew Wineke — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:05:25 +0000

I mentioned last week that we had plans in the works to rectify what a worthless, non-TV blogging bum I’ve become. Well, this is it. We’re hiring a freelance TV/radio writer. It could be you, assuming you watch a lot of TV, listen to the radio and have a well broken-in La-Z-Boy.

Here’s the ad:
“The Gazette is looking for a freelance writer and blogger who’s interested in covering local TV and radio. Some writing experience is required. Please send clips to warren.epstein@gazette.com.”

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Leno in the catbird seat

Andrew Wineke — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:37:30 +0000

Man, this Letterman thing is just fascinating. I don’t much care for the tawdry tabloid aspect of it - but how many Letterman fans agree with me on that point will determine how this imbroglio affects the late night-TV landscape.

CBS executives have to be banging their heads against a wall and wishing Letterman’s extorter would have come to them with his demands: They’d certainly have paid. Their guy was handily beating up on Conan, winning the bookings war and poised for a triumphant finale to his career. But now? Who knows?

Maybe viewers don’t care about Dave’s personal life. Despite the drama, he’s not Jon Gosselin. Maybe some do.

Whatever. If the Late Show shows any weakness, NBC will be chomping at the bit to take advantage of it. I think that favors Leno rather than Conan. He’s the proven commodity. How that plays out, however, I can’t say.

Post from: Springs TV Talk

Sixthirty

Andrew Wineke — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:53:01 +0000

Oh, and well I was off changing diapers, I see KXRM began a 6:30 p.m. newscast. I’d always wondered why they didn’t do an early newscast from the get-go.

Anyhoo: 6:30. Discuss.

Post from: Springs TV Talk

A good question

Andrew Wineke — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:49:16 +0000

A commenter asks: “are you really a BLOG when you posts something every 2-3 weeks? BLOG insinuates daily or at least WEEKLY updates. Otherwise you are simply posers trying to cash in on the stupidity of the facebook nation.”

Now, in my defense, I’ve been out the last couple of weeks with a newborn baby (he’s cute, he cries a lot, he poops a lot, he apparently requires no sleep to perform those primary functions).

But obviously, in recent months the TV blog has become a poor stepchild of the other Gazette blogs I contribute to (Out There and Business). I don’t exactly have an announcement yet, but I will say we’re taking steps to rectify the situation.

More to come…

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Sawyer to replace Gibson

Andrew Wineke — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:33:06 +0000

Charlie Gibson is retiring and Diane Sawyer will step behind the anchor desk.

My question: What does this mean for KRDO?

I think no change is good change for network news, which is clearly heading toward its last roundup. It will, nevertheless, be interesting to watch Sawyer’s ratings relative to Couric and Brian Williams.

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Summer TV ratings: A return to form

Andrew Wineke — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:43:43 +0000

After KRDO leapt to the No. 1 spot in demos in the Spring book, the Summer numbers look much more like our usual pattern - with KOAA on top at 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. in both overall and demos.

There were a few smaller surprises in the book: KKTV was second at 5 a.m. and 6 a.m. in the overalls, and won at 5 a.m. and tied KOAA at 6 in 25-54. (Note that the morning numbers don’t reflect KRDO moving Jon Karroll to mornings a couple weeks back).

Last time out, KXRM had a better 25-54 number at 9 p.m. than KRDO did at 10 p.m. This time, KXRM dropped, with a 9 p.m. number slightly ahead of KRDO’s 10 p.m. in both overall and demos (and slightly behind KKTV in both categories, too).

What to make of it? Summer can sometimes get a little wonky, because people are out and about and the regular shows aren’t on. On the other hand, these numbers look a lot more like what we’re used to than the last book did. The Fall book will give us a stronger read on which way the trends are really pointing (if there’s real movement going on at all), but I think the Summer book means that KRDO has farther to go than it appeared (and they were no doubt hoping) after the Spring book.

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Denver tests new radio ratings system

Andrew Wineke — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:43:26 +0000

Interesting story in the Post today on Arbitrons new people meter system, which goes live in October and is already making waves as tests show that it will radically reshape the ratings.

The biggest losers appear to be the talk stations (with KHOW dropping clear out of the top 20). The biggest winners? Soft rock.

Naturally, I wonder what this system would mean here in the Springs, where KKLI is already a top 5 station and only KVOR breaks the top 10 with talk.

The story makes some intriguing points about potential problems with the methodology (does the wearable monitor pick up stations through a purse? What if you listen while you’re in the shower?).

I dunno if this system will ever make it to the Springs. We still don’t, and may never get, metered TV Nielsens. But if the system takes over the big cities, I expect Arbitron will adjust its diary methodology to reflect the metered ratings - and that will mean changes for the Springs.

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Hey, it’s Jon Karroll for breakfast

Andrew Wineke — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 15:06:11 +0000

What do my bleary eyes perceive on this fair Monday? Why it’s Jon Karroll holding down the desk on KRDO’s morning news. Where’s Zach Thaxton (where, for that matter is Marty)?

This is interesting for a bunch of reasons. KRDO’s morning news has always been the station’s strongest daypart. Messing with success is a bold move. Where do the other chips fall? Is it a good move? Is it even a permanent move or just a tryout?

Post from: Springs TV Talk