February Los Angeles Radio Ratings: With No Big Boy at Power 106, Rivals See Gains

Power 106 is feeling the effects of losing Big Boy: In the February 2015 ratings book, among adults 18-34 KPWR-FM dropped from 2nd place (in January, with a 6.2 share) to 5th place (in February, with a 5.0 share) during morning drive, according to Nielsen Audio ratings.

That's the lowest Power's morning drive has ranked in its key demo for perhaps years. Big Boy, of course, exited Power last month and is now expected to show up shortly on the new "Real 92.3." Power owner Emmis is suing Big Boy, claiming it had a right to match a rival's offer, but that the personality refused.

The Big Boy void was good for both of L.A.'s top 40 stations, KIIS-FM and KAMP "Amp Radio." Ryan Seacrest on KIIS skyrocketed in the 18-34 demo, moving from a 7.7 share to a 9.0 share (first place). And Amp's Carson Daly jumped from a 3.8 to a 5.7 (second place). That could very well be Carson Daly's best-ever ranking in the young adult demo.

Across town, the changes at KROQ's Kevin & Bean (Lisa May and Doc on the Roq exits) didn't have much of an impact on ratings. The show was up in total viewers, adults 18-34 and adults 25-54.

At KSWD "The Sound," the arrival of Mark Thompson (formerly of Mark & Brian) in the mornings attracted more overall listeners, giving the station its best morning share in perhaps ever (4.0) among listeners 12+. But the station's 18-34 share dropped, which means most new listeners were on the older side.

In morning drive, here are the top shows among listeners 12+:

1. KRTH "K-Earth" (4.9 share)
2. KIIS (4.8)
TIE. KLVE (4.8)
4. KFI (4.6)
5. KNX (4.0)
TIE. KSWD "The Sound" (4.0)
7. KROQ (3.9)
TIE. KBIG "My FM" (3.9)
9. KOST (3.8)
10. KAMP "Amp Radio" (3.6)

25-54:

1. KIIS (9.0)
2. KROQ (5.2)
3. KLVE (5.2)
4. KBIG (4.0)
TIE. KOST (4.0)

In full-day ratings, sorry Art Laboe fans. IHeartMedia's flip of old school "Hot 92.3" (KHHT) to hip-hop "Real 92.3" (KRRL) seems to be working out. The new format is up big time in persons 18-34 (1.9 share to 3.2 share) and was steady in other demos.

The impact of Big Boy leaving KPWR seems to have also benefited KIIS -- which has its best 18-34 share (7.9) since last April, and KAMP, which also has its best 18-34 share (6.1) in at least a year.

Here are the top stations among listeners 12+:

1. KRTH (5.2 share)
TIE. KOST (5.2)
3. KIIS (5.0)
4. KBIG (4.9)
5. KAMP "Amp Radio" (4.0)
6. KLVE (3.9)
7. KSWD "The Sound" (3.8)
TIE. KCBS "Jack FM" (3.8)
9. KFI (3.5)
TIE. KPWR "Power 106" (3.5)

25-54:

1. KIIS (5.4)
2. KOST (5.3)
3. KBIG "My FM" (5.2)
4. KRTH "K-Earth" (4.7)
5. KCBS "Jack FM" (4.6)

One Last Big November Sweeps Win For KABC's Retiring General Manager

Arnie Kleiner's going out on a high note. The KABC general manager, who recently announced his retirement, just added one last November sweeps crown to his impressive tenure at the owned-and-operated ABC station. (Kleiner is departing at the end of January.)

I always preface these November ratings by reminding you that sweeps really shouldn't matter in Los Angeles any more -- the local market is now measured every day via personal people meters. But old habits die hard, and the local stations compete heavily in November as if it still mattered.

At 11 pm, KABC expanded its lead vs. No. 2 KCBS in total viewers, thanks in part to a surging primetime (in which KABC dominated vs. its competitors). Meanwhile, at 10 pm, KCAL is also now a dominant No. 1 -- a contrast to last year, where the three-way race was tight. A weak primetime has led to big drop-offs for KTTV.

Here are the November total viewers ratings for the Los Angeles market, in key news timeslots (as well as in primetime).

4:30 am
KABC 93,800 (last year 59,900)
KTLA 41,500 (last year 55,500)
KNBC 23,600 (last year 24,400)
KCBS 16,400 (last year 20,500)
KTTV 10,400 (last year 15,700)

5am
KABC 135,000 (last year 109,100)
KTLA 93,100 (last year 98,400)
KNBC 37,800 (last year 39,200)
KTTV 36,800 (last year 28,700)
KCBS 27,300 (last year 32,900)

6am
KABC 192,700 (last year 213,300)
KTLA 182,400 (last year 176,200)
KTTV 72,800 (last year 65,100)
KNBC 66,400 (last year 68,200)
KCBS 46,600 (last year 38,700)

7am
KABC/Good Morning America 213,500 (last year 241,800)
KTLA/Morning News 208,900 (last year 210,000)
KNBC/Today 95,900 (last year 79,800)
KCBS/CBS This Morning 74,700 (last year 50,700)
KTTV/Good Day LA 67,600 (last year 87,200)

5pm
KABC 245,600 (last year 257,700)
KNBC 139,600 (last year 146,600)
KCBS 108,900 (last year 109,700)
KTTV 48,200 (last year 45,700)

6pm
KABC 277,500 (last year 278,200)
KNBC 147,200 (last year 136,900)
KCBS 97,200 (last year 107,300)
KTLA 58,900 (last year 86,600)

Primetime
KABC/ABC 428,600 (last year 388,500)
KCBS/CBS 331,100 (last year 341,700)
KNBC/NBC 287,400 (last year 273,800)
KTTV/Fox 161,100 (last year 233,900)
KTLA/The CW 112,800 (last year 111,000)

10pm
KCAL 156,100 (last year 131,900)
KTLA 126,500 (last year 130,500)
KTTV 76,900 (last year 128,100)

11pm
KABC 335,900 (last year 318,200)
KCBS 215,000 (last year 205,000)
KNBC 159,000 (last year 186,700)
KTLA 83,000 (last year Arsenio Hall 75,300)

MIKE ON KCRW's PRESS PLAY: The Return of "The Walking Dead"

AMC's "The Walking Dead" opened bigger than ever this past Sunday: 17.3 million viewers tuned in to see the Season 5 premiere. On Monday's edition of KCRW's Press Play, Vox's Todd VanDerWerff and I discussed the phenomenon, among other things:

The zombies are back! AMC’s “The Walking Dead” returned last night after much anticipation, and it looks like the series might have a new hero. We discuss the season 5 premiere, plus issues surrounding the Nielsen ratings and fallout from the molestation allegations against “7th Heaven” actor Stephen Collins in our weekly TV roundup.

Listen by clicking below! (It's at the end of the episode, about 45 minutes in.)

July Radio Ratings: A New Number One in the Mornings

Another semi-dramatic shift in Los Angeles morning drive radio, as Univision's KLVE "K-Love 107.5" landed the No. 1 spot in the July book among persons 12+, as "Omar y Argelia" posted a 4.8 share of the audience. Spanish station KSCA's "El Bueno, La Mala y El Feo" show, which was No. 1 in June, is now No. 2 (4.7), followed by KRTH "K-Earth 101's" Gary Bryan (4.5), KFI-AM (4.2) and KBIG "My 104.3 FM" (3.8).

Among persons 18-34, KSCA was No. 1 (7.1 share). And in adults 25-54, KROQ's "Kevin & Bean Show" was tops (5.1), a streak they've held since December.

In overall 6 a.m. to midnight ratings, KBIG was No. 1 with listeners 12+, followed by KRTH (4.7), KIIS-FM (4.5), KPWR "Power 106" (4.3) and KOST (4.2). KPWR was No. 1 with 18-34 listeners (8.1) while KBIG was also No. 1 with 25-54 (5.3).

June L.A. Radio Ratings: Why Are Things So Topsy-Turvy?

What's going on with the Nielsen radio ratings in Los Angeles? The June 2014 book is out, and the results are still strange. Yet, Nielsen says it now believes everything is kosher, according to the Los Angeles Times:

Ratings giant Nielsen on Wednesday said it has concluded its investigation into inaccurate ratings in the Los Angeles radio market, but stopped short of sanctioning Univision Communications for alleged unethical conduct by a former station executive.

Last month, Nielsen discovered that a high-ranking Univision Radio executive at the company's Los Angeles station, KSCA-FM (101.9), had access to several of Nielsen's portable people meter devices that pick up audio signals. Nielsen uses data transmitted from the devices to determine which radio stations have the most listeners.

It is a violation of Nielsen rules for a station employee to have access to the devices. Univision quickly fired the executive and announced more rigorous ethics training sessions for its employees. No other station executives were reprimanded.

Nielsen notified radio stations on Wednesday that despite the problems it found with two households that were removed from its sample audience in Los Angeles, the agency would not go back and reissue the ratings for last year or the first quarter of 2014.

And yet KSCA, which had been 13th place in mornings as recently as January, is suddenly the No. 1 station between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. among listerners 12+ (5.0 share), up from 5th place in May. The station's new "El Bueno, La Mala y El Feo" show is also No. 1 with listeners 18-34 with a whopping 9.3 share, up a massive 3 share points from May (6.3).

KRTH "K-Earth 101"'s Gary Bryan is No. 2 with 12+ (4.9 share), followed by KLVE-FM's Omar y Argelia (4.3), KIIS' Ryan Seacrest (4.1) and KFI-AM's Bill Handel (3.9). In persons 18-34, KPWR "Power 106"'s Big Boy is second (7.5), then KIIS (5.8), KROQ's Kevin & Bean (5.2) and KBIG's Valentine (4.8). With persons 25-54, KROQ is No. 1 (5.3), then KSCA (4.9), KIIS (4.6), KLVE (4.1) and KBIG (3.8).

In total day listening, KRTH is extending its reign among persons 12+ (5.5 share), followed by KIIS (5.0), KBIG (4.9), KPWR (4.7) and KOST (4.1). KPWR is tops with listeners 18-34 (8.4 share), while KIIS leads with listeners 25-54 (5.2).

L.A. May Radio Ratings: KRTH's Surprise Surge To No. 1

After all the drama surrounding the last two months of Los Angeles radio ratings -- which may have been tampered with -- Nielsen Audio (which had held back on reporting May, due to the controversy) has finally revealed last month's numbers. And although I suppose Nielsen has solved whatever problem held them back, it's still an interesting month, as KRTH "K-Earth 101" has shot to the top of the charts.

It's a bit of a surprise: "K-Earth 101" is now tied for No. 1 in the market, among listeners 12+. For the weekly 6 a.m. to midnight average, KRTH tied KIIS in the top spot, with a 5.2 share each. That's after being K-Earth consistently ranking No. 5 or No. 6 for most of the past year. After K-Earth and KIIS it's KBIG "My FM" (4.8), KPWR "Power 106" (4.3) and a tie between KOST and Spanish-language KLVE (4.1).

In adults 18-34, Power 106 was No. 1 (7.8 share), while KIIS was No. 1 in adults 25-54.

The morning drive race is also interesting, as K-Earth morning host Gary Bryan took the top spot with persons 12+ (4.5 share). The show had never been above No. 5 in the past year. KIIS (4.4), KLVE and KROQ (4.3, tied) and KSCA (4.0) followed. KROQ was No. 1 with persons 25-54 (6.2) and Power 106 was No. 1 with listeners 18-34 (7.1).

May Sweeps L.A. TV Ratings: Good Month for KABC, KCAL, KTLA

With May sweeps wrapped up (although, I must note, L.A. is a metered market measured all year, so sweeps are pointless here), KABC/Channel 7 remains the local market leader in every news time slot. But KTLA has reason to crow in the mornings, as "KTLA Morning News" is a close second to KABC's "Good Morning America" (and where KTTV's "Good Day LA" continues to disappear). At 10 p.m., KCAL leads.

Here are the key weekday matchups. Ratings are for May 2014 (weekdays only), with May 2013 in parenthesis for comparison.

5 a.m.
KABC 129,000 (last year: 91,000)
KTLA 92,000 (84,000)
KNBC 38,000 (41,000)
KTTV 34,000 (39,000)
KCBS 25,000 (33,000)

6 a.m.
KABC 229,000 (last year: 180,000)
KTLA 178,000 (170,000)
KTTV 67,000 (88,000)
KNBC 62,000 (75,000)
KCBS 41,000 (54,000)

7 a.m. Morning shows
KABC (Good Morning America) 207,000 (last year: 197,000)
KTLA (KTLA Morning News) 200,000 (172,000)
KNBC (Today Show) 80,000 (84,000)
KTTV (Good Day LA) 74,000 (98,000)
KCBS (CBS This Morning) 60,000 (72,000)

5 p.m.
KABC 224,000 (last year: 239,000)
KNBC 132,000 (117,000)
KCBS 107,000 (94,000)
KTTV 54,000 (48,000)

6 p.m.
KABC 261,000 (last year: 247,000)
KNBC 117,000 (133,000)
KCBS 87,000 (83,000)
KTLA 66,000 (62,000)

Primetime
KABC 384,000 (last year: 410,000)
KCBS 303,000 (315,000)
KNBC 256,000 (295,000)
KTTV 242,000 (308,000)
KTLA 91,000 (92,000)
KCOP 43,000 (47,000)

10 p.m.
KCAL 149,000 (last year: 161,000)
KTLA 134,000 (145,000)
KTTV 125,000 (147,000)

11 p.m.
KABC 320,000 (last year: 303,000)
KCBS 218,000 (205,000)
KNBC 184,000 (183,000)

November Sweeps: KABC Rules, While KCAL Takes Back 10 p.m.

KCAL narrowly reclaimed the 10 p.m. November news crown this year among total viewers, eking out a razor's edge victory over No. 2 KTLA -- but there's an asterisk attached. KCAL and KTLA don't factor in the last 15 minutes of their 10 p.m. newscasts; those lower-rated sports reports are counted as a separate program. KTTV does, however. It's a very different story when the hours are all pit against each other. (KTTV scored a victory in the key news demo of adults 25-54.)

But nonetheless, KCAL was the only station to post November-to-November growth at 10 p.m., averaging 132,000 viewers -- up from 113,000 last year. KCAL took a hit last year after losing the Los Angeles Lakers contract to Time Warner Cable SportsNet, having won 10 p.m. in 2011 with 154,000 viewers. Meanwhile, KTLA and KTTV were both down.

It was another good November for KABC, which saw its 7 a.m. fortunes rise thanks to the growing dominance of "Good Morning America." KTLA also experienced growth for "KTLA Morning News." Much of that was at the expense of "Today," which lost a chunk of viewers.

Meanwhile, at 11 p.m., KABC pulled out far ahead in first place, after KCBS came within striking distance in 2012. This year, KABC was the only station to gain at 11 p.m., while KCBS and KNBC both saw some drops.

Here are the November 2013 results for the local L.A. market's English-language stations. (Sorry, I don't have KMEX numbers handy, but they are obviously a tremendous player in Los Angeles.)

Total Viewers

5 a.m. KABC 109,000
KTLA 98,000
KNBC 39,000
KCBS 33,000
KTTV 29,000

6 a.m.
KABC 213,000
KTLA 176,000
KNBC 68,000
KTTV 65,000
KCBS 39,000

7 a.m. Morning Shows
GOOD MORNING AMERICA (KABC) 242,000 (up from 215,000)
KTLA MORNING NEWS (KTLA) 210,000 (up from 193,000)
GOOD DAY L.A. (KTTV) 87,000 (down from 95,000)
TODAY (KNBC) 80,000 (down from 104,000)
CBS THIS MORNING (KCBS) 51,000

5 p.m.
KABC 258,000 (down from 283,000)
KNBC 147,000 (up from 146,000)
KCBS 110,000 (down from 129,000)
KTTV ("Studio 11 LA") 46,000 (up from 42,000)

6 p.m.
KABC 278,000 (down from 305,000)
KNBC 137,000 (down from 145,000)
KCBS 107,000 (down from 128,000)
KTLA 87,000 (up from 77,000)

6:30 p.m.
ABC WORLD NEWS (KABC) 277,000
NBC NIGHTLY NEWS (KNBC) 137,000
CBS EVENING NEWS (KCBS) 107,000
KTLA NEWS (KTLA) 102,000

Primetime
KABC 389,000
KCBS 342,000
KNBC 274,000
KTTV 234,000
KTLA 111,000

10 p.m.
KCAL 132,000 (up from 113,000)
KTLA 131,000 (down from 142,000)
KTTV 128,000 (down from 146,000)

11 p.m.
KABC 318,000 (up from 274,000)
KCBS 205,000 (down from 254,000)
KNBC 187,000 (down from 205,000)

25-54

5 a.m.
KTLA 0.8/14
KABC 0.7/13
KNBC/KTTV (tie) 0.3/5
KCBS 0.1/2

6 a.m.
KTLA 1.3/15
KABC 1.1/13
KTTV 0.7/9
KNBC 0.4/5
KCBS 0.2/2

7 a.m. Morning Shows
KTLA MORNING NEWS (KTLA) 1.3/12
GOOD MORNING AMERICA (KABC) 1.1/11
GOOD DAY L.A. (KTTV) 0.8/8
TODAY (KNBC) 0.4/4
CBS THIS MORNING (KCBS) 0.2/2

5 p.m.
KABC 0.8/4
KNBC 0.7/3
KTTV ("Studio 11 LA")/KCBS (tie) 0.4/2

6 p.m.
KABC 1.0/4
KNBC 0.5/2
KCBS/KTLA (tie) 0.4/2

6:30 p.m.
ABC WORLD NEWS (KABC) 1.0/4
NBC NIGHTLY NEWS (KNBC)/ KTLA (tie) 0.6/2
CBS EVENING NEWS (KCBS) 0.5/2

10 p.m.
KTTV 1.1/4
KCAL 0.9/3
KTLA 0.8/3

11 p.m.
KABC 1.8/9
KNBC 1.1/5
KCBS 1.0/5

(Photo: Malibu Times)

My Breakfast Chat with Fox's Kevin Reilly

Media Council Breakfast: Kevin Reilly, Fox Entertainment president/ Moderator: Michael Schneider, TV Guide Magazine

I sat down with Fox Entertainment president Kevin Reilly this morning to chat about the state of the TV biz for the Paley Center's Media Council Breakfast. We chatted about the mess that is pilot season, and how habits probably won't change; whether Nielsen's latest promise to retool the ratings system will fix things; how there will be a mountain of comedy on the air next season, including at Fox; whether "American Idol" is in need of change; if the networks are giving away too much of their content on other platforms; and much more.