Radio AM to FM - July 24, 1998

Radio AM to FM: July 24, 1998

It was a banner quarter for the two leading Spanish-language radio stations in Los Angeles, as co-owned KLVE and KSCA were both up in the Spring Arbitrons to a combined 12.1 percent of the overall "12-plus" (aged 12 and over) audience.

KLVE jumped a full point to 6.3 and in the process reclaimed the 1st place slot it held for a year before being knocked to second by KSCA. KSCA, meanwhile, increased 0.4 to 5.8 and came in a solid second. In the distance is a 3.9 share third-place tie of KPWR (down from 4.0) and KFI (down from 4.4); KKBT took fifth with a 3.8 share, down from 3.9.

Many observers were predicting that KCMG -- Mega 100 -- would dominate the oldies format by overtaking perennial oldies leader KRTH. Alas, this did not happen ... this time. But it sure is close: KRTH tied for 7th with a 3.3 share (down from 3.4), while Mega took 12th with 3.1 (up from 2.7). This is the perhaps the first time since KRTH went all-oldies in 1986 that its dominance in the format is being challenged.

There was good news for KABC: the talk station that has seen its share of the ratings pie decline dramatically over the past three years saw an upswing, to 2.9 from 2.6. KLSX, on the other hand, saw a decline to 2.2 from 2.4.

Is the competition among talk stations causing all-news stations to become less relevant? Judge for yourself: KNX came in at 2.4 -- a drop of 0.1 -- while KFWB earned a 1.9 share -- a decline of 0.2. Combined, the two all-news stations barely earn what each used to earn separately.

And finally, KIIS-FM -- a station that has the top-40 format all to itself in Los Angeles -- declined to its lowest rating since 1981, 3.3 from 3.8. You gotta hand it to owner Jacor, they really know how to run a radio station ... into the ground.

Here are the Spring 1998 ratings, as determined by Arbitron. Each rating is an estimate of the percentage of people aged 12 and over, tuned to a station between the hours of 6 am and 12 midnight.

Station: Spring-Last Winter

1. KLVE: 6.3-5.3

2. KSCA: 5.8-5.4

3. KPWR: 3.9-4.0

3. KFI: 3.9-4.4

5. KKBT: 3.8-3.9

6. KLAX: 3.5-3.4

7. KTWV: 3.3-3.3

7. KIIS: 3.3-3.8

7. KOST: 3.3-3.8

7. KROQ: 3.3-3.4

7. KRTH: 3.3-3.4

12. KCMG: 3.1-2.7

13. KABC: 2.9-2.6

13. KYSR: 2.9-2.9

15. KBIG: 2.6-3.0

15. KLOS: 2.6-2.3

17. KCBS-FM: 2.4-2.5

17. KNX: 2.4-2.5

19. KZLA: 2.3-2.3

20. KTNQ: 2.2-1.8

20. KLSX: 2.2-2.4

20. KLAC 2.2-2.2

23. KFWB: 1.9-2.1

23. KKGO: 1.9-1.9

25. KBUE 1.6-1.7

26. KJLH: 1.5-1.2

27. KSSE: 1.3-1.5

28. KLYY: 1.0-0.8

28. KWKW: 1.0-0.8

30. KACE: 0.7-0.8

30. KRLA: 0.7-0.6

30. KXTA: 0.7-*

30. KACD/KBCD: 0.7-0.6

34. KKHJ: 0.6-0.6

34. KKLA: 0.6-0.6

34. XTRA: 0.6-0.8

37. KGIL: 0.4-0.4

37. KIEV: 0.4-0.5

37. KWVE: 0.4-0.4

37. KRRA: 0.4-*

41. KDIS: 0.3-0.4

41, KFRG: 0.3-*

43. KBUA: 0.1-0.2

43. KRTO: 0.1-0.1

* = No rating listed for Winter, 1998

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