Arbitron releases RADAR 90 network radio ratings
Arbitron released its September RADAR radio network audience reports (RADAR 90) covering the June 30, 2005 - June 21, 2006. The sample size for RADAR 90 has been increased to 112,519 diarykeepers, up from 106,299 in RADAR 89. By the release of RADAR 92 in March 2007, the RADAR radio network service will be based on an annual sample size of 125,000 diarykeepers. The Market-by-Market Analysis report now includes the Top 50 DMAs, such that users can choose among any of the Top 50 DMAs as well as the top 10, 25 and 50 DMAs.
Dial-Global and Jones MediaAmerica were up. Dial-Global continues its solid growth; MediaAmerica lost 5% in the prior RADAR.
Probably the biggest story in RADAR 90 was all the larger audience growth was in the newer networks (e.g., Dial-Global and Jones MediaAmerica). Jones MediaAmerica's Weather Channel TWC net hit #2 in P12+, up from #3 in RADAR 89. Dial Global announced gains on all three RADAR nets. Its News & Information and Contemporary networks showed double digit increases over RADAR 89, while its Complete FM maintained the # 1 overall ranking Adults 18-49. Dial Global Complete FM increased another 8% from RADAR 89 among Adults 18-49.
Dial Global's Contemporary rose more than 18% to rank fourth among all nets in Adults18-49. Dial Global News & Information increased more than 14% among Adults 25-54.
More highlights:
* Crystal Media Network was up slightly
* ABC and Premiere were basically flat
* AURN was down slightly (again)
* Westwood continues experiencing decreasing audiences.
* Overall, total gross impressions for all of the networks were basically flat.
* Westwood One no longer has the most Gross Impressions. WW1's continual downward audience spiral is being addressed by their recently announced reconfigurations. However, is this new reconfiguration going to bring more audience into network radio or simply mask overall decreasing audiences?
