Wachovia analyst Marci Ryvicker has been evaluating the Arbitron Spring numbers for Los Angeles and sees good news for Radio One, as it builds KRBV-FM "V100" after flipping it from KKBT "The Beat" last December. "The station showed a 42% year-over-year and a 13% sequential increase among A25-54 in the Spring ratings book after having posted a 7% y/y and a 50% sequential improvement during the Winter period. Should this trend continue, there could be potential upside to Q4 estimates," she said. Emmis also did well. "The promotional push at KMVN-FM in LA seems to be working given the station's 25% and 71% sequential improvement among A25-54 and A18-34, respectively," Ryvicker said.
But Entravision was a disappointment in LA. "Entravision's LA cluster lost the momentum it had gained during the Winter period, as evidenced by its recent 27% y/y and 18% sequential declines among A18-34. Management stated that previous rating declines in this important market (38% of radio rev. and 12% of company rev) had not impacted revenue growth, but we are not sure if this trend will continue," Ryvicker warned in a note to clients.
