WINNIPEG S2 RATINGS SPRING 2009  12+

Station                                                                S2 09                                 S1 09

CJOB                NewsTalk                         17.6                                   15.6
CBW                 Radio One                        10.9                                   10.7
CKMM               CHR Top 40                      10.5                                   10.0
CKY FM             Clear FM/Soft AC               8.5                                    8.0
CFQX                Country                             7.9                                    8.9
CFWM               BOB FM                             7.8                                    7.6
CJKR                 Active Rock                       7.2                                    6.6
CITI                  Classic Rock                      6.9                                    8.1
CHIQ                 Hot AC                             3.5                                    3.5
CFRW                Oldies                              2.2                                    3.2
CJGV                 Groove FM                        1.8                                    1.8
CHNK                 Hank FM/Country              0.9                                    1.3
CKSB                                                         0.3                                     0.9

  

Where is CFRW?

Quoted from Donovan

Where is CFRW?

and I was joking to Ron when he said he needed his bi-focals, it turns out me too!
and it took someone with no visual site to point it out!
I've just corrected, thanks Donovan  :)

Wow ! Hanks numbers have really become a anomaly at this point.

Gotta feel bad for Hank.  They are REALLY trying to get those numbers up and have been doing some really great stuff with contesting, but it just doesn't seem to be taking a dent out of QX.  I'm not sure what more they can do - but i wish them the best of luck.

You just can't compete with a heritage station like QX  ??) and if you do '  you need more together management than what Newcap has there. Contesting does not mean crap unless you have the substance to back it up . Lets face it  :P if you cant get a station above a  "ONE SHARE " in over 2 years ' you should just hang it up.

While I totally agree with the mentioned statements about Hank FM.  We must not forget the station still has a specialty licence dragging it down and until very recently, Hank had a small signal coverage area.  

I visited Winnipeg a few months back, and scanning the dial I did note QX-104 is certainly a listenable station, but it is pretty vanilla in terms of content and personality (corporate radio, dare I say).  While QX is a powerhouse heritage station, I do believe a well programmed creative country station could certainly hold its own in Winnipeg.  Unfortunately, I don't think that will ever be Hank FM... too bad.  

IF I were in management at NewCap, I think I would follow the Edmonton lead and switch to classic hits/oldies... CFRW is voice tracked most of the day, so maybe a creative FM oldies station could scoop up some listeners.  After all, ratings can't get much worse for 100.7!

I think the reality of this situation is that QX is simply the better of the two stations - and I know its been discussed before.  Stronger, experienced announcers, familiarity in Music and Programming and a reputation.  Its hard to go up against that with announcers who a: Dont know the format and b: dont have any on-air experience previous to working at HANK.  Call me crazy, but how many announcers do you know that start in Major Markets in Major Dayparts and succeed?  Doesn't seem to be many, then again hasn't it always been a revolving door over there anyway?

Undoubtedly NewCap has had to battle uphill against their specialty license in an effort to try and be competitive, yet clearly it isnt working.  While I'm sure begging the CRTC to have the conditions removed will be a great start and all, I think you also need to look at the product being provided and the people creating it; after all Religious Music all Sunday morning is wonderful in Yorkton, but probably not so much in Winnipeg...

Do they change format? Perhaps, hey it never hurts, mind you you cant just keep doing that every other year either can you.  On the flip side, if you can remove the conditions of the license, bring in some experienced talent and blow it up, hey it just might work.  Take FUEL, errr Amp'd Calgary, wouldn't a CHR Battle in Winnipeg be fun if it was done right?

Then again, maybe that'll be Evanov's plan for after the Jewel.  Insightful isnt it?

CRT - Sorry for taking so long to respond.  I must've somehow passed over this by accident!! ;)

It's been awhile since I've listened to either, but based on what I see from Facebook posts, etc. HANK seems like the superior station, musically.  They are actually DOING stuff with the artists and having live performances (Backyard BBQs with Pritchett and Jo Hikk, Breakfast Pajama Jam Kitchen Party with Ruttan, and lots more) whereas the music seems secondary to QX.  

I fully believe that 104 relies on 2 things - big give aways like their Pay Your Bills contest, and the fact that they're a heritage.  It's almost like people just listen to it "because we always have" (I know that's why my mother does).  There was a time when QX had a strong musical presence, and reached out the the rural audience (anyone remember when QX used to send out actual jocks to the small towns out by the Whiteshell to hand out stickers???) which are two hugely important things to me.  I remember learning SO much from Joel Lamouroux about country music, but now - not so much.  The music is very secondary.  It seems to me that I could learn a lot more right now from Abbey at Hank, tho - other than him - I'm not sure there's anyone else there that comes from a Country background.

I heard rumours that before the dude in the shades took over the afternoon slot, they'd reached out to a couple people who were strong on music, but not necessarily with major market experience.  Dunno if that woulda been the way to go or not, but, it appears their situation now isn't any better.

How has Moose been in the morning?  Anyone able to give a half-way aircheck??  I know the QX jocks have more experience, but other than Karen Black, I don't think many of them have much knowledge in the country world.

I dunno, I think I'm babbling now, but I figured I'd drop my 2 cents on this to keep CRT happy!! ;)

And i am sure New Cap is happy with their ratings Abbey "ah i mean er ah"  Poppa. The public is not so dumb as they don't realize a desperate attempt to sound like another station'  and as i am sure Hank has their followers it will not be enough to pull their ass from the fire. For all the good things i have heard about New Cap as a company i don't think they are willing to bleed money from their eyeballs forever. Taking things to a grassroots level is not only a great thing but the ONLY thing a station with no ratings or money can do to gain listenership. The "dude in the shades" if Jeff Daniels and is the most talented jock they have. People don't want to hear stupid humor on the radio any more or on air stunts ' it just pisses them off and insults their intelligence. Thats why QX 104 is beating the crap out of them.

Quoted from Poppa

I fully believe that 104 relies on 2 things - big give aways like their Pay Your Bills contest, and the fact that they're a heritage.  It's almost like people just listen to it "because we always have" (I know that's why my mother does).

If it's working, what's the problem? Plenty of stations do big giveaways and the stations that don't, wish they did. As for whether heritage means anything, I guess that's up to the listener. After 2 1/2 years in the market, most people know that HANK exists, they just don't care.

Quoted from Poppa

There was a time when QX had a strong musical presence, and reached out the the rural audience (anyone remember when QX used to send out actual jocks to the small towns out by the Whiteshell to hand out stickers???) which are two hugely important things to me.  I remember learning SO much from Joel Lamouroux about country music, but now - not so much.  The music is very secondary.  It seems to me that I could learn a lot more right now from Abbey at Hank, tho - other than him - I'm not sure there's anyone else there that comes from a Country background.

Handing out stickers to rural towns is not going to win the ratings war. How many stickers and banner and semi-truck rentals did HANK go through during the CCMAs in Winnipeg last year? Tons! What did it get them in the ratings? Zip!

Exactly how is the "music secondary"? Just because a third stringer like Derrek Ruttan isn't singing in someone's kitchen, courtesy of QX 104?

Poppa, I always find your enthusiasm and your opinions refreshing, but you have to get off this man-crush you have for Abbey White. It's a little creepy...  ;)

Com'n, Abbey is the saving grace of Newcap Winnipeg, EVERYBODY knows that:  clearly having an assortment of Canadian Country Artists in your Blackberry is doing wonders for HANK - not so much eh.

Lets take a look at who's come and gone since the launch of HANK shall we, its a long list but lets see if we can figure it out, well start with those who've departed:

Rick Loewen (Mornings)
Troy Scott (Mornings)
Clay Young (News)
Julian Tuck (PD / MD / Drive)
Jay Lawrence (PD / MD / Middays)
Mike Maryk (Traffic, Middays, Drive, MD)
Kim Babij (News)
Simone Gilles (Mornings)

And those that are still there:

Moose (Mornings)
Julie Buckingham (Mornings)
Carrie Jones (Middays)
Jeff Daniels (Drive)
JR (Evenings)
Abbey White (PD / MD / Wknds)

Wow, in hindsight preparing that list makes it look just as ridiculous as it is - whats also fascinating is that the vast majority of those gone are all by the doing of the current PD, thats clearly worked out well.

Oh ya and Poppa, man crushes or bromances can be cool and hey striving for a Major Market is a great goal; my suggestion however, pick someone succcessful in a big market to go after  8)