From the Graham Hicks blog (Edmonton Sun)...

MORE ON THE SPRING II RADIO RATINGS IN EDMONTON

More from the "Spring II" Bureau of Broadcast Measurements, the now four times a year analysis of who's listening to what radio station, based on samplings from test periods.

"Share" refers to a formula based on number of people listened, and hours tuned in per week. The number in brackets is the "share" for the same time period the year before.

1. CISN, 13 share (5.6). First time in many years that CISN is back on top. Not that parent company Corus entertainment frets, given it's usually its all-news/sports CHED and CISN in the one-two spot in the Edmonton market.

CISN benefited from the demise of Big Earl, the third country radio station in the market that was a big failure on Newcap's part. Plus it's a well-run station, with heritage jocks in Chris Scheetz and Bruce Bowie and when Big Earl came on the scene, it took the time to review its own act and clean up any small faults.

2. CHED 11.3 (12.3). No big deal for the super-station to be in #2 spot, especially since there were no Oilers broadcasts during the rating period.

3. The Bear 9.7 (7.7). Like a rock, with stable on-air personalities and a mix of old and new rock that has garnered a big audience.

4. The Bounce 8.2 (6.5). This is a surprise, and we'll have to watch to see if the Bounce can consistently stay above a 7 share. Could the Bounce have peeled listeners away from Sonic? Plus its' personnel have settled down into long-term runs on various time slots.

5. EZ Rock 8.1 (7.7). Holding off the invasion of similar formats - Magic, Capital and Joe FM, very well.

6. CFCW 7.3 (3.1). That number in brackets was one of those classic BBM wierdnesses, where a station for no reason has a big dive, then comes back up in a book or two. Usually it's because the methodology in collecting the data is faulty. Meanwhile, ironically, CFCW did well because its sister station Big Earl - kaput - was no longer cannibalizing listeners. Plus the morning show of Sharon Mallon and Danny Hooper is settling into a good long run.

(The BBMs appeared to have screwed up royally, throwing in CFCW-FM (Cam-FM out of Camrose) with exactly the same numbers as CFCW. Which is totally impossible, as Camrose doesn't A) beam into Edmonton and  has never had more than a 1 share ever.)

7. JOE-FM 6.7 (8.7). This is a funny one, given Joe's a good nostalgia '80s station with decent on-air personality. But it did drop significantly this time out. Maybe due to Capital FM?

8. Capital FM 4.9 (2.0 as Big Earl). When Cool 880 died on the AM dial, and Big Earl was on life-support, Newcap flipped Big Earl into a more modern FM version of Cool 880.

Folks do like the music, and, without a name DJ yet for the morning show, the station is showing surprisingly good numbers coming out of the box.

With Magic 99 not budging out of the basement, might Capital FM go after former Edmonton boss jock Rob Christie to anchor its morning show? Be a good move for Capital FM.

9. CBC 1 4.9 (9.. The number in brackets was a big BBM anomaly, and CBC Edmonton has gone back to its forever 4 to 5 share. Should be higher given the quality of the local shows, but there's still a big segment in town that believes the CBC is too anti-Alberta (anti red meat, pick-up trucks, free enterprise, Conservatives and oil sands. Pro anybody knocking Alberta for whatever reason) to listen on a regular basis.

10. Sonic 4.6 (8.0). Very strange drop in the ratings. Suspect it's another BBM methodology mistake.


11. K-97 4.4 (4.1 as K-Rock). How the mighty have fallen. K-Rock decided, with its ratings in the toilet, to pursue its "heritage" as K-97. Seems to be window-dressing. Let's hope for a point or two rising in the ratings.

12. Magic 99 2.0 (3.7). Oh dear. My buddy Rob Christie and his station continue to languish in the BBM doldrums, and as it's going on two years, and ratings keep dropping ... Some say Rawlco will bail and put the station up for sale.

13. CBC 2 2.0 (5.3). Who cares.

14. iNews880 1.9 (2.1 as Cool 880). This bold and expensive exercise in 24-hour a day news is just getting underway. Sure hope it works, because it's terrific having an all-news station with plenty of local content. Support local news! Keep dropping in on iNews when you're in your car!

15. The Team 1260 1.6 (1.2): The team may get tiny "share" but it has a big audience in the sports-crazy males, 25 to 50. And its top shows are doing well both in content and advertising.

An interesting book. I'd like to see if these trends continue, but then again there is always a surprise or two each period, yes?

I'm curious about Graham's relationship with Rob Christie and if it affects his opinions about Edmonton radio.

I know Rob was popular ten or fifteen years ago at Power, but I believe since then he hasn't had the most impressive track record... anywhere. Please correct me (with #'s) if I'm not accurate.
  

Quoted from Coffee Table

I'm curious about Graham's relationship with Rob Christie and if it affects his opinions about Edmonton radio.

Oh, no at all ... except for helping his buddy out with a pitch to 96.3 should his current employer be put on blocks.

By the way, if you want to know where Graham gets some of his material, check out http://lastlinkontheleft.com/r020a20082latespringearlysummer.html

Quoted from freqfreak2

Oh, no at all ... except for helping his buddy out with a pitch to 96.3 should his current employer be put on blocks.

Rawlco is not expecting big ratings. Granted, they'd like to do a little better but I don't think they fought this hard for a license just to  sell the station. They run a pretty lean machine.  

Rumour has it Rawlco has been sold to CTV/CHUM.
The decision is supposed to come down aftere the Edmonton CRTC hearing decisions in September. Both Rawlco and CTV/CHUM have applied for a new license in Edmonton and if they complete the deal before the decision, they could both loose the opportunity for the new license in Edmonton.

.

Quoted from DaveTheCompGuy

MORE ON THE SPRING II RADIO RATINGS IN EDMONTON .....

Someone should educate the estimable Mr. Hicks as to what S2 stands for.  NOT "Spring II" but rather "Survey Two."

Quoted from fine tuning

Rumour has it Rawlco has been sold to CTV/CHUM.
The decision is supposed to come down aftere the Edmonton CRTC hearing decisions in September. Both Rawlco and CTV/CHUM have applied for a new license in Edmonton and if they complete the deal before the decision, they could both loose the opportunity for the new license in Edmonton.

.

All of Rawlco or just Magic?

Bogus!!

Would be a perfect fit for CTV....2 in Calgary/Edmonton, signals is Saskatechewan where they have nothing. Aren't any conflicts anywhere.

Quoted from boredop

Someone should educate the estimable Mr. Hicks as to what S2 stands for.  NOT "Spring II" but rather "Survey Two."

Nope. Hicks is correct. "Survey 2". BBM did away with seasons a few years back. "S1" actually happens entirely in winter.

Why would Rawlco sell? Besides making a pretty penny, what would drive them to sell? And like Aaron asked would it just be Alberta or would it move into Saskatchewan too?

Best time possible to sell with the SK economy trending upwards and no ceiling in sight at the present.  Gets Rawlinson the best dollar for the properties right now, and with other players in acquisition mode, it would get CTV/CHUM a solid block of stations without having to go through the "new license lottery" that every single other big player would to get ONE station.  They would get established clusters that are maxed out in every single market (Stoon, Regina, P.A., N.B. all have 3 licenses each)

Regardless if they sell or not, once Magic's licence is up, they will plead hardship and have the specialty condition revoked.

Quoted from newsjunkie

Regardless if they sell or not, once Magic's licence is up, they will plead hardship and have the specialty condition revoked.

How long is Rawlco (Magic 99) locked into their specialty licence?  

Magic signed on at 2 p.m. on December 8, 2005.

Usually the specialty licences are five or seven years, so there's still a while to go.

Anybody know Rawlco's financial health in Saskatchewan (are the stations doing well in their markets?)