Detroit area radio in Flint and surrounds
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Feature/writer
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Detroit area radio in Flint and surrounds
what kind of presence do Detroit-based stations (eg. WJR,WWJ) show up in the Flint ratings books?
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MWmetalhead
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Re: Detroit area radio in Flint and surrounds
Very few if any Detroit stations ever subscribe to the Flint book.
Since Nielsen (other than brief exceptions to the rule) only publishes data for stations who subscribe to ratings data for the market in question, it is tough for the general public to get a consistent read of Detroit radio listenership in Genesee County.
Nearly all Detroit FM stations have terrible reception in Genesee County due to TX distance coupled with the rugged terrain near and just south of the Oakland / Genesee border. 97.1 The Ticket, 104.3 WOMC, and Channel 9-5-5 are probably the only commercial FMs that deliver a semi-decent signal to the southern half of the county.
WRIF, if operating at full strength with a properly tuned transmitting antenna, *should* be amongst that group of stations, but I've never had great luck picking up their signal well in the Flint area, and the last two times I've driven up there, WRIF was completely unreceivable.
97.1 The Ticket was generally the best ratings getter of the FMs at around a 2 share when data used to be publicly published. WRIF was usually around a 1.5 share in Genesee County during the Drew & Mike era.
WJR's numbers in its home market of Detroit have crashed so hard over the past 10 - 15 years that citation of Flint market numbers from that period would likely be not reliable.
WWJ generally grabbed around a 1.5 share, if I remember correctly, when figures for out of market stations were routinely published.
Since Nielsen (other than brief exceptions to the rule) only publishes data for stations who subscribe to ratings data for the market in question, it is tough for the general public to get a consistent read of Detroit radio listenership in Genesee County.
Nearly all Detroit FM stations have terrible reception in Genesee County due to TX distance coupled with the rugged terrain near and just south of the Oakland / Genesee border. 97.1 The Ticket, 104.3 WOMC, and Channel 9-5-5 are probably the only commercial FMs that deliver a semi-decent signal to the southern half of the county.
WRIF, if operating at full strength with a properly tuned transmitting antenna, *should* be amongst that group of stations, but I've never had great luck picking up their signal well in the Flint area, and the last two times I've driven up there, WRIF was completely unreceivable.
97.1 The Ticket was generally the best ratings getter of the FMs at around a 2 share when data used to be publicly published. WRIF was usually around a 1.5 share in Genesee County during the Drew & Mike era.
WJR's numbers in its home market of Detroit have crashed so hard over the past 10 - 15 years that citation of Flint market numbers from that period would likely be not reliable.
WWJ generally grabbed around a 1.5 share, if I remember correctly, when figures for out of market stations were routinely published.
Trump is too stupid to know what "reciprocal" means.
Re: Detroit area radio in Flint and surrounds
That’s roughly what I would say. 97.1 would probably draw the best of the FMs due to sports coverage. Tiny 1330 doesn’t reach far at all, certainly not as much as predicted.
WWJ probably draws around a 1, WJR likely similar due to no actual talk stations in Flint anymore. WFDF likely draws hashmarks, a 0.1 at best.
I haven’t been up there in several months (southern Genesee), and at that time I generally stuck to Flint stations because I can’t get them down here, minus 600AM to a degree. Used to get a scratchy WCRZ before the translator.
WWJ probably draws around a 1, WJR likely similar due to no actual talk stations in Flint anymore. WFDF likely draws hashmarks, a 0.1 at best.
I haven’t been up there in several months (southern Genesee), and at that time I generally stuck to Flint stations because I can’t get them down here, minus 600AM to a degree. Used to get a scratchy WCRZ before the translator.
Re: Detroit area radio in Flint and surrounds
WKQI pulled a 2.0 share in the spring of 2023, nearly beating Club 93.7's 2.2 share that book.
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Colonel Flagg
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Re: Detroit area radio in Flint and surrounds
When I worked in Flint in the 80's, WJR had strong numbers in Flint, and was certainly a factor. This was Birch, not Arbitron. Same thing in Lansing. WRIF was easily heard in Grand Blanc, but WWCK was the #1 rock station in Flint. Live and local WTRX, WKMF/WCRZ, and WFDF were constantly trying to stay a step ahead of account executives from WJR....35+ years ago.
In the Lansing market, WRIF was listenable around Williamston. My former coworker, Jerry Barnhart (WJXQ, WFMK, WJIM) had WRIF locked in on his home stereo at his place in Williamston. He said WLLZ, on 98.7 was a little tougher.
In the Lansing market, WRIF was listenable around Williamston. My former coworker, Jerry Barnhart (WJXQ, WFMK, WJIM) had WRIF locked in on his home stereo at his place in Williamston. He said WLLZ, on 98.7 was a little tougher.
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MWmetalhead
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Re: Detroit area radio in Flint and surrounds
Depending on which direction my car's antenna is facing, Williamston's seems about right in terms of the dividing line where WRIF's signal is semi-usable versus unusable - assuming the station is broadcasting at full strength.
In Jackson County, the dividing line is roughly the US 127 / I-94 junction.
For 98.7 WDZH, I usually have a tough time keeping a usable signal once I cross from Livingston County into Ingham County on I-96.
In Jackson County, the dividing line is roughly the US 127 / I-94 junction.
For 98.7 WDZH, I usually have a tough time keeping a usable signal once I cross from Livingston County into Ingham County on I-96.
Trump is too stupid to know what "reciprocal" means.
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ChrisWL1980
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Re: Detroit area radio in Flint and surrounds
Looking at the Spring 1976 Flint Arbitron numbers on WorldRadioHistory.com. WJR was tied for 5th in the metro area (with WTAC), behind WFDF (1st), WKMF (2nd), and WGMZ and WAMM (tied for 3rd). In the TSA, WJR ranked 2nd, behind only 96.1 WHNN (though WHNN came in 9th in the metro behind WWCK in 8th). WJR also rated first in morning drive and third (behind 910 and 1470) in 35-64. The only other Detroit-area station having an impact was, of course, CKLW (6th in 12+ TSA cume).
WJR was doing even better in Lansing, where it tied for third 12+ with WFMK and was one of four stations (the top two being WVIC and WITL) with over a 10 share. In the TSA, WJR had third all to itself and CKLW was 9th. And as in Flint, WJR rated first in morning drive. CKLW must have had a must more listenable signal in the Capitol area back then; these days it's barely listenable at all during the day and maybe slightly better at night.
Also interesting, though OT, is that B/EZ WJIM-FM was getting its ass kicked in its own market by WOOD-FM. 105.7 ranked #5 and outrated 97.5 (8th) by more than 2:1.
WJR was doing even better in Lansing, where it tied for third 12+ with WFMK and was one of four stations (the top two being WVIC and WITL) with over a 10 share. In the TSA, WJR had third all to itself and CKLW was 9th. And as in Flint, WJR rated first in morning drive. CKLW must have had a must more listenable signal in the Capitol area back then; these days it's barely listenable at all during the day and maybe slightly better at night.
Also interesting, though OT, is that B/EZ WJIM-FM was getting its ass kicked in its own market by WOOD-FM. 105.7 ranked #5 and outrated 97.5 (8th) by more than 2:1.