KOGO-AM, XHTZ-FM, KGB-FM and KHTS-FM were the winners in the local radio market’s summer rankings.
For June, July and August of this year, the Arbitron Co.’s listener-diary system found that the largest audience belonged to KHTS, a “Top-40” contemporary hits station commonly known as Channel 933.
The station’s cumulative audience, the total number of different people who listened to the station during the time period, was 444,200, according to Arbitron’s system.
KHTS is owned by San Antonio-based Clear Channel Communications, Inc.
San Diego’s market population was listed as 2,399,600, and the report covered the entire week, 6 a.m. through midnight.
The stations were ranked by AQH share, which is the average number of people listening to a station for at least five minutes within a 15-minute period.
With a 6.2 percent share among the most general listener demographic, people 12 years and older, Clear Channel talk station KOGO ranked first among local stations.
Following KOGO were hip-hop and R & B; format XHTZ, called Jammin’ Z-90, and KHTS. The stations had shares of 5.4 and 5.2, respectively. XHTZ is owned by Califormula Broadcasting and KHTS is another Clear Channel station.
In the 18- to 34-year-old audience, XHTZ ranked first, with a 10.8 share. KIOZ-FM, called Rock 105.3, was second with an 8.8 share and KHTS was third with a 7.9 share. Clear Channel also owns KIOZ.
With listeners 25-54 years of age, classic rock station KGB-FM ranked first, with a 6.5 share. Hot adult contemporary station KFMB-FM, known as Star 100.7, was next with a 5.3 share and romantic favorites station KYXY-FM was third with a 5.2 share.
Clear Channel owns KGB, Chicago-based Midwest Television, Inc. owns KFMB and New York City-based Infinity Broadcasting Corp. owns KYXY.
Mark Larson, president of the San Diego Radio Broadcasters Association, said the ratings themselves indicate the local radio industry is as healthy as ever.
“What the ratings tell you is that based on whatever you believe about the ratings you’ll see some movement within formats,” Larson said. “Some of that is seasonal and based on who’s able to take time to fill out an Arbitron diary,” he said.
“What it does show you is that there’s more diversity of format,” he added.
Where there has been concern that the consolidation of radio companies would cut down the number of choices for listeners, it hasn’t been that way, Larson said.
“There are more choices and more active radio stations really giving it a shot in a variety of formats than ever,” he said. “Revenues are up and ratings are strong for radio in general, so that’s the good news.”
