December 2020 PPM Data – Information for the December 2020 ratings period has been released for New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Nassau-Suffolk (Long Island), Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, San Jose, and Middlesex-Somerset-Union.

Nielsen Audio’s December 2020 survey period covered November 5 – December 2.

Here are some highlights from spoken-word stations finishing in their respective markets’ top 20.

NEWS/TALK

• After doubling (+1.8) its 6+ AQH share in four straight gains (1.8 – 1.9 – 2.3 – 2.8 – 3.6, 6+), iHeartMedia’s WOR “710 The Voice of New York” forfeits nearly half that windfall with a December 2020 -.8 to 2.8 (6+) and departs the top ten (#9 to #13).
• Six straight up or flat reports by WABC net three-tenths (1.4 – 1.4 – 1.4 – 1.4 – 1.5 – 1.7 – 1.7, 6+) as the Cumulus Media New York outlet cracks the top twenty (#21 to #20).
• In addition to progressing from fourth to third, iHeartMedia Los Angeles’ KFI “AM 640” is up a collective seven-tenths in four straight sweeps without a loss (3.9 – 4.0 – 4.5 – 4.5 – 4.6, 6+).
• Off a collective eight-tenths in four consecutive dips (3.6 – 3.1 – 3.0 – 2.9 – 2.8, 6+), Nexstar Media Group Chicago’s WGN “Radio 720” continues at #11.
• Cross-town Cumulus Media-owned WLS-AM “890 AM,” which was up six-tenths via three straight gains (1.9 – 2.1 – 2.2 – 2.5, 6+), surrenders half that windfall (2.2, -.3, #13 to #15, 6+).
• More than doubling (+1.1) its 6+ AQH share in five successive sweeps without a loss (1.0 – 1.2 – 1.4 – 1.7 – 1.7 – 2.1, 6+), Cumulus Media San Francisco’s KGO jumps from #19 to #15.
• After posting four straight flat or up trends for a net gain of three-tenths (1.7 – 1.7 – 1.7 – 1.7 – 2.0, 6+), KGO cluster-mate KSFO “560 – The Bay Area’s Exclusive Hot Talk” relinquishes the entire gain (1.7, #16 to #19, 6+).
• In three straight upticks, Cumulus Media Dallas’ WBAP was +2.2 (2.7 – 3.1 – 3.3 – 4.9, 6+), but “News Talk 820” erodes by nine-tenths to 4.0 (fourth to seventh, 6+).
• An overall +2.1 in three successive gains (5.3 – 5.6 – 6.5 – 7.4, 6+), iHeartMedia Houston’s KTRH “News Radio 740” returns one-third of that increase (6.7, -.7, 6+) and ends its November-only run at #1 by segueing to #2.
• After being a cumulative +1.4 through three straight increases (10.1 – 10.6 – 11.0 – 11.5, 6+), Cox Media Group-owned WSB-AM & WSBB-FM plummets by -1.8 to 9.7 (6+); however, “Atlanta’s News & Talk” is #1 the 18^th time in succession.
• Following three straight gains that accounted for a +1.1 (1.4 – 1.7 – 2.2 – 2.5, 6+), Entercom Philadelphia’s WPHT “Talk Radio 1210” falters by four-tenths to 2.1 (6+) but remains at #17.
• Having been a combined +1.1 in October/November (3.8 – 4.4 – 4.9, 6+), iHeartMedia’s WOR “710 The Voice of New York” returns roughly half that boon (4.3, -.6, 6+), tumbling from fourth in the Long Island report to ninth.
• Unlisted 13 successive Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario sweeps, iHeartMedia-owned KKDD “1290 News Talk IE” resurfaced this time last month with a .1 (6+) and adds one-tenth (.2, #18 to #16, 6+).
• Six straight San Jose sweeps without a loss yield an overall +1.1 (1.6 – 1.6 – 1.8 – 2.1 – 2.2 – 2.7 – 2.7, 6+) as Cumulus Media’s KGO enters the top ten (#11 to #10).
• The third decrease in a row by Townsquare Media’s WKXW accounts for a collective -1.9 (6.6 – 6.1 – 5.7 – 4.7, 6+) with “New Jersey 101.5” falling from fourth in Middlesex-Somerset-Union to sixth.
• Following three consecutive Middlesex gains that resulted in a +1.2 (1.7 – 2.2 – 2.6 – 2.9, 6+), iHeartMedia’s WOR “710 The Voice of New York” regresses by seven-tenths to 2.2 (#15 to #17, 6+).

NEWS

• Up two-tenths this time last month, Entercom New York City’s WINS drops one-tenth (3.4 – 3.3, 6+) but repeats at #10.
• In four consecutive down or flat sweeps, cluster-mate WCBS-AM “News Radio 880” has lost a collective six-tenths (3.1 – 2.7 – 2.7 – 2.7 – 2.6 – 2.5, 6+) and continues at #15.
• An overall -1.0 via five consecutive reports without an increase (3.9 – 3.2 – 3.1 – 3.0 – 2.9 – 2.9, 6+), Entercom Los Angeles-owned KNX “1070 News Radio” snaps the skid with a +.4 to 3.3 (6+) and jumps from #11 to #7.
• Having held Chicago’s runner-up slot the past three months, Entercom’s WBBM-AM & WCFS “News Radio 780 AM & 105.9 FM” (Bears) – which is in alternating up/down sequence (7.0 – 7.3 – 6.4 – 6.9 – 6.5 – 6.8, 6+) – shifts to #3.
• A combined +1.5 in November/December (7.6 – 7.8 – 9.1, 6+), Entercom-owned KCBS-AM & KFRC is in San Francisco’s runner-up slot the third month in a row.
• As a result of three straight down or flat reports, Entercom Philadelphia’s KYW was a collective -1.5 (6.1 – 5.9 – 4.6 – 4.6, 6+), but “News Radio 1060” ends the slide with a +.3 to 4.9 (flat at #7, 6+).
• In three straight Long Island upticks, Entercom’s WCBS-AM is up an overall eight-tenths (2.8 – 3.0 – 3.2 – 3.6, 6+)a and is steady at #11.
• Cluster-mate WINS, which picked up one-tenth this time last month, forfeits two-two-tenths (3.1 – 2.9, #12 to #13, 6+).
• Adding a +1.3 to November’s half-share increase (5.2 – 5.7 – 7.0, 6+), Entercom’s KCBS-AM & KFRC remains at #3 in San Jose.
• Up a total of two-tenths through three Middlesex reports without a loss (1.9 – 2.0 – 2.0 – 2.1, 6+), Entercom’s WCBS-AM climbs from #19 to #18.

SPORTS TALK

• While it remains flat at 2.4 (6+), Entercom New York City’s WFAN (Brooklyn Nets, Giants) slips from #16 to #17.
• The six most recent fluctuations by Cumulus Media San Francisco’s KNBR “The Sports Leader” (49ers) are: +.6 (July); +1.1 (August); +.4 (September); +.9 (October); -1.5 (November) and +.5 in December (3.4 – 3.9, seventh to fifth, 6+).
• Recapturing the seven-tenths it squandered this time last month (3.5 – 2.8 – 3.5, 6+), Cumulus Media-owned KTCK “The Ticket – All Sports All The Time” (Stars) advances from #14 in Dallas to #12.
• A combined +1.0 in October/November (1.7 – 2.3 – 2.7, 6+), Entercom’s cross-town KRLD-FM “105.3 The Fan” (Cowboys) relinquishes half the windfall (2.2, -.5, #16 to #17, 6+).
• Advancing from tenth to eighth, Entercom Atlanta’s WZGC “92.9 The Game” (Hawks, Falcons) is up a total of nine-tenths in three straight up or flat moves (3.1 – 3.1 – 3.6 – 4.0, 6+).
• Down eight-tenths in November/December (2.6 – 2.3 – 1.8, 6+), WZGC’s foe – Dickey Broadcasting-owned WCNN “680 The Fan” – slumps from #17 to #19.
• Despite gaining four-tenths, Entercom Philadelphia’s WIP “Sports Radio 94.1” (Eagles) backslides from fourth to fifth and continues an alternating up/down sequence (4.7 – 4.3 – 4.9 – 4.7 – 5.8 – 5.3 – 5.7, 6+).
• Following a rotating down/up pattern (1.4 – 1.6 – 1.4 – 1.6 – 1.3 – 1.8 – 1.5 – 1.6, 6+), cross-town Beasley Media Group-owned WPEN-FM “97.5 The Fanatic” (76ers, Flyers) repeats November’s AQH share and market rank (1.6, #20, 6+).
• Jumping from eighth to sixth in Long Island, Entercom’s WFAN posts its third successive report without a loss for a net gain of nine-tenths (3.5 – 4.2 – 4.2 – 4.4, 6+).
• In addition to being a collective -1.5 in San Jose (4.1 – 3.4 – 2.9 – 2.6, 6+), Cumulus Media’s KNBR “The Sports Leader” exits the top ten (#10 to #11).
• In the Middlesex report, Entercom’s WFAN is down three-tenths in November/December (3.1 – 3.0 – 2.8, #14 to #16, 6+).

PUBLIC RADIO NEWS/TALK

• An overall +2.2 via three straight spikes (2.9 – 3.7 – 4.5 – 5.1, 6+), WNYC Broadcasting Foundation’s WNYC-FM progresses from sixth in New York to fifth.
• Wiping away November’s loss of two tenths with a December increase three times that magnitude (2.5 – 3.1, +.6, 6+), Pasadena City College-owned KPCC “The Voice of Southern California” rises from #13 in Los Angeles to #10.
• A combined +1.5 in October/November (3.2 – 3.8 – 4.7, 6+), Chicago Public Media’s WBEZ surrenders three-tenths to 4.4 (6+) yet progresses from fifth to fourth.
• Not only does it reach double-digits in San Francisco for the first time in the PPM-era, Northern California Public Broadcasting’s KQED is a collective +2.7 through five straight bumps (7.4 – 7.8 – 8.0 – 8.4 – 9.0 – 10.1, 6+) and is #1 the fifth straight month.
• Following a +.9 this time last month, Texas Public Broadcasting’s KERA repeats November’s 3.4 (6+) but drops from #12 to #13.
• In an alternating down/up pattern (2.7 – 2.9 – 2.8 – 2.9 – 2.4, August 2020 – December 2020, the University of Houston’s KUHF slips from #16 to #18.
• Expunging November’s loss of one-half share with a December +.8 (2.5 – 3.3, 6+), City of Atlanta Board of Education’s WABE zooms from #15 to #11.
• Down a combined four-tenths in October/November (5.1 – 5.1 – 4.7, 6+), Philadelphia’s WHYY answers with a December increase of six-tenths to 5.3 (steady at #6, 6+).
• This is the fifth straight Riverside report without a loss for San Bernardino Community College’s KVCR, which has gained three-tenths in that timeframe (.5 – .5 – .8 – .8 – .8 – .8, unchanged at #13, 6+).
• One-tenth behind KVCR is Pasadena City College-owned KPCC “The Voice of Southern California” (flat at #14), which is trending .9 – .7 – .6 – .7 (September 2020 – December 2020, 6+).
• Winning ways continue for Northern California Public Broadcasting’s KQED, which is #1 in San Jose the fourth month in succession; is +5.9 in five straight spikes (6.6 – 6.9 – 7.7 – 10.9 – 12.3 – 12.5, 6+); and logs its best-ever 6+-stat (12.5) in the PPM-era.
• In Middlesex-Somerset-Union, WNYC Broadcasting Foundation’s WNYC-FM continues a rotating up/down pattern which includes December’s +.6 (2.0 – 2.4 – 2.2 – 3.5 – 2.6 – 3.2, #17 to #13, 6+).

Category: Ratings Takeaways