Fresno Radio: KMJ Trending Down, But…

The GM/VP  at KMJ AM-580, 105.8 FM says they aren't worried about the first trend numbers from Arbitron, that showed a drop in the average share of listeners for the station following the loss of nationally syndicated talk shows hosted by Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and others at the end of December.

Patty Hixson, general manager and senior vice president for KMJ, and station program director Skip Essick said Thursday they look at more than the numbers for a single month.

The Arbitron numbers for January show KMJ went from being ranked second in the Fresno market's December trends to seventh place in January with a 5.0 rating.

"These numbers are a one-month extrapolation and not a trend. An extrapolation is a one-month snapshot," Hixson told the Fresno Bee.

January was the first month since Premiere Radio Networks, owners of Clear Channel Radio, took the nationally syndicated shows from KMJ and put them on KALZ 96.7 FM 96.7 to create a new local talk radio lineup on one of its own stations in this market.

Hixson and Essick stressed that the one-month numbers can be incorrect and a more proper measurement of KMJ and other local radio stations will come when the full ratings period of Jan. 3 through March 27 is released in May.

Neither Hixson nor Essick denied the shift of the nationally syndicated programs to a local competitor was a big loss. KALZ is benefiting from the following Limbaugh built while on KMJ as the report shows KALZ's January number, a 6.2 share, is its highest for at least the last six months.

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