Rush Limbaugh, Seattle Radio Ratings

NUMBER ONE

In Seattle, Rush Now Leads All News And Talk Shows






*** Updates at SaveWRKO ***


For any successful talk station, just how important is Rush Limbaugh?

In Seattle, an ultra- competitive talk radio market, new ratings results representing the all- important Fall 2006 Arbitron Ratings Survey underscore the tremendous impact of featuring the nation's number one host.

For the first time in recent memory, El Rushbo is not only fending off four competitors during his 9am - noon timeslot, he's beating every news and talk show heard anywhere in the region, liberal or conservative and regardless of the time slot.

With a staggering 116% percent surge in the key adults aged 25-54 demographic, Rush clobbered everything the Puget Sound Area had to offer, with an enormous 5.4 share of the audience.

Heard on Bonneville's newly- acquired KTTH-AM, the talk titan scored three times the audience of longtime KIRO libtalker Dave Ross, who has been struggling for some time. And Rush ran circles around the liberal- conservative team of Ken Schram and John Carlson on the once- proud KVI, beating them by a factor of four.

In addition, he more than doubled his "progressive" competition at CBS Radio's KPTK- AM.


Beyond his own results, a carryover effect was felt on KTTH for programs that precede and follow his, leading to an overall surge for the station. Meanwhile, Limbaugh's former Seattle - Tacoma outlet, KVI- AM, has been badly hurt by the loss of his program.

Amplifying the damage, the addition of local shows featuring liberals and moderates has likely alienated KVI's traditional audience. Once a ratings powerhouse, KVI now ranks fifth overall among news and talk stations in the area.

In addition to KVI's significant weakness, KTTH is troubled between 3pm and midnight, while KIRO is in very bad shape during the evenings and some midday hours. In fact, KTTH now beats KIRO overall in the 25-54 demo.

So far, an hour- long local daily show hosted by former MSNBC anchor Ron Reagan Jr has not produced ratings results for KIRO, or much of a buzz in the Emerald City.


Previously, we've mentioned Limbaugh's strong ratings results in other cities, including Boston. So far, Rush has seen a small decline in Chicago and a larger one in Portland, Oregon. But overall, he's still going strong.


Disclosure note: your Radio Equalizer has previously worked as a host at KVI, in addition to KIRO, under its outgoing ownership regime.

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