Pandemic PPM ratings make for unusual gains in some station demos

David Bray is President of Bray & Partners Communications.

Feel free to forward questions and inquiries:

Phone: (416) 431-5792 

E-mail: davidbray@brayandpartners.com 

Web sites: brayandpartners.com

davidbray.ca

The latest PPM release from Numeris includes the 13 weeks from Feb. 24 to May 24, covering the listening period that saw most Canadians transition to work from home and other social distancing measures during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Home tuning has increased during this time frame. Currently, in-home tuning represents 62% of total tuning this spring, compared to 48% last quarter for A12+.

There can be little doubt that the nature of pandemic tuning has resulted in some unusual if not downright peculiar results. Consider the decreased in-car numbers, the increased home tuning percentages, the lack of any fodder for the sports stations, the nature of the news during this period and the fact that we are all living in completely unfamiliar conditions. This on top of the ongoing controversy over sample sizes.  It would be surprising if we didn’t see some odd skews. I’m looking forward to hearing how the stations who came out on top will let us know that their research had indicated that they could expect these kind of gains.

Let’s look at the five PPM markets.

Toronto: Bragging rights at the top of the ratings heap go to CBC Radio One delivering a 17.9 % share for A12+ (up from 15.5%). CBC Radio One take the #1 spot with women 25-54, delivering a 13.8 % share (up from 10.3 %). Undoubtedly, in an example of how crazy these times are, CHFI-FM holds the #1 spot for males 25-54, posting a 14.0 % share (up from 11.3% in the last 13-week book). You won’t believe this. CHFI-FM leads the way for M18-34 with a 32.0%. (yes, 32.0%). Get ready for this. For F18-34, Q107 leads posting a 13.6% tied with CHFI at 13.6%.

Vancouver: CKNW grabs the #1 spot for A12+ with a 15.8% share of hours tuned (up from 14.4%). Listen to this one. Taking the top spot for F25-54 was ROCK 101, posting a 14.3% share (up from 8.4% last time out). CFOX grabs the lead for M25-54 listeners, delivering a 15.0 % share (up from 13.0 %). CFOX is also out in front for M18-34 with a 21.6 % share of hrs. tuned.  When it comes to Females 18-34 ROCK 101 leads with a 16.2% share.

Edmonton: CBC Radio One takes #1 with A12+, posting a 10.1% share of hours tuned (up from 8.6 %). NOW! Radio takes also top spot for F25-54, delivering a 16.8% share (up from 15.7 %). The Bear tops the list for M25-54 with a 14.2 % share (up from 13.2%). For M18-34, The Bear also leads the way posting a 21.9% (up from 17.7) %. NOW led with F18-34 delivering a 15.7%.

Calgary: News Talk 770 leads the way for A12+ with an 9.9% (up from 7.2%). 101.5 Today Radio is popular with women, taking #1 spot for F25-54 delivering a 14.8% share (up from 9.5%).  For M25-54, X92.9 rules with a 12.1% (up from 10.2%). X92.9 takes top spot for M18-34 delivering a 11.4%. 101.5 Today Radio steps up and out front for F18-34 posting a 14.8% share (down from 18.3%).

Montreal: CHMP 98.5FM is #1 for A12+ (Franco) with a 24.7% share (up from 19.6%).  For A12+ (Anglo), CJAD 800 is #1 with a 32.6% (up from 20.1%). 105.7 Rythme is tops with women, taking #1 spot for F25-54 (Franco) delivering a 19.2% share (down from 21.2%). For F25-54 (Anglo), The Beat 92.5 is waaay out in front #1 with a 28.6% share (down from 34.3). For M25-54 (Franco), CHMP is on top at 20.7% share (up from 15.1%).  For M25-54 (Anglo), CHOM is #1 at 26.7% (up from 24.4%).

See summary charts below: A brief overview of share figures from the latest PPM 2020 Numeris release courtesy of David Bray…

Toronto

% Share of Hours Tuned

(Mon.-Sun, 5a-1a)

Station

A12+

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

A12+

PPM

Nov. 25-

Feb. 23

W25-54

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

W25-54

PPM

Nov. 25-Feb. 23

M25-54

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

M25-54

PPM

Nov.-Feb. 23

A25-54

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

CBC Radio Two

2.4

2.2

3.5

2.3

2.0

2.0

2.7

CBC Radio One

17.9

15.5

13.8

10.3

11.9

12.2

12.8

AM 640 Toronto

1.9

1.2

1.8

.6

1.3

.8

1.5

Classical 96.3 FM

5.5

5.8

1.7

1.0

2.1

2.2

1.9

102.1 The Edge

1.6

2.0

1.9

2.2

4.0

3.6

3.0

News Talk 1010

5.9

5.4

5.2

2.8

3.4

2.8

4.2

680 News

5.4

5.9

4.9

4.7

6.5

6.9

5.7

93.5 The Move

1.0

1.1

1.7

1.9

1.1

1.3

1.3

AM 740/96.7 FM 

2.0

2.0

.5

.2

.7

.6

.6

Boom 97.3

8.8

8.0

9.7

6.9

11.5

9.9

10.7

98.1 CHFI-FM

13.7

13.1

7.9

15.1

14.0

11.3

11.2

TSN

.3

.7

.1

.6

.9

1.8

.5

104.5 CHUM-FM

5.0

5.8

8.7

11.1

4.7

5.2

6.5

Z103.5

1.6

1.9

3.4

3.5

3.2

3.2

3.3

Q107

9.0

7.0

8.2

4.6

9.7

8.6

9.0

Sportsnet 590

The FAN

.7

1.2

.3

.7

1.4

2.5

.9

Jazz FM 91

2.5

1.7

2.6

2.3

.9

.4

1.7

Jewel 88.5

1.4

1.7

.1

.5

1.5

1.8

.9

Virgin Radio 99.9

2.8

5.0

6.0

8.2

4.4

7.3

5.1

KISS 92.5

3.2

3.6

6.9

7.9

3.1

3.3

4.8

G98.7

.9

1.1

1.1

1.6

.4

.5

.7

Indie 88.1

2.1

2.2

3.5

3.0

4.4

4.2

4.0

95.3 Energy Radio

.6

.7

.7

.9

1.3

1.5

1.0

 

Vancouver

% Share of Hours Tuned

(Mon.-Sun, 5a-1a)

Station

A12+

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

A12+

PPM

Nov. 25-

Feb. 23

W25-54

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

W25-54

PPM

Nov. 25-Feb. 23

M25-54

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

M25-54

PPM

Nov.-Feb. 23

A25-54

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

CBC Radio One

13.4

12.9

4.0

3.3

5.9

5.9

5.0

CBC Radio Two

4.1

3.2

1.8

.9

1.2

1.5

1.5

94.5 Virgin Radio

5.2

5.2

7.5

9.0

7.4

7.2

7.4

Rock 101

8.1

7.6

14.3

8.4

7.6

8.2

10.5

99.3 CFOX

5.8

4.9

6.0

4.7

15.0

13.0

11.0

BNN

Bloomberg Radio

.4

.3

0

0

0

.1

0

KISS Radio 104.9

3.3

3.5

6.9

6.9

3.7

4.6

5.1

104.3 The Breeze

2.9

3.6

1.7

3.4

1.8

2.4

1.7

AM 730 Traffic

.4

1.0

.3

.7

.3

1.3

.3

103.5 QM FM

7.8

12.3

11.8

18.8

5.3

9.2

8.2

CISL Sportsnet 650

.4

1.5

.5

2.5

.6

1.6

.5

93.7 JR FM

8.7

6.5

13.0

9.2

5.5

3.5

8.8

96.9 Jack FM

4.1

4.6

4.3

6.8

7.4

7.4

6.0

CKNW

15.8

14.4

2.8

4.3

12.0

10.1

8.0

102.7 The Peak

4.3

3.1

8.3

4.0

7.0

5.0

7.6

TSN 1040

2.0

2.6

.4

.4

3.5

4.6

2.1

News 1130

4.1

3.9

3.4

2.7

5.1

4.4

4.4

Z 95.3

4.2

4.0

7.0

7.8

4.1

4.3

5.4

Praise 106.5

3.0

3.3

4.3

4.6

4.3

3.8

4.3

 

Edmonton

% Share of Hours Tuned

(Mon.-Sun, 5a-1a)

Station

A12+

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

A12+

PPM

Nov. 25-

Feb. 23

W25-54

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

W25-54

PPM

Nov. 25-Feb. 23

M25-54

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

M25-54

PPM

Nov.-Feb. 23

A25-54

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

CBC Radio One

10.1

8.6

5.4

4.1

3.6

2.7

4.3

CBC Radio Two

1.1

1.5

.9

.7

.3

1.4

.6

CFBR-FM The Bear

7.6

8.5

4.9

5.0

14.2

13.2

10.5

CFCW

7.7

4.3

1.7

.1

1.3

1.0

1.5

104.9 Virgin Radio

2.3

2.9

4.7

3.9

2.8

4.0

3.5

TSN 1260

1.4

2.6

.3

.2

3.4

6.3

2.2

KISS 91.7

4.8

5.4

8.5

9.2

4.6

4.9

6.2

Sonic 102.9

5.5

6.1

10.4

12.4

10.7

10.1

10.6

630 CHED

7.5

6.9

3.5

2.2

5.7

4.7

4.9

Global News880

1.8

1.2

2.2

.7

1.8

1.2

1.9

K97

3.9

5.1

4.8

4.1

6.0

9.6

5.5

CISN Country

6.1

4.8

8.6

7.7

4.9

2.8

6.4

UP 99.3

5.7

5.9

5.0

6.0

3.6

2.7

4.2

Play 107

3.0

3.1

3.5

3.6

4.8

4.1

4.3

95.7 CRUZ FM

3.6

3.2

2.3

1.1

6.9

7.1

5.1

92.5 The Chuck

3.9

3.6

3.3

3.3

3.4

2.8

3.3

102.3 NOW! Radio

7.8

8.3

16.8

15.7

10.0

8.8

12.7

96.3 The Breeze

8.4

10.2

8.6

13.6

5.1

6.4

6.5

CKUA-FM

2.9

2.9

.8

1.9

3.2

2.3

2.2

 

Calgary

% Share of Hours Tuned

(Mon.-Sun, 5a-1a)

Station

A12+

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

A12+

PPM

Nov. 25-

Feb. 23

W25-54

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

W25-54

PPM

Nov. 25-Feb. 23

M25-54

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

M25-54

PPM

Nov.-Feb. 23

A25-54

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

CBC Radio One

9.7

8.8

4.0

2.7

6.6

5.6

5.4

CBC Radio Two

3.4

3.1

4.5

4.4

3.3

2.7

3.9

Sportsnet Fan 960

1.6

2.5

.3

.3

3.2

3.8

1.8

X92.9

5.6

6.1

4.4

6.2

12.1

10.2

8.4

CFFR 660 News

4.5

4.7

2.6

2.0

5.0

4.8

3.9

Q107

4.4

3.8

4.5

3.1

4.5

4.3

4.5

XL103FM

7.6

8.3

6.7

5.6

6.5

12.0

6.6

95.9 CHFM

5.0

6.9

5.5

9.4

4.7

6.7

5.1

News Talk 770

9.9

7.2

3.3

2.9

5.5

4.1

4.4

98.5 Virgin Radio

3.0

3.7

5.7

6.3

3.7

3.8

4.7

Soft Rock  97.7

6.7

7.2

7.4

8.0

3.8

5.7

5.5

96.9 Jack-FM

4.0

4.4

6.4

5.2

3.9

5.4

5.1

CJAY 92

4.6

4.9

4.8

5.7

8.1

5.8

6.5

101.5 Today Radio

6.8

6.4

14.8

9.5

7.8

4.9

11.2

90.3 AMP Radio

2.0

3.0

3.6

5.4

2.7

3.5

3.1

Funny AM1060

.9

.8

.1

.1

.9

1.4

.5

Country 105

7.3

6.4

6.6

6.1

5.7

3.2

6.1

Wild 95.3

3.6

4.0

6.6

7.9

4.2

3.8

5.4

 

Montreal (Franco)

% Share of Hours Tuned

(Mon.-Sun, 5a-1a)

Station

A12+

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

A12+

PPM

Nov. 25-

Feb. 23

W25-54

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

W25-54

PPM

Nov. 25-Feb. 23

M25-54

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

M25-54

PPM

Nov.-Feb. 23

A25-54

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

CBF FM: 95,1 Première Chaîne

13.3

12.1

9.5

6.9

11.8

7.6

10.7

CBFXFM: Ici Musique 100,7

3.0

2.5

1.6

1.1

1.8

1.5

1.7

CBC Radio Two

.1

.2

.1

.1

0

.5

.1

CBC Radio One

.2

.3

0

.1

.6

.6

.3

CFGLFM: 105.7 Rythme FM

13.7

14.7

19.2

21.2

8.6

8.6

13.6

CHMPFM: 98.5 FM

24.7

19.6

11.6

9.3

20.7

15.1

16.4

CHOM 97.7 FM

4.5

4.8

1.8

1.6

7.9

9.0

5.0

CITEF3: 107,3 Rouge fm

8.1

10.7

12.9

16.0

7.2

11.5

9.9

CJAD 800

.7

.6

.4

1.7

0

.1

.2

Virgin Radio 96

2.6

3.6

5.0

5.4

3.6

5.5

4.3

CKAC: Radio circulation 730

0

.2

0

.1

.1

.1

0

CKBEFM: The Beat 92,5

3.6

4.9

6.9

7.6

6.0

6.9

6.4

TSN 690

.1

.2

0

0

.4

.5

,2

CKLXFM:

91,9 Sport

.7

1.7

.4

.8

1.7

4.2

1.1

CKMFFM: NRJ Montréal 94.3

5.6

6.8

10.1

10.5

11.6

13.4

10.9

96.9 CKOI

8.9

8.4

11.9

10.5

11.5

10.4

11.7

AM980

.8

1.0

.4

.9

0

.1

.2

 

Montreal (Anglo)

% Share of Hours Tuned

(Mon.-Sun, 5a-1a)

Station

A12+

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

A12+

PPM

Nov. 25-

Feb. 23

W25-54

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

W25-54

PPM

Nov. 25-Feb. 23

M25-54

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

M25-54

PPM

Nov.-Feb. 23

A25-54

PPM

Feb. 24-

May 24

CBF FM: 95,1 Première Chaîne

1.8

2.3

1.4

1.3

5.3

4.3

3.6

CBFXFM: Ici Musique 100,7

.2

.3

.2

.3

.2

.4

.2

CBC Radio Two

2.9

2.1

.6

.3

2.0

1.1

1.4

CBC Radio One

8.6

7.0

5.8

4.9

3.3

1.7

4.4

CFGLFM: 105.7 Rythme FM

1.4

1.5

4.2

5.7

1.7

1.9

2.8

CHMPFM: 98.5 FM

2.0

2.3

3.1

1.0

2.1

2.1

2.6

CHOM 97.7 FM

13.5

16.7

10.4

6.0

26.7

24.4

19.5

CITEF3: 107,3 Rouge fm

.7

1.0

.4

.9

1.6

1.2

1.1

CJAD 800

32.6

20.1

17.8

14.5

11.1

8.9

14.1

Virgin Radio 96

6.9

7.7

11.3

13.3

9.3

10.6

10.2

CKAC: Radio circulation 730

.1

.3

.1

.2

0

0

0

CKBEFM: The Beat 92,5

17.2

18.4

28.6

34.3

19.1

20.3

23.3

TSN 690

2.7

5.9

3.8

4.0

3.7

7.2

3.8

CKLXFM:

91,9 Sport

.1

.2

0

0

.2

.3

.1

CKMFFM: NRJ Montréal 94.3

1.6

1.7

4.1

4.0

1.8

2.2

2.8

96.9 CKOI

1.0

1.0

2.6

1.7

1.6

1.3

2.0

AM980

0

.1

0

0

0

0

0

 

 


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