KOMA-FM atop local radio market

By Mel Bracht

Published: August 17, 2007

Classic hits station KOMA-FM 92.5 has dethroned country station KTST-FM 101.9 as Oklahoma City's most popular radio station for listeners 12 and older in the spring Arbitron ratings. "The Twister,” which had been No. 1 in the past three ratings books, slipped to fifth.

KOMA ranked No. 1 in three day parts, with Danny Williams in the morning, Ronnie Kaye in midday and Dave Martin in the afternoon drive. Program director Kent Jones' 9 to 11 a.m. show straddles morning drive and midday.

"We just keep doing good radio,” said Don Pollnow, Renda Broadcasting market manager.

Pollnow said he was pleased that three of his stations ranked No. 1, 3 and 4 in the 25-54 age demographic — classic rock KRXO-FM 107.7, adult contemporary KMGL-FM 104.1 and KOMA, respectively. Rock station KATT-FM 100.5, owned by Citadel Broadcasting, was ranked No. 2.

"We have more live, local programming than anyone in the market,” Pollnow said.

KATT topped three of the age 25-54 day parts — morning drive with Rick and Brad, afternoon drive with Jake Daniels and evenings with Tony Z. KMGL ranked No. 1 in midday with Larry Grant.

Country slumped in the spring ratings book. Besides the decline by "The Twister,” Clear Channel sister station KXXY-FM 96.1 also was down. Classic country KKNG-FM 93.3 maintained its 5.7 share.

Citadel Broadcasting has transferred 11 radio stations, including Oklahoma City stations KKWD-FM 104.9 (contemporary hits) and KINB-FM 105.3 (regional Mexican) to Last Bastion Station Trust to comply with Federal Communications Commission ownership limitations as part of its acquisition of the ABC Radio Network. The sale was completed June 12.

Citadel Broadcasting now ranks as nation's third largest radio group with 177 FM stations and 66 AM stations, in addition to owning the ABC Radio Network, which provides programming for more than 4,000 affiliates.

Anticipating the transfer was the reason Citadel traded FM frequencies with two of its stations in October 2006, moving KKWD to 104.9 and the Sports Animal to 97.9, Citadel operations manager Chris Baker said. Baker said the switch gave the Sports Animal a slightly better signal and a better placement in the middle of the radio dial.

•Oklahoma City radio veteran Shawn Carey has replaced Tara Henson on KMGL-FM 104.1's morning show, which includes Steve O'Brien and Jeff Roberts. Henson left the show, which ranks No. 2 in age 12-plus and No. 3 in age 25-54 in morning drive, to devote all of her time to her job as public relations director of the Oklahoma City Zoo.

•Tyler Media's regional Mexican station KTUZ-FM 106.7 picked up younger listeners, moving up to No. 2 in the market in the 18-34 age group behind KATT.

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