It’s official.  Radio buyers, sellers and programmers in 5 key markets now speak only one language…PPM. As of Fall ’09, they were still bilingual, having “Diary” to fall back on. But the safety net has been pulled. Today’s PPM radio release from BBM completes the thirteen week period covering Nov. 30, 2009 to Feb. 28, 2010. This marks the second 13 week period in the new era of measurement for Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton. Diary measurement is now a thing of the past in these markets. Let’s take a look at the numbers.

Let’s take a look at the latest Vancouver PPM figures (for Sept. 28 X 4 weeks) released today in comparison with the previous 4 week period.

A brief overview of share figures from the Vancouver PPM Sept 2009 BBM release courtesy of David Bray...

Let’s take a look at the latest Toronto PPM figures (for Sept. 28 X 4 weeks) released today in comparison with the previous 4 week period.

A brief overview of share figures from the Toronto PPM Sept 2009 BBM release courtesy of David Bray...

With the release of today’s PPM numbers covering 4 weeks in September we have begun continuous measurement, with PPM ultimately replacing diary numbers as the trading currency for programmers and advertisers. Which method best represents the truth? Well, truth is relative. The fact is both systems offer estimates with a certain margin of error.

We now stand at the crossroads in terms of radio audience measurement and will soon have to embrace a completely new mindset in relation to ratings. For this summer and fall only, BBM has been concurrently using both PPM and Diary Methodologies in the markets of Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Toronto. In essence, weaning us off diaries in order to make room for the PPM era. We will have continuous measurement in these markets, with PPM replacing diary numbers as the trading currency for programmers and advertisers. Which method best represents the truth? Well, truth is relative. The fact is both systems offer estimates with a certain margin of error. BBM came to the conclusion that PPM offers the best long term stability.

We are inching closer to a new era of audience measurement and a completely new mindset in regards to ratings. This fall PPM will officially arrive in Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Toronto, providing continuous measurement in those markets and replacing diary numbers as the trading currency for programmers and advertisers. For now, let's take a look what the latest diary figures tell us.

With the release of BBM's Survey 1, we inch closer to the most significant audience measurement development in decades. Come the fall, PPM will officially be unveiled in the markets of Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Toronto. Thereafter we will have continuous measurement in those markets, with PPM replacing diary numbers as the trading currency for advertisers.

As the winter winds begin to howl, things are heating up in anticipation of the CRTC decision coming out of the hearings held in early November. Nothing less than the future of radio in Canada is at stake. For now, the race for ratings is as hot as ever as demonstrated by the Fall BBM released yesterday.

(Published in "Media in Canada")

Toronto: A very tight race for bragging rights at the top of the ratings heap, with CHUM-FM posting an 8.7% share and CHFI-FM delivering an 8.6% share of hours tuned for Adults 12+. CHUM-FM program director Rob Farina was "thrilled with the station's continued dominance in Toronto."

After an extraordinarily long, cold winter (with an exception for our friends in Vancouver), here is some new fuel for the fire……. the new BBM radio numbers, hot off the presses….

Toronto: CHUM-FM reclaimed the #1 position with an 8.8% share Adults 12+, up from a 7.9% share. CHUM-FM also now leads with females 25-54 delivering a 16.1% share. In a tight race CHFI-FM is in the #2 position with 8.6% share of hours tuned for A12+. CHFI is also #2 with F25-54 at 11.2% (down from 15.7% share last book). Q107 had a strong showing and is now #3 overall with a 7.0% share A12+ and they further cement the #1 spot with males 25-54, increasing to a 14.7% share. The Edge remained #1 with M18-34 posting a 16.7% share.

Vancouver: CKNW held onto their lead, remaining #1 with a 10.3% share of hours tuned A12+ (down from 14.7% last time out). 103.5 QM-FM retained the #1 F25-54 position with a 14.3% share (a slight decrease from 14.8%). #1 for M25-54 now goes to Rock101 at 15.1%, an increase from 12.2%. 96.9 JACK-FM follows with a 12.2% share M25-54. The FOX stays on top of M18-34, delivering an impressive 19.6% share of hours tuned. The Beat posts strong gains M18-34 with a 16.1% for that demo (up from 8.1%).

Winnipeg: CJOB retained its lead with a 15.8% share of hours tuned for A12+. Hot 103 gained the #2 spot with a 10.6% share. 92CITI-FM strengthened its #1 spot with M25-54, posting an 18.0% share (up from 15.8%). The F25-54 race is led by Q94 with a 13.0 % share (up from 12.5%) followed by Hot 103 with a 12.1% share and then QX 104.1 FM with 11.1% share hours tuned.

Montreal: 105,7 Rythme FM leads the way with a 11.0% (down from 12.1%) share of hours tuned A12+, in addition to remaining #1 with F25-54 delivering an imposing 19.0% share (up from 18.0%). Energie 94.3 takes top spot with M25-54, posting a 13.7% share of hours tuned (down from 14.1%).

Calgary: Country 105 remained on top of A12+ with a 13.2% share of hours tuned (up from 12.5%). 96.9 JACK-FM maintained #2 (A12+) and won the #1 spot for F25-54 with a 19.1% share. CJAY92 led the way once again for M25-54 with a 15.9% share.

Edmonton: CHED leads the way with a 13.2% share of A12+ (increase from 11.7% last time out). 92.5 Joe FM is now leading F25-54 with a 16.6% share (up from 13.7%), CISN is #2 with a 14.1% share (down from 17.5%). The Bear is #1 with M25-54 delivering a 13.3% share, and 97.3 K-Rock is #2 M25-54 with a 12.3% share.

Ottawa-Gatineau: CBC Radio One takes over the #1 position with a 10.4% share of hours tuned for A12+ (up from 9.0%). CHEZ106 leads the way with M25-54, delivering 12.6% share of hours tuned (up from 11.9%). For F25-54, Majic 100 is on top with a 15.4% share (up from 14.7%), HOT 89.9 takes over the #2 spot F25-54 increasing to a 11.0% share (up from 7.4).


(Published in "Media in Canada")

Toronto: The big news in Toronto is that Erin Davis and Mike Cooper have helped lift CHFI-FM back to the number one position with a 9.0% share of hours tuned for A12+. Even more significantly, the station's Female 25-54 share over the last 3 books has climbed from an 8.5% to 11.5% last time out to the current 15.7%, moving them to the #1 position for that demo.