KSL tops — but still slipping

Does KSL need some more mega-news events to boost its listening audience?

It would seem so. After a 14-month lull or so (aside from hurricanes and the continuing Iraq conflict), KSL (AM-1160/FM-102.7) has lost 5 percent of its audience in the latest Arbitron estimates.

KSL remains the No. 1 station (among the age 12-plus audience) in the Salt Lake market, but it has slipped in the past 18 months, going from a 12.1 percent audience share to just 7.2 percent.

Despite the addition of the simulcast FM band, the station hasn't held steady, a drop that began after the Lori Hacking story quieted down.

Sister station KSFI ("FM-100.3") is also on a downhill slide but remains No. 2, with a 6.5-percent share.

One possible reason for KSFI's slippage in the radio ratings during the past year might be the crossover trend of airing what used to be strictly country songs on an adult-contemporary station. FM-100.3 simply sounds like a country-music station every so often, which may have cost some listeners.

Third in the ratings is KUBL (FM-93.3), which bounced up to 5.7 percent, to remain ahead of KOSY (FM-106.5), which is also surging upward with a 5.5 share. KXRK ("X-96") is fifth at 4.7, followed by KNRS (AM-570) at 4.4 and KBER (FM-101.1) and KZHT (FM-97.1), both tied at 4.3.

KSOP (FM-104.3) and KUUU ("U-92") round out the top 10 at 3.8 percent a piece.

KBER, KZHT, KSOP, KDUT and KKAT all went way up in the latest ratings.

The remainder of the ratings are:

11. (tie) KODJ (FM-94.1) and KRSP (FM-103.5), 3.7 percent; 13. KENZ, 3.2; 14. KHTB, 2.8; 15. (tie) KDUT and KEGA, 2.6; 17. KJMY ("My 99.5"). 2.2; 18. (tie) KBEE and KKAT, 1.9; 20. (tie) KBZN and KUDD, 1.5; 22. KBMG and KZNS-AM/KOVO-AM. 1.4; 24. (tie) KFNZ-AM and KJQN, 1.3; 26. (tie) KDYL-AM and KXRV (0.9); 28. KLO-AM (0.6); and 20. (tie) KALL-AM and KFMS (0.5).

RADIO HAPPENINGS — KBYU (FM-89.1/89.5) will air "Rachmaninov Plays Rachmaninov," on Thursday, 9 p.m. This program features recordings of the famed pianist's piano rolls. "Classical 89" will also air Joseph Haydn's oratorio "The Creation" performed by the Utah Festival Opera on Sunday, March 19, 2 p.m.

— KBEE is giving away daily vacations to Disneyland. Listen for details on FM-98.7 beginning at 8 a.m. weekdays on the "Todd and Erin" show. The station will also qualify listeners during the 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. hours.

TEN YEARS AGO IN SALT LAKE RADIO — Patrick J. Reedy is named the new general manager for KISN AM/FM and KUMT. . . . KSL holds its 20th annual radiothon to benefit Primary Children's Hospital. . . . Tom Barberi, mornings on KALL and daughter, Gina Barberi, of KUTQ, square off against each other in a (friendly) family battle for listeners. . . . "Fisher and Todd" celebrate 10 years on the air at KISN.

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The Deseret Morning News and KSL Newsradio 1160 are involved in an ongoing news-gathering partnership.

E-mail: lynn@desnews.com