KNRS keeps rising in ratings

The improvement of KNRS (AM-570) continued in the latest Arbitron rating estimates as the station tied for second place with KUBL (AM-93.3).

KSL (AM-1160/FM-102.7) slipped slightly but still maintained first place. KUBL also improved, as did KZHT, KJMY, KXRK and KUUU.

"We've refocused the radio station ... We've got the right mix," said Greg Foster, KNRS director of programming.

He also said KNRS is stressing talk more than news and thus bills itself as "Family values talk radio" and not as simply news/talk radio.

Foster said "Dr. Laura," which airs from 1-4 p.m. on KNRS, had higher numbers in this market for listeners ages 25-54 than "Sean Hannity" for the first time ever in this latest book.

KNRS also had higher numbers in that age group than KSL for weekday listeners, though it remained behind KSL for seven-day listening.

The other big news in these "spring book" ratings is that KSOP (FM-104.3 and AM-1370) were omitted. There's no way these country-music stations failed to have a measurable audience.

Based on the first two months of the three-month spring book, KSOP-FM was poised to end up about 10th place, while sister station KSOP-AM was headed for about 27th place.

Did KSOP lose out because of some rigid Arbitron technicality? That's what some rumors say. Others say that KSOP is no longer a subscriber to Arbitron and hence the omission. We were unable to reach Arbitron for comment.

Whatever the reason, the absence of the two stations signals a significant void in the validity of Arbitron's measurements and listings.

The Salt Lake radio market could have a "people meter" and thus more accurate listening measurement as early as 2010, so there's at least that to look forward to.

Here are the latest Arbitron estimates:

1. KSL (7.1 percent audience share); 2. (tie) KNRS and KUBL (5.5); 4. KSFI (4.8); 5. KZHT (4.6); 6. KRSP (4.3); 7. (tie) KJMY and KXRK (4.0); 9. KUUU (3.8); 10. KODJ (3.4).

11. KBER (3.3); 12. KDUT (2.6); 13. (tie) KHTB/KRAR and KOSY (2.5); 15. KKAT (2.2); 16. (tie) KBZN and KENZ (2.0); 18. KBEE (1.9); 19. KUDD/KUDE (1.6); 20. KEGA (1.5); 21. KYMV (1.4); 22. (tie) KFNZ and KJQN (1.2); 24. KXRV (1.1); 25. KBMG (1.0); 26. KLO (0.9); 27. (tie) KALL and KZNS/KOVO (0.6).