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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Area’s Lucky - We’ve Got Two No. 1 Stations

Both KHQ-6 and KXLY-4 have been airing promotional ads this week, the gist being: We’re No. 1!

Hmmm. Logic dictates that two No. 1’s in the same town exceeds the quota by approximately one.

But not in the Through-The-Looking-Glass world of broadcast ratings, in which almost everybody can be No. 1, even if it is only with viewers of Lithuanian descent between the ages of 53 and 54 who pronounce it “to-may-to” instead of “to-mah-to.”

Actually, both stations’ claims are grounded in more reality than that.

KXLY’s actual claim is that it is “watched by more households than any other Inland Northwest station.” According to marketing and promotion manager Jim Koonce, this ad is based on the average weekly “cume” ratings from the May Nielsen ratings. These numbers showed that more households tuned in to KXLY at least once during an average week than any other station.

It’s hard to say exactly what this means - it may reflect the ABC network’s overall popularity, or it may mean that KXLY’s signal covers more of the measured area and thus more households. But the claim is factually true, at least for May.

KHQ probably has a bit more to brag out. Their claim is that they are the No. 1 local news station in town, based on the July Nielsen ratings, according to station manager Lon Lee. KHQ swept all of the major local time slots, which is quite a feat since KREM-2 has been on top at 5 p.m. for years. But this time KHQ was leading the pack at 5 p.m. as well as at 6 a.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. It’s quite a feat.

The only catch is that these are the July Nielsens, not considered an important ratings period. Fewer people watch TV in the summer, and viewing patterns are not typical. However, if KHQ can hold onto this unprecedented lead during the big ratings period in November, they’ll have plenty to brag about.

Miller off to Reno

One of the architects of KHQ’s news success, managing editor Steve Miller, is leaving to become the news director at KRNV, the NBC affiliate in Reno.

You may not know his face, since he is not an on-camera personality. But for 20 years he has been one of the guiding hands behind the news at KHQ.

KDRK-FM gets an honor

What does KDRK-FM (known as Cat Country) have in common with Garth Brooks and Reba McEntire?

They were all nominated for a Country Music Association award, but didn’t win.

Maybe Garth and Reba were disappointed by that, but the folks at KDRK-FM shouldn’t be. It was an honor just to be selected as one of five nominees for medium-market Country Station of the Year.

“We were nominated based on our overall strength, our sound, our public service activities and many other things,” said KDRK-FM operations manager Tim Roberts, who was there at the CMA awards Wednesday in Nashville. “This is the supreme honor in country radio.”

A station in Chattanooga won. KDRK-FM is Spokane’s top-rated radio station.

Rogue Players season

Rogue Players, the community theater based at the West Central Community Center, has a four-show season planned this year. The schedule:

“Veronica’s Room,” an oldfashioned thriller by Ira Levin, Oct. 20-Nov.4.

“One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest,” adapted from Ken Kesey’s novel about a mental health hospital, Dec. 1-16.

“The Taming of the Shrew,” the classic comedy by William Shakespeare, Feb. 23-March 9.

“Arsenic and Old Lace,” the beloved comedy about a pair of murderous old ladies, by Joseph Kesselring, April 19-May 4.

Season tickets are a bargain at $28, or $20 for seniors and students. Call 327-9907 for information.

, DataTimes