Radio Stations Survive Storm With Quarterly Ratings Intact

The ice storm played havoc with local radio stations in November, and the just-released quarterly Arbitron ratings reflect it.

KXLY-AM (news-talk, 970) got a nice boost, since that station was one of the few to stay on the air. It became the community’s lifeline for most of a week. Here’s how the ice storm changed listening habits: During the two months before the ice storm, KXLY-AM ranked about 10th, on average. During the ice-storm month, it shot up to No. 1. (It finished fifth for the entire quarter.)

However, that one week of havoc was not enough to change the quarterly ratings too much. After all, both KDRK-FM (Cat Country, 93.7) and KKZX-FM (Classic Rock, 98.9) were off the air for long periods during the ice storm, yet they were still strong enough to finish one-two overall.

KDRK comes in first, followed by last quarter’s leader, KKZX.

Here are the Arbitron rankings, listeners 12 and over, quarter-hour share, from the period from Sept. 19 to Dec. 11, copyright 1996, the Arbitron Company:

1. KDRK-FM (country), 9.

2. KKZX-FM (classic rock), 8.7.

3. KISC-FM (adult contemporary), 7.4.

4. KZZU-FM (contemporary hits), 6.5.

5. KXLY-AM (news-talk), 6.2.

6. KEYF-AM-FM (oldies), 5.9.

7. (tie) KAEP-FM (alternative rock), 5.4.

7. (tie) KNFR-FM (country), 5.4.

9. KGA-AM (talk), 5.1.

10. KXLY-FM (soft hits), 5.

11. (tie) KAQQ-AM (nostalgia), 4.8.

11. (tie) KNJY-FM (rock), 4.8.

13. KHTQ-FM (contemporary hits), 3.6.

14. KCDA-FM (country), 3.5.

15. KTSL-FM (Christian), 2.

16. KJRB-AM (talk), 1.8.

17. (tie) KTRW-AM (sports talk), 1.2.

17. (tie) KEZE-FM (rock), 1.2.

19. KVNI-AM (adult contemporary), 0.6.

20. KSPO-FM (Christian), 0.5.

‘The Postman’ update

It’s not official yet, but it still looks like the Kevin Costner movie “The Postman” will shoot in Metaline Falls and at nearby Boundary Dam this summer.

According to Metaline Falls Mayor Lee McGowan, a group of department heads from Warner Bros. and TIG Productions will be in town Feb. 10 for a final walk-through.

“Nothing is signed,” said McGowan. “We’re pretty certain, but the money hasn’t changed hands.”

Location manager David Israel was in Metaline Falls again last week to hold an informational meeting with city officials and others. Right now, it appears that the moviemakers want to shoot at the La Farge Cement Plant in Metaline Falls for about four or five days, and then at Boundary Dam for another 10 or 11 days.

Shooting is tentatively scheduled for late June and early July, although set construction will begin a month earlier.

As previously noted, these locations will host only a portion of the filming of this futuristic epic. This movie, about heroic attempts to deliver mail in a post-apocalyptic world, will also shoot on location near Portland, near Bend, Ore. and near Tucson, Ariz. Apparently, casting is already under way in Tucson.

Costner, by the way, is the director as well as the star.

Musical DJs

Several on-air personalities have been on the move recently.

Steve Hawk, long a familiar voice on KKZX, is now on the air at the new live-format KNJY-FM (Z-Rock, 103.9). The Hawk, as he is known, is doing the 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. show.

Another big switch will soon be evident at KXLY-FM (Classy, 99.9). Scott Valentine and Samantha Kelly, the long-time morning team at KEYF-FM (Oldies 101.1), will become the morning team at KXLY-FM beginning on or around Valentine’s Day.

‘Hamlet’ is to be

A lot of Shakespeare-lovers have been waiting for that acclaimed four-hour Kenneth Branagh version of “Hamlet” to show up in Spokane. We won’t have to wait much longer.

It arrives Friday at the Newport Cinemas.

KSPS-7 goes 24 hours a day

Now, for the first time, you can catch Spokane’s public television station 24 hours a day.

KSPS-7 used to sign off at 1 a.m. and stay dark until 6 a.m., but now it is airing repeats of shows such as “Nova,” “Frontline,” “Masterpiece Theatre,” “Mystery!” and “Nature” through the wee hours. Some PBS shows that don’t make it into the prime-time lineup are also finding a spot in the schedule.

The schedule changes every night; check your listings.

Martha in ‘Ain’t Misbehavin”

Last week, I noted that Martha Reeves and the Vandellas were tentatively booked into the Opera House for April 8.

Somehow, I failed to make the connection between this group and the Broadway musical revue, “Ain’t Misbehavin”’ which is booked into the Opera House for that same date.

This Martha and the Vandellas date is, of course, actually the “Ain’t Misbehavin”’ date. Martha and the Vandellas are starring in that show.

‘Mama Drama’ gets the nod

The Spokane Civic Theatre has chosen “Mama Drama” to be its entry in the Washington State Community Theatre Festival in Bremerton in March.

This warm and funny ensemble piece about motherhood continues in the Civic’s Firth Chew Studio Theatre through next weekend.

‘Bids for Kids’

Check out the fifth annual “Bids for Kids” live television auction on Thursday from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Spokane TCI cable channel 25 and Coeur d’Alene’s Century Communications cable channel 13.

Dozens of items will be auctioned to benefit Wishing Star, Alexandria’s House and Spokane C.O.P.S.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo