David Bray is President of Bray & Partners Communications.

Feel free to forward questions and inquiries:

Phone: (416)431-5792  

E-mail : davidbray@brayandpartners.com  

Websites: brayandpartners.com, davidbray.ca

In terms of radio measurement, we remain in a state of confused and confusing. Significant methodology changes are on the near horizon. PPM markets will continue to live with low sample sizes. Numeris is preparing to replace diaries with a different approach. They explored and analysed two alternatives before settling on one. That decision has yet to be formally announced. It has been confirmed that diaries will continue to be the currency for both fall 2025 and spring 2026 books. The assumption is that a parallel release using the new methodology will be released in spring 2026. 

That would leave us with three different approaches, one each for Numeris (previously diary) markets, the smaller radioCount markets and the larger PPM markets. Not to mention all of the former diary markets dropped by Numeris and left without measurement. All of this will undoubtedly result in very significant changes in the way radio is bought and sold. 

With this book, radio retains an average weekly reach of 80% for Canadians A12+. In home represents 50% of tuning. Out of home represents 50% of tuning. For Canadians, 11% of radio consumption comes from AM/FM live radio streaming. Let’s forge on.

The latest PPM release from Numeris completes the 14-week period covering May 26, 2025-Aug. 31, 2025. Let’s look at the five PPM markets.

Toronto: Bragging rights at the top of the ratings heap go to boom 97.3, delivering an 11.1% share for A12+ (down from 12.5%). boom comes out on top with Women 25-54 with a 12.2% share (down from 13.9%), closely followed by CHFI with 11.6%. For Men 25-54, KiSS 92.5 leads with an 11.7% share, followed by boom and 680 News, both with 10.2%. boom is out in front for M18-34 with an 11.2%, followed by Q107 at 10.6%, 680 News (10.5%), KiSS (10.2%) and 102.1 The Edge with 10.0%. CHFI is #1 for F18-34, with a 15.4% share, followed by KiSS 92.5 with 15.0%. 

Vancouver: CBC Radio One grabs the #1 spot for A12+ with a 15.7% share of hours tuned (up from 14.1%). Taking the top spot for F25-54, is 94.5 Virgin Radio with a 16.7 % share (up from 10.3%). Rock 101 holds the lead for M25-54 listeners, delivering an 18.4% share (up from 11.7%). Virgin is out in front for M18-34 with a 15.0% share of hours tuned. When it comes to Women 18-34, Virgin takes a lead with 19.5% (up from 6.7%). 

Edmonton: CISN takes #1 with A12+, posting a 12.6% share (up from 11.5%) of hours tuned. UP! 99.3 holds top spot for F25-54, delivering an 21.7% share (down from 18.6 %). NOW Radio tops the list for M25-54 with an 10.0% share, closely followed by KiSS 91.7 with 9.9%. For M18-34, play 107 is out in front at 16.3%. In the hotly-contested F18-34, CISN led with 27.6%, followed closely by UP! 99.3, delivering 26.6%. 

Calgary: CBC Radio One leads the way for A12+ with a 17.4% share. CBC Radio One is also popular with women, taking #1 spot for F25-54, delivering a 10.2% share, followed by Star 95.9 with 9.7%. For M25-54, 90.3 Amp Radio rules with a 13.0% (up from 12.9%). Amp Radio is also in the top spot for M18-34, delivering a 22.7% (up from 19.9%). Virgin Radio tops F18-34, posting a 10.8%, followed by CJAY at 10.7%.

Montreal: Radio Canada Premiere is #1 for A12+ (Franco) with a 20.2% share (down from 20.8%). For A12+ (Anglo), CJAD 800 is #1 with a 30.8% (down from 33.8%).  105.7 Rythme-FM is tops with women, taking #1 spot for F25-54 (Franco), delivering an 18.3% share. For F25-54 (Anglo), the Beat 92.5 is out in front with a 26.5% share (up from 21.4 %). For M25-54 (Franco), Radio Canada Premiere is on top with a 19.5% share.  For M25-54 (Anglo), the Beat is #1 at 21.9%. 

The post Summer PPM ratings for Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton & Vancouver appeared first on Broadcast Dialogue.

David Bray is President of Bray & Partners Communications.

Feel free to forward questions and inquiries:

Phone: (416) 431-5792  

E-mail: davidbray@brayandpartners.com  

Web sites: brayandpartners.com, davidbray.ca

As summer takes its own sweet time to peek in on us, that must mean it is time to take a look at the Spring radio ratings. Today, we look at Diary markets while PPM markets arrive next Wednesday. As I previously reported, 56 diary markets were discontinued leaving us with our current 22, reporting central area only. All 22 Numeris markets were measured under continuous measurement, using the Online Radio Diary. 

Last fall’s postal strike resulted in delays in delivering and returning survey materials. Today’s Numeris release covers the period of April 29, 2024 to April 27, 2025. Most markets borrowed sample from previous releases. 

Significant methodology changes may be on the horizon. Numeris is looking at replacing diaries with a different approach. They are currently exploring and analyzing two alternatives using a Proof of Concept process. This could undoubtedly result in very significant changes in the way radio is bought and sold. It also will make it almost impossible to easily compare the past with the future. It is time for members of the industry to make their voices heard.

It is worth mentioning that AM/FM radio reached 81% of Canadians 25-54 in diary markets. This spring, 38% of Adult 25-54 listening occurred in their vehicles, while 33% of listening was done in the home. 

Now, let’s take a look at five sample markets from the latest Numeris release.

Winnipeg: CBC Radio One grabs the #1 spot for adults with a 14.8 % share of hours tuned (up from 14.6%), followed by CJOB with 13.4%. Top spot for women 25-54 goes to QX104 with an 11.0 share of hrs. tuned (down from 13.3%), followed by 103.1 Virgin Radio at 9.1%. For Men 25-54, 92.1 CITI-FM is tops with a 16.1% (down from 17.3%).  92.1 CITI-FM also heads listening with Men 18-34 with a 13.4%. For Women 18-34, the favourite is QX104 with 15.0 % (up from 13.3%), followed by Virgin Radio with 14.3%.

Halifax: CBC Radio One takes #1 with adults, posting an impressive 21.0% share of hours tuned (up from 19.9%). Virgin Radio takes top spot for women 25-54, delivering a 17.7 % (up from 16.4%), followed by Move 100 at 16.0%. Q104 tops the list for men 25-54 with a 19.1% (up from 18.9%). For Men 18-34, Q104 is well out in front with 31.4%. When it comes to Women 18-34, Virgin takes top spot with a large lead, posting an impressive 39.0% share.

Ottawa-Gatineau: Bragging rights at the top of the ratings heap go to CBC Radio One, well out in front delivering a 21.7% share for adults (up from 20.0%). CBC Radio One grabs the #1 spot with Women 25-54, delivering a 12.9% share, followed by Hot 89.9 with 10.7%. CBC Radio One holds the #1 spot for Men 25-54, posting a 15.5 % share, followed by CHEZ 106 at 9.1%. CBC Radio One also boasts a lead for Men 18-34, with a 14.3% share of hours tuned, followed by boom 99.7 with 8.4%. For Women 18-34, CBC Radio One has a lead, posting an 11.8 % share, followed closely by boom with 11.2%.

Quebec City: CHOI 98.1 leads the way for adults with a 17.4% share of hours tuned. WKND 91.9 is popular with women, taking the #1 spot 25-54, delivering a 24.9% share.  For Men 25-54, CHOI is on top with 32.5%. CHOI also takes top spot for Men 18-34, delivering a 32.1%. WKND 91.9 takes the lead for Women 18-34, posting a 23.9% share.

Victoria: CBC Radio One is #1 for A12+ with a 24.8 % share (up from 21.3%). CBC Radio One takes the #1 spot for Women 25-54, delivering a 18.8% share, followed by The Zone at 12.0 and The Q at 11.7%. For Men 25-54, The Zone is on top with a 19.6% share, followed by The Q with 17.6%. For Men 18-34, The Zone leads with 25.5%, followed by The Q with 24.4%. For Women 18-34, The Q is also out front, posting a 34.3% share, followed by Virgin Radio with 22.7 %.

The post Spring 2025 Radio Diary Ratings appeared first on Broadcast Dialogue.

David Bray is President of Bray & Partners Communications.

Feel free to forward questions and inquiries:

Phone: (416)431-5792  

E-mail : davidbray@brayandpartners.com  

Web sites: brayandpartners.com

davidbray.ca

They say Rock and Roll will never die. Can the same be said of the medium that brought us those songs? Not so long ago, Bell Media announced the sale of 45 of its radio stations, shockingly declaring “it’s not a viable business anymore.” Radio ad revenues continue to decline across the country. Radio measurement has become problematic. Questions surround Numeris. How long can this continue?

I have worked on radio for 40 years and I continue to love the medium. Still, certain facts can’t be ignored. The PPM numbers I discuss below display a few wonky results. There have been a variety of problems with PPM and sample sizes continue to be a real concern.

The PPM methodology has been extremely expensive to operate, making the task of raising sample sizes difficult. In days gone by, we used to discuss the three-hit theory. With PPM, it is difficult to achieve a frequency of two. That raises the question, if Numeris shows stations in a relatively poor light to buyers, are we somehow doing a disservice to station owners? Is the system insufficiently reliable and stable for buyers and analysts? Right now, owners are exploring options. Tomorrow, I will discuss the diary markets and the alternatives being explored there. 

With this book, radio retains an average weekly reach of 83% for Canadians A12+. In home represents 49% of tuning. Out of home represents 51% of tuning. We should note that, for Canadians, 10% of radio consumption comes from AM/FM live radio streaming. Let’s forge on.

The latest PPM release from Numeris completes the 13-week period covering August 26, 2024-November, 2024. Let’s look at the five PPM markets.

Toronto: Bragging rights at the top of the ratings heap go to CBC Radio One delivering an 11.7% share for A12+, followed closely by CHFI with an 11.5%. CHFI-FM comes out on top with women 25-54 with a 13.7 % share (up from 12.3%). For men 25-54, boom leads with 10.1 % (down from 12.0%). In a surprising shift, 640 AM CFIQ is out in front for M18-34 with a 12.9%. CHFI is #1 for F18-34, topping the list at 16.1%. 

Vancouver: CKNW grabs the #1 spot for A12+ with a 12.1% share of hours tuned (down from 12.2%). Taking the top spot for F25-54 is Move 103.5 with a 20.3% (up from 18.8%) share. Virgin Radio holds the lead for M25-54 listeners, delivering a 13.1 % share followed by FOX at 11.1 %. Move 103.5 is out in front for M18-34 with a 14.3% share of hours tuned. In a very unusual shift, when it comes to women 18-34, CFOX drops to 9.1% from 26.7% in the last book and Move takes a huge lead with 30.3%.

Edmonton: UP!99.3 takes #1 with A12+, posting a 10.5 % share of hours tuned. NOW! holds top spot for F25-54, delivering a 16.3% share (down from 17.3 %). NOW! Radio tops the list for M25-54 with a 13.4% share (up from 11.8%). For M18-34, the Bear is out in front at 16.8% (up from 6.9 %). UP! 99.3 led with F18-34 delivering 24.1% (up from.14.3%) – another unusual statistical jump.

Calgary: XL 103 leads the way for A12+ with a 15.9% share. 90.3 Amp Radio is popular with women, taking #1 spot for F25-54 delivering an 11.3 %. For M25-54, X92.9 rules with a 13.8% (up from 13.1%). X92.9 is in the top spot for M18-34, delivering a 21.2% (up from 16.3%). CJAY tops F18-34 posting a 12.6%.

Montreal: CHMP 98.5 FM is #1 for A12+ (Franco) with an 18.6.% share (down from 21.4%). For A12+ (Anglo) CJAD 800 is #1 with a 31.3% (down from 31.6 %). 107,3 Rouge is tops with women, taking #1 spot for F25-54 (Franco) delivering a 17.0 % share. For F25-54 (Anglo), The Beat 92.5 is well out in front with a 24.3% share (down from 32.4 %). For M25-54 (Franco), CHMP 98.5 FM is on top at a 23.3% share (down from 23.4%). For M25-54 (Anglo), CHOM-FM is #1 at 19.9 % (down from 20.8 %). 

The post Fall 2024 PPM ratings appeared first on Broadcast Dialogue.