As it approaches its one-year anniversary next month, WLWK-FM (94.5), the station formerly known as WKTI, continues to do pretty well.
The Arbitron radio ratings out this week show that the station -- which calls itself "Lake FM" -- made it to eighth place over the summer quarter in the 25-54 demographic that advertisers seek. That's up from 13th place for the old WKTI format in summer 2008.
In the broadest measure, all listeners 12 and older, Lake FM was tied for 11th place with WMYX-FM (99.1), up from 13th place the previous summer.
WMIL-FM (106.1) moved into a tie for fourth place in the 25-54 demographic with urban WKKV-FM (100.7), up from eighth place in summer 2008. The country music station was generally stronger than in summer 2008.
THE HORSE RACE: Overall, the top five stations among listeners 12 and older were WTMJ-AM (620), WXSS-FM (103.7), WKKV and a fourth place tie for WISN-AM (1130) and WMIL.
The top five stations among listeners 25-54 were WTMJ, WHQG-FM (102.9), WKLH-FM (96.5) and a fourth place tie for WKKV and WMIL.
IN THE MORNING: Morning drive time is one of two key time periods in radio, and the top five stations this summer from 6 to 10 a.m. weekdays for listeners 25-54 were WHQG, WKLH, WTMJ, WMIL and a fifth place tie between WLWK and WXSS.
The top five among listeners 12 and older were WTMJ, WHQG, WKLH, WMIL and WXSS.
IN THE AFTERNOON: The top five stations for listeners 25-54 from 3 to 7 p.m. weekdays were WISN, WTMJ, WMIL, with WJMR-FM (98.3) and WKKV tied for fifth.
The top five among listeners 12 and older were WISN, WTMJ, WXSS, WKKV and WMIL.
IT'S TOO EARLY: Fans of fired WTMJ afternoon voice Phil Cianciola who are looking for some possible impact on the station's ratings will have to wait another quarter. Cianciola got the ax Sept. 4 and this ratings period ran from June 25 to Sept. 16.
ON TV: Fox's animated "The Cleveland Show" has been picked up for a full second season, even though the Seth MacFarlane's "Family Guy" spinoff is just in its first season. The long lead-time needed for producing such an animated series is behind this early pickup.
- HBO says the fourth season of "Big Love" will start Jan. 10, with Sissy Spacek joining the cast.
- Jorja Fox's five-episode return to CBS' "CSI" has been extended indefinitely, reports EW.com's Michael Ausiello.
- Meanwhile, RadarOnline.com is reporting that TLC's "Jon and Kate Plus 8," or whatever they're calling it these days, will end in mid to late November when existing footage is used up. How's that for a little good news?
FINALLY, "30 ROCK" RETURNS: NBC's Emmy-wining "30 Rock" is back on the schedule tonight at 8:30 on Channel 4.
That completes the network's Thursday night comedy lineup that starts at 7 p.m. with "Community," followed by Amy Poehler's much-improved "Parks and Recreation," (or maybe I've just gotten used it), then "The Office" and "30 Rock."
A preview of tonight's episode follows below.
Tim Cuprisin is the media columnist for OnMilwaukee.com. He's been a journalist for 30 years, starting in 1979 as a police reporter at the old City News Bureau of Chicago, a legendary wire service that's the reputed source of the journalistic maxim "if your mother says she loves you, check it out." He spent a couple years in the mean streets of his native Chicago, and then moved on to the Green Bay Press-Gazette and USA Today, before coming to the Milwaukee Journal in 1986.
A general assignment reporter, Cuprisin traveled Eastern Europe on several projects, starting with a look at Poland after five years of martial law, and a tour of six countries in the region after the Berlin Wall opened and Communism fell. He spent six weeks traversing the lands of the former Yugoslavia in 1994, linking Milwaukee Serbs, Croats and Bosnians with their war-torn homeland.
In the fall of 1994, a lifetime of serious television viewing earned him a daily column in the Milwaukee Journal (and, later the Journal Sentinel) focusing on TV and radio. For 15 years, he has chronicled the changes rocking broadcasting, both nationally and in Milwaukee, an effort he continues at OnMilwaukee.com.
When he's not watching TV, Cuprisin enjoys tending to his vegetable garden in the backyard of his home in Whitefish Bay, cooking and traveling.
