KOSU releases survey results

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Listeners Detail KOSU Usage and Format Preferences

(March 19, 2008    Stillwater, OK)  –  KOSU listeners who participated in a recent survey are indicating a strong desire for more variety in the station’s programming.  The KOSU Listener Survey asked radio patrons a series of questions about their current relationship with the medium in general and KOSU in particular.  Survey respondents detailed their listening habits and format preferences, while providing input in an open-ended comment section on what they like and what they would change about KOSU.  A total of 450 people participated in the survey, which was conducted from January 1 through March 15.  

“For the past six months, we’ve been seeking input from listeners through the KOSU survey, our Stillwater Town Hall meeting, various community speaking engagements and our new advisory board, the KOSU Champions Council,” said KOSU Director Kelly Burley.  “The one constant we are hearing loud and clear is that people want new reasons to tune in.”      

Among other things, the survey found that while participants are listening to radio up to four hours a day, many of them are spending less than one hour a day with KOSU.  Listeners expressed strong support for the station’s current news programming and a desire for additional news offerings while favoring several particular music genres, including classical, jazz and folk.  The most popular programs according to survey participants are All Things Considered, Morning Edition, Weekend Edition, Car Talk and A Prairie Home Companion.  

The following is a sample of comments from survey participants:

It (KOSU) is good, make it great!

Add Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me and Whad’ya Know.

I would definitely like to see much less classical music 9-Noon, Noon-3, 7pm-all night is way too much…

Please bring back some jazz programming - late night would be great...after 9 or 10 pm. Also programming such as "This American Life."

I hope KOSU remains a classical music station.

KOSU programming makes living in a rural area palatable and connected to the wider world while enjoying the advantages of small college town living. I'll try to keep an open mind about changes!

Would love to have an Oklahoma music segment, especially featuring Stillwater's own Red Dirt Music!

Thanks for asking and listening!

“This survey is one of many tools we will utilize to help us evaluate our current program schedule with an eye toward the future,” Burley said.  “We are taking our listeners’ preferences to heart and will do our best to improve our programming service to them.”         

For results of the KOSU Listener Survey, visit www.kosu.org .