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Christmas Carol Arms Race Hits Chicago Radio

Stations compete to kick off holiday programming earlier and earlier

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 2, 2007 3:19 PM CDT

(Newser) – Apparently not content to subject listeners to "The Little Drummer Boy" in the traditional Thanksgiving-to-Christmas window, two Chicago radio stations switched to the all-fa-la-la-la-la, all-the-time holiday format today. The move is both the latest volley in a hot rivalry and a repeat of a strategy that paid off in ratings a year ago, the Chicago Tribune reports.

An adult contemporary station and a rival talk station that's rumored to be changing formats—to adult contemporary— raced to deck the halls earliest in an attempt to get the attention of female listeners, a key adult-contemporary demographic. WLIT switched to Yuletide mode on November 2 last year and rode a ratings wave from leftover Halloween candy season until the first Valentine's treats hit the shelves at New Year's.

  (WLIT)
  (WCKG)
Over 150 Santa Claus gather at this years World Santa Claus Congress held at Bakken amusement park, Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, July 22, 2007. The congress started 50 years ago, when one of the performers at Bakken had a Christmas party in the middle of the summertime. (AP Photo/Carsten Snejbjerg, Polfoto)
Over 150 Santa Claus gather at this years World Santa Claus Congress held at Bakken amusement park, Copenhagen, Denmark, Sunday, July 22, 2007. The congress started 50 years ago, when one of the performers...   (Associated Press)
Santa and Rockettes, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007, in New York. (AP Photo/MSG Entertainment, Dave Allocca)
Santa and Rockettes, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2007, in New York. (AP Photo/MSG Entertainment, Dave Allocca)   (Associated Press)
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