WXOS (101. FM), which entered the format in January, surpassed the combined market share of foes KFNS (590 AM) and KSLG (1380 AM) and again has the top two programs. Bernie Miklasz is No. 1 and the trio of D'Marco Farr, Randy Karraker and Bob Ramsey is second for the July-September period. They were 1-2 in the other order last time.

In fact, the only program on another station to do better than a WXOS show was the Tim McKernan-Jim Hayes-Doug Vaughn carnival at 1380, which might be nearing its demise (see accompanying story). It won the battle with its sports competitors when they go head-to-head from 7-9 a.m., drawing 2.8 percent of the listeners in the stations' target audience — men ages 25-54 despite about a 40 percent decline from the last survey. (And a dip from 9-10 a.m., when the morning shows at the competition are over, led to a 2.5 figure for that 1380 show as a whole.)

In the latest survey, WXOS was 37 percent ahead of the combined share of its foes in the stations' key demographic from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. weekdays. WXOS drew 3.9 percent of that group, KSLG was at 1.4, KFNS 1.2. Among all local stations regardless of format, WXOS was 10th among men 25-54. KSLG was 20th, KFNS 21st.

"While I am thrilled with our progress ... we are still collectively hungry to take the format to an even higher level,'' 101.1 program director Jason Barrett said.

Kevin Slaten, the boisterous KSLG afternoon drive-time host who unexpectedly slid to the bottom of the list for individual shows in the previous book, soared 60 percent this time. "He's sold out of live (commercial) spots,'' KSLG general manager John Helmkamp said. "The demand is there.''

But Frank Cusumano and Martin Kilcoyne, TV sportscasters who also have KFNS programs, tumbled. Cusumano's show, in late mornings, fell 61 percent and the mid-morning program he does with Kilcoyne slid 54 percent. Kilcoyne's morning drive show was off 40 percent.

"I don't spend a lot of time with any numbers except our revenue numbers,'' KFNS general manager Dave Greene said. "(They're) headed in the right direction."