It was a Merry Christmas for Lite-FM/WLTW as the Holiday ratings show another win for the perennial number one, according to Arbitron.

WLTW, which goes with a Christmas music format from Thanksgiving to Christmas, was rewarded big time.

The Clear Channel Soft AC for 11 months of the year proved that the holiday hits are a winning combination. It scored a huge 12.3 for the Holiday period from December 9 to January 5, while traditional second-best WCBS-FM was well-distanced at 4.8. (For some comparison, in the December ratings book, WLTW beat WCBS-FM, 8.4 to 5.7.)

Following that, much of the survey was without change.

WHTZ/Z100 kept hold of number three, dropping slightly to 4.5.

Another Clear Channel station, WKTU also slipped .1. The Rhythmic AC had a 4.4.

Tropical WSKQ stayed put at number five with a 4.0.

WCBS-AM did see some modest gains with a 3.5 (up .4). Sister station WINS moved ahead .1 to 3.2.

Perhaps, listeners are the Grinch when it comes to talk shows.

WOR had a .4 setback to stand at 1.7. However, Citadel-owned WABC had the biggest freefall of the latest ratings, losing 1.1 for a 3.0, and an eight-position slide to 13th.   

Surprisingly, ESPN 1050/WEPN, despite the New York Jets’ playoff run, actually lost listeners. The second-tier sports station dropped from a 1.3 to a 1.2.

WFAN also went .1 in negative territory, but finished the period at a 2.9.