Not to be redundant, but it’s another winning month for WLTW/Lite-FM.

The Clear Channel number one mainstay kept residence in its familiar spot with a 7.6 in the overall Arbitron ratings. That’s a .4 boost from January.

By contrast, WCBS-FM slipped to a 6.2 in the current PPM.

• Related: FishbowlNY, Radio Ratings Status Quo: WLTW Remains Number One Overall

WBLS also dropped by .2 to 5.5, while WHTZ/Z100 lost .3 to 5.1.

WINS was next with 4.7, a .2 gain. Sister station WCBS 880 also saw a .2 upgrade to 3.8.

The big news is tracking NASH-FM/WNSH, the city’s first Country station in more than 15 years. NASH in its first full ratings survey notched a 1.6. Just below NASH was ESPN’s WEPN-FM at 1.3, a drop from 1.6. More dramatically, ESPN has lost a point since November.

• Related: FishbowlNY, NASH-FM 94.7 Welcomes First Air Personalities

WFAN-FM kept its distance from its rival. But the ‘FAN, which simulcasts on 660 AM and 101.9 FM, had an uncharacteristic drop of 1.2 to 2.5 for February.

There’s more from the monthly ratings after the jump.

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In a bold, if not unexpected maneuver, WFAN will make the leap to FM in November. The New York Times columnist Richard Sandomir broke the news via Twitter today.

FishbowlNY first told you about the factors weighing in CBS Radio’s favor to create a WFAN-FM. We speculated that WFAN would be moved “in-house” to either 102.7 FM, home of Fresh 102.7 or NOW FM 92.3.  However, CBS Radio has confirmed its acquisition of Merlin Media’s ill-fated 101.9/WRXP for the purchase price of $75 million.

CBS Radio said in a statement that WFAN will remain on 660 AM with a simulcast on 101.9.

We have the memo from Merlin CEO Randy Michaels to staffers after the jump.

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Michael Kay will remain on double duty for several years to come. Kay inked a three-year deal as one of the main voices on ESPN New York 98.7 FM/WEPN. Kay hosts the afternoon slot from 3 to 7 p.m. with Don LaGreca, in a pivotal sports talk battle with the venerable Mike Francesa on WFAN.

“We’re delighted that Michael Kay will remain with ESPN New York 98.7,” WEPN VP/general manager Dave Roberts tells FishbowlNY. “Michael’s work ethic and his overall knowledge of sports in New York are key ingredients for nothing but success. He is a true professional and a winner.”

A Fordham University graduate, Kay has been the Yankees TV voice since the YES Network debuted in 2002. That same year, Kay launched his drive time show on ESPN Radio in New York.

The big news of the August PPM is all about WBLS. The Urban Adult Contemporary station is finding new life since the ESPN/KISS FM deal in April. WBLS, now the only game in town for that format, jumped to number two, up .4 to 6.3.

Despite the great WBLS showing, WLTW continues to rule the radio roost. The Clear Channel heavyweight added a .1 to 7.0, but Lite-FM lost a chunk of its lead to ‘BLS in the latest Arbition figures.

WBLS’ good fortune means a backtracking for perennial number two, WCBS-FM. The Classic Hits station slipped into a third-place tie with WHTZ/Z100. However, the two stations got there in slightly different scenarios. CBS-FM gained .2, while Z100 lost .2 for the month.

The homecoming of WRXP to Merlin Media’s Alternative Rocker at 101.9 reaped the rewards. The station shot up a full ratings point to a 1.6.

More from the Top 10 after the jump

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Geographically and logisitically speaking, the Knicks and Rangers belong to ESPN 98.7, with studios above Madison Square Garden. ESPN 98.7/WEPN renewed its deal as the home of the MSG franchises.

The multi-year agreement includes full pre- and post-game coverage for both teams, and a continuation of a multi-tiered cross-promotional effort between The Madison Square Garden Company, including the Knicks, Rangers and MSG Networks, and ESPN New York 98.7 FM.

“We’re excited to continue our partnership with ESPN New York 98.7FM, and all the unique marketing and promotional opportunities that accompany the association with such a world-renowned brand,” said Dan Ronayne, executive vice president and general manager, MSG Networks. “It allows two of the strongest brands in sports, MSG and ESPN, to continue their successful partnership and to bring the highest quality radiocasts in the country to the most knowledgeable sports fans in America…New Yorkers.”

In April, ESPN took listeners from the poor-signaled 1050 on the AM dial, to the former KISS FM home. VP and general manager Dave Roberts said in a statement, the relationship with the Knicks and Rangers was necessary for station growth.

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For several years, Talkers magazine has compiled the “Heavy Hundred” talk radio hosts. With sports such a huge radio genre, the magazine is unveiling its first list of 100 Most Important Sports Talk Hosts in America.

Numerous New York personalities dot the survey. But you can start right at the top, as Mike Francesa (left) is selected as the best. The WFAN afternoon host has been in the driver’s seat alone since 2008 when Chris Russo (a.k.a. Mad Dog) bolted for SiriusXM.

Russo failed to get the same support from Talkers, landing at number 39. He was surpassed by WFAN’s morning team Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton, in the high rent district of number 4.

Other WFAN hosts on the inaugural list include: Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts at 42, and original host Steve Somers at 56.

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Without any fanfare, it’s a typical month for WLTW/Lite FM. The Adult Contemporary giant was number one in the just-released overall PPM ratings for June.

Lite FM saw its huge numbers dwindle from May (8.1 to 7.7). But the station maintained its 5,600,000 cume (audience).

A surprise at number two, where WLTW sister station WHTZ/Z100 made a nice .5 leap.

Despite only slipping .1 for June, WCBS-FM fell from its usual second-place perch. The Classic Hits format, now under the direction of longtime WLTW programmer Jim Ryan, finds a home in third.

It’s the second ratings book for WBLS since the Urban station gave a voice to several displaced KISS FM/WRKS personalities following ESPN’s takeover of the 98.7 frequency.

WBLS had a fourth-place showing, with only a minimal drop off to 5.6.

As for ESPN/WEPN, the all-sports station lost .2 to 1.6 in the overall ratings. By contrast, rival WFAN improved slightly to 3.3.

More ratings insight after the jump

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“I’m the original update person on the weekends from midnight til 6, and also was on the street [reporting] for three days during the week,” Minko tells FishbowlNY, moments before returning to the studio for another live sports report.

During the 2000s, Minko was the radio play-by-play man for Army football on WABC and WFAN’s top rival WEPN/(then ESPN 1050).

These days Minko, 59, is one of the station’s main update anchors, handling the afternoon slot, including for Mike Francesa‘s show, which is simulcast on the YES Network.

But with his quarter-century logged at the ‘FAN, Minko is also an unofficial station historian.

“I remember everybody’s schedule on air from the very beginning,” Minko says. “Every single person.”

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It was a whirlwind of activity yesterday and when the smoke cleared, ESPN’s WEPN made the switch from 1050 on the AM dial to 98.7 FM.

Caught in the crossfire of the reported $96 million deal is the longtime R&B formatted WRKS/KISS FM. The Emmis-owned station, which celebrated 30 years on the air in 2011, has merged music and talent with WBLS 107.5 FM. It’s almost as surprising a turn as the ESPN jump to 98.7.

In a joint statement, the two stations said that they will become “One Family, One Station.”

No sooner than the announcement was made, KISS was being simulcast on WBLS. Just after midnight on Monday morning, the two Urban stations will consolidate at 107.5 under the WBLS call letters.

As we reported yesterday, KISS midday host Shaila and evening personality Lenny Greene will reconvene at WBLS.

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Chalk up another victory for WLTW/Lite FM. The Adult Contemporary powerhouse ranked first again in the monthly PPM Arbitron ratings.

WLTW kept its huge audience with a 7.5 rating, a .2 increase from the previous month.

Top competitor WCBS-FM remained a consistent number two in the overall ratings for March. The Classic Hits station, though, lost .3 for the month to 6.3.

Clear Channel’s Z100/WHTZ held third place, and maintained a 5.2 rating for the second straight survey. Sister station WKTU got a .3 boost to 4.7 for March.

Popular Tropical station WSKQ has a slight increase to 3.9. The city’s other Spanish formatted station, WXNY, registered a 3.5 again.

WRKS/KISS FM made a slight gain to 3.8, while Classic Rocker WAXQ slipped to a 3.8.

More from the monthly ratings after the jump

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