It’s no news that WLTW/Lite FM is the city’s top-rated station. The September Arbitron overall ratings show Lite FM increasing its audience slightly to 7.2.

However, its cushion is slipping. WCBS-FM is back in second place, within .6 of the Clear Channel mainstay. CBS’ Classic Hits offering had an impressive month, gaining .5 after dropping to third position for August.

CBS-FM leapfrogs WBLS, which took a .5 nosedive to 5.8.

As for WHTZ/Z100, a perennial Top 5 participant, is fourth but fell .6 for the month. Its sister station WKTU also went in negative territory, also lost .3 to stand at 4.7.

It’s a steady month for Spanish station WSKQ, holding at 4.2. It’s rival WXNY saw slight gains to 3.8.

Erasing the memory of WEMP and FM News, Merlin’s Alternative Rocker WRXP jumped .5 to 2.1. As a news station, WEMP never eclipsed a .6.

Among current news stations, WINS was tops with a 3.9, although down .2 for September. WCBS 880 had a .4 leap to 3.5.

WABC improved .1 to 2.9, while WOR registered no change at 1.7.

There was a change at ESPN 98.7/WEPN. That station dropped .3 to land at 1.1. Even more disturbing, ESPN’s final AM rating before switching to FM in April was the same dismal 1.1.

Steady as she goes–WFAN remains a 2.8.

Also of note, Classic Rocker WAXQ slipped to 3.5, while WPLJ saw a .4 lost to 2.6.

Power 105.1/WWPR had slight gains to 3.6, while Emmis rival Hot 97/WQHT trailed at 3.2.