1966 - IN THE BEGINNING...

The American Research Bureau (known as the ARB, which would later become Arbitron) measured radio listening habits in Dallas and Fort Worth for the very first time in the winter of 1966.  At this time,  Dallas and Fort Worth were two separately-rated radio markets.  These measurements were quite crude in comparison to today's ratings.  In fact, Arbitron's current system of measurement by "Average Quarter Hour" was not in place until the fall of 1966.  The January/February rankings are computed according to "Net Weekly Circulation", a term comparable to what we now call "cume".  This was the only estimate offered for this period.  The familiar "average quarter hour share" appears in October/November 1966.  

DALLAS - KLIF continued it's dominance in Dallas in 1966, nearly fifteen years into its legendary run as a trend-setting top 40 station.  Note the third place finish of country station KPCN in the fall.  The rising popularity of country music will wind up spelling KPCN's own demise, with new competition entering the market in the following year.

FORT WORTH - The battle in Tarrant County was a little more heated as two legendary top 40 stations fought to a dead heat in the fall ratings period.  KFJZ and KXOL were evenly matched in almost all regards, and the new Arbitron ratings were now testament to that fact.  However, the stalemate would not last long - one of the stations would soon pull ahead to dominate in Fort Worth. 

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