By Steve Kabelowsky Contributing Columnist Published Jun 15, 2015 at 4:26 PM Photography: shutterstock.com

It is no wonder that when a working format is found, programmers stay with it. Two of the iHeartRadio stations in the market, WMIL-FM and WRIT-FM, have rolled with its country and oldies formats for some time. They were awarded with the No. 1 local ratings spot for May.

It was a tie. The stations had a 9.5, according to the Nielsen numbers published by the Tom Taylor NOW newsletter.

It is also no wonder when others see something good, that they copy it.

A few weeks ago WKTI-FM and the once-used call letters returned to the Milwaukee market. This time, however, it is KTI Country. In an effort to boost the rankings of the Scripps FM station in the market, the former Journal Broadcast Group is taking aim at WMIL. If the station gets a piece of the share in June, it may be enough for WTMJ-AM 620 to do better than third place. The talk and sports station finished with an 8.4.

Here are the May numbers:

WMIL-FM, Country: 9.5
WRIT-FM, Oldies: 9.5
WTMJ-AM, News Talk Info.: 8.4
WMYX-FM, Hot AC: 6.3
WISN-AM, News Talk Info.: 5.7

WKKV-FM, Urban: 5.6
WKLH-FM, Classic Rock: 5.5
WLUM-FM, Alternative:               4.0
WHQG-FM, Mainstream Rock: 3.9
WXSS-FM, Pop CHR: 3.8

WLDB-FM, Hot AC: 3.5
WJMR-FM, Urban AC: 3.3
WLWK-FM, Adult Hits: 2.9
WRNW-FM, Pop CHR: 2.6
WNRG-FM, Pop CHR: 2.3

WHAD-FM, Talk/Personality: 2.1
WSSP-AM, All Sports: 2.0
WUWM-FM, News Talk Info.: 1.6
WYMS-FM, AAA: 0.8
WMSE-FM, Alternative: 0.3

WOKY-AM, All Sports: 0.3
WJYI-AM, Contemp. Christian: 0.2
WZTI-AM, Rhythmic Oldies: 0.2

ONLINE: Milwaukee Public Television’s Webby Award-nominated PBS Online Film Festival launched today.  The fourth year of the festival will run through July 17.

The event will feature 25 short-form independent films from POV and public media stations and partners. The PBS Online Film Festival is part of a multi-platform strategy to increase the reach and visibility of independent film on PBS and stations including MPTV.

Roku customers already have access to festival on Roku players and Roku TVTM models. Today, the festival is on PBS digital platforms, PBS.org, YouTube and PBS social media channels.

This year’s lineup features films from the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), Latino Public Broadcasting (LPB), National Black Programming Consortium, Pacific Islanders in Communications (PIC), POV, StoryCorps and Vision Maker Media, as well as PBS local member stations including Alaska Public Media, CET/ThinkTV (Cincinnati/Dayton), KLRU-TV Austin PBS, KQED (San Francisco), Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Twin Cities Public Television, UNC-TV and Vermont PBS.

Viewers are encouraged to vote for their favorite film for the "People’s Choice" award. 

"PBS, and its member stations, prides itself as the home for independent film," said Ira Rubenstein, senior VP and GM of PBS Digital. "With the Online Film Festival, and the early viewing access we’re providing to millions of Roku customers, PBS and its member stations have the opportunity to bring unique, high-quality independent film to a highly engaged, digitally savvy audience." 

Steve Kabelowsky Contributing Columnist

Media is bombarding us everywhere.

Instead of sheltering his brain from the onslaught, Steve embraces the news stories, entertainment, billboards, blogs, talk shows and everything in between.

The former writer, editor and producer in TV, radio, Web and newspapers, will be talking about what media does in our community and how it shapes who we are and what we do.