For the seventh straight three-month ratings period, 98.5 The Sports Hub finished as the top-rated station in Boston according to Nielsen Audio data.
The Sports Hub earned a 7.9 share in the men 25-54 demographic for the spring period of March 27-June 18, edging classic rock station WZLX (7.8), which like the Sports Hub is owned by CBS Radio.
WEEI (93.7) tied for fifth with fellow Entercom-owned station WAAF with a 5.6 share.
The Sports Hub’s numbers are down from the winter (9.3 share) and last spring (10.2). Last spring’s ratings were bolstered even more by the Bruins’ run to the Stanley Cup Final. The Sports Hub is the flagship station of the Bruins, who lost in the Eastern Conference semifinals this year.
WEEI, the radio home of the Red Sox, saw its ratings tick upward from a 4.6 in the winter and a 5.5 last spring.
In morning drive (6-10 a.m), The Sports Hub’s “Toucher and Rich” program was first for the eighth straight three-month period with a 10.0. T&R had a 11.1 in the winter and a massive 13.4 last spring during the Bruins’ run.
WEEI’s “Dennis and Callahan” program was second for the third straight period, earning a strong 8.2. That was a significant improvement over last spring’s 6.0 share for the show, which also features Kirk Minihane. D&C had a 7.1 in the winter.
For midday (10 a.m.-2 p.m.), the Sports Hub’s “Gresh and Zo” program finished fourth (6.2), down from a second-place 8.9 in the winter. WEEI’s midday programming — which was revamped with the late-May reassignment of Mike Mutnansky and the hiring of Christian Fauria and Tim Benz to join holdover Lou Merloni — finished eighth with a 4.5, up from its 3.5 share in the winter.
In afternoon drive (2-6 p.m.), “Felger and Massarotti” was first for the eighth straight ratings period with a 10.0 share. WEEI’s “Dale and Holley” program, in its first full three-month period since Dale Arnold and Michael Holley were reunited in March, was third with a 5.8. WEEI was fifth with a 5.4 in the time slot during the winter.
From 6-7 p.m., The Sports Hub’s “Baseball Reporters” program hosted by Tony Massarotti was first with an 8.6 share. In the same window, WEEI was tied for fifth (5.2).
In the 7 p.m.-midnight period, The Sports Hub was first with a 9.1 share. “The Adam Jones Show” and Bruins games aired in that day part. WEEI’s “Planet Mikey Show” was tied for 11th (3.9). WEEI, which features Red Sox broadcasts and the Planet Mikey Show, was third with a 7.4.
For more information on the Boston media scene make sure to check out Chad Finn’s column where this story was originally published
Jason Barrett is the President and Founder of Barrett Media since the company was created in September 2015. Prior to its arrival, JB served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He also spent time programming SportsTalk 950 in Philadelphia, 590 The Fan KFNS in St. Louis, and ESPN 1340/1390 in Poughkeepsie, NY. Jason also worked on-air and behind the scenes in local radio at 101.5 WPDH, WTBQ 1110AM, and WPYX 106.5. He also spent two years on the national stage, producing radio shows for ESPN Radio in Bristol, CT. Among them included the Dan Patrick Show, and GameNight.
You can find JB on Twitter @SportsRadioPD. He’s also reachable by email at Jason@BarrettMedia.com.
