Classic rock radio ruled the airwaves during the summer, but both primary sports radio stations in the Boston market also fared well as usual in the Nielsen Audio ratings.
CBS Radio’s 98.5 The Sports Hub finished third and Entercom’s WEEI (93.7) was fifth in the men 25-54 demographic for the three-month summer period of June 19-September 10.
Rock station WZLX, owned by CBS Radio, was first (8.4), while WAAF, which like WEEI is owned by Entercom, was second (6.5).
It’s the ninth straight three-month period that the Sports Hub has been the top-rated sports station in the market. The Sports Hub had a 6.2 share, while WEEI had a 5.4.
But WEEI did end another notable streak with a victory in morning drive. The Dennis and Callahan program, which also includes Kirk Minihane, finished second in the 6-10 a.m. window with an 8.3 share, edging the Sports Hub’s Toucher and Rich program (third, 8.2).
T&R had been the highest-rated sports show in the mornings for eight straight three-month periods.
Broken down by month, Dennis and Callahan won July and August while Toucher and Rich took September. Last summer, T&R had a 10.8 share while D&C was at 7.2.
D&C saw progress in the ratings even before the buzz generated by Minihane’s controversial comments about Fox Sports sideline reporter Erin Andrews, which registered in the August ratings.
T&R co-host Rich Shertenlieb returned in September after missing more than four weeks while his wife received cancer treatment.
In other day parts:
For midday (10 a.m.-2 p.m.), the Sports Hub’s Gresh and Zo — hosted by Andy Gresh and Scott Zolak — finished third (5.7) while WEEI’s Middays With MFB, featuring Lou Merloni, Christian Fauria, and Tim Benz, was seventh (4.4).
In afternoon drive (2-6 p.m.), the Sports Hub’s Felger and Massarotti show was first for the ninth straight ratings period with an 8.8 share. WEEI’s Dale and Holley program was fourth (5.6).
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 6 p.m.-midnight period, The Sports Hub and WEEI tied for fifth with a 5.0. That includes the Baseball Reporters and the Adam Jones Show on the Sports Hub and Red Sox pregame and game broadcasts as well as the Planet Mikey Show on WEEI.
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.
