We’re up to the fourth day of BSM Top 20 of 2019, placing the spotlight today on the sports talk format’s top afternoon shows. Before you jump ahead to see the results and grab screenshots of the photos to promote your favorite hosts and shows on social media, here are a few things to be aware of.
First, the voting for our Top 20 series this year involved forty seven radio professionals from thirty cities and eighteen companies. Yours truly (Jason Barrett) does not vote on the awards, I simply collect the information, add up the votes, design the images, and present and promote the results.
Secondly, our voters were asked to consider the criteria below to judge the format’s best programs. Keep in mind, each individual values different things and has deeper knowledge of some shows and cities than others. Though that may make this an imperfect science, we could say that about any list on any topic ever created. Therefore, we’re going to move forward and present a collective snapshot of what radio industry executives believe to be the format’s best shows.
- Strong ratings in 2019
- Industry track record
- Reputation and influence
- Ability to entertain and inform consistently
- Must have finished 2019 with the network/station in the timeslot
- Points are given for each spot (EX: 20 for 1st, 1 for 20th)
That brings us to this year’s rankings for the Major Market Local Sports Radio Afternoon Shows of 2019. For the first time since we introduced the Top 20 series five years ago, the top honor goes to Felger and Massarotti of 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston. Mike Felger and Tony Massarotti have been consistently strong since arriving on the scene over a decade ago, often producing mid to high double digit ratings in one of the most competitive markets in the country. The Boston duo has come close to winning this category before, and now have finally gotten over the hump.
Last year’s winner, The Michael Kay Show, finished 2nd this time around. Rounding out the rest of the Top 5 were Mike Valenti, Waddle & Silvy and Mike Missanelli. Despite spending significant time in afternoons in 2019, Mike Francesa, Jorge Sedano and Ben & Skin were not eligible for votes due to not finishing the year in the afternoon drive slot at their respective stations.
BSM congratulates Mike, Tony, Jim Murray, James Stewart, Rick Radzik and the 98.5 The Sports Hub team, as well as former PD Mike Thomas on the show picking up this year’s top honor. Now let’s take a look at the final results of “BSM’s Top 20 Major Market Local Sports Radio Afternoon Shows of 2019!”
Additional Notes:
- Felger & Mazz earned the most 1st place votes with ten (10), The Michael Kay Show was second with seven (7)
- Spots 21-25 belonged to Chuck & Chernoff, The Loose Cannons, Bob, Dave & Moore, The Drive and Mackey & Judd with Ramie.
- The closest battles were Ordway, Merloni & Fauria holding off Chad Dukes, and GBag Nation edging Tolbert, Krueger & Brooks by 2 points.
- 9 of the 34 shows eligible for consideration this year received at least one (1) 1st place vote.
Here is the remaining schedule for the BSM Top 20 of 2019.
- Friday January 31 = The 2019 Top 20 Sports Radio Program Directors
- Monday February 3 = The 2019 Top 20 Major and Mid-Market Local Sports Radio Sports Stations
- Tuesday February 4 = The 2019 Top 20 Original Sports Podcasts
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.
