97.1 The Fan in Columbus, OH is not just the area’s leading sports station, but they’re also one of the elite brands among all radio formats. According to data from Nielsen Audio, the winter ratings book saw The Fan finish first during all normal weekday timeslots.
In weekday prime (M-F 6a – 7p), Tegna’s 97.1 The Fan earned a 12.2 share with their targeted audience, men 25-54. The sports station ranked 2.8 points ahead of iHeart’s country music station 92.3 WCOL, which finished second in the market. The next highest talk station behind The Fan was the Ohio State owned WOSU 89.7, with a 4.9 share. For the full week, (M-SU 6a – Midnight) The Fan again finished first with a 10.4.
From 6 – 10a, The Fan earned a 12.6 rating, proving to be a very successful market for ESPN Radio’s nationally syndicated Golic and Wingo. The Fan simulcasts Golic and Wingo 6 – 9a, followed by the start of their local lineup with Bishop & Laurinaitis from 9a – noon. Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Rothman then fill The Fan’s noon – 3p timeslot. In middays, both shows helped the Columbus sports station to a first place finish with a 10.9 share during the 10a – 3p hours.
During afternoon drive, The Fan earned a massive 13.5 share, topping the second-place station by more than four full points. Common Man & T-Bone (Mike Ricordati and Jonathan Smith) air from 3 – 6p, followed by The Buckeye Showwith Brandon Beam and Tim Hall from 6 – 8p.
Their targeted audience success even carried over into the larger demo of adults 25 – 54, where The Fan finished third overall for the full week along with each individual weekday part.
Brandon Contes is a former reporter for BSM, now working for Awful Announcing. You can find him on Twitter @BrandonContes or reach him by email at Brandon.Contes@gmail.com.
