Sports radio listenership in the spring book was surely impacted by COVID-19 as sporting events were scarce and less people were on the road with daily commutes. Complete data for all shows was not available, but sports radio brands in Portland, Seattle and Milwaukee worked hard to combat the effects of a global pandemic.
Portland’s 102.9/750 The Game was less impacted by the lack of sports, producing a similar year-over-year number in weekday prime (M-F 6a – 7p) earning a 3.4 share for their target demo of men 25-54. The Game topped the more localized 1080 The Fan, which did a 2.2 share.
The Game’s strongest performance came from The Dan Patrick Show, which airs 6 – 9a and generated a 6.2 share. The DP Show was down almost three points year-over-year in Portland, but still topped 1080’s Dusty and Cam in the Morning which earned less than a 1 share.
From 9a – noon, The Game’s simulcast of Jim Rome earned a 3.9, beating 1080’s offering of Colin Cowherd which generated a 1 share. During the noon – 3p block, The Bald Faced Truth with John Canzano turned in a similar year-over-year performance for The Game with a 3.4 share. 1080’s early afternoon show hosted by Andy Johnson and Brandon Sprague was less than a point behind with a 2.6. Data for afternoon drive wasn’t available.
Turning to Seattle, in weekday prime, 710 ESPN Seattle topped Sports Radio 950 KJR, but the pandemic caused the station to fall from 6th to 19th in the spring book which extended from March 27 – June 17.
In morning drive, 710’s Danny O’Neil and Paul Gallant completed their second full book as co-hosts, topping KJR’s Chuck and Buck in the Morning. From noon – 3p, 710 ESPN’s midday show hosted by Tom Wassell, Jake Heaps and Stacy Rost also finished ahead of KJR. Rounding out the weekday lineup, KJR’s afternoon show with Dave ‘Softy’ Mahler and Dick Fain edged out 710’s trio of Bob Stelton, Dave Wyman and Jim Moore.
In Milwaukee, 97.3 The Game topped their sports radio competition for the full week (Mon-Sun 6a-mid). The Game earned a 1.6 share in the spring book, while 94.5 ESPN and 105.7 The Fan each did a 1.2. None of the three sports radio stations missed out on local NBA or MLB play-by-play, as news station WTMJ is the rightsholder for the Bucks, Brewers and Packers.
Dual market host Steve Czaban finished 10th in morning drive for The Game, from 6 – 9a. Czaban’s spring book was down from his seventh-place finish in the winter quarter. Full market data wasn’t available for all shows.
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.
