The Houston sports radio market is crowded. It features a number of quality brands and talent, all capable of rising up and winning the quarter. For the 2021 spring book though, the story was SportsTalk 790’s return to the top.
790 was first among local sports talkers in weekday prime (M-F 6a-7p) with a 2.3 share. Sports Radio 610 was next with a 2.2. ESPN 97.5 placed third with a 0.6. 97.5 did gain another .1 for HD2 listening.
The best performance for 790 this quarter came from ‘The Matt Thomas Show’, which airs weekdays from Noon to 3p CT. Thomas turned in a 3.4, the best overall format performance in the market for the book.
‘In The Trenches with ND Kalu’ which airs in middays from 10a-12p was the next best performer for 790 with a 3.0. The afternoon show, ‘The A-Team with Adam Clanton and Adam Wexler’, which airs weekdays from 3p-6p CT produced a 2.5. Sean Salisbury popped a 0.9 in mornings during the hours of 6a-10a CT. Not to be forgotten, the Houston Astros hot start to the 2021 baseball season paid dividends too, generating a 2.3 share at night.
Sports Radio 610’s best performance came in middays courtesy of ‘In The Loop’ hosted by Landry Locker and John Lopez. The 10a-2p show delivered a 2.5 for the quarter. Next best was the afternoon show featuring Clint Stoerner & Ron ‘The Show’ Hughley. They earned a 2.2 share between April-June. Last among 610’s weekday shows this book was the morning team of Seth Payne and Sean Pendergast with a 2.1.
ESPN 97.5’s top rated show this quarter was its morning show, ‘The Bench’ featuring John Granato and Lance Zierlein. The familiar local team tied with 790’s Salisbury delivering a 0.9. The station’s other three weekday shows were tied with a 0.5. All four shows also gained one tenth of point courtesy of the station’s HD2 channel.
With football season around the corner, and 97.5 needing to replace AJ Hoffman as a result of a new opportunity in Las Vegas, the market should be a fun follow in the months ahead.
Bring back Josh Innes!