The fall ratings book for 101 ESPN built on momentum from over the summer when it experienced quarterly gains within all dayparts. In weekday prime hours (M-F 6a-7p), the station attained a 9.8 share in the latest Nielsen results with Men 25-54, up from a 6.7 figure and sixth-place finish in the summer. The third-place ranking is also up 2.9 shares compared to the same time last year when the brand earned a fourth-place finish.
The Opening Drive led off mornings from 7a-10a by making strong improvements. Randy Karraker, Carey Davis and Brooke Grimsley wrapped up 2023 with a 6.9 share, up 2.6 shares from the summer book. In what marks Davis’ final ratings book in mornings, the show jumped from seventh to fourth. The station announced Davis was moving to afternoons in December, joining Jamie Rivers and Anthony Slater on The Fast Lane. Dan McLaughlin, the former television play-by-play voice of the St. Louis Cardinals, joined the morning show in early January.
The outlet’s hour-long early midday program hosted by Tim McKernan generated an 11.4 share, up from a 6.8 share fifth-place finish in the summer. That represented the largest quarterly share increase for a program at the station, which also improved its rating to third-overall.
Following Balloon Party (McKernan’s show), the three-hour 101 ESPN late-midday program of BK & Ferrario collected an 11.3 share, third-place result for the fall book. That was up from a 7.8 share, fifth-place outcome last quarter. Both midday programs ranked fifth among adults 25-54, with a 7.3 and 7.1 share, respectively.
In afternoon drive, The Fast Lane continued its strong performance with an 11.7 share in the fall ratings book, the largest share by a daypart in the quarter. Compared to the summer, the show picked up 3.6 shares and one ratings position. Last year’s fall book listed the program third-overall with an 8.2 share.
For the full week (M-SU 6a-12a), 101 ESPN finished third with Men 25-54 with a 9.0 share. Additionally, 590 The Fan did not appear within the Nielsen ratings report for the quarter.
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