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What 97.1 The Freak Got Right and Wrong During Its Short Life

Garrett Searight
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The 97.1 The Freak flag is no longer flying.

What started out as an ambitious, personality-forward format ended last week after less than a year-and-a-half of attempted disruption on the Dallas airwaves.

I was sad to see the reports that talented folks like Ben and Skin, Mike Rhyner, and Jeff Cavanaugh were out, with the iHeartMedia-owned signal returning to its former rock radio roots.

Despite the short run the station had, there were both good and bad items that came from its launch, short stay on the air, and ultimate demise.

The Good

The fact that a radio leader even attempted to do something like 97.1 The Freak is a good thing. We’re at a point where many “sports talk” shows are really “guy talk” shows, disguised as sports programs. And The Freak threw caution to the wind and simply embraced what it was, which I’ve championed in the past.

The station embodied everything local radio should be: personality-driven. People are seeking authenticity, personality, and connection. And that — more than anything else — is something local radio can provide. The Freak went all-in on local, well-known personalities, looking to build a station that featured fun, interesting, and entertaining discussions daily.

Being a boundary or status-quo pusher should be viewed as a good thing. Sports talk radio, in some places, has gotten stale. And talk radio — especially news/talk radio — is a format featuring roughly the same 15 national hosts espousing the same beliefs on the same subjects over and over again.

In my opinion, the talk radio space was rife with opportunity for a format like 97.1 The Freak, and a station, leadership team, and company being willing to take a chance on the idea deserves to be commended.

And while I think ambition should never be viewed as a negative, one of the biggest issues with 97.1 The Freak was its overly ambitious launch.

The Bad

When you try to be everything, you’re nothing. The station bucked the idea that it was not sports talk, it wasn’t political talk, it wasn’t music talk. It was just 97.1 The Freak. Which is great, if it had a full runway from iHeartMedia to let that brand coagulate for years.

But in the situation it found itself in — trying to be one of the forefathers of a fledgling genre — attempting to be everything for everyone proved to be too big of a chunk to bite off.

I think the demise of the station proves that having a baseline format — knowing that if the station says it’s a classic rock station, you’re going to hear classic rock, or sports, or whatever format you’d like to insert here — is still a huge card to play. I know that people listen to podcasts, audiobooks, music, radio, and everything in between of varying topics and interests, but this is still broadcasting, and 97.1 The Freak was attempting to broadcast to too broad of an audience.

I don’t know how well the station embraced the digital content aspects presented to creators in 2024. It sure felt like the station was a natural for a YouTube/Rumble/Twitch simulcast, with a full-on embrace of social media like TikTok. But those things never came. Whether that is an iHeart issue, a Dallas leadership issue, or a station personnel issue is unclear. iHeartMedia has proven to be a company that embraces digital aspects, but 97.1 The Freak never really got that support and push on the digital side.

Also, what’s in a name? I’m personally a fan of show names like The Downbeat or The Speakeasy, but I think when you have a talent like Mike Rhyner hosting on the station, you need to highlight the fact that a talent like Mike Rhyner is hosting on your station by putting his name in big bold letters on the show name’s marquee.

And “97.1 The Freak” doesn’t necessarily instill a sense of wanting to be a member of that tribe, right? Not to get too into the weeds, but “freaks” aren’t generally folks interested in admitting that they’re a freak. And they definitely don’t fully embrace being members of big communities, like tribe-building stations require.

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My fear is the station came on too early. That in the next decade or two, we’ll be talking about how 97.1 The Freak was ahead of its time. That both the sports talk radio and news/talk radio industries shifted to allow a “guy talk” or “hot talk” format to grow into a formidable option seems like a reasonable outlook for the future. The future of music radio is murky at best. At a time when spoken word listenership and usage continues to be a juggernaut, it just feels inevitable that that talk genre continues to grow and innovate in ways like 97.1 The Freak.

Unfortunately, it didn’t work out. But I hope that doesn’t dissuade someone from attempting something similar in the future.

Potential TikTok Ban Can’t Come Soon Enough

Krystina Alarcon Carroll
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Potential TikTok Ban Can’t Come Soon Enough

As college campuses across the United States are taken over by pro-Gaza protests, I’ve yet to see the debate of “Is this another generational cause or is something more sinister at play?” Truth be told, it is likely a little of both, but the TikTok ban is providing a solution and a constitutional problem to this modern dilemma.

Last Wednesday, President Biden signed legislation giving TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, six months to find a buyer and another 3 to close the deal. Meaning, selling the app or facing a nationwide ban. The crackdown on TikTok would take aim at app stores, like Apple or Google Play, who would face penalties if they allow updates or continued downloads of the video app.

This is months away and we are in the middle of an election, so anything could happen. What’s important to note is legislators are less concerned about the content being shared and more concerned with the information users are giving our frenemy, the Chinese Communist Party.

However, it should be the other way around.

ByteDance is an internet company whose headquarters are in Beijing and is incorporated in the Cayman Islands. It was founded in 2012 and aside from TikTok, it also owns social media app Douyin and the news platform Toutiao. The latter two are only available in China. It is these deep ties to China that have governments concerned. Many countries have restricted TikTok on government devices, including the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, the United Kingdom, and several others. Other countries like Afghanistan, India, Nepal, Taiwan, and China have banned the app completely.

TikTok has never been allowed in China. Instead, TikTok’s parent company has Douyin, a very similar video-sharing app, which adheres to Beijing’s censorship rules. If a company cannot operate its app within the confines of the country they are established in, it is a red flag. ByteDance is not only getting information from its users, it is controlling the algorithms which affects what users see. Yes, this is like other social media outlets except the clear ties to China have caused alarm bells.

One-third of adults aged 18-29 (early Gen Z and late-born Millennials) receive their news from TikTok, according to Pew Research Center. While headlines about local pro-Gaza protests fell out of the news cycle, they did not fall out of young adults’ TikTok feeds. In fact, the New York Post interviewed a person who makes a living off of the video app claiming “[the app has] become a cesspool of hate and misinformation.”

When thousands of students are chanting “Death to Israel” and “Death to America”, does the government have a right to cut out the tool being used to radicalize our children? TikTok has become more than just another social media app. A Google study found nearly 40% of Gen Z use TikTok or Instagram to search online over the tech giant’s search engine. While Elon Musk is claiming he wants X to be the “everything app”, China has already beaten him to it! Jokes aside and more importantly, TikTok is not only gaining information about its users, it is also manipulating what they see.

This is likely why Gaza, a place that many Gen Z-ers likely hadn’t heard of until October 7th, has become ‘an embodiment of the 1968 Vietnam protests.’ Except for, you know, none of these kids have any idea of what it’s like to be drafted. Our country is not currently at war, and while everyone wrongly thinks America gave Israel the land, it was actually the British government who established Israel because Palestine (which is still not fully recognized as a country, and in recent times the US has blocked full membership to the UN) was a British territory in 1948.

Constitutionally, we have the right to freedom of speech. People can say they hate other people and they can speak out against the government. There is a lot our freedom of speech provides us as people, but should companies and algorithms be allowed those same rights? This is now the legal dilemma that Biden’s TikTok ban highlights. The case will likely hit our court system somewhere around October 2024 under First Amendment infringement. If allowed to operate under the same First Amendment protections as people, algorithms and big tech companies will have more power and ways to manipulate their users than ever before.

Even if this ban is deemed unconstitutional, a simple workaround would be to provide app stores incentives to no longer allow updates of TikTok, thus deeming it unusable. Stores already do this for apps that don’t work, have not been updated to new operating systems, or carry illegal content. However, their ban stops short of social media outlets that allow sharing of false information (aka all of them).

We have already seen the effects of social media algorithms sharing false or misleading content and in turn, manipulating people. A Pew study released Monday found most Americans believe social media companies have too much influence in politics and censor political viewpoints they object to. It’s not just a Republican belief anymore, the study went on to say it is a growing feeling among Democrats as well. Yet, we use it as a new source, to get information share ideas, and “feel” connected (even though several studies have shown people feel actually less connected while using social media).

I almost always use social media for work. I don’t have a TikTok and I have no intention of having one so long as China is involved. But for those of you who do, or have family who do, consider the following: Many people in America were willing to give up their freedoms to protect others during the pandemic. The question now is are those same people, and even the ones who weren’t willing to give up those freedoms, prepared to give up a small part of freedom of speech in order to protect America’s national security?

Does News Radio Become Conservative Talk Radio North of 9 AM?

BNM Staff
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Everyone in the radio industry knows that last week was a rough one for many within the Audacy family. Layoffs all across the country as the company tries to improve the balance sheet and come out of bankruptcy. There is no reason for me to go into details on the impact at my station. It certainly won’t help me to discuss it publicly, and it certainly won’t bring anyone back.

All I will say is that in the near term, I am adding an extra on-air hour to my day. Generally speaking, this is no problem. I like to talk, and that happens to be my profession.

Having said that, historically, we have a line in our programming day, and that line is 9 AM. Before 9 AM – south of it — we have our morning show: News/weather/traffic, some interviews, and hopefully, some humor, insight, and positive energy interspersed throughout. After 9 AM – north of it – the shows focus on callers and opinions, with conservative opinion being the predominant theme.

As a self-avowed independent, the morning show is perfect for me. I thrive south of 9 as I get to react in real-time and make a concerted effort to look at all sides of an issue, while making the show (hopefully) a safe space for democrats and republicans alike.

We’re proud of what we’ve built, and we don’t want to jeopardize it.

Taking that 9-10 hour feels a little dangerous, and I’ve actually been here before.

When I first started on the morning show a few years back, I took on that extra hour after yet another shift in personnel. It was just after Rush Limbaugh had died, and we were in limbo regarding whether we should look for another syndicated show or go all-in on local. While we were figuring it out, the three local shows picked up the slack.

My hope then was to utilize the extra hour as an experiment of sorts. I wanted to take that independent lens and apply it to each issue. I talked a lot about silos, and how everyone seemed to stay too snugly within their own rhetorical silo, closed off from other viewpoints, sometimes never even hearing them.

I was a split-ticket voter on issues. On some, I found one side’s take made sense, while on others, I took the other side. I thought that flexibility would give me credibility and create good radio as I would expect a lively conversation each day. Boy, was I naïve.

What happened?

I angered everybody.

It didn’t work, simple as that.

A few years later, I am back north of 9, and I will not make the same mistake. I am not afraid of the difficult conversations. I am not fearful about taking a stance on an important issue. But with 2-plus years under my south-of-9 belt, we have a growing brand to protect. Why compromise progress with a few time-filling hot takes. I haven’t changed my mission: I still want to break down silos and be an equal-opportunity critic.

But this time, I think I will do it through other people’s voices and my questions.

If this extra hour lasts months – or without an end date – it’s likely unsustainable, but for now, it’s about taking the guests I call “not enough timers” – the people I seem to always want to keep talking to at the end of segments – and giving them more time. The clock is different north of 9, with a lot more space to have full conversations, more podcast-like than morning show.

I don’t know exactly how many of those guests I have, but I am trying to line ‘em up as quickly as I can.

Attorney from the Alex Jones Sandy Hook case: Let’s talk Trump immunity case.

My former co-host with 30 years in the market: His career history including Rush Limbaugh’s late-night phone calls in Kansas City.

State House lobbyist: Whatever I can eek out of him!

Now, it feels like the interview show I always wanted but never had. It may get tiring – and I have no idea how long it will last — but it interests me, can still work to erode silos, and feels decidedly less dangerous.

CNN Leads Ratings for Largest White House Correspondents’ Dinner Audience Since 2016

BNM Staff
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The 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner (WHCD) was held on Saturday, April 27th at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. This year’s event was hosted by Saturday Night Live comedian/writer Colin Jost, and was shown live on CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC.

In front of a crowd of journalists and many celebrities, including President Biden and Vice President Harris, the popular “Weekend Update” anchor delivered a varied mix of wisecracks about the media, Biden’s age, and, of course, Biden’s election opponent Donald Trump.

“The Republican candidate for president owes half a billion in fines for bank fraud and is currently spending his days farting himself awake during a porn star hush money trial and the race is tied?” asked Jost.

He concluded his set by describing his 95-year-old grandfather, a longtime fireman in Staten Island, N.Y, who voted Democrat in 2020 even though that New York City borough is known to favor Republicans.

“He voted for you, and the reason that he voted for you is because you’re a decent man,” Jost told Biden. “My grandpa voted for decency and decency is why we’re all here tonight.”

Preceding Jost was President Biden who offered some brief words about press coverage of the election and his continued work to free currently imprisoned journalists overseas like Evan Gershkovich and Austin Tice. Biden also managed to mention the zinger, “Of course, the 2024 election is in full swing. And yes, age is an issue. I’m a grown man running against a 6-year-old.”

According to Nielsen Media Research, a combined 3.33 million total viewers watched the dinner with the President and Jost within the 10-11 p.m. hour. This marked an 8-year high for the WHCD, which came as a result of all three major cable news outlets televising it live, for the first time since 2016 with the returning inclusion of Fox News Channel.

Aside from its C-SPAN broadcast (which is not tabulated by Nielsen), the annual event was primarily a CNN affair. MSNBC joined in the coverage in 2023, its first year since 2017.

CNN ranked as the top cable news outlet on this Saturday night (from 8 p.m. to midnight), averaging 1.211 million total viewers including 169,000 within the key 25-54 demographic; up 13 percent and down 7 percent, respectively, from last year.

While the Fox News Channel (992,000) ranked behind CNN and MSNBC (1.131 million) within the 10-11 p.m. hour in total viewers, it was Saturday night’s runner-up cable news outlet (8 p.m.-midnight), thanks to its 8 PM program, “Life, Liberty, and Levin” (1.355 million viewers; 119,000 adults 25-54). FNC averaged 1.153 million viewers and 136,000 adults 25-54. FNC (106,000) also topped MSNBC (100,000) during the WHCD’s main 10 p.m. hour among adults 25-54.

For the night, MSNBC averaged 849,000 viewers (+17% from 4/29/23) and 73,000 adults 25-54 (-14%).

The high recent watermark for the WHCD was set in 2016, for President Barack Obama’s final Dinner (4.9 million).

The following is a year-by-year viewership track for the past ten White House Correspondents Dinners (focusing on the ceremony’s final hour):

2024*: 3.33 million (1.211 million on CNN, 1.131 million on MSNBC, 0.992 million on FNC)

 * It is probable that this year’s combined viewership for the 10-11 p.m. hour is larger than 3.33 million due to Nielsen’s tabulation of CNN’s entire 8 p.m. to midnight period that evening, but not CNN per hour.

2023: 2.39 million (1.54 million on CNN, 0.849 million on MSNBC)

2022: 1.85 million (CNN)

2019: 0.95 million (CNN)

2018: 1.35 million (CNN)

2017: 2.38 million (1.69 million on CNN, 0.69 million on MSNBC)

2016: 4.90 million (3.02 million on CNN, 1.14 million on FNC, 0.74 million on MSNBC)

2015: 2.60 million (1.18 million on CNN, 0.89 million on FNC, 0.53 million on MSNBC)

2014: 1.09 million (CNN)

2013: 3.24 million (1.49 million on CNN 1.49, 1.11 million on FNC, 0.64 million on MSNBC)

John Lopez: NFL Draft Ratings ‘Beyond Embarrassing for Every Other Sport’

BSM Staff
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John Lopez: NFL Draft Ratings ‘Beyond Embarrassing for Every Other Sport’

Although ratings for the 2024 NFL Draft were down 3% from last year’s event, the metrics still surpassed several other sports league counterparts airing programming within the time slot. The draft averaged 5.74 million viewers across its three days on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and NFL Network, according to the NFL and Nielsen Media Research.

Within those ratings, however, was a strong Day 1 performance that accumulated an average of 12.1 million viewers, which is up 6% year-over-year. Moreover, its total unduplicated audience equated to 34.3 million viewers, the highest mark since 2021. The stellar ratings were a point of discussion on the In The Loop midday program on SportsRadio 610 in Houston.

The program had a discussion on Monday pertaining to whether or not the NFL Draft should be extended to a week-long event. In 2010, the NFL expanded the draft to a three-day format and has been holding the event around the country for nearly a decade. Next year’s draft will be held at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisc., the historic home of the Green Bay Packers.

“While I wouldn’t go that far, there’s a case to be made for maybe four – maybe four days of it,” co-host John Lopez said on Tuesday. “NFL Draft ratings came out for Thursday and Friday – Saturday, I believe, I haven’t seen those yet – and it was beyond embarrassing for every other sport, especially the NBA.”

While the NFL Draft averaged 12.1 million viewers on Thursday, the next best performance was an average of 3.34 million viewers for the NBA Playoffs Western Conference battle between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers on TNT. In the earlier time slot as part of a doubleheader of games presented on TNT, the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers game averaged 2.57 million viewers. NBA TV aired the Cleveland Cavaliers’ matchup against the Orlando Magic and averaged 2.52 million viewers across the game. Viewership data for these matchups is courtesy of Jon Lewis of Sports Media Watch.

“The NBA tried to counter it with three standalone games on different networks,” Lopez added. “Didn’t matter – more than 2 million [additional] fans were watching the second and third rounds of the draft than the NBA Playoffs.”

TBS presented an NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs quarterfinal matchup between the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning that averaged 569,000 viewers. ESPN2 also aired the Carolina Hurricanes’ Eastern Conference matchup against the New York Islanders and drew an average of 435,000 on the night. The first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs has averaged 800,000 viewers through Sunday on ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, TBS and truTV, which is up 3% year-over-year.

Michael Kay: ‘I Hope CBS Buttoned Everything Up’ Regarding Departures of Boomer Esiason, Phil Simms

BSM Staff
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Earlier in the week, CBS Sports announced that Matt Ryan was joining the cast of The NFL Today and also revealed that Boomer Esiason and Phil Simms will not be returning to the program. As it embarks on five decades of studio coverage surrounding the NFL on CBS, the show will enter the 2024 NFL season with the new studio team that also includes host James Brown and analysts Bill Cowher, Nate Burleson and J.J. Watt. In reviewing the decision, which coincided with Esiason signing an extension to remain with Audacy in morning drive on WFAN, ESPN New York afternoon host Michael Kay speculated about what could have happened.

“I hope CBS buttoned everything up because if you’re getting rid of guys just because of their age, you’re going to get yourself in trouble,” Kay said. “You can’t fire somebody because of their age.”

Previous reports indicated that contracts for several members of the show were expiring after the conclusion of the NFL season. Brown reached an extension with CBS Sports, and Cowher, Esiason and Simms were all reportedly working on expiring deals. In its announcement, CBS Sports divulged that Cowher will be returning, whereas Esiason and Simms are not among the cast members of the show. As he co-hosted The Michael Kay Show on Tuesday afternoon, Kay asked Don La Greca if he felt that Ryan was more relevant than Esiason and Simms.

“I don’t know what it is that they see in Matt Ryan,” La Greca said, concurring with Kay. “He doesn’t jump off as somebody that I gotta go to see, but maybe they’ve looked into it or whatever, but if they’re trying to get the coveted younger demographic, I guess they feel like, ‘I want to get guys that can play.’”

La Greca compared the move to an observation he has evinced in baseball pertaining to older analysts and how some of them struggle to understand the analytics that have become embedded within parts of the modern game. Even though he never felt Esiason and Simms had not reached a point where “the game passed them by” or that their anecdotes and perspectives were old school, he can understand diminished appeal at an older age.

“They probably have some analytic where they’re able to test the market and see what the fans want,” La Greca said. “They’re doing it for a reason and they’re experts at what they do, and I’m all for change.”

Kay then stated that he believed an impetus for this move was the retirement of Sean McManus as chairman of CBS Sports, resulting in David Berson being promoted to president and chief executive officer of the division. Without mentioning Berson by name, Kay insinuated that the company “brought a new guy in who wants to put his own imprint.” Co-host Peter Rosenberg added that he felt it was the main thing surrounding these changes with The NFL Today.

“I guess my only problem with it is is that it doesn’t seem like you need any experience at all,” La Greca remarked. “We saw all of these guys eventually gradually move up to where they were – to prove that they can do it. Now it doesn’t seem like whether they can do it or not is part of the process.”

Dan Le Batard: Jason Kelce ‘Could Have Had Any Job That He Wanted in the Media’

BSM Staff
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Dan Le Batard: Jason Kelce ‘Could Have Had Any Job That He Wanted in the Media’

Former Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Jason Kelce has reportedly agreed to a deal with ESPN that will have him join Monday Night Countdown during the NFL season. Kelce, who also co-hosts the New Heights podcast with his brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, had discussed potentially working in sports media in the past.

Dan Le Batard believes that Kelce could have landed any job that he wanted to, especially becoming more famous late in life and with his brother dating award-winning singer and songwriter Taylor Swift. Aside from his stellar play on the field, which resulted in seven Pro Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl championship, Kelce’s podcast and fandom have augmented his standing in the media landscape.

“I will tell you this is a fascinating thing to watch in the media age when the athletes come for all of the great jobs and have their own brands,” Le Batard said on Tuesday’s episode of The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz. “Jason Kelce has turned himself into what’s going to be the most powerful offensive lineman voice there’s been since John Madden? Since whatever it is – Art Donovan? You don’t get to be famous as one of these offensive lineman.”

Le Batard expressed that the signing was great for both Kelce and ESPN, referring to him as someone who will be “an obvious star, a beer-belly every man on your football telecast.” Additionally, he asserted that the role is going to elevate his profile and have him become more known to football fans and viewers from around the country.

Futuri AI Production Platform SpotOn Wins 2024 NAB Product of the Year

BNM Staff
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Futuri AI Production Platform SpotOn Wins 2024 NAB Product of the Year

Futuri, one of the leading providers of AI-powered solutions for broadcasters and content creators, announced today that its AI platform, SpotOn, has been selected as the winner of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) 2024 Product of the Year Award.

SpotOn was recognized for its groundbreaking end-to-end platform that simplifies the production process for professionals in the broadcast media industry.

With a focus on both radio and television industries, SpotOn utilizes advanced AI technology to help broadcasters create high-quality spec spots within seconds, a task that would typically take hours. The platform also offers access to over 3 million royalty-free music options for spec spot production.

This award comes at a time when Futuri CEO Daniel Anstandig has been advocating for media executives to take a proactive approach to incorporating AI into their operations.

“SpotOn is an outstanding example of how broadcasters can save time and resources by responsibly utilizing AI to quickly and efficiently produce commercials,” stated Anstandig. “By embracing AI, media professionals can focus more on creativity rather than processes, ultimately driving success within their organizations.”

The flexibility and efficiency of SpotOn make it a tool for broadcasters seeking to enhance their content strategy and operational productivity.

“NAB Show is the premier marketplace showcasing the latest trends and technologies across creation, distribution, and monetization in the broadcast, media, and entertainment industry,” commented Eric Trabb, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Success Officer for NAB Global Connections and Events. “Congratulations to Futuri for earning the prestigious 2024 NAB Show Product of the Year Award, a testament to the groundbreaking innovation in AI and Machine Learning embodied by SpotOn. Its profound impact on the content lifecycle underscores its pivotal role in empowering storytellers to navigate present challenges and embrace opportunities for the future.”

Josina Anderson Parting Ways with CBS

BSM Staff
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CBS Senior NFL insider Josina Anderson announced via her X account she has decided to move on from CBS.

“I want to thank the CBS Sports team for my experience and time there,” she wrote. “I’m amicably moving on to future ventures. I wish all of the talented insiders, anchors, reporters, producers, executives and support staff the best.”

Anderson, 45, started at CBS Sports HQ in September 2021. She had parted ways with ESPN in June 2020 after nine years with the network. At ESPN, she was part of the National ESPN Insider team which at the time consisted of Adam Schefter, Chris Mortensen, John Clayton, Ed Werder, Adam Caplan and Field Yates.

No word yet on what Anderson has planned for the future. BSM will keep you posed as soon as more information becomes available.

KYW, WPHT Deliver Results in Philadelphia Winter Ratings Book

BNM Staff
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KYW, WPHT Deliver Results in Philadelphia Winter Ratings Book

With Audacy headquartered in Philadelphia, the city is well-served by the news and talk radio brands KYW Newsradio and 1210 WPHT. During the winter ratings period, KYW continued its strong performance with consumers in the City of Brotherly Love.

The all-news KYW earned its best numbers in morning drive (6a-10a). With Persons 35-64, the all-news station earned a 7.9 share, good for fourth. Meanwhile, in Persons 25-54, the station generated a 4.3 share to finish tied for ninth. KYW also delivered an impressive 7.6 share with Persons 12+ to rank third overall.

In the 10a-3p midday timeslot, the station produced a 4.6 share inside the Persons 35-64 demographic to finish eighth. KYW secured a 3.2 share as well with Persons 25-54 to rank eleventh. Among the 12+ demo, KYW landed a 5.7 share to place sixth.

Afternoon drive (3p-7p) saw slightly higher shares for the brand compared to middays, with a 5.5, fifth place showing in the Persons 35-64 demo. KYW landed a 4.6, tenth place finish with Persons 25-54. The drive time slot performed the same as middays, registering a 5.7 share, sixth-place toe.

In weekday prime (M-F, 6a-7p), KYW earned a 6.0 with Persons 35-64, marking a fifth-place finish. It garnered a 3.9 share in the Persons 25-54 demographic, finishing eleventh. The station also scored a 6.0 share for the full week (M-Su, 6a-12a) with Persons 35-64, and a 4.2 share, tenth place result with Persons 25-54. Among the 12+ crowd, KYW delivered a 6.3, fifth place finish in both weekday prime, and full week.

At Audacy-owned sister station 1210 WPHT, the 12+ story stood out above the the 25-54 and 35-64 results. Morning drive with Kayal and Company which features Nick Kayal, Dawn Stensland and Greg Stocker earned a 1.9 share with Persons 35-64, and a 1.3 share with Persons 25-54. However, in the Persons 12+ demo, the show grabbed a 3.9 share, best on the station for the book.

1210 WPHT splits middays (10a-3p) between The Dawn Stensland Show and The Dom Giordano Program. The daypart fared better with Persons 35-64, scoring a 1.8 share compared to a 1.0 share with Persons 25-54. With the 12+ demo, the timeslot gained even more ground, finishing with a 3.4 share.

Turning to afternoon drive, The Rich Zeoli Show occupies the entire 3p-7p daypart. For the quarter, Zeoli snagged a 2.3 share with Persons 35-64, and a 0.9 share with Persons 25-54. Zeoli’s share among Persons 35-64 was best on the station for the quarter. Switching to 12+, the afternoon show notched a 3.4 share for the quarter.

In weekday prime (M-F, 6a-7p), the news/talk outlet popped a 2.0 share with Persons 35-64, and dropped to a 1.1 share among Persons 25-54. For the full week, WPHT recorded a 1.5 share with Persons 35-64, and a 0.8 share with Persons 25-54. Among 12+, WPHT had a 3.6 share in weekday prime, and a 3.0 for the full week.

All numbers for KYW and WPHT include both over the air and streaming. Ratings information for Salem Media Group’s AM 990 The Answer was not available.

Ratings reports and analysis are written by BNM and sponsored by Crowd React Media, a division of Harker Bos Group. Learn more about the different ways media research can benefit your station and cut through the noise by clicking here.

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