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Sports Radio Winter Ratings Report

BSM Staff
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Sports Radio Winter Ratings Report

The winter book isn’t always kind to the sports radio format. Although stations may remain atop the ratings ladder with Men 25-54, shares tend to decrease during this period due to the sports calendar offering less compelling content and a reduction in important games.

For many programmers, the fall is seen as sports radio nirvana. It produces the NFL and CFB regular seasons, the conclusion of the MLB regular season, the MLB Playoffs and the World Series, the return of the NBA/NHL/CBB seasons, not to mention other content hits such as MLB Free Agency, the Heisman Trophy winner announcement, and other unexpected twists and turns.

Although January offers its share of excitement between CFB Bowl games and the NFL Playoffs and Super Bowl, once the NFL season expires, February and March become a bigger challenge. Stations try to drum up interest in the remainder of the NBA/NHL seasons, spring training, the NFL Draft combine, NFL free agency and the NCAA tournament, and some may experience success but as a whole, the format dips because those events don’t produce the same must-listen enthusiasm from local audiences.

Regardless of those difficulties, staying competitive and maximizing listening opportunities is critical for sports radio brands. In looking at the winter numbers from a number of markets across the nation, a healthy number of stations turned in impressive results. A few weren’t as fortunate. Nonetheless here’s the information we’re able to pass along.

New York:

The big story was The Michael Kay Show on 98.7 FM ESPN NY defeating WFAN in PM drive for the first time in 13 years. Kay’s program finished 8th, two tenths of a point in front of The Fan’s CMB which came in 10th. WFAN did earn head to head victories in mornings and middays. Boomer & Gio were 7th with a 5.1, a little more than two full points ahead of ESPN Radio’s Golic & Wingo which airs on ESPN New York and finished 14th. Joe & Evan turned in a 6th place finish by generating a 4.8, doubling ESPN NY’s Humpty & Canty.

Los Angeles:

The meters were kind once again to ESPN LA 710. The station remained the top rated sports station in the city of Angels. In the M-F 6a-7p demographic, 710 won the quarter against top competitor AM 570 LA Sports. The station also earned wins in mornings between 6a-9a with Keyshawn Johnson, Jorge Sedano and LZ Granderson defeating 570’s airing of The Dan Patrick Show. From noon to 3p Mason and Ireland remained in front of 570’s Roggin and Rodney. In fact, two full ratings points separated the two shows. The afternoon battle saw a similar story with the combination of Mason and Ireland and Marcellus Wiley and Travis Rodgers besting Petros and Money. The overall numbers for the quarter were not high but LA doesn’t produce the big sports radio shares that we see in other major markets.

Chicago:

670 The Score shook up its lineup in late March, so the new shows are yet to be measured for a full quarter, but for those who are no longer part of the station’s weekday plans, they can at least take solace in the fact that they finished up strong. The winter book found The Score ahead of their market competitor ESPN 1000 in a number of categories. Among Men 25-54 in the M-F 6a-7p demographic, The Score finished nine tenths of a point ahead of ESPN 1000. One year earlier they trailed their competitor by two tenths of a point. In the M-F 6a-7p demographic a similar story occurred. 670 finished a little more than a point ahead of 1000. Last year at this time 1000 was six tenths of a point ahead. In the head to head battles, The Score gained wins from Mully and Hanley (7.5, 1st) over Golic and Wingo (3.2, 13th) in mornings and Spiegel and Parkins (5.1, 4th) over Kap and Company and 1-hour of Carmen and Jurko. ESPN 1000 remained ahead though between 1p-6p led by an hour of Carmen and Jurko and a strong four hour effort from Waddle and Silvy. The station’s two shows combined to deliver a 5.2, 3rd place finish, seven tenths of a point ahead of Bernstein and Goff which turned in a 4.5, good enough for 5th place. As is the case during most quarters, sports radio in the windy city remains alive and well.

San Francisco:

There was cause for celebration on both sides this quarter in the Bay Area. The overall battle was won by KNBR who led most head to head categories, but 95.7 The Game had plenty of reason to feel optimistic too. Starting with M-SU 6a-Mid, KNBR’s 6.3 was strong enough to secure 2nd place. The Game was also formidable, producing a 5.1 to come in 3rd. In the M-F prime 6a-7p slot, KNBR was 2nd again with a low 7 share. The Game also held the same ranking, finishing 3rd with a high 5 share. Mornings were competitive too with Murph and Mac besting Joe, Lo and Dibs. However, the race has definitely tightened. KNBR was 2nd, and The Game 3rd, with only one point separating the two brands in AM drive. Looking at weekdays 10a-1p, Garry and Larry remained KNBR’s strongest rated show, generating an impressive 8.4. The duo were two and a half points better than The Game’s rotational midday show and 1-hour of Greg Papa. That said, The Game had nothing to apologize for, they ranked 2nd at just under a 6 share. Between the hours of 1p-3p, Fitz and Brooks occupied 1st place with just under a 7 share. The Game’s Greg Papa was 2nd with a respectable 5.6. In afternoons, it was another close call as Tolbert and Lund defeated Damon Bruce. The KNBR drive time duo produced a 6.8, which helped them lock up 2nd place. Bruce wasn’t far behind, claiming 3rd with a 5.5. The Game did earn a victory in evenings, thanks to another strong showing by the Golden State Warriors. The Game was 7th with a high 4 share. KNBR was 10th in the mid 3’s. Anyway you slice it, this is a great showing for two superior sports radio brands in a market which continues to become more invested in local sports talk radio.

Philadelphia:

An Eagles Super Bowl appearance, victory and parade was exactly what Philadelphia sports radio needed to ride the wave to the finish line. For Sports Radio 94 WIP the news was especially sweet as the station not only delivered massive shares among Men 25-54 but with the overall 6+ audience too. For the full week WIP was 2nd with 6+ just three tenths of a point away from first place. With Men 25-54 they placed 3rd with a 9.4. Local competitor 97.5 The Fanatic was also strong with a high 5 share. Turning to the weekday shows, Angelo Cataldi continues to be the cream of the crop in the market, finishing 1st with 6+ at a 9.5 share. In the target demo of Men 25-54, Cataldi was 2nd with a 12 share. The Fanatic’s Anthony Gargano was much further behind delivering a 5.8. In Middays, WIP saw Joe DeCamara and Jon Ritchie finish 3rd with a low 9 share. The Fanatic’s Harry Mayes and Jason Myrtetus produced a similar number to Gargano. The most competitive battle occurred in afternoons where Jon Marks and Ike Reese’s first book included a ratings win over The Fanatic’s Mike Missanelli. Marks and Reese were 3rd with a mid 8 share. Missanelli was six tenths of a point behind.

One thing to take into account as told to Philly.com by The Fanatic’s program director Eric Johnson, if you remove the streaming numbers from the conversation, WIP wins the afternoon ratings matchup. If those numbers are added though, the story changes.

“They surely do win when you take the stream out of it, but in 2018, you can’t take the stream out of it,” said Johnson. “You write what you want to write, but I’m still saying Mike Missanelli beat WIP.”

WIP’s PD Spike Eskin says Johnson’s take though is misleading because the way the data is collected by Nielsen is designed to measure radio ratings, not streaming numbers.

“That’s not me dismissing the importance of the stream. What I’m dismissing is the notion that you would measure it using a radio rating. I’m very confident if you were to compare our actual streaming numbers to our competition in the afternoon, it would show that we have a clear advantage.”

Atlanta:

The winter book produced results that 92.9 The Game can feel good about. The radio station finished in the Top 5 with Men 25-54 in both drive time spots. John Fricke and Hugh Douglas were 5th in mornings with a 5.6. Carl Dukes and Mike Bell finished was 3rd with just under a 7 share in afternoons. Overall the station finished 4th with Men 25-54. For market competitor 680 The Fan the news was positive too. Although they don’t subscribe to Nielsen, the station’s decision to move Steak Shapiro, Brian Finneran and Sandra Golden into morning led to an increase in the ratings.

Boston:

It’s always a game of inches in the hottest sports radio market in the country. Both WEEI and 98.5 The Sports Hub had reason to celebrate as double digit shares were once again produced by the two exceptional sports brands. As was well laid out by Chad Finn of the Boston Globe, the ratings picture is murky because WEEI programming generates additional ratings in the market on Providence-based WVEI. The station includes those numbers in its total performance. The Sports Hub does not have an additional radio outlet in the market generating additional shares to expand its overall pie.

The Sports Hub won the full week among Men 25-54, finishing 1st with a 12.2. WEEI was second with an 8.2. That number increases to .8 if you include WVEI. In mornings, the matchup between Toucher and Rich and Kirk and Callahan was once again tight. T&R win the battle 12.4 to 11.7 if you don’t include WVEI’s numbers. If you do, K&C prevails 12.6 to 12.4. In middays, Zolak and Bertrand on The Hub were 2nd with an 11.3. WEEI’s OMF were 3rd with a 9.5 or 10.2 if you included the WVEI number. During afternoons, Felger and Massarotti dominated with a 16.6, one of the best numbers in the entire format. WEEI’s Dale and Keefe (which included Michael Holley for most of the book) came in 2nd with an 8.1 or 8.9 if you included the WVEI number. Rounding things out at night, The Hub was 1st with a 12.3 and WEEI was 4th with a 6.8. With WVEI included that position changes to a tie for 3rd and a 7 share.

According to Nielsen, the WVEI number should not be included in the overall ratings for WEEI since the advertising content on both stations is different. However, one can make the case that the audience in the metro area is tuning in to hear WEEI’s shows on the second station and that listening should count.

Regardless, it was another top of the format quarter for both stations.

Washington DC:

No Redskins? No Nationals? No problem. 106.7 The Fan continued to flourish in the winter book, making it clear that the personalities and content have become the main attraction for the local sports audience. The station finished 2nd for the full week with Men 25-54, producing just under a six and a half share. The number was two full ratings points higher than last year’s number. In weekday prime (M-F 6a-7p) The Fan was also 2nd with an 8 share. They again grew massively year over year, increasing their share by three full points.

The same story existed for the weekday shows. The Sports Junkies were 2nd in mornings just under a 9 share. The show was three and three tenths of a point higher than it was in 2017. Making it even more impressive, the Junkies finished 2nd among Persons 25-54 with just above a 5 share. Grant and Danny received the highest ranking on the station, finishing 1st with Men 25-54 with a high 9 share. Chad Dukes closed things out by placing 3rd in afternoons with just under a six and a half share.

Minneapolis:

It’s the same successful story in the Twin Cities for market leader KFAN. The iHeart sports radio staton remained dominant, delivering its 6th consecutive #1 finish M-SU 6a-Mid with Men 25-54. Leading the way were The Power Trip, who produced a massive 16 share to come in 1st in mornings. Not far behind though was afternoon host Dan Barreiro who also delivered a 1st place result courtesy of an impressive mid 15 share performance. KFAN continues to showcase itself as one of the highest rated brands in the format.

Nashville:

104.5 The Zone remained the leading sports brand in the market for the winter but 102.5 The Game has started to experience some positive gains too. The Game won weeknights for the first time in station history against The Zone. The rise of the Nashville Predators certainly has factored into that growth. One especially interesting development has been the competitive battle in afternoon drive. 3HL remained ahead delivering a 7.7 for the quarter, but Jared & The GM posted a 5.2, their best number to date. When you consider that just one year ago 3HL produced a 10.2 and The Game was at a 2.5 it’s safe to say the race has tightened.

St. Louis:

The consistency of 101 ESPN remained the story as the radio station finished the winter book in 3rd place with a high 8 share. In mornings, The Bernie Miklasz Show generated a 7.4 which was good enough for 3rd place. Middays saw Kevin Wheeler come in 2nd with an impressive 8.6, and The Turn with Anthony Stalter and Chris Duncan produce a 3rd place finish courtesy of an 8 share. The station’s highest rated program continues to be The Fast Lane, featuring Randy Karraker, Brad Thompson and Chris Rongey. The trio were 1st in afternoon drive with a remarkable 11.1.

Baltimore:

The first book under new PD Chuck Sapienza was strong for market leader 105.7 The Fan. That’s the good news. The bad news, the company will now expect Sapienza and his team to repeat those results book after book. Overall The Fan was 1st with Men 25-54 M-F 6a-7p at slightly above a 9 share. That was nearly a full 3 point increase year to year. The Fan was also in the Top 5 with Persons 25-54 at just under a 5 and a half share.

Charlotte:

WFNZ continues to lead the market and improve upon its past performance. For the winter book the station placed in the Top 10 with Men 25-54 with a 3.2. The station has increased its share by nearly a point and a half year to year. Earning special consideration this quarter was The Mac Attack with Chris McClain and Travis ‘T-Bone” Hancock. The entertaining duo were 6th for the winter book with a 3.6. In the month of March alone, the show tied for 5th with a 5.1, an increase of three times their March 2017 performance. Continuing with their growth story, Mac and T-Bone’s overall share for the winter book has doubled year to year.

Tampa:

NFL free agency, a Lightning playoff push and the return of Rays baseball conversation led to some nice gains for WDAE with M25-54. JP Peterson spent the March book away from his 12p-3p show with Ron Diaz, filling in for Steve Duemig, and his presence in afternoons helped the station see solid gains month to month. The station’s morning show, Ronnie & TKras, also saw nice month to month growth with half share increases in both M25-54 and M35-54.

Memphis:

It was another big quarter for 92.9 ESPN. The radio station was #1 with Men 25-54 M-F 6a-7p with a low 9 share. Looking at the local dayparts, Geoff Calkins was strong as usual, finishing 1st with a little above a 10 share. Jason and John were also #1 with a low 12 share. The overall performance stumbled a little during Eric Hasseltine’s show. However, the program still produced a respectable high 6 share which placed it 6th. Closing things out in afternoons, Gary Parrish was just under a 10 share which was strong enough to place the show 2nd.

Cleveland:

The big story to pass along from the winter book, The Bull and Fox on 92.3 The Fan proved that their prior performance atop the ratings charts was not a one-hit wonder. The talented duo remained dominant, finishing 1st with Men 25-54 with a 12 share.

Denver:

Two noteworthy items to pass along from the market’s top rated sports radio brand 104.3 The Fan. The station placed third overall with a 5.7. In afternoons, The Drive with Big Al and DMac finished 1st with a low 8 share.

Amazon Renews Thursday Night Football Partnership

BSM Staff
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Amazon Renews Thursday Night Football Partnership

Distribution is all set for Thursday Night Football. After agreeing to a five-year deal with Fox earlier this year, the NFL has announced it has renewed its partnership with Amazon for streaming rights to the game.

The renewal shouldn’t come as a surprise after Amazon was satisfied with their first season carrying NFL games. “We were definitely pleased with the way things played out,” said Jim DeLorenzo, the head of Amazon Sports, regarding the 11 Thursday Night Football games streamed by Amazon in 2017.

2017 streaming rights cost Amazon $50 million after Twitter paid the NFL $10 million for the same rights the season prior. Financial terms of Amazon’s new pact with the NFL were not released, but according to ESPN’s Darren Rovell, the e-commerce giant will pay $65 million per year to stream 11 Thursday Night Football games during each of the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Games will be available to Amazon Prime subscribers and free to consumers on Twitch for the first time.

“Our customers love to stream football,” said Jeff Blackburn, SVP of business development and entertainment at Amazon. “We’re thrilled to continue our relationship with the NFL and offer Prime members another two seasons of Thursday Night Football.”

$65 million per year is a drop in the bucket for Amazon who made $1.6 billion in profit during the first three months of 2018. The deal with the NFL also comes on the same day Amazon announced it will be raising its cost of a Prime subscription from $99 to $119 beginning May 11th. This represents the first price increase for Prime since jumping from $79 to $99 in 2014.

Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.

Facebook MLB Viewership Lower Than Expected

BSM Staff
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Facebook’s exclusive Major League Baseball broadcasts have been met with a number of unhappy fans who would prefer to watch the game on traditional television. Their first stream of Mets – Phillies during Major League Baseball’s opening week was met with endless complaints of annoying graphics and glitches during the stream. Critics have calmed in the subsequent Facebook broadcasts, but viewership is still lower than expected.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer Facebook’s MLB broadcasts have averaged between 65,000 and 85,000 concurrent viewers through their first three streams of the season. The Philadelphia Inquirer also reported the Royals and Blue Jays garnered 6.8 million global views, which is measured as a viewer who checks into the game for at least three seconds.

As Awful Announcing notes, a divisional game presented exclusively as a national broadcast should attract several hundred thousand viewers, not 65,000. However, national games are never broadcast on a Wednesday afternoon, making it harder to judge what Facebook’s number should be. Last season, in terms of national MLB broadcasts, FOX averaged 2.05 million viewers during their regular season broadcasts and 448,000 for FS1 telecasts.

A linear network would garner an audience larger than Facebook’s 65,000 – 80,000, but a midday telecast during the week would certainly fall short of their weekend numbers. One of Facebook’s selling points is the ability for someone at work to watch the game when they don’t have access to a television. Since Facebook holds exclusive rights, there are no blackout restrictions.

6.8 million global views, even if only for three seconds, appears impressive and shows there’s a larger audience available for Facebook and Major League Baseball to tap into. It’s difficult to judge how many of those views were made with intent, similar to the amount of people that channel surf, scrolling through FOX to get to another network. People will click something they see on Facebook without knowing what it is or having any intention of staying on the page.

6.8 million global views also does not mean 6.8 million different viewers, between my phone and desktop, I clicked in and out of the Mets – Phillies game at least a dozen times during the course of the three hour stream.

Facebook will broadcast a total of 25 games this year, costing them a little more than $1 million per game, totaling between $30 and $35 million for the season. Although Amazon’s Thursday Night Football streaming deal is not exclusive, they spent $4.5 million per game last season and averaged 310,000 viewers. With those numbers, both Amazon and Facebook have spent approximately $14 per viewer.

Both partnerships include other aspects and perks, its value does not come down to only viewership, but $14 per viewer is significantly more than any television network pays for their broadcast rights fees.

Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.

TVG and VSiN Announce Content Partnership

BSM Staff
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TVG, America’s horse racing network, and VSiN, America’s first network dedicated to sports gambling information, have announced a content partnership to deliver VSiN’s unique Las Vegas perspective to the largest and most sophisticated horse racing audience.

“We are excited to partner with Brent Musburger and VSiN to bring a unique Vegas-based point of view to our viewers and TVG account holders,” said Kevin Grigsby, TVG’s executive producer. “Brent has been a longstanding friend of and advocate for bettors and handicappers and we look forward to tapping into VSiN’s extensive network of experts.”

Just ahead of the biggest horse races of the year, VSiN will create a 30-minute special previewing the Kentucky Derby with exclusive insights from Vegas insiders who handicap horse racing for a living.

VSiN will also collaborate with TVG’s experts to publish three special digital magazines dedicated to the Derby, Preakness and Belmont. These are specifically designed to give horse racing enthusiasts exclusive access to valuable analysis and actionable information not found anywhere else. With breakdowns of marquee matchups, betting tutorials and top picks, the subscription product will deliver the news players need to win.

“TVG has done an exceptional job educating viewers on the science of horse racing,” said Brian Musburger, founder of VSiN.  “Horse racing has always been a vibrant part of the sports betting scene and there’s no better partner than TVG to bring our unique Las Vegas view to racing enthusiasts across the country.”

This news follows recent announcements of partnerships with the Arena Football League (AFL) and Cheddar to deliver dynamic content to the growing number of Americans who wager on sports.

What Motivates You?

Dave Greene
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What motivates you?

It’s a pretty standard interview question and one I’ve probably asked to 90% of the applicants I’ve talked to in my days (the other 10% I just forgot to ask). I prefer the person respond very quickly by shouting, “MONEY!” but any answer is OK with me, as long as money is included in it.

Family, faith, saving the world, overall happiness or any of the other answers people will generally give are good and all, but I want money hungry, competitive beasts who want to be financially successful more than anything in the world. Like the great Ric Flair himself, I want the stylin’, profilin’, limousine riding, jet flying, kiss-stealing, wheelin’ n’ dealin’ son of a gun!

I’ve always believed good radio sellers need to have a bit of swagger. Swagger usually comes from confidence and nobody is more confident than someone who is doing well financially. On the flip side, we’ve all seen sellers who are down on their luck that have a look that doesn’t exude a bit of confidence, which doesn’t mix well with someone who may also be pressing to try and get something, anything sold. When the confidence level is high, the client or prospect is much more likely to feel the same way about what you’re offering and be excited to do business with you.

I’ve written before about the competitive nature of what we do and that I see it trending in a direction where people really aren’t concerned with where they rank. It’s simply a world of “how am I doing,” and that’s it. Gone are the days of wanting to be the top biller, not just because of the money you made, but also because that meant you were better than everyone else.

When I identify someone who really fits the bill of the money-driven seller, I like to find out what they want the money for. Sure, everyone thinks of big salaries or commission checks, but most the time it relates to a desired purchase with that money. Is it a new, bigger house? A new car? A boat? Private school for the kids?

Visualization is a big thing in sports. Athletes are often taught to visualize the race, game or competition ahead and see themselves performing and winning. For the motivated media seller, it’s about visualizing the future and what that “dangling carrot” is that’s out there.

I worked with a guy once who constantly talked about wanting a Porsche 911. He had a picture of the one he wanted pinned up in his cube and everyone in the office knew how much he needed to make to be able to afford it. He talked about it, a lot. While it drove everyone else crazy, it drove him to bust his tail every day. As he got closer, you couldn’t help but root for the guy and eventually, he got the car. Fortunately for the company we worked for at the time, he didn’t stop when he got it, he simply picked the next thing he wanted and started all over again.

Not everyone needs to be as crazy as he was about it, but everyone should have something that is pushing them to do more. There are too many times you can get down or get in a rut and need the extra motivation to make the calls, to do the walk-ins, to go to the networking lunch or any of the other things you may have going on. Having more money will do the trick for most so motivate yourself with a financial goal and work hard to make it rain.

Kristine Leahy Leaving The Herd to Launch New FS1 Show

BSM Staff
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Today, Thursday, will be Kristine Leahy’s last day as part of The Herd with Colin Cowherd on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Leahy announced she would be leaving during Wednesday’s show, what’s next for the TV-host has yet to be determined, but it will be a project on Fox Sports.

According to The Big Lead, Leahy is expected to anchor her own show. It will most likely be a 30-minute weekday afternoon program launching at the end of the summer or beginning of the fall, specifics are still being discussed.

Leahy joined Cowherd for the start of his show on FS1 in 2015. “We started, we were kind of this new thing at FS1, and I remember that lunch that we had together, and you took a huge risk, cause this was your show, you hadn’t had this role before. But now you do, and that was a risk, and I just can’t thank you enough,” Leahy said

Acknowledging Leahy’s contributions to the show, Cowherd told his co-host, “105 percent growth since you came on the show, what people may not realize is that three out of four weekends, you don’t hang out, you go work.”

“It never felt like work to me. It just felt like fun, coming to work and debating you and it’s been amazing. This is crazy, but I’m excited for the next adventure,” said Leahy.

After Wednesday’s episode of The Herd, Leahy took to Twitter to discuss her departure, “Two and a half years of moments like these, arguments about LeBron and Russ, and many life stories. Bittersweet to announce that I am leaving The Herd to host my own show starting this Fall on FS1. I am so excited to share details in the coming weeks, and I hope you’ll watch.”

Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.

BSM Podcast – Season 3 – Episode 1 – Traug Keller – ESPN Radio

Jason Barrett
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Season 3 of the BSM Podcast begins with an appearance by ESPN Radio Senior Vice President Traug Keller. The 20+ minute conversation conversation covers a number of key industry items including Traug’s view on the present state of the ESPN Radio lineup, the network’s focus on digital growth, ESPN’s commitment to diversity, how the company will adjust if sports betting is legalized, the proper length of time a new show deserves in order to prove itself, whether ESPN is interested in purchasing more local stations, and much more.

The new season also features the debut of The BSM 180. The new three minute feature examines the importance of programming and sales working together, PD’s taking a stronger interest in their station’s beyond the ratings, and what companies should be doing to involve and excite the leader’s of their operations.

SUBJECTS COVERED WITH TRAUG:

  • The present state of the ESPN Radio lineup
  • How ESPN measures a show’s impact on a national scale
  • Whether the national sports radio space is overcrowded
  • Radio’s ability to sell digital and ESPN’s ability to monetize it
  • If sports betting gets legalized, how will ESPN respond?
  • The Michael Kay’s show recent win in the NY winter ratings book
  • What owning local radio stations means to ESPN’s business
  • Whether ESPN has interest in purchasing additional stations
  • ESPN’s commitment to diversity and why it’s a high priority
  • Bomani Jones, Colin Cowherd and Dan Patrick
  • John Skipper’s unexpected departure from ESPN
  • First impressions of new ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro
  • The rise of media people attacking other media people
  • How long a new show deserves to connect with an audience
  • Quick Hits: State of Audio/Radio, ESPN misconceptions, Future changes, One move

FROM THE GUEST

Traug’s Twitter handle: @TraugK

WFAN-Mike Francesa Reunion Raises Many Questions

Jason Barrett
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WFAN-Mike Francesa Reunion Raises Many Questions

There are times when sports radio news stories break and put me in a very awkward position. I believe strongly in transparency and honesty. No matter how much money is on the table, when all is said and done, the one thing that I’ll always own are my personal thoughts and opinions. I’ll sell those insights to help brands achieve success but what I won’t do is sell my soul to any person or group looking for a favorable spin, especially when the news doesn’t warrant it.

That can be a slippery slope when you operate as a consultant, strategist and trainer.

Fortunately, I have established a lot of relationships in this format, and I value those connections. I think those who know me or read this website understand that my intent is to raise the format’s profile, make people better, and offer a fair and objective opinion or analysis when its warranted, even if the news from time to time hits close to home.

On the other hand, I’m also a business man. I have partnerships with multiple companies. I respect and value those who work with me regularly and am proud of the fact that most of my clients have been loyal for multiple years. My partners know that I love this business and invest myself in their success and work hard to help them grow all areas of their business. When they find themselves in the news for a less than flattering reason though, they know I have to report it because after all, that’s a key focus for this website.

Despite working with many stations, I’m not unwilling to give credit where it’s due to competitors and I avoid taking personal slants against those who I don’t work with. I believe in being fair and keeping relationships strong with everyone because you never know when your paths may intersect down the line.

But just like each of you reading this column, I too have opinions, and when sports radio stories break, many expect me to offer my thoughts. Given the recent developments in New York at WFAN surrounding Mike Francesa’s expected return, it’s a news story which warrants a reaction, even if it might not please a few folks close to the situation.

When I first heard about the possibility of WFAN reversing its direction and bringing Mike back, I thought there was a lot of smoke but no fire. After all, the station went thru a two-year search to find his replacement(s) and the new show hosted by Chris Carlin, Maggie Gray and Bart Scott had only received one full ratings quarter.

But in the radio business, as we’ve seen many times, patience can be thin, and changes happen quickly, especially in places where the stakes are incredibly high.

When The Michael Kay Show beat WFAN head to head in the winter book, I thought CMB would be on a short leash. Is that fair? No. But this is WFAN and the expectations are enormous. You’re looked upon to smother the competition so the radio station can continue generating high revenues while further elevating its profile as one of the best sports radio brands in America. You’re also expected to maintain the same standard of success that came before you regardless of the circumstances.

Expectations aside, don’t forget that The Fan was forced to change two dayparts this fall due to Francesa’s highly publicized exit and Craig Carton’s arrest. You can hire a bunch of talented people but usually when you ask an audience to form a connection with four new hosts at once, something doesn’t go according to plan. That’s why you don’t see brands overhaul their lineups on a regular basis. Radio success is largely dependent on consistency.

Also during the fall, Entercom purchased CBS Radio. It takes time for a new owner to wrap their arms around their new investment, and install new policies. What’s sure to gain their attention when they’re publicly traded and under the eyes of the entire industry is when one of their flagship brands hits a speed bump.

In the case of WFAN, the station has been a ratings and revenue winner for a long time. If the station is perceived as not being as formidable as it once was, sphincters get tight and adjustments get made in order to regain client and listener confidence before profitability takes a hit.

But what makes the issue complicated is when you consider the amount of time WFAN allowed for dealing with substantial changes, and Francesa’s difficulty of moving on from The Fan.

No matter how you slice it, the public narrative is that Mike Francesa overestimated his worth on the open market. He spoke about his understanding of the digital space and how he had a plan to excel at it, but since leaving the terrestrial space he hasn’t made a dent. He talked about having a number of irons in the fire, but so far those conversations have only led to guest appearances on multiple shows.

On the flip side, WFAN management shares blame due to their inability to deliver a strong post-Francesa plan.

It took less than six months for station executives to lose faith in CMB in afternoons and drink again from the cup of Francesa. According to reports, CMB were given two-year deals. That suggests that folks involved in assembling the show went into it by dipping their toe in the water instead of diving in. If you think I’m wrong about that, try signing Chris Russo, Max Kellerman or Adam Schein to a two-year deal and let me know how it turns out.

When you make a move of this magnitude, you’ve got to be firmly committed to it. You’re going to take some hits early on, especially in market #1 when you replace a legend like Francesa. It’s like a heavyweight title fight, you have to withstand the early attacks and take advantage in the later rounds.

In this particular case, Chris Carlin was well known by CBS/Entercom folks. He was working in Philadelphia at WIP and doing well with Ike Reese in afternoon drive before making his return to the big apple. Maggie Gray and Bart Scott on the other hand were newbies to full-time sports radio hosting. All three had to gamble and bet on themselves because after all, this is afternoon drive in New York City on WFAN. If they knocked it out of the park, they’d have the advantage in the next round of negotiations. If they didn’t, they’d be remembered as the show that couldn’t replace Francesa, and that puts them in the same company as many shows/hosts who’d fail in that spot.

But what can’t be denied is that Mark Chernoff and his inner circle had time to prepare for this situation. They had two years to scour the globe in search of talent. Guys like Mike Valenti, Chris Simms and Chris Christie earned auditions. Max Kellerman, Chris Russo, Adam Schein and Sid Rosenberg were mentioned as candidates. The company had access to all of CBS Radio and CBS Sports Radio’s personnel. Given the market location and resources, this was a sought after position, and anything less than a successful transition would raise questions about management’s ability to move WFAN forward after Francesa.

What’s perplexing about typing that last sentence is that over the years, few in this format have done a better job when their backs are against the wall than Mark Chernoff. When Imus was fired, he added Boomer and Carton. When Sid left, Evan Roberts was added alongside Joe Beningo. When Chris Russo left, he trusted Mike to win solo and it worked. I don’t forget those successes. But past success doesn’t promise future success and this problem is far from over for Mark and his team.

Making the issue even messier was the New York Post’s report that circulated Tuesday evening. Francesa apparently struck a deal directly with Entercom CEO David Field. The decision was made without Chernoff being on board. If that’s indeed the case, expect speculation to increase about the WFAN programming boss’ future, especially if Field gets further involved with future programming moves.

One also has to wonder which side Entercom VP of programming Chris Oliviero is on. Did he support Field’s decision to rehire Franecsa? Or did he side with his longtime colleague and trusted supporter Chernoff? If it’s the latter, that could create tension between Field and two of the company’s most important programming minds, Chernoff and Oliviero. If he backed Field though, how does that affect his longtime relationship with Chernoff?

Nobody is going to argue with Francesa’s talent or ability to make an impact on the radio, but don’t forget folks that Mike is 64. At some point in the future, they’re going to have to replace him again. Whether it’s next year, two-years from now or three-years later, the situation is unavoidable because Mike isn’t going to work forever.

There’s also no guarantee that Mike’s ratings will be what they’ve been in the past. During the fall book, The Michael Kay Show was tied for 3rd while Francesa was 2nd. This was a period of time where many folks were expected to listen even more to Mike since it was thought to be his farewell tour on The Fan. Francesa did win the head to head battle against Kay and exit without ever suffering defeat to his local rival and his track record in the ratings should inspire confidence that all will be right in the world once he reclaims his place behind a WFAN microphone. That said, even the best in the business eventually slow down. To expect Mike to stay on top for another 5-6 years is asking a lot.

So when that day does come and Francesa exits again, then what happens? If you’re David Field and you’re operating Entercom, would you feel optimistic that your group can identify the next superstar to carry The Fan forward for the next decade when the last time out they didn’t deliver and you needed to get involved? What if you’re a talent or an agent pursuing that opportunity? Are you going to sign a two-year deal with a station to replace Francesa when the last group to try had the rug pulled out from under them after one full book?

What I don’t understand is why this problem couldn’t be solved during the fall before the radio station set up three new personalities to fail. It was well documented that Carton’s arrest wasn’t a good look for The Fan. Entercom was taking over CBS and retaining their most high-profile star would’ve been a good PR move. It also would’ve provided a good PR rub for Mike because he’d be seen as the guy being loyal to his longtime radio home during a time of turmoil rather than needing to use the media to try and create a market for his services as a free agent.

Although it might have made sense for both parties to figure it out this past fall, it didn’t happen, and here we are five months later cleaning up a number of spills.

One thing I did find surprising when The Fan announced the hiring of CMB was that they’d turn afternoons into a three-person show. That wasn’t a dynamic the station had utilized in year’s past. If you look at WFAN’s history, most of their shows have been hosted solo or by a two-man team. Having managed three-person shows before, I know it takes time to find the right flow and chemistry, and sometimes it flat out doesn’t work.

I don’t want to excuse CMB in this process either. The show has had times on the air when it’s been solid and many other times where it’s shown that it’s going thru growing pains. If the program packed a powerful punch, won the first ratings book and generated a ton of buzz, maybe things would’ve been different. But looking back, the odds were stacked against them from the second they were hired and while that may not be the best situation to walk into, they can’t say they didn’t know what they signed up for.

So that brings us back to Francesa.

If being away from the spotlight for less than six months left him this anxious to regain his former platform, what is he going to do when it goes away for good? Can Mike function without WFAN? How will he handle not being a part of the daily New York sports conversation?

As stressful and complex as this situation has been, if Mike does indeed return to WFAN in afternoons, it could have a lasting impact on the brand in a positive way. For the short term, you’d expect the ratings to improve, but perhaps even more important is getting Mike to become more of a leader and use his platform to help the station avoid a similar mess when he leaves in the future.

It’s no secret that Mike hasn’t been a warm and fuzzy teammate. He’s feuded with other station personalities, focused on his brand, and offered little public support for Carlin, a host who spent nine years producing his show. Maybe Mike didn’t believe Chris was worthy of the afternoon show real estate, and if he didn’t, that’s certainly his prerogative. But what should be addressed is how to avoid being in this same exact position in the next few years.

In that sense, Mike could do a lot of good if he wanted to. Rather than being Brett Favre and rejecting the idea of helping Aaron Rodgers, imagine what type of impact he could have and how he could be remembered if he used the next few years to bring others along. It’s probably unlikely, but what if he teamed up with Maggie or Carlin? Think about the lift that would provide their career, not to mention how their addition could provide an infusion to Mike’s show.

It ultimately boils down to this. If listeners and clients are happy and the ratings wins return everyone at WFAN will be happy. But ratings, business, and image issues aside, it’d benefit the group to think about today with their eye on tomorrow. The short-term stability will be fine, but if they don’t use their remaining time together to make sure the future is in good hands, the next time around could be a lot more catastrophic.

Amazon Prime Partners With USTA

Jason Barrett
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Amazon Prime and the USTA agreed to a five-year partnership, giving the video-platform exclusive broadcast rights of the US Open Tennis Championships in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

“This new partnership allows the USTA to showcase our live and on-demand content to Amazon Prime members throughout the U.K. and Ireland,” said Lew Sherr, USTA Chief Revenue Officer. “We are excited to market the telecasts via Prime Video and provide fans more ways to watch tennis matches.”

Amazon, like many other streaming platforms, has put an emphasis on acquiring live sports content.

“We are proud to partner with the USTA to add the US Open to the growing portfolio of sports available on Prime Video,” said Alex Green, Amazon Prime managing director of channels and sports in Europe.

Prime members will require no additional charge to view the US Open. Consumers will be able to access the tournament on more than 600 connected devices via TV’s, game consoles, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and mobile devices.

The time difference makes it difficult for U.K. tennis fans to watch prime-time matches live, but the partnership was announced as Amazon receiving exclusive rights to both live and on-demand content of the 2018 US Open which takes place from August 27 to September 9. It will be interesting to see how the non-Prime subscribing fan-base reacts should Andy Murray or another local favorite advances to the later rounds of the tournament.

Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.

WFNZ Switches Midday and Afternoon Shows

Jason Barrett
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WFNZ Switches Midday and Afternoon Shows

WFNZ has been on a roll over the past year becoming a consistent ratings performer with Men 25-54. To take further advantage of the brand’s momentum, the radio station is switching its midday and afternoon shows.

As announced during Monday’s handoff with “The Mac Attack” hosted by Chris McClain and Travis ‘T-Bone’ Hancock, Chris Kroeger is moving from afternoons to middays. Kroeger’s new show “Kroeger in the Midday” will air weekdays 10a-2p ET.

Kyle Bailey and Frank Garcia will also switch roles. The popular midday team will move into afternoons, taking over weekdays from 2p-6p ET.

The station says the moves were made to play to both shows strengths and further capitalize on listening opportunities. Kroeger, Garcia and Bailey have been key players and a huge part of the brand’s resurgence. BSM wishes them well in their new dayparts.

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