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WFAN, 98.7 ESPN NY Suffer Spring Book Ratings Hit Due to Pandemic

“Meanwhile, the recently released from prison Craig Carton looms with the ability to spark WFAN’s lineup. But the quickest change that will hopefully give both stations a ratings boost will be the return of sports.”

Brandon Contes

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The effects of a global pandemic on sports radio were on display after Nielsen numbers were provided for New York’s spring ratings book. As expected, WFAN and 98.7 ESPN New York experienced significant audience declines. The spring ratings period from March 26 through June 17 felt like the longest quarter in recent memory, with professional leagues on hiatus and stay-at-home orders enforced, curtailing industries everywhere. Without games to discuss and with less people traveling to and from work each day, sports radio suffered. 

For their target demo of men 25-54, the strongest performers were WFAN’s morning duo of Boomer and Gio and ESPN’s afternoon show with Michael Kay, Don La Greca and Peter Rosenberg. As first reported by Newsday’s Neil Best, ESPN finished fourth overall from 2 – 6pm earning a 5 share, while WFAN’s afternoon drive pairing of Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts were tenth with a 3.6. 

During the hours of 3 – 6pm, when The Michael Kay Show competes directly with Benigno and Roberts, TMKS finished fourth with a 5.2 and WFAN did a 3.2, good for 13th in the demo. It was a historically low ranking for WFAN’s afternoon show in what is widely considered to be some of the most prime real estate in sports radio. To compare, TMKS was first overall with a strong 7.3 in the winter book, while Benigno and Roberts were still significantly behind with a 5.7. Benigno and Roberts traditionally dominated in middays before making the move to replace Mike Francesa earlier this year. 

WFAN’s midday show with Marc Malusis and Maggie Gray finished eighth with a 3.4 share, a dip of almost two points compared to their winter rating of 5.1. Competing with Moose and Maggie from 10am – 2pm, ESPN was tenth with a 3.1. ESPN New York features Humpty, Canty and Rothenberg from 10am – 1pm, followed by Bart Scott and Alan Hahn from 1 – 3pm.

WFAN’s usually strong performing morning show with Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti finished fourth overall, with a 5.5 from 6 – 10am. ESPN New York struggled to compete in morning drive as their nationally syndicated broadcast of Golic and Wingo was 20th with a 1.4.  

ESPN Radio’s national lineup recently announced a revamped schedule, including a morning show featuring Keyshawn Johnson, Jay Williams and Zubin Mehenti. While ESPN New York will inherently receive a new morning show beginning Aug. 17, they also could look to fill the void with local programming. 

The New York Post’s Andrew Marchand previously mentioned evening host Chris Carlin as a candidate to move into morning drive for ESPN New York. Meanwhile, the recently released from prison Craig Carton looms with the ability to spark WFAN’s lineup. But the quickest change that will hopefully give both stations a ratings boost will be the return of sports.

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Charley Steiner Injured; Tim Neverett to Handle Dodgers Radio Play-by-Play

“This will be the first Opening Day that I will have missed since 1976, when I wore a younger man’s clothes.”

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photo of Charley Steiner
Courtesy: Los Angeles Dodgers

As the Los Angeles Dodgers get set to take on the St. Louis Cardinals in their first home game on Thursday, team play-by-play voice Charley Steiner has revealed he will not be doing games at the beginning of the season due to a severe back injury.

Through the Dodgers, Steiner posted a statement which said, “Over the winter, I landed on the Injured List with three compound fractures in my back. (I don’t recommend it.) With the start of the baseball season upon us, the Dodgers are ready to go – but I’m not. This will be the first Opening Day that I will have missed since 1976, when I wore a younger man’s clothes. I look forward to returning to the mic later this season. In the meantime, go Dodgers!”

TrueBlueLA.com reports Tim Neverett will handle play-by-play duties while Steiner recovers. Neverett called the first two regular season games with Rick Monday as the Dodgers started the season in South Korea. Neverett and Monday did not travel with the team, however, they called those games in a studio back home.

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Ronnie Lane and Tom Krasniqi Put a Bow on The Ronnie & TKras Show After Nearly 10 Years

“Finally, Tampa Bay can sleep easy knowing this hideous show is finally over.”

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Photo of Ronnie Lane and Tom Krasniqi
Courtesy: iHeartMedia

After nearly 10 years, The Ronnie & TKras Show with Ronnie Lane and Tom Krasniqi came to an end today as the duo broadcast their final show on remote with many listeners, friends and co-workers on hand. Earlier this month, WDAE announced changes to its programming lineup which will take place starting tomorrow. Ronnie Lane will take on a new role as host of the Tampa Bay Rays pre-game show The Inside Pitch. Tom Krasniqi will continue on in afternoon drive with producer Chris Mathis for The Drive.

Their final show kicked off with station voice Jim Cutler saying, “…Finally, Tampa Bay can sleep easy knowing this hideous show is finally over.”

And with that went three very fast hours of looking back on a nearly decade-long run for Lane and Krasniqi. “It seems kind of surreal, doesn’t it?” said Lane.

Mathis had several special guests lined up for the final show and many others left voice messages which were played coming out of breaks. Tampa Bay Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht and Chief Operating Officer Brian Ford took part in the final show. Tampa Bay Rays closer Pete Fairbanks also called in and, at first, identified himself as “Pete from St. Louis” before asking what the hosts thought of the Rays bullpen.

“I’m telling you man, when I hear all of these tributes it really brings a tear to my eye, Ronnie,” said Krasniqi. “It’s a surreal moment…It makes me feel so fortunate and blessed to be in this position sitting next to you all these years. This is one of those moments where I am almost speechless and just so incredibly overwhelmed by the support and the love that everyone has shown here today.”

Lane responded, “…Our time together is really coming to an end. I might get a little emotional before this show is over, but we have had a great time and been through many ups and downs…This business is crazy and for us to be able to do what we are doing and doing it on our terms…And for a company that believes in both of us to give us this opportunity to go in different directions with the same company is truly amazing…It doesn’t happen like this always in this business, usually it’s an ugly goodbye.”

As the show came to an end, Lane reminded everyone, “It has been a blast, but we’re not freakin’ leaving!”

“We’re not leaving folks,” ‘TKras’ said. “Thanks very much for being a part of our lives and thanks for having us as part of yours. Onward and upward. You are dismissed.”

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Tyler Murray Added to WEEI Red Sox Radio Bench

“Coming up on 13 seasons in [minor league baseball], it’s not lost on me how fortunate I am to have this opportunity.”

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Photo of Tyler Murray and logos for WEEI and the Boston Red Sox
Photo Credit: Ashley Green

The voice of the Worcester Red Sox, Tyler Murray, has been added to the Red Sox Radio play-by-play bench. WEEI made the announcement on their X account, saying, “On the heels of calling the Hockey East Tourney this weekend [and] adding to his excellent work [with the Worcester Red Sox], happy to announce that Tyler Murray will be helping to build our [Red Sox Network] bench this year! Tyler’s 1st series in the big leagues will be April 5-7 [with Will Flemming].

Murray, who has also called college hockey games on NESN plus college football and basketball games, said on X, “Coming up on 13 seasons in [minor league baseball], it’s not lost on me how fortunate I am to have this opportunity. Thank you to [WEEI brand manager Ken Laird] and [Audacy Boston Senior Vice President/Market Manager Mike Thomas], and to everyone who has reached out. Your support has honestly been overwhelming, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”

Murray’s first series will be the Red Sox taking on the Los Angeles Angels on the road, April 5-7.

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