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Sports Radio WIP Delivers Dominant Performance in 2021 Winter Ratings Book

“Every single show on WIP produced double digit shares, two programs earned 1st place finishes, and Cataldi despite being 2nd had the best share in the market.”

Jason Barrett

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Covid-19 has presented a ton of challenges in terms of the way we live, the way we consume media, and the way radio stations and their shows operate. Despite chaos caused by a global pandemic, one thing has remained consistent in Philadelphia – sports radio listeners remain loyal to Sports Radio WIP.

In the 2021 Winter Book, Philadelphia’s sports radio ratings king remained on top for the full week (M-SU 6a-Mid) among Men 25-54, producing an 11.7 share (2.1 on the stream), which was enough to secure a 2nd place ranking. 97.5 The Fanatic closed out the quarter for the full week with a respectable 6.6, 3rd place finish. The separation between the two brands was greater among Adults 25-54 and Persons 6+. WIP was 3rd with P25-54 and 4th with 6+. The Fanatic was 9th with P25-54 and 15th with 6+.

Turning our attention to the shows, WIP’s Angelo Cataldi and the WIP Morning Show did what they usually do, lead the entire market. Cataldi’s program delivered a massive 13.3 share (2.9 on the stream), which placed him 2nd with Men 25-54. The show was also 2nd with Adults 25-54 and 3rd with Persons 6+. On the other hand, the first book for 97.5 The Fanatic’s John Kincade was solid. John generated a 6.9, strong enough for 3rd place.

In middays, WIP’s team of Joe DeCamara and John Ritchie also produced double digit shares. The duo recorded a 10.0 (1.7 on the stream) with Men 25-54, strong enough to lock up 2nd place. The Fanatic’s Anthony Gargano produced the same share as Kincade, a 6.7 with Men 25-54, which put him in 5th.

Shifting to afternoons, the team of Jon Marks and Ike Reese gained bragging rights for the quarter by becoming one of two sports radio shows in the market to deliver a 1st place finish. Marks & Reese’s 12.7 share (2.3 on the stream) with Men 25-54 elevated them to the top spot and in front of The Fanatic’s Mike Missanelli, who was strong as well, once again popping the best number on 97.5 with an 8.6, good enough for 3rd place.

Closing things out at night, WIP’s Joe Giglio joined Marks & Reese as the other local sports talk show to gain a 1st place finish for the quarter during his 6p-10p timeslot. Giglio generated an 11.3 share (2.4 on the stream) with Men 25-54, which was 5 points higher than The Fanatic’s 6.3 which helped them secure a 6th place finish.

WIP’s quarter was outstanding and deserves to be celebrated. Every single show produced double digit shares, two programs earned 1st place finishes, and Cataldi despite being ranked 2nd had the best share of any sports talk show in the market. There isn’t much you can do but tip your cap to Spike Eskin and his crew on a job well done. Props to Audacy as a company as well, as they took the steps necessary to make sure WIP’s digital performance was being officially monitored by Nielsen. Based on the early returns, it appears to be a smart business decision.

Although WIP is the king for the quarter, and we’re all competitive and like to highlight who won and lost, I think it’s important to put a few things into perspective. Someone is always going to finish ahead and behind. That’s just how it goes when you measure competitions. But if you’re looking at The Fanatic’s performance and thinking they should turn out the lights, you’re missing the point. People inside their building should remain driven, competitive, and eager to turn the tide, but feeling bad about an overall good quarter makes little sense.

First, if you ran 97.5 and I told you at the start of the year that your brand new morning show was going to line up against the market’s most influential talent (Cataldi) and finish 3rd in its first book, you’d sign up for it immediately. If that same share performance was then carried over to your midday show, that’d be seen as a positive too. Then to cap it off with Missanelli lifting the brand nearly 2 full points in afternoons, those are strong performances. Ranking 3rd, 5th, and 3rd in three prime dayparts is excellent, and money can be made if they perform that way consistently.

In closing, the gap between WIP and The Fanatic is wide right now. A 3-4 point advantage isn’t something a station usually reduces in one or two books. However, given the fragile nature of ratings measurement, anything can happen at anytime, so nothing is guaranteed. That said, WIP is clicking on all cylinders, and they’re in the driver’s seat until further notice. For now, let’s just appreciate that we have two great brands in the format battling in a passionate sports city to create sports radio worth listening to.

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Sports Radio News

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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