98.5 has taken over the lead in sports ratings?

[EnterCommunicator]

The Sports Hub makes gains
By Chad Finn
Globe Staff / September 14, 2010

It turns out that 98.5 The Sports Hub had more to celebrate in August than its first anniversary.

Among men ages 25-54 — the most coveted demographic by advertisers — the Sports Hub finished first in both morning drive and afternoon drive according to Arbitron’s August ratings book.

Overall, WEEI (850), long established as the market’s lone sports radio power before The Sports Hub debuted as WBZ’s all-sports FM station last August, remained strong, finishing tied for second overall in the demo with a 5.9 rating. The Sports Hub was tied for fourth with a 5.3.

“Toucher and Rich,’’ The Sports Hub morning program, finished first among men 25-54 with a 7.8 rating during the 6-10 a.m. morning drive window, while WEEI’s “Dennis and Callahan Show’’ was third (7.0).

In afternoon drive (3-7 p.m), the Sports Hub finished tied for first with a 6.7 rating, while WEEI was third (6.2). For the Sports Hub, the 3-7 p.m. period includes the final three hours of “Felger and Massarotti,’’ as well as the the one-hour “The Baseball Reporters’’ program that runs from 6-7 p.m. WEEI’s programming includes the final three hours of “The Big Show’’ and, usually, the one-hour Red Sox pregame show.

WEEI finished in third place from 7-midnight, earning a 7.4 rating for a timeframe that includes “The Planet Mikey Show’’ and Red Sox broadcasts. The Sports Hub’s “The D.A. Show’’ was tied for sixth (4.8).

During Arbitron’s midday (10 a.m.-3 p.m.) measurement, The Sports Hub, with the “Gresh and Zo Show’’ airing for the first four hours, was tied for 6th (4.7), while WEEI, featuring “The Dale and Holley Show’’ from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., was eighth (4.5)

Honestly, I'm surprised it's taken this long, but congrats 98.5!


http://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/articles/2010/09/14/the_sports_hub_makes_gains/

 

[raccoonradio]

They had won a few time slots before. The 6 pm baseball hour on 98.5 may have been what led
WEEI to change the "format" of Red Sox pregame. Sox, a very long shot to make playoffs, are
done in a few weeks though Celts will start eventually.

CBS jumped on sports at right time (maybe should have tried earlier) and are making it work.

 

[raccoonradio]

Boston Sports Media did bring up the fact that these ratings may not nec. include WEEI-FM
Westerly's numbers as part of them...?

 

[Wbzfm2010]

here we go again lol

 

[ArtSpooner]

It's hard to believe that anybody listens to Gresh and Zolak. Even among the WEEI haters, Dale and Holley seem to be the favorite show.

By the way, why do we never see ratings for weekends? Are they just too insignificant to report?

 

[ArtSpooner]

Being a good Republican capitalist, I've always thought that competition in a free market was a good thing. When 98.5 came along I thought that the consumers would reap the benefit. At first, that seemed to happen. WEEI stoped the 15 minute commercial blocks and the likes of Larry Johnson became scarce on their airways.

Felger is getting good ratings. Even those who are fans of Felger admit that most of the time he's a contrarian jerk. Personally, I don't care what his ratings are because, like Mustard and Johnson, I can't stand him and will never listen. However, to counter his ratings WEEI has apparently decided to answer with their own jerks. Ron Borges and Bob Neumeir are now regulars on the Big Show. I can't stand either of them. I guess the free market backfired, at least in my case.

It looks like we went from sports radio to a**hole radio.

 

[Blackroc]

looks like we went from sports radio to a**hole radio
Pretty much agree with that which is why I switch around a lot. I am somewhat surprised with the results because I'm not that impressed with BZ-Fm lineup. It's just ok and not what you would think could topple a behemoth.

Even though I check into EEI morning drive (Luccino,Remy) almost every day I leave almost as fast. It can be an awful way to wake up on certain days. I flip to T&R. My guess is that trying to tap into "wedge issues" doesn't work on a sports station as effectively as they think.

"may not nec. include WEEI-FM"
I think it probably should, but it's likely clearly defined as not counting.