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Fix ESPN Radio

Just got an interesting analysis done by my ratings service consultant.
You say fix ESPN Radio and in many ways I can agree with you.
I have on my desk an analysis of the top 50 markets where ESPN Radio airs from the Spring numbers.
They set record marks for listenership (cuml) and ratings (Men 25-54) for a variety of shows;
Mike and Mike - record ratings and cuml (noted that it is roughly 14% better than their highest showing)
Colin Cowherd - record ratings and cuml (noted that it is roughly 30% better than when Tony was at his highest)
Dan Patrick - FLAT
Sportsbash - FLAT
The Pulse - record ratings and cuml (eclipsing the old Gamenight 7pm ET edition till 10pm)
Gamenight - FLAT
All Night - FLAT
The V Show - record ratings and cuml (best showing ever)
The John Kincade Show - record ratings and cuml (21% better than any point in 5 years, Dan Lebetard and Mark Madden)
So as you can see, they are experiencing record success for some shows and no growth in others.
I am sure that they are analyzing the data and tweaks will come.
 
atlsportsnut said:
Colin Cowherd - record ratings and cuml (noted that it is roughly 30% better than when Tony was at his highest)
Dan Patrick - FLAT
Sportsbash - FLAT
The John Kincade Show - record ratings and cuml (21% better than any point in 5 years, Dan Lebetard and Mark Madden)
So as you can see, they are experiencing record success for some shows and no growth in others.
I am sure that they are analyzing the data and tweaks will come.

i wonder if they'd move Colin to DP's slot and give Kincade the 10-1 slot, Kincade is usually #1 or #2 sub host when Cowherd is out (Kusilias also gets some time in as well)
 
Mainedude2007 said:
atlsportsnut said:
Colin Cowherd - record ratings and cuml (noted that it is roughly 30% better than when Tony was at his highest)
Dan Patrick - FLAT
Sportsbash - FLAT
The John Kincade Show - record ratings and cuml (21% better than any point in 5 years, Dan Lebetard and Mark Madden)
So as you can see, they are experiencing record success for some shows and no growth in others.
I am sure that they are analyzing the data and tweaks will come.

i wonder if they'd move Colin to DP's slot and give Kincade the 10-1 slot, Kincade is usually #1 or #2 sub host when Cowherd is out (Kusilias also gets some time in as well)

Mike & Mike's numbers don't surprise me at all. (The simulcast/cross promotion on ESPN2 - or is it the other way around? - doesn't hurt, either...) Admittedly, it is kinda hard to judge ratings for The Sports Bash, as most major ESPN affiliates on the East Coast will preempt it for local programming.

I'd be shocked if John Kincade didn't get a weekday shift.

- nate81
 
Nathan,
Kincade does drive time in the market where I work and I actually WOULD be shocked if he joined the daily lineup.
Not because he does not have the talent to do so, his ratings at the local and national level speak for themselves.
I have listened to him since I arrived back in Atlanta in 2002 and listen to him vs. the Stews in the afternoons.
Listening to Kincade I have always figured that if he ever left Atlanta it would be to go home to Philadelphia where he is from.
Colin and Kincade are actually fairly similar in their styles. They can be controversial, abrasive, self-depricating all in one show.
From what I have been told ESPN Radio is looking to keep the DP position in-house at Bristol. That probably means someone from the Sportscenter ranks like Van Pelt taking over the show, maybe with a co-host.
A buddy of mine has worked in the Philly market and he tells me all the time that the 950 option in Philly has lousy hosts. The ESPN affiliate 920 only does afternoon drive and they barely register. 610 WIP is a powerhouse. I wonder if instead of ESPN Radio if Kincade would go to one of those stations or to WIP.
Cowherd and Kincade, though both very talented, may be too similar to have back to back.
 
>Cowherd and Kincade, though both very talented, may be too similar to have back to back.

This is a great point. I was mentally on the same track, but could not put my finger on it. Plus, Kincade surely sounds to me like he still carries a torch for his hometown.

I have heard a little rumble that I would love to see myself, which would be Wingo and Schlereth, but, like it all seems to be, that is purely speculative. I have had a chance to hear Scott Van Pelt quite a bit in Madison (several times a guest on a show on WTLX), and I think he has good potential, though I am not sure he is consistent enough at this point of his career for that time slot.
 
macrinus said:
>Cowherd and Kincade, though both very talented, may be too similar to have back to back.

This is a great point. I was mentally on the same track, but could not put my finger on it. Plus, Kincade surely sounds to me like he still carries a torch for his hometown.

I have heard a little rumble that I would love to see myself, which would be Wingo and Schlereth, but, like it all seems to be, that is purely speculative. I have had a chance to hear Scott Van Pelt quite a bit in Madison (several times a guest on a show on WTLX), and I think he has good potential, though I am not sure he is consistent enough at this point of his career for that time slot.

Kincade is good, he's a nice listen on the weekends. Though, to say he's Cowherd?? No way. Cowherd is probably the best guy out there right now. Not even in the same league as far as I'm concerned. Not a shot at Kincade,but just a compliment towards Cowherd.
 
Sportsdotcom, It would be a real compliment for Kincade to be compared to Cowherd. I do think they are in a similar class.
Colin was in Oregon or soemthing when he took that national gig, Kincade is in a top ten market for years in afternoon drive.
It is not that kuch a stretch. I agree that he is a nice listen on the weekends and he carries the Atlanta market. he can be a real pain in the butt sometimes and drives me nuts on some days, but he in a class by himself in our market.
Atlanta for a top 10 market is pretty average when it comes to sports talk talent overall.
 
This may nitpicking, but I hate the imaging on ESPN Radio.

For example, right before they go into the SportsCenter updates.....whatever that is supposed to be....I don't know what to call it....a swell?...complete white noise? They need to understand most people are ESPN Radio on an AM radio station. The flashy imaging mixing music, crowd noise, distant announcers, etc. sounds like complete s**t on AM.

Tighter and cleaner is better, baby!
 
ThePickleReport said:
This may nitpicking, but I hate the imaging on ESPN Radio.

For example, right before they go into the SportsCenter updates.....whatever that is supposed to be....I don't know what to call it....a swell?...complete white noise? They need to understand most people are ESPN Radio on an AM radio station. The flashy imaging mixing music, crowd noise, distant announcers, etc. sounds like complete s**t on AM.

Tighter and cleaner is better, baby!

it's a 10 second bed designed for affiliates to drop a liner in to ID the station, i've also heard stations just ignore the bed and insert their own ID after commercial breaks
 
Maybe they are copying the Fox GameDay guy on weekends. I forget the name of the guy who does the production, but each time they introduce the show, it takes like six minutes for him to go through all the day's games, each time a thought changes or he throws in a comment, it's like they alter his voice somehow and throw in SFX for good measure. You feel drained even before the show talking starts. At least I do. Maybe I'm getting old and can't stomach the roller coaster thing. ;)
 
Yeah I hate that "Its the weekend" and they list all the events going on. I also hate the drop thing they play at the end of the hour FSR has the most annoying of those "beds" or whatever they are.

I guess I am just burned out.
 
ESPN has gotten to big for it's britches. With NBA agreements, NFL MNF, AFL, MLB and others I get the feeling that they are too safe when it comes to talking about sports issues. Seems as a casual listener all they want to do is promote the leagues they are affiliated with. I've moved on from them really, actually enjoy Fox and yes SNR. I think ESPN's host generally have abso no personality IMHO
 
littlelarry said:
ESPN has gotten to big for it's britches. With NBA agreements, NFL MNF, AFL, MLB and others I get the feeling that they are too safe when it comes to talking about sports issues. Seems as a casual listener all they want to do is promote the leagues they are affiliated with. I've moved on from them really, actually enjoy Fox and yes SNR. I think ESPN's host generally have abso no personality IMHO

agreed partially, i don't think they play it too safe but they do seem to talk about only what ESPN has....you never heard area football mentioned until the world wide leader got the contract...now that ESPN gave up hockey, you hardly ever hear them talk about it (not that it'd be a big ratings draw, unless your up in Canada or in hockey-hot beds like Minnesota or Buffalo)
 
Last week they had Kasillias and Lebetard in on Patricks old time slot.
It had to be the worst radio ever.

They are OK for about 10 minutes, but for 3 Hours???? UGGGGH ::)
 
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