Something weird about those listings. They show different programming on ESPN during the hours when Stephen A. airs: an "Outside the Lines" episode at 1 p.m., an "NFL Live" show at 1:30, etc. What gives?
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More layoffs hitting ESPN
- Thread starter MarcB
- Start date
Something weird about those listings. They show different programming on ESPN during the hours when Stephen A. airs: an "Outside the Lines" episode at 1 p.m., an "NFL Live" show at 1:30, etc. What gives?
I don't think Stephen A Smith's show normally airs on the main ESPN channel. He's normally on ESPN News, which isn't carried on as many systems. Same with the other simulcasts of radio shows. That's why FS1 and ESPN2 have more viewers. I saw PTI and some of the other late afternoon talk shows but not Stephen or Dan LeBatard. Of course all the talk shows are pre-empted this week because of tennis.
The ESPN cuts are not the only thing happening at Disney. Also 20th Century Fox is getting another set of Cuts. All of this is being tied back to the Disney/20th Century Fox deal back in March.
His show in the top of ratings on the radio for sports talk shows at that time though.
In what ratings period and which markets?
Not in NYC. WFAN is killing WEPN by 2 to 1. In fact in most markets I can think of, local sports talk is killing syndicated sports talk head to head.
In fact, I would bet that not only is Stephen A. not top-rated, he's not even on the air in most markets that are big enough to have pro sports teams. Most ESPN radio stations in large markets will have a local show in that time slot.
He's on in NY & Chicago, but in both cases, he's getting killed by the other station. He's on WMVP Chicago, and he gets beat by The Score. It'll be interesting to see if MVP keeps all the syndication after Good Karma takes over. Stephen's an acquired taste. I originally didn't like him, but I now think he's entertaining. I just prefer the PTI guys.
You really need to start citing sources for claims like this, which on the surface seem to defy all statistical information known to the industry participants here. One big fact that applies nationwide is that sports fans generally want sports talk that has something to do with the teams they follow, which in major pro and college markets are their local teams. Smith generally talks NFL football and NBA basketball, focusing on the soap-opera aspects of both. There is a limited, to be kind, audience in a city like Chicago or Philadelphia for someone going on a long rant about what clique of NBA superstars might be trying to create a superteam in Los Angeles or Brooklyn, or about Andrew Luck's motivations for retiring from the Indianapolis Colts less than 2 weeks from opening weekend. Even if Stephen were to devote part of his show to something Eagles/Sixers or Bulls/Bears related, fans in those cities would still prefer to hear their local hosts' take and their fellow local fans' reactions.
Smith obviously tops the ratings for sports talk in markets with no big-league local teams and no other sports stations, but in those places, total listening to sports talk is negligible.
Whel thats the thing with stephen a show is when i referenced that he was doing good in ratings could have been around june during the nba finals i didnt think if i didnt give the exact timeframe it would cause all this argument and comments like your wrong hes not in the top 100 shows in the timeslot and all that just was trying to add to the discussion not trying to prove anyone wrong or anything so.
ESPN decided to load up ESPNews with radio show simulcasts. They are cheap to air and they are already paying the talent.
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