Sports Radio News

WDAE in Tampa, 93.5/107.5 The Fan in Indianapolis Excel in Winter Ratings Book

“It’s easy to see why entering the format to challenge the sports radio kings of Indianapolis and Tampa isn’t on any other company’s to do list.”

Published

1 year ago

April 30, 2021

Jason Barrett

Indianapolis and Tampa are two cities where its understood that competition for the sports radio listener’s ear is minimal. WDAE runs the roost in Tampa. 93.5/107.5 The Fan occupies the leadership position in Indy. Neither is close to being challenged for their spot atop the sports radio mountain in their respective markets.

That brings us to the quarterly ratings. In the winter book, both stations did what they had to do to position themselves for repeated success in 2021.

Starting with WDAE, the station finished the first quarter in 7th place with Men 25-54. Compared to last year’s results, WDAE gained nearly two full points and eight ranking positions.

Looking at the station’s weekday shows, Ronnie & TKras finished 6th in morning drive, Pat & Aaron were 7th during the midday, and Ian Beckles and Jay Recher secured 4th place in afternoons. The Dan Patrick Show, which is also part of the daily lineup, was 5th during its timeslot.

Meanwhile in Indy, 93.5/107.5 The Fan finished 4th for the quarter in weekday prime. That wasn’t far off from their winter book performance last year.

Bragging rights for the top rated sports talk show in the market this quarter belonged to John Michael Vincent. ‘The Ride with JMV’ was 1st overall in afternoon drive, up from 2nd a year earlier. Equally strong for The Fan was Dan Dakich who came in 3rd during his midday timeslot, also up from last year’s 4th place finish. Wrapping up in mornings, Jeff Rickard & ‘Big’ Joe Staysniak grabbed 4th place for the book, down one position from 2020.

The talent and play by play partnerships offered by each of these brands puts them in position to consistently succeed. Given their track records, it’s easy to see why challenging Tampa and Indy’s sports radio kings in the format isn’t on any other company’s to do list.

Jason Barrett

Jason Barrett is the owner and operator of Barrett Sports Media. Prior to launching BSM he served as a sports radio programmer, launching brands such as 95.7 The Game in San Francisco and 101 ESPN in St. Louis. He has also produced national shows for ESPN Radio including GameNight and the Dan Patrick Show. You can find him on Twitter @SportsRadioPD or reach him by email at JBarrett@sportsradiopd.com.

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Sports Radio News

Kentucky and Missouri Stations Switch Formats, Add FOX Sports Radio

Withers switched the two stations to sports talk from oldies and classic country.

Published

9 hours ago

August 4, 2022

Jordan Bondurant

Sports radio listeners in western Kentucky and southeast Missouri can rejoice, thanks to a recent decision by Withers Broadcasting to switch formats.

Folks in the Paducah area of Kentucky can now find FOX Sports Radio on 95.9 FM, while listeners in Cape Girardeau, Missouri can find FSR on 97.3.

Withers switched the two stations to sports talk from oldies and classic country.

Among the lineup of hosts that can be heard on the stations include Dan Patrick, Colin Cowherd, Jason Smith, Ben Maller and Outkick 360 hosted by Jonathan Hutton, Chad Withrow, and Paul Kuharsky.

Jordan Bondurant

Jordan Bondurant is a features reporter for Barrett News Media. He also works for ABC8 News and Newsradio WRVA and 910 The Fan in Richmond, Virginia. His prior experiences include working for the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the Danville Register & Bee, Virginia Lawyers Weekly and iHeartradio Richmond. He can be reached by email at Jordan.E.Bondurant@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @J__Bondurant.

Sports Radio News

Kevin McNamara to Host Two-Hour Show on 790 The Score in Rhode Island

“I think, because it’s new, I’d encourage people to give it a shot,” McNamara said. “It will be very different from the Boston-based sports radio that we’ve become used to.”

Published

9 hours ago

August 4, 2022

Jordan Bondurant

Two months after announcing its triumphant return to the Rhode Island airwaves, Sports Radio 790 The Score is set to go live next week.

And in addition to the station’s lineup of national hosts and sports betting shows, former Providence Journal writer Kevin McNamara will be hosting the station’s only local show.

McNamara will host his show from 5-7 pm, sandwiched between You Better You Bet and Bet MGM Tonight.

McNamara, who hosted a one-hour show on WPRO, saw his time extended an hour. He said this is a great opportunity to get listeners involved early.

“In one hour I tried to be as newsy as I could,” McNamara told Bill Koch of The Providence Journal. “It’s basically a three-segment show — we’d try to have three different subjects. Now we’ll try to hit those three different subjects, but we’ll have a real avenue for calls.”

The second hour of McNamara’s show will be simulcasted on WPRO.

The Score, which was last on the air in the market in 2008, will carry Providence men’s basketball, Brown men’s basketball and football, the New England Patriots, the Boston Celtics and the New York Yankees.

The station hopes to eat at some of the market share in Rhode Island currently held by both Boston sports stations, WEEI and 98.5 The Sports Hub.

“I think, because it’s new, I’d encourage people to give it a shot,” McNamara said. “It will be very different from the Boston-based sports radio that we’ve become used to.”

Jordan Bondurant

Sports Radio News

Joel Utley, College Basketball’s Record Holder for Most Games Called, Retires

Utley retires after 61 years as the team’s basketball play-by-play announcer which is a college basketball record.

Published

16 hours ago

August 3, 2022

BSM Staff

Joel Utley has announced he is retiring from broadcasting and as the voice of the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers.

Utley retires after 61 years as the team’s basketball play-by-play announcer which is a college basketball record. He broadcast 1,933 Kentucky Wesleyan games during that span, also a record for total games called. He began his career on December 2, 1961 when KWC defeated California State University – Northridge, 100-64.

Utley also is the only broadcaster in the nation to call 12 NCAA Basketball Championship games (all levels) including eight Division II titles.

“It was a tough decision to make, but the timing is right to step down,” Utley said. “What I have done as a broadcaster reflects my love for KWC. My career has been beyond any dreams I ever had.”

He is a member of the Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame and in September, Utley will be inducted into the Kentucky Broadcaster Association Hall of Fame.