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WFAN Cruises To Victory In New York’s Winter Book

Jason Barrett

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ESPN Radio has developed a footprint in New York over the course of the past fifteen years, one which has seen the radio station add the play by play rights for the New York Jets, New York Knicks, and New York Rangers, and a television simulcast of its afternoon program “The Michael Kay Show”. The station also recently added a television highlights show of its midday program “Hahn and Humpty” which features Alan Hahn and former Islanders goaltender Rick DPietro.

During its history, a number of talented high profile personalities have called ESPN New York home. Notable personalities such as Stephen A. Smith, Max Kellerman, Mike Missanelli, Brian Kenny, Brandon Tierney, Jody MacDonald, Mike Lupica, and Ryan Ruocco have worked for the brand, so a lack of talent has never been the issue.

However, despite a ton of talent, none of the moves have propelled the radio station past New York’s ratings leader WFAN.

The recent Winter book was released, and according to the New York Daily News, in the key demographic of Men 25-54, the Fan cruised to victory in all key dayparts.

In mornings (6a-10a), “Boomer and Carton” were 2nd in the market with a 6.5. ESPN New York’s “Mike and Mike” placed 15th with a 2.7.

In middays (10a-1p), WFAN’s “Benigno & Roberts” delivered a 7 share to finish 2nd. ESPN New York’s combo of “The Dan Le Batard Show” (10a-12p) and “Hahn & Humpty” (12p-1p) produced a 2.1 share and came in 15th.

In afternoons on WFAN (1p-6:30p) Mike Francesa recorded a 6.9 and was in 2nd place, while ESPN New York’s combo of “Hahn & Humpty” (1p-3p) and “The Michael Kay Show” (3p-6:30p) generated a 3.6 to place 10th.

If you dive deeper into afternoons, and look at the traditional daypart (3p-7p), Francesa was 2nd with a 6.2, and Michael Kay had a 4.2 which put him in 8th. Kay’s performance was easily the best on the radio station once again.

Right now WFAN continues to lead by employing a live and local strategy. The radio station also is the home for the New York Yankees, New York Giants, Brooklyn Nets, and New Jersey Devils. They also are carrying some New York Islanders playoff games.

ESPN New York meanwhile pays the price for its national offerings. When they feature a high profile talent like Kay, they provide strong local competition. The challenge going forward is to find a way to provide more of it.

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KNBR’s Brian Murphy Speaks for First Time After Paul McCaffrey Laid Off

“Paulie Mac is my guy, will forever be my guy. The best thing I could ever wish anyone is that you get to work with someone as loyal, energetic, funny, consistent as the guy his Jersey buddies call ‘Smack’.”

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A photo of Paul McCaffrey and Brian Murphy
(Photo: KNBR)

Earlier this week, KNBR underwent a round of layoffs, affecting a pair of programs on the Bay Area sports station, including the departure of longtime morning host Paul McCaffrey. His longtime partner — Brian Murphy — has taken to X to share his thoughts.

In a thread to X, Murphy shared his admiration for McCaffrey, whom he hosted Murph and Mac with for 18 years.

“Paulie Mac is my guy, will forever be my guy. The best thing I could ever wish anyone is that you get to work with someone as loyal, energetic, funny, consistent as the guy his Jersey buddies call ‘Smack’,” wrote Murphy. “So much love.”

He then shared that everything listeners and fans of the program have shared on social media has been read by the duo, and thanked them for the outpouring of love and support.

Finally, Murphy addressed his future. Fill-in host Dieter Kurtenbach shared on Thursday he did not have a definitive answer about Murphy’s future with the Cumulus-owned station.

However, Brian Murphy has shared he will return to the airwaves on Monday morning.

“I’ll be back Monday morning on KNBR with our guy Markus (Waterboy) Boucher,” Murphy wrote. “Come on. It’s Niners-Eagles. Wouldn’t miss it. As Paulie Mac’s board itself would say: The show goes on.”

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Mike Mulligan: Sports Radio is More Difficult Than Other Formats Think

He shared that he has worked with people on morning shows that he has seen come to a station fully hungover who play music and proceed to sit on the couch.

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Mike Mulligan
Courtesy: Illinois Entertainer

On Friday morning’s edition of Mully & Haugh on 670 The Score in Chicago, co-host Mike Mulligan outlined the difference with music radio that hosts are not continuously talking to the audience, instead taking mic breaks and then interspersing commentary with different songs.

Filling in for David Haugh on Friday’s edition of the program was Gabe Ramirez, who used to work in the format with B96 as the host of its morning show. Mulligan’s assertion about the differences between the two formats resulted in a conversation about the differences between the grenres, with Ramirez explaining the difficulties that music radio hosts face on the air.

“The music station’s still creating content,” Ramirez said. “You get to have a guest – since I am going to defend my music stations – you get to have a guest and toss them a softball question and listen to them rant for five minutes.”

Mulligan disagreed with this perspective, conveying that he does not feel their program provides guests with easy questions. Additionally, he shared that he has worked with people on morning shows that he has seen come to a station fully hungover who play music and proceed to sit on the couch.

“As a former sportswriter, we sit around and we talk about sports,” Mulligan said. “We talk about the sports we cover and we talk about other sports.”

“You have to talk about Justin Fields seven days in a row,” Ramirez replied. “As a morning show for music, you have to come up with new content every day.”

Rather than taking umbrage towards the response, Mike Mulligan explained that the key to effectively performing his job is being able to discuss important stories of the day even when they are not the headlines. Furthermore, he expounded on the commitment that it takes to watch the amount of sporting events and to be properly informed on the action so he is able to take the air.

“That I will agree with,” Ramirez said. “I’ve told people this – they ask me, ‘What’s the biggest difference?’ The prep, without question, is way more difficult in sports radio because everyone that’s listening to you already knows the answers and you have to be equally if not more informed in all of those things.”

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Minnesota Twins Set to Tab Cory Provus as New TV Voice, Kris Atteberry as Lead Radio Announcer

Provus has been the radio voice of the Minnesota Twins since 2012.

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Minnesota Twins

After Dick Bremer exited the Minnesota Twins TV booth in October, the search began for his replacement. The MLB franchise didn’t have to look far, though.

Twins radio voice Cory Provus is reportedly set to become the new TV play-by-play broadcaster for the club, according to a report from Dan Hayes of The Athletic.

Provus has been the radio voice of the Minnesota Twins since 2012. Many immediately tabbed him as the club’s replacement for Bremer, who retired after 40 seasons as the lead television voice of the American League club. Before joining the team in 2012, Provus worked for the Milwaukee Brewers as the number two broadcaster after spending two seasons as the radio pregame host for the Chicago Cubs.

Meanwhile, Kris Atteberry has been signaled as the person set to replace Provus inside the franchise’s radio booth. He has served as the pregame and postgame host for the Minnesota Twins Radio Network since 2007. Atteberry joined the club after spending five years calling games for the then-Independent St. Paul Saints from 2002-2006.

While the television and radio broadcast crews appear set, questions remain about where the team will televise its games in 2024. The club’s contract with Bally Sports North has reportedly expired, and it has yet to sign an agreement with the bankruptcy-laden RSN, or with a local over-the-air television station.

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