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SportsTalk 790 Shines in Houston’s Spring Ratings Book

“For the 2021 spring book, the story was SportsTalk 790’s return to the top.”

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The Houston sports radio market is crowded. It features a number of quality brands and talent, all capable of rising up and winning the quarter. For the 2021 spring book though, the story was SportsTalk 790’s return to the top.

790 was first among local sports talkers in weekday prime (M-F 6a-7p) with a 2.3 share. Sports Radio 610 was next with a 2.2. ESPN 97.5 placed third with a 0.6. 97.5 did gain another .1 for HD2 listening.

The best performance for 790 this quarter came from ‘The Matt Thomas Show’, which airs weekdays from Noon to 3p CT. Thomas turned in a 3.4, the best overall format performance in the market for the book.

‘In The Trenches with ND Kalu’ which airs in middays from 10a-12p was the next best performer for 790 with a 3.0. The afternoon show, ‘The A-Team with Adam Clanton and Adam Wexler’, which airs weekdays from 3p-6p CT produced a 2.5. Sean Salisbury popped a 0.9 in mornings during the hours of 6a-10a CT. Not to be forgotten, the Houston Astros hot start to the 2021 baseball season paid dividends too, generating a 2.3 share at night.

Sports Radio 610’s best performance came in middays courtesy of ‘In The Loop’ hosted by Landry Locker and John Lopez. The 10a-2p show delivered a 2.5 for the quarter. Next best was the afternoon show featuring Clint Stoerner & Ron ‘The Show’ Hughley. They earned a 2.2 share between April-June. Last among 610’s weekday shows this book was the morning team of Seth Payne and Sean Pendergast with a 2.1.

ESPN 97.5’s top rated show this quarter was its morning show, ‘The Bench’ featuring John Granato and Lance Zierlein. The familiar local team tied with 790’s Salisbury delivering a 0.9. The station’s other three weekday shows were tied with a 0.5. All four shows also gained one tenth of point courtesy of the station’s HD2 channel.

With football season around the corner, and 97.5 needing to replace AJ Hoffman as a result of a new opportunity in Las Vegas, the market should be a fun follow in the months ahead.

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Greg Papa: ‘These Are Rough Times’ After KNBR Cuts

“Murph, I’ve known forever, going back to the A’s days. These are rough times. Things change.”

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(Photo: KNBR)

Late Wednesday, it was unveiled that KNBR had undergone a series of cost-cutting measures that eliminated the jobs of morning co-host Paul McCaffrey and evening host F.P. Santangelo. KNBR midday host Greg Papa reflected on the changes Thursday morning.

To open Papa and Lund, Greg Papa took the opportunity to address the elephant in the room.

“With Murph and Mac, and Pauly, I’ve been on with them every Friday since I started working with the Niners in 2019, and we hardly ever talked football,” Papa said. “It was always about other things and coming to the studio and getting to know them. Murph, I’ve known forever, going back to the A’s days. These are rough times. Things change. Look at what’s going on with the RSNs in the country. Certainly, terrestrial radio is feeling the brunt of it for a number of factors.”

John Lund agreed, calling McCaffrey “one of my favorites”.

Fill-in host Deiter Kurtenbach hosted the morning show Thursday in place of Brian Murphy. Papa joked that the fill-in host needed a better understanding of radio if he’s going to have the job full-time.

“For Deiter, if you’re going to be on in the morning, you gotta get on the clock better. We can’t start at 10:08 AM. You get a false start right away.”

It is unclear what Murphy’s role with KNBR will be going forward. The station has removed him from its website, and he has yet to comment publicly about his future. Kurtenbach said this morning he would host the morning timeslot for the remainder of the week.

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NASCAR President ‘Can’t Overstate’ Importance of New TV Deal

“Everyone talks about getting younger and we’re no different…We have, but we have to keep going…”

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A photo of Steve Phelps and the NASCAR logo
(Photo: NASCAR)

Yesterday, NASCAR announced a new television deal with 10 races split between new partners Amazon Prime Video and TNT. NASCAR President Steve Phelps says you can’t overstate the importance of new partnerships.

In an interview with Sports Business Journal, Phelps admitted the agreements with TNT — and it’s Max streaming service — and Amazon Prime Video are focused on reaching a younger audience.

“I don’t think you can overstate how important it is,” Phelps said. “Everyone talks about getting younger and we’re no different. Have we had success over the last three years getting younger and more diverse? We have, but we have to keep going and we have to meet those potential fans where they are, whether that’s our Netflix show that’s going to come out early next year or what’s going to happen with here.

“Amazon is going to do some different content-related things going into 2025 and … our expectation is Warner Bros. Discovery is going to plug us into Bleacher Report, House of Highlights, and other channels that will start to promote NASCAR. Because, honestly, we haven’t had a lot of that. Now they’re a partner and see us as a partner and there’s going to be a mandate to promoting NASCAR, and that to me is really important and it speaks to the changing landscape of where media consumption is going specifically.”

Phelps continued by saying it was “one of the most important, if not the most important” contracts of his career, noting that the new deal was about more than just money.

“It was critical – even past dollars. Are they important? Of course, but it’s really about having these distribution outlets that are just incredible. The reach these five companies have is incredible.”

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SiriusXM and MLB Sign Extension Through 2028

“We’re very proud to continue Baseball’s rich history of reaching fans through their radios.”

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SiriusXM and Major League Baseball have announced an extension of their partnership that goes through the 2028 MLB season.

Every MLB game will remain available to SiriusXM subscribers on their car radios and in the SiriusXM app. The new deal also ensures that MLB Network Radio will continue through the 2028 season.

“We’re very proud to continue Baseball’s rich history of reaching fans through their radios. Today, we’re delivering those fans the sounds of the game through SiriusXM’s state-of-the-art platforms in the car and on the SiriusXM app,” said SiriusXM President and Chief Content Officer Scott Greenstein.

“Being able to hear their team’s announcers is important to fans, and no matter where you are listening from across North America, you’ll get access to every team’s broadcast for every game on SiriusXM. Couple this with the best daily talk and analysis of the game on the MLB Network Radio channel and SiriusXM is a must-have for baseball fans, and will be for years to come.”

The new agreement continues the relationship between SiriusXM and MLB that dates back to the 2005 season.

“The collection of MLB game presentations and content that has developed through our extended relationship with SiriusXM has been a powerful asset in making our game more accessible to fans wherever they are,” said MLB Executive Vice President of Media & Business Development Kenny Gersh.

“The sounds of Baseball are an important part of our story and we’re proud to continue to work with SiriusXM as they advance and grow the MLB streaming experience for fans on their platforms.”

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