Houston is a crowded market when it comes to sports radio. Three stations run live and local programming, battling for position as the market’s top format choice. In the 2023 spring ratings book, all three brands showed up, but one consistently showed up on top.
Sports Radio 610 was the top sports talk property in every daypart in the market this quarter. The station’s highest rated show was Payne & Pendergast in morning drive. The show gained a 3.0 rating, good enough for 15th place with Men 25-54. Elsewhere in mornings, ESPN 97.5 was tied for 21st with a 1.8 for the combination of ESPN Radio’s morning show and The Bench with John Granato and Lance Zierlein. SportsTalk 790’s Sean Salisbury finished third among the local options with a 0.7, 27th place ranking.
In middays, SportsRadio 610 earned a 14th place finish thanks to a 2.7 share result during the 10a-3p hours. The five hour block consisted of In the Loop (10a-2p) with Landry Locker and John Lopez, and the first hour of The Drive with Clint Stoerner and Ron Hughley. ESPN 97.5 was next among local sports brands with a 1.1 share and 22nd place ranking courtesy of The Paul Galant Show and The Killer Bs with Jeremy Branham and Joel Blank. Wrapping up the midday picture, SportsTalk 790’s Next Up with Stan Norfleet & Chris Gordy and The Matt Thomas Show collectively delivered a 0.9 rating, 23rd place finish.
Afternoons also belonged to 610 this book. The Drive with Stoerner & Hughley came in 16th place with a 2.9 rating. The combination of The A Team and The Night Cap put SportsTalk 790 in a tie for 18th with a 2.4 rating. 790 also carries the Houston Astros so some afternoon games likely helped. The Wheelhouse on ESPN 97.5 produced a 1.0 share, ranking the station 24th.
Sports Radio 610 also topped the weekday prime numbers. The station was tied for 14th with a 2.9 rating. Sportstalk 790 was 22nd with a 1.3, and ESPN 97.5 scored a 1.2 to rank 23rd.
