 |
| Bob Raissman |
Now that WFAN 660 AM / 101.9 FM has locked-up radio
broadcast rights, including Spanish-rights, to the New York Yankees for the
next 10-years, the time is ripe for WEPN 98.7 FM to go after crosstown rival
the Mets. See Original Posting, Click Here.
If they don’t, Bob Raissman at the NY Daily News writes, it
means ESPN is not in it to win it.
For both stations, ratings are the bottom line. Overall, ESPN
98.7 trails WFAN. Ratings are the measuring stick, but staying relevant and
creating buzz can help push the needle higher. According to Raissman, ESPN-98.7
has done well in this department. It has come a long way since its days on 1050-AM,
before it moved to FM.
Among other moves, the station has obtained the rights to
the two marquee winter franchises, the Knicks and the Rangers. It also picked
up the Jets and built independent, spit-stirring programming around a team
steeped in controversy.
WFAN was paying the Mets between $6 million-$7 million per
year. Considering the money ESPN spends on rights for major properties like the
NFL, NBA, MLB, as well as talent, the Mets fee would amount to chump change.
A look at the average number of listeners per game over the
last few years reveals why this acquisition has value. Surprisingly, the Mets on WFAN averaged more listeners per
game than the Yankees on WCBS-AM. In 2012, the Mets averaged 283,200 listeners
per game. The Yankees averaged 240,000. Up to this point in the 2013 season the
Mets are averaging 212,100 listeners per game. The Yankees are averaging
206,300.
But there is a flip side. Clear Channel, a possible Mets
suitor, owns six stations in the market, which could provide the Mets with
greater demographic diversity and a chance to reach a wider audience.
Even more reason for ESPN to get serious about the Mets.
No comments:
Post a Comment