NYC Radio: WFAN's New PM Drive Show Gets First Report Card

WFAN’s new afternoon show averaged 4.4 percent of the radio audience and ranked sixth in the market among men ages 25-54 from 2 to 6:30 p.m. in its first month on the air, according to Newsday citing Nielsen Audio figures covering Jan. 4 through 31.

In the 3 ½ hours from 3 to 6:30 p.m. that the show is head-to-head against ESPN New York’s “The Michael Kay Show,” WFAN’s Chris Carlin, Bart Scott and Maggie Gray averaged a 4.3 share, tied for eighth in the key demographic. Kay was 12th at 3.5.

Both station’s numbers were down significantly from the fall ratings period, Mike Francesa’s last at WFAN. From October to December, Francesa ranked second with an average rating of 6.6 and Kay was fourth at 5.0.

There has been intense interest in how WFAN’s new “The Afternoon Drive,” will perform in a post-Francesa era, both in comparison to Francesa and in competition with Kay.

Mark Chernoff, WFAN’s vice president of programming, said it is too soon for him to comment in depth on the new show and its ratings beyond saying, “I like the show. They’re doing a lot of right things. Their chemistry is good.”