NY Radio: Michael Kaye Gets The Better Of Mike Francesa

Michael Kay

WEPN ESPN 98.7 FM's Mike Francesa is looking up at WFAN's Michael Kay after the first three innings of the winter ratings book.

For January, Kay beat Francesa, 5.8-5.0, in the 25-54 male demographic reported by Nielsen Audio and used by both stations to sell advertising. Kay was third overall while Francesa was sixth for the month.

Mike Francesa

The NY Post reports the ratings measurement is a bit confusing, which has led to Francesa trying to muddy the waters and change the longtime rules to discount Kay’s show closing in on his perennial advantage.

In the last full fall ratings book, Francesa just squeaked by Kay. Francesa then complained that his margin was actually larger because FAN’s streaming is not counted in the ratings. ESPN’s also was not used during that fall book, though it is included for this month.

Stations sells different advertising for their streams, so it is not counted in the overall Nielsen.

Even if Francesa’s stream numbers were included this month, he still would have lost, 5.8-5.7, to Kay, Don La Greca and Peter Rosenberg.