NYC Radio: Mike Francesa Makes 'Last' Comment About Ratings

WFAN's Mike Francesa

WFAN 660 AM / 101.9 FM host Mike Francesa tweeted over the weekend for 'the last time' about how the most recent ratings in his battle with WEPN's Michael Kay.

The NY Post reports he didn’t specifically state what the way is, but when the winter ratings books came out earlier this week Francesa said on his show that the number needs to include streaming.

This is the last time I will ever make a statement about the calculation of the radio ratings. There is only one possible way to read them. Anyone, and that means anyone, who says differently is either a fool or a liar. Case closed.

— Mike Francesa (@MikeFrancesa) April 20, 2019

By including the streaming numbers, Francesa beats the ESPN 98.7 FM’s “The Michael Kay Show” in the ratings, 6.2-5.9 in the Men 25-54 demographic. Without it, Francesa loses, 5.9-5.5.

Francesa had never lost a ratings book to Kay until this disputed outcome. Those numbers would also not included the Kay show’s YES audience, which is around 20,000 viewers, and the paid subscribers to Francesa’s app, of which he might have around 1,000.

Francesa did not concede defeat on his show Monday saying ESPN Radio is “lying” by using the Nielsen Audio ratings without streaming.” ESPN countered by questioning why now streaming needs to factored in.