NYC Radio: WFAN Bounces Back In PM Drive

WFAN 660 AM / 101.9 FM’s Craig Carton and Evan Roberts got off to a strong start in the quarterly winter ratings book against WEPN 98.7 FM ESPN’s Michael Kay, finishing ahead by a healthy margin in the first month, reports Neil Best at Newsday..

From 3 to 6:30 p.m., when the shows go head-to-head, WFAN finished third among all stations in the New York market among men 25-54, with an average of 6.1% of those listening.

ESPN New York Radio finished fifth overall during that time frame at 4.9, according to Nielsen Audio data obtained by Newsday from an industry source.

The period measured covered Jan. 6 through Feb. 2.

The early ratings lead is significant because it comes on the heels of Kay winning the autumn 2021 book after losing the previous two to Carton and Roberts. Kay rode a strong October to a 5.7 rating in the fall, ahead of a 4.6 for WFAN.

While both stations traditionally judge themselves by men ages 25-54, WFAN tends to do far better among men 55 and over. Because of that edge, if one counts all people 12 and up, Carton and Roberts nearly double Kay’s audience.

While the afternoon show receives the focus, because of its tenuous ratings position, WFAN is anchored by “Boomer and Gio,” which continues its dominance in the mornings, with a 9.1 share (second in the market). ESPN New York makes some dents in the morning from 5-8, when “DiPietro & Rothenberg” pick up a 3.6 share, which is eighth. (That includes ESPN NY facing the “Warm-up Show” on WFAN from 5-6, which ESPN beat by a full point this month,) according to The NY Post.