NYC Radio: WEPN ESPN Going Local To Take On WFAN

With WFAN eating ESPN New York’s lunch in the overall ratings, WEPN ESPN 98.7 FM is attempting to fight back.

The NY Post reports ESPN New York has plans to finally go head-to-head with WFAN by shifting to almost a full day of local programming. That will start with the expansion, on Jan. 3, of Rick DiPietro and Dave Rothenberg’s morning show into a four-hour show to compete head-to-head with the top-rated “Boomer & Gio” program on WFAN. 

It is one of the first steps that could lead to a possible restructuring of ESPN Radio’s national morning program that features Keyshawn Johnson, Jay Williams and Max Kellerman, according to sources. 

ESPN declined to comment. 

As ESPN New York’s weekday lineup stands now, DiPietro and Rothenberg are on from 5-8 a.m. in New York, while “Keyshawn, JWill and Max” airs from 8-10 a.m. DiPietro and Rothenberg will move to 6-10 a.m with the expansion. 

The national show has struggled in the ratings battle in New York, which has been a perpetual problem since 2003, when ESPN New York began on 1050 AM. 

Remains in PM Drive

The impetus of the current moves is that ESPN has a relatively new ownership agreement with Good Karma Brands. In 2020, Good Karma started a local morning show in Chicago, with David Kaplan and Jonathan Hood, to help in ESPN 1000’s ratings fight against its rival, The Score, which has Mike Mulligan and David Haugh in morning drive. 

During the second month of the winter book in New York, Boomer Esiason and Gregg Giannotti beat Johnson, Williams and Kellerman with a 6.1 share, compared to a 1.8 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the 25-54 male demographic, according to Nielsen Audio Ratings. DiPietro and Rothenberg’s show earned a 3.9 rating during its 5-8 a.m. time slot. 

Mike Greenberg’s “Greeny” show is expected to remain from 10 a.m.-noon on ESPN New York. While Greenberg’s is a national show, he is a Jets fan, so there is a bit of a local touch. After Greenberg’s program, Bart Scott and Alan Hahn’s program will return to a strictly local show from noon-3 p.m. on 98.7 FM. Nationally, Harry Douglas and Jason Fitz are leading candidates from noon-3 p.m, according to sources.

In New York, “The Michael Kay Show” will continue from 3-7 p.m. Dan Graca will do his nighttime program, followed by Larry Hardesty and Gordon Damer. The Knicks and Rangers are also on 98.7 at night.