Bay Area sports radio war rages on: March ratings edition

Bay Area Stats Guy April 26, 2012

The big news that rocked the Bay Area sports radio was Ralph “The Razor” Barbieri getting axed from KNBR. Unfortunately, because of the lag in the reporting of the ratings, it won’t be until next month that we can see what effect that news has on the sports radio landscape. Even then it might be hard to tell, because the ratings for each show isn’t public information.

So even though we can’t take a look at how the big news of the day is affecting things, there are still fresh ratings we can take a look at.

Here are the numbers updated through March (numbers on demographics or specific shows aren’t available to the general public):

San Francisco
	January		February		March
Station	AQH%	Reach	AQH%	Reach	AQH%	Reach	Owner
KNBR-AM	3.7	744,400	2.5	484,700	3.7	566,100	Cumulus
KGMZ-FM	1.0	197,00	0.7	161,700	0.7	190,300	Entercom
KTCT-AM	0.7	257,600	0.5	135,400	0.7	215,000	Cumulus

San Jose
	January		February		March
Station	AQH%	Reach	AQH%	Reach	AQH%	Reach	Owner
KNBR-AM	3.8	168,300	2.3	116,900	-	-	Cumulus
KGMZ-FM	1.1	41,000	0.9	37,300	-	-	Entercom
KTCT-AM	0.8	56,700	0.4	36,100	-	-	Cumulus

*AQH is Average Quarter-Hour Share or the average share during any quarter-hour during the course of the day. Reach is the total number of people that tuned in during the course of the week.

I’m not sure what happened with the San Jose ratings this month, it seems like the number of stations in the report is significantly lower than normal. Maybe there was some sort of issue with the population of the sample, if any sort of corrections or updates are made I will update them in future months.

The big change from last month was KNBR starting to pull out of the ratings noise dive we saw in February. With the Giants season in full swing, I expect they’ll move away from the winter lows they experienced — unless there is some sort of mass exodus of listeners caused by the Barbieri firing.

“The Game” once again held steady, but KNBR 1050 rebounded a bit, retaking the second spot in total listeners among the sports stations. I am really interested to see how The Game’s numbers change with the A’s season starting. With KNBR likely rebounding and “the Game” basically standing still, it appears they may have missed an opportunity to cut into “The Leader’s” lead. I’m not sure what they could have done differently because they seem to be throwing out all sorts of ideas to try to draw ears, but it sure feels like they had a chance to close the gap before baseball season started up again.

We are getting close to having a full year’s worth of ratings data which will be helpful to see how each station is doing, not just on a month-to-month basis but on a year-over-year basis. The soap opera that are these radio wars continue and we will still be here to cover every little bit of it.

About the Author

Scott "Bay Area Stats Guy" Willis is a life long sports fan who has a fascination with the statistical side of things. He has been writing on these here internets about the San Francisco Giants since 2010 at Crazy Crabbers and at Bay Area Sports Guy since 2011 but if you dig real deep some of his high school newspaper stuff is out there too. You can follow him on twitter @BAStatsGuy or Google +Scott Willis

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32 comments

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Otis Byrd III

B.A. Rich, Rod was with Gary back in the early 2000's, as John Sports pointed out. Rod co-hosted with Gary and Gary's show was the morning show at the time. It was from I think 2000 to early 2002. I think they were on from 6-9AM. Chris Townsend would do the updates, and every once in a while, he would chime in to what Gary and Rod were talking about. That was a good crew back then; Gary, Rod, and Chris Townsend.

B.A. Rich

Yeah, interesting. I've only been listening consistently since '07. But I thought I had a pretty good grasp on the history at KNBR. (swing and a miss). I could definitely see that group being pretty good on-air.

Jeff

Would love more Rick Tittle on 95.7 TheGame KNBR...fire Radnich. He is no longer relevant.

John Sports

Jeff, I agree with you about Tittle, but I don't think he tows the company line enough for them to put him on more.

clembo

Has BASG ever talked about 1050 Cumulus (cheap skates) programming after 7pm? That show just proves to me that the Mayans are right and the world is coming to an end in 2012.

Otis Byrd III

By the way, where is Eric Byrnes? Is he on MLB Network this week? I remember last week he was on with Tolbert for most of the week, and this week, he hasn't been on KNBR. No one has said where he is. It's kind of odd. Ray Woodson has done a good job on Sportsphone filling in for Byrnes the past couple of weeks though. I wouldn't mind if he was the new Sportsphone host, even though I would rather Damon Bruce or Larry Krueger in that spot. Ray Woodson has the personality to host Sportsphone, even though he doesn't get too high or too low, and can get boring at times. Ray Woodson is a good utility guy on KNBR though (does the updates, ands fills in on any show when needed), even though I thin he would be good on Sportsphone.

Stan

I heard him on FOX sports ..He almost sounds normal when he's not tweaking. Didn't sound like the high flyer I heard and saw on Comcast last year. Sure,its caffeine.

Stan

I think Eric will be a basis for Ralph's lawsuit-and remember this post- as his MANY missing shows,while paid for full time will be a fact KNBR and Cumulus will have a hard time explaining..hell,they will have a hard time explaining how Ralph being tardy for the last 20 years was fine with them..and then not for about the last 60 days?..

paperback writer

Hey, everyone else's opinion is as good as mine, I won't keep repeating mine here. I equate "war" as a bad thing. I think the 'competition' or, unfortunately IMHO lame choice, is still a good thing. I declare a "truce" on any talk of radio "wars," it's way too inside baseball for our needs. It does matter who they put on, it does matter how much $$$ THEY make and it does matter who they force off the air. But, we have other options, all previously opined here in the past. Rather than "war" - see it as an additional radio choice (game), especially when KNBR puts local programming on 1250. (Bruce) My positive grades: The game: Week-end and evening programming. Big A's signal. Papa. KNBR:Giants, Marty, 49ers, their baseball insiders, Michael Silver, Rick Bucher, "support team' - Ray, Kate, Patrick, week-ends when Kozimar is on. 20" doses of Damon, Murph and Mack and GARY! Negatives (BIG): Fitz, dibber, gimmicky game programming on - the game. The golf sap who goes on Fitz and Brooks. The corporate pirates that own and operate both stations.

John Sports

95.7 overall is far superior than KNBR, but they need to improve in allot of areas. 1)Drop Lund, I think he has talent but his political crap gets old quick, and its obvious that he and some of the other Hosts are being told to bash the city of Oakland every chance they get, as an A's fan it just pisses me off. 2)Put Rick Tittle in Lunds spot, he is by far the most insightful and entertaining sports host in the Bay area. 3)Swap Tierney and Townsends spots. 4)More Greg Papa and a little less Urban.

AJ22

John - I agree with most of your changes except Tierney should be kicked back to NY and if they keep Lund, they need to switch up the guests more often. Papa is a freakin idiot when it comes to the Sharks and Urban is more bland than a loaf of wonder bread. They need a different guest every day to keep it fresh.

John Sports

AJ22, I am definitely in the minority when it comes to Tierney, I know he can be annoying at times...but I think he has gotten better with time. Papa is not the sharpest when it comes to the Sharks, but I think he is strong everywhere else. Urban in small doses is cool, especially when he's talking Baseball.

Otis Byrd III

Yeah, I agree with you about Tierney. Even though I like the Tierney and Davis Show, Tierney does get kind of annoying after a while. Sometimes you have to wonder how Eric Davis stands him. LOL. They both balance each other well thought. I agree that Tierney should go back to NY. He needs to understand that the Giants and the A's are not the Yankees. How can he come here and expect greatness from Lincecum? Lincecum is already great! He's late to the Lincecum party. LOL. Lincecum is having a slow start to this season, but Lincecum will be fine. Tierney needs to relax.... Even though Tierney is still new to the Bay Area, he might be too NY-centric for the Bay Area. As far as Lund's show goes, Papa is ok with him. I think Papa is better when he hosts his own show. He had a pretty good mid-day show back when KNBR 1050 was Ticket 1050 back in the early 2000's. If Lund was replaced with Papa, that wouldn't be bad, even though Papa is probably too busy with his Comcast duties to probably consider hosting his own show on 95.7. Since 95.7 probably isn't going to replace Lund, 95.7 should consider Lorenzo Neal to be part of the rotation with Jon Lund. He was good with Lund today. Yeah, football is Lorenzo Neal's strong suit, but he can talk other sports. Lund and Lorenzo Neal did a good job talking about Huff and his situation right now, in a segment on Lund's show today. I think Mychael Urban is ok with Lund, but he is better hosting his own show too. I like his baseball show on Saturday mornings. Even though I like Marty Lurie, it's still too bad that KNBR let Urban go. I'm sure part of that was because he was with Comcast at the time, and was more dedicated to his duties there, and it seemed like with Lurie taking over weekends, becoming popular on KNBR, and having longer Giants pre and post game shows, it probably made Urban expendable at the time. I guess it was kind of redundant for KNBR, for both Lurie and Urban to have a Giants pre and post game show on weekends during baseball season. With that being said, I think Urban was better on KNBR, and he seemed more comfortable on KNBR. I guess it's just me, but do you agree? Urban was better and seemed more comfortable on KNBR. I think if he would've had this same Saturday show that he currently has on 95.7, on KNBR before Lurie's Giants pregame shows on Saturdays, or after Lurie's longer Giants postgame shows on Saturdays when the Giants play an earlier game, that would've been fine.

The Hangman

Can they once and for all fire Fitz and Brooks!!?? How could they possibly last for so friggin' long? Does anyone actually listen to them? I wish it was solo Krueger too. Gary is so bad now.

Otis Byrd III

I don't see Cumulus/KNBR getting rid of Fitz and Brooks. Fitz is basically getting paid for free, since the rumor came out that the Warriors are paying his KNBR salary. I don't know if there is any truth to that, but Fitz hasn't denied the rumors, so it must be true to some extent. Fitz is usually on top of rumors, and it's surprising that he hasn't commented on this rumor. I actually have no problems with Rod. I think that show is better when he hosts it by himself. Rod is a smart guy. It's just, he in a sense, allows Fitz to make him look bad. This show was so much better the first time around back in the early 2000's.... With that being said, I think Fitz does a good job broadcasting the Warrior games on CSN Bay Area, you have to admit. Fitz is probably one of the better TV play-by-play guys in the NBA. But yeah, I don't see Cumulus/KNBR getting rid of the Fitz and Brooks Show.

Ralph's Future Unemployment Check

Fitz is crap at calling NBA games too. One of the better ones in the NBA? Are you serious?

Fitz's Future Unemployment Check

You just described an awful announcer. You only like him because he announces Warrior games.

Otis Byrd III

Yeah, Fitz does do a good job calling Warrior games. Yeah, he's a Warrior homer, and he makes too many excuses for the Warriors even though some of them are valid, and he defends all their moves, even some of the dumb decisions that they've made in the past but, the guy is a good play-by-play analyst you have to admit. He's smart and you can learn things from him and Barnett in a lot of the Warrior telecasts. Fitz is very prepared when he calls a game. I'd rather listen to Fitz, than some of the TV play-by-play analysts for other NBA teams. Some of them are horrid, and are worse homers than Fitz. They can put you to sleep too, they're so boring. LOL. Fitz despite all his faults (the stuff I mentioned earlier and the problems most people have with him) and him not being that popular amongst fans, Fitz is a good NBA TV play-by-play analyst. I've asked this question before to people who want the Warriors to get rid of Fitz or don't like Fitz but, if the Warriors did get rid of Fitz, who would you replace him with? A lot of people say Papa, but he's busy with his Comcast and Raiders duties. The Warriors would probably have to find someone from outside of the Bay Area to replace him. It's like, they might as well just keep Fitz. I was a kid when Papa called Warrior games, so I don't recall him calling Warrior games as older Warrior fans probably do, but when you look at old Warrior highlights when Papa was calling the Warrior games, he wasn't bad, and yeah, I wouldn't mind if Papa was Fitz's replacement if the Warriors were to ever let Fitz go, but Papa has his Comcast and Raiders duties to consider calling Warrior games. But yeah, who would you replace Fitz with, if the Warriors were to let him go? But yeah, I think Fitz does a good job on the Warrior telecasts!

John Sports

Otis, Completely agree with you about Rod, He was pretty good on his own, and he was good with Gary back in the Day. I wish 95.7 would hire him. He would fit perfectly in Lunds spot.

John Sports

He was with Gary and Chris Townsend, I was listening to their show when 911 occurred, A day many of us will never forget...All three of them did a great job covering the unexpected attacks.

B.A. Rich

I too wouldn't mind listening to 680 when Rod is solo. But I don't think Rod was ever with Radnich, not even back in the day.

Gooselosgatos

Otis, I disagree with your premise. Rod is just as pompous as Fitzgerald and equally unbearable to listen to. He is better than everyone and smarter or so he thinks. Those two make Damon Bruce palatable.

Gooselosgatos

Yes, Tolbert's ratings will not drop initially as the Giants season will bring in listeners to make up for the deficit. What will be more telling are the ratings in three months time.

Cara

The post Barbieri ratings will be misleading. KNBR's ratings always go up as the baseball season progresses. They will go up, but will be unrelated to Barbieri leaving.

AJ22

The Rise Guys are far better than Radnich. Of course, listening to a jackhammer at 4am is infinitely better than Radnich so I guess that isn't saying much. Townsend is infinitely better than KNBR from 6-10pm. If the Game wants to seriously compete against KNBR, they will finally drop Lund and try to install Damon Bruce or Scott Reiss, they would finally drop Tierney and move Townsend to 2-6 and put Rick Tittle at 6-10. Right now, the 10am-6pm slots are hurting the Game. It also seems pretty clear that the Game from 2-6pm must be getting clobbered since that's when all of the "big announcements" occur. Maybe one day, they'll learn they need substance and not hype.

Stan

What it shows is,take away San Francisco and the rest of the bay area listens to non Giant and 49er talk. And it figures that SF would be more radio interested with the world revolving around The City in the sports and news dept. Its ALSO shows,that if you just went by sports talk shows..its a dead even race between KNBR and THEGAME. But advertisers are going by the huge Giant and 49er audience and we are only left to wonder WHO IS the audience for Fitz and Brooks? I never met anybody who said they listen to them. The have a strange dynamic between being a Warrior paid for infomercial and being immune to ratings. They need none is my guess. You could say the ratings are really not the full explanation..If THEGAME gets an audience,it worked for it...KNBR?..with the Giants ,49ers and 50,000 watts, they can get ratings with the worst of sports shows..and do.

Stan

And...the REAL info we want..they wont tell. Like what is the Raddy show ratings vs The Rise Guys between seasons? and down the line like Bruce vs Tierney and Davis and the rest? I guess THAT info is the $1,500 a month they charge for. Still,you would think it would be leaked....

Scott Willis

I've searched high and low to try to find the info but Arbitron does a good job of keeping that behind its pay wall. If you find it, I would be very interested in what it had in there.

B.A. Rich

Some one has to have somewhere. But it would probably be someone within the radio industry. It would be nice if you could get it but the $1000 plus a month is much to steep of a price.

AJ22

Stan - I would LOVE to see the rating by hour so see who the real weak links are for both stations. I listen to Bruce 12-3 and then switch to Tolbert. I know a couple people who say they will tune into Tierney and Davis, but it's always for quick listens because they repeat so much of their content.

Gooselosgatos

Except for the fact that Urban is way too closely connected to the players he covers, I usually found him more entertaining than Marty on KBBR.

Stan

I was thinking how Lund and Urban are so droll..that THIS is a show that needs funny bumpers,music and a pretty girls voice oohing over the hosts...Something to keep listeners awake. If Lund has Papa..they compete with Raddy.. but at noon lately? I've been listening to Bruce. Lets fact it,Bruce isn't any more right,but he knows its also has to be interesting..and rants keep a listener. I also don't like when Lund and Urban get political..a real turn off. Two Repubs bashing Obama?..keep it at home. At two,I'm more T&D then KNBR. At least T&D will have opposite opinions...KNBR?..like PBS kids show hosts who all play nice called The Knibbers. Only,nothing is educational on KNBR..lol..