Bobby Burack
Videos by OutKick
ESPN Radio debuted its much-discussed new radio lineup in August, which included new shows in the morning, midday, and afternoon drive. OutKick has learned that ESPN Radio’s fall ratings (September 10, 2020 – December 12, 2020) fell 53% year-over-year.
The decline measures ratings on both terrestrial radio and SiriusXM among men ages 25-54, the target sports radio demographic.
There are several key points to make from the fall book. Overall, sports-talk radio is down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which drastically cut the number of Americans commuting to work on a daily basis. In a normal year, the decline would not be nearly so high. However, I still believe the lineup would be down regardless, and likely by double digits.
Industry experts initially called the new lineup weak, and they have not wavered from that initial assessment. OutKick then reported throughout the spring and summer that ESPN had ambitious plans to revamp ESPN Radio — but these efforts failed.
Last January, ESPN detailed its 8% rise in the 2019 fall book, showing the Will Cain Show as the primary reason. ESPN said Cain’s radio show increased 18% year-over-year, saw triple-digit percentage audience growth on terrestrial radio for the quarter, and a 20% audience increase across platforms for December 2019. However, Cain left the network for Fox News over the summer, leaving a significant gap in the lineup. Stephen A. Smith’s show was also up, but just 2%, and he was already set to leave radio by the end of the 2019 fall book. That’s two shows ESPN has not been able to successfully replace.
ESPN Radio likely won’t get back to those 2019 numbers, but it should soon see an uptick from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Dan Le Batard’s departure hurts ESPN’s digital property but it’s a win for terrestrial radio, where The Dan Le Batard Show struggled. Mike Greenberg, after his fall stint in the 12-2 time slot, moved up to 10-12 this month. Greenberg works on national radio and now appears during the morning drive on the West Coast.
Max Kellerman’s show has an upside as well. Kellerman has a marquee name and a strong following in Los Angeles. He has also succeeded at each stop at ESPN. However, his strong focus on Los Angeles and New York hurts the interest in his show in smaller markets. Kellerman’s show focuses on the NBA, while football talk attracts the widest radio audience.
Questions still remain about the rest of the new lineup. Keyshawn, JWill & Zubin (6-10 a.m.) was ESPN’s main focus, but it is not working. I’d be surprised if the show ever takes off. ESPN was foolish to move on from Mike Golic Sr. I said at the time that letting him go was a mistake, and I’ve been proven correct. A network that already lacks likable personalities chose to lose one of the few who still remained.
It’s too early to judge Bart and Hahn, the 12-2 show. The duo worked in New York and will get a run on the national stage. If nothing else, there’s potential there.
I cautioned from the start that Chiney & Golic Jr. (4-7 p.m.) is in a tough spot. It’s tasked with filling two hours of the Will Cain Show, but it doesn’t have the ability to replace that show’s reach, interest, or unique approach. Afternoon radio isn’t hard to figure out. Fun works, non-sports topics don’t (see Bomani Jones’ ratings). Chiney & Golic Jr. is fun but dives into non-sports topics too often and books guests few sports fans want to hear. Chiney Ogwumike’s growth, however, is a positive. Transitioning from TV to radio has produced a mixed bag of results. I was unsure how Ogwumike would do early on, but she has gotten better each month.
ESPN decision-makers won’t panic yet. They can cite COVID as the reason for the ratings decline. They can also point out the 31% rise from the spring. However, that comparison is fool’s gold. There were zero sports to talk about last spring.
While ESPN has been quick to pull the trigger on radio, I’m guessing that this lineup gets another full run next fall.
I stopped listening as soon as Le Batard left the air (was my only reason for listening). The pirate version of the show has been awful so far (all politics).
I was in my car the other day and accidentally listened to Bart Scott and lol, bad.
Shocker.
Quelle surprise! You mean no one wants to listen to that vomit-inducing assemblage of race baiters and militant homosexual activists?
Oh yeah, when they finally get around to talking sports it isn’t any better.
As far as the cratering ratings go, I can’t think of another sports media company that deserves it more. The smugness factor is high with them.
Will this comment get me on the re-education/deprogramming list?
I thought more people home meant more people listening. Confused
Shut the mfer down
No sh*t! Who can listen to that collection of woke idiots?
I miss Mike Golic Sr. in the morning. Keyshawn is ok, buy not fans of the other guys.
Afternoon, I disagree about the afternoon show getting better. I think there is no credibility there. Maybe more time? I listen occasionally, but usually end up on KTCK.
“Max Kellerman’s show has an upside as well”…Kellerman is a douche
Yeah what upside does that have? Is he a complete opposite personality on radio vs. television?
Kellerman and Greenberg actually have legit radio talent. I can’t stand Kellerman when he goes off on his political tangents, but he is an easy listen on a drive or during work, especially when he ‘sticks to sports.’
These others guys are all awful. Keyshawn and Bart Scott are legitimately terrible.
Going from Mike and Mike / Cowherd / SVP and Russilo / Le Batard to whatever the hell this shit lineup is is hysterical. Perhaps a bit too woke, ESPN?
Again, I do not agree with Kellerman and his politics at all (spent 1 segment a few months ago talking about how white people owe reparations blah blah blah), but at least he has actual radio talent.
They are trying to manufacture chemistry and it is hard to do. I disagree on who they are trying to attract with those lineups. Be honest with yourself. It’s not 25-54 year olds. It’s not an age group at all. they are playing to the crowd that makes noise. Squeaky wheel get the grease.
The more I listen to sport shows the more I am noticing they say nothing of importance. It’s mostly junk.
The main reason ESPN radio is failing is that the personalities are either bland (because they’d get fired if they deviate from wrongthink) or are woke.
Sports radio is a pretty easy outline. If you are a monologue type…you better have some educated controversial opinions that may even offend the woke-cancel culture crowd. If it’s the dialogue type chemistry, the ability to disagree while not being disagreeable, and being able to play off one another is key. Oh yeah…and if your show is more politics than sports…you are a political show.
Ray, that’s it in a nutshell. Mediocre personalities + pompous woke asses = failure.
Keyshawn, JWill & Zubin are hard to listen to. And how long did it take them to come up with such a catchy and original show name? Chiney and Golic Jr. are not any better either. Outside of Stephen A., there are no compelling voices or personalities left at ESPN.
they seem to have kind of forced Golic, Jr upon the masses. I actually think he is OK, but I don’t see him ever reaching the same mountain top as his pops. Perhaps, if he’s lucky, down the road they will rebrand a “Mike and Mike” and Greenberg can carry Jr on 1 of the radio slots.
The best in the business are still Cowherd, Le Batard, Dan Patrick and Jim Rome. At least those are the 4 guys I can listen to and feel “entertained” while driving or working. They took Le Batard off the radio and I only listen to podcasts now. Previously, I’d tune in to ESPN Radio at 9 AM CST and leave it on until the end of my work day just by default, so they got nice ratings from me on their afternoon programs that I would not tune in to otherwise without Le Batard being on their terrestrial radio.