The first quarterly ratings book since Mike Francesa's departure from WFAN has ESPN Radio 98.7 N.Y.'s "The Michael Kay Show" "outdoing WFAN for the first time in the more than 13 years since he moved to afternoon drive time," according to Neil Best of NEWSDAY. The report for Jan. 4-Mar. 28 shows Kay averaged 4.4% of the radio audience compared to 4.2% for WFAN's "The Afternoon Drive" from 3:00-6:30pm ET "in the key demographic of men ages 25-54." Kay's numbers were "down compared to the autumn, when he averaged" 5.0% of the audience. WFAN and Francesa were "second in the market with a 6.6 share in the fall." The spring ratings book began March 29 on MLB's Opening Day and "almost certainly will produce better ratings for both shows." During the time covered in the winter book, WFAN's new afternoon show had "been on the air for less than three months" (NEWSDAY, 4/17). In N.Y., Andrew Marchand writes Kay's show will "try to use its seeming advantage in baseball with Kay, the voice of the Yankees," compared with WFAN's Chris Carlin, Maggie Gray and Bart Scott, who have "shown limited expertise on the Yankees and Mets." The WFAN trio is "still trying to find its full footing as a team," and there are "major questions in the wake of replacing Francesa." It is "unclear if three voices really can work," as the show sometimes feels like it "lacks a flow to the conversation." It will likely fall on Carlin "to find a way to give it more genuine sparks." Gray has shown likability, but will "need to dig even deeper to make listeners truly want to hear her opinions on the local teams." Scott is good on football, but he is "equally as unprepared on baseball, where he sounds more like he is guessing than anything else" (N.Y. POST, 4/17).
