WFAN's Mike Francesa edged ESPN Radio 98.7 N.Y.'s Michael Kay in the "quarterly autumn ratings book," averaging 5.9% of the "over-the-air audience among men ages 25-54" to Kay’s 5.8%, according to Neil Best of NEWSDAY. The two shows "ranked second and third overall in the market in that key, advertiser-friendly demographic." Kay "never has beaten Francesa for a full book, but he has narrowed the ratings gap through the years, and consistently is the highest-rated show on his station." There are some other figures that are not factored into the official book -- Francesa had an additional 0.5% share from WFAN’s live stream, while ESPN’s streaming data is "included in the same number as its over-the-air rating." Additionally, Kay's show "does not get credit in the radio ratings for its YES Network simulcast, and its ratings include only one station while WFAN has both AM and FM frequencies that are added together." Listeners who use Francesa’s app also are "not counted in the radio ratings." Kay’s ratings have "increased since Francesa’s return" in May. The same is true for WFAN "in that time slot." ESPN Radio N.Y. Senior VP Tim McCarthy "agreed with the notion that a rising tide might be lifting all of New York’s sports talk boats, even with most local teams struggling" (NEWSDAY, 12/27). In N.Y., Andrew Marchand notes Kay "won December, beating Francesa in a month for just the second time ever." Francesa "won September by the same .5 as Kay defeated Francesa in December." In November, the "two tied, but Francesa had the tenth-of-a-point edge overall" (N.Y. POST, 12/27).
