Media

The Sports Hub continues to dominate as Nielsen winter ratings are released

Overall, rival sports radio station WEEI finished second, far better than last winter, but still a good distance back.

Mike Felger Patriots Boston sports radio
Mike Felger broadcasting for 98.5 The Sports Hub on "Media Row" prior to the Super Bowl in 2019. Barry Chin/Globe Staff

The reign atop the Nielsen Audio ratings continued for 98.5 The Sports Hub in the winter period, the station finishing first overall and all of its daily programs first or tied for first in their time slots.

Overall in the targeted men 25-54 demo in the period from Jan. 9-April 2, The Sports Hub took the top spot with a 15.1 share.

Rival sports radio station WEEI finished second, far better than last winter, but still a good distance back with a 5.9 share.

Last winter, 98.5 was first (15.6) and WEEI 10th (3.6). This past fall — the previous three-month ratings period — The Sports Hub finished first with a 15.8 share. WEEI was fourth (6.2).

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As for how the sports stations fared in the specific time slots:

Morning drive (6-10 a.m.): The Sports Hub’s “Toucher and Hardy” was No. 1 with a huge 21.1 share. “The Greg Hill Show,” consistently WEEI’s highest-rated program, was second with a strong 11.0.

Midday (10 a.m.-2 p.m.): The Sports Hub’s “Zolak and Bertrand” was tops as usual with a 17.5 share. WEEI’s “Jones and Keefe” made progress, with a second-place 7.0 share in the show’s second full ratings book since hosts Adam Jones and Rich Keefe — who had worked together at The Sports Hub several years ago — were reunited in August. In the fall, the show had a 5.8 share, good for fourth place.

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Afternoon drive (2-6 p.m.): The Sports Hub’s “Felger and Massarotti” remained in its usual spot in first place, though its 15.7 share dropped from a 19.8 last winter. “WEEI Afternoons,” featuring hosts Andy Hart, Nick Stevens, and Ted Johnson, took eighth with a 4.0 share in its first ratings book since a mid-January lineup shakeup.

Evenings (6-11 p.m.): The Sports Hub, which had Bruins and Celtics game broadcasts as well Joe Murray’s show at night, tied WBUR’s evening programming for first with an 8.8. WEEI, which moved Christian Arcand to evenings during the afternoon-drive reshuffle, finished tied for 15th (2.0).

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