Sports Wars: WEEI 93.7 new afternoon drive could decrease 98.5 The Sports Hub's dominance? (Boston: live, rich)

[bostonguy1960]

Felger & Mazz on WBZ 98.5 fm has certainly dominated afternoon radio drive against WEEI 93.7 fm...for years.

Now WEEI has shuffled its afternoon drive as of last month.

Adam Jones AND Christian Arcand moved from evenings at 98.5 to join Mego (Meghan Ortellin (sp?), a young female who I think had aired with Merloni & Faurier? Maybe she replaced Glen Ordway in that threesome when he retired a couple years ago. Can't recall.

I unlike many enjoy Adam Jones and his snark; and I unlike some enjoy Michael Felger.

I used to listen to 98.5 80 percent of the time, but now I may shift to almost 50-50.

But can WEEI quickly, or more likely in the next few years, approach or even surpass the 98.5 The Sports Hub ratings monster... realistically?

Do folks here listen to portions of both, live or on podcast? Or maybe it's too stressful or too much silliness or whatever, and one prefers NPR or local music stations and their afternoon drive, or WBZ news or maybe Howie Carr?

[robr2]

I stopped listening to sports radio years ago with the advent of podcasts. When I did, I listened to Holley and Arnold in the early PM and switch to Felger and Maz on the drive home. Other than that, it was NPR all day. Today it's a number of podcasts including Boston Public Radio.

Do people still listen to Howie Carr?

[bostonguy1960]

Originally Posted by robr2

I stopped listening to sports radio years ago with the advent of podcasts. When I did, I listened to Holley and Arnold in the early PM and switch to Felger and Maz on the drive home. Other than that, it was NPR all day. Today it's a number of podcasts including Boston Public Radio.

Do people still listen to Howie Carr?

I think so, but must be ages 55 plus. He's replayed overnight on Talk1200 AM.

And he still has his Boston Herald column.

[porterhouse]

Originally Posted by robr2

I stopped listening to sports radio years ago with the advent of podcasts.

Same. Every now and then I will pop it on during a big story and am immediately reminded why I am happier not listening to local sports radio. I do like Zolak though.

[OutdoorLover]

For Patriots coverage, I like the more straightforward presentation of story/data, not so much the people cracking disparaging jokes and just throwing crap at the wall... I like Phil Perry, who I think is affiliated with NBC-Boston, but also has a lot of material posted on YouTube. He also appears with Tom Curran, but I think Curran is also more of a personality than a conveyor of information - to me he's okay, but not great.

[BosYuppie]

Originally Posted by bostonguy1960

But can WEEI quickly, or more likely in the next few years, approach or even surpass the 98.5 The Sports Hub ratings monster... realistically?

Nope

[robr2]

Originally Posted by bostonguy1960

I think so, but must be ages 55 plus. He's replayed overnight on Talk1200 AM.

And he still has his Boston Herald column.

My understanding is that he is no longer paid for his column and gets ad revenue instead.

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by bostonguy1960

Felger & Mazz on WBZ 98.5 fm has certainly dominated afternoon radio drive against WEEI 93.7 fm...for years.

Now WEEI has shuffled its afternoon drive as of last month.

Adam Jones AND Christian Arcand moved from evenings at 98.5 to join Mego (Meghan Ortellin (sp?), a young female who I think had aired with Merloni & Faurier? Maybe she replaced Glen Ordway in that threesome when he retired a couple years ago. Can't recall.

I unlike many enjoy Adam Jones and his snark; and I unlike some enjoy Michael Felger.

I used to listen to 98.5 80 percent of the time, but now I may shift to almost 50-50.

But can WEEI quickly, or more likely in the next few years, approach or even surpass the 98.5 The Sports Hub ratings monster... realistically?

Do folks here listen to portions of both, live or on podcast? Or maybe it's too stressful or too much silliness or whatever, and one prefers NPR or local music stations and their afternoon drive, or WBZ news or maybe Howie Carr?

I mostly listen to Sirius XM in the car, but occasionally tune into 98.5 Toucher and Rich in the morning (I've enjoyed them since the WBCN days). I like Bertrand and Zolak / Felger and Mazz in small doses. Apart from listening to a Sox game, I can't remember the last time I tuned into WEEI. Nothing about the recent changes there is going to entice me to change that. I'm in my late 30s, so not "young" anymore, but I've long felt that WEEI was intended for an older audience than me. I think the recent changes are an effort to change that image, but not enough that I'd change my listening habits.

[matrix5k]

I haven't listened to the radio in like two decades.

[lrfox]

1/2 of Toucher and Rich is out. Admittedly, I haven't tuned in as much the past several months, but it sounds like things have been messy. Fred had been out a bit for various health related reasons, and Rich had recently accused him of creating a toxic work environment. So clearly things weren't great. But it'll be interesting to see what happens next. WEEI has to be thrilled, Toucher and Rich killed them in the mornings.