Beardown:

The numbers you quote are a percentage of dollars spent on radio ads in this market. Not listenership for the respective stations.

In this case, the Score runs FAR more commercials than MVP. Also, percentage amount of the ad revenue for them comes from payments from NIU the Hawks, and DePAul. The Sox bring in a fair amount of cash for their broadcasts also.

I wonder if the they have enough Sox ad revenue to to break even on their rights fees though.

Oh yeah. Sorry.

Plus, sometimes M&M and Tirico shows clearly have ads that aren't local or sold locally. I think only a percentage is sold locally here. I just wonder if that gets counted for the local station's revenue. They might be making more with the ads that Bristol sells but only credit the local sales in that Feder list.

Tirico and Golic constantly say "Joining us on the ON STAR HOT LINE". That's a national deal done by ESPN's Bristol sales staff. The Chicago numbers probably increases what ON STARS pays for that mention but that doesn't get counted locally. I think ESPN radio as a whole has more revenue than this list indicates because of it's Chicago affiliate. This is just a list of what ESPN 1000 sales team generates.

Look, you can spin it any way you want but the numbers show that The Score held a 67% billing advantage over WMVP. I'm sure there are a number of factors in that, but I doubt that low-rated evening sports broadcasts are their major revenue stream. If it were that easy then that's all you'd hear after 7:00 pm.

I'd also wager that the ratings-starved Mike North Morning Show still brings home the bacon...due in part to his numerous business relationships, a focused sales deprtment and name recognition. If that's the case then (like it or not) his bosses are pleased and he'll still have a job come 2009.