ESPN moves Michael Kay Show to 2pm

ESPN New York’s “The Michael Kay Show” will now compete in its burgeoning afternoon sports radio ratings battle with WFAN’s “Carton & Roberts”.

On 98.7 FM, the low-rated “Max Kellerman Show” is out from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, giving Kay way to WFAN on a more equal footing. The haunted schedule that ESPN New York has had is smoothed out a bit more in this arrangement.

From Monday, the Kay Show, which previously ran from 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM, starts from 2:00 PM – 6:30 PM. Chris Carlin starts half an hour earlier on 98.7 FM when ESPN has no pregame shows.

In the first two months of the winter rating book, “Carton & Roberts” had a lead in the 25-54 male demographics when the streams of both shows were recorded. The two sides dispute how to look at Nielsen Audio’s ratings. The way ESPN NY looks at it is winning.

While ratings were a factor, the motivation behind the move was the Yankees’ schedule, which starts a lot at 6:30 p.m. at the start of the season. Kay, the TV voice of the Yankees on YES, is due to leave the program at 5:45 PM. In this new lineup, Kay will be on those days on the show that essentially bears his name.

Kay’s show was hampered by Kellerman’s horrible numbers in the fight with WFAN. The introduction will now be much less of an excuse as Bart Scott and Alan Hahn host a local / national hybrid show from noon to 2pm. Kellerman will still be on the often faint 1050 AM signal in New York.

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