The Rangers lost 23 more games on the field in 2014 than in 2013. It was even worse on TV.
In a season besieged by injuries, pratfalls and the resignation of manager Ron Washington, the Rangers lost half of their TV audience from 2013. Games on Fox Sports Southwest averaged only a 2.2, down from 4.7. By my math that’s a loss of 53 percent.
And those Friday night games on TXA 21? Down 48 percent from 5.6 to 2.9.
Ouch. Somewhere in California Josh Hamilton is repeating something about the Metroplex not being a baseball town. More of a bandwagon town.
As the Rangers hope for better results next season, their media landscape will look and sound different as well.
On TV there will be no games on TXA 21; all only on Fox Sports Southwest. And I’m hearing whispers about the Rangers’ radio broadcasts leaving ESPN 103.3 and going back to KRLD, where games will be heard on both 105.3 The Fan and KRLD 1080 AM.
The Rangers, under the direction of then co-owner Chuck Greenberg, left The Fan for ESPN in 2010.
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A native Texan who was born in Duncanville and graduated from UT-Arlington, Richie Whitt has been a mainstay in the Metroplex media since 1986. He’s held prominent roles on all media platforms including newspaper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), radio (105.3 The Fan) and TV (co-host on TXA 21 and numerous guest appearances, including NBC 5). He currently lives in McKinney with his wife, Sybil, and two very spoiled dogs.
