Anyone wondering if 790 The Ticket (WAXY AM) needs the Dolphins to stay on air need only look at the ratings from the winter – when the Dolphins weren’t playing – to see the station doesn’t need the team to make ratings inroads against its competition, WQAM (560 AM).

The Ticket topped WQAM overall and in nearly all daytime slots during the winter ratings book -- Jan. 11 to April 4 -- among men ages 25 to 54. Overall, 790 ranked No. 15 between 6 a.m. and midnight, compared to 560 at No. 18. In the fall, when the Dolphins were playing, WQAM was at No. 11, while 790 was at No. 19.

In comparing individual shows, from 7-10 a.m., 790’s Joe Rose was No. 10 in the market with a 3.2 share and 48,600 listeners to 560’s Kenny Walker and Kim Bokamper who ranked 21st with a 1.8 share and 30,300 listeners. (This means that during the time period, 3.2 percent of radio listeners were tuned to Joe Rose versus 1.8 percent to Kenny and Bo).

From 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Neil Rogers on WQAM (No. 6 with a 4.1 share) beat a combination of Boog Sciambi and Sid Rosenberg on The Ticket (No. 17 with a 2.2 share), but The Ticket actually had more listeners: 36,100 to 22,900 at 560. That typically means more listeners stayed with Rogers longer.

From 2-4 p.m. Rosenberg on 790 (No. 14 with a 2.7 share and 25,700 listeners) beat Jim Mandich on 560 (No. 19 with a 2.3 share and 20,900 listeners).

And finally, Dan LeBatard and Jon Weiner were No. 5 with a 4.2 share and 48,400 listeners on 790 from 4-7 p.m. against the combination of Mandich and Hank Goldberg in the first hour, followed by Goldberg for the rest of the show at No. 12 with a 3.2 share and 32,200 listeners.

The Dolphins announced last month they are returning to WQAM, after two years on 790. The Ticket secured the Dolphins in 2005 as a way to establish itself in the market against WQAM, but when its contract expired balked at the price tag to keep the broadcast rights. Station officials say without the Dolphins, they’ll have more programming time for other teams, such as the Marlins, whose contract at WQAM expires this season.

“We’re not going anywhere, we’re stronger than ever,” said Howard Davis, 790’s general sales manager and station manager.