Younger Sports Fans More Likely to Engage with Sports Audio

Millennial and Gen Z sports fans spend more time with sports audio weekly than Gen X and Boomers, according to the Sports Audio Report: Demographics at Play from Edison Research and SiriusXM Media. Millennial sports fans spent an average of 6 hours and 16 minutes with sports audio in the last week and Gen Z sports fans spent an average of 6 hours and 10 minutes — significantly more time than 5 hours and 17 minutes spent by Gen X sports fans and 5 hours and 38 minutes by Boomer sports fans in the last week.

Findings from this third and final installment from the Sports Audio Report, from Edison Research, SiriusXM Media, and GroupM were presented in a webinar by Salma Aly, Manager of Research at Edison Research, and MaryKate Breslin, Senior Manager, Sales Research at SiriusXM Media.

Sports have a wide reach in the U.S. with 66% of the U.S. population age 13+ considering themselves sports fans; an estimated 186 million Americans. The report finds that 16% of sports fans are Gen Z, 30% are Millennials, 24% are Gen X, and 30% are Boomers. The majority of sports fans are White at 64%, followed by Latino sports fans at 18% and Black sports fans at 12%.

Top findings among U.S. sports fans age 13+ include:

• Black sports fans consume more sports audio: Black sports fans spent an average of 7 hours and 56 minutes listening to sports audio content in the last week compared to 5 hours and 45 minutes spent by Latino sports fans and 5 hours and 32 minutes spent by White sports fans in last week.
• Multicultural sports fans show a higher emotional investment in their sports team or athlete: 50% of all sports fans agree that when the sports team or athlete they follow loses, it greatly affects their mood; Black sports fans (53%) and Latino sports fans (55%) agree.4
• Younger generations of sports fans turn to audio to seek new perspectives on sports topics: 57% of Gen Z and 60% of Millennial sports fans agree they consume sports audio content to hear unique perspectives on sports topics not covered in other media.
• Athletes have a strong influence on purchasing decisions: 46% of all sports fans are more likely to buy a product if it is advertised by an athlete, with younger generations being most likely to do so; Gen Z sports fans (62%) and Millennial sports fans (62%).
• Sports fans spend a significant amount of money on sports merchandise: Millennial sports fans spend an average of $282 on sports/team/athlete memorabilia or merchandise each year; Gen X sports fans spend an average of $177.

Top findings among U.S. sports audio and sports podcast listeners 13+ include:

• Younger generations are more likely to engage with advertising heard on sports audio: 60% of Millennial and 56% of Gen Z sports audio listeners gathered more information about a company or product after hearing an advertisement on a sports podcast or sports audio program (vs 49% of Gen X and 28% of Boomers).
• Black and Latino communities are more likely to engage with advertising: 50% of Latino sports audio listeners and 48% of Black sports audio listeners recommended a product to a friend or family member after hearing an advertisement on a sports podcast or sports audio program (vs 34% of White sports audio listeners).
• Many newcomers to sports podcast listening are Gen Z: 28% of Gen Z sports podcast listeners started listening to sports podcasts within the last six months.
• Social media for discovery is especially high among younger generations: 85% of Gen Z sports podcast listeners use social media to find out about sports podcasts while 83% of Millennials do the same.

Consumers Reaching Limits for Sports Packages

Consumers are nearing their spending limits on TV subscriptions as media companies pour billions into sports rights, raising questions about how much longer fans will keep paying for live events.

A new Hub Research study of 1,600 respondents found the average American spends $83 per month on TV subscriptions — a figure that has remained steady since 2022. However, the maximum most people say they’re willing to pay averages just $86 per month. Those subscribed to three or more services report they have already exceeded their personal limits.

The Sports Fan Reality

Those numbers fall far short of what a dedicated sports fan needs to spend. Subscribing to the nine streaming services holding exclusive rights to major leagues (NFL, NBA) and others (WWE, Formula 1) would cost $168.17 per month — or $2,018 per year.

That’s more than $20 above the most expensive Spectrum cable package (which includes ESPN, Paramount+, Peacock, and Fox One), yet still wouldn’t deliver access to every sport.

The total does not factor in potential bundling discounts, existing cable packages, or live TV streamers such as:

• Hulu + Live TV ($81.99/month)
• YouTube TV ($82.99/month)
• Fubo TV ($54.99–$84.99/month)

The NFL has defended its strategy of spreading games across multiple platforms. Paul Ballew, the league’s chief data and analytics officer, said recently that the goal is to give fans choices.

“For us, it’s about giving those choices and those opportunities… the fan can select the best way to engage on the best platforms for them,” Ballew said. He noted that most games remain available free-to-air on broadcast television in the competing teams’ home markets. 

“We want to make sure the fans get access to our games on the platforms and devices that they choose.”

The widening gap between what consumers say they can afford and the growing cost of accessing live sports suggests mounting pressure on the current model.

What Makes a Favorite Radio Station?

AM/FM radio remains a powerful, irreplaceable part of consumers’ daily routines, even in today’s crowded media landscape.

New research from Katz reveals that radio continues to stand out as a habitual and emotionally connected medium that audiences return to consistently throughout the week. More than 86% of listeners tune in on a frequent basis, making it a trusted daily companion.

When and Where People Listen

Radio’s strength lies in its ability to fit seamlessly into listeners’ days:

• Weekday mornings are the peak listening period, with 64% of listeners tuning in between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m.
• Afternoon drive draws 52% of listeners.
• Midday reaches 41%.

The car remains radio’s dominant environment, accounting for half of all listening. This makes AM/FM one of the few media channels that reliably reaches consumers when they are away from screens and often in a receptive, decision-making mindset.

For advertisers, these insights highlight radio’s unique ability to deliver messages during highly attentive moments — especially during commutes and daily transitions — when listeners are engaged and available.

Radio’s power goes far beyond simple reach and frequency. At its core, it’s the strong emotional connection listeners have with their favorite stations that sets it apart.

• 91% of listeners say their favorite station improves their mood.
• 84% feel their station is deeply connected to their local community.
• 93% say they would genuinely miss it if it were no longer available.

These are not the reactions of casual users. They reflect real, long-term relationships. In fact, one in four listeners has been tuning into their favorite station for more than 20 years.

This enduring loyalty demonstrates radio’s unique ability to become a meaningful part of people’s lives — often spanning decades.

PERSONALITIES DRIVE LOYALTY

Atlanta Radio: Big Tigger Steps Away from Radio Mic

Atlanta radio personality Big Tigger announced he is stepping away from the microphone as his ongoing personal issues and legal battles continue to dominate public attention.

In a statement posted online, the longtime V-103 host said he plans to focus on his family and efforts to clear his name. He explicitly denied abuse allegations made by his estranged wife, Alicia Brown.

The announcement comes as Brown remains embroiled in a highly public dispute with Tigger that includes his recent arrest, claims of infidelity and domestic abuse, and a separate defamation lawsuit filed against him by his V-103 co-host, Francesca Amiker.

D/FW Radio: Radio One Ready To Reshape Cluster

Radio One (Urban One) is set to begin reshaping its Dallas/Fort Worth radio cluster on Monday, July 6, as it prepares to close on acquisitions of heritage urban stations KKDA-FM (K104) and KRNB-FM (105.7 Smooth R&B) while divesting Adult R&B outlet KZMJ-FM (Majic 94.5).

The most immediate change involves The Rickey Smiley Morning Show moving from KZMJ to sister Hip Hop station 97.9 The Beat (KBFB). Smiley’s syndicated show originally launched on KBFB in 2004, entered national syndication in 2008, left in 2017 for a local morning show, and returned to the market on KZMJ in 2019 to succeed Tom Joyner on Radio One’s Adult R&B outlets.

Monday will also mark the final day of broadcasting for Majic 94.5 under its current Adult R&B format. The station is being sold to Encouragement Media Group’s Fuzion Dallas for a planned launch of Spanish Christian “Fuzion” programming. PD/middays host Queen Indy Bee addressed listeners: “This is not goodbye, it’s see ya later! ... Our last day broadcasting is Monday, 7/6.”

These moves are part of a larger transaction announced in May 2026. Urban One agreed to buy KKDA and KRNB from Service Broadcasting for $22 million and sell KZMJ for $6 million. The deals are pending final FCC approval and closing but allow operational changes to begin now. 

Programming and community focus on the acquired stations are expected to remain largely consistent, expanding Radio One’s reach in the DFW urban market with three core signals serving Black audiences.

Why Listeners Are Lonelier

Average hours per day special socializing by age

Americans are socializing significantly less than they did 20 years ago, a trend affecting every generation, according to the latest American Time Use Survey.

Why It Matters

According to Axios, this growing social isolation represents a fundamental shift in daily life, with wide-ranging consequences for mental health, community trust, what we believe, and even how long we live.

By the Numbers

• Average daily socializing time has dropped from 45 minutes to 35 minutes over the past two decades.
• The decline is steepest among young people: 15- to 24-year-olds now spend just 35 minutes per day socializing, down from a full hour.

What’s Driving the Change

Several overlapping trends are fueling this “Anti-Social Century,” as Substack writer Derek Thompson calls it:

• Smartphones and social media: Many interactions now happen through screens rather than in person. Teens alone spend an average of 4.8 hours daily on apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat.
• Persistent post-pandemic habits: Remote work and remote life have continued, reducing casual face-to-face contact.
• More comfortable isolation at home: Larger homes, bigger TVs, and widespread food delivery apps make staying in easier than ever.
• Decline of physical gathering spaces: Libraries, coffee shops, museums, and other hangout spots have closed in large numbers over the past decade. Churches are also shuttering at unprecedented rates.

The result is a society where retreating from social interaction has become the path of least resistance.

U-S Win Is Most-Watched English Soccer Telecast Ever

Fox’s broadcast of the USMNT’s Round of 32 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday became the most-watched soccer telecast in English-language U.S. history, with a preliminary average of 24.429 million viewers and a peak audience of 31.883 million.

The number blows past the record the USMNT itself had set earlier in the tournament. 

The team’s group-stage opener against Paraguay initially drew 15.986 million viewers before Fox’s final numbers pushed that figure to 18.037 million, a mark that stood as the most-watched Men’s World Cup telecast in English-language U.S. history for the rest of group play. The USMNT’s win over Australia came in close behind at 16.22 million in final numbers — up from 14.78 million in preliminary viewership — driven in part by a Friday afternoon kickoff that still managed to outdraw every non-USMNT match in the tournament.

Fox saw this coming, as President of insights and analytics Michael Mulvihill told Colin Cowherd before the knockout rounds began that a Round of 32 game in primetime could clear 30 million viewers on its own, with the Round of 16 potentially matching it. He pegged a hypothetical USMNT run to the final at an average of 50 million, which would dwarf the 26 million viewers who watched the 2022 final in the U.S. across English and Spanish broadcasts.

The USMNT’s run continues into the Round of 16 against Belgium, a matchup that, per Mulvihill’s own projections, carries an even higher ceiling than the record set by Wednesday’s game.

Good Morning: Here's The Pulse For Monday, July 6

Radio Broadcasting

Tigger Off Air: Atlanta V-103 personality Big Tigger announced he is stepping away from the microphone as his ongoing personal issues and legal battles continue to dominate public attention.

D/FW Radio Reshape: Radio One (Urban One) is set to begin reshaping its Dallas/Fort Worth radio cluster on Monday, July 6, as it prepares to close on acquisitions of heritage urban stations KKDA-FM (K104) and KRNB-FM (105.7 Smooth R&B) while divesting Adult R&B outlet KZMJ-FM (Majic 94.5).

Study Radio's Connection: New research from Katz reveals that radio continues to stand out as a habitual and emotionally connected medium that audiences return to consistently throughout the week. More than 86% of listeners tune in on a frequent basis, making it a trusted daily companion.

MRC Radio Council Accrediation On Hold At Nielsen

Nielsen’s Audio Diary Measurement Service has entered a six-month accreditation hiatus with the Media Rating Council (MRC) as the company refines its rollout of the new mSurvey mobile diary tool.

The pause, which began June 23 and runs through December 23, was announced last week to clients in a letter. 

It stems from methodology changes tied to the broader implementation of mSurvey, which Nielsen started phasing into diary markets earlier this year.

MRC accreditation requires an independent audit of a measurement service’s methodology, data collection, and reporting to verify it meets industry standards. Any significant changes trigger a new review process.

Key Changes in the Letter

Nielsen outlined three main elements of the update:

• Expanded recruitment via mSurvey, eScreener, and third-party survey panels.
• A low-burden digital survey designed to be completed in minutes rather than days.
• A responsive digital format that adapts in real time to participant input.

Nielsen emphasized that the hiatus does not affect day-to-day business. Client currency and reporting remain unchanged, the hiatus does not apply to PPM services for audio or TV, and the traditional paper diary continues for the majority of the sample.

mSurvey Rollout Details

Nielsen began implementing mSurvey with the Spring 2026 survey on April 2. It initially covered about 10% of the total sample, with the remaining 90% still using paper diaries. The digital tool allows respondents to log listening online—primarily via smartphone—and was first introduced to households without residents age 55 or older, as well as those including Black, non-Hispanic, and renter populations.

Nielsen plans to move the expanded digital instruments into full production early next year and will provide regular progress updates to clients and the MRC during the hiatus.

NBC's TODAY Remains No. 1 Morning Show In Total Viewers, Key Demo

NBC News’ TODAY remained the #1 morning show in total viewers and the key demo A25-54 for the second quarter 2026, the month of June, and the week of June 22.

During the second quarter, TODAY averaged 3.006 million total viewers, beating GMA by +175,000 viewers (+6%) and CBS by +1.262 million viewers (+72%). In the key demo A25-54, TODAY averaged 627,000 viewers, topping GMA by +159,000 viewers (+34%) and CBS by +344,000 viewers (+122%).

The quarter marked TODAY’s third consecutive quarterly win in total viewers, its longest quarterly winning streak since 2012. It also marked TODAY’s largest second-quarter advantage over GMA since 2011 and its largest second-quarter lead over CBS in 12 years. TODAY topped CBS by more than one million viewers for the second consecutive quarter, its best run since 2016.

In the month of June, TODAY averaged 3.014 million total viewers, outperforming GMA by +215,000 viewers (+8%) and CBS by +1.341 million viewers (+80%). In key demo A25-54, TODAY averaged 628,000 viewers, leading GMA by +177,000 viewers (+39%) and CBS by +375,000 viewers (+148%). ​​TODAY ranked #1 in A25-54 for the 34th consecutive month, posting its largest June share of A25-54 viewers (47.1%) in nearly 15 years.

TODAY HIGHLIGHTS 

• #1 morning show across the board for the week and season-to-date.
• #1 in total viewers for the third consecutive quarter and 23rd consecutive week.
• Largest second-quarter total-viewer lead over GMA since 2011 and its largest second-quarter advantage over CBS in 12 years.
• Highest June total-viewer audience in five years, with its largest June leads over GMA in 15 years and CBS in 12 years.
• Holds 22 consecutive weeks of year-over-year total-viewer growth.
• Only morning show to grow month-to-month in total viewers.
• Largest year-over-year total-viewer increase among the broadcast morning shows (+18%).

InfoWars Is Back, As A Satirical Platform

Tim Heidecker

The Chicago-based satirical newspaper The Onion has relaunched InfoWars as a parody platform, more than a year and seven months after winning the initial bankruptcy auction for the conspiracy website founded by Alex Jones.

The relaunch debuted on Thursday with live comedy programming, including broadcasts hosted by comedian Tim Heidecker. It features satirical content that transforms the former right-wing conspiracy outlet into a humor site.

Alex Jones

The move comes amid ongoing legal efforts to complete The Onion’s acquisition of InfoWars assets. The satirical outlet first won the bankruptcy auction in November 2024 with backing from Sandy Hook families, who are owed more than $1.4 billion in defamation damages from Jones. Legal challenges delayed the full transfer, but The Onion proceeded with the parody launch anyway.

A key element of the relaunch includes directing proceeds — starting with a $100,000 donation — to Sandy Hook families. The Onion plans to share a significant portion of future merchandise revenue with them.

The Onion’s CEO, Ben Collins, described the project as a way to turn the platform into comedy while supporting the families harmed by Jones’ false claims about the Sandy Hook shooting. The new version streams on platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and Instagram.

This development marks a major shift for the InfoWars brand, which had promoted conspiracy theories for years before the bankruptcy proceedings forced its sale.

Radio History: July 6

➦In 1921...in an experiment, Western Union transmitted by radio its first halftone photograph. AT&T followed in 1924, and RCA sent a Radiophoto in 1926. The Associated Press began its Wirephoto service in 1935 and held a trademark on the term AP Wirephoto between 1963 and 2004. The first AP photo sent by wire depicted the crash of a small plane in New York's Adirondack Mountains.

Technologically and commercially, the wirephoto was the successor to Ernest A. Hummel's Telediagraph of 1895, which had transmitted electrically scanned shellac-on-foil originals over a dedicated circuit connecting the New York Herald and the Chicago Times Herald, the St. Louis Republic, the Boston Herald, and the Philadelphia Inquirer.

➦In 1925...rock `n’ roll pioneer Bill Haley (William John Clifton Haley Jr.) was born in Highland Park, near Detroit (Died of a brain tumor at age 55  – February 9, 1981).

Bill Haley

He is credited by many with first popularizing this form of music in the early 1950s with his group Bill Haley & His Comets and million-selling hits such as "Rock Around the Clock", "See You Later, Alligator", "Shake, Rattle and Roll", "Rocket 88", "Skinny Minnie", and "Razzle Dazzle". He has sold over 60 million records worldwide and has been described as the greatest musical pioneer of the 20th century.

In 1929, the four-year-old Haley underwent an inner-ear mastoid operation which accidentally severed an optic nerve, leaving him blind in his left eye for the rest of his life. It is said that he adopted his trademark kiss curl over his right eye to draw attention from his left, but it also became his "gimmick", and added to his popularity.  As a result of the effects of the Great Depression on the Detroit area, his father moved the family to Bethel, Pennsylvania.

One of his first appearances was in 1938 for a Bethel Junior baseball team entertainment event, performing guitar and songs when he was 13 years old.

The anonymous sleeve notes accompanying the 1956 Decca album Rock Around The Clock describe Haley's early life and career:  "For six years Bill Haley was a musical director of Radio Station WPWA in Chester, PA, and led his own band all through this period. It was then known as Bill Haley's Saddlemen, indicating their definite leaning toward the tough Western style. They continued playing in clubs as well as over the radio around Philadelphia, and in 1951 made their first recordings on Ed Wilson's Keystone Records in Philadelphia." The group subsequently signed with Dave Miller's Holiday Records and, on June 14, 1951 the Saddlemen recorded a cover of "Rocket 88".

During the Labor Day weekend in 1952, the Saddlemen were renamed Bill Haley with Haley's Comets (inspired by the supposedly official pronunciation of Halley's Comet, a name suggested by WPWA radio station program director, Bob Johnson, where Bill Haley had a live radio program from noon to 1 p.m.), and in 1953, Haley's recording of "Crazy Man, Crazy" (co-written by him and his bass player, Marshall Lytle, although Lytle would not receive credit until 2001) became the first rock and roll song to hit the American charts, peaking at number 15 on Billboard and number 11 on Cash Box. Soon after, the band's name was revised to "Bill Haley & His Comets".



In 1954, Haley recorded "Rock Around the Clock". Initially, it was relatively successful, peaking at number 23 on the Billboard pop singles chart and staying on the charts for a few weeks. On re-release, the record reached #1 on July 9, 1955.

➦In 1925...Merv Griffin born (Died  at age 82 of prostate cancer – August 12, 2007). He was a TV host and media mogul.

He began his career as a radio and big band singer who went on to appear in film and on Broadway. From 1965 to 1986, Griffin hosted his own talk show, The Merv Griffin Show. He also created the internationally popular game shows Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune through his television production companies, Merv Griffin Enterprises and Merv Griffin Entertainment.