Radio News Profitability Rises

The 2025 RTDNA/Newhouse School at Syracuse University Survey has revealed a notable uptick in radio news profitability, climbing to 13%—a rebound from the 2024 survey's 30-year low of 10.1%. 

The increase signals a potential recovery for radio newsrooms, though the survey underscores that consistent profitability patterns remain elusive across the industry.

The data shows no clear correlation between market size or staff size and profitability. Stations in major markets are just as likely to turn a profit from news as those in smaller markets, and the same applies regardless of the number of staff employed. 

However, a regional disparity emerged: stations in the South and Midwest are more likely to report profits from news compared to those in the Northeast or West, though the reasons for this trend remain unclear and warrant further exploration.

On average, news accounts for 15.8% of station revenue in 2025, a slight decline of one percentage point from the previous year. Despite this drop, the median—or typical—revenue contribution from news remains steady at 10%. While this figure is significantly lower than the average, it represents a substantial improvement, doubling the median reported before the 2024 survey. This suggests that while some stations rely heavily on news for revenue, many others operate with more modest contributions, reflecting the diverse business models within the industry.