CUMULUS MEDIA Study Analyzes NFL Fans' Use Of Radio vs. Television

Rhea-AI Summary

Cumulus Media's Westwood One released a study revealing that their NFL play-by-play broadcasts reach 56 million listeners over the season, highlighting a more engaged audience compared to TV viewers. The radio audience is characterized by higher passion for sports, greater participation in sports betting, and younger demographics. Key findings show that radio listeners spend 16% more than the average American and that increasing advertisements significantly boosts audience reach. Additionally, the study indicates that radio broadcasts enhance NFL TV viewership, showing a 24% increase among Millennial men.

Positive

• Reaches 56 million listeners season-long, indicating strong audience engagement.
• Higher engagement and passion among AM/FM radio listeners vs. TV viewers.
• Radio listeners spend 16% more than average Americans, favoring advertisers.
• Incremental reach of +24% among Millennial men when combining radio with TV coverage.

Negative

• None.

NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CUMULUS MEDIA's (NASDAQ: CMLS) Westwood One released the results of a study on fan engagement with the NFL based on research from GfK MRI, Ipsos, the NFL "Fan Tracker," and a special Nielsen Portable People Meter analysis of NFL listening to national broadcasts. This first-ever analysis reveals the season-long reach of Westwood One's NFL play-by-play broadcasts to be 56 million listeners.

"The research indicates the profile of the radio sports play-by-play audience is surprisingly different from the TV audience," said Pierre Bouvard, Chief Insights Officer, CUMULUS MEDIA. "The TV audience consists of casual sports fans while the audio audience is far more passionate and engaged – they are far more likely to be seen as sports experts by their friends, play fantasy sports, and attend games – this provides brands with a highly attentive audience."

Key takeaways from the findings:

• GfK MRI reports the AM/FM radio play-by-play audience is more engaged with and passionate about sports than those who watch sports on TV.
• Sports betting is more prevalent among AM/FM radio sports listeners versus the TV sports audience.
• AM/FM radio's increased sports engagement means greater advertising effectiveness and impact: Compared to NFL TV viewers, NFL AM/FM radio listeners are more likely to agree that advertising provides them with meaningful product information and useful information about new products and services.
• In the car, the AM/FM radio NFL play-by-play broadcast is the "best available screen" for employed and upscale sports fans: According to GfK MRI, the profile of the AM/FM radio NFL audience is much more upscale. Compared to average Americans, NFL AM/FM radio audiences spend 16% more.
• Large portions of the NFL AM/FM radio audience listen away from home, according to Nielsen Portable People Meters.
• While the TV viewing audience skews older, the NFL AM/FM radio audience is equally distributed across demographics.
• The NFL on Westwood One reaches 56 million Americans according to a special Nielsen season-long analysis. Typically, Nielsen reports cumulative audiences for an average week. Weekly reach reporting only captures 13% of Westwood One's total season-long NFL unique audience. 
• The NFL on Westwood One is a reach machine: Each week, new different listeners tune in: Over the entire regular season, Westwood One's NFL play-by-play reaches 46 million different Americans. In the post season, Westwood One's NFL coverage adds an additional 10 million listeners who were not reached during the regular season, lifting the season-long reach to 56 million.
• Increasing the number of ads in the game causes campaign reach to surge: Ten ads per game reach four times the audience of one ad per game, according to Nielsen's special analysis of the Portable People Meter audience data.
• NFL AM/FM radio media strategy: Buy long in the season and deep in the game: Since new listeners are tuning in each week and new listeners are tuning in each quarter of the game, a smart media plan for AM/FM radio play-by-play sports broadcast requires many ads per game and season-long commitments. Buy long in the season and deep in the game.
• Adding NFL AM/FM radio generates incremental reach to the NFL TV audience: Per the NFL "Fan Tracker," among Millennial men, Westwood One NFL coverage adds +24% incremental reach to the television coverage and +18% lift in reach among full-time employed men 18-49 with a $75K+ income. Westwood One's NFL coverage on AM/FM radio and the other audio distribution platforms reaches the NFL fan who is not exposed to NFL TV broadcasts.

*Half of Westwood One NFL audience is from AM/FM radio and the other half is from streaming/SiriusXM.

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About CUMULUS MEDIA
CUMULUS MEDIA (NASDAQ: CMLS) is a leading media, advertising, and marketing services company delivering premium content to over a quarter billion people every month — wherever and whenever they want it. CUMULUS MEDIA engages listeners with high-quality local programming through 413 owned-and-operated radio stations across 86 markets; delivers nationally-syndicated sports, news, talk, and entertainment programming from iconic brands including the NFL, the NCAA, the Masters, CNN, the AP, the Academy of Country Music Awards, and many other world-class partners across nearly 7,300 affiliated stations through Westwood One, the largest audio network in America; and inspires listeners through the CUMULUS Podcast Network, its rapidly growing network of original podcasts that are smart, entertaining and thought-provoking. CUMULUS MEDIA provides advertisers with personal connections, local impact and national reach through broadcast and on-demand digital, mobile, social, and voice-activated platforms, as well as integrated digital marketing services, powerful influencers, full-service audio solutions, industry-leading research and insights, and live event experiences. CUMULUS MEDIA is the only audio media company to provide marketers with local and national advertising performance guarantees. For more information visit www.cumulusmedia.com.

Contact:
Karen Glover | CUMULUS MEDIA | kglover@westwoodone.com 

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SOURCE Cumulus Media

FAQ

What were the findings of Cumulus Media's NFL study released on September 13, 2021?

The study revealed that Westwood One's NFL play-by-play broadcasts reach 56 million listeners and show that radio audiences are generally more engaged and younger compared to TV audiences.

How does the NFL radio audience compare to TV viewers according to the study?

The NFL radio audience is more passionate about sports, participates more in sports betting, and has a younger demographic compared to the TV audience.

What is the impact of increased radio advertisements on audience reach?

Increasing radio advertisements significantly boosts audience reach, with ten ads per game reaching four times the audience of one ad.

How do Cumulus Media's NFL broadcasts enhance TV viewership?

Cumulus Media's NFL coverage adds 24% incremental reach among Millennial men and 18% among high-income employed men, improving overall engagement.