Locked On Podcast Network Approaches One Billion Listens, Views and Social Engagements
Rhea-AI Summary
TEGNA (NASDAQ: NXST) announced that its Locked On Podcast Network is on track to reach one billion combined listens, views and social engagements by the end of 2026.
Locked On now includes 275 daily shows, generates over 90 million monthly engagements, and is marking its 10th anniversary with new formats, FAST TV channels, Amazon Fire TV programming, and a free NBA Draft Guide.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
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News Market Reaction – NXST
On the day this news was published, NXST declined 0.10%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Peers on Argus
NXST fell 1.27% with mixed peer action: TGNA (-0.25%), SBGI (-4.82%), GTN (-3.31%), IHRT (-1.72%), while FUBO was -9.86% and the only name in the momentum scanner. Moves are not uniformly directional, pointing to stock-specific factors rather than a clean sector rotation.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 02 | Journalism awards | Positive | -1.7% | Stations won 34 Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards highlighting content quality. |
| Jun 01 | Charitable grants | Positive | +3.4% | Foundation expanded '30 Days of Giving' with 60 $5,000 community grants. |
| May 26 | Subsidiary CEO hire | Positive | -0.3% | TEGNA, a Nexstar subsidiary, appointed Patrick Paolini as CEO. |
| May 11 | Leadership changes | Positive | -2.7% | Nexstar named a new General Counsel and promoted several executives. |
| May 11 | Investor conferences | Neutral | +0.0% | Company announced participation in JPMorgan and Gabelli investor conferences. |
Recent positive corporate and reputational news has often coincided with flat-to-negative next-day moves, suggesting a tendency for the stock to underreact or fade good headlines.
Over the last few months, Nexstar highlighted awards, philanthropy, management changes, and investor outreach. On May 26, TEGNA named a new CEO, with NXST slipping slightly despite the leadership focus. Murrow Awards recognition on June 2 also preceded a modest decline. Community grants and conference participation saw more neutral-to-positive trading. Today’s Locked On podcast milestone continues the narrative of audience and platform expansion alongside a share price trading well below the 52-week high and 200-day MA.
Regulatory & Risk Context
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement underscores Nexstar’s digital and sports-audio reach, with the Locked On Network on pace for 1 billion listens, views, and social engagements and delivering over 90 million interactions each month across 275 team-specific shows. It builds on a decade of growth from a single 2016 podcast to a broad, hyper-local sports ecosystem. In context of recent insider tax-related sales and shares trading below the 200-day MA, investors may track how this audience scale translates into financial performance.
Key Terms
fast tv channels technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
The No. 1 Sports Podcast Network Celebrates a Decade of Growth With 275 Shows Covering Every Major Professional and College Sport Daily
MCLEAN, Va., June 16, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TEGNA Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST) announced today that the Locked On Podcast Network is on track to reach one billion listens, views and social engagements by the end of 2026. Today marks the tenth anniversary of Locked On, the number one sports podcast network acquired by TEGNA in 2021.
Built on the idea that every fanbase deserves a daily, dedicated podcast and that hyper-local coverage could draw large audiences, Locked On evolved from a single show in 2016 into a network of 275 daily podcasts covering every NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL team, and major college sports programs daily. Earning more than 90 million combined listens, views, and social engagements each month, the Locked On Podcast Network produces the most total episodes and has the largest podcast audience of any native sports network.
“Locked On’s founding principle, ‘Your Team. Every Day,’ has remained constant,” said David Locke, president, Locked On Podcast Network. “We fully committed to the idea that sports fans are fans of their team first and have never wavered from that belief. We have proven we can be successful delivering daily team-specific coverage for passionate fans. Across 275 shows and 10 uninterrupted years, that idea has held true.”
In recent years, the podcast network has continued to build momentum with a slate of new initiatives, including Postcasts and Squad Shows, FAST TV channels, programming in partnership with Amazon Fire TV, including Bracket Breakdown and College Football Kickoff, and rapid expansion across social channels which has generated millions of views. In addition, a new, free NBA Draft Guide will debut this week, to immerse fans more fully in the draft.
“Our first decade proved that sports fans want more depth, more insights, and more of the voices that share their deep commitment and loyalty to their teams,” said Carl Weinstein, chief operating officer, Locked On Podcast Network. “The next chapter is about delivering that in new ways. We’re excited to continue growing and engaging fans, wherever they are, with innovative coverage every day.”
About Locked On Podcast Network
Founded in 2016, Locked On produces more than 275 podcasts, providing in-depth coverage of every NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL team, plus major college sports teams and conferences daily. The number one sports podcast network generates over 90 million listens, views, and social engagements each month. Its podcasts were streamed 515 million times in 2025 across the major podcast audio apps and for video on YouTube and leading OTT platforms.
About TEGNA
TEGNA Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXST), operating independently of Nexstar consistent with the “Hold Separate Order” issued by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California on April 17, 2026. TEGNA is a multiplatform media company operating 64 local television stations in 51 U.S. markets, and hundreds of websites, mobile and Connected TV (CTV) apps, and Premion, a leading Connected TV and Over-the-Top (OTT) advertising platform.
For media inquiries, contact:
Molly McMahon
Director, Corporate Communications
703-873-6422
mmcmahon@tegna.com
