Live Monday, May 5th

What happens when you stop looking at just who uses each media platform—and start looking at who’s actually converting?

The State of Media 2025 goes live Monday, May 5, and this year’s report digs deeper than ever before.

Now in its second year, this annual snapshot offers a comprehensive look at American media habits—from traditional to digital, audio to video, daily habits to deeper engagement. And in 2025, we’re taking it one step further by introducing conversion as a key lens. It’s a powerful, often-overlooked metric that reveals not just reach—but resonance.

Here’s a sneak peek at what’s inside:

• One traditional media platform quietly keeps up with it’s digital counterpart in conversion—yes, really.

• Several audio formats that appear stable on the surface are showing subtle signs of decline when compared to 2024.

• We’re seeing a reset of media habits post-pandemic, with some surprising demographic shifts… and some areas showing remarkable stability.

• Plus: data across all major platforms—radio, TV (cable and streaming), podcasts, YouTube, video games, and more.

Want to get a sense of what to expect? Take a look at last year’s report, then mark your calendar.

The State of Media 2025 goes live Monday, May 5. You won’t want to miss what’s changed—and what hasn’t.

The post The State of Media 2025 appeared first on Crowd React Media.

Recent Publications:

Ordered by most recently published.

• • State of TV News 2025
    The inaugural report on the state of TV News. Designed specifically for news stations, this report provides actionable insights and strategies to help broadcasters adapt and succeed in this new landscape.
    Read More
  • State of Sports Media 2024
    The third annual report on the state of sports media across all channels, including radio, tv, digital, social and more.
    Read More

• • State of Media 2024: Video Sales Deck
    A downloadable PowerPoint deck with video findings from our State of Media 2024 report, showcasing broadcast television’s resilience and continued success, and ready to be used in your Sales team’s next sales deck!
    Read More
  • State of Media 2024: Radio Sales Deck
    A downloadable PowerPoint deck with radio data from our State of Media 2024 report, showing the strength of radio, and ready to be used in your Sales team’s next sales deck!
    Read More
  • State of Spanish-language Media 2024: Video Edition
    This whitepaper focuses on Spanish-language video media, including local and national news.
    Read More
  • State of Spanish-language Media 2024: Audio Edition
    This whitepaper focuses on the unique aspects and developments within Spanish-language audio media.
    Read More
  • State of Media 2024
    Our flagship report offers a broad overview of the media industry, highlighting key shifts and emerging trends across various platforms.
    Read More

Coming Soon:

More to be announced shortly!

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We strive to keep you informed and ahead of the curve with our ongoing research and insights. Bookmark this page and check back regularly for the latest updates.

The post Latest Research appeared first on Crowd React Media.

Our State of TV News 2025 report breaks down key trends shaping the industry, including:

• The continued strength of local news on cable
• The rise of streaming news, with YouTube leading the charge
• How TV stations can adapt to a hybrid media world

Get the full report here: State of TV News 2025

The post The Future of TV News: What Our Latest Research Reveals appeared first on Crowd React Media.

Over my journey in the media business, I have found that true achievers are always learning and looking to the future. Yes, we can learn from looking back. However, we tend to do too much of that and not plan for what lies ahead.

I remember back in 1996 I was a Program Director for a sports radio station in Salt Lake City while also hosting an afternoon sports show with former NBA Coach Tom Nissalke. In addition to hosting the show I was responsible for running the control studio board. That was the last time we used tape cartridges for commercials and production elements. Technology was changing.  One of the interesting memories from that year, was one day we were all asked to gather in a meeting room. At that session, we were introduced to this new concept called e-mail. We were each given Hotmail Accounts.  My how things have changed since then.

2025 is quite different from 1996.  2030 will be different from 2025, which may seem hard to imagine. This all begs the question…. Are you ready for 2030? Seems like a long time away, but the reality is that it is right around the corner.

One of the most important lessons for me was during my time with ABC/ESPN in Dallas from 2001 to 2006.  This is where the value of long-term planning became particularly important to me.  All departments participated in the annual 5-year planning process.  The immediate focus was on the year ahead; however, we were required to look beyond and to anticipate expenses as well as strategies.

Fast forward to 2025, and the pace of change has accelerated dramatically. The reality is that things are NOT going to slow down anytime soon. The legacy media which includes newspapers, television, and my world of radio, must find ways to adapt to the new landscape.

With change there are opportunities….in radio (audio) there is the one constant….” It is all about the content!”  The consumer has more power than ever.  They are demanding in what they want to watch or listen to. Understanding your audience and what they want has never been more important as they have many sources to get what they want.  Just as critical is understanding how the listener consumes your content.  This includes the various platforms that are available as well as the way the programming is presented

Some of the key challenges/opportunities in front of us today include the following:

• Too many content providers are living in the past. “This is how we have always done things.”
• The rapid decline in attention spans. Nielsen recently changed the criteria for quarter-hour credit. It used to require a panelist to listen for 5 minutes inside a 15-minute quarter-hour. That has now moved to 3:00 as research shows 45% of those surveyed listen for less than 5 minutes.
• Streaming is only going to grow in importance to the consumer. They want their content when they want it and where they want it.
• With streaming comes more competition. Any organization or person can start their own production and generate an audience.
• Social media plays an outsized role in developing loyalty among audiences.
• Personalities that stand out will continue to drive audience engagement

With all this to consider, how can you think about even looking ahead 5 years? The smart leaders know that part of this is about anticipating how things will evolve. Look at the issues TV and Radio are facing.  The amount of cord cutting with cable continues to increase on a yearly basis.  The number of platforms where you can hear audio content is developing by the day. The average screen time for an iPhone owner is over 3 hours per day.

Makes sense more than ever to have regular conversations looking ahead. If we stay in the present, we are going to get passed by someone else that has a true vision for where things are going. Take time, when possible, to talk to your customers (content consumers and advertisers) about what they want and how they decide what to watch/listen. Schedule meetings at least twice per year to look to the future beyond the current 12 months.

The bottom line, change is constant. The status quo is no longer an option for sustained success, as those that are nimble, flexible, and adaptable will have the best chance to win in the long run.  Research whether done internally or externally should be a key component of long-term planning. Never assume things are going to stay the same in the future.

• Important to always be learning and looking to the future.

• Technology is changing all the time.

• Planning must be more than immediate – look ahead 5 years.

• 2030 will be much different than 2025.

• With change there are opportunities.

• Decline in attention spans is an important consideration.

• Streaming is only going to grow.

• Content saturation is real.

• Change will be constant.

The post Do you have a plan? appeared first on Crowd React Media.

Here are our predictions:

• Traditional Radio persists in the digital age
  • Our whitepapers serve to demonstrate the remarkable resilience of traditional radio in the age of streaming and social media. The localism and community inherent to radio, particularly with sports talk and Hispanic radio, give it a foothold in a turbulent period of legacy media upheaval.  Radio broadcasters are also not tech-shy.  Digital streams of local stations are musts for any broadcaster hoping to survive in this environment.  And the good news is, people are listening.  More than half the country regularly listens to traditional radio.  The trajectory of cable and radio in the streaming era couldn’t be starker.  An artist having a song in regular rotation on radio stations lends credibility to that artist in a way that streaming does not.  Among the first stops for any reputable publicity team are the station heads for new music formats.  Radio airplay simply confers credibility and will continue to do so.
• Cable is just streaming now
  • Cable will rise again, albeit in the form of streaming. Cable companies are in for a rough 2025 with continued cord-cutting into the latter half of the 2020s.  However, streaming will increasingly resemble broadcast cable, especially with regards to cost.  Investors will be pushing hard to recoup their initial investment into streaming, resulting in price-hikes, increased ad-visibility, tiered ad plans, and expensive pay-per view special event offerings.  The increasingly byzantine package-deals within pre-existing subscriptions to streaming platforms will have many customers feeling they traded out their cable boxes for a near-identical experience with streaming boxes and smartTVs.

• Podcasts are primarily a video-based medium, an on-demand version of Daytime TV
  • Whether it’s Joe Rogan, Call her Daddy, New Heights, or virtually any True Crime series, what you’re basically consuming is a newfangled version of The Ellen Show, The View, or Nancy Grace. There will be an audio component to podcasts, but that is for the audio ‘purists’. Parasocial relationships are the norm nowadays, and podcasts, especially video podcasts, offer a level of intimacy with the consumer that surpasses the limitations of broadcast daytime television.  Podcasts were originally thought principally to be a threat of talk radio.  Today and in the future, podcasts are a threat to roundtable television programs.
• Music streaming platforms will stagnate
  • When everyone and their mom has a Spotify or Apple Music account, what is the growth strategy for music streaming platforms? How do you make more money on a product as ubiquitous as music streaming?  Wall Street requires constant innovation and profit growth, and year-on-year stagnation of profits will not fly.  Expect a mild consumer backlash to music streaming and some worrying reports on flagging user growth for these platforms.
• Wherever Sports goes, the entire media industry will follow
  • The carrier disputes between Disney/ESPN and Charter Communications and Dish TV, essentially hastened cord-cutting. Being able to watch SEC football games outstripped any loyalty to cable carriers.  They switched to streaming alternatives like YouTubeTV…and stayed there.  Millions made the switch and fundamentally altered the trajectory of the broadcast industry.
  • Pat McAfee, a viral YouTube personality, effectively disrupted the nature of daytime sports programming, with his bespoke fusion of bonhomie, betting tips, irreverent banter, insider takes, and sophomoric charm. He is an influencer that cracked the mainstream and changed expectations for what sports programming looks and sounds like (YouTube, basically).
  • NIL’s implications will be more keenly felt in 2025, with College football stars climbing out of their Lamborghinis in Armani suits and Gucci shades with paparazzi in their face at the stadium on game day. The production, presentation, and audience reach will gradually resemble that of the professional leagues.
• Artificial Intelligence
  • Expect one thing about AI to really heat up in 2025: More think-pieces on AI.

We at Crowd React Media would like to thank all who downloaded our whitepaper reports and regularly read our weekly roundup.  We hope to hear from you in 2025!

Best,

Sean Bos

Co-founder at Crowd React Media

Vice President of Research at Harker Bos Group

The post 2025 Media Predictions appeared first on Crowd React Media.

Listen to the full podcast here.

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Ask yourself this question when listening to or watching spoken word programming: How much of the presentation is truly compelling, and how long do you have to wait for the impactful content that will generate a reaction and keep the audience engaged? The numbers do not lie; attention spans are at an all-time low. When someone starts listening or watching, you have only 6 to 8 seconds to connect with the audience. After that, they will decide to stay or go elsewhere.

What does this mean for 2024? Here are some goals that give content creators the best possible opportunity to drive interest. This approach works for all forms of content, regardless of the platform. Consumers have all the leverage, as they will not tolerate mediocre programming, whether it’s a podcast, a radio show, or a television program. There needs to be a commitment to immediacy.
• As soon as the presentation starts, get right into the main topic of conversation. We live in an on-demand world, and every day the audience wants to experience a presentation focused on their interests. They do not want the talent to waste time talking about nothing.
• “Play the Hits” — What does this mean in today’s world? No matter the platform, consumers are waiting for the content they want. If you are listening to a podcast about medical treatment, you do not want to hear unrelated discussions. If you are listening to a sports show on a local radio station, the goal should be to deliver as soon as the segment starts. With breaking news on television, the consumer wants the information as soon as they decide to watch. The consumer will not wait for what they are looking for.

The challenge lies in balancing all of this to present truly compelling and informative content that will resonate with the audience. Content Discipline can be a real challenge. In broadcast radio, we have spent a significant amount of time focused on the “5 minutes” needed for quarter-hour credit. Getting anyone to listen or watch something for 5 minutes inside a quarter-hour is more demanding than you may realize. People get distracted easily, which is part of the challenge in connecting with consumers. It is crucial that talent and production staff understand this as part of the overall process of delivering compelling programming. The metric of 5 minutes to get credit is applicable for all platforms and is a good way to keep everyone focused.

One remarkable observation is that many talents do not listen to or watch their presentations. I have been conducting talent feedback sessions for years, and it is sometimes remarkable to see the look on their faces when they hear or see themselves for the first time. Athletes consistently review videos of their performances, even during actual sporting events. If a talent is truly committed to delivering great content, they will be their own best evaluator. I have often heard talents say that the content was not as relevant as it needs to be, or it was boring, or it did not deliver a payoff. It is all about who truly cares about what is being presented. The more we can take the time to review our work, the more there is an opportunity to improve the presentation and connect with the audience.

We live in a world of urgency. With attention spans so short, we cannot do things the way we used to. There are just too many places to get the programming that consumers are looking for. It is all about packaging and giving the impression that if you stop watching or listening, you are going to miss something truly interesting. The words urgency and anticipation have never been more critical for content creators.

Key Takeaways:

• Consumers have more choices than ever! Focus and discipline are core strategies in producing content.

• Attention spans are at an all-time low.

• As soon as the presentation starts, get right to the good stuff and “Play the Hits.” Do not waste time getting to the hot story/topic of the day.

• Avoid detours and distractions, as that is where you lose audience.

• Talent needs to listen or watch their presentation on a regular basis to fine-tune the presentation.

• Urgency and Anticipation are critical factors in developing audience attention.

This article includes a downloadable infographic.

Download the Mastering Content Creation: A Guide to Captivating Audiences infographic today!

The post Who Cares? – Mastering Content Creation in 2024: A Guide to Captivating Audiences appeared first on Crowd React Media.

Sean Bos, co-founder of Crowd React Media, and Scott Masteller, Broadcast Consultant, discuss the findings of CRM’s “The State of Sports Media – 2023” report.

This year’s State of report tracks everything from sports preference to sports betting habits, from viewership methods to sports-adjacent social media consumption, and from sports news apps/websites to sports audio. The report is based on interviews with almost 1,000 sports fans.

Download the report: https://crowdreactmedia.com/state-of-sports-media-2023/

Topics discussed in 2023’s The State of Sports Media:

• Sports Preferences
• Viewership Methods
• Cable/Satellite Channels
• Apps/Streaming Services
• Social Media’s Role
• Reading About Sports
• Sports Audio
• Consumption Habits
• Getting The Balance Right
• Sports Betting

Sign up for weekly emails on sports media, sports betting, and more: https://crowdreactmedia.com/roundup/

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This year’s report delves into industry trends, tracking everything from sports preference to sports betting habits, viewership methods to social media consumption, and more.

We aim to surprise by revealing that the headlines in the press may not always reflect the full truth about the sports media industry.

Click here for more information and to download the report today!

The post The State of Sports Media 2023 is now out! appeared first on Crowd React Media.

• The importance of streaming and multiple platforms: The audience is telling content providers that they want multiple options for consumption. As part of this, content providers need to improve their approach to content production and provide the listeners/viewers with what they want.
• The priority of multiple platforms will only continue to grow: Consumers want content wherever they are and in different formats, including short content features that provide quick payoffs.
  The Smartphone has changed everything.
• ESPN is still the #1 destination for sports content: While there are more choices than in the past, the outstanding branding still has a significant impact. ESPN has strong content across multiple platforms. The ESPN website is the top place for sports news, and the presentation’s credibility is noteworthy.
• The NFL Network ranks above other professional sports leagues in content consumption: This proves once again that the NFL and college football drive sports content consumption more than other leagues. There is also a strong connection with Fantasy Sports, Gaming, and Sports Betting. NFL.com is also effectively engaging with audiences.
• College Sports, primarily football, include several conferences with associated programming networks: The Big 10 Network has an edge over other conferences, partly due to its market size, including major east coast markets.
• AM/FM Radio remains important in the sports format, especially in the 40-59 demographic: Content is key, and understanding what fans truly want from content providers is crucial.
  Play-by-Play is a critical component on all platforms: More content is transitioning to streaming providers.
• The 18-39 year-old demographic is moving towards specific media choices and is willing to pay for services such as ESPN+.
  On the Social Media front, it’s important to note the strength of Facebook and Instagram.
• Similar to other platforms, there’s a Big 3 for Sports Betting: Draft Kings, Fan Duel, and MGM lead the way. As more states come onboard with allowing sports betting, the numbers will improve. ESPN’s entry into Sports Betting is an important development. Disney is following the money.

The post Sneak Peek: Scott Masteller’s Key Findings in Crowd React Media’s Upcoming 2023 Sports Audience Study appeared first on Crowd React Media.