Recent Publications:

Ordered by most recently published.

• • 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.

Given the saturation of content options, understanding your audience is essential for making smart decisions. If you’re in a management position at a content provider, you’re likely juggling many responsibilities in a fast-paced environment. So how do you sort everything out?

I have always believed that everything we do in content production should be based on ROI—Return on Investment. For instance, if you invest heavily in a host, you expect that talent to generate ratings and revenue for your organization. Similarly, if you recruit a high-profile salesperson, you expect them to bring in significant income for your brand.

In today’s environment, the key to success in content development is total collaboration between programming and sales. One cannot succeed without the other. In my role as Program Director for 97.5 The Fanatic, I am in constant communication with both the talent and production team, as well as the sales group.

We recently received valuable research data from a study conducted by Crowd React Media, a division of Harker Bos Group, on The Fanatic. The team at Crowd React collaborated with us to identify our strengths and opportunities for driving audience engagement. Our study involved conversations with over three hundred sports radio consumers in the Philadelphia market. Following an initial presentation to senior leadership, we embarked on what I call a “road show.” The first stop was a major presentation to the sales staff at Beasley Philadelphia. The engagement of the group, their attentiveness, and their thoughtful questions made it clear that we were on the right track. They are now equipped to use this data to enhance their sales presentations.

The next step was to present this information to our on-air and production teams. I held two sessions to ensure everyone could participate in the discussion. The hour-long meeting included open conversations, which are vital for fostering ownership of the process as we develop an action plan to implement before the fall rating period.

This study is invaluable in many ways. Beyond providing insights to our sales and programming teams, it also offers an opportunity to engage with our various partnerships that are crucial to our overall content presentation. I took it upon myself to prepare a condensed version of the study to present to our play-by-play partners and content distributors.

Ultimately, success is ALWAYS about having a PLAN. Whether it’s reviewing ratings data, conducting a research study, or continuously evaluating your content and the competition, understanding your audience is key to maximizing revenue and quarter-hours.

To Summarize:

• To succeed in a spoken word format, knowing your audience is critical.
• Smart decisions are essential—collaboration between sales and programming is vital.
• The Program Director must be fully immersed in all aspects of the content brand and presentation.
• Research can be a powerful tool for developing a winning strategy.
• Whether it’s a monthly ratings report or a detailed study, it’s important to review, analyze, and strategize regularly to stay ahead.

The post Do You Know Your Audience? – How to Use Research appeared first on Crowd React Media.

Much has changed over the years. With advancements in technology, consumers have more control over accessing content whenever and wherever they want. Gone are the days when the only competition in a market was another spoken-word radio station. Take Philadelphia, for instance, one of the most passionate sports markets in the country. Besides two prominent sports radio stations, there are numerous local online content destinations. Additionally, national broadcasters cover major professional teams, broadening the competitive landscape.

Let’s return to those 5 minutes—that remains the benchmark I believe in, regardless of platform. To me, this is the goal we strive to achieve with every piece of content we produce. The challenge, however, has become more daunting.
Consider the following statistics:

• On average, people check their smartphones 150 times per day (HBR).
• One-third of people check their smartphones within 5 minutes of waking up (Time).

The bottom line is that distractions are everywhere, and there are more avenues than ever to access content. This underscores the importance of maintaining content discipline in presentation, regardless of the format.

Most of my career has been spent in spoken word, and here’s what I’ve found works best over the years:

1. Do not waste time: In my early days as a host, this was a personal flaw. I’ve learned that diving right into the day’s biggest story pays off. Whether it’s news or sports, it’s about urgency and anticipation! Data often supports this with increased consumption following major breaking news or sports stories. There’s an audience waiting for insight and perspective on the stories that matter to them.

2. Understand the audience is always changing: Many hosts miss opportunities by over-preparing. Narrow your topic selection and recognize that the audience in the second or third hour of a show likely expects a consistent content approach unless there’s a major development or breaking news.

3. Focus on pacing: Given the need to keep the audience engaged throughout your presentation, find ways to maintain a lively pace. Incorporate impactful sound bites, concise interviews, and brief phone calls—all aimed at keeping the audience engaged. It’s essential to make a concentrated effort to tighten all aspects of content delivery.

4. Topics do matter: I’ve always admired music programmers for their knack in selecting songs that can define a radio station’s success. Similarly, in spoken word, choosing the right topics can make or break your show. A hot topic can remain relevant for an extended period, just like a hit song.

Regardless of the platform, these strategies are crucial to share with your on-air hosts. Even as things evolve, I still find it valuable to review key metrics in the Nielsen Report, particularly Time Spent Listening. TSL serves as a reliable gauge of your brand’s performance. There’s nothing more rewarding than sitting down with an on-air talent and showing them examples of how they’ve improved their presentation by capturing those critical 5 minutes!

The post It’s Still About The 5 Minutes appeared first on Crowd React Media.

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.

Let’s get into today’s area of focus.

A lot of noise has been made in the sports media world over how younger audiences will come to consume sports content.  Specifically, a lot of noise is being made over whether younger audiences will watch live sports in the years to come, with the common wisdom being that younger folks are just not as primed to watch live sports as much as their elders.  As it turns out, this is the correct analysis.  Younger audiences are indeed less enthusiastic about live sports, for whatever reason (e.g., diminishing attention spans, the surfeit of available content, social media).

However…

While the panicky headlines about a decreasing desire among younger audiences for live sports do contain a kernel of truth about the contemporary nature of sports media consumption, the preference in content overall is still skewed towards live sports.  This makes logical sense, in that a live game with a live timer, with real, living players is an integral process in the creation of sports media content.

At the end of the day, for sports content to even exist, the games must be played.  Programs like PTI and Around the Horn can’t exist in a live sports-free vacuum (I shudder to think of what these programs would be like without the sports).  And people will watch the games.  Let’s look at the data.

Graph (below):  Do you prefer live sports or sports analysis/commentary?

46% of the 18-39 demo want mostly live sports content.  Combined with the 18-39 year-olds that want a balance between live sports and analysis, that is 78% who are in all likelihood seeking out live sports just as much, if not more, than analysis and commentary.  Only 22% of the younger 18-39 demo prefer mostly analysis/commentary, with only 8% expressing a strict preference for sports analysis.

The generational differences in the desire for live sports vs. analysis/commentary, ultimately come down to the fact that 40-59 and 60+ demos basically have a limited tolerance for analysis and commentary (13% for the former…and 1% for the latter).  Arguably, younger demos crave the hot takes, having been reared on social media and ESPN’s daytime program wheel, and are consequently more inclined towards personality-driven analysis/commentary (looking at you, Pat McAfee).

Suffice to say, the immediacy of live sporting events transcends generational differences.

The post How Different Generations Are Consuming Sports Content – Live Sports vs. Analysis/Commentary appeared first on Crowd React Media.

69% of all sports audiences regularly watch sporting events, highlights, and sports-related programming via streaming. 60% of all sports audiences watch sports content on cable/satellite. While there are increasing rates of cord-cutting occurring more broadly, 60% of sports audiences using cable/satellite means that it is here to stay for the foreseeable future.

However, Cable’s shelf-life looks limited when we dive into the age demographics. A resounding 83% of sports audiences ages 18-39 use streaming to watch sports content. This is a whopping 28 points higher than ages 18-39 that use cable/satellite to watch sports (55%). With all this in mind, 55% of younger demos using cable/satellite is still a strong showing.

And yet…

If we are to look at the top cable/satellite channels, ESPN is the clear frontrunner (74%) among sports audiences. However, given recent talk and gossip among industry insiders, ESPN is planning to onboard its marquee cable offerings as part of a standalone premium streaming network. The kicker here is whether ESPN decides to shutter its cable/satellite channels in the wake of such a switch. If this were to happen, and ESPN loyalists were to migrate over to streaming, such a shakeup would drastically alter the cable/satellite landscape as we know it, and maybe even destroy it in the process.

We are already witnessing a major broadband/cable provider, such as Spectrum, lay out plans to discontinue its cable box, and push a Roku-esque device by Xumo, that has the Spectrum app preloaded onto the device. One could argue the case that when live sports make the complete transition to streaming, the cable bundle will have all but disappeared. Basically, one could say that cable/satellite is only hanging around the hoop because of live sports. The next round of league rights (NBA, MLB, Soccer) negotiations with multiple premium streaming services (Apple, Amazon, Max, ESPN+, and…Netflix), will be telling.

The post Streaming Sports Is Where It’s At – But Don’t Count Out Cable Just Yet 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.

In this segment, they answer whether cable will survive or cord cutting will prevail.

Full interview: https://youtu.be/smWD9-fJVwI?si=tZsV5_K8mQCYqL9A

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/

The post 1,000 Sports Fans Face-Off: Streaming vs. Cable appeared first on Crowd React Media.

The majority – 57% of the audience bet on sports.  Younger audiences (18-39) in particular, have a notable appetite for sports betting with 67% saying they have wagered on sports currently or in the past.

One third, 36% of all sports audiences listen to radio programs or podcasts that are geared toward the discussion of betting odds, over/under ratios, and favorites.

As more states gradually start to legalize sports betting, we expect the audience for sports betting content to grow.  However, merely talking about sports betting is not enough to make a show successful. 

Program directors/content creators need to be creative in how they integrate sports betting content into their program wheel in a way that is novel and engaging for the viewer/listener.  You also need to be careful in striking the right balance between traditional sports media and sports betting.

We are sure that you’ve come across sports media in recent months or years that featured sports betting content, be it odds, over/under, etc.  Was that content integrated in such a way that felt natural over the course of the program/broadcast, or did it feel like an awkward addition? Our guess is that you’ve probably seen or heard both.  The best sports betting content is presented in such a way that one does not have to be an active bettor to enjoy.

The ideal sports program seamlessly integrates sports betting content with traditional sports commentary and analysis.  In other words, the sharpest programming contains sports-betting adjacent content without drawing attention to the fact that it’s sports betting content.

In our study we asked for sports audiences to tell us in their own words about why they listen to radio programs or podcasts about sports betting/odds.  Here’s what some of them had to say:

• It is lively discussion.
• I want to be constantly in the know.
• I live in Vegas and bet on sports.
• I listen just to stay involved.
• It’s entertaining to listen to.
• To get betting odds.
• I like the hosts and the programs are informative.
• To get better information
• To find out how to bet.
• It’s always interesting listening.
• I just want to know who is favored.
• I love the commentary that comes with this type of show.
• I want to stay up to date with the latest news on my favorite sports.
• It’s good information to know the odds for games.
• To get the best odds.
• Very interesting to hear the opinions of others on games. I like different perspectives.
• I want to have a better chance of winning.
• To get the latest news.
• It’s entertaining and it’s very amusing.
• I like to bet on sports.
• It gives me an idea on who is expected to win.
• It broadens my knowledge of sports.
• I listen to gain knowledge or a possible edge.

As you can tell by reading through these audience responses about why they listen to sports betting content, a lot of people naturally listen because they think they’ll have a better shot at winning money from the games they bet on.

What’s also at play is that sports betting content provides a new angle from which fans can observe and analyze their favorite sports.

People are consuming sports betting content not only because they believe it gives them the edge in their betting, but also because they find the content to be engaging, informative, and entertaining.

People want to be in the know.  Sports betting content is just another informational layer they can absorb.  Betting-adjacent content provides a fresh perspective for fans on their favorite sports.

Stay tuned for more in our series…

The post Sports Betting Programming: More than beating the odds 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/

The post Peek Inside the Heads of 1,000 Sports Fans appeared first on Crowd React Media.

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.