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NFL Radio Audiences Have Grown Significantly

Flagship station listenership surged on Sundays according to data from the Xperi DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Football

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NFL flagship radio stations reported a 60% average increase in Sunday audience share, fueled by connected-car listeners throughout the 2025 season. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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NFL radio flagship stations recorded a 60% average increase in Sunday audience share. Broadcast listenership spiked by 111% before kickoff and 152% after the final whistle.

Why it matters

The growth in radio engagement highlights the continued relevance of traditional broadcast formats for sports fans. This surge tracks with a broader trend of expanding listenership for sports-formatted programming across the United States.

Buffalo's 97 Rock (WGRF) saw a 265% increase in audience share, while Nashville's 104.5 The Zone (WGFX) and Phoenix's Arizona Sports 98.7 (KMVP) grew by 102% and 78% respectively. Sports-formatted AM/FM stations have expanded by 14% over the last decade.

The players

WGRF

Known as 97 Rock, this is the flagship radio station for the Buffalo NFL team.

WGFX

Branded as 104.5 The Zone, this station serves as the flagship radio outlet in Nashville.

KMVP

Operating as Arizona Sports 98.7, this is the primary sports radio flagship station in Phoenix.

Xperi

This technology company provides the DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal used to monitor automotive audio trends.

The details

Data measured by the Xperi DTS AutoStage Broadcaster Portal reflects real-time habits among connected-car users. The findings align with a rise in sports radio's total ad revenue share, which climbed from 9.3% in 2016 to 12.8% in 2025.

Timeline

  1. In 2016, sports radio held a 9.3% share of total ad revenue.

  2. During August 2026, research found NFL radio listeners report higher season engagement.

  3. Throughout September 2026, NFL radio audiences increased significantly.

Season Trajectory

This increase in audience share follows the documented rise of sports radio's share of total ad revenue from 9.3% in 2016 to 12.8% in 2025. This surge in audience engagement reinforces the long-term trend of sports radio growing its footprint within the wider media ecosystem.

Increased audience share for flagship stations translates into more local pre-game and post-game content availability for car commuters. Listeners can expect these stations to prioritize NFL-related programming due to the measurable growth in post-game listenership.

The takeaway

Radio remains a dominant force for NFL fans during their commutes, particularly in markets with dedicated sports flagship stations. Future programming will likely continue to lean into pre-kickoff and post-game slots to capture the heightened listenership windows identified in the study.

Further reading

For more analysis on professional sports media trends, visit Football.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Radio Ink.

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