iHeartMedia, in collaboration with Deep Blue Sports + Entertainment, has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative, the Women’s Sports Audio Network (WSAN), marking the dawn of the first-ever audio platform exclusively dedicated to women’s sports. This pioneering network is set to explore and celebrate women’s sports competitions, including athletes’ narratives both on and off the field. WSAN will be a complimentary, ad-supported network featuring a range of content such as podcasts, daily sports reports, spotlights, and audio vignettes, accessible across iHeartMedia’s broadcast, digital, and podcast platforms, as well as other podcast platforms.
The launch of WSAN comes amidst a surge in investment and viewership for women’s sports. Elite women’s sports are projected to become a $1 billion industry this year, witnessing a remarkable 300% growth in just three years. However, despite this growth, women’s sports in the US receive only 15% of media coverage. WSAN aims to address this disparity by providing fans with more access to athletes, influencers, stories, and daily discussions surrounding women’s sports.
By leveraging iHeartMedia’s extensive reach, WSAN seeks to amplify both established and emerging female sports athletes, offering relevant programming to millions of listeners nationwide. Moreover, this initiative aims to provide brands with opportunities to engage with an emerging market across various sports and communities. Research from Deloitte indicates that for every dollar spent in women’s sports, more than seven dollars are generated in customer value.
The Women’s Sports Audio Network will offer year-round talent and programming, including daily shows focused on a wide range of sports and commentary from diverse talent pools. Notable figures such as sports media personality Sarah Spain and WNBA Legend Sheryl Swoopes are already onboard, with more talent expected to join in the coming weeks.
This partnership underscores iHeartMedia’s commitment to advancing women’s sports by promoting equity in coverage, representation, and access. In addition to WSAN, iHeartMedia’s sports network will feature dedicated women’s sports reports daily across its network of over 500 broadcast stations and digital streams nationwide.
The launch of WSAN follows Deep Blue Sports + Entertainment’s recent collaboration with Axios, which focuses on creating thought leadership events and editorial content dedicated to the business of women’s sports, highlighting the economic and social impact of women’s sports on individuals and global communities. This partnership was announced during Deep Blue and Axios’ Business of Women’s Sports Summit in New York City.