iHeartMedia and Deep Blue Sports + Entertainment Unveil Women’s Sports Audio Network – Pioneering the First-Ever Dedicated Platform for Women’s Sports
In a groundbreaking collaboration, iHeartMedia, America’s premier audio company, teams up with Deep Blue Sports + Entertainment to introduce the Women’s Sports Audio Network (WSAN). This innovative platform marks a historic milestone as the first-ever audio network exclusively devoted to women’s sports.
Scheduled to launch across iHeartMedia’s broadcast, digital, and podcast platforms, as well as on all major podcast platforms, WSAN will serve as a hub for exploring and celebrating women’s sports competitions. From in-depth athlete stories to daily sports reports, spotlights, and audio vignettes, this free, ad-supported network will offer a diverse range of content formats to cater to the interests of sports fans everywhere.
The emergence of the Women’s Sports Audio Network coincides with a significant upsurge in investment and viewership for women’s sports. Projections indicate that elite women’s sports are poised to become a billion-dollar industry, reflecting a remarkable 300% growth over the past three years. Despite this growth, women’s sports still receive only 15% of media coverage in the US.
By launching WSAN, iHeartMedia and Deep Blue aim to meet the growing demand for women’s sports content while amplifying the voices of both established and emerging female athletes. With leading sports champions like Sarah Spain and Sheryl Swoopes on board as talent, WSAN will provide year-round coverage of various sports and commentary, offering listeners unparalleled access to the world of women’s sports.
This partnership underscores iHeartMedia’s commitment to advancing women’s sports programming and content. By leveraging iHeartMedia’s extensive reach and Deep Blue’s expertise in sports and entertainment, WSAN aims to drive greater equity in coverage and representation for women’s sports across all media platforms.
“The launch of the Women’s Sports Audio Network represents a significant step forward in our efforts to elevate women’s sports,” said Gayle Troberman, Chief Marketing Officer for iHeartMedia. “We’re excited to harness the power of audio to deliver compelling content that resonates with fans and drives greater visibility for female athletes.”
Laura Correnti, Founder and CEO of Deep Blue, emphasized the importance of addressing the need for more discovery, visibility, and scale in women’s sports coverage. “This partnership effectively moves the coverage of women’s sports from 15% to 90% overnight through the power of audio,” she stated.
The launch of WSAN follows Deep Blue Sports + Entertainment’s recent collaboration with Axios to create thought leadership events and editorial content focused on the business of women’s sports. This strategic partnership underscores the collective effort to champion women’s sports and its profound impact on individuals and global communities.
With the Women’s Sports Audio Network, iHeartMedia and Deep Blue are poised to revolutionize the landscape of women’s sports coverage, ushering in a new era of accessibility, engagement, and empowerment for fans and athletes alike.
