All-News Radio Leads Cable on Political Balance, Research Says

Why It Matters

The findings suggest All‑News radio can reach a broad, bipartisan audience with higher credibility, giving candidates a cost‑effective channel to convey messages without the polarization associated with cable news.

Key Takeaways

• All‑News radio shows higher partisan balance than cable
• 1010 WINS indexes 103 Democrats, 112 Republicans
• 84% trust All‑News radio for local news
• Radio captures 64% of voter audio time across parties
• 77% view advertisers on All‑News stations as trustworthy

Pulse Analysis

Amid growing concerns over partisan slant in television news, Audacy’s All‑News radio model is emerging as a neutral alternative. By focusing on hyper‑local content—traffic, weather, school updates—the format naturally attracts listeners from both sides of the aisle. The data from Audacy’s SVP of Research, Ray Borelli, underscores this balance: 1010 WINS registers a Democratic index of 103 and a Republican index of 112, a stark contrast to Fox News’s 25‑288 split. Such parity positions All‑News radio as a credible source for voters seeking factual information without overt editorializing.

Beyond balance, radio’s reach remains unmatched among audio platforms. Edison Research reports that AM/FM accounts for 64% of all ad‑supported audio consumption among registered voters, with virtually identical shares across Democrats (64%), Republicans (65%) and Independents (62%). Trust metrics reinforce this dominance: an Alter Agents survey found 84% of respondents trust All‑News radio for local news, while a Morning Consult study ranks over‑the‑air radio as the most credible U.S. news source. Moreover, 77% of All‑News listeners consider the advertisers on these stations trustworthy, indicating a favorable environment for brand messaging.

For political campaigns, these insights translate into strategic advantages. Radio’s lower production costs and rapid turnaround enable candidates to update ads in real time, responding to polling shifts or breaking events faster than TV or digital formats. The platform’s low ad‑avoidance rates further ensure message penetration, especially among commuters who constitute a sizable voter segment. As parties allocate media budgets, the combination of bipartisan reach, high trust, and operational efficiency makes All‑News radio a compelling component of modern campaign media mixes.