Tegna’s ‘Locked On’ Podcast Network Expands YouTube Presence, Launches 2 New Offerings

Tegna Inc.’s Locked On, a local sports podcast network with daily shows for all Big 4 professional sports leagues and major college programs, today announced that 20 of its shows are now available as YouTube channels, as well as on Tegna station’s OTT apps in select markets.

Since the launch of the network’s first YouTube channel in May 2021, Locked On’s channels have generated more than 160,000 total hours of watch time and more than 1 million video views, which average more than 10 minutes each, Tegna says, citing YouTube.

“Locked On’s growth on YouTube reflects the appetite of our very engaged and diverse audience,” said Adam Ostrow, Tegna’s chief digital officer. “Nearly 52% of our YouTube audience is younger than 35, and 20% of Locked On’s total watch time comes from connected TVs and video game consoles.”

Tegna says it expects Locked On’s audience growth to be buoyed in the coming month by two new programming initiatives: A Locked On NBA Draft 2021 special, co-produced in partnership with Tegna’s WFAA Dallas on Thursday, July 29, and the Monday, Aug. 2, debut of Locked On HBCU, a podcast fully dedicated to HBCU sports and athletes.

“We launched Locked On with the simple premise of giving sports fans hyper-focused news and perspectives they crave,” said David Locke, Locked On’s president and founder. “We are continuing to fulfill this promise with our first NBA Draft special, which will offer real-time, in-depth analysis through our vast network of local sports analysts and experts who will cover the event in its entirety.”

“In addition, we’re thrilled to welcome Locked On HBCU to our slate of more than 180 podcasts,” Locke continued. “This is the first daily podcast solely dedicated to covering HBCU sports and athletes and is led by diverse voices and talent across our company.”

The live Locked On NBA Draft 2021 special will be hosted by John Karalis (Locked On NBA and Locked On Celtics), Chad Ford (Chad Ford’s NBA Big Board) and Rafael Barlowe (Locked On NBA Draft). On Thursday, July 29, the trio will anchor the show from WFAA’s Dallas studio and bring local Locked On team podcast hosts into the coverage for expert analysis of draft picks.

Locked On’s coverage, which will feature more than 30 analysts and local experts, will commence one hour before the start of the NBA Draft and include both rounds. In addition to the show’s availability on Locked On NBA’s YouTube channel, Facebook page and Twitter feed, it will be available to stream on Tegna stations’ OTT apps for Roku and Fire TV, mobile apps and websites.

Launching on Monday, Aug. 2, Locked On HBCU is dedicated to HBCU athletes, football and basketball and features correspondents across the HBCU landscape, including Tegna on-air and sports talent. They will join host Reggie Flood of The Big Tyme Sports Network on New Orleans’ WBOK-AM to cover each sport and team throughout The 107 – whether MEAC, SWAC, SIAC, CIAA, GCAC, or otherwise. Regardless of division or conference, Locked On HBCU will provide in-depth knowledge of each athletic program.

“We believe elevating Black collegiate sports and the voices that cover them is long overdue,” said Ross Jackson, Locked On’s college podcast channel coordinator and partnership manager. “On the field, hardwood, diamond and in the bandstands, HBCU sports and culture is unparalleled, yet unsung.”

While Flood will headline Locked On HBCU, the podcast will feature on-air talent with an HBCU background and/or who are passionate about HBCU sports, including:

• Mo Carter, sports director for WDZK (Tegna’s Fox station in Huntsville, Ala.)
• Lesli Foster, news anchor at WUSA (Tegna’s CBS station in Washington)
• Ashley Holder, sports reporter at WGRZ (Tegna’s NBC station in Buffalo, N.Y.)
• Jeff Jones, sports director at KVUE (Tegna’s ABC station in Austin, Texas)
• Cory Mose, sports reporter at KWES (Tegna’s NBC station in Midland-Odessa, Texas)
• Arnold Payne, senior sports photojournalist at WFAA (Tegna’s ABC station in Dallas)
• David Schiele, sports reporter at WBIR (Tegna’s NBC station in Knoxville, Tenn.)
• Allison Seymour, news anchor at WUSA (Tegna’s CBS station in Washington)
• Reese Waters, on-air talent at “WUSA9 at 7 p.m.” (Tegna’s CBS station in Washington)

Locked On HBCU will be available across Tegna markets and on the Audacy app, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Facebook Podcasts, Stitcher and other podcast platforms.