Seattle, Washington Media Landscape Overview

Seattle–Tacoma's media market reaches roughly 4 million residents across Puget Sound, blending global tech headquarters, advanced manufacturing, and maritime trade. Newsrooms cover climate resilience, housing affordability, tribal stewardship, and startup innovations while tracking Seahawks, Mariners, Kraken, and Sounders storylines for avid regional audiences.

Tech Hub Media Market

KING 5, KOMO, KIRO 7, and FOX 13 deploy data journalism labs, investigative units, and drone footage to explain infrastructure upgrades, wildfire smoke threats, and waterfront redevelopment.

GeekWire, The Seattle Times, and KUOW partner with local universities and civic groups on technology, equity, and public policy initiatives, distributing newsletters, live events, and on-demand video series.

Pacific Northwest Media

Regional storytelling emphasizes salmon habitat, tribal treaty rights, clean energy, and sustainable aviation, reflecting the Pacific Northwest's environmental priorities and indigenous leadership.

Streaming-focused viewers consume bilingual and multicultural programming from Crosscut, KCTS 9, and ethnic media outlets that spotlight immigrant entrepreneurship, Asian and Pacific Islander arts, and Seattle's diverse neighborhoods.

Leading Television Channels

• KING 5: Tegna NBC affiliate delivering Facing Race investigations, streaming-first KING 5+ coverage, and First Alert weather.
• KOMO 4: Sinclair ABC station featuring Problem Solvers consumer advocacy, sustainable living series, and breaking news from the Space Needle to Sea-Tac.
• KIRO 7: Cox Media CBS affiliate providing PinPoint Weather, community accountability reporting, and Seattle sports specials.
• FOX 13 Seattle (KCPQ): FOX owned-and-operated channel offering Studio 13 Live, verified fact-checks, and drone coverage of regional growth.
• Seattle Channel: City-run station delivering civic meetings, documentaries, and arts programming for multilingual audiences.
• KCTS 9 PBS: Cascade Public Media network producing Crosscut documentaries, Mossback's Northwest, and educational content.
• TVW: Washington state's public affairs network livestreaming legislative sessions, Supreme Court hearings, and policy briefings.
• ROOT Sports Northwest: Regional sports network broadcasting Mariners baseball, Kraken hockey, and local collegiate athletics.
• SCS Sea Mar Community Media: Spanish-language channel covering immigrant services, health education, and cultural festivals.
• Northwest Asian Weekly TV: Multicultural outlet spotlighting Asian American business, arts, and civic leadership across Puget Sound.

Major Radio Broadcasting Networks

• KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM: Bonneville newsroom covering Puget Sound transit, politics, and breaking news with 24/7 updates.
• KUOW 94.9 FM: NPR member producing Seattle Now, Soundside, and in-depth civic coverage alongside podcast series.
• KEXP 90.3 FM: Listener-powered station curating global music discovery, live sessions, and community storytelling.
• KISW 99.9 FM: Audacy rock station hosting The Mens Room, charity drives, and local music spotlights.
• Sports Radio 93.3 KJR: iHeartMedia flagship delivering Seahawks, Kraken, and Huskies play-by-play with local talk shows.
• KNKX 88.5 FM: Public jazz and news station featuring NPR programming, Studio Sessions, and coastal climate reporting.
• El Rey 1360 AM: Spanish-language regional Mexican station covering community events, soccer, and local entrepreneurship.
• Hollow Earth Radio: Independent streaming collective elevating BIPOC artists, experimental audio, and hyperlocal journalism.
• Spirit 105.3 (KCMS): Inspirational station supporting nonprofit initiatives, family resources, and regional faith communities.
• Classical KING FM 98.1: Listener-supported classical outlet broadcasting Seattle Symphony, opera, and arts education programming.

Media Consumption Patterns & Audience Behavior

Tech and Sports

Households across Puget Sound split viewing between OTA signals, streaming bundles, and team apps, with Seahawks, Kraken, Mariners, and OL Reign delivering year-round engagement.

Sports fans follow live stats, podcasts, and Twitch streams that analyze trades, esports, and stadium upgrades alongside civic conversations about transportation and sustainability.

Digital Leadership

Nielsen data shows roughly 76% of households subscribing to paid streaming services, and tech-forward audiences expect interactive weather dashboards, AI-powered personalization, and multilingual captions.

Public media, ethnic outlets, and independent creators distribute explainers on housing policy, climate action, and workforce reskilling through newsletters, Discord communities, and mobile push alerts.

Market Metrics & Industry Statistics

Media Trust & Consumer Preferences

Tech-Forward Preferences

Edelman Trust Barometer data shows Seattle viewers lean on trusted meteorologists, data journalists, and public radio hosts for wildfire smoke, earthquake readiness, and civic accountability.

Community collaborations with KCTS 9, KUOW, and Seattle Channel produce multilingual explainers, hackathons, and digital literacy workshops that deepen audience trust.

Sports and Streaming

Seahawks, Kraken, and Sounders supporters fuel watch parties, podcasts, and interactive stats dashboards, while OL Reign and Storm coverage expands women's sports visibility.

Viewers explore independent films, gaming, and food culture via STG Presents streams, Crosscut documentaries, and YouTube creators who spotlight Pacific Northwest travel and innovation.

Sources

• https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/report/2024/dma-rankings/
• https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/article/2024/the-gauge-april-2024/
• https://www.king5.com/
• https://komonews.com/
• https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/
• https://www.fox13seattle.com/
• https://www.kcts9.org/about
• https://www.kuow.org/about-kuow
• https://www.geekwire.com/
• https://ratings.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/arb013