x
x
Tucson's media market reaches roughly 1.2 million residents across Pima, Cochise, and Santa Cruz counties, blending bilingual news, defense and aerospace reporting, and University of Arizona athletics coverage. Broadcasters balance desert climate and borderland issues with tourism, arts, and tribal community stories, while digital outlets extend reach through newsletters, podcasts, and streaming flashes during wildfire and monsoon seasons.
Gray Television's KOLD News 13 and Scripps' KGUN9 share resources with Telemundo Arizona and Univision Tucson to deliver bilingual weather briefings, consumer protection segments, and campus updates from the University of Arizona.
Pac-12 and Big 12 transitions elevate Wildcats football, basketball, and softball coverage across linear TV, streamcasts, and local sports podcasts, while student-run Arizona Public Media feeds community affairs programs to statewide PBS and NPR networks.
Military installations such as Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and Fort Huachuca power aerospace, cybersecurity, and veterans reporting, complemented by cross-border business analysis linked to Nogales trade routes.
Sun Corridor growth brings new housing, bioscience, and renewable energy beats, and tribal nations collaborate with independent publishers on water stewardship, cultural heritage, and tourism storytelling.
Bilingual households blend Noticias Telemundo Arizona, Univision 46, and KOLD newscasts, tracking immigration policy, education, and health services alongside English-language coverage.
University of Arizona football, basketball, and softball drive seasonal surges for Wildcats Live, Pac-12 Plus, and local radio pregame shows produced by ESPN Tucson and Arizona Public Media.
Nielsen estimates show about 59% of Tucson homes maintain at least one paid streaming subscription, with Roku and YouTube TV packages complementing antenna viewing in rural Pima County.
Legacy stations simulcast monsoon updates, Sonoran Desert travel features, and cross-border business specials on OTT apps, podcasts, and social media reels to reach cord-cutting and commuter audiences.
| Indicator | Latest Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| DMA population | approximately 1.2 million (2024) | Nielsen DMA Rankings |
| DMA market rank | Rank 62 (Nielsen 2024) | Nielsen DMA Rankings |
| Streaming penetration | approximately 59% of households with paid OTT services | Nielsen The Gauge, 2024 |
| Hispanic population share | about 48% of DMA residents | U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 |
| Local news share | roughly 34% of daily television viewing | Nielsen Local TV, 2024 |
Edelman Trust Barometer interviews highlight strong confidence in meteorologists, investigative teams, and bilingual anchors across KOLD, KGUN9, and Telemundo Arizona during wildfire, heat, and drought emergencies.
Community organizations partner with KUAZ, La Caliente, and KXEW to host health clinics, immigration forums, and small business workshops, reinforcing loyalty among Hispanic, tribal, and veteran populations.
Wildcats athletics, Tucson Roadrunners hockey, and El Tour de Tucson cycling receive multiplatform coverage across ESPN Tucson, Arizona Wildcats Live, and regional sports networks.
Viewers lean into desert cuisine, astronomy, and border arts programming from Arizona Illustrated, PBS Passport, and streaming travel vloggers, while telenovelas and Mexican regional music maintain prime-time draw.
