The landscape of sports media is ever-changing. Local newspapers, radio stations, and television broadcasts were once the primary outlets for fans’ sports needs. The ubiquitous internet and growing number of niche television channels have created an almost infinitesimal number of places readers can look to for sports news, analysis and rumor. But, while a fan can live in Albuquerque and keep up-to-date on his Red Sox, major metropolitan cities still draw the top sports media companies and the writers and broadcasters who produce their content. You don’t have to move away from Idaho, Mississippi, or other sparsely populated locales to become a sports media contributor, but these major media markets and the companies that call them home should be on your radar as your career grows.

New York City, New York
The Greater New York area is the Hollywood of sports media. It’s the city that headquarters major sports media companies, several popular sports talkers, and three of the top ten most-read newspapers in America. The northeast leads the US sports media universe with cities like Boston, Washington, D.C., and Philly revolving around New York as its Sun.

Sports Illustrated
NBC Sports
CBS Sports
MLB Network (Secaucus, New Jersey)
New York Times
Daily News
New York Post
MSG (TV)
YES Network (TV)
Comcast SportsNet New York (TV)
ESPN Radio (WEPN)
CBS Radio (WFAN)

Los Angeles, California
Once reserved for movie, television, and commercial filming, LA is growing into the next big sports media hub. With the fourth most popular newspaper in the country and the top league-owned TV broadcasting company calling it home, Southern California has anchored itself as a viable location for sports media organizations. Los Angeles also boasts a handful of sports radio stations, including multiple Spanish languages broadcasters tapping into a large Hispanic market that no other part of the country can match.

Fox Sports
NFL Network
LA Times
Fox Sports West (TV)
Xtra Sports (KXTA)
The Ticket (KMPC)
Fox Sports Radio (KAVL)
ESPN Radio (KSPN)

Bristol, Connecticut
Four letters make Bristol a landing spot for those who cover sports. E-S-P-N. Without the presence of this sports media giant, this city would be just another suburb of the state’s capital, Hartford. But ESPN sits atop the mountain of those covering sports and is one of few media companies that not only report the news, it creates the news. And its location – two hours from New York City and two hours from Boston – makes it well-centered amongst the northeast sport’s elite.

Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN)

Chicago, Illinois
The Windy City boasts two of the top ten newspapers in circulation, along with two top-tier sports radio stations. Though void of a national sports media company, Chicago remains in the top trio of American media markets due to its large viewership base and numerous professional sports teams.

Chicago Tribune
Chicago Sun Times
The Score (WSCR)
ESPN Radio (WMVP)
Comcast SportsNet Chicago (TV)

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philly’s top-five population ranking and sports-crazed fan base make it a media market worth gravitating to. Because it’s the second largest east coast city, its newspaper, regional sports television network, and sports radio stations draw heavy readership, viewership, and listenership.

Philadelphia Inquirer
Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia (TV)
The Fanatic (WPEN)
Sports Radio 94 (WIP)

Boston, Massachusetts
The city of Boston doesn’t even rank in the top twenty of the largest US cities, but it’s certainly top ten among sports media towns. It’s one of the last few cities that can support multiple major newspapers, and its professional sports teams – the Bruins, Celtics, Red Sox, and Patriots – all have won championships in the last decade.

Boston Globe
Boston Herald
Comcast SportsNet New England (TV)
The Sports Hub (WBZ)
ESPN Radio (WEEI)

Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
The state of Texas does everything big, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area is no exception. It is one of few cities that can support more than two sports radio stations. The Dallas Morning News falls just outside the top ten in daily newspaper circulation, and its population is also top ten in the nation.

The Dallas Morning News
Fox Sports Southwest
ESPN Radio (KESPN)
The Fan (KRLD)
The Ticket (KTCK)

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, California
This tri-city metropolis in Northern California draws major sports media coverage due to the number of professional sports teams in its vicinity. Along with the presence of nationally recognized Yahoo! Sports, its local papers, sports talkers, and regional sports network creates an active sports media region.

Yahoo! Sports
San Francisco Chronicle
San Jose Mercury News
Comcast SportsNet Bay Area (TV)
The Game (KGMZ)
ESPN Radio (KNBR)

Washington, D.C.
The nation’s capital plays host to USA Today, the second most-read newspaper in the country, in addition to the well-respected Washington Post, which also top ten in readership. The district’s sports fan base continues to grow, as does its sports media coverage.

USA Today (Tysons Corner, Virginia)
Washington Post
Comcast SportsNet Washington, DC (TV)
The Fan (WJFK)
ESPN Radio (WTEM)

Stamford, Connecticut

Similar to what Bristol accomplished years ago with ESPN, the city of Stamford lured a major sports media player into its city in 2011. The NBC Sports Group, which breaks down into a variety of smaller divisions, set up shop their 2011, creating yet another northeast sports media city.

NBC Sports
NBC Olympics
NBC Sports Digital
Versus
Comcast Sports Management Group

Houston, Texas
There are over 2 million people living in Houston, ranking it fourth largest in the country. It boasts four sports radio stations in addition to its regional sports TV network and the top fifteen-ranked newspaper. The professional sports teams in Houston keep the media busy enough, but major area universities make it a true hub of sports media coverage.