98.5 The Sports Hub

What 98.5 The Sports Hub does

98.5 The Sports Hub (legally WBZ-FM, operated by Beasley Media Group, LLC) is a Boston-based commercial sports talk radio station founded in 2009, broadcasting on the 98.5 FM frequency across the Boston metropolitan area and broader New England region under an FCC license. The station delivers live sports coverage, analysis, and commentary across five Boston/New England professional franchises: the New England Patriots (NFL), Boston Celtics (NBA), Boston Bruins (NHL), Boston Red Sox (MLB), and New England Revolution (MLS); it serves as the flagship station of the Boston Bruins Radio Network. Distribution is multi-channel: over-the-air FM at 98.5, live streaming via 985thesportshub.com, native iOS and Android applications, on-demand podcasts (notably 'Sports Hub Underground'), and an email newsletter subscription product at 985thesportshub.com/newsletter.

The product portfolio centers on live audio broadcasting with companion digital content, including written news articles, columns, and multimedia housed on the station's website. The station produces no independently published technology beyond conventional broadcast and digital audio distribution; no APIs, SDKs, or AI/ML capabilities are disclosed in the operating data. Editorial coverage is delivered by a small named team of writers and on-air hosts, with personnel such as Matt Dolloff (with the station since 2010), Ty Anderson (joined 2018), Jake Seymour, and Alex Barth.

The business model is media-advertising-based: listeners access content free of charge across all distribution channels, and the station monetizes its audience reach through the sale of advertising airtime and sponsorships to local and national advertisers targeting the Boston sports demographic. An 'Advertise with Us' sales motion is operated, alongside brand-sponsorship partnerships exemplified by the Wellpoint 'Hometown Heroes' program (announced 2026-02-24). The station is wholly owned by Beasley Media Group, LLC, a privately held radio broadcasting operator, which provides corporate and operational back-office support; the station itself is not publicly traded, has not disclosed station-level revenue, and operates within the regulated U.S. terrestrial radio industry via its FCC license.

Name

98.5 The Sports Hub

Legal name

Beasley Media Group, LLC

Website

https://985thesportshub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

98.5 The Sports Hub is a Boston-area commercial sports talk radio station (WBZ-FM) owned by Beasley Media Group, delivering live coverage of Boston's major professional teams (Patriots, Celtics, Bruins, Red Sox, Revolution) to listeners across FM, web, mobile, and podcast channels, monetized via advertising.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Radio Broadcasting

NAICS

Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611), Radio Broadcasting Stations (516110)

SIC

Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Radio Networks & Talk Stations (MPABAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication (MPAIAEAG), Internet Radio & Streaming Broadcast Stations (Simulcast/Online-only) (MPAIAEAE), Network-Affiliated Local Radio Stations (News/Talk/Sports Syndication Affiliates) (MPABACAF)

Keywords

• Sports radio broadcasting
• Live sports coverage
• Sports talk radio
• Audio streaming platform
• Sports news content

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Advertising Sales: The station generates revenue by selling advertising airtime to businesses seeking to reach the Boston sports audience demographic. The website features an 'Advertise with Us' link indicating active advertising sales operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

98.5 The Sports Hub (WBZ-FM) is a Boston-based commercial sports talk radio station that delivers live sports coverage, news, analysis, and commentary focused on Boston's professional teams (Patriots, Celtics, Bruins, Red Sox, and Revolution). Its offerings are distributed via over-the-air FM broadcast at 98.5 MHz, live audio streaming on its website and mobile applications, on-demand podcasts, and an email newsletter.

Product overview

98.5 The Sports Hub (WBZ-FM) is a Boston-based sports talk radio station operated by Beasley Media Group. The station operates as a single unified broadcast product with associated digital platforms including a live streaming service, mobile applications for iOS and Android, the Sports Hub Underground podcast, and an email newsletter. The station covers five professional Boston teams: the New England Patriots (NFL), Boston Celtics (NBA), Boston Bruins (NHL), Boston Red Sox (MLB), and New England Revolution (MLS). The station also conducts community outreach through its Hometown Heroes program in partnership with Wellpoint. The product portfolio centers on live sports radio broadcasting with companion digital content distribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sports Hub Underground: A podcast covering Boston Bruins hockey, hosted by Matt Dolloff and Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub.
• WBZ

Products and services

• 98.5 The Sports Hub (WBZ-FM) Radio Broadcast Live sports talk radio broadcast at 98.5 FM (WBZ-FM) delivering coverage, analysis, and commentary on Boston professional sports teams (Patriots, Celtics, Bruins, Red Sox, Revolution) to Boston/New England listeners.
• Live Audio Streaming Real-time audio stream of the WBZ-FM radio broadcast available through the station's website, allowing listeners outside FM coverage to access content online.
• 98.5 The Sports Hub Mobile Application Native mobile applications for iOS and Android that enable users to listen to live WBZ-FM streams and access station content on mobile devices.
• Sports Hub Underground Podcast On-demand podcast covering Boston Bruins hockey and other New England sports topics, hosted by station personalities Matt Dolloff and Ty Anderson.
• Sports Hub Email Newsletter Email newsletter subscription delivering Boston sports news, analysis, local events, and exclusive contests to subscribers.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• WellpointminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 24 February 2026Wellpoint and 98.5 The Sports Hub Bruins Radio Network partnered for the second annual 'Hometown Heroes' program in Massachusetts. The program invites the public to nominate first responders, educators, and public workers who go above and beyond in their communities. Selected honorees receive tickets to Boston Bruins games and recognition at home games and their workplaces.
• Beasley Media GroupcoreOthers98.5 The Sports Hub (WBZ-FM) is owned and operated by Beasley Media Group, LLC, a radio broadcasting company.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Barstool Sports / Penn Entertainment: Barstool Sports is a digital sports and pop culture media company with strong Boston ties (founded in Milton, MA) and significant Boston sports coverage via podcasts, video, and social. It competes for the same younger sports fan audience.
• The Athletic (New York Times Company): The Athletic is a subscription-based digital sports media company with deep local coverage of Boston sports teams (including the Bruins and Celtics). It competes for the same engaged Boston sports audience and advertiser attention, but via on-demand written/podcast content rather than live radio.
• Bleacher Report (Turner Sports/Warner Bros. Discovery): Bleacher Report is a digital-first sports media company targeting younger sports fans via social, video, and app-based content. It competes for share-of-attention and advertiser spend that historically went to sports radio.

Regional players

• NBC Sports Boston: NBC Sports Boston is the regional sports network holding broadcast rights for the Boston Celtics, Bruins, and other teams. It competes with 98.5 The Sports Hub for Boston sports media ad dollars and audience share, but via TV/digital rather than radio.

Direct peers

• WFAN (Audacy): WFAN is the New York market's leading sports talk radio station, the direct analogue to 98.5 The Sports Hub in another top-tier U.S. sports market. Comparable format, audience demographic, and ad-sales-driven business model.
• WEEI (Entercom/Audacy): WEEI is Boston's other flagship sports talk radio station, owned by Audacy. It competes head-to-head with 98.5 The Sports Hub for Boston sports fans and advertisers, holding rights to the Boston Red Sox and Celtics broadcasts.

Broad incumbents

• SiriusXM: SiriusXM is a satellite radio subscription service carrying multiple dedicated sports channels and major sports rights (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL). It competes with terrestrial sports radio for in-car and mobile sports listening time.
• Audacy (formerly Entercom/CBS Radio): Audacy is one of the largest U.S. radio operators and the parent of WEEI — 98.5 The Sports Hub's direct in-market competitor. Comparable multi-station operating model and audience monetization approach.
• iHeartMedia: iHeartMedia is the largest U.S. radio broadcaster, operating hundreds of stations including sports formats in major markets. It is a direct corporate peer to parent Beasley Media Group in the multi-station sports-radio operating business.
• ESPN Radio: ESPN Radio is the national sports talk radio network and a division of ESPN/Disney. It competes broadly for sports talk listenership and is carried on many affiliate stations including in Boston; its scale and rights portfolio make it a strategic incumbent benchmark.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/985TheSportsHub
• Facebookfacebook.com/985thesportshub
• Instagraminstagram.com/985thesportshub

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 98.5 The Sports Hub