The Team 980
The Team 980 (WTEM-AM) is a Washington, DC sports talk radio station owned by Audacy, Inc., serving local fans of the Commanders, Capitals, Nationals, Wizards, and Mystics with live radio, podcasts, video, and smart-speaker streaming, monetized through advertising.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersRockville, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Team 980 does
The Team 980 (call sign WTEM-AM) is a Washington, DC–area sports talk radio station founded in 2008 and operated as a brand under Audacy, Inc. (NYSE: AUD), a major US broadcasting company headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The station produces original sports talk programming covering the Washington DC market's professional franchises — the Washington Commanders (NFL), Washington Capitals (NHL), Washington Nationals (MLB), Washington Wizards (NBA), and Washington Mystics (WNBA) — alongside national sports news. Its flagship on-air properties include The Sports Junkies, The Kevin Sheehan Show, the Chris Russell Show, and Burgundy & Gold Today (a Commanders-focused program).
The station distributes content across a multi-channel footprint rather than a single AM broadcast: traditional 980 AM radio in the DC metro, live streaming via the Audacy website and mobile app, voice-activated listening through smart speakers, live video on Twitch, archived video on YouTube, and on-demand podcast episodes through Audacy's podcast network and third-party podcast platforms. The underlying technology is Audacy's streaming platform, which provides the mobile, web, and smart-speaker delivery layer; the station itself contributes content production, on-air talent, and show-format IP. Marketing and audience development are handled through the Audacy content site, social media (hashtag #theteam980), and an email newsletter ("Sign Up for the Club").
The revenue model is advertising-based. Listener access across every channel is free; monetization comes from ad placements sold via Audacy's corporate ad-sales infrastructure (with an "Advertise with Us" page directing businesses to Audacy's sales team). Pricing for ad inventory is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The station does not have standalone financials, management disclosures, or funding history — it operates as a division-level brand within Audacy's sports radio portfolio rather than as an independently financed company. Geographic reach is concentrated in the Washington DC metropolitan area, although digital distribution channels are globally accessible.
The Team 980 firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Team 980
- Legal name
- Audacy, Inc.
- Website
- https://theteam980.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- The Team 980 (WTEM-AM) is a Washington, DC sports talk radio station owned by Audacy, Inc., serving local fans of the Commanders, Capitals, Nationals, Wizards, and Mystics with live radio, podcasts, video, and smart-speaker streaming, monetized through advertising.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Team 980 industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sports Radio Broadcasting
- NAICS
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)
- SIC
- Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sports Radio Networks & Talk Stations (MPABAJAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Sports Radio Networks (MPABABAE), Talk/News/Sports Radio Networks & Syndication (MPAIAEAG)
Keywords
Where The Team 980 is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rockville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Team 980 business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Advertising Revenue: The station generates revenue through advertising sales, with a dedicated 'Advertise with Us' page on Audacy's corporate site directing businesses to purchase ad placements
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Others | Free Listener Access |
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Team 980 product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Team 980 (WTEM-AM) is a 24/7 sports talk radio station serving the Washington DC market, producing original daily programming focused on the city's professional sports franchises (Commanders, Capitals, Nationals, Wizards, Mystics, and DC United). Its content lineup includes flagship shows such as The Sports Junkies, The Kevin Sheehan Show, Burgundy & Gold Today, and the Chris Russell Show, delivered over AM radio and streamed digitally through the Audacy app, website, smart speakers, Twitch, YouTube, and podcast feeds.
Product overview
The Team 980 is a Washington, DC sports talk radio station operated by Audacy. The station offers a unified platform combining live AM radio broadcast with multiple podcast shows including The Sports Junkies, The Kevin Sheehan Show, Chris Russell Show, and Burgundy & Gold Today. Content focuses on Washington DC professional sports teams (Capitals, Nationals, Wizards, Washington Commanders, Mystics) as well as national sports news. The station distributes content across multiple channels including live radio, podcasts, and live video streaming on Twitch and YouTube.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Sports Junkies
- The Kevin Sheehan Show
- Chris Russell Show
- Burgundy & Gold Today
- Team 980 Live Video Streaming
- Team 980 Podcast Network
Companies that use The Team 980
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Team 980 technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Team 980 partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- AudacycoreThe Team 980 (WTEM-AM) is owned and operated by Audacy, a major American broadcasting company. The station operates as part of Audacy's sports radio network, utilizing Audacy's streaming technology, mobile app platform, and corporate advertising sales infrastructure.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
The Team 980 competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- WFAN 660 AM/101.9 FM (New York): Long-running Audacy sports talk radio station serving the New York metro. Directly comparable business model, distribution mix, and advertiser base as a major-market Audacy sports property.
- 670 The Score (Chicago): Audacy sports talk station in Chicago covering Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, and Blackhawks. Equivalent multi-team coverage of a major-market sports radio audience.
- The Fan DC (WFLS-FM): Audacy-owned sports talk station also serving Washington DC. Direct competitor for local DC sports audience, sports advertising dollars, and Audacy corporate resources.
- WEEI (Boston): Audacy-owned sports talk station serving Boston sports fans (Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics, Bruins). Closely comparable operating model and host-driven content strategy.
- 95.7 The Game (San Francisco): Audacy-owned sports talk station covering Bay Area professional teams. Comparable major-market, multi-team sports talk radio operating model.
- SportsRadio 94 WIP (Philadelphia): Flagship Audacy sports talk station covering Philadelphia professional teams. Same parent company, similar multi-team coverage model, podcast distribution, and digital strategy.
- 105.3 The Fan (Dallas): Audacy sports talk station serving the Dallas-Fort Worth market. Same parent, comparable programming format, podcast distribution, and digital/AM-FM distribution mix.
Broad incumbents
- Fox Sports Radio: National sports talk radio network distributed via iHeartMedia. Competes for syndicated sports talk audiences and major-market sports radio advertising budgets.
- ESPN Radio: National sports talk radio network owned by ESPN/Disney. Competes for sports talk advertising and audience share, especially via nationally syndicated content and digital simulcasts.
Emerging players
- The Athletic (Sports Podcast Network): Sports podcast content ecosystem competing for the same on-demand sports audience. Represents the broader digital sports media competitive set that The Team 980's podcasts compete against for listener time and ad dollars.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
The Team 980 social profiles
Digital presenceThe Team 980 financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Team 980 leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Team 980 funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Team 980 M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Team 980
What does The Team 980 do?
The Team 980 (WTEM-AM) is a 24/7 sports talk radio station serving the Washington DC market, producing original daily programming focused on the city's professional sports franchises (Commanders, Capitals, Nationals, Wizards, Mystics, and DC United). Its content lineup includes flagship shows such as The Sports Junkies, The Kevin Sheehan Show, Burgundy & Gold Today, and the Chris Russell Show, delivered over AM radio and streamed digitally through the Audacy app, website, smart speakers, Twitch, YouTube, and podcast feeds.
Is The Team 980 a public or private company?
The Team 980 is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was The Team 980 founded?
The Team 980 was founded in 2008.
Where is The Team 980 based?
The Team 980 is headquartered in Rockville, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Team 980 make money?
One revenue line is on record: advertising Revenue.
Who are The Team 980's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are WFAN 660 AM/101.9 FM (New York), 670 The Score (Chicago), The Fan DC (WFLS-FM), WEEI (Boston), 95.7 The Game (San Francisco), SportsRadio 94 WIP (Philadelphia) and 105.3 The Fan (Dallas). Broad incumbents are Fox Sports Radio and ESPN Radio. The Athletic (Sports Podcast Network) is listed as an emerging player.
Does The Team 980 have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Team 980.
What industry is The Team 980 in?
The Team 980's product category is Sports Radio Broadcasting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPABAJAB, Sports Radio Networks & Talk Stations, with a secondary code of MPABABAE, Sports Radio Networks. Its NAICS code is 51611 and its SIC code is 4832.