Cumulus Media’s Westwood One Presents Audio Coverage of 2026 College Basketball Conference Championship Week
Rhea-AI Summary
Cumulus Media (OTCQB: CMLS) Westwood One will air 19 NCAA men’s and women’s conference championship games from March 7–15, 2026, and will also broadcast Selection Sunday on March 15 at 6:00 PM ET. Coverage includes major conferences such as the Big East, SEC, Ivy League, CAA, and WCC.
Selection Sunday coverage is hosted by Jason Horowitz with analysts PJ Carlesimo and Debbie Antonelli. Games air on terrestrial radio, SiriusXM, online at westwoodonesports.com, and via the Westwood One Sports app.
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Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
CMLS rose 22.89% while key peers like FHLD fell 9.28% and others (SBSAA, TLDE, PSRU, SALM) were flat, suggesting a stock-specific move rather than a sector-wide shift.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 17 | New vodcast launch | Positive | -9.0% | Launch of Mark Levin digital vodcast series across major video platforms. |
| Feb 7 | Super Bowl update | Positive | +2.8% | Updated details on Super Bowl LX game-day coverage and talent lineup. |
| Feb 5 | Super Bowl coverage | Positive | +10.1% | Announcement of national radio coverage for Super Bowl LX with broad distribution. |
| Jan 22 | NFL championships | Positive | +1.7% | Coverage of NFL Championship Sunday across hundreds of stations and platforms. |
| Jan 21 | AI partnership | Positive | -5.8% | Partnership with Eon Media to build AI-driven audio and data platforms. |
Recent content and rights announcements often saw small positive or negative moves, with several instances of negative reactions to seemingly positive news.
Over the past few months, Cumulus Media has highlighted multiple Westwood One programming and digital initiatives. On Jan 21, a joint AI partnership with Eon Media was followed by a -5.77% move. NFL Championship Sunday coverage on Jan 22 and Super Bowl LX coverage updates on Feb 5 and Feb 7 coincided with modest gains of 1.66%, 10.1%, and 2.83%. A new Mark Levin vodcast announced on Feb 17 saw a -8.99% reaction. Today’s college basketball coverage news continues this focus on sports and content rights.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights expanded Westwood One coverage with 19 men’s and women’s college basketball conference championship games from March 7–15, 2026, plus Selection Sunday for the 68-team fields. It fits a broader strategy of leveraging marquee sports audio rights and broad distribution across radio, SiriusXM, and streaming. In context of Cumulus’s recent sports and digital initiatives, investors may watch how such programming supports audience reach, advertising demand, and overall financial performance over time.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Coverage Includes 19 Games between Saturday, March 7th and Sunday, March 15th, 2026
NEW YORK, March 04, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cumulus Media’s (OTCQB: CMLS) Westwood One, America’s largest audio network, will present a total of 19 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball games from Conference Championship Week.
Westwood One’s postseason basketball coverage tips off on Saturday, March 7th with the Ohio Valley Conference Championship game, and continues through Sunday, March 15th when the SEC, the Ivy League and the American Championship games will be played.
Among the other Men’s Championship games that week are the Patriot League, the CAA, the Big East, the Summit League, and the West Coast Conference. The Women’s Conference Championship games include the Big East and the Ivy League.
Westwood One will also broadcast Selection Sunday, which will reveal the 68-team field for both the men’s and the women’s tournaments. Jason Horowitz will host Selection Sunday coverage with former Seton Hall head coach PJ Carlesimo and Women’s Basketball Hall-of-Famer Debbie Antonelli as analysts.
| WESTWOOD ONE’S COMPLETE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE | ||
| Saturday, March 7: | Ohio Valley Conference Men’s Championship 8:45 PM ET | |
| Sunday, March 8: | Big South Conference Men’s Championship 11:45 AM ET | |
| Summit League Men’s Championship 8:45 PM ET | ||
| Monday, March 9: | Southern Conference Men’s Championship 6:45 PM ET | |
| Big East Women’s Championship 6:45 PM ET | ||
| Tuesday, March 10: | CAA Men’s Championship 6:45 PM ET | |
| West Coast Conference Men’s Championship 8:45 PM ET | ||
| Wednesday, March 11: | Patriot League Men’s Championship 6:45 PM ET | |
| Friday, March 13: | Big East Semifinal Men’s Doubleheader 6:15 PM ET | |
| Saturday, March 14: | America East Men’s Championship 10:45 AM ET | |
| SEC Semifinal Men’s Doubleheader 12:45 PM ET | ||
| Ivy League Women’s Championship 4:45 PM ET | ||
| Big East Conference Men’s Championship 6:15 PM ET | ||
| Conference USA Men’s Championship 8:15 PM ET | ||
| Sunday, March 15: | Ivy League Men’s Championship 11:45 AM ET | |
| SEC Men’s Championship 12:45 PM ET | ||
| American Conference Men’s Championship 3:00 PM ET | ||
| Selection Sunday 6:00 PM ET | ||
Where to Listen
Westwood One’s complete NCAA College Basketball Conference Championship Week coverage can be heard on terrestrial radio stations nationwide and via SiriusXM. Men’s and Women’s games will also be streamed online for free on westwoodonesports.com and on the Westwood One Sports app available in the iTunes and Google Play stores.
About Westwood One Sports
Westwood One Sports is home to some of the most exciting sports broadcasts on radio. In addition to being the exclusive national audio broadcaster of the NFL since 1987 – featuring regular and post-season NFL football, including the playoffs and the Super Bowl – its other extensive properties include NCAA Basketball, including the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Tournaments and the Final Four®; NCAA Football; The Masters; US Soccer; and other marquee sporting events. On social media, join the Westwood One Sports community on Facebook at facebook.com/westwoodonesports, Instagram at instagram.com/westwoodonesports, and X at x.com/westwood1sports. For more information, visit www.westwoodonesports.com.
About Cumulus Media
Cumulus Media (OTCQB: CMLS) is an audio-first media company delivering premium content to a quarter billion people every month — wherever and whenever they want it. Cumulus Media engages listeners with high-quality local programming through 394 owned-and-operated radio stations across 84 markets; delivers nationally-syndicated sports, news, talk, and entertainment programming from iconic brands including the NFL, the NCAA, the Masters, US Soccer, AP News, and the Academy of Country Music Awards, across more than 7,800 affiliated stations through Westwood One, a leading national audio network; and inspires listeners through the Cumulus Podcast Network, an established and influential platform for original podcasts that are smart, entertaining, and thought-provoking. Cumulus Media provides advertisers with personal connections, local impact and national reach through broadcast and on-demand digital, mobile, social, and voice-activated platforms, as well as integrated digital marketing services, powerful influencers, full-service audio solutions, industry-leading research and insights, and live event experiences. For more information visit www.cumulusmedia.com.
Contact: Lisa Dollinger, Dollinger Strategic Communication, for Cumulus Media | Westwood One, lisa@dollcomm.com, and 512.633.4084.
FAQ
What games will Westwood One broadcast during Conference Championship Week for CMLS in March 2026?
When is Westwood One’s Selection Sunday broadcast for Cumulus Media (CMLS)?
How can listeners access Cumulus Media Westwood One conference championship coverage?
Which announcers will lead Westwood One’s Selection Sunday coverage for CMLS?
What is the schedule start and end dates for Westwood One’s 2026 conference championship broadcasts (CMLS)?
