Westwood One to Broadcast NFL Championship Sunday, Presented by Intuit TurboTax
Rhea-AI Summary
Cumulus Media's Westwood One (NYSE:CMLS) will present live play-by-play coverage of NFL Championship Sunday on January 25, 2026, presented by Intuit TurboTax.
Coverage begins with the AFC Championship New England Patriots at Denver Broncos at 2:00 PM ET and continues with the NFC Championship Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks at 6:30 PM ET. Westwood One marks its 39th consecutive year as the NFL's official audio partner, with Scott Graham hosting pre-, half- and post-game coverage for the 17th consecutive season. Broadcasts air on ~500 radio stations, westwoodonesports.com, the Westwood One Sports App, SiriusXM, NFL+, and the NFL App.
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News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, CMLS gained 1.66%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
CMLS fell 5.77% while peers were mixed: FHLD down 9.28%, SALM up 1.9%, and others flat. With no peers in momentum scanners and no same-day peer news, the move appears stock-specific rather than a broad broadcasting-sector rotation.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 15 | Board appointment | Positive | -17.0% | New independent director appointed, replacing long-serving board member. |
| Jan 12 | NFL partnership | Positive | -11.8% | Westwood One and Barbasol celebrate 20-year NFL sponsorship relationship. |
| Jan 12 | Content relaunch | Positive | -11.8% | Relaunch of The Dan Bongino Show on Cumulus podcast network. |
| Jan 09 | NFL broadcast rights | Positive | +17.5% | Announcement of NFL Wild Card Weekend broadcasts across Westwood One platforms. |
| Dec 18 | Programming lineup | Positive | -17.0% | Unveiling of new Westwood One Sports Talk lineup starting December 29, 2025. |
Recent CMLS news on partnerships, programming, and governance often coincided with negative next-day moves, with only one positive reaction tied to earlier NFL Wild Card broadcast coverage.
Over the past months, Cumulus Media has focused on strengthening Westwood One’s sports and talk portfolio and adjusting its board composition. NFL-related coverage, including Wild Card Weekend broadcasts, previously coincided with a 17.48% gain, while other positive-sounding items such as a new sports talk lineup, a long-running Barbasol NFL partnership, and the Dan Bongino show relaunch saw double-digit declines. The latest NFL Championship Sunday coverage extends Westwood One’s 39-year NFL relationship, fitting into this ongoing strategy of leveraging marquee sports rights despite mixed historical price reactions.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights Westwood One’s continued role as the NFL’s official audio partner, extending a 39-year streak by broadcasting both conference championships and all postseason games across roughly 500 outlets and apps. It builds on prior NFL Wild Card coverage and sponsorships but comes against a backdrop of softer Q3 fundamentals, including a $20.4M net loss and $65.6M year-to-date loss. Investors may watch how these premium rights translate into revenue and EBITDA over time.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cumulus Media’s Westwood One, one of America’s largest audio networks and the official audio partner of the National Football League, will present live play-by-play coverage of NFL Championship Sunday, presented by Intuit TurboTax, on January 25.
In the first of two highly anticipated championship showdowns, the New England Patriots battle the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship at Empower Field at Mile High. The stakes couldn’t be higher, with the winner claiming the coveted Lamar Hunt Trophy. Westwood One’s live coverage begins at 2:00 PM ET.
The excitement continues Sunday evening as the Los Angeles Rams face the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship at Lumen Field in Seattle. The victor will hoist the prestigious George Halas Trophy, and Westwood One brings you every moment of the action with live coverage starting at 6:30 PM ET.
This season marks Westwood One’s 39th consecutive year as the official audio partner of the NFL.
The complete broadcast schedule follows:
AFC Championship at 2:00 pm ET
New England Patriots @ Denver Broncos
Broadcast Announcers: Ryan Radtke & Mike Golic
Sideline Reporter: Laura Okmin
NFC Championship at 6:30 pm ET
Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks
Broadcast Announcers: Kevin Harlan & Kurt Warner
Sideline Reporter: Ross Tucker
For the 17th consecutive season, Scott Graham will host Westwood One’s pre-, half-, and post-game coverage for NFL Championship Sunday.
Westwood One will broadcast every NFL postseason game, from Wild Card Weekend through Super Bowl LX, on approximately 500 radio stations nationwide as well as on westwoodonesports.com, the Westwood One Sports App, SiriusXM, NFL+, and via the NFL App.
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 network radio partner to 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 395 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.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6e377dd5-843b-47ab-8cc0-f0d85df6ebe5
FAQ
When will Westwood One (CMLS) broadcast the AFC Championship game on January 25, 2026?
What time does Westwood One (CMLS) air the NFC Championship on January 25, 2026?
Which announcers will call the AFC and NFC Championship games on Westwood One (CMLS)?
How long has Westwood One been the official audio partner of the NFL (CMLS)?
Where can listeners access Westwood One's NFL Championship Sunday broadcasts besides radio?
Who will host Westwood One's pre-, half- and post-game coverage for NFL Championship Sunday (CMLS)?
