For The First Time Ever The ENTIRE Season Of A Podcast Will Air As A Radio Broadcast Today’s Announcement Is The First Of Many To Come
West Hollywood, April 30, 2019 – CUMULUS MEDIA, parent company of Westwood One, the largest audio network in America, and Wondery, the largest independent podcast publisher in the country, have formed a strategic alliance to create new audiences and advertising opportunities for the podcast industry. The two influential audio companies will jointly develop innovative strategies designed to reach and engage the 49% of Americans 12+ that say they have never listened to a podcast and the 19% of people who are aware of podcasts but don’t listen.*

CUMULUS MEDIA|Westwood One and Wondery’s inaugural announcement is the release of Wondery’s entire first season of Sports Wars: Farve vs. Rodgers, that pits the two Green Bay Packer legendary QB’s against each other, as a monumental three-hour broadcast radio special airing May 4th and 5th. This special takes storytelling to the next level with the merging of podcasts and broadcast radio – it’s the first time an entire season of a podcast will be heard on the radio in its entirety. This all-star partnership targets podcast to people with Westwood One’s audience of sports enthusiasts, as the exclusive radio broadcast partner to iconic sports brands including the NFL, the NCAA, the Masters, and the Olympics. Westwood One is syndicating the program with market exclusivity and 39 Cumulus radio stations are already lined up to broadcast the special.

To drive awareness, the podcast and the radio broadcast special are being supported with joint publicity and social coverage, and CUMULUS MEDIA is marketing the Sports Wars podcast and radio broadcast special across its massive promotional platform
including Cumulus radio stations, streams, and online assets; Westwood One affiliated radio stations; and Podcast Network shows.

“Podcasting is a key growth initiative for us, and there is no better partner than the award-winning content creators at Wondery, to drive podcast discovery and revenue growth,” said Mary Berner, President and Chief Executive Officer of CUMULUS MEDIA. “Sports Wars is a great entry point for our partnership as it’s a high-quality, emotionally immersive program we know our passionate sports audience and advertisers will love.”

“Radio offers significant reach and opportunity for podcast, and CUMULUS MEDIA|Westwood One has the biggest reach in network radio. Westwood One continues to lead the podcast to broadcast wave and we are thrilled to introduce our immersive storytelling to a new audience for Wondery,” said Hernan Lopez, founder, and CEO of Wondery.

Sports Wars is the franchise expansion of Wondery’s highest downloaded show Business Wars. Sports Wars is the immersive storytelling experience around the biggest rivalries in sports history. While many know the beginning and end, CUMULUS MEDIA|Westwood One and Wondery are inviting listeners to get immersed in everything that happened in between in one complete listening experience.

Radio stations interested in carrying the special should contact Rich Burg at 212.824.2994 or rburg@westwoodone.com.

*Source: Edison Research 2019 Podcast Consumer Report

About CUMULUS MEDIA
A leader in the radio broadcasting industry, CUMULUS MEDIA (NASDAQ: CMLS) combines high-quality local programming with iconic, nationally syndicated media, sports and entertainment brands to deliver premium content choices to the more than 250 million people reached each month through its 432 owned-and-operated stations broadcasting in 88 U.S. media markets (including eight of the top 10), approximately 8,000 broadcast radio stations affiliated with its Westwood One network and numerous digital channels. Together, the Cumulus Radio Station Group and Westwood One platforms make CUMULUS MEDIA one of the few media companies that can provide advertisers with national reach and local impact. The Cumulus Radio Station Group and Westwood One are the exclusive radio broadcast partners to some of the largest brands in sports, entertainment, news, and talk, including the NFL, the NCAA, the Masters, the Olympics, the GRAMMYs, the Academy of Country Music Awards, the American Music Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, and more. Additionally, it is the nation’s leading provider of country music and lifestyle content through its NASH brand, which serves country fans nationwide through radio programming, exclusive digital content, and live events. For more information, visit www.cumulusmedia.com.

About Wondery
Wondery is a network of storytellers and the largest independent podcast publisher, with hit programs such as “Dirty John”, “Business Wars”, “Over My Dead Body,” and “Dr. Death.” Wondery’s mission is to bring a world of entertainment and knowledge to our audiences, wherever they listen. We provide our listeners with high-quality, emotionally immersive podcasts that allow them to feel the story. Discover more at https://wondery.com.

PR contact: RLM PR, Richard Laermer; richard@RLMpr.com; 212-741-5106 X 216.