Inquiring minds are wanting to know whether Cumulus will keep DG/WestwoodOne’s NBC Sports Radio Network after it purchases the company. Cumulus already has CBS Sports Radio, so one has to wonder if combining them both into one offering would compete better in the marketplace with ESPN Radio.
Cumulus CEO Lew Dickey is totally devoted to the Amazon model. He says the combined entity will not be done through the cost-cutting model, but through building and controlling content. All that he has been quoted as saying so far, regarding NBC Sports Radio that it has yet to be determined. “DG has a relationship with NBC, and since we are not the owners yet, we can’t comment yet.”
The deal with NBC Sports Radio was done with Comcast, which owns NBC. Comcast spends a lot of money on national radio, so they are going to have a seat at the table. The sports network is very important to NBC as well.
The CBS Sports Radio deal with Cumulus is a long-term deal, so they are likely not going anywhere after the merger.
The answer may be one co-branded sports network that will combine the content and resources of both.
