UMass Sports Adds WXKS-AM/Boston for Coverage

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, August 28, 2014

The University of Massachusetts Department of Athletics, in conjunction with multimedia rights holder UMass Sports Properties and Learfield Sports, announced a three-year radio deal with Clear Channel News/Talk WXKS-AM (Bloomberg Radio 1200)/Boston. Beginning with the 2014-15 athletic season, the station will air all UMass football games that do not conflict with previously-scheduled Bloomberg programming and every men's basketball contest in the Boston-metro footprint over WXKS's 50kw signal.

"We are very excited to bring Bloomberg Radio on board as one of our radio partners for football and basketball," said UMass Director of Athletics John McCutcheon. "The partnership gives us a great home in the Boston media market and really gives those program fantastic exposure in Eastern Massachusetts. When looking at the package and a multi-year agreement, we feel very strongly that this relationship will help us reach our fans and alumni in the Eastern half of the Commonwealth."

The new deal expands the UMass Sports Network to four stations across the state, including flagship WEEI-FM, WVEI-AM/Worcester and WATD-FM/South Shore. Bloomberg will join the UMass Sports Network beginning with this Saturday's football opener against in-state rival Boston College.

"Bloomberg Radio Boston is the perfect complement to an already thriving UMass Sports Network," said Learfield Sports Regional General Manager Pam Batalis. "When you combine the positive momentum building around UMass football with the national attention achieved by our men's basketball program, the timing was right to deliver these two teams to our significant fan base in the metro-Boston area," said Batalis.

The "Voice of the Minutemen," Josh Maurer, returns for his seventh season handling play-by-play duties for both football and men's basketball across the UMass Sports Network. Maurer will once again be joined by a trio of UMass graduates on football broadcasts in Matt Goldstein (analyst), Cody Chrusciel (sideline reporter), and Adam Frenier (program host). The pregame show begins 20 minutes prior to kickoff for all football games.