The NBA Oklahoma City Thunder and Cumulus Media have signed a multiyear agreement that allows WWLS-FM 98.1 (The Sports Animal) to continue as the team’s flagship.
They’ve been with the station since the Seattle Sonics relocated to Oklahoma City in the 2008-2009 season. All Thunder games will simulcast on The Sports Animal’s sister station KWPN-AM 640, in addition to a dozen other stations across the state and region on the Thunder Radio Network. Matt Pinto will return for his sixth season as the radio play-by-play voice. He’ll also host a weekly Thunder-themed call-in show
“We are proud and excited to continue our strong relationship with Cumulus and The Sports Animal,” said Dan Mahoney, Thunder vice president of corporate communications and community relations, in a news release. “They are the leaders in sports radio in Oklahoma, with passion and excitement for Thunder basketball.”
Added Cumulus Media Market Manager Larry Bastida: “When Cumulus Media acquired these stations back in 2011, our then-pre-existing Thunder alliance was one of the first things the company identified as most exciting. Consequently, the extension of our Thunder relationship was enthusiastically supported, especially when considering the partnership’s significant impacts on both listenership and advertising revenues, not to mention the thrill provided to our employees from being associated with a brand recognized worldwide!”
