Cox Media Group vs Cumulus Media

Orlando Magic Local TV Rights Move to Cox Media Group

The Orlando Magic announced Cox Media Group will become the team’s local television partner beginning in the 2026–27 season, moving many locally televised regular-season games to free over-the-air broadcast. In the Orlando market games will air on WRDQ‑TV 27 with select games on WFTV Channel 9; in Jacksonville games will air on Action Sports Jax TV (WJAX‑TV 47.2) with some broadcasts on CBS47 and FOX30. The deal covers local regular-season games, pregame/postgame shows, replays and other team programming; nationally televised games remain with the NBA’s national partners. The article frames this as part of a broader industry shift away from regional sports networks toward free local broadcast and potential centralized local streaming solutions in future seasons.

• Cox Media Group will be the Orlando Magic’s new local television partner beginning with the 2026–27 season.
• Games will air free over the air on WRDQ‑TV 27 in Orlando, with select games on WFTV Channel 9.
• In Jacksonville, Magic games will air on Action Sports Jax TV (WJAX‑TV 47.2), with some games also available on CBS47 and FOX30.

Charlotte Hornets Move Local Games to Free TV

The Charlotte Hornets announced that Cox Media Group’s WSOC Channel 9 and TV64 will become the team’s local broadcast home for the 2026–27 NBA season, airing every regular-season game not nationally televised free over the air in the Charlotte area. The agreement expands a prior experiment that put a small number of Hornets games on free TV in 2025 and a 12-game simulcast in 2025–26. The team says a direct-to-consumer streaming solution will be announced later as the NBA explores a centralized local streaming hub for local rights. The move is part of a broader league trend away from the traditional RSN model toward free broadcast and alternative streaming arrangements.

• Cox Media Group’s WSOC Channel 9 and TV64 will be the Charlotte Hornets’ local broadcast home for the 2026–27 season.
• Stations will air every Hornets regular-season game that is not nationally televised free over the air in the Charlotte market.
• The 2026–27 deal expands prior free-TV experiments: a five-game free-TV package announced in January 2025 and a 12-game simulcast during the 2025–26 season.

Cox Media Group expands television brand portfolio from 15 to 17

Cox Media Group now delivers 17 high-quality, market-leading television brands in 9 markets, up from 15 previously.

Podcast Ad Spend Lags Consumption, Industry Calls for Metrics Overhaul

At the IAB's Podcast Upfront, industry leaders highlighted that while podcast ad spend grew 18% to $3 billion, it lags behind consumption, which accounts for 15% of digital media time but only 2% of digital ad spend. The IAB released a new framework, 'Podcasts Continue to Evolve,' to address measurement challenges. Key issues include the shift to video podcasts, with 49% of consumers expected to watch video podcasts in 2026, and the inadequacy of download metrics. The industry is moving towards HLS streaming for better measurement, and Amazon Ads plans to integrate podcast video ad buys into its DSP. Calls were made for improved measurement and for advertisers to embrace smaller, independent shows.

• Podcast ad spend reached $3 billion in 2025, growing 18% year-over-year.
• Podcasts account for 15% of digital media time but only 2% of digital ad spend.
• IAB released a new framework called 'Podcasts Continue to Evolve'.

Cumulus Media’s Westwood One, Official Network Audio Partner of the NFL, Celebrates 40th Consecutive Season and Reveals 2026 NFL Lineup and Programming Highlights, From NFL Kickoff to Super Bowl Lxi

Westwood One brings all the excitement of the new NFL season to football fans starting Wednesday, September 9 at 7:00 p.m. ET, with a season-opening matchup between the New England Patriots vs. the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field in Seattle, WA

Cumulus Validates Xperi's In-Car Infrastructure Strategy

Cumulus Media has become the first commercial licensee and flagship broadcaster partner for Xperi’s AutoStage Broadcaster Portal Premium, giving the radio group near-census, real-time visibility into in-car radio consumption. The deal validates Xperi’s strategy of building a white-label in‑car measurement and addressability layer beneath other platforms rather than competing with them. Xperi (parent company of TiVo) and its DTS AutoStage platform claim broad automotive reach: Xperi’s HD Radio receivers are in over 110 million North American vehicles and DTS AutoStage currently powers more than 16 million vehicles globally, including BMW and Mercedes‑Benz models. TiVo Ads is also developing a persistent Household ID to connect living-room audiences to in‑car listeners, expanding addressable household inventory for advertisers.

• Cumulus Media signed as the first commercial licensee for Xperi’s AutoStage Broadcaster Portal Premium.
• Xperi is the parent company of TiVo and operates a white‑label in‑car measurement infrastructure.
• Xperi’s HD Radio receivers are present in more than 110 million North American vehicles.