Bloomberg signal reaches all of Central Massachusetts, Eastern Mass, Manchester and Providence

AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Department of Athletics, in conjunction with multimedia rights holder UMass Sports Properties and Learfield Sports, announced a three-year radio broadcast agreement with Bloomberg Radio WXKS 1200 AM in Boston.

The agreement, which commences with the 2014-15 athletic season, 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 50,000-watt signal. Bloomberg will join the UMass Sports Network beginning with this Saturday’s football opener against in-state rival Boston College.

“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.”

This agreement expands the UMass Sports Network to four stations across the state, including flagship station 105.5 FM WEEI (Springfield), 1440 AM WVEI (Worcester), and 95.9 FM WATD (South Shore).

“Bloomberg Radio Boston is the perfect complement to an already thriving UMass Sports Network,” said Pam Batalis, Regional General Manager for Learfield Sports, the multimedia rights holder for UMass Athletics. “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.

Bloomberg Radio Boston (1200AM and 94.5 FM/HD2) is Boston’s source for business, finance and the economy. Bloomberg Radio’s guests are some of the most powerful and influential leaders and professionals on the radio.

UMass Sports Properties’ manages all aspects of the multimedia rights including venue signage, event sponsorships/marketing, corporate hospitality, radio game broadcasts and coaches’ shows, television and digital sponsorships, including the official athletic website www.umassathletics.com. UMass Sports Properties is a property of Learfield Sports, which manages the multimedia rights for nearly 100 collegiate properties and titles the prestigious Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup with award co-founders NACDA and USA Today. Learfield’s multimedia rights encompass numerous content distribution platforms to deliver the passion of college athletics across radio, television and digital networks to fans globally. Visit learfieldsports.com for more. UMass slider

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.