The answer to who owns the sports animal depends on which station you mean. The Oklahoma City station, 98.1 FM WWLS-FM, is owned and operated by Cumulus Media; Tulsa’s similarly branded sports station is a separate outlet associated with Griffin Communications.
This distinction matters because a radio brand, its broadcast license, and the company behind it are not always the same thing. Here’s how to identify the station, understand who controls it, and avoid mixing up the Oklahoma City and Tulsa outlets.
who owns the sports animal in Oklahoma City?
Cumulus Media owns and operates 98.1 The Sports Animal in Oklahoma City. The station’s call letters are WWLS-FM. It is part of Cumulus Media’s Oklahoma City radio group, rather than a team-owned station or an independent sports network.
Some listeners may also encounter WWLS on AM radio or hear the brand across related broadcasts and digital platforms. Those extensions do not necessarily represent separate companies. The relevant ownership question is which company operates the local station and holds or controls its broadcast license through a subsidiary.
In Tulsa, The Sports Animal is a different local radio operation associated with Griffin Communications. It is not simply another frequency of Cumulus’s Oklahoma City station. Check the city and call letters before relying on an ownership answer.
Which station are you asking about?
The name can cause confusion because “The Sports Animal” is used in more than one Oklahoma radio market. Match the station’s city and call letters to the company, rather than assuming every outlet with a similar name has one owner.
| Station or market | Common identification | Company associated with ownership or operation | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | 98.1 FM, WWLS-FM | Cumulus Media | Listeners asking about the original Oklahoma City outlet |
| Tulsa | A separate local Sports Animal-branded outlet | Griffin Communications | Listeners asking about the Tulsa market |
The table identifies the principal market distinction, not every frequency, relay, or broadcast arrangement. Station lineups and branding can change, so use the call letters shown on the station’s current website or radio listing when checking a specific outlet.
What does “owned by” mean for a radio station?
A radio station can have several connected names, each referring to a different part of the business. Knowing the difference helps you interpret ownership listings and understand who makes decisions.
- The parent company is the broader business group, such as Cumulus Media or Griffin Communications.
- The licensee is the legal entity named on the station’s broadcast license. It may be a subsidiary of the parent company.
- The station brand is the name listeners hear, such as The Sports Animal. A brand is not, by itself, proof of who owns the station.
- The broadcaster or network may provide programming without owning the local station that airs it.
For example, a company can own the station while using a separate subsidiary as the license holder. The brand may also appear on a website, app, or social account operated by the company. These details do not change the broad answer, but they explain why different records can show different legal names.
How to verify ownership of a specific Sports Animal station
If you need a reliable answer for a particular frequency, use the station’s call letters and check more than its on-air name. This is especially useful for advertisers, journalists, and listeners trying to contact the correct company.
- Identify the market. Confirm whether the station is in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, or another location.
- Find its call letters. Look on the station’s official site, a recent broadcast listing, or the station identification announcement. Call letters distinguish outlets that share similar branding.
- Check the station’s company information. Its official “About,” contact, or advertising page often identifies the operating group and provides the right business contact.
- Look up the broadcast license. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) maintains records showing the licensee for U.S. broadcast stations. Search by call letters, then compare the licensee with the parent company named by the station.
- Confirm that the information is current. Ownership transactions, licensing entities, and station branding can change. Prefer recent company disclosures and official station information over undated directory pages.
For a simple question about who runs the station, the parent company is usually the most useful answer. For a legal, regulatory, or business matter, the licensee’s exact name may be important too.
Does the station’s owner control the teams or the hosts?
No. Owning a sports radio station does not mean owning the local teams it covers. The station is a media business; teams, leagues, and sports venues are separate organizations unless a specific ownership relationship has been announced.
Station ownership also does not mean the parent company personally chooses every opinion expressed on air. Companies set broad programming and business policies, while hosts and producers create individual shows within those rules. A host’s viewpoint should not automatically be treated as the owner’s official position.
Broadcast rights are another separate issue. A station may carry a team’s games under an agreement without owning the team or holding permanent rights to its broadcasts. If you want to know who airs a particular team, check the team’s current radio information rather than using the station’s ownership as a shortcut.
Common mix-ups about The Sports Animal
Assuming the brand identifies one nationwide owner
Similar station names do not prove common ownership. A local broadcaster may use the same or a similar name in a different market, with a separate license and corporate owner. Confirm the location and call letters first.
Confusing the licensee with the parent company
FCC records may list a subsidiary rather than the familiar corporate name. That difference is normal. Check whether the listed entity belongs to the parent company before concluding that the station has a different owner.
Treating a station’s web presence as its ownership record
A website or app can show the station brand without explaining the corporate structure. It is useful for identifying the outlet, but the company’s official business information and FCC license records are better sources for ownership details.
Assuming sports coverage means team ownership
Local sports programming, team interviews, and live game broadcasts do not establish a team-owner relationship. They show that the station covers or has permission to broadcast sports content.
So, who owns the sports animal? For the Oklahoma City station, the answer is Cumulus Media; Tulsa’s similarly named outlet is a separate operation associated with Griffin Communications. Identify the city and call letters before applying either answer.
If you need to verify a particular frequency, check its current station information and FCC license record. That quick comparison helps you distinguish the parent company from the licensee and avoids confusing one market’s station with another.