-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ji+NpYHcLW+Tm124TjnfY8s6kTI30yGEgIXUuX1J6HgmIcjaUgSpuFc75DHSgy8j
 L647PDYDmZnVlKr+3JPiEg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000771950-06-000002.txt : 20060214
<SEC-HEADER>0000771950-06-000002.hdr.sgml : 20060214
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060214150538
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000771950-06-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060210
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060214
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060214

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BORTNICK CHARLES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001248775

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14691
		FILM NUMBER:		06613555

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WESTWOOD ONE
		STREET 2:		40 WEST 57TH ST 15TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2126412000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WESTWOOD ONE INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000771950
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-AMUSEMENT & RECREATION SERVICES [7900]
		IRS NUMBER:				953980449
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		40 WEST 57TH STREET
		STREET 2:		5TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2126412063

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		40 WEST 57TH STREET
		STREET 2:		5TH FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	WESTWOOD ONE DELAWARE INC /CA/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19860408
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-02-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000771950</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WESTWOOD ONE INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WON</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001248775</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BORTNICK CHARLES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WESTWOOD ONE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>40 WEST 57TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10023</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Co-Chief Operating Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>restricted stock unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-02-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>stock option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.27</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-02-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-01-10</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-02-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of restricted stock units that vest in equal one-fourth increments on January 10, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.  The restricted stock units convert on a &quot;1 for 1&quot; basis.  One share of common stock shall be distributed with respect to each vested restricted stock unit unless the Reporting Person elects, within 30 days of grant date, to defer settlement of the restricted stock unit to a future date (i) no earlier than January 10, 2010; or (ii) six (6) months after the Reporting Person's &quot;Termination&quot; (as defined in the Westwood One, Inc. 2005 Equity Compensation Plan).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Option to buy 75,000 shares of Westwood One, Inc. common stock that will become exercisable in equal one-fourth increments on January 10, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David Hillman as attorney-in-fact for Charles Bortnick</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-02-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----