http:\/\/chicago.cbslocal.com\/2014\/06\/04\/cbs-radio-gains-cubs-broadcasting-rights\/<\/p>\n
This is pretty big news for Chicago, and baseball and radio in general. Tribune Company owned not only the Cubs, but WGN-AM, WGN-TV and the Chicago Tribune newspaper.<\/p>\n
This company became vulnerable when they tried to get the State of Illinois involved in upgrading Wrigley Field. Governor Blago was in trouble over his trying to get money for selling the Senate Seat vacated by Barack Obama and demanded the Tribune fire its editorial staff “or else”. The company had just been taken over by a guy named Sam Zell who loaded the company up with debt and then declared bankruptcy.<\/p>\n
That bankruptcy would drag on for about 4 years, but one of the first actions was for Tribune to give up their ownership of the Cubs.<\/p>\n
With the Cubs having independent ownership, they want to maximize income and CBS jumped at the chance to take over the radio broadcast rights. WGN says it currently loses $2-3 million a year and wasn’t highly motivated to fight to keep the Cubs.<\/p>\n
The games will be moving to WBBM-AM, the all news station, which is a curious move. The Cubs still play most of their home games in the afternoon. WBBM is one of the top grossing radio stations in the country. Unlike WCBS getting the Yankees rights in New York, CBS has a second all news station in New York (WINS) and most weekday games are in the evening. Having Cubs games airing during afternoon drive risks breaking the All News format with people wanting traffic reports and news. That could push people yet more to get GPS devices with integrated traffic and search for news and current events coverage at other places like NPR’s All Things Considered. Once that car radio is on FM, it isn’t coming back.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
http:\/\/chicago.cbslocal.com\/2014\/06\/04\/cbs-radio-gains-cubs-broadcasting-rights\/ This is pretty big news for Chicago, and baseball and radio in general. Tribune Company owned not only the Cubs, but WGN-AM, WGN-TV and the Chicago Tribune newspaper. This company became vulnerable when they tried to get the State … Continue reading