Cubs leaving WGN Radio after this season

[Bluejaygrad03]

http://www.robertfeder.com/2014/06/03/w ... -the-cubs/

One of the longest lasting partnerships will end after this season as the Cubs and WGN Radio will split up. The Cubs are expected to announce Thursday that they have finalized a seven-year agreement to broadcast on CBS Radio all-news WBBM AM 780, starting with the 2015 season. Sources familiar with the deal said the Cubs could move to CBS Radio sports/talk WSCR AM 670 if the Score loses the White Sox broadcast rights after next year.

[Beanie]

Sources familiar with the deal said the Cubs could move to CBS Radio sports/talk WSCR AM 670 if the Score loses the White Sox broadcast rights after next year.

Let's be honest… It's not "if the SCORE loses the White Sox", it will be when the SCORE doesn't renew with the White Sox in order to move the Cubs onto 670.

[Big Papa Pump]

If they are on radio, they are on radio but kinda sad as I grew up on WGN.

[tribecalledquest]

WBBM has a really strong signal too right?

When the Cardinals moved away from KMOX for a few years that turned out poorly. They also didn't move to a station as strong as WBBM either.

[squirrel]

WBBM has a really strong signal too right?

When the Cardinals moved away from KMOX for a few years that turned out poorly. They also didn't move to a station as strong as WBBM either.

WBBM, WSCR, WLS and WGN all have very strong signals. Don't the Bears rotate among various radio outlets? It always seems strange to me to hear the Bears on WBBM and WLS. But also, WLS and WGN have FM sides too now. I don't know about WBBM.

[deejay]

WGN has the strongest signal. If you try to get the Bears for any distance late in the day, it is a poor signal. Would this also change the radio announcing team? I'm sure that this is has a Rickett's money making scheme. They are making a mockery out of the team, no matter how they try to say they want baseball at Wrigley.

[pndbaseball12]

WBBM has a really strong signal too right?

When the Cardinals moved away from KMOX for a few years that turned out poorly. They also didn't move to a station as strong as WBBM either.

WBBM, WSCR, WLS and WGN all have very strong signals. Don't the Bears rotate among various radio outlets? It always seems strange to me to hear the Bears on WBBM and WLS. But also, WLS and WGN have FM sides too now. I don't know about WBBM.

Agreed, on a clear night I can pick up all of those stations here in Erie, PA.

[Bluejaygrad03]

WBBM has a really strong signal too right?

When the Cardinals moved away from KMOX for a few years that turned out poorly. They also didn't move to a station as strong as WBBM either.

WBBM, WSCR, WLS and WGN all have very strong signals. Don't the Bears rotate among various radio outlets? It always seems strange to me to hear the Bears on WBBM and WLS. But also, WLS and WGN have FM sides too now. I don't know about WBBM.

WBBM does have an FM station. It's a hit music station known as B96.

[Beanie]

A few things... WBBM, WGN, and the SCORE all operate on 50,000 watt signals.

The Bears currently have a mult-year contract with WBBM to broadcast their games.

Yes, it is clearly the Ricketts family's intent to maximize revenue streams via broadcast rights. They would be absolute idiots not to. WGN could have kept the Cubs, but they were out bid.

[44 Belly]

WBBM has a really strong signal too right?

When the Cardinals moved away from KMOX for a few years that turned out poorly. They also didn't move to a station as strong as WBBM either.

WBBM, WSCR, WLS and WGN all have very strong signals. Don't the Bears rotate among various radio outlets? It always seems strange to me to hear the Bears on WBBM and WLS. But also, WLS and WGN have FM sides too now. I don't know about WBBM.

WBBM does have an FM station. It's a hit music station known as B96.

WBBM-AM also is at 105.9 on the FM dial

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/station/wbb ... nd-1059fm/

[JMM28]

Yes, it is clearly the Ricketts family's intent to maximize revenue streams via broadcast rights. They would be absolute idiots not to. WGN could have kept the Cubs, but they were out bid.

It sounds like WGN wanted to sell the Cubs air time and have the Cubs sell their own product (BU basketball setup now) versus the CBS bid that was 10 million straight cash.

[Redbird CC Fan]

WGN has the strongest signal. If you try to get the Bears for any distance late in the day, it is a poor signal. Would this also change the radio announcing team? I'm sure that this is has a Rickett's money making scheme. They are making a mockery out of the team, no matter how they try to say they want baseball at Wrigley.

If modernization of the leagues worst facilities (by a landslide), development of a modern day scouting system (which was also the worst in MLB), improving player development within the minor leagues, rebuilding the farm system talent base (again was the worst in baseball), and pursuing financial deals such as broadcast rights in order to improve a franchise that hasn't won a World Series in 105 years and counting is "making a mockery of the team", someone should have done it a long time ago.

[Big Papa Pump]

WGN has the strongest signal. If you try to get the Bears for any distance late in the day, it is a poor signal. Would this also change the radio announcing team? I'm sure that this is has a Rickett's money making scheme. They are making a mockery out of the team, no matter how they try to say they want baseball at Wrigley.

If modernization of the leagues worst facilities (by a landslide), development of a modern day scouting system (which was also the worst in MLB), improving player development within the minor leagues, rebuilding the farm system talent base (again was the worst in baseball), and pursuing financial deals such as broadcast rights in order to improve a franchise that hasn't won a World Series in 105 years and counting is "making a mockery of the team", someone should have done it a long time ago.

[whitelightening]

WGN has the strongest signal. If you try to get the Bears for any distance late in the day, it is a poor signal. Would this also change the radio announcing team? I'm sure that this is has a Rickett's money making scheme. They are making a mockery out of the team, no matter how they try to say they want baseball at Wrigley.

If modernization of the leagues worst facilities (by a landslide), development of a modern day scouting system (which was also the worst in MLB), improving player development within the minor leagues, rebuilding the farm system talent base (again was the worst in baseball), and pursuing financial deals such as broadcast rights in order to improve a franchise that hasn't won a World Series in 105 years and counting is "making a mockery of the team", someone should have done it a long time ago.

I would love to clap and cheer right now too......but my wisdom says to save them until and when the actual proof and results come to fruition and reality. I can only wonder how long I will have to save them for now.

[CIS]

WGN has the strongest signal. If you try to get the Bears for any distance late in the day, it is a poor signal. Would this also change the radio announcing team? I'm sure that this is has a Rickett's money making scheme. They are making a mockery out of the team, no matter how they try to say they want baseball at Wrigley.

If modernization of the leagues worst facilities (by a landslide), development of a modern day scouting system (which was also the worst in MLB), improving player development within the minor leagues, rebuilding the farm system talent base (again was the worst in baseball), and pursuing financial deals such as broadcast rights in order to improve a franchise that hasn't won a World Series in 105 years and counting is "making a mockery of the team", someone should have done it a long time ago.

Excellent point - your table ins waiting for you sir!

[squirrel]

It's WBBM AM 780:
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/chi ... y=news_mlb

This is probably the motivation to moving to a multi-channel network with several local affiliates, which offers the opportunity to cross-promote:

The Cubs and CBS Radio will also collaborate to create and produce live music events at Wrigley Field.

But the deal turned when CBS did their homework:

He said the turning point in the discussions came in January when CBS executives were discussing the Cubs and knew the stats of players on the Minor League roster.

WBBM will maintain its news format with traffic and weather on the :X8's on the FM side.

[Braveman]

The Cubs are still on the radio?

[RickU]

Sort of sad really. I guess when I think of Cubs games being broadcast I think of WGN.