the Ricketts don't cae about those fans in Montana who became fans as kids in the 80s
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WGN America dropping Chicago sports
- Thread starter ShawnHill1
- Start date
the Ricketts don't cae about those fans in Montana who became fans as kids in the 80s
Now that all four major network ownership groups have dedicated cable sports networks (although CBS Sports Network is a pretty half-assed attempt at one), it's hard to imagine WGN America coming up with rights to anything compelling to great numbers of viewers. Can't imagine MLB or NFL wanting to add outlets -- and chances are, the price the NFL would ask is too rich for WGN's blood. The NHL seems happy with its NBC/NBCSN deal, and the NBA has ESPN and Turner. I suppose they could find a boxing or MMA promotion to hook up with, or some second- or third-tier college conference that has no appeal to the big boys, but what's the point? They could just draw on their library of old sitcoms and dramas and grind out an unexciting, uninspiring profit, as there are plenty of non-sports fans out there, as well as plenty of people who could watch their favorite old shows ever night until the end of time.
There's a few new developments in regards to WGN America...
* It looks like Chicago sports is officially done on the channel, as WGN-A aired its final Bulls telecast this past Saturday night (12/6). They originally had seven Bulls telecasts on the schedule, the final of which was supposed to be a December 29th game at Indiana. Meanwhile, the Cubs are finalizing a new TV deal with local WGN-TV for a 45-game package, plus an additional 15 games that the station will produce, and will likely air on a combination of WGN and/or WCIU or WPWR.
* It looks like the Noon CT hour portion of the WGN Midday News will cease airing after tomorrow (Friday 12/12). In its place, WGN-A will air essentially an all-morning marathon block of either "In the Heat of the Night" (Monday and Wednesday) or "Walker, Texas Ranger" (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday), going from 9am to 4pm ET. If you consider it a caveat, they're adding a hour of WGN Morning News (5am CT) to make-up for the loss of the midday show. However, from what I've read elsewhere, it looks like all news programming on WGN-A will be gone by January 1st.
* I can't speak as to what will happen as far as other TV providers, but on January 1st, Time Warner Cable systems nationally will move WGN America from its Starter TV tier (its lowest TV package) to Standard TV (along with the rest of the major basic cable networks). For those TWC systems that don't already carry WGN-A, they'll add the channel to its systems by January 1.
* They're adding more new series in 2015, two of which are reality shows--"Wrestling with Death" (about a family who runs a mortuary, but also dabbles in pro wrestling) and "Outlaw Country" (about two pairs of brothers--one in law enforcement, the other are criminals). Former "Wonder Years" star Jason Hervey and former wrestling exec Eric Bischoff are executive producers of the latter show. The channel is also adding two more scripted series later in the year--"Titans" and "Underground".
* It looks like Chicago sports is officially done on the channel, as WGN-A aired its final Bulls telecast this past Saturday night (12/6). They originally had seven Bulls telecasts on the schedule, the final of which was supposed to be a December 29th game at Indiana. Meanwhile, the Cubs are finalizing a new TV deal with local WGN-TV for a 45-game package, plus an additional 15 games that the station will produce, and will likely air on a combination of WGN and/or WCIU or WPWR.
* It looks like the Noon CT hour portion of the WGN Midday News will cease airing after tomorrow (Friday 12/12). In its place, WGN-A will air essentially an all-morning marathon block of either "In the Heat of the Night" (Monday and Wednesday) or "Walker, Texas Ranger" (Tuesday, Thursday, Friday), going from 9am to 4pm ET. If you consider it a caveat, they're adding a hour of WGN Morning News (5am CT) to make-up for the loss of the midday show. However, from what I've read elsewhere, it looks like all news programming on WGN-A will be gone by January 1st.
* I can't speak as to what will happen as far as other TV providers, but on January 1st, Time Warner Cable systems nationally will move WGN America from its Starter TV tier (its lowest TV package) to Standard TV (along with the rest of the major basic cable networks). For those TWC systems that don't already carry WGN-A, they'll add the channel to its systems by January 1.
* They're adding more new series in 2015, two of which are reality shows--"Wrestling with Death" (about a family who runs a mortuary, but also dabbles in pro wrestling) and "Outlaw Country" (about two pairs of brothers--one in law enforcement, the other are criminals). Former "Wonder Years" star Jason Hervey and former wrestling exec Eric Bischoff are executive producers of the latter show. The channel is also adding two more scripted series later in the year--"Titans" and "Underground".
It's looking likely that the WGN identity will be erased when it decides to rebrand the channel now that all of its Chicago sports and news are eradicated.
Surely Bischoff is involved with the FORMER show, the one about wrestling, rather than the latter, the one about cops and criminals, right?
Definitely the latter...I had to go back and check to see he was involved in the other show, but he and Hervey are surely helming "Outlaw Country".
what will those snowbirds in FL and AZ who refuse to stream the news do now?
Go on with their lives, and if they need to see WGN News (which I always though is a good news product) that badly, they need to break down and start streaming.
I grew up watching this channel, at least until it became totally rerun-heavy and starting gradually removing anything resembling Chicago. That said, though, the channel was pretty much operating under an outdated programming model for quite awhile, and just became evitable that things were going to change once Tribune's new management was put in place. The constant changes in identity (both visually and in programming) certain didn't help matters either. TBS was able to evolve its programming strategy, and is now a very successful channel--it almost helped that it ran split national feeds even before Syndex was put into effect, and its programming schedule was always tailored to national schedule.
Somewhat related, and what's sure changing with the times, the Cubs signed a new broadcast deal with WLS-TV (ABC) for a 25-game annual package. It still remains to be seen if local WGN will re-up with the Cubbies.
I have to be honest. This is the smart decision for Tribune, and as much as the Chicago diaspora will bemoan what is being lost, the fact is that for years, the value of WGN America—status as a basic cable channel, something I expect to be confirmed in many places by channel moves such as that of Time Warner—has been squandered on a lack of programming and direction. In the Internet age, many of the viewers who want WGN's news will turn to streaming, and the sports options are mutually beneficial for sports rights holders (who see WGN as an antiquated holdover of the old model of regional/national sports broadcasting) and for Tribune (who can give the channel a new, sports-free identity).
The last ingredient necessary is actually rebranding the channel, bringing its purpose into focus and bringing it into Chicago for the first time.
Of course those long-term contracts to cable/sat companies are holding the numbers up a bit...
I have to agree; it certainly lived a lot longer than the excruciating WWOR EMI Service, which outside of their news was filled with painfully bad syndicated programming even today's retro nets saw fit to keep in the vaults, and the WB would have been dead in the water without the WGN bump. But the Randy Michaels era of WGNA was painful and left it stuck in an endless loop of AFV and In the Heat of the Night reruns attracting nobody, and only now is actual good management addressing the issues.
Like so many here I hated to see the news go, but it was time, and it allows WGN in Chicago to eventually wind down CLTV and program WGN as a good broadcast news operation, and my iPhone can stream the newscasts to my Apple TV easily, so no issue for me. I turned out to really enjoy Manhattan too, and though their reality programming to start definitely feels like A&E's leftovers, it'll get better in time. Finally, WGN gave all the time in the world for the Cubs to be better post-Trib, and they haven't come close to fulfilling that potential, so now the Cubs are stuck with a cherry-picked schedule of broadcast games that bounce between WGN, WCIU, and WLS. It's a good decision, and now the Cubs and Braves have to actually be good teams that don't coast by with their cable broadcasts.
the national exposure of the Braves on TBS didn't help them being outnumbered by Cubs fans at home in the 2003 NLDS
Sadly, this is what I see happening as well. Moving away from the call letters of WGN into something completely different. It definitely isn't the WGN I first encountered on cable in '82, back in the days when there were no separate feeds. At 8 years old, I had no concept yet of time zones, and was confused why a show was advertised for 4:30, and I tuned in, and it wasn't there!
Anyone else notice something screwy with the listings for WGN America with an on-screen program guide from the cable provider? I have COX Cable and the listings for WGN America say:
5AM-6AM Eastern: WGN Morning News or Paid Programming
6AM-7AM Eastern: WGN Morning News or Paid Programming
In both cases WGN Morning News was on.
5AM-6AM Eastern: WGN Morning News or Paid Programming
6AM-7AM Eastern: WGN Morning News or Paid Programming
In both cases WGN Morning News was on.
Robert Feder is saying that tomorrow WGNA will officially be added in Comcast markets with Trib stations that previously excluded WGNA (Chicago, Seattle, Philly and DC, along with Boston, which saw their Trib station WLVI sold off in 2007 to Ed Asnin/Sunbeam) under basic carriage. The conversion will also come with a much-needed West feed so that Randy Michaels' (9 East/6 West) 'wit it lingo' leftover can finally be put out of its misery. Also what hasn't been noted is that the Illinois Lottery drawings, which used to apply to Iowa also, were switched to Iowa drawing their own numbers in April.
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IMO this is a bonehead decision by Tribune Broadcasting. WGN America was able to show sports (baseball and basketball) to a national audience, but did not have to pay national rights to the leagues to the air the games. Tribune was only paying for the local rights. There were MANY viewers across the country of the games besides fans of the Chicago teams or relocated former Chicagoans. Networks like Fox, TBS, or ESPN show baseball games that involve just 2 teams, but there are viewers across the USA who watch those telecasts from areas that are not just from the 2 cities that are competing. Additionally, fans of the opponent that is playing against the Chicago team, would have an interest in watching the WGN America broadcasts when that was the only option available to watch a game. There is no reason why WGN America could not continue to air both general entertainment and sports like other cable/satellite TV networks.
WGN-TV airs 11 hours of news per day, and it's all streamed but I noticed that sports highlights are blacked out on the stream. None of WGN's sports telecasts are streamed, so "in the internet age", viewers are screwed if they want to watch sports unless they want to pay extra for a MLB or NBA streaming package, which by the way doesn't stream the Chicago teams to customers located in the league mandated blackout zones (Iowa - Illinois - Indiana).
WGN America was already available in Chicago for Direct TV and Dish customers. But for cable viewers, WGN America was hardly needed in Chicago, except for original programming like Salem or Manhattan.
No, it's a BAD decision. And don't forget, WGN-TV airs / WGN America aired another team, the Chicago White Sox. And CLTV isn't going anywhere. WGN-TV is not going to air news 24 hours a day. The station has commitments to the 'CW Network' and other syndicated programming. WGN-TV already is "a good broadcast news operation". But the 11 hours per day shown now is about the maximum, and CLTV allows viewers to get news during the other times when WGN-TV airs other entertainment and sports.
Announced so far, Comcast SportsNet is going to air 80-85 Cubs games, and WLS-TV will have 25 games. But no information yet about the remaining balance. I heard that WGN-TV and the Cubs are far apart regarding the fees. And WCIU-TV may not be involved. This season, WGN-TV decided to move Bulls "overflow" games during CW Network conflicts to WPWR-TV instead of WCIU-TV. Plus, Comcast Sports Net Chicago recently added a 2nd full time alternate channel, so that might be where games end up.
The White Sox still have an existing contract with WGN-TV, so I expect something similar to last season except WCIU-TV may be out, and sadly WGN American is finished. Last season, Comcast SportsNet carried 107 games, WGN-TV had 30 games, and WCIU-TV had 25 "overflow" games during CW Network conflicts.
I don't entirely disagree about WGN America dropping sports being a questionable decision, but for a slightly different reason.
Cubs and White Sox aren't even getting high ratings in Chicago
This is actually more of a liability than you think. You may have noticed in recent years that the prices paid by networks for sports have really spiked. When Major League Baseball and the NBA, among others, sign TV deals, they want to be able to ensure that their national partners are the only ones airing national games and in so doing pay more money. In 2007 when Turner Sports and MLB signed a deal, it included the phasing out of national Braves telecasts. The Chicago sports are not helpful to the leagues; keep in mind that the Cubs, Sox and Bulls each own equity stakes in Comcast SportsNet Chicago, so they have an incentive to move. Also, Tribune itself didn't want to deal with the Cubs, who are not rating well right now. I seem to recall reading they lost $200,000 per game this year.
One component of WGN's sports coverage that was never carried nationally was a portfolio of 20 Blackhawks games a year (from 2008 on, after the death of Bill Wirtz). The NHL was very specific that such telecasts had to be local so as to not impinge on the national rightsholders. Likewise, I believe not all of WGN's Bulls games received national airtime per NBA contracts.
The second alternate channel started by CSN Chicago would certainly be explained if the balance of the Cubs games from WGN are moved there along with the White Sox games that are in the WCIU portion of that contract.
That's a rights issue on both halves. In-market game streaming is something very new (the NBA is the first, starting very recently, and baseball will likely be next).
Keep in mind that of the 11 hours of news, only two or three ever aired nationally. The Internet makes it a lot easier to offer that content to the people who are interested while selling more lucrative national advertising slots in general entertainment programming. It may also free up certain opportunities for the local WGN newscast itself.
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