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Blackhawks Extend Deal with WGN

Good news for Chicago hockey fans, but what's WGN's future? Because of Tribune's situation, FM isn't an option. We all know about WGN's demo issues.

Chicago is a strange radio sports market in that only two of its teams are broadcast on all-sports stations, the White Sox on WSCR and the Bulls on WMVP. :)
 
I hope it stays because it's fast becoming the only worthwhile station to listen to here in the Providence area! Thank God for skywave!
 
It's the only station worth listening to in Chicago as well, except for WFMT. If hockey helps pay the bills, that's great!
 
I hope WGN doesn't get spun off. I don't need Coast-To-Coast on 720 as well. Nighttime radio is bad enough as it is! WGN is one of the only options I have for something good!
 
It is just weird Cox has TV, FM cluster, plus the only full market daily news paper in Atlanta and the only class A am too. I have heard about the court rulings, but with the Sun Times, Network O & O TV stations plus one CBS has a radio cluster, and several class A AM's there is IMHO little danger of media editorial domination.
 
secondchoice said:
Tribune has just emerged from bankruptcy, and according to it's website they are going the "TV" route:

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/01/18/new-tribune-chief-signals-greater-television-focus/

I can't find any mention of WGN radio on the website:

http://www.tribune.com/

I look for WGN radio to be sold or spun off. This might be good for WGN Radio depending on who ends up owning the AM property. With the strike damage to the NHL, Hockey needs WGN more than WGN needs the NHL.
Click to expand...

IIRC, the FCC approved a permanent waiver back in November so that Tribune can keep the newspaper, radio, and TV stations if they want to - at least in Chicago. Don't know about NYC, LA, and the other cities where they own multiple properties.

Whether the new owners want to keep all of them is another story. Freedom Newspapers, News Corp., and the Sun-Times have all expressed an interest in some or all of the newspapers. Tribune will keep the TV stations and WGN America according to every article I've read on the subject. No word on whether they want to sell AM 720 or their 5% interest in the Cubs, but AFAIK, they don't have to. My guess is no to both unless a really good offer comes their way, and Clear Channel could very well make that good offer for the radio station. All properties are for sale for the right price.
 
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