White Sox could be part of new FM sports talk station

Could the Cubs also create their own radio station when their deal is up with WGN radio? There's been a lot of talk about the Cubs creating their own TV network when their TV deal is up but what about their own radio station after their deal with WGN radio is up?

over 2 years ago cowsarecool220 20 comments 0 recs |

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Three sports talk radio stations in Chicago?

One is more than enough. This has disaster written all over it.

The Cubs would be smart to stay with WGN radio, even if they start their own TV network. WGN and the Cubs have a 60+ year relationship and are tightly identified with each other.

There was a lot of fan grumbling in St. Louis when the Cardinals severed their decades long relationship with KMOX to go with a smaller, lesser known station. Cardinals fans are still not happy with it.

I think this would be a really bad idea.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Feb 16, 2010 4:48 PM CST reply actions

Sherman's article mentioned

booming ratings for both sports radio stations in Chicago.

Wouldn’t there be advantages for the Cubs to be on an all sports station?

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on Feb 16, 2010 4:52 PM CST up reply actions

Not necessarily.

And just because there are “booming ratings” for local sports talk, that does not necessarily (IMO) translate into the demand for another such station.

Also, the Cubs/WGN deal has 13 years to go. Who knows what the broadcast landscape will look like 13 years from now?

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Feb 16, 2010 5:17 PM CST up reply actions

What is this wacky radio thing you are discussing?

This chip in my neck draws sattelite signals from my tin foil hat to broadcast through my fillings.

Luckily, I don’t act on what these voices keep saying.

at daver's request, Let's frontload this B**ch!

by N Oakley on Feb 17, 2010 10:00 AM CST up reply actions

WGN Radio already is the Cubbie radio station

The Cubs would be smart to stay with WGN radio, even if they start their own TV network. WGN and the Cubs have a 60+ year relationship and are tightly identified with each other.

WGN, while not sports 24×7, it’s certainly the Cubbies radio station. On “Sports Central” on the rare occasion that they talk about the Sox, listen as Dave Crapland turns every discussion into Cubbie-talk. Last year (March 12, 2009) Crapland spewed demeaning insults about Sox fans that would warm the hearts of many folks here. When ComCast Sports Net assigned Crapland to cover pre and post Sox games last year I had enough and complained to ComCast.

"People shouldn’t bust your chops just because you’re a Sox fan on a Cub board — but I know it happens. FWIW, I think sites like this are more interesting when fans of other teams join in the conversation." by Shanghai Badger on Mar 13, 2009

by DrCrawdad on Feb 16, 2010 11:06 PM CST up reply actions

On behalf of all Kaplans

I’d like to apologize for David Kaplan. Sadly my dad and that joke share the same name. We are not related (thank god)

"Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world. If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can't get you off." ~ Bill Veeck

by Musicdude10 on Feb 17, 2010 10:12 AM CST up reply actions

Apology accepted. :)

by DrCrawdad on Feb 17, 2010 6:57 PM CST up reply actions

Something to Also Keep in Mind

WGN has the most powerful radio signal. During the evening, you can actually hear games as far South as Atlanta and Oklahoma. I have personally witnessed it and in crystal clear form. The Cubs night games (including road games) can be heard by a great deal of fans outside of the Chicago area on regular radio.

"...but you the living, you're stuck here with the Cubs. So it is ME who feels sorry for you." - Steve Goodman, "A Dying Cub Fan's Last Request"

by HoSs. on Feb 17, 2010 12:18 AM CST up reply actions

Very interesting.

I wonder what station will be bought out or change its format to accommodate this. The talk format has historically not been successful in FM, but with the addition of live sports, things could change, especially if they market it well to Sox fans.

by chilango2 on Feb 16, 2010 4:49 PM CST reply actions

I see it's Emmis.

Nevermind.

by chilango2 on Feb 16, 2010 4:51 PM CST up reply actions

Wild speculation, without any real foundation.

Sherman is ‘creating’ some ‘news’ here.

I wouldn’t describe the ratings for WSCR and WMVP as booming.

WSCR is 12th, WMVP is 18th. The ratings may be higher in certain demographic cells, such as males ages 18-35 and 25-54. Those figures are not available to the general public.

San Diego has 3 sports stations, 2 two more than the market needs. Also, SportsTalk is popping up on FM around the country, so that’s not an issue.

If Emmis was to do this, they’d have to flip The Loop. WKQX has a younger audience, and is easier to sell advertising for. But I really doubt if Emmis would spend money for top talent right now. Running a lot of network programming would be cheap, and they could do this with one local show — but that would not really be effective in Chicago.

I believe there is a fresher survey than this one — I know WLIT lost about 7 points from it’s Christmas music high of 10.2. I can’t find a link yet. if I do, I’ll post it.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Feb 16, 2010 6:34 PM CST reply actions

I have some friends in chicago radio and they said in the latest book

WSCR is very high among men 18-35. I think maybe even #1 or #2 in some time slots. Possibly #1 overall. I wish now I had listened more carefully – I must admit I wasn’t terribly interested in the fates of Chicago’s sports talk stations. I find it all unlistenable but hey, to each his own.

There’s barely enough people to man the two stations (MVP relying on national ESPN shows in two daytime slots each day) I can’t imagine how awful the “talent” would be on still a third station.

by the nth on Feb 16, 2010 7:29 PM CST up reply actions

Right.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Feb 16, 2010 8:29 PM CST up reply actions

I have heard the idea of a Cub TV Network is pretty much dead in the water

The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.

by BLou on Feb 16, 2010 7:05 PM CST reply actions

For now, maybe.

But 13 years from now, when their WGN-TV deal expires? Who knows?

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Feb 16, 2010 8:29 PM CST up reply actions

The radio and TV deals are separate though, right?

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on Feb 17, 2010 12:13 AM CST up reply actions

Separate, but of equal length, IIRC.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Feb 17, 2010 7:17 AM CST up reply actions

TWSS

at daver's request, Let's frontload this B**ch!

by N Oakley on Feb 17, 2010 10:01 AM CST up reply actions

Here's a link to a short demographic breakdown of the sports stations.

http://www.chitownradio.com/messages/9895.html

As I said, I didn’t pay attention while my friends discussed this. Overall the stations are not in the top ten among men but individual shows are doing quite well including WSCR being #1 in the mornings among the key men’s demo.

by the nth on Feb 16, 2010 7:37 PM CST reply actions