Cubs Radio Broadcasts move to the Score

[cigaretteman]

http://www.robertfeder.com/2015/11/11/play-ball-cubs-move-to-the-score/


It’s official: Chicago Cubs baseball broadcasts will air on WSCR AM 670 next year, according to a joint announcement Wednesday by the team and CBS Radio.

Confirming a report here last month, the Cubs will shift to the sports/talk station from all-news WBBM AM 780, where they aired for the past season. CBS Radio had a one-time option to move the team to The Score, under terms of its seven-year rights agreement.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with CBS Radio and join Chicago’s top sports station,” Crane Kenney, president of business operations for the Cubs, said in a statement. “With the broadcast team continuing to deliver great coverage, our first year with CBS was outstanding, and we look forward to many more to come on WSCR.”

Considering the Cubs’ recent success and popularity, it’s a home run for The Score and program director Mitch Rosen.

The decision was prompted by the departure of Chicago White Sox baseball broadcasts after 10 years on The Score. Under a six-year deal starting this spring, the White Sox will move to Cumulus Media news/talk WLS AM 890.



“We had an outstanding 2015 with the Cubs and couldn’t be prouder to be aligned with such a great partner,” Rod Zimmerman, senior vice president and market manager of CBS Radio Chicago, said in a statement. “Today’s announcement provides a year-round platform for the city’s beloved sports franchise on Chicago’s heritage all-sports radio station. With the Bears on WBBM and the Cubs among our portfolio, we can offer fans the best in sports play-by-play while still delivering the news and information most impactful to the local community.”

Both the top-rated and top-billing station in the market, WBBM Newsradio returns to a full-time simulcast with WCFS FM 105.9. While Cubs games aired on the AM station, the FM station continued the news format.

Pat Hughes and Ron Coomer are expected to continue in the Cubs broadcast booth next season, with Mark Grote back for pregame and postgame duties.

Along with all 162 regular season games, the agreement also calls for live broadcasts from Wrigley Field and the neighborhood, several joint promotional initiatives, and weekly appearances by Cubs manager Joe Maddon on Matt Spiegel and Jason Goff’s midday show.

CBS Radio won the broadcast rights in 2014 after Tribune Media news/talk WGN AM 720 chose to drop its historic but money-losing association with the Cubs.

http://www.robertfeder.com/2015/11/11/play-ball-cubs-move-to-the-score/

 

[lucas80]

This is great for the Cubs. 670 is a much bigger platform and will devote a lot of on air time to the Cubs that WBBM just wasn't equipped to do. Plus the market the Score hits is huge.
I heard Kenney on Mully and Handley this morning. It always strikes me that it pays to be a suit and market yourself as the only guy that knows the numbers. He's blundered his way through a lot of things over the years, but he's been a piece of continuity that each new owner since the Tribune sold the Cubs has kept around. I really thought the Rickett's would jettison Kenney.

 

[LuteHawk]

With plenty of afternoon games, this will mean less time
for Boers and Bernstein. This is a win-win for everybody.
Those two clowns need less air time. Their act is getting old.
Listen to the Chicago Cubs or B&B ? It is a great move
for the SCORE.

 

[bagdropper]

I've tried listening to that station when at my cabin (no cell reception, no cable/DSS - AM radio only)...and for the life of me I can't figure out why it's "the best in Chicago". They must have no competition or low standards.

I know it's Chicago centric and I'm not a fan of any Chicago sports team - but overall...it's just bad radio. Been that way for 15 years now ever since they moved WMAQ out.

I listen to ESPN when at my cabin - THAT is how bad it is.

 

[lucas80]

With plenty of afternoon games, this will mean less time
for Boers and Bernstein. This is a win-win for everybody.
Those two clowns need less air time. Their act is getting old.
Listen to the Chicago Cubs or B&B ? It is a great move
for the SCORE.

No such luck. Basically half the home games are at night these days. The only sure daytime starts are Friday - Sunday. At least East Coast night games will push them off the air an hour earlier for pregame stuff.

 

[sultanofsuede]

pretty cool for a few reasons. one, listed above, is the fact that the score can give more airtime for pre and post games.

the second is that the score had been doing sox games, and i felt gave too much airtime to sox talk on their normal daytime shows. who cares? (just ribbing sox fans, but in 2015 they really had to stretch to make some kind of story, up against what was going on the northside).

and last - i pick up the score pretty well (a little better than wbbm) here in iowa.

big fan of hughes (and really, coomer is doing a great job too), so i wonder if this will have any impact on how long he sticks around. i'd be happy if he kept going another 15......

 

[lucas80]

I don't think it matters to Pat Hughes what station he calls games on. He's an employee of the Cubs if I am not mistaken. Or, the Cubs media division or something like that. Hughes must have really enjoyed this year. He probably wants to stick around for a run at WS titles, too.