Sunday’s season finale is the end of the longest partnership in Major League Baseball. 720 WGN Radio has been broadcasting Cubs games since 1925 and has been the exclusive radio partner of the Cubs since 1959. After WGN opted out of its contract with the Cubs last October, the Cubs and WGN could not negotiate a new deal and the Cubs signed a seven-year contract with CBS Radio in June. Beginning in the spring, WBBM-AM 780 will be the new radio home of the Chicago Cubs. Pat Hughes and Ron … [Read more...]
Cubs Reportedly Set to Announce Seven-Year Agreement with WBBM-AM 780
According to multiple reports, the Cubs will announce Thursday a new partnership with CBS Radio that will move Cubs games from WGN-AM 720 to WBBM-AM 780 beginning next season. The Cubs will remain on 720 WGN for the remainder of this season. The Cubs moving from WGN to WBBM will end a relationship that began in 1925. Robert Feder reported the Cubs "finalized a seven-year agreement to broadcast on CBS Radio all-news WBBM-AM 780 starting with the 2015 season." Robert Feder also reported the … [Read more...]
The Daily CCO: Pat Hughes is the Voice of the Chicago Cubs
The Cubs partnership with 720 WGN is set to expire at the end of the season and the team is expected to announce 780 WBBM-AM will broadcast Cubs games for the 2015 season. The Cubs have been on WGN since 1924 and the exclusive radio home of the Cubs since 1958. Pat Hughes is under contract through the 2015 season and will move to the Cubs new radio station, for at least next year, according to a report from the Tribune. Paul Sullivan reported Hughes cannot sign an extension until the new … [Read more...]
Report: Cubs Could Be Close to Announcing New Broadcast Partners
The Cubs were expected to announce the team’s new radio partner by Opening Day, but both the first game of the year and the home opener passed without an announcement. According to a report from Chicago Business Journal, the Cubs could be close to announcing their new broadcast partners. Lewis Lazare reported "decisions about which outlets will get the contracts for years to come could be made in the next two or three weeks." Tribune Co. owned WGN TV and 720 WGN Radio could still be options … [Read more...]
Report: WBBM-AM Leading Candidate to be Cubs Radio Partner
According to a report from the Tribune's Ed Sherman, WBBM-AM has emerged as the leading candidate to become the Cubs new radio partner. Tom Ricketts and Crane Kenney have pointed to Opening Day as the timeframe the team would like to have its radio rights settled with either 720 WGN or a new station that would broadcast Cubs games starting in 2015. According to Sherman's report, WBBM has taken the lead in landing the Cubs over the other outlets thought to be in the mix. WGN-AM 720 exercised … [Read more...]
Tom Ricketts Discusses the Cubs, WGN and Provides Updates on Wrigley Field
After his annual meeting with the team prior to the first full squad workout, Tom Ricketts met with the media for his Spring State of the Cubs Address. The Cubs’ Chairman talked about the upcoming season, the team on the field and the minor league system. Tom Ricketts also discussed the team’s television and radio contracts as well as the team’s payroll. Tom Ricketts talked about the negotiations with the Rooftop Club Owners and said the team plans on having the Budweiser sign in right … [Read more...]
Pitchers and Catchers Continue Pitching and Catching and News from Day Five of Cubs Camp
Pitchers and catchers continued getting their work in Monday while position players rolled in early in advance of Tuesday’s reporting day. According to reports, the second group of pitchers that includes Edwin Jackson, Carlos Villanueva, Jason Hammel, Pedro Strop and Jose Veras completed their second bullpens of the spring with no issues. Javier Baez was added to the list of early birds to camp when he reported to Cubs Park on Monday. Baez met briefly with the beat writers and admitted to … [Read more...]
Day Two of the 2014 Cubs Convention: Cubs Business Operations Update
Crane Kenney and his business operations department was the first session of the afternoon. The Cubs President of Business Operations provided updates on the team’s finances, the TV and radio contracts and the Wrigley Field Restoration project. The Cubs’ contracts with WGN TV and Radio expire after the 2014 season. Crane Kenney is expecting to make an announcement by Opening Day about their radio partnership. Even though Pat Hughes is an employee of WGN, the Cubs have made it clear that if … [Read more...]
Cubs Future on 720 WGN Remains in Question
WGN-AM 720 exercised an option with the Cubs on Oct. 17 to re-open their contract with the team due to "sharply declining ratings because of the Cubs struggles on the field." The uncertainty of the future of the long-time partnership between WGN and the Cubs impacted the search for Pat Hughes’ partner after Keith Moreland decided to move on. WGN has been broadcasting Cubs games since 1925 and would like to continue carrying the games. The contract between the team and WGN expires at the end … [Read more...]
WGN Radio and the Cubs Announce the Hiring of Ron Coomer
The search for a color analyst to call Cubs’ games alongside Pat Hughes officially ended on Friday when 720 WGN and the Cubs announced the hiring of one-time Cubs’ player Ron Coomer. The Hughes & Coomer Show will make its debut in Spring Training. Ron Coomer, 47, played for the Cubs during the 2001 season and he has been part of the Minnesota Twins coverage on Fox Sports North. Patrick Mooney confirmed Robert Feder’s report from Thursday night that Coomer received a two-year contract … [Read more...]