So long Cubs: WGN America making switch; no longer will air Chicago sports coast-to-coast

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Got complaint notes over the weekend from disgruntled sports fans, including transplanted Chicagoans, who are upset that Tribune Co. soon will discontinue airing Cubs, White Sox and Bulls games on WGN America.

Lynne Marek of Crain’s Chicago Business wrote about the situation Friday.

Actually, this isn’t breaking news. It is well known that Tribune Co. is converting WGN America from a Superstation to a full-scale basic cable network with a full slate of original entertainment programming. As a result, it will be prohibited from showing the games because of MLB and NBA contracts. Note: Blackhawks games weren’t on WGN America.

Tribune Co. CEO Peter Ligouri doesn’t appear broken up about the prospect of no sports on WGN America. From Marek’s story:

“If the Cubs continue on this path to virtual irrelevancy, it’s really not going to matter,” he said at a recent New York media conference in a tongue-in-cheek preamble to his bottom-line reasoning: “When you look at the Bulls, the White Sox, the Cubs and the Blackhawks, outside of the greater Chicago (designated market area), they really do lose their attraction.”

Indeed, the media landscape has changed considerably since the late 70s and 80s when Harry Caray and the Cubs telecasts made WGN such a huge player when cable was gaining its foothold. Take a look at this vintage WGN promo for Caray in 1987.

Just like Ted Turner hitting it big by airing Atlanta Braves on his Superstation, WTBS, the Cubs games not only transformed WGN by airing coast-to-coast, but also the franchise. Caray sold the charm of Wrigley Field to millions of viewers who soon became fans. In the process, “Heyyy Harreee” became a national icon.

Also, back then, the only baseball you saw besides your home team was “The Game of The Week” on NBC. There was a certain novelty in being able to watch games on a daily basis from Chicago and Atlanta.

Obviously, things change. Baseball is available everyday on multiple outlets. And if you want to pay the price, you can watch every game via MLB Extra Innings.

Reportedly, the Chicago sports that aired on WGN America were among the lowest-rated programs on the network. Marek writes:

Advertising income from that sports programming contributes just $250,000 to income, he told the audience at the MoffettNathanson Media & Communications Summit on May 15. That’s less than 1 percent of Chicago-based Tribune’s $234.3 million in operating profit last year.

Time marches on. In fact, Turner marched on long ago, transforming TBS in an entertainment network. Tribune Co. is doing the same thing with WGN America.

 

 

 

3 thoughts on “So long Cubs: WGN America making switch; no longer will air Chicago sports coast-to-coast”

  1. I understand that this is a business decision, but it sucks for all of us former Chicagoans living outside the area. It’s the worst for White Sox fans who will now get to watch their team nationally once a year. But the good news is, you can still enjoy most Yankees and Red Sox games on ESPN…

  3. This is just so sad. I have been a Cubs fan all my life and have lived in different parts of the country and have always found a little bit of home being able to watch Cubs games on WGN. In fact, I grew up in Racine, WI, and watched every game with my dad–back when they were all on WGN. It just won’t be the same. Another tradition gone…and a lot harder to grow the fan base across the country and to keep the current fan base watching games.

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