WGN Takes On WBBM

WGN sees an opening next season when WBBM starts airing the Cubs. From Tom Taylor's NOW column...

Chicago’s talk WGN (720) will “put more emphasis and energy into news, particularly while they’re doing baseball.” That’s Tribune manager Jimmy de Castro, and “they” refers to CBS Radio’s all-news WBBM (780/105.9) – the station that’s taking over the Cubs baseball franchise that WGN’s had a monopoly on for decades...So de Castro plans to position a “Business Lunch” show on, weekdays at 12, directly opposite WBBM’s “Noon Business Hour.” Current WGN personalities Bob Sirott and Marianne Murciano will focus on not just the usual Wall Street stuff, but things like “momtrepreneurs,” says Robert Channick in the Chicago Tribune. Aside from the noon hour, de Castro’s hiring former WFLD-TV “Good Day Chicago” co-anchor Anna Davlantes to deliver a “Big Story” during each hour of the Steve Cochran morning show. Sounds like they’ll be using the LDR Interactive “TopicPulse” product to guide story selection about what’s trending online. Channick says WGN “also plans to hire additional news staff and increase its commitment to ‘original reporting’” – again as a way to gain ground against WBBM.