The Story Behind the Cubs Leaving WGN

Tom Taylor has a little more info this morning (via the Sun Times) regarding how and why WBBM wrestled Cubs radio rights away from WGN...

The Chicago Sun-Times says that by going into the concert business with CBS, any revenue from a big concert at Wrigley Field “would be exempt from [the] revenue-sharing calculations” that are reported to Major League Baseball. That would give the Cubs “a potential shelter for some of their local revenue,” by letting the team report that their rights fees from radio hadn’t increased. And CBS could make out by using its radio station assets to promote major shows at venerable Wrigley. Cubs Business President Crane Kenney says “nobody in Chicago has more access to more talent and the top artists than CBS Radio.” Just for starters, CBS has country “US 99.5” WUSN, adult alternative WXRT (93.1) and rhythmic “B96” WBBM-FM. That’s a lot of genres and potential bookings. And CBS could exploit the show well past the far-suburbs of Chicago. CBS Market President Rod Zimmernan mentions an event that CBS did at the Barclay’s Center back East in Brooklyn, which was promoted in 26 markets.