Community Corner
End of an Era? Cubs - WGN TV May Part Ways
Half-century relationship could end in 2014.
Say it ain't so Mr. Ricketts.
Chicago Cubs broadcasts may be signing off on WGN TV at the end of the 2014 season.
The Chicago Tribune reports that Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts, in a hunt for increasing the team's revenue, is likely to end WGN's agreement to televise games from the Friendly Confines.
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Radio broadcasts will not be affected.
Andy Pafko, Peanuts Lowery and Phil Cavarretta were on the roster in 1948 when the relationship between the Cubs and WGN began their relationship.
Find out what's happening in Oak Park-River Forestwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Tribune reports that the hiring of Harry Caray and the move to become a superstation spread the gospel of Cubs baseball nationally during the 1980s, helping turn the lovable losers into a lucrative franchise.
Tribune Co. steadily decreased the number of Cubs games on WGN over the years because more money could be made on cable. And now that the company no longer owns the team, the Rickettses have no obligation to keep the games on their station, the newspaper reports.
Discussions on rights fees for television are expected to start this year.
