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Jimmy de Castro Talks Cubs, FM, And WGN's Future
August 13, 2014 at 3:58 AM (PT)
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In an interview with ROBERTFEDER.COM, TRIBUNE News-Talk WGN-A and Sports WGWG-LP (THE GAME 87.7)/CHICAGO Pres./GM JIMMY DECASTRO said that losing the radio rights to CHICAGO CUBS baseball was a "big non-issue," suggested that FM signals "will be coming down in price" for future acquisition purposes, and teased a new website and other developments.
On the CUBS, DECASTRO said, "Reaction was of course emotional for our listeners and for us, but in the end, the listeners and our business partners understood the economics and ratings behind the decision. It’s a big non-issue."
On the prospect of acquiring a full-power FM signal (WGWG is the audio carrier of an analog LPTV signal on Channel 6 which will have to be shut down next year when the FCC ends all low power analog television broadcasts), DECASTRO said, "I predict FM signals will be coming down in price. As the combined shareholders of both TRIBUNE BROADCASTING and PUBLISHING changes, our opportunities will come in this area. It’s up to us to be successful enough to warrant future investment."
And on future developments, he said, "The world is converting to audio/video/mobile/social. We just launched a new mobile app, are less than 30 days from a brand new website and features. We hired a three-person video department, a new social media star, and I can’t wait for tomorrow because we are getting better everyday!"
Read the interview by clicking here.

