When the Chicago Cubs signed a new, long-term radio deal with WBBM/CBS last year after parting ways with WGN, there was always an understanding among observers that the Cubs could actually wind up on 670 WSCR The Score after the 2015 season given (1) The Score’s affiliation with CBS, and (2) The Score’s deal with the White Sox coming up after the 2015 season.
Now, Robert Feder reports that the White Sox rights after 2015 have indeed been bid away to another AM station – WLS 890 – which means The Score could be looking for a new baseball team to back in the 2016 season and beyond. Feder adds that the Cubs’ deal with WBBM explicitly allows for a one-time move to The Score after the 2015 season, so this was all pretty clearly contemplated in advance, at least as a “just in case” scenario.
We’ll see what happens, though I think you can tentatively start planning to tune in to AM-670 next year for the Cubs. As a sports radio station – rather than a broader news radio station – The Score makes a lot more sense for the Cubs than WBBM, and, since they’re affiliated, there might not be a lot of acrimony about CBS making the move.
I’m already a fan of The Score, and if they did pick up the Cubs’ rights, we’d probably also see more Cubs-related radio programming at the station, which benefits Chicago area listeners as well as folks outside the area who simply enjoy listening to more Cubs content.