Posted by chicagomedia.org on July 31, 2009 at 11:29:18:
Southwest Florida radio stations become affiliate of Chicago Cubs, Bears
By PAUL PFEIFER
Posted July 30, 2009 at 6:49 p.m. , updated July 30, 2009 at 7:31 p.m.
NAPLES - Transplanted Chicagoans can rejoice. Well, at least the North Siders.
Radio stations WCNZ/AM 1660 in Collier County and WMYR/AM 1410 in Lee County are now affiliates of the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears, station general manager Mike Peot said Thursday.
The Cubs broadcasts could begin as early as this weekend, Peot said, pending the arrival of a piece of equipment from Chicago. The deal also includes any potential playoff games.
"We think with the Illinois and Chicago population in Southwest Florida, this should be an attractive piece of programming," Peot said.
During football season, the stations will carry the Chicago Bears' four preseason and 16 regular-season games, as well as playoff games.
WCNZ and WMYR currently carry Fort Myers Miracle games on Friday and Saturday nights. Peot said Cubs games would be pre-empted to satisfy their contract with the Miracle.
Peot also said some conflicts could arise in the fall, when WCMZ and WMYR air high school football games on Friday night.
The station, owned by Sovereign City Radio Services of Green Bay, Wis., is exploring whether the pre-empted broadcasts could be shifted to WVOI/AM 1480 in Marco Island.
Peot said the move has been warmly received by the Naples business community.
"Some of our early conversations with businesses throughout Naples has been very, very positive," Peot said. "I think the way businesses are looking at this, there's a large population from Chicago and Illinois out here. This is one way to serve them and keep them here."