Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Tribune Could Be Looking To Buy Some FMs

Jonathon Brandmeier
Jonathon Brandmeier may be off terrestrial radio, but that could change.

According to Chicagland Radio & Media, Chicago radio superstar Brandmeier has been the morning show host for WGN-AM since late December 2011. While overall ratings have been strong, Brandmeier was not able to bring a slightly younger demographic to the AM station, as originally hoped. More serious listeners did not care for his fun, loose, and hyper-paced show. Longtime WGN Radio fans wanted a return to the lighter type of talk show that the station has long been famous for. They will soon be getting just that.

Brandmeier is far from done with Tribune Broadcasting, however. Since earlier this year, Tribune Broadcasting has been rumored to be aggressively looking to pick up more radio stations, including at least one more in Chicago.

According to CR&M, it is widely believed that one of the many reasons Tribune Broadcasting brought aboard Jimmy de Castro this past spring as WGN Radio's new President and General Manager was for his premier talents in acquiring radio stations.

Among the stations rumored to be in Tribune Broadcasting's sights are Merlin Media's WLUP-FM (a station previously operated by Jimmy de Castro and Tribune Broadcasting President Larry Wert) and WIQI-FM.

Tribune Broadcasting would have some federal regulations concerning newspaper/TV/radio ownership to work around, but it appears a plan is in place to help leap over that hurdle.

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