[BC] The separation of WGN and WFMT

[Rich Wood]

------ At 12:42 PM 2/20/2007, Gordon Carter wrote: -------

>Yes, WGN did give WFMT away, but not for the reasons most did.
>
>WFMT was founded by Bernie and Rita Jacobs, who sold the station to WGN
>when Bernie was in ill health.  A listeners' group challenged WGN's
>ability to operate WFMT, fearing that it would be changed from its
>classical format to something else.

That's how I remember it and it's the same story I got when I worked 
for Tribune. It's a shame because WGN could have had a stranglehold 
on Chicago's upscale audience. As I recall, WFMT had advertisers with 
virtually automatic renewals and Chicago Magazine (originally WFMT's 
Program Guide) was very profitable.

I remember talking about it with Wayne Vriesman when he was head of 
radio. We were both wishing things had turned out differently.

Rich


Rich Wood
Rich Wood Multimedia
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