For football fans, BOTH college & NFL, the season is on the cusp of kicking off. While NFL season is still 2 weeks away from kicking off, some Bears-related programming is already coming into focus.
FOX 32 has extended its contract as the Chicago Bears' official TV partner, coinciding with the network's NFL package. The FOX-owned station will have "Bears GameDay Live" Sundays @ 10:30A (CT) & "Bears GameNight Live" Sundays @ 10:35P (CT) starting September 10. However, "Bears Postgame Live" is shifting over to Marquee Sports Network as soon as the games go final this season. The team's OFFICIAL postgame show had aired on FOX 32 as well as FOX-owned My 50 immediately after the games for 90 minutes.
FOX Sports has also assigned its #1 NFL crew of Kevin Burkhardt, onetime former Bears' TE Greg Olsen, sideline reporters Erin Andrews & Tom Rinaldi for the Bears' home opener September 10 @ 3:25P (CT) vs the Green Bay Packers at Soldier Field.
With ESPN 1000 AM taking over the Bears' radio broadcasts from WBBM 780 AM/WCFS 105.9 FM, still called by Jeff Joniak & Tom Thayer with former FB Jason McKie now serving as the team's sideline reporter this season, it's been learned that White Sox baseball broadcasts will shift back to 720 AM WGN Radio on football Sundays. WGN Radio had carried Sox games from 2018-20 before signing on with ESPN 1000 under a multi-year contract in 2021.
Speaking of WGN, it appears as if Channel 9 is getting back in the sports business, by way of the CW's upcoming deal to carry ACC football & basketball broadcasts. WGN 9 is listed as the Chicago station for the Cincinnati/Pittsburgh college football game on Saturday, September 9.
Keep in mind that CW's parent company is Nexstar, which recently bought controlling interest in the network. Nexstar also owns WGN-TV & WGN Radio, too. It makes one wonder if the CW might be reuniting with Channel 9 once its deal with WCIU 26 expires next year. Stay tuned on that one.
It also remains to be seen if Nexstar & DIRECTV will reach a compromise on its ongoing dispute over carriage fees. The dispute, which started in July, is nearly 2 months old and shows no signs of ending. As a result, Channel 9 & NewsNation (The former WGN America) remain off the air for DIRECTV subscribers.
Some more information regarding Marquee becoming the new home of "Bears Postgame Live" immediately following most Bears' games this season.
Cole Wright, who is already Cubs' pre & postgame host, will add "Bears' Postgame Live" host to his resume at the regional sports network. He'll be joined in the Marquee studio by former QB Jim Miller, the team's preseason TV analyst. Radio voice Jeff Joniak from ESPN 1000 AM will also take part from wherever the Bears are playing. The postgame will last 90 minutes and include live press conferences as it happens.
Wright also returns as host of the weekly "Bear Essentials" for the 3rd year in a row. Radio analyst Tom Thayer & Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Hampton co-host every Tuesday at 5P (CT) on Marquee. New to the lineup is "Bears Den". It's a new 30 minute show hosted by Marquee's Taylor McGregor with former Bears WR Tom Waddle, one half of ESPN 1000's "Waddle & Silvy" afternoon show. "Bears Den" will be seen at 5P (CT) Thursdays throughout this Bears' season.
on August 28, 2023, 1:08 am