A deal to find a new operator for 87.7 FM, formerly the home of short-lived sports talker The Game, remains up in the air, giving WGN Radio an ongoing opportunity to fill what would otherwise be radio silence for Los Angeles-based Venture Technologies Group, which owns the frequency.
"Venture Technologies has asked us to simulcast for another month, and we've agreed to do that," said Todd Manley, vice president of content and programming at Tribune Media's WGN Radio.
Tribune Media, which owns WGN-AM 720, signed an 18-month lease for 87.7 FM and launched The Game in February. Low ratings doomed the sports talk format, which ended its run on New Year's Eve.
While WGN has no obligation to operate the station, it agreed to simulcast its AM signal on FM during January, while Venture Technologies looked for a new long-term operator. Sources say Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting, a family-owned television station group that also operates MeTV, the nation's largest multicast network, is in negotiations with Venture Technologies to take over the frequency.
Paul Koplin, CEO of Venture Technologies, confirmed the one-month WGN extension Friday, and said the company is "looking to change formats in late February." He said they have not signed a deal for a long-term operator.
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