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Published on Monday, 11 April 2011 18:50
The Chicago Blackhawks' television broadcast schedule was released
earlier today, showing that all of the first round playoff games will be televised on Comcast SportsNet Chicago. The newly added games to the station's schedule pushes other previously scheduled programming -- including Bulls, White Sox and Cubs games -- to alternate channels. However, the radio schedule for the Blackhawks upcoming playoff games isn't as simple.
WGN-AM is the flagship home for Chicago Blackhawks radio broadcasts, but it also happens to be the flagship radio home for Chicago Cubs radio broadcasts. According to the contract WGN-AM and station owner Tribune Broadcasting has with the Chicago Cubs organization, Cubs broadcasts take precedence over all other broadcasts, except in the case of emergency broadcasts or with prior written permission from the Cubs. The Chicago Blackhawks organization was well aware of this arrangement when they first entered, and later renewed with WGN Radio. This means that out of the possible seven games the first round of playoffs could have, four of the games will not be able to be heard on WGN-AM's airwaves.
WGN-AM has instead purchased time from WIND-AM radio and will air these games on their frequency instead. This is a long-standing arrangement between the two stations that benefits both of them.
The Chicago Blackhawks vs Vancouver Canucks first round playoff radio schedule looks like this:
Wednesday, April 13, 9:00pm -- WIND-AM 560 (the end of the game will also be heard on WGN-AM 720, after the Cubs post-game show)
Friday, April 15, 9:00pm -- WIND-AM 560 (the end of the game will also be heard on WGN-AM 720, after the Cubs post-game show)
Sunday, April 17, 7:00pm -- WGN-AM 720
Tuesday, April 19, 7:00pm -- WIND-AM 560
Thursday, April 21, 9:00pm -- WGN-AM 720
- if necessary
Sunday, April 24, 6:30pm -- WGN-AM 720
- if necessary
Tuesday, April 26, (Time TBD) -- WIND-AM 560, although some of the game could be on WGN-AM 720 depending on the still TBD start time
- if necessary
Since Major League Baseball does not allow the streaming of baseball games by local radio stations, WGNRadio.com will instead be streaming all of the Blackhawks games on their website, for those unable to receive WIND-AM's signal.
Regardless of where the games are heard, be they on WGN, WIND or online, the regular broadcast team of John Wiedeman and Troy Murray will still handle the calls of all of the playoff games.
WGN-AM is also planning a kind of kick-off party to the Chicago Blackhawks' postseason tomorrow morning. On Tuesday, between 11:00am and 2:00pm, WGN Radio will be holding a "WGN Radio Blackhawks Bash." The party will be held just outside of the WGN Radio Showcase Studio and Tribune Tower in the Pioneer Court. There will be appearances by Blackhawks legends Stan Mikita, Denis Savard and Bobby Hull, Blackhawks mascot Tommy Hawk, the Blackhawks Ice Crew, the Blackhawks Blues Mobile and more. From 11:30am-1:30, there will also be live music from local favorite band Dot Dot Dot.
During the same time frame, Stan Mikita, Denis Savard and Bobby Hull will stop inside the radio studio to talk on the air, and Blackhawks radio play-by-play announcer John Wiedieman will call in from Vancouver.
