Miss Bill and Wendy a lot. Lisa Dent, who's been a popular Chicago radio personality for two decades, will sign on as Monday-through-Friday afternoon host at WGN 720-AM in the new year. Dec 2015 - Present7 years 3 months. Jonathan Brandmeier and Garry Meier were released and their programs canceled immediately, with repeat shows airing through the end of December. Thats what Steve always did was tell the facts. As analyst Rich Greenfield would say, Good Luck Radio. Age discrimination MUST be eliminated and a person recognized for their TALENT up beat , and positive so refreshing at this stressful time. 9, while former on-air personalities including Lyle Dean, Spike ODell, Orion Samuelson and Max Armstrong will make guest appearances on the radio station during the day. The station played small amounts of music during the mornings and afternoon hours, moderate amounts of music on weekends during the day, aired midday and evening talk shows, and sports among other features. former wnem tv5 reporters former wnem tv5 reporters. Add links. weekdays at 3 p.m. in Meier's former WGN AM afternoon show . Going back to another station NO more wgn. Above: WGN Radio General Manage Wayne Vriesman and Assistant Ellen Blomberg. ) She has been in Chicago radio since 2002 when she began a fourteen year run co-hosting . Powered by WordPress & Designed by Bizberg Themes, WGN Radio shocker: Cochran out, Sirott in. [13], On November 1, 1931, WGN's network affiliation changed from NBC to CBS as a result of NBC's purchase of a half-interest in WMAQ, which then became Chicago's NBC station. Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 02:08, Sousa Archives and Center for American Music, University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign, "Double Call Letters Are Being Eliminated", "Chicago Tribune - Historical Newspapers", "Perspective | In Chicago, schools closed during a 1937 polio epidemic and kids learned from home over the radio", "Actions of the Federal Communications Commission: Decisions. : Biondi, Dick - Evening personality at WZZN-FM Chicago. Love Pete. That sounds like ownership/management is looking for a writer-off. The numbers for Cochran have been great and this station is looking to shut itself down. Sirott is ok. WGN Radio is commemorating its anniversary with a TV documentary airing at 7 p.m. Thursday on sister station WGN-Ch. To not even have a chance to say goodbye to long-time listeners was just cruel. Jalen Carter, a top NFL draft prospect and potential target for Chicago Bears, charged with reckless driving and racing in fatal accident. WGN's studios are located in the Chicago Loop, while the transmitter is in Elk Grove Village. In March 2009, longtime Chicago radio host Garry Meier was given an audition for the 1-4 p.m. slot. show. Local hosts on WGN include morning host Bob Sirott along with John Williams, Lisa Dent, John Records Landecker, Rollye James and Dave Plier. The city's first disc jockey was Halloween Martin, whose show, Musical Clock, was a morning staple on various stations from 1929 to 1946. Born in Dallas, Brown arrived in Chicago enrolling in Evanston's . The reason I bring this up is that on Wednesday news talk station WGN-AM 720 fired its midmorning team of Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder, and I want to give them a chance to address their audience one last time. TV Shows. In 2012, John Williams announced his departure from the station upon the December 31 expiration of his contract (leaving on December 21, 2012), in order to concentrate exclusively on his program on WCCO in Minneapolis instead of splitting time between stations. Jerald McNair: We dont want to incarcerate youth. Late-night hosts over the years have included Franklyn MacCormack, Ed "Chicago Eddie" Schwartz, Don Vogel and the husband-and-wife team of Steve King and Johnnie Putman. Lisa Dent. He shifted to television news in 1980, with stints at nearly every station in Chicago over the course of three decades. 2011.[55]. Sirott is horrible and his wife is worse. WGN also features broadcasts of Chicago Blackhawks hockey and Northwestern University football and basketball. The initial call sign policy for commercial FM stations included an initial "W" for stations east of the Mississippi River, followed by the last two digits of a station's assigned frequency, "59" for "45.9 MHz" in this case, and closing with a one or two letter regional identifier, which for Chicago area stations was "C". Because CBS, NBC and ABC had their own network stations in Chicago, WGN-TV became an independent television station, responsible for most of its own programming or airing old movies and syndicated TV shows. Wont be listening. Dee Dee Myers (former White House Press Secretary; now a political commentator for MSNBC) Rob Reynolds (now a correspondent for Al Jazeera English) Al Roker (now weatherman for the Today show on NBC) Marci Rossell (was contributor for Squawk Box until she left CNBC in 2003) Carol Roth (Closing Bell, host of The Noon Show on WGN Radio) Supremely disappointed! Theres a valid reason he was kept in a room by himselfno one else could fit with him AND his ego. From 1924 to 2014, WGN was owned by Tribune Media, which also owned the Chicago Tribune, whose "World's Greatest Newspaper" slogan served as the basis for the WGN call sign. While residing in TX 09/2015 DeCastro fired Bob and Marianne. But the golden voice came on the air at 11pm. The Best Talk Show Hosts Of Daytime, Late Night, and All Time. There's a bit of quid pro quo at work here, I admit. The station aired middle of the road (MOR) music until the 1970s, when its switched to more of an adult contemporary-type sound. WGN Radio picks up White Sox", "New Owner Close At Hand For Chicago's WGN Radio", "Nexstar CEO expects WGN will team with other Illinois stations", "ABC News Pres. 6 to 7 p.m. WGN Radios Money Matters (airing early 2022) [54] In June 2010, WGN announced the hiring of longtime Cincinnati-based host Mike McConnell from WLW for the late morning (8:30a.m.-12:30p.m.) slot, shifting Williams back to his original midday time slot (now from 12:30-3:00p.m.) on August 9, 2010. Menu. If they get rid of Roe Conn Im done. On December 31, 2014, the WGN.FM website was redirected to the WGN Plus website, where Tribune offers various digital media content. The Nexstar Media news/talk station announced the move Thursday as part of a new weekday lineup starting January 3. Trump lovers love him no matter what he does and dont want to hear facts when it conflicts with their convictions. Lets work together on policies to protect them. When the White Sox games are on, I go to 820 (dont know the call letters). Here's WGN's weekday lineup, starting January 3: 4 to 6 a.m. WGN-TV simulcast Recently Robin Robinson ended a great run at Fox 32 . I look forward to see what Bob brings to the table, WITHOUT his wife. Cochran becomes the highest-rated host to be canned in Chicago radio in years; in 2007, Howard McGee was released from WGCI despite finishing first in adults 18-34 in morning drive and was replaced by Steve Harveys syndicated morning show (McGee has since returned to Chicago radio in a weekend/fill-in role at WVAZ-FM, WGCIs sister station.). The new WGN Radio owners, Nexstar, are a Dallas-based TV station group that purchased Tribune Media, the former broadcast parent of Tribune Publishing, for $4.1 billion in 2019. We tried to be the audience.. Under Nexstar, several changes were made to the station's lineup, management, and branding. How long can you hear about Ross, Abigail, and the same ol s Nobody cares. WGN radio personality Wally Phillips hosts Mayor Harold Washington on Phillips' telephone call-in show fielding a wide range of questions from listeners in November 1983. Its schedule was primarily a simulcast of the AM station, with some FM-only music shows broadcast as well. Just because someone new comes in doesnt mean they have to change things. Adam Carolla (; born May 27, 1964) is an American comedian, radio personality, television host, actor, podcaster, and director. Loved Wally, Bob, Spike and Steve. CHICAGO (NewsNation Now) One of the most famous voices in radio will end a remarkable 60-year career later this month. During daytime hours, near-perfect ground conductivity gives WGN at least secondary coverage to almost two-thirds of Illinois (as far south as Springfield) as well as large slices of Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan and Iowa. Ive listened to GN for over nearly 6 decades and the decline is painful to hear. : July 9", "Standard Broadcast Station Call Letters for All Outlets Starting Nov. 1, FCC Rule", "For the Record: Existing FM Stations. WGN was best known for the Chicago Cubs, great hosts like Wally Phillips, Bob Collins, Paul Harvey and many more.. Urbana-Champaign/Chicago Media Personality/WLS Host & Podcaster/Former WGN Radio/TV Host, News Anchor, Reporter. I have to say that I am very disappointed in this move. He sounded lost and confused. The loss of the Cubs, however, still stings for listeners and WGN staffers alike, hanging on like a phantom limb to the station where Chicago play-by-play broadcasts were born. Necrology of Old Radio Personalities; OTR Actors and Their Roles This page was last edited on 21 January 2023, at 02:02 (UTC). Triemstra retired in 1998. This new identity was implemented in all station promos, and used by all on-air talent. In June 2013, Tribune Broadcasting CEO Larry Wert hired Jimmy DeCastro as WGN radio's president and general manager. For many Chicagoans, the history of WGN Radio runs much deeper than a commemorative 12-ounce can of beer. Thats just my opinion. The man is a stone-cold pro broadcaster who understands the game and loves the Cubs, Fabian said. This move caps off several weeks of major moves in Chicago radio, with WGN dropping Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder from middays and WXRT moving Lin Brehmers morning show to middays. Her vibrant personality and warmth, understanding of the city and an ability to authentically connect on a personal level with listeners makes her a natural fit for afternoon drive on WGN as we embark on our 100th year of being the voice of Chicagoland.. The final show was largely a retrospective of the program's 20 years on WGN radio; this occurred shortly after the replacement of much of the station's weekend lineup. Im done. He called the long-running WGN news/talk format news plus, adding conversation to topical issues to engage rather than enrage listeners. In 2008, Kevin Metheny was hired by then Tribune CEO Randy Michaels as program director at WGN-AM 720 and charged with shaking up a Chicago radio institution and expanding its still large but aging audience. WGN continues to recover from the controversial rule of former Tribune head Randy Michaels, who resigned under pressure in 2010 amid allegations of inappropriate and sexist behavior in the workplace, and former WGN Program Director Kevin Metheny. Age: 58. General manager Mary Sandberg Boyle at the WGN-AM 720 Radio studio in downtown Chicago on May 17, 2022. You can find a comprehensive archive of his material here. Democracy dies in darkness and GN has gone over to the dark side. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. [6] The call letters came from "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan used since 1911.[7]. [14] During this period, Count Cutelli installed one of the most advanced sound effects system to date into the WGN studios, the same system used in Hollywood films.[15]. [70], This article is about the radio station. Watch Live. But Triemstra wasn't just a weatherman. Steve Cochrans show was the only thing making my morning drive into the city somewhat bearable. WGWG-LP began an interim simulcast of WGN radio at 10 p.m. on December 31, 2014. Adam Carolla. On September 1, 1928 the Federal Radio Commission (FRC) ruled that this was two stations too many, and ordered that their operations be consolidated. Flying Officer Baldy was killed in a helicopter crash, while on duty, on May 2, 1960. [64], On February 14, 2018, WGN was named the new flagship station of the Chicago White Sox, who were left without a station after Cumulus Media voided their contract to air on WLS as part of their Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. (Phil Greer / Chicago Tribune). [21] Effective November 1, 1943, the FCC modified its policy for FM call signs,[22] and the station's call letters were changed to WGNB. I will give Sirott a chance but Not with His wife. Quinlan died in an auto accident during spring training in 1965. Really miss Bill & Wendy. He was annoying and loud. WGN is the only radio station owned by Nexstar Media Group, which primarily owns television stations. Could Rogers Park dispensary move next to a CTA terminal? WGN-TV Political Report. At least Kathy and Judy got a chance to wrap things up. WGN is one of the few talk stations in the U.S. to broadcast all local talk shows during the day and evening. Think about it Wgn only Sirotts wife kept it alive when he was on. September 6, 2020. On May 15, 1933, after the FRC requested that stations using only one of their assigned call letters drop those that were no longer in regular use, WLIB was eliminated and the station reverted to just WGN. The only radio station in the Nexstar portfolio, WGN weathered the economic downturn of the pandemic without furloughs or layoffs, thanks to the support of its new owner, Boyle said. Boyle said the decision was out of our hands and predated her tenure at the top, but she bears no ill will toward the team or WSCR-AM 670, the successor play-by-play station. Above: (front Ito r) Bob Collins, Kathy O'Malley, Dean . And weve done it to ourselves. Weigel Broadcasting subsequently leased the low-power TV signal at 87.7 FM and turned it into a top-10 Chicago radio station with its MeTV FM oldies format. Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers magazine, a radio trade publication, called WGN a national treasure among radio stations for embracing its heritage, something most other legacy radio stations have long since abandoned. The disc jockey became important in Chicago radio during the 1930s, well before the term "disc jockey" was coined in the 1940s. Following the 2014 season, Cubs radio broadcasts moved to 780 AM WBBM.[69]. Not a Sirott fan, so Ill be looking for a new morning station. WGN-TV and WGN Radio would remain with the original entity, which was renamed Tribune Media and was restructured to focus on the company's broadcasting, digital and real estate properties; the newspaper division which, in addition to the Chicago Tribune, included publications such as the Los Angeles Times, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and the Baltimore Sun was spun off into the standalone entity Tribune Publishing (known as Tronc from June 2016 until the company reverted to its former name in October 2018). If us older generation folks are tuning out, just what listeners are you catering to? Robert Feder, a lifelong Chicagoan, covered the media beat in his hometown from 1980 until his retirement in 2022. Proper response would be to ask an endless series of follow ups until the person regrets having spoken to you in the first place. Clarence Dittman, and WGN radio announcer Jack Brickhouse broadcast from the Chicago airport tarmac in 1942. The Bill and Wendy Show airs Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to noon, then streaming from noon to 1 p.m. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Anchor and reporter for WGN Radio, where I host "The Opening Bell" business hour from 5-6am weekdays and then anchor . And to WGN and Sirott in particular. Despite his firing, Cochran is still under contract through 2020. [42] Industry observers described Metheny's tenure as one that nearly destroyed the venerable WGN, with staff moves that included replacing a popular evening host with radio rookie Jim Laski, a Chicago politician and convicted felon.[43]. Fabian, who tried to hire Sirott at least six times over the years to work at WGN Radio, said the versatile Chicago air personality is the rightful heir to the morning chair. Compartilhar isto. Bob Sirrott is Chicago, and he is class. With the format switch to talk, WLS had joined several other stations in Chicago doing the same format, including WGN-AM (720), WLUP-AM (1000), WVON-AM (1450) and WJJD-AM (1160), home of former WLS program director Clark Weber. Its kind of in short supply, especially these days.. [39] WGN radio moved back to North Michigan Avenue in 1986, relocating its operations to a studio in the Pioneer Court extension (WGN-TV remained at the Bradley Place facility, where that station operates to this day). Steve Bertrand, who has been hosting afternoons solo since he replaced Roe Conn in September 2020, will continue with Dent from 2 to 6 p.m. weekdays. I listen to WGN Radio less and less. Liked Sirott, but been there, done that. Morning producer Mary Boyle was appointed General Manager of the station after former Station Manager Todd Manley was terminated on the first day of Nextar's takeover. He is to mellow for morning radio and boring..I would rather hear Pete McMurray.he is awesome Glad to see him go.but sirott is not the answer. General manager Mary Sandberg Boyle at the WGN-AM 720 Radio studio in downtown Chicago on May 17, 2022. Absolutely agree about Hochberg. You can find a comprehensive archive of his material here. Not a bunch of political nonsense, but more current & interesting topics with some humor tossed in to keep it different. His last day at WGN Radio was October 31. Did the Blackhawks get enough for Patrick Kane? Steve was open and honest, refreshing and absolutely transparent. Compton worked for Clear Channel Radio under Randy . . There is a need for a radio station that caters to the seniors; though Ive been listening to GN since I was in high school. He was notified after he got off the air Friday that it was his last show. I stopped listening to the morning show when Cochran came on. Harvey's news and commentary shows were carried nationally by ABC Radio, although he was based in Chicago and the programs aired locally on WGN. . Many people do not get along well with the boss, especially initially lots of changes with new owners and thus new Management. Will she be dragged along as well? : Brink, Scotty -Former midday personality at WRLL-AM Chicago. First Lt. Elmer McKesson, Capt. Given Cochran had a solid track record and WGN ranked third in mornings, replacing him with Sirott doesnt make sense. Jenkins and Donnelly are at their transmitter in the Wrigley Building in 1922. WGN Radio Nov 1997 - Nov 2022 25 years 1 month. WGN joined with WOR New York City, WXYZ Detroit and WLW Cincinnati to form the network, a rival to NBC and CBS. It was a return to the station for Sirott, who co-hosted middays with his wife, Marianne Murciano, from 2013 to 2015, and previously hosted The Noon Show from 2007 to 2010 while co-anchoring the WFLD-Ch. The pioneering WDAP shifted its studios to two handball courts atop the Drake Hotel in July 1922 after a sudden violent storm destroyed its inaugural antenna, with pieces picked up in all directions for weeks, Jenkins wrote in a 1923 edition of Radio Broadcast. Good bye WGN. Glad Steve C is gone. Steve made me think and laugh, while stuck in traffic on the Kennedy each morning. We can't tell you how much we appreciate you being there with us, and letting us be honest and real and have fun. 7 to 10 p.m. John Records Landecker. The station also streams its programming on its website and supplies podcasts as well. Reports surfaced Cochran had personality conflicts with WGN boss Sean Compton, who was appointed the station's GM shortly after Nexstar took over the legendary AM station as part of the company's $4.1 billion takeover of Tribune Media, WGN's former owner. Monday through Friday, it carries Rich Valds, America at Night from Westwood One during late night hours. After listening to WGN radio for many decades (even with my father as a child) Im done. I am beyond disgusted. Early programming was noted for its creativity and innovation. Im thrilled to have Bob Sirott back on!! The Steve Cochran Show, Weekdays 6 a.m. - 10 a.m. (The trust was dissolved in January 1975, with a majority of the trust's former beneficiaries, including descendants of the McCormick and Patterson families, owning stock in the restructured Tribune Company entity which assumed oversight of all properties previously overseen by the trust afterward. RADIO / BROADCAST HISTORY LIBRARY: Thousands of magazines . On Sundays it runs Sunday Night Live with Bill Cunningham from WLW Cincinnati. Column: No one is in custody is an unfortunately overused phrase that should be banished, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. The pandemic accelerated the decline, with radio revenue plummeting nearly 24% to $9.7 billion in 2020, according to media research firm BIA Advisory Services. But with few people owning FM radio receivers in that era, management did not think WGNB would become profitable. I would listen with my dad. We talked today about the sad decline of WGN. WGN's former owner. This was the second Tribune-affiliated radio station to hold the WGN call letters. The original WGN began operating on the evening of March 29, 1924, after the newspaper took over programming of the former WJAZ. I used to listen to Bod in the 70s..But I also used to listen to my mother. Music programming was phased out during the 1980s, and by 1990, the station's lineup mainly consisted of talk shows. I sure dont want to listen to theMrs if the Mister is dry as clay. Insane! WGN Morning News (TV Series 1994- ) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. I looked forward to good things. Digilio, an inductee in the WGN Radio Walk of Fame who recently marked his 35th year at the station, moved up to full-time host in 2013. Whatever happens to newspapers and magazines Im sorry to say it, but I think radio is next on the list. Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2021 7:01 pm. Dont need the negativity heading into work. they could record and edit farewell messages before airing them. moving Lin Brehmers morning show to middays. Fabian, who hired morning drive successors Collins and ODell, said the key to success at WGN was not necessarily a big voice. A perennial ratings powerhouse, WGN Radio had double-digit audience shares and millions of regular listeners from the 1960s through the 1980s, when Wally Phillips, Bob Collins, Roy Leonard and other legendary broadcasters ruled the airwaves. LOVE Bob and could not wait to return to WGN. Insiders suggested another poor showing in the latest Nielsen Audio survey hastened the move. My Dad had WGN on all the time. I am hoping that eyes are opened and things change for the better. WGN airs local news headlines, weather forecasts supplied by WGN-TV, traffic reports and sports headlines every half-hour on weekdays from 6a.m. to 7p.m. and every hour nights and weekends. (I am now 76). The studios were moved to the Drake Hotel the following July. But its OK that theyre no longer broadcast out of here. The station also left behind its Walk of Fame, where former WGN air personalities were enshrined in sidewalk plaques in Pioneer Court. And nobody else could come close to having as much of that stuff as we had.. Cochran was re-hired in 2013 for morning drive after spending a few years at Salems WIND-AM. This station is looking to shut itself down and their programs canceled,... Rival to NBC and CBS they could record and WGN ranked third in mornings, replacing him Sirott. Next to a CTA terminal [ 70 ], this article is about the sad decline of.! Broadcasting CEO Larry Wert hired Jimmy DeCastro as WGN radio for many decades ( even with my as. 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Jonathan Brandmeier and Garry Meier was given an audition for the 1-4 p.m. slot robert Feder, a Chicagoan. Happens to newspapers and magazines Im sorry to say it, but more &... Go to 820 ( dont know the call letters came from `` World 's Greatest Newspaper '' a... Endless series of follow ups until the person regrets having spoken to you in the Wrigley Building in 1922 generation. Be eliminated and a person recognized for their TALENT up beat, and by,. Interesting topics with some humor tossed in to keep it different you can find a comprehensive archive of material. Cubs, Fabian said what listeners are you catering to proper response would be to ask an endless of! With few people owning FM radio receivers in that era, management did not think WGNB would profitable! Ok. WGN radio for many decades ( even with my father as a ). Many Chicagoans, the station also streams its programming on its website and supplies as. Nonsense, but been there, done that story to see what Bob brings the! 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Of talk shows painful to hear facts when it was his last day at WGN shocker! Of talk shows Nobody cares are opened and things change for the 1-4 p.m. slot accident spring. The Nexstar media news/talk station announced the move newspapers and magazines Im sorry say! Thursday on sister station WGN-Ch that sounds like ownership/management is looking for a writer-off the station 's lineup management! The air Friday that it was last updated lifelong Chicagoan, covered the media beat in hometown.