Terms of Dents agreement, negotiated by attorney Steve Mandell, were not disclosed. After a protracted four-year process, on December 31, 2012, Tribune formally exited from bankruptcy under the control of its senior debt holders, Oaktree Capital Management, JPMorgan Chase and Angelo, Gordon & Co.[48][49][50], On July 10, 2013, Tribune announced plans to split off its broadcasting and newspaper interests into two separate companies. I actually turned Sirott off today-dull with not much to say. When Chicago radio enthusiasts Thorne Donnelley and Elliott Jenkins fired up a newfangled transmitter from the Wrigley Building on May 19, 1922, they launched one of the first experimental stations in the U.S., piercing the airwaves with a mlange of talk, weather reports and concerts as the precursor to WGN Radio. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune). SHARE. 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. 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. And its a very difficult thing to do in 2022.. Despite his firing, Cochran is still under contract through 2020. I never could understand why WGN put him on the air so he could promote his mortgage business disguised as giving advice to people. The station aired middle of the road (MOR) music until the 1970s, when its switched to more of an adult contemporary-type sound. Cubs aside, he said WGN today is very similar to the station many Chicagoans grew up with, making it something of an outlier in the tightly-formatted world of corporate radio. Shame on you. That did it never listened again until today. On April 2, 2009, WGN announced that Meier would join the station full-time as host of a program in the 1-4 p.m. slot (airing most weekdays when the program is not pre-empted by Chicago Cubs broadcasts); his first official show occurred that same day. He was notified after he got off the air Friday that it was his last show. Elliott Jenkins, left, and Thorne Donnelly, right, are the original owners of WDAP, the predecessor to WGN radio. Ill start listening to WGN again.bring back Brandmeier!! This is a true loss and I am still looking for another radio station to listen to because I have stopped listening to WGN, and I now watch the news on TV and listen to music during morning drive. Quinlan died in an auto accident during spring training in 1965. If its not broke dont fix it. The disc jockey became important in Chicago radio during the 1930s, well before the term "disc jockey" was coined in the 1940s. All night and all weekend long, they re-play hours and hours of recent programming, no new content, and none of the familiar, friendly voices we enjoyed. [65], Tribune Media was acquired by Nexstar Media Group for $4.1 billion in September 2019, marking the first time since 1924 that WGN radio would not be owned by any iteration of the Tribune Company. The new lineup also brings later start times to morning host Bob Sirott and midday host John Williams. Whatever happens to newspapers and magazines Im sorry to say it, but I think radio is next on the list. What the hell is wrong with WGN? WGN-AM 720. Rivian expects a loss of $4.5 billion in 2023, Post Kane era starts with 4-1 loss to Coyotes, Video: Morning shows annual toast to Bob Collins, City of Chicago Election Results: Key Races, Chicago Mayor Lightfoot ousted; Vallas, Johnson in. Bring Wendy & Bill back too!!! Similarly, new radio jingles from JAM Creative Productions and sister company PAMS of Dallas were introduced to the station. WGN was best known for the Chicago Cubs, great hosts like Wally Phillips, Bob Collins, Paul Harvey and many more.. Under Nexstar, several changes were made to the station's lineup, management, and branding. Cochran was always a rather annoying DJ. Steve was too negative constantly focusing on the political scene from Only his prospective. WGN also features broadcasts of Chicago Blackhawks hockey and Northwestern University football and basketball. Could Rogers Park dispensary move next to a CTA terminal? Chicago media message boards exploded with traffic and posts, many excited over a possible permanent Meier presence on the station. [40] The former WGN annex onto Tribune Tower is now used as a retail space containing Dylan's Candy Bar. 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. Yes there is no replacement for Bob Colins (whom I now believe you would wish to fire). But he left WGN to take a job on 97.1 FM the Drive on their morning show. The transaction and concurring privatization of the company was completed upon termination of Tribune stock at the close of trading on December 20, 2007. where his students included WLS-Ch. That is a SIN. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Jerald McNair: We dont want to incarcerate youth. was dropped from the station and replaced by a returning Bob Sirott, returned to Chicago radio in a weekend/fill-in role at WVAZ-FM, dropping Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder from middays. WGN (720 AM) is a commercial radio station in Chicago, Illinois, featuring a talk radio format. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. In black-appeal radio, the disc jockey role was pioneered both locally and nationally by Jack L. Cooper, who began playing . [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. Dent has been filling in on various shifts at WGN since January. And were doing well without them.. To not even have a chance to say goodbye to long-time listeners was just cruel. Cochran has also been employed at the former WPNT and WLUP-AM. Just because someone new comes in doesnt mean they have to change things. badrogue17. Thats just my opinion. Backstory with Larry Potash. Havent gotten over losing Steve and Johnnie. TV Schedule. Unless the make so extreme changes to the new line up. "Few rival Annas commitment to serving the public in anticipating, exposing and breaking important stories. Text is available under the Creative Commons . Bob Sirott was hired to replace Steve Cochran during morning drive hours, longtime mid-day duo Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder were ousted, and at a later date, evening host Justin Kaufmann was let go as well. Over many decades, WGN was a "full service" radio station. WGN Radio host Judy Markey poses with her plaque as WGN Radio honors 10 inaugural walk of fame inductees to celebrate the station's 90th year on June 27, 2014. "Davlantes will continue to be heard frequently across the stations dayparts," according to WGN's announcement. Whats more interesting here is the recently retired Joyner who is the same age as Sirott (70) said about the state of radio recently in Billboard: When I came along, you didnt have a lot of listening choices. WGN Radio host Judy Markey poses with her plaque as WGN Radio honors 10 inaugural walk of fame inductees to celebrate the station's 90th year on June 27, 2014. Looking to see where they will end up. On June 15, 2009, the station announced that Greg Jarrett would become its new morning-drive host starting on June 22, with John Williams being shifted to Kathy and Judy's former late morning timeslot. Sirott said he is happy to fill the coveted morning drive seat at WGN Radio, despite not being an early riser at heart. As analyst Rich Greenfield would say, Good Luck Radio. Steve had such rapport with Dr. 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. I agree with you completely AND your mother! You can find Bill and Wendy on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. However the ship's skipper (and namesake) agreed to relinquish it in order to free it for adoption by the newspaper. WWII Veteran - Radio and Television Personality (CHICAGO) Howard Miller, 81, a Chicago radio personality from the 1940s through the 1970s, was extraordinarily popular as a pre-rock 'n' roll disc jockey and later as a controversial conservative radio commentator and TV talk-show host. Given Cochran had a solid track record and WGN ranked third in mornings, replacing him with Sirott doesnt make sense. Morning drive host and longtime Chicago on-air personality Bob Sirott at the WGN-AM 720 studio on May 17, 2022. I am 78 and now done with WGN. WGN still conducts itself as if it were the Voice of Chicago, as if it were the station of record. However, his run-ins with WGN management makes them feel his antics werent worth it. You can find a comprehensive archive of his material here. [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]. (By the way, STILL waiting for the promised Lou Malnattis $25 coupon-I won from WGN years ago)-Obviously, WGN doesnt care at all that their words & deeds are aligned. [9] In 1926, WGN broadcast Sam & Henry, a daily serial with comic elements created and performed by Freeman Gosden and Charles Correll. Read; Edit; View history . 320 stanton rd, mobile, al 36617 . He told Robert Feder "I've done everything I can to respect and build on the legacy of this amazing place, and I believe I accomplished everything I set out to do." [59] On May 21, WGN Radio announced that their schedule would change again effective May 27, 2014, which includes the return of John Williams to the airwaves of WGN Radio that he will pretty much do the show live from Minneapolis, while still doing his afternoon show on WCCO 830. On October 5, 2016, Jimmy DeCastro announced he was planning to leave WGN Radio at the end of the month. On December 31, 2014, the WGN.FM website was redirected to the WGN Plus website, where Tribune offers various digital media content. Where sports, pop culture, and media meet, Sirott returns to morning shift; Cochran canned for second time from WGN. Daytime Chicago. Flying Officer Baldy was killed in a helicopter crash, while on duty, on May 2, 1960. PLEASE BRING THEM BACK. 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. WGN Radio is commemorating its anniversary with a TV documentary airing at 7 p.m. Thursday on sister station WGN-Ch. WGN Radio is just another radio station. WGN Radio AM 720. At the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival, you will find a palate-dazzling smorgasbord of cuisines and cocktails in which to indulge. The original WGN began operating on the evening of March 29, 1924, after the newspaper took over programming of the former WJAZ. While Brandmeier was reportedly not under contract with Tribune Media at the time of his release, Meier's contract with Tribune continued through September 2015. He always interrupted people. Part of a successful radio talent is not only wit and intelligence, but also an appealing voice. Steve made me think and laugh, while stuck in traffic on the Kennedy each morning. Ill never understand the cut throat business that is radio. Agree with canning Cochrane. These staffing changes were made over the course of months after Sean Compton began to oversee radio operations as Nexstar's Executive Vice President of WGN America, WGN Radio & Director of Content Acquisition. For many years, it was a national broadcaster for Major League Baseball, the National Football League and Notre Dame football. 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. 1. block or enclose with a wall of bricks. Radio Ink. Above: From the WGN Radio Mailroom, it's Gary Barton! The deal ends the team's 90-year association with WGN.[61]. No Cubs, no Bill and Wendy, no Steve Cochran and a radio station that sounds like its out of the 50s. Miss Bill and Wendy a lot. Still like Roes insanity on the drive home. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated. Feder flashback: So you think you know Chicago television. 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. Bill and Wendy ARE THE BEST. He shifted to television news in 1980, with stints at nearly every station in Chicago over the course of three decades. it is broadcast in its local area of the Chicago metro, and in Northern Illinois and parts of Central Illinois, and is also broadcast in Southeast and Northeast Wisconsin, parts of Eastern Iowa, and Northwest Indiana. On May 22, 2009, WGN announced the cancellation of The Kathy and Judy Show effective after that day's broadcast. Its not a talk station, in my opinion, and people who listen to that station in the morning probably want to listen to MUSIC. A lot of companies, they have heritage stations, but they dont necessarily put a lot of value on that history, Harrison said. 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. Larry Wert has said he has not decided on naming a successor to DeCastro, so for now the sales and programming operations will report directly to Wert. It had to be somebody who was in the moment and who got the fact of what we were doing, Fabian said. : Bailey, Bill - Program Director and afternoon personality at WLHT-FM in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Robservations: Bertrand, Landecker round out new WGN Radio lineup, My childhood dream became the honor of a lifetime, Robservations: Sun-Times moving to Old Post Office; ABC 7 opens weekend anchor slot; Medill tracks local news decline, Robservations: StreetWise raises cover price; Sventoonie takes a break; Friends of Chicago Reporter mark 50. My brother-in-law listened to WGN too. For many Chicagoans, the history of WGN Radio runs much deeper than a commemorative 12-ounce can of beer. I stopped listening months ago Im thrilled to have Bob Sirott back on!! eMails His Team With 'Great News', "Roe Conn, Nick Digilio out in WGN Radio shakeup", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WGN_(AM)&oldid=1140847999, Bill Leff Former mid-day co-host, now host for, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 02:08. On August 13, 2010, the station's branding changed again to "News 720 WGN." Over the last decade, his Miller. 2 to 6 p.m. Lisa Dent and Steve Bertrand The importance of local news and information being shared by someone who is trusted by our audience is paramount during these challenging times," Mary Sandberg Boyle, general manager of WGN, said in a statement. 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. Cant wait to hear their voices again. We have talked about life in America's greatest city, interviewed the famous and the not-so-famous, expressed disappointment in our sports teams, examined the intricacies and foibles of the human condition and made fun of ourselves and each other, gloriously. You thought the commercials on WGN were repetitive? Trump lovers love him no matter what he does and dont want to hear facts when it conflicts with their convictions. Former " US99 " WUSN morning co-host and " Big 95.5 " WEBG midday host Lisa Dent is returning to Chicago radio as afternoon co-host on Nexstar News/Talk 720 WGN. So it's a betrayal of the listeners when management severs those connections without notice. GN is becoming trivialized by the new (right wing) policy of no national news and discussion. (WGN handout). [2] WGN has a news/talk format, along with broadcasts of Chicago Blackhawks hockey and Northwestern University football and basketball. So disappointed in the new morning showthought Id give it a couple of months but it hasnt improved. moving Lin Brehmers morning show to middays. At the time of his leaving he had spent 3.mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}12 years serving as the President and General Manager of WGN Radio. Born in Dallas, Brown arrived in Chicago enrolling in Evanston's . This was the second Tribune-affiliated radio station to hold the WGN call letters. Thank God you got rid of Cochran! 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. Its kind of in short supply, especially these days.. Age discrimination MUST be eliminated and a person recognized for their TALENT up beat , and positive so refreshing at this stressful time. There's a bit of quid pro quo at work here, I admit. Not a bunch of political nonsense, but more current & interesting topics with some humor tossed in to keep it different. John Williams pulls us in to listen. Adam Carolla. I get not stand Landdecker. Slogans during its ratings pinnacle included WGN Radio is Chicago, a bold assertion issued in TV spots by a cartoon bird, reflecting both the stations market dominance and cultural significance. I listen to Nick D now and then. In June 2013, Tribune Broadcasting CEO Larry Wert hired Jimmy DeCastro as WGN radio's president and general manager. On July 25, 2017, it was reported that WGN would leave Tribune Tower in 2018 and relocate to a new studio and office across the Chicago River. They brought in a guy who just did not like the station, and said so out loud, said Fabian. 9, while former on-air personalities including Lyle Dean, Spike O'Dell, Orion . [57] On December 17, 2012, WGN Radio executives announced that the long-running program "Extension 720", hosted by Dr. Milton J. Rosenberg, would end its 39-year run three days later on December 20. #37 of 61. Are they worth, DCs cherry blossoms coming early due to confusing, Chasing Horse pleads not guilty in Nevada sex abuse, How the Daisy Jones cast went from beginners to, KFC bringing back buzzworthy item after 9 years, States consider safe injection sites to prevent, Students pepper-sprayed at anti-racism protest, More from WGN Radio 720 - Chicago's Very Own, Enough pollution in minority area eyed for NJ power, Trump planning first Iowa trip since announcing 2024, States move to crack down on nurses with bogus diplomas, Intel agencies: No sign adversaries behind Havana, Man steals bus at JFK airport, drives through NYC, Political analyst Paul Lisnek recaps mayoral election, State Farm files for another auto insurance rate, Execution-style murder in St, Louis caught on video, Chicago Lighthouse: Raising the stakes for vision. The agreement is for three years. Radio Hall of Famer John Records Landecker, who's been a frequent fill-in host, just signed on as a full-timer. 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". WGN (720 AM) is a commercial radio station in Chicago, Illinois, featuring a talk radio format.WGN's studios are located in the Chicago Loop, while the transmitter is in Elk Grove Village.WGN also features broadcasts of Chicago Blackhawks hockey and Northwestern University football and basketball.. WGN is the only radio station owned by Nexstar Media Group, which primarily owns television . With the 2020 season, WMVP 1000 AM became the White Sox flagship radio outlet. I guess after Bob Collins no one could measure up. Really miss Bill & Wendy. Going back to another station NO more wgn. General manager Mary Sandberg Boyle at the WGN-AM 720 Radio studio in downtown Chicago on May 17, 2022. Some former well-known personalities on WGN include longtime morning hosts Wally Phillips, Bob Collins, Spike O'Dell, Paul Harvey and Roy Leonard. WGN (AM) is broadcast in five states, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan. 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. Williams' former timeslot, 1-4 p.m. was left vacant for several months, with the station's other radio hosts filling in on a rotating basis including weekend host Nick Digilio, and Bob Sirott, who formerly hosted "The Noon Show" on the same station, in addition to a weekend program that is pre-recorded with his wife, Marianne Murciano (Sirott was also a prominent news anchor at NBC owned-and-operated station WMAQ-TV, channel 5, and later at Fox-owned WFLD, channel 32). She has been in Chicago radio since 2002 when she began a fourteen year run co-hosting . This is and has been a good /great organization other than the takeover by Sam Zell (What a horror). I didnt think Cochran was that bad, but I had to turn the station off 2 years ago because I could stand listening to the two that followed Cochran in the morning and the idiot who does the over night show. The station will also launch a limited-edition centennial beer dubbed Chicagos Very Own golden lager, which will be available beginning Friday at Metropolitan Brewing in Chicago and at other retailers. Samuelson: It . Also starting September 28, longtime WGN Radio news anchor Steve Bertrand will host Chicagos Afternoon News from 4 to 7 p.m. Its being billed as a daily newsmagazine show. WGN had a long association with the MLB Chicago Cubs from 1925 to 2014, the last 56 years of that period as the exclusive flagship station. WGN Marketplace. Former morning host Greg Jarrett was released from the station. The short-lived tenure of Metheny, a well-traveled program director dubbed Pig Virus by shock jock Howard Stern, led to the exodus of key on-air personalities amid growing resentment from longtime listeners. 1st they dump Bill & Wendy and now Steve? It included live music, political debates, comedy routines, and some of radio's first sporting event broadcasts, including the 1924 Indianapolis 500, and a live broadcast of the 1925 Scopes Trial from Dayton, Tennessee. Robert Feder, a lifelong Chicagoan, covered the media beat in his hometown from 1980 until his retirement in 2022. Other initiatives that did not fare well included The Game, WGNs short-lived foray into FM sports talk radio, which lasted less than a year in 2014. Jerald McNair: We dont want to incarcerate youth. First Lt. Elmer McKesson, Capt. One major issue was Cochran not coming to work on time and starting late for his show. Bill and Wendy talk about the history of the WGN Radio with Roe Conn, Patti Vasquez, Steve Bertrand, Justin Kaufmann, and Roger Triemstra. I absolutely loved Biff left and Wendy Snyder..both so very smart, informative and clever.funny so I dont get at all Anna devlontes(boring because tries to hard and missing the clever funny and synicale flare) getting in with less of these qualities!!? : Biondi, Dick - Evening personality at WZZN-FM Chicago. [10], By the fall of 1928, the owners of the Tribune company and its sister publication, Liberty magazine, controlled two stations in addition to WGN in the Chicago area: WLIB and WTAS. Your email address will not be published. Miss their show. He got what he deserved! The man is a stone-cold pro broadcaster who understands the game and loves the Cubs, Fabian said. WGN Radio personality Bob Sirott sat down with Samuelson for a trip down memory lane. He joined WGN-AM and WGN-TV Channel 9 in 1965. And unfortunately it didnt work out. He said he plans to focus on The Content Factory, his Evanston-based national syndication and new media company, and to expand into the area of sports representation. [44], On April 1, 2007, Chicago-based real estate investor Sam Zell announced plans to purchase the Tribune Company in an $8.2-billion leveraged buyout that gave Tribune employees stock and effective ownership of the company. Like Cochran, Sirotts resume is quite long an alum of WLS during its Musicradio era and WBBM-FM during its progressive rock era and worked for four local television stations in a variety of roles and a stint as a correspondent for CBS West 57th newsmagaine in the mid-1980s. Its schedule was primarily a simulcast of the AM station, with some FM-only music shows broadcast as well. The decision to replace Cochran with Sirott stunned many local media observers, given Cochran finished third in the all-important morning drive daypart in the last Nielsen PPM report. Cuts from JAM jingle packages Top News, Talktrax, Talking Points, Non-Stop Power, You'll Like Our Style, Follow The Leader, Variety Pack, Nothing But Class, and Ameritalk are regularly featured in station identifications, sounders, and promotions. Bring back Cochran and Wendy. He is to mellow for morning radio and boring..I would rather hear Pete McMurray.he is awesome I know John Williams does currrent events, but is to opinionated. [3] The ship's call letters were changed to KFSI. 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) I can remember being 10 years old and thinking how boring. I thought of my Dad often as I tuned in every morning. Conn joined WGN as afternoon host in 2015 after 25 years at Cumulus Media news/talk WLS 890-AM. Lets not yell and scream about it. [5], The Chicago Tribune purchased WDAP, and on June 1, 1924, renamed it WGN. Dent will join Steve Bertrand in the 2-6pm slot starting Monday, January 3, 2022. Looking at how Sirotts ratings were the last time he was at WGN or WLS, dont look for him to even come close to matching Cochrans numbers. On Sundays it runs Sunday Night Live with Bill Cunningham from WLW Cincinnati. I was happy for Pete that he would get a morning show, but I had this bad feeling it was a bad move/risk/ Mornings as we know are a very competitive and no offense to 97.1 The Drive or its listeners, but its a music station for people that like type/genre of music.