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. What the hell is wrong with WGN? After all, success in radio is based on building and maintaining connections between hosts and the audience. Feder flashback: So you think you know Chicago television. 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. Think about it Wgn only Sirotts wife kept it alive when he was on. September 6, 2020. Steve Cochrans show was the only thing making my morning drive into the city somewhat bearable. Feder flashback: So you think you know Chicago television. #37 of 61. This is and has been a good /great organization other than the takeover by Sam Zell (What a horror). 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. Nothing against Bob Sirott but he his somewhat insipid and totally a follower, which also can mean he falls right in line with what some TIGER would tell him to do. This 50 watt transmitter was built up from component parts by station engineers and was moved over to the Drake Hotel at the latter part of 1922. Over many decades, WGN was a "full service" radio station. General manager Mary Sandberg Boyle at the WGN-AM 720 Radio studio in downtown Chicago on May 17, 2022. WGN was best known for the Chicago Cubs, great hosts like Wally Phillips, Bob Collins, Paul Harvey and many more.. Liked Sirott, but been there, done that. Love Pete. Trump lovers love him no matter what he does and dont want to hear facts when it conflicts with their convictions. In October 2008, WGN-TV began to provide forecasts for WGN radio (prepared by Tom Skilling and other members of the sister television station's weather staff), after it ended a ten-year forecast partnership with The Weather Channel. We are also down to Roe Cohn & Dean Richards as the last portion of this radio station that is worth my time. Born in Dallas, Brown arrived in Chicago enrolling in Evanston's . He hosts The Adam Carolla Show, a talk show distributed as a podcast .more. Fabian, who hired morning drive successors Collins and ODell, said the key to success at WGN was not necessarily a big voice. Steve Bertrand will host "Chicago's Afternoon . Landecker will fill in during afternoons until September 28 when he'll move permanently to a new evening show airing from 7 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday. And to WGN and Sirott in particular. 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. And thats all you hear all morning which is why I left. I can remember being 10 years old and thinking how boring. I thought of my Dad often as I tuned in every morning. We are fortunate to have her expertise at WGN Radio.. "Few rival Annas commitment to serving the public in anticipating, exposing and breaking important stories. Powered by WordPress & Designed by Bizberg Themes, WGN Radio shocker: Cochran out, Sirott in. He sounded lost and confused. First Lt. Elmer McKesson, Capt. Jenkins and Donnelly are at their transmitter in the Wrigley Building in 1922. And yesthe ever present I am right and you are wrong my way or nothing, THE last wordALWAYSand the continuous bashing of the current administrationWAY TOO POLITICAL for a morning drive personality In 1946, the Tribune Company applied to the FCC for a construction permit to build a television station. Cochran was re-hired in 2013 for morning drive after spending a few years at Salems WIND-AM. (I am now 76). I would say theyre turning wgn into a geriatric radio station but even my 91 year old mother thinks the new line up is boring even before they fired Steve Cochran. At the Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival, you will find a palate-dazzling smorgasbord of cuisines and cocktails in which to indulge. Most, Karen Conti, Dan Hampton and most anyone he spoke with. On December 2, 2011, WGN announced that Jonathon Brandmeier was named the new morning drive time host, effective December 9. 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. Thats what Steve always did was tell the facts. 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. 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. In the spring of 1986, as Phillips was ceding the morning show to Collins after nearly 20 years, he still had a 15.7 audience share, nearly double the nearest competitor. Anchor and reporter for WGN Radio, where I host "The Opening Bell" business hour from 5-6am weekdays and then anchor . 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. Orion Samuelson had been the station's farm reporter since 1960, he retired in 2020. 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. Compton worked for Clear Channel Radio under Randy Michaels and made the transition with him to Tribune when Sam Zell bought the company in 2007. Clarence Dittman, and WGN radio announcer Jack Brickhouse broadcast from the Chicago airport tarmac in 1942. We talked today about the sad decline of WGN. Out effective immediately is afternoon personality Roe Conn, whose contract runs through the end of the year. On November 20, 2014, Chicago media blogger Robert Feder reported that WGN management planned to end operation of both WGWG-LP and internet station WGN.FM on December 31, 2014. Floyd Brown, who was known to be one of the few Black radio personalities to appear on WGN Radio, passed away Friday at 92. Jerald McNair: We dont want to incarcerate youth. 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. They brought in a guy who just did not like the station, and said so out loud, said Fabian. 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. My Dad had WGN on all the time. Now I can listen to the station again I suppose Sirott doesnt feel the same way because if he did, he wouldnt have signed a deal so he can get up at 3 a.m. every day to do a morning show. Lets work together on policies to protect them. Sirotts show ranked 3rd among Chicago stations in morning drive during the first quarter, according to Nielsen. Looking to see where they will end up. I certainly dont patronize their advertizers! 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. Sirott is horrible and his wife is worse. They are a mixture of WGN-TV and WGN Radio personalities. He and his team were terrific morning entertainers. 2 to 6 p.m. Lisa Dent and Steve Bertrand 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. Overnight hosts Steve King and Johnnie Putman left WGN on December 9 after a week-long series of live "Farewell Celebration" shows. However, his run-ins with WGN management makes them feel his antics werent worth it. WGN's studios are located in the Chicago Loop, while the transmitter is in Elk Grove Village. This new identity was implemented in all station promos, and used by all on-air talent. The man is a stone-cold pro broadcaster who understands the game and loves the Cubs, Fabian said. B96 - WBBM 96.3 FM . And definitely not his wife. In June 2013, Tribune Broadcasting CEO Larry Wert hired Jimmy DeCastro as WGN radio's president and general manager. Recently Robin Robinson ended a great run at Fox 32 . Music programming was phased out during the 1980s, and by 1990, the station's lineup mainly consisted of talk shows. List of old-time American radio people. thrown. Same here. So is this a smart move? True talent of Bill Leff & Steve Cochrane will lead them to better oportunities, respect, and appreciation. 320 stanton rd, mobile, al 36617 . The new lineup also brings later start times to morning host Bob Sirott and midday host John Williams. 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. Your email address will not be published. Nexstar also dropped their affiliation with ABC News Radio and instead is supplying national news updates for WGN America's national newscast, NewsNation with WGN newscasters and audio from Nexstar-owned television stations. Its not a talk station, in my opinion, and people who listen to that station in the morning probably want to listen to MUSIC. Its kind of in short supply, especially these days.. One of the first African-Americans to break the color barrier at a mainstream Chicago radio station has died. Wife and husband radio personalities Johnnie Putnam and Steve King left WGN Radio after 26 years of hosting their overnight show. : Biondi, Dick - Evening personality at WZZN-FM Chicago. Column: No one is in custody is an unfortunately overused phrase that should be banished, Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information. Bill and Wendy talk about the history of the WGN Radio with Roe Conn, Patti Vasquez, Steve Bertrand, Justin Kaufmann, and Roger Triemstra. Now you can get anything you want, anytime you want, anywhere you want and you dont have to wait for radio or television to do it for you. Couldnt stand the way he interrupted his guests. 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. 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. Chicago media message boards exploded with traffic and posts, many excited over a possible permanent Meier presence on the station. Just started listening to WGN last year for something different. Dent will join Steve Bertrand in the 2-6pm slot starting Monday, January 3, 2022. Like you said the ratings were great. WGN Radio's Orion Samuelson has graced airwaves throughout the heartland in places across the Midwest and beyond. Steve was open and honest, refreshing and absolutely transparent. One major issue was Cochran not coming to work on time and starting late for his show. For many years, it was a national broadcaster for Major League Baseball, the National Football League and Notre Dame football. [26] The next year another Chicago station, WFMT, moved to the vacated 98.7 assignment.[27]. That is a SIN. I am/was an all day, long time listener. First Bill Leff, (never cared for Wendy Snyder)! Also during weekdays, the radio station simulcasts the first two hours of the WGN Morning News at 4a.m. 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. And boy, it took a tumble.. 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. Happy Bob is back and working solo. 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. 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) [18] In July 1941, WGN was given tentative permission to operate FM station W59C[19] on 45.9 MHz,[20] pending the outcome of an FCC review whether newspaper ownership of radio stations should be restricted. First Lt. Elmer McKesson, Capt. [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. WGN-AM 720. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. What I don't understand, though, is why they so seldom give ousted personalities the chance to say goodbye and thanks to their listeners. Wgn has been part of my life since I was a child. I listened to Sirrot back in the 70s, didnt like him then, and again when he filled in last week on WGN. [11] WTAS was deleted,[12] and the other two stations were merged with a dual call letter assignment of WGN-WLIB, although the latter call sign would be rarely if ever used. 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