Cant wait to hear their voices again. [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. Age: 58. I am tired of John Williams, and the repeative commercials. All he does is promote his business. Going back to another station NO more wgn. Wallace M Rogerson conducted the Keep Fit to Music programme. 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 . Above: WGN Radio General Manage Wayne Vriesman and Assistant Ellen Blomberg. ) That did it never listened again until today. 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 just my opinion. Flying Officer Baldy was killed in a helicopter crash, while on duty, on May 2, 1960. Anna Davlantes loses her show from 1 to 4 p.m. and moves to a new role as investigative correspondent with special reporting, covering news stories in-depth. "All of this at the legendary WGN-AM in Chicago, the crown jewel of talk radio, the station we hated when our parents forced it on us as kids, the station we made fun of as teenagers, and the station we learned to respect as we realized why it's been so good for so long because the people there cared. I listen to Nick D now and then. After the four Meier auditions, Jerry Springer was given a four-day stint as "guest host", followed by Rita Cosby a few weeks later. While residing in TX 09/2015 DeCastro fired Bob and Marianne. PLEASE BRING THEM BACK. So I offered them a little Tribune real estate here as a return favor. Feder flashback: So you think you know Chicago television. Above: From the WGN Radio Mailroom, it's Gary Barton! CHICAGO (NewsNation Now) One of the most famous voices in radio will end a remarkable 60-year career later this month. Dent has been filling in on various shifts at WGN since January. Cochran was re-hired in 2013 for morning drive after spending a few years at Salems WIND-AM. A new afternoon show and the full-time return of John Landecker highlight a slew of changes at WGN Chicago. Shortly after Nexstar took control of WGN, the station began to broadcast national NFL play-by-play on Sunday afternoons from Compass Media Networks. As analyst Rich Greenfield would say, Good Luck Radio. We tried to be the audience.. [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. Out effective immediately is afternoon personality Roe Conn, whose contract runs through the end of the year. 9, while former on-air personalities including Lyle Dean, Spike O'Dell, Orion . Totally agree with you about missing Nick. The disc jockey became important in Chicago radio during the 1930s, well before the term "disc jockey" was coined in the 1940s. Music programming was phased out during the 1980s, and by 1990, the station's lineup mainly consisted of talk shows. Miss their show. This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please Dont bring Sirott back! Here's what they wrote: "We have lived a dream. But the golden voice came on the air at 11pm. 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. So disappointed in the new morning showthought Id give it a couple of months but it hasnt improved. I looked forward to good things. Crazy..I will tune out and listen to bill and Wendy when they move. Sirotts show ranked 3rd among Chicago stations in morning drive during the first quarter, according to Nielsen. Part of a successful radio talent is not only wit and intelligence, but also an appealing voice. Bring Wendy & Bill back too!!! On May 22, 2009, WGN announced the cancellation of The Kathy and Judy Show effective after that day's broadcast. Whatever happens to newspapers and magazines Im sorry to say it, but I think radio is next on the list. : Brink, Scotty -Former midday personality at WRLL-AM Chicago. Fabian, who hired morning drive successors Collins and ODell, said the key to success at WGN was not necessarily a big voice. You can find a comprehensive archive of his material here. Don't worry, this story isn't over. I certainly dont patronize their advertizers! My brother-in-law listened to WGN too. Clarence Dittman, and WGN radio announcer Jack Brickhouse broadcast from the Chicago airport tarmac in 1942. Monday through Friday, it carries Rich Valds, America at Night from Westwood One during late night hours. : Bengston, Bob - Retired from radio. The changes are an attempt to shift WGN closer to the programming format it had prior to Kevin Metheney and Randy Michaels' tenure with WGN and Tribune, while placing more emphasis on new media; this included the move of Mike McConnell's program to the station's secondary Internet radio station WGN Plus (formerly WGN-2) until the remainder of his contract was bought out around October 10, 2013,[58] the move of Jonathon Brandmeier's morning show to a new station branded "The G" (which has since launched as an additional Internet-only station but is planned to eventually move to an FM frequency to be acquired by Tribune) in favor of Cochran, and increased synergy with WGN-TV (including the replacement of WGN radio's "Voice of Chicago" slogan with WGN-TV's longtime slogan, "Chicago's Very Own"). [33][34][35] Eleven years later, WGN suffered another helicopter-related tragedy when Flying Officer Irv Hayden and his pilot were killed on August 10, 1971, after their helicopter struck a utility pole in the Chicago suburb of Bellwood.[36][37][38]. So I had doubts about Pete trying this morning gig at the Drive. WGN Radio is just another radio station. 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. Robert Feder, a lifelong Chicagoan, covered the media beat in his hometown from 1980 until his retirement in 2022. Metheny and Laski were both fired weeks after Michaels was forced to resign by a Tribune Board of Directors facing spiraling losses at the hands of Michaels' management style. Phillips, whose people helping people mantra personified the station, rose to the top of the ratings after camping out at the station during the blizzard of 67, and hitting the airwaves the next morning while all of Chicago including his competition was snowed in, Fabian said. The only personalities to make the format transition were Don Wade and Roma. Im thrilled to have Bob Sirott back on!! 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. However, WGN-TV continues to maintain a content partnership with the Tribune.[51][52]. With the 2020 season, WMVP 1000 AM became the White Sox flagship radio outlet. WGN Radio AM 720. Still like Roes insanity on the drive home. [60], On June 5, 2014, the Chicago Cubs announced that radio broadcasts of its games would move from WGN to WBBM for the 2015 season under a seven-year deal. 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. said about the state of radio recently in Billboard: WXRT moves: Brehmer shifts to middays; news anchor Dixon out, Bears bomb on field again, draws mixed ratings results for Sunday Night Football. I agree. With Brandmeier's addition to WGN radio's weekday lineup, the morning drive timeslot shifted to 5:30-9 a.m., followed by Mike McConnell from 9 a.m.-12 p.m., John Williams from 12-3 p.m., and Garry Meier from 3-7 p.m. News anchor Steve Bertrand moved to mornings with Brandmeier and Jim Gudas shifted to the midday/afternoon slot. WGN is one of the few talk stations in the U.S. to broadcast all local talk shows during the day and evening. Thats across the board.. On April 5, 1948, WGN-TV Channel 9 signed on the air. Will definitely tune into their show. Top. This is and has been a good /great organization other than the takeover by Sam Zell (What a horror). thrown. Cant stand that snotty, conceited Sirott. Robert Feder, a lifelong Chicagoan, covered the media beat in his hometown from 1980 until his retirement in 2022. WGN ranks 11th in Chicago with a 3.1 share in April, according to the most recent Nielsen ratings. 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. [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. If its not broke dont fix it. For the local Chicago television station, see, The "World's Greatest Newspaper" slogan was first used in a February 1909 feature commemorating the 100th anniversary of. The Rockford native was inducted in the Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2016. 1/9/2023 Updated review. 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. Above: A few of the WGN Radio Newsroom reporters (I to r) Steve Bertrand, Dave Stewart, Rod Sierra and Wes Bleed. The new lineup also brings later start times to morning host Bob Sirott and midday host John Williams. Early programming was noted for its creativity and innovation. Terms of Dents agreement, negotiated by attorney Steve Mandell, were not disclosed. [43] In 2005, Tom Langmyer was appointed as vice president and general manager of WGN. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. John Williams (including the Wintrust Business Lunch at noon) Doesnt matter. At least Kathy and Judy got a chance to wrap things up. 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