This same prediction has been made for WWJ 950 Detroit for several years, but it hasn't happened. At WWJ, the directional antenna pattern cuts out many directions outside the major lobe to the North.
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What radio station in Chicago will change format first in 2026
- Thread starter Dj mr fresh
- Start date
“Live each day like it’s your last, because one day you going to be right.”
WWJ-FM will happen. It could be in 2026…
None. Anything, I predict 750 will go off the air (once and for all), or become something else. Stranger things have happened, over the last 10-15 years. I never thought I would see such things. The thing with 1240/820 will continue. Not much, aside from that. Let's see what happens.
What's going on with 1240/820?
WNDZ has a great signal. Total coverage for the entire metro. I kind of like their new music format too. If it weren't for the daytime-only operation... I was probably one of 10 people listening the other day.
WNDZ 750 is just inside WSB's Protected Skywave Contour. Zoom Out. Can't be fulltime for that reason.
Daytime power is limited by 25 mV/m WNDZ 750 contour to 25 mV/m WBBM 780 contour overlap restriction.
Daytime power is limited by 25 mV/m WNDZ 750 contour to 25 mV/m WBBM 780 contour overlap restriction.
Since November 2024, 820 is being simulcast (overnight) on 1240. This is the first time that 1240 has been on, past 8-9 PM, since 2018. The first simulcast, since dropping WCFJ, since this time in 2009. I also noticed, their Monday night show wasn't on. It has been on every week, for decades. I didn't really listen to it (in recent years), but I have a lot of respect for shows like these. Following that, is the 8 PM switch (to the simulcast). 1240/820 are simulcast all week long (7 days), from 8 PM to 6 AM. Again, we'll see what happens, as time goes on. That's what I know for now.
The WCPT night signal on Chicago’s North side is dicey from all reports thus the 820/1240 simulcast.
750 WNDZ is still legally under News Web, WCPT And WSBC are legally under Heartland Signal. The funding for Heartland Signal is from an organization called The States Project which has support from various political progressive organizations including the Ptritzker Foundation. Also lease fee for the WCPT night site from Good Karma for the new 24/7 WMVP signal also helps to fund Heartland Signal. Employee ownership is also part of WCPT’s existence.
WNDZ is all under Fred Eychaner‘s control. If he funds its operation with no adds, that’s his business. He’s probably able to write the loss off for tax purposes.
750 WNDZ is still legally under News Web, WCPT And WSBC are legally under Heartland Signal. The funding for Heartland Signal is from an organization called The States Project which has support from various political progressive organizations including the Ptritzker Foundation. Also lease fee for the WCPT night site from Good Karma for the new 24/7 WMVP signal also helps to fund Heartland Signal. Employee ownership is also part of WCPT’s existence.
WNDZ is all under Fred Eychaner‘s control. If he funds its operation with no adds, that’s his business. He’s probably able to write the loss off for tax purposes.
WNDZ 750 puts a detectible groundwave signal near Pellston, MI, as verified by a Potomac FIM-41. It starts to boom in for 30 minutes or so before it signs off. There are places where the signal path is nearly all across Lake Michigan. I wonder what the actual field strength is along the West Shore of Lake Michigan. It may exceed M-3 conductivity over Lake Michigan, according to some recent Great Lakes estimates. WSBC 1240 is quite strong in the Northwest Chicago area, stronger than WNTD 950 and WLS 890.
Interesting about 820/1280. I listen to WCPT fairly regularly, but I don't remember hearing an announcement about this. I do hear Patti Vasquez directing listeners to the online stream "after sunset when our signal gets wonky" but that's about it.
I'm not sure what good the simulcast does for coverage area, except for an FM translator in Aurora/Naperville. Maybe they pick up a few new listeners.
I'm not sure what good the simulcast does for coverage area, except for an FM translator in Aurora/Naperville. Maybe they pick up a few new listeners.
When the Cubs demand FM carriage
They can't any sell brokered time at night on WSBC 1240 these days, so might as well simulcast WCPT. That's pretty much the reason for it.
There is no FM translator involved with either WCPT or WSBC operations. Years ago under News Web ownership Fred had the 3 rim shot FM's 92.7 Arlington Heights, 92.5 Dekalb, and 99.9 Park Forest all simulcasting WCPT. That all ended about 12 years ago with 2 of the 3 FM's being sold off. The 92.7 FM was leased to Polski Radio at that time with Rhythm Enterprises LLC purchasing the station within the last 5 years. Programing on 92.7 still Polski FM.
Times have changed, for the worse. It's beyond words. They should be lucky they have the Russian and Ukrainian shows. Weekends have some time to sell/fill. It's mostly Spanish (general population, no one nationality). I agree to simulcast WCPT. There's no other way to extend your time on air, after 8 PM. Up until 2016-17, they had shows on (after 8 PM). I used to listen to a long time, South Asian show. It was on Sunday night, from 9-11 (8-10, its final two years). The show ended in March 2019. My point again, WSBC is lucky to have all those shows (especially Russian and Ukrainian). Without the simulcast (and those shows)...WSBC looks like 750 today, and 1470 from 2009-2015.
Facts. Most cities have stations (like those two), simulcast on an FM. Why doesn't Chicago? I remember when Fred had the trifecta (I was just out of high school). Amazing how times change.
I remember the 92.5/92.7/99.9 simulcast. I appreciate how Dance Factory still lives on 92.7 overnights.
My apologies on the FM translator - I was confusing WSBC with WBIG in Aurora.
My apologies on the FM translator - I was confusing WSBC with WBIG in Aurora.
The rules for translator applications favored Class IV/Class C and Class D Daytimers. By the time that Class B and Class A AMs were eligible, all the good translator frequencies were gone. Now, we're seeing Class As downgrading and going silent, and the Class Bs getting cancelled, while lesser facilities survive. You can't squeeze more than 20 commercial frequencies into major cities. Many better facilities are now simulcasting on Class A, Class B1, and Class C3 FMs out in the boonies, which came about due to rules affecting the Docket 80-90 drop ins, and they are limited in many cases from changing to a City of License where they would serve a lot more population due to First Local Service restrictions, even if technically possible. And really, 99 watt and 250 watt translators will only adequately serve small towns, even if they are on 1000 plus foot towers and buildings in the center of large cities.
Long ago, the FCC should have adopted technical rules similar to Canada and Mexico, which would have allowed more better facilities in large cities. In Mexico, you can have 400 kHz spaced stations in the same city.
Long ago, the FCC should have adopted technical rules similar to Canada and Mexico, which would have allowed more better facilities in large cities. In Mexico, you can have 400 kHz spaced stations in the same city.
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Translator FM's in a big city environment are pretty useless. Between the intermod created by all the downtown Chicago RF sources plus the digital hash which is an audible whine heard between stations with HD signals, the translators are worse copy than the noisy AM's they are ment to help. Translators are vastly overrated.
I take it that you mean putting them on the main analog FM signal... but (as you likely know) The Score is already carried on WBMX-HD2 (104.3). It's great for listening to Cubs games when I'm driving my car with an HD radio, but not at home where I don't have an HD radio.
Yep, I’m referring to a full market primary FM. I would assume Audacy will keep sports on 670 until they have an FM with billing they’re willing to sacrifice to flip it to a simulcast of 670 to maintain its viability.