Posted by John from Wisconsin on March 30, 2025, 8:42 am
1) When running programs on 780AM, WCFS still runs LID as AM-FM/WBBM & WCFS. The correct Legal ID is WCFS... not including WBBM.
2) Last week I noticed WBBM has the same newscaster on from 8PM thru 5AM. Most hours recorded. A few I'm sure were let go. Was nice hearing Roger Plumber and Jan Coleman, though their shifts were changed. I miss hearing Varen Black overnights - weekends and hope she wasn't cut. "Breaking News" stations are not recorded overnights, etc. Other reporters/anchors to me, are missing. (Overnights are horrible with "21 after the hour" followed IMMEDIATELY by "23 after the hour." Running 3 "breaking news" promos back-to-back. NO LID this morning before 3am. The PSA's over & over & over are horrid. Something is missing, and you don't have to be a radio geek to notice.
3) Hypothetical: Would it make sense to move WVON to 640 and WMFN to 1690? Better coverage on 640. WVON is legendary, while BIN News is a start-up. Neither has an FM presence, or is it too little too late?
I understand that, but could they be flipped as both are leased. Just a different arrangement on the Titanic (AM band.)...or is it "too little too late."
If iHeart didn't want BIN on 640, they could just not renew. If Midway figured iHeart was charging too much, did not renew and nobody was leasing 640 and they found Birach was a better choice, that could happen.
Even though they are legally known as WCFS, 105.9 FM has been simulcasting WBBM 780 AM's all news format since 2011. The only time WCFS is even mentioned is at the top of every hour when stations everywhere identify themselves, regardless of format.
I don't know if Audacy, WBBM/WCFS' current owner, bothered to change the call letters when 105.9 FM dropped its "Fresh FM" adult contemporary format from a branding standpoint.
Something else I have noticed. Audacy's family of stations have been airing commercials on CHSN. I don't know if it has to do with the RSN simulcasting 2 hours of 670 AM The SCORE's "Mully & Haugh" in exchange for cross promotion of the 7 Chicago stations Audacy owns.
If you are lucky (or unlucky) to have CHSN like I have, it's something I have noticed.
In Milwaukee, it's on WCGV 24-4. Right now, a blue screen. "CURRENT PROGRAMMING NOT AVAILABLE." NOW, at 12:30PM (3-31/2025) White Sox pre-game on vs. Twins.
on March 30, 2025, 8:42 am