Declining tangible value + revenue & the disappearing AM radio stations. Future in Chicago?
Posted by WYTZZ95FM on February 2, 2026, 9:29 am
Those in danger could be AM 640, 1240, 1410, 1530, 1590, for starters. I also do not see Polnet wanting to maintain AM transmitters into the future, when you can be online for a fraction.
Just my opinion, I believe you will see 1/4 up to 1/2 of the AM signals in Chicago either be sold for a fraction of what they were worth 5 - 10 years ago, or sign off and go dark in Chicago, within the next 5 years. Even if selling them, the issue of high costs to run, maintain and finding land to do it remains. Notice how the big players are all diplexing their signals at fewer and fewer shared sites?
In larger markets where FM translators are available, but need the AM signal to keep them legal, will keep the AM signals alive for a bit longer. This falls apart rapidly, if the Feds loosen rules having an AM or HDx to actually translate to FM translators.
The rural areas will keep on until the end, not being able to run or reliably receive FM signals.
This is the time for all of you AM aficionados that love music on AM stations, to start buying them up and make the dream come true like Rebel Radio is doing! If WNDZ was 30K, AM 750 has got to be valued at 1/2 that and would be a steal! :-)
Z
Re: Declining tangible value + revenue & the disappearing AM radio stations. Future in Chicago?
On a related note -- Nexstar is no longer planning to rebuild WGN's tower at the current site. The entire transmitter site will now be replaced with data center buildings.
Nexstar is likely looking for another local AM they can share a TX site with (WIND, perhaps?) and coverage of another one of Chicago's clear channel AMs will probably be degraded.
"The primary 750-foot radio tower and its 250-foot backup were to be demolished, replaced and relocated slightly to the north, while the small building that houses the station’s transmitters and backup studio would have remained intact.
But Johnson said plans now call for four data center buildings on a larger portion of the property. He said Nexstar officials told him they can do without the old towers and are able to handle radio transmission in other ways these days.
Officials at the Irving, Texas-based company that acquired the 50,000-watt AM station in 2019 wouldn’t detail future plans, but assured listeners they would not lose service to WGN radio over the air and online."
Re: Declining tangible value + revenue & the disappearing AM radio stations. Future in Chicago?
Maybe if we pool are money, and the price is right, we can get one cheap. One of the experienced guys here could run it. Unfortunately, WCMC (Chicago Media Chat) is taken by a Raleigh sports station😊
on February 2, 2026, 9:29 am