This is the Chicago City section of 
The Broadcast Archive

Maintained by:
Barry Mishkind - The Eclectic Engineer
Last Update 6/6/09

Chicago ... OK, let's get it out of the way: "The Windy City."  The third US radio market, behind NYC and LA.

The history of broadcasting in Chicago is filled with interesting stories. We invite you to visit, enjoy, even share some history with us.


Chicago Radio:

In the beginning:
The scramble to program in the 1920s.
The Age of the Networks. 

WLS History
      

2008:

AM:

CALLS/locality kHz power #Towers Mode Format Owner Notes
WIND Chicago 560 5000 4D 4N DA-2 News/talk Salem  
WSCR Chicago 670 50000 1 NDA  Sports CBS Class A. White Sox, Blackhawks Was WMAQ
WGN Chicago 720 50000 1 NDA  News/talk Tribune Class A. Cubs
WNDZ Portage IN 750 15000 D 3 DA  Variety    
WBBM Chicago 780 50000 1 NDA  News  CBS Class A. Bears
WCPT Chigago 820 5000 D 1 NDA  Talk Newsweb  
WAIT Crystal Lake 850 2500 D 3 DA Religious Newsweb  
WLS Chicago 890 50000 1 NDA  News/talk Citadel Class A
WAUR Sandwich 930 2500 D 4200 N 4D 5N DA-2 Religious Starboard  
WNTD Chicago 950 1000 D 5000 N 1D 6N DA-N Spanish Sovereign City     
WMVP Chicago 1000 50000 2D 3N DA-2 Sports Disney/ABC Class A. Bulls. Was WCFL,WLUP
WNVR Vernon Hills 1030 5000 D 3200 CH 120 N 4D 4CH 2 N DA-3 Ethnic    
WNWI Oak Lawn 1080 3000 D 900 N 1D 4N DA-N International Birach  
WMBI Chicago 1110 4200 D 1 NDA  Religious Moody  
WYLL Chicago 1160 50000 2D 6N DA-2 Religious Salem Was WJJD, WSCR. Was 5kw N
WRTO Chicago 1200 10000 D 1000 N 4D 8N DA-2 Spanish Univision  
  CP 20000 D 4500 N 4D 6N DA-2      
WRDZ La Grange 1300 4500 D 4000 N 5D 6N DA-2 Childrens Disney/ABC  
WGRB Chicago 1390 5000 4D 4N DA-2 Gospel Clear Chanel  
WONX Evanston 1590 3500 D 2500 N 1D 4N DA-N Spanish Kovas Has app for 7kw D
WVON Berwyn 1690 10000 D 1000 N 1 NDA  Talk Clear Chanel Was WRLL

 

FM:

CALLS-Locality MHz ERP watts HAAT meters Format HD2 Notes
WNUR Evanston 89.3 7200 30 College   Northwestern U
WONU Kankakee 89.7 35000 126 Christian AC   Olivet Nazerene U
WMBI Chicago 90.1 100000 135 Religious   Moody Bible
WDCB Glen Ellyn 90.9 5000 91 Jazz   College of Du Page
WBEZ Chicago 91.5 8300 360 Public    
WJCH Joliet 91.9 50000 151 Religious   Family stations
WPWX Hammond IN 92.3 50000 150 Urban   Crawford
WKIE Arlington Hgts 92.7 1800 116 Variety/Dance   Newsweb
WXRT Chicago 93.1 6700 399 AAA New Music CBS
WVIX Joliet 93.5 6000 100 Regaeton   Univision
WLIT Chicago 93.9 4000 482 Soft AC Disco Clear Channel
WZZN Chicago 94.7 4400 468 Oldies WLS-AM Citadel
WIIL Kenosha WI 95.1 50000 117 Rock   Nextmedia
WNUA Chicago 95.5 8300 358 Smooth Jazz Jazz Clear Channel
WBBM Chicago 96.3 4200 474 Top 40 Dance CBS
WWDV Zion 96.9 50000 148 Classic Rock Deep cuts CR Bonneville
WDRV Chicago 97.1 8400 363 Classic Rock Deep cuts CR Bonneville
WLUP Chicago 97.9 4000 425 Classic Rock "Loop Loud" Emmis
WFMT Chicago 98.7 6000 470 Classical   Window to the world
WUSN Chicago 99.5 5700 425 Country New Country CBS
WRZA Oak Park 99.9 50000 150 Variety/Dance   Newsweb
WILV Chicago 100.3 5700 425 Rhythmic AC Love songs Bonneville
WKQX Chicago 101.1 5700 425 Alternative  New Alternative Emmis
WTMX Skokie 101.9 4200 476 AC Global unsigned Bonneville
WVAZ Oak Park 102.7 6000 357 Urban AC Gospel Clear Channel
WVIV Highland Pk 103.1 6000 100 Regaeton/93.5   Univision
WKSC Chicago 103.5 4300 472 Top 40 Pride Clear Channel
WJMK Chicago 104.3 4100 480 Adult hits Oldies CBS
WOJO Evanston 105.1 5700 425 Sp Top 40 Planta Univision
WCFS Elmwood Pk 105.9 4100 482 Hot AC WBBM-AM News CBS
WSRB Langsing 106.3 4100 121 Urban AC   Crawford
WPPN Des Plaines 106.7 50000 129 Sp Oldies   Univision
WGCI Chicago 107.5 3700 472 Urban Old school Hip hop Clear Channel
WLEY Aurora 107.9 21000 232 Ranchero   Sp Broadcasting



Chicago Television

3 - WBBM-TV CBS - 2 
10 - WWTO-TV IND - 35
19 - WGN -TV WB - 9
27 - WCIU-TV IND - 26
29 - WMAQ-TV NBC - 5
31 - WFLD FOX - 32
36 - WJYS IND - 62
43 - WCPX PAX - 38
45 - WSNS-TV Telemundo - 44
47 - WTTW PBS - 11
51 - WPWR-TV UPN 50
52 - WLS-TV ABC - 7
53 - WGBO-TV Univision - 66
59 - WXFT IND - 60

Our sincere thanks to Jeffrey.P.Bottalico for his help on this page.