WBBM (AM)
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WBBM (AM), also known on-air as "Newsradio 780," is an all-news radio station in Chicago, Illinois broadcasting on the AM dial at 780 kHz. It is owned by CBS along with WBBM-TV.
The station traces its history to 1911, when Leslie and Ralph Atlass, owners of the Mallory Battery Company of Lincoln, Illinois began an amateur spark station . In 1923, it received a commercial license and was assigned the frequency of 1300 kHz. It also received its current call letters, which stand for World's Best Battery Maker. In later years, an alternate meaning, "We Broadcast Better Music," was created.
The Atlasses sold their battery company in 1924 to devote their full attention to WBBM, and moved to Chicago that same year. It became a charter CBS affiliate in 1928. The new network liked what it saw in the station, and bought a controlling interest in 1929. Leslie Atlass remained station manager with a 33 percent interest. CBS bought the remaining stock in 1933. As part of the deal, Atlass became vice president of CBS' Central Division while remaining station manager of WBBM--positions he continued to hold until his retirement in 1959. A series of power increases over the years culminated in its current power of 50,000 watts in 1935, allowing the station to cover much of North America after dark. It had studios at various locations in Chicago until 1956. In 1956-2006, it operated from a converted arena on North McClurg Court, and in 2006 it moved to Two Prudential Plaza.
The station has been all-news since the late 1960's. Prior to its current incarnation, the station had a MOR/Personality-based format. It is the radio flagship of the Chicago Bears.
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| AM Radio stations in the Chicago market''' | |
|---|---|
| By frequency | 560 | 670 | 720 | 750 |780 | 820 | 850 | 890 | 950 | 1000 | 1080 | 1110 | 1160 | 1200 | 1240 (WCRW / WSBC) | 1270 | | 1300 | 1390 | 1450 | 1490 | 1570 | 1590 | 1690 |
| By callsign |
WAIT | WBBM | WBGX | WCPT | WCRW | WEDC | WGN | WGRB | WIND | WLS | WMBI | WMVP | WNDZ | WNTD | WNWI | WONX | WPNA | WRDZ | WRLL | WRTO | WSBC | WSCR | WVON | WYLL
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Mike Krauser, formerly WMAQ's news director, took over as WBBM news director in 2000.
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