WCPT (AM)
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2008) |
| WCPT logo | |
| Broadcast area | Chicago market |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 820 kHz |
| Branding | AM 820 WCPT Chicago's Progressive Talk |
| Programming | |
| Format | Progressive Talk |
| Affiliations | Dial Global |
| Ownership | |
| Owner |
|
| WCPT-FM, WCPQ, WCPY | |
| History | |
First air date | May 5, 2005 as WCPT |
Call sign meaning | We're Chicago's Progressive Talk |
| Technical information | |
| Facility ID | 16849 |
| Class | D |
| Power | 5,000 watts (day) 1,500 watts (night) |
Transmitter coordinates | 41°56′18″N 87°45′5″W / 41.93833°N 87.75139°W |
| Links | |
| Website | wcpt820.com |
WCPT (820 AM) is a daytime-only progressive talk radio station licensed to Willow Springs, Illinois, and serving the Chicago area. The station carries programming from Dial Global. WCPT is owned by Newsweb Corporation.
Because WCPT shares the same frequency as clear channel station WBAP in Fort Worth, Texas, it broadcasts only during the daytime hours. However, WCPT has a construction permit and has erected 6 towers near Joliet, IL to offer nighttime operation at 1.5kW.[1]
On October 20, 2008, WCPT began simulcasting its programming from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the three co-owned FM stations formerly known as Nine FM.[2] The FM frequencies continue to carry the separately programmed "Dance Factory" music format after 9 p.m.
History
For many years this station played Adult Standards as WAIT. In the late 1990s, this station, on 820 AM, was WCSN, an all-sports station and affiliate of Sporting News Radio.
In February 2005, a column by Robert Feder in the Chicago Sun-Times sparked speculation that a progressive talk format could end up on a station in Chicago. The article said that the station was rumored to change formats by March 31, the one year anniversary of Air America's original launch in Chicago on their original affiliate, WNTD. Air America's affiliation with WNTD was interrupted after only a few weeks, due to conflicts with the station's owner.
Many thought that WRLL 1690-AM would switch to the format, as its owner, Clear Channel Communications, had rolled out progressive talk on quite a few of their struggling radio stations across the country. However, WRLL decided to continue with their oldies format, and on May 5, 2005, AM 850 launched progressive talk with the new call letters WCPT. The WAIT call letters were moved to 820 AM.
In November 2005, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) denied an application by Newsweb to move the station to Addison, Illinois.[citation needed]
On November 26, 2007, WCPT moved its format from 850 AM to 820 AM, doubling its power and providing coverage to all of Chicago.[3] The WCPT call letters moved along with the format to 820 AM, and the WAIT call letters returned to 850 AM.
Newsweb's owner, Fred Eychaner, is a significant donor to Democratic Party causes.[4]
As of October 17, 2007, WCPT did not appear among Arbitron's top 30 Chicago stations and was beaten out by other competing high-profile Chicago talk radio stations, WGN, WLS, WIND, and WCKG.[5] WCPT ratings have gone from 0.4 share in Fall 2007 to a 0.8 share in Winter 2008 to a 0.2 share for March 2009, according to Arbitron. It was the 46th most popular commercial station in Chicago. In November 2009 it had a 0.3 share and had climbed to be tied for the 42nd most popular commercial station in Chicago. [6]
Programming
WCPT's weekday radio format is based on broadcast syndication of nationally-produced liberal and progressive talk radio personalities, mixed with CNN news-on-the-hour, and top- and bottom-of-the-hour station-produced news and weather with rush hour traffic reports. Until recently, weekend radio programming included few progressive weekly syndicated shows and relied upon investing, real estate, health supplement, motivational, fertilizer, and other packaged infomercials to fill the time. The station has reduced (but not eliminated) weekend infomercials by adding Air America weekly shows and local programming. Following the departure of popular host Randi Rhodes from Air America, the only weekday programming it receives from the network is "Ron Reagan," although "The Lionel Show" can be heard over the station's 24-hour Internet stream. Its four major shows — "Bill Press," "The Stephanie Miller Show, "The Ed Schultz Show," and "The Thom Hartmann Program" — are syndicated by the Jones Radio Network.
In early March 2008, the station added its first locally originated, locally oriented regular program — a three-hour program hosted by former WMAQ-TV channel 5 political editor Dick Kay. After nearly four decades of television news reporting and analysis, Dick Kay takes caller comments and questions on his show "Back on the Beat" starting at 1:00 pm Central Time on Saturdays.
On March 29, WCPT added another locally popular on-air talk personality, Jake Hartford (formerly on WLS-AM radio), and popular locally-produced show "Awake With Jake" from 7-11 a.m. Central Time on Saturdays. On May 31, 2008, Chicago radio veteran Linda Mitry joined Jake's show as newscaster and co-host. The station further strengthened its Saturday line-up by adding Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know created by host Michael Feldman and produced by Wisconsin Public Radio and distributed weekly by Public Radio International. The show broadcasts right after Hartford at 11:00 a.m. Following Feldman's show, WCPT airs "Back on the Beat" (see above).
In April 2008, Mike Nowak's locally-produced weekly gardening show came to WCPT at noon Sundays. Mike Nowak is a Master Gardener[citation needed], and a certified Treekeeper from the Openlands Project. The show takes calls from listeners about gardening and answers their questions based upon conservation, the environment, and recycling issues. Also on Sundays, the station now broadcasts "Uncommon Law," a call-in show with Chicago divorce and family law attorney Kurt Muller and frequent special guests.
On January 21, 2010, WCPT's affiliate Air America Media has filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and has ceased live programming the same night. WCPT may have to find other liberal programs from Dial Global and/or other sources or fill the Air America time slots with other programming.
Despite Air America's bankruptcy filing, WCPT quickly filled in Ron Reagan's programming slot with radio host Norman Goldman. Norman has filled in and continues to fill in for Ed Schultz whenever necessary. "The Norman Goldman Show" can be heard weekdays between the hours of 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM.
Criticism
The most common complaints about WCPT relate to the AM station's status as a daytimer. As the station claims on its website, it is a situation that is out of their control, due to FCC mandates. WCPT doubled its signal power when it moved from 850 kHz to 820 kHz. While on 850, WCPT signed off from sunset to sunrise to protect the signal of KOA in Denver. With the move to 820 AM, they sign off at sunset to protect WBAP in Fort Worth, Texas. WCPT is also simulcast on FM: WCPY 92.5 De Kalb, IL WCPT-FM 92.7 Arlington Heights, IL and WCPQ 99.9 Park Forest, IL enabling 24-hour broadcasting.
Station events
- The station hosted its first event on December 9, 2005, when Al Franken did a live broadcast of The Al Franken Show from the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. Al's guests were Senator Barack Obama, Congressman Rahm Emanuel, Amnesty International Midwest director Dori Dinsmore, writer Studs Terkel, and a 13-year-old "Wait, Wait, Don't Lie To Me" contestant named Mike.
- The station's second event was when Jerry Springer did a live broadcast of Springer on the Radio in front of a live audience from the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts on March 27, 2006. Topics included immigration, the Iraq war, abortion, and topics from the audience.
- Al Franken returned for another live broadcast from the Steppenwolf Theatre on Monday, May 8, 2006. His guests were Senator Dick Durbin, executive director of the Death Penalty Education Project Edwin Colfax, Congressional candidates John Laesch (IL-14) and Dan Seals (IL-10), universal health care advocates Dr. Quentin Young and Ajitha Reddy, and Cass Sunstein.
The station has continued to do periodic local events including a live broadcast by Ed Schultz and a "Great Debate" between progressive talker Thom Hartmann and WIND's conservative talker Michael Medved. Video and audio of the debate are available on the WCPT website.
References
- ^ [1]
- ^ "WCPT/Chicago Gets FM Simulcasts". Radio Ink. October 17, 2008.
- ^ WCPT doubles the power
- ^ "Fred Eychaner". Mother Jones. March 5, 2001.
- ^ Chicago Sun-Times report of Arbitron ratings, October 17, 2007
- ^ "Arbitron PPM Ratings Data". Arbitron.
External links
- www.chicagoprogressivetalk.com
- Facility details for Facility ID WCPT ({{{2}}}) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
- {{{2}}} in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
- Why AM Radio Stations Must Reduce Power, Change Operations, or Cease Operations at Night
- Approximate Sunrise/Sunset times for WCPT's transmitter location