WAIT (AM) explained

WAIT
City:Crystal Lake, Illinois
Country:US
Area:Chicago metropolitan area
Frequency:850 kHz
Airdate:[1]
Format:Defunct
Power:2,500 watts (daytime only)
Class:D
Licensing Authority:FCC
Facility Id:53504
Coordinates:42.2584°N -88.3634°W

WAIT (850 kHz) was an AM radio station licensed to Crystal Lake, Illinois, and serving the Chicago metropolitan area. It was licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as a Class D station and broadcast only during daytime hours, signing off at sunset to protect KOA in Denver, the clear-channel station on 850 kHz.[2]

The station had a highly directional pattern, with nulls to the northeast and southwest, to protect WGVS in Muskegon, Michigan, and KFUO in Clayton, Missouri. Because of its northwest suburban location and directional pattern, WAIT could be heard in Rockford, Illinois, and Janesville, Wisconsin, in addition to the Chicago media market.[3]

History

WCLR

The station began broadcasting on October 1, 1965, holding the call sign WCLR, which stood for "Crystal Lake Radio".[1] The station originally ran 500 watts during daytime hours only. The station was owned by George DeBeer, Lynn Renne, and Art Thorsen.[1] The station aired easy listening music, along with local news and high school football games.[1] [4]

WIVS

In 1969, the station was purchased by Mal Bellairs, a WBBM personality, for $350,000.[1] [5] [6] Bellairs changed the station's call letters to WIVS, standing for "wives", reflecting the station's programming aimed at housewives.[1] [5] Under Bellairs ownership, the station aired middle of the road (MOR) music, as well as talk, cooking, gardening, and sports programming.[7] [8] In 1981, Bellairs sold the station, along with 105.5 WXRD in Woodstock, to Katy Communications for $838,000.[1] [9] Mal Bellairs would continue to host a music and talk show on the station until March 11, 1985, when WIVS began airing a country music format using programming fed by the Satellite Music Network.[10] In 1985, WIVS's power was increased from 500 watts to 2,500 watts.[11] [1]

850 becomes WAIT

In April 1986, the original WAIT at 820 kHz, which was best known for its beautiful music format in the 1960s and '70s, changed its call letters to WCZE, branded "Cozy" radio, and began airing a soft adult contemporary format.[12] In May 1986, 850 picked up the WAIT call letters, while continuing to air its Satellite Music Network fed country music format.[12]

In 1988, the station was sold to Crystal Lake Radio, along with 105.5 WXET in Woodstock, for $1.6 million.[13] [14] The new owners replaced the country music format with a full service format, with oldies music comprising approximately 70% of its schedule, with the remainder devoted to programming of local interest, along with old time radio and ethnic programs on weekends.[15] [16] [17]

On January 1, 1990, the station adopted a beautiful music format.[18] [19] [20] In 1991, the station was sold to Pride Communications, along with 105.5 WAIT-FM, for $2.2 million.[21] [22] In autumn 1991, the station's former owner, Mal Bellairs, returned to the station, and began serving as an announcer.[23] [24] [25]

Adult standards years

In late December 1992, WAIT adopted an adult standards format.[26] [27] [28] The station initially aired ABC Radio's satellite-fed adult standards format Stardust, which featured longtime Chicago area radio personality Eddie Hubbard.[28] [27] [29] On November 26, 1994, the station switched to Westwood One's satellite-fed adult standards format called "AM Only" (now America's Best Music).[1] [30] WAIT enjoyed ratings success as an adult standards station, making it into the top 10 among Chicago area stations and taking a 3.3 audience share in April 1996.[31] [30] At least part of the ratings increase could be attributed to longtime adult standards station 1160 WJJD switching to a news/talk format.[31]

On May 5, 1996, Clark Weber began hosting a Friday morning talk show on WAIT, and on February 20, 1999, longtime WGN 720 talk show host Wally Phillips began hosting a two-hour Saturday morning talk show.[32] [33] [34] [35] In October 2000, NextMedia Group purchased Pride Communications' nine radio stations, including WAIT, for approximately $57 million.[36] [37] [38]

Chicagoland's Voice

Although still enjoying relatively good ratings, WAIT switched from adult standards to a news-talk format branded "Chicagoland's Voice" on January 28, 2002.[39] The station carried longtime Chicago area talk show host Libby Collins, as well as syndicated hosts including Bill O'Reilly, Mike Gallagher, Rusty Humphries, and Michael Savage.[40] [41] [42] [43] Wally Phillips and Clark Weber's talk shows continued.[39] [43] Ratings plummeted after the station's format change, and in the fall of 2003 the station was sold to Newsweb Corporation for $8.25 million.[44] [45] [46]

Newsweb ownership

In October 2003, Newsweb took ownership of AM 850 WAIT, and the talk format ended on the station.[47] [44] The station began airing brokered programming and the syndicated AAA program World Cafe.[44] [46] [48]

In May 2005, the station adopted a progressive talk format, and its call sign was changed to WCPT.[49] The station was an affiliate of Air America.[49] [50] Hosts heard on the station included Rachel Maddow, Jerry Springer, Al Franken, Ed Schultz, and Randi Rhodes.[51] The WAIT call letters were moved to 820 AM.[52] On November 26, 2007, the progressive talk format and the WCPT call sign moved to 820 AM, and the WAIT call sign returned to this station.[53]

On February 25, 2009, the station began airing brokered religious programming in both Spanish and English as "La Promesa"/"The Promise".[54] [55] [56] The station ceased airing brokered religious programming in July 2019, and began airing a variety of music and later syndicated public affairs talk shows.[57] In August 2019, Newsweb sold WAIT's transmitter site to McHenry County College, and on August 27 the station was taken off the air.[58] [59] [60] Newsweb surrendered the station's license on July 15, 2020, and the FCC cancelled the license on July 21.[61] [62] [63]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. p. 143-150.
  2. http://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/amq?list=0&facid=53504 WAIT
  3. "Predicted Coverage Area for WAIT 850 AM, Crystal Lake, IL", Radio Locator. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  4. "WCLR Debut Set", Billboard. October 2, 1965. p. 12. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  5. Rowland, Brett. "Longtime local radio broadcaster Mal Bellairs dies at 90", Northwest Herald. Jul 12, 2010. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  6. "Changing Hands", Broadcasting. October 6, 1969. p. 39. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  7. Broadcasting Yearbook 1975, Broadcasting, 1975. p. C-56. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  8. "Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands", Chicago Tribune Magazine. March 4, 1979. p. 34. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  9. "Changing Hands", Broadcasting. August 10, 1981. p. 62. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  10. [Eric Zorn|Zorn, Eric]
  11. https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/comment.pl?Application_id=84324&File_number=BL-19851218AG Public Notice Comment
  12. Boss, Kit. "Radio`s Satellite Networks Beam With Success", Chicago Tribune. July 17, 1986. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  13. "Ownership Changes", Broadcasting & Cable. March 21, 1988. p. 70. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  14. https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/comment.pl?Application_id=109980&File_number=BAL-19880303EA Public Notice Comment - BAL-19880303EA
  15. "WAIT 850 AM" Dialog Magazine. October 1989. p. 5. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  16. Chicagoland Radio Waves, MediaTies. Summer 1988/Spring-Summer 1989. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  17. "WAIT AM 850", Radio Chicago. Fall 1989. p. 8. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  18. [Robert Feder|Feder, Robert]
  19. "WAIT AM 850", Radio Chicago. p. 36. Winter 1990. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  20. "WAIT AM 850" Radio Chicago. p. 36. Summer 1990. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  21. Lauer, Paula. "Worth the WAIT: After over a year of negotiations...", Chicago Tribune. September 22, 1991. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  22. "Ownership Changes", Broadcasting. p. 62-63. June 24, 1991. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  23. Kening, Dan. "Talk O' the Towns: Radio's Outta the Loop but It's Way Cool", Chicago Tribune. November 3, 1991. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  24. Kening, Dan. "Still Crystal Clear Mal Bellairs Has Maintained A Mellow Spot", Chicago Tribune. September 13, 1992. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  25. Kening, Dan. "It's A Wasteland", Chicago Tribune. September 01, 1992. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  26. [Robert Feder|Feder, Robert]
  27. Unmacht, Robert. "Format Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 10, No. 1. January 6, 1993. p. 1. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  28. http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Other-Documments/Chicago_Magazine/Chicago-Airwaves-1993-Aug.pdf Station Formats
  29. Kening, Dan. "New and different: A skeptic's guide to unusual fare worth hearing on Chicagoland radio", Chicago Tribune. January 5, 1993.
  30. Borden, Jeff. "Oldies, Goodies at this station are listeners", Crain's Chicago Business. April 5, 1999. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  31. Reich, Howard. "WAIT Soars In The Ratings Relying On The Golden Oldies", Chicago Tribune. May 23, 1996. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  32. [Robert Feder|Feder, Robert]
  33. [Robert Feder|Feder, Robert]
  34. Grahnke, Lon. "Phillips back at the mike with weekly talk show", Chicago Sun-Times. February 21, 1999. p. 4.
  35. Stanek, Steve. "Legend Phillips Comes Out of Retirement on WAIT", Chicago Tribune. February 22, 1999. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  36. Kirk, Jim. "Suburban Radio Signals Scooped Up By Colorado's Nextmedia Group", Chicago Tribune. July 04, 2000. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  37. https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=507521 Application Search Details - BAL-20000712AAT
  38. "Combos", Broadcasting & Cable. July 9, 2000. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  39. Mowatt, Raoul V. "A format switch has WAIT talking about its future", Chicago Tribune. March 11, 2002. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  40. Web site: Chicago Media Headlines - February 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030621045856/http://www.djheadlines.com/index.php?pid=42. DJHeadlines.com. February 2003. January 3, 2019. June 21, 2003. dead. mdy-all.
  41. Mowatt, Raoul V. "O'Reilly's TV attitude makes leap to radio", Chicago Tribune. May 09, 2002. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  42. Knopper, Steve. "Pining for nostalgia? Don't WAIT and hope", Chicago Tribune. March 26, 2002. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  43. Web site: AM 850 WAIT - Chicagoland's Voice. https://web.archive.org/web/20030210062446/http://www.am850wait.com:80/default.asp?screenBrowser=bypass. WAIT. January 3, 2019. February 10, 2003. dead. mdy-all.
  44. News: Feder. Robert. Robert Feder. Time-brokered format awaits WAIT's new owner. https://web.archive.org/web/20160415090058/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1501216.html. Chicago Sun-Times. September 18, 2003. January 3, 2019. April 15, 2016. dead. mdy-all.
  45. Kirk, Jim. "Lifetime pans for gold with new magazine", Chicago Tribune. April 29, 2003. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  46. "Radio Active", Airplay Monitor. November 7, 2003. p. 3. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  47. https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=679889 Application Search Details - BAL-20030428ABE
  48. Web site: The World Cafe Station Directory. https://web.archive.org/web/20040215055300/http://www.worldcafe.org:80/station.php. World Cafe. January 4, 2019. February 15, 2004. dead. mdy-all.
  49. [Eric Zorn|Zorn, Eric]
  50. Web site: Our Kind of Talk for Our Kind of Town!. https://web.archive.org/web/20060409162408/http://www.wcptam.com. WCPT. January 4, 2019. April 9, 2006. dead. mdy-all.
  51. Web site: Program Lineup. https://web.archive.org/web/20060718102226/http://www.wcpt850.com:80/. WCPT. January 4, 2019. July 18, 2006. dead. mdy-all.
  52. https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=16849&Callsign=WCPT Call Sign History
  53. "WCPT/Chicago To Move To 820 AM", All Access Music Group. November 8, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  54. "WAIT-A To Launch Christian Format In English, Spanish", All Access Music Group. February 24, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  55. "WAIT - 850 AM", World Radio Chicago. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  56. Web site: The Promise on AM 850 WAIT. https://web.archive.org/web/20100717041003/http://www.thepromise850.com:80/. The Promise. January 5, 2019. July 17, 2010. dead. mdy-all.
  57. [Robert Feder|Feder, Robert]
  58. [Robert Feder|Feder, Robert]
  59. [Robert Feder|Feder, Robert]
  60. [Robert Feder|Feder, Robert]
  61. "Surrender of License", fcc.gov. July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  62. [Robert Feder|Feder, Robert]
  63. [Robert Feder|Feder, Robert]

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