WAIT (AM)

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.[5]

For the radio station at 820 AM that held the call sign WAIT from 1941 to 1986 and 2005 to 2007, see WCPT (AM).
WAIT
Broadcast areaChicago metropolitan area
Frequency850 kHz
History
First air date
October 1, 1965[1]
Last air date
August 27, 2019[2]
Former call signs
WCLR (1965-1969)[3]
WIVS (1969-1986)[3][4]
WAIT (1986-2005)[4]
WCPT (2005-2007)[4]
Technical information
Facility ID53504
ClassD
Power2,500 watts (day only)
Transmitter coordinates
42°15′30.00″N 88°21′48.00″W

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.[6]

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.[3] 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][7]

WIVS

In 1969, the station was purchased by Mal Bellairs, a WBBM personality, for $350,000.[1][8][9] Bellairs changed the station's call letters to WIVS, standing for "wives", reflecting the station's programming aimed at housewives.[1][8] Under Bellairs ownership, the station aired middle of the road (MOR) music, as well as talk, cooking, gardening, and sports programming.[10][11] In 1981, Bellairs sold the station, along with 105.5 WXRD in Woodstock, to Katy Communications for $838,000.[1][12] 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.[13] In 1985, WIVS's power was increased from 500 watts to 2,500 watts.[14][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.[15] In May 1986, 850 picked up the WAIT call letters, while continuing to air its Satellite Music Network fed country music format.[4][15]

In 1988, the station was sold to Crystal Lake Radio, along with 105.5 WXET in Woodstock, for $1.6 million.[16][17] 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.[18][19][20]

On January 1, 1990, the station adopted a beautiful music format.[21][22][23] In 1991, the station was sold to Pride Communications, along with 105.5 WAIT-FM, for $2.2 million.[24][25] In autumn 1991, the station's former owner, Mal Bellairs, returned to the station, and began serving as an announcer.[26][27][28]

Adult standards years

In late December 1992, WAIT adopted an adult standards format.[29][30][31] The station initially aired ABC Radio's satellite-fed adult standards format Stardust, which featured longtime Chicago area radio personality Eddie Hubbard.[31][30][32] 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][33] 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.[34][33] At least part of the ratings increase could be attributed to longtime adult standards station 1160 WJJD switching to a news/talk format.[34]

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.[35][36][37][38] In October 2000, NextMedia Group purchased Pride Communications' nine radio stations, including WAIT, for approximately $57 million.[39][40][41]

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.[42] 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.[43][44][45][46] Wally Phillips and Clark Weber's talk shows continued.[42][46] 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.[47][48][49]

Newsweb ownership

In October 2003, Newsweb took ownership of AM 850 WAIT, and the talk format ended on the station.[50][47] The station began airing brokered programming and the syndicated AAA program World Cafe.[47][49][51]

In May 2005, the station adopted a progressive talk format, and its call sign was changed to WCPT.[4][52] The station was an affiliate of Air America.[52][53] Hosts heard on the station included Rachel Maddow, Jerry Springer, Al Franken, Ed Schultz, and Randi Rhodes.[54] The WAIT call letters were moved to 820 AM.[55] 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.[56][4]

On February 25, 2009, the station began airing brokered religious programming in both Spanish and English as "La Promesa"/"The Promise".[57][58][59] The station ceased airing brokered religious programming in July 2019, and began airing a variety of music and later syndicated public affairs talk shows.[60] In August 2019, Newsweb sold WAIT's transmitter site to McHenry County College, and on August 27 the station was taken off the air.[61][62][2] Newsweb surrendered the station's license on July 15, 2020, and the FCC cancelled the license on July 21.[63][64][65]

References
  1. Ghrist, John R. (1996). Valley Voices: A Radio History. Crossroads Communications. p. 143-150.
  2. Feder, Robert. "Robservations: Weigel Broadcasting turns WCIU into CW26 on Sunday", RobertFeder.com. August 28, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  3. History Cards for WAIT, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  4. Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  5. WAIT fcc.gov. Accessed January 8, 2014
  6. "Predicted Coverage Area for WAIT 850 AM, Crystal Lake, IL", Radio Locator. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  7. "WCLR Debut Set", Billboard. October 2, 1965. p. 12. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  8. Rowland, Brett. "Longtime local radio broadcaster Mal Bellairs dies at 90", Northwest Herald. Jul 12, 2010. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  9. "Changing Hands", Broadcasting. October 6, 1969. p. 39. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  10. Broadcasting Yearbook 1975, Broadcasting, 1975. p. C-56. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  11. "Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands", Chicago Tribune Magazine. March 4, 1979. p. 34. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  12. "Changing Hands", Broadcasting. August 10, 1981. p. 62. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  13. Zorn, Eric. "Phillips, Lujack May Say G`night To The Mornings", Chicago Tribune. February 21, 1985. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  14. Public Notice Comment, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  15. Boss, Kit. "Radio`s Satellite Networks Beam With Success", Chicago Tribune. July 17, 1986. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  16. "Ownership Changes", Broadcasting & Cable. March 21, 1988. p. 70. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  17. Public Notice Comment - BAL-19880303EA, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  18. "WAIT 850 AM" Dialog Magazine. October 1989. p. 5. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  19. Chicagoland Radio Waves, MediaTies. Summer 1988/Spring-Summer 1989. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  20. "WAIT AM 850", Radio Chicago. Fall 1989. p. 8. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  21. Feder, Robert. "Ch. 2 error causes a $10 million panic", Chicago Sun-Times. December 20, 1989. p. 43.
  22. "WAIT AM 850", Radio Chicago. p. 36. Winter 1990. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  23. "WAIT AM 850" Radio Chicago. p. 36. Summer 1990. Retrieved January 2, 2019.
  24. Lauer, Paula. "Worth the WAIT: After over a year of negotiations...", Chicago Tribune. September 22, 1991. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  25. "Ownership Changes", Broadcasting. p. 62-63. June 24, 1991. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  26. 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.
  27. Kening, Dan. "Still Crystal Clear Mal Bellairs Has Maintained A Mellow Spot", Chicago Tribune. September 13, 1992. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  28. Kening, Dan. "It's A Wasteland", Chicago Tribune. September 01, 1992. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  29. Feder, Robert. "Fox Blasts Off '93 With Joyner, Scott", Chicago Sun-Times. December 23, 1992. p. 45.
  30. Unmacht, Robert. "Format Changes", The M Street Journal. Vol. 10, No. 1. January 6, 1993. p. 1. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  31. Station Formats", Chicago Airwaves. p. 13-15. August 1993. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  32. Kening, Dan. "New and different: A skeptic's guide to unusual fare worth hearing on Chicagoland radio", Chicago Tribune. January 5, 1993.
  33. Borden, Jeff. "Oldies, Goodies at this station are listeners", Crain's Chicago Business. April 5, 1999. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  34. Reich, Howard. "WAIT Soars In The Ratings Relying On The Golden Oldies", Chicago Tribune. May 23, 1996. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  35. Feder, Robert. "Clark Weber Makes Comeback on WAIT", Chicago Sun-Times. May 4, 1995. p. 39.
  36. Feder, Robert. "WAIT ends retirement for former 'GN kingpin", Chicago Sun-Times. January 22, 1999. p. 43.
  37. Grahnke, Lon. "Phillips back at the mike with weekly talk show", Chicago Sun-Times. February 21, 1999. p. 4.
  38. Stanek, Steve. "Legend Phillips Comes Out of Retirement on WAIT", Chicago Tribune. February 22, 1999. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  39. Kirk, Jim. "Suburban Radio Signals Scooped Up By Colorado's Nextmedia Group", Chicago Tribune. July 04, 2000. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  40. Application Search Details - BAL-20000712AAT, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  41. "Combos", Broadcasting & Cable. July 9, 2000. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  42. Mowatt, Raoul V. "A format switch has WAIT talking about its future", Chicago Tribune. March 11, 2002. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  43. "Chicago Media Headlines - February 2003". DJHeadlines.com. February 2003. Archived from the original on June 21, 2003. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  44. Mowatt, Raoul V. "O'Reilly's TV attitude makes leap to radio", Chicago Tribune. May 09, 2002. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  45. Knopper, Steve. "Pining for nostalgia? Don't WAIT and hope", Chicago Tribune. March 26, 2002. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  46. "AM 850 WAIT - Chicagoland's Voice". WAIT. Archived from the original on February 10, 2003. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  47. Feder, Robert (September 18, 2003). "Time-brokered format awaits WAIT's new owner". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on April 15, 2016. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  48. Kirk, Jim. "Lifetime pans for gold with new magazine", Chicago Tribune. April 29, 2003. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  49. "Radio Active", Airplay Monitor. November 7, 2003. p. 3. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  50. Application Search Details - BAL-20030428ABE, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  51. "The World Cafe Station Directory". World Cafe. Archived from the original on February 15, 2004. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  52. Zorn, Eric. "'Air America' return may not be a good thing", Chicago Tribune. May 2, 2005. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  53. "Our Kind of Talk for Our Kind of Town!". WCPT. Archived from the original on April 9, 2006. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  54. "Program Lineup". WCPT. Archived from the original on July 18, 2006. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  55. Call Sign History, fcc.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  56. "WCPT/Chicago To Move To 820 AM", All Access Music Group. November 8, 2007. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  57. "WAIT-A To Launch Christian Format In English, Spanish", All Access Music Group. February 24, 2009. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  58. "WAIT - 850 AM", World Radio Chicago. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  59. "The Promise on AM 850 WAIT". The Promise. Archived from the original on July 17, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
  60. Feder, Robert. "Robservations: Columnist Mary Mitchell celebrated as 'great Chicago icon'", RobertFeder.com. August 19, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  61. Feder, Robert. "Feder: WAIT to go dark as Newsweb sells land to McHenry County College", Daily Herald. August 20, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  62. Feder, Robert. "WAIT to go dark as Newsweb sells land to McHenry County College", RobertFeder.com. August 20, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  63. "Surrender of License", fcc.gov. July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  64. Feder, Robert. "Feder: Newsweb hands back WAIT's license to FCC", Daily Herald. July 20, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
  65. Feder, Robert. "Robservations: Newsweb hands back WAIT's license to FCC", RobertFeder.com. July 20, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
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