Stations with three letter call signs mean they were pioneers in radio. Today, a company cannot own a radio station in a town where it also runs the newspaper – but the Chicago Tribune started WGN before that rule existed (WTMJ in Milwaukee is another example)
Three years ago, Sam Zell swooped in and acquired The Tribune Company and brought in Randy Michaels and the Jacor/clear Channel veterans. The company almost immediately wound up in bankruptcy, in part due to getting caught up with the Governor Blago mess, where he would not let the Tribune Company sell the Cubs unless the newspaper told its editorial board to back off.
So it’s now 3 years later and no closer to resolving the bankruptcy. The judge is fed up with all the foot dragging – according to the details in Tom Tayor’s newsletter, the judge is considering just dumping the whole thing onto a group involving OakTree Capital.
Gee, that name keeps coming up a lot.
There is still a few three letter stations around. WBT Charlotte.
WSM Nashville. WLS Chicago. I can’t think of any others right now.
was there one in New Orleans at one time ?
Parrott
WSB in Atlanta
Chicago, you say? And it’s not station LOL? Go on!
WGN-AM is the #2 rated station in the #3 market in the United States. It has roughly the same auidience size as WABC-AM in New York.
Looking at the ratings just now, one thing is painfully clear. The “Cume” is the measure of how many people listened to the station at some time during the month. AM stations like WGN may have better ratings than an FM music station, but their cume is shrinking fast.
It’s not a mystery why and it comes up a lot here…. pretty much most people under 50 years old grew up with FM radio and never turn on the AM radio. You’re either going to get an FM simulcast or you’re gonna die when the “Greatest Generation” is gone.
KYW in Philadelphia…KQV in Pittsburgh…WHO in DesMoines…
I wonder if…. the FCC said “Okay, we have a new program – if your license is at least 50 years old, you can buy a 3 letter call sign for $1 million”….. how many stations would take the deal…. therre are 1,352 possibly 3 letter combinations. Note that 50 years would mean many early FM stations that never had an AM call sign would become eligible.
Maybe offer a similar deal to the 3 letter stations to buy a 2 letter call sign.
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