Chicago ... OK, let's get it out of the way: "The Windy City." The third US radio market, behind NYC and LA.
The history of broadcasting in Chicago is filled with interesting stories. We invite you to visit, enjoy, even share some history with us.
Chicago Radio:
| In the beginning: |
| The scramble to program in the 1920s. |
| The Age of the Networks. |
2008:
AM:
| CALLS/locality | kHz | power | #Towers | Mode | Format | Owner | Notes |
| WIND Chicago | 560 | 5000 | 4D 4N | DA-2 | News/talk | Salem | |
| WSCR Chicago | 670 | 50000 | 1 | NDA | Sports | CBS | Class A. White Sox, Blackhawks Was WMAQ |
| WGN Chicago | 720 | 50000 | 1 | NDA | News/talk | Tribune | Class A. Cubs |
| WNDZ Portage IN | 750 | 15000 D | 3 | DA | Variety | ||
| WBBM Chicago | 780 | 50000 | 1 | NDA | News | CBS | Class A. Bears |
| WCPT Chigago | 820 | 5000 D | 1 | NDA | Talk | Newsweb | |
| WAIT Crystal Lake | 850 | 2500 D | 3 | DA | Religious | Newsweb | |
| WLS Chicago | 890 | 50000 | 1 | NDA | News/talk | Citadel | Class A |
| WAUR Sandwich | 930 | 2500 D 4200 N | 4D 5N | DA-2 | Religious | Starboard | |
| WNTD Chicago | 950 | 1000 D 5000 N | 1D 6N | DA-N | Spanish | Sovereign City | |
| WMVP Chicago | 1000 | 50000 | 2D 3N | DA-2 | Sports | Disney/ABC | Class A. Bulls. Was WCFL,WLUP |
| WNVR Vernon Hills | 1030 | 5000 D 3200 CH 120 N | 4D 4CH 2 N | DA-3 | Ethnic | ||
| WNWI Oak Lawn | 1080 | 3000 D 900 N | 1D 4N | DA-N | International | Birach | |
| WMBI Chicago | 1110 | 4200 D | 1 | NDA | Religious | Moody | |
| WYLL Chicago | 1160 | 50000 | 2D 6N | DA-2 | Religious | Salem | Was WJJD, WSCR. Was 5kw N |
| WRTO Chicago | 1200 | 10000 D 1000 N | 4D 8N | DA-2 | Spanish | Univision | |
| CP 20000 D 4500 N | 4D 6N | DA-2 | |||||
| WRDZ La Grange | 1300 | 4500 D 4000 N | 5D 6N | DA-2 | Childrens | Disney/ABC | |
| WGRB Chicago | 1390 | 5000 | 4D 4N | DA-2 | Gospel | Clear Chanel | |
| WONX Evanston | 1590 | 3500 D 2500 N | 1D 4N | DA-N | Spanish | Kovas | Has app for 7kw D |
| WVON Berwyn | 1690 | 10000 D 1000 N | 1 | NDA | Talk | Clear Chanel | Was WRLL |
FM:
| CALLS-Locality | MHz | ERP watts | HAAT meters | Format | HD2 | Notes |
| WNUR Evanston | 89.3 | 7200 | 30 | College | Northwestern U | |
| WONU Kankakee | 89.7 | 35000 | 126 | Christian AC | Olivet Nazerene U | |
| WMBI Chicago | 90.1 | 100000 | 135 | Religious | Moody Bible | |
| WDCB Glen Ellyn | 90.9 | 5000 | 91 | Jazz | College of Du Page | |
| WBEZ Chicago | 91.5 | 8300 | 360 | Public | ||
| WJCH Joliet | 91.9 | 50000 | 151 | Religious | Family stations | |
| WPWX Hammond IN | 92.3 | 50000 | 150 | Urban | Crawford | |
| WKIE Arlington Hgts | 92.7 | 1800 | 116 | Variety/Dance | Newsweb | |
| WXRT Chicago | 93.1 | 6700 | 399 | AAA | New Music | CBS |
| WVIX Joliet | 93.5 | 6000 | 100 | Regaeton | Univision | |
| WLIT Chicago | 93.9 | 4000 | 482 | Soft AC | Disco | Clear Channel |
| WZZN Chicago | 94.7 | 4400 | 468 | Oldies | WLS-AM | Citadel |
| WIIL Kenosha WI | 95.1 | 50000 | 117 | Rock | Nextmedia | |
| WNUA Chicago | 95.5 | 8300 | 358 | Smooth Jazz | Jazz | Clear Channel |
| WBBM Chicago | 96.3 | 4200 | 474 | Top 40 | Dance | CBS |
| WWDV Zion | 96.9 | 50000 | 148 | Classic Rock | Deep cuts CR | Bonneville |
| WDRV Chicago | 97.1 | 8400 | 363 | Classic Rock | Deep cuts CR | Bonneville |
| WLUP Chicago | 97.9 | 4000 | 425 | Classic Rock | "Loop Loud" | Emmis |
| WFMT Chicago | 98.7 | 6000 | 470 | Classical | Window to the world | |
| WUSN Chicago | 99.5 | 5700 | 425 | Country | New Country | CBS |
| WRZA Oak Park | 99.9 | 50000 | 150 | Variety/Dance | Newsweb | |
| WILV Chicago | 100.3 | 5700 | 425 | Rhythmic AC | Love songs | Bonneville |
| WKQX Chicago | 101.1 | 5700 | 425 | Alternative | New Alternative | Emmis |
| WTMX Skokie | 101.9 | 4200 | 476 | AC | Global unsigned | Bonneville |
| WVAZ Oak Park | 102.7 | 6000 | 357 | Urban AC | Gospel | Clear Channel |
| WVIV Highland Pk | 103.1 | 6000 | 100 | Regaeton/93.5 | Univision | |
| WKSC Chicago | 103.5 | 4300 | 472 | Top 40 | Pride | Clear Channel |
| WJMK Chicago | 104.3 | 4100 | 480 | Adult hits | Oldies | CBS |
| WOJO Evanston | 105.1 | 5700 | 425 | Sp Top 40 | Planta | Univision |
| WCFS Elmwood Pk | 105.9 | 4100 | 482 | Hot AC | WBBM-AM News | CBS |
| WSRB Langsing | 106.3 | 4100 | 121 | Urban AC | Crawford | |
| WPPN Des Plaines | 106.7 | 50000 | 129 | Sp Oldies | Univision | |
| WGCI Chicago | 107.5 | 3700 | 472 | Urban | Old school Hip hop | Clear Channel |
| WLEY Aurora | 107.9 | 21000 | 232 | Ranchero | Sp Broadcasting |
Chicago Television
3 - WBBM-TV CBS - 2
10 - WWTO-TV IND - 35
19 - WGN -TV WB - 9
27 - WCIU-TV IND - 26
29 - WMAQ-TV NBC - 5
31 - WFLD FOX - 32
36 - WJYS IND - 62
43 - WCPX PAX - 38
45 - WSNS-TV Telemundo - 44
47 - WTTW PBS - 11
51 - WPWR-TV UPN 50
52 - WLS-TV ABC - 7
53 - WGBO-TV Univision - 66
59 - WXFT IND - 60
Our sincere thanks to Jeffrey.P.Bottalico for his help on this page.