WBBM (AM)

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WBBM-AM
City of license Chicago, Illinois
Broadcast area Chicago, Illinois
Branding Newsradio 780
First air date 1911
Frequency 780 AM
Format News
ERP 50,000 watts
Callsign meaning World's Best Battery Maker (referring to Mallory Battery Company)
We Broadcast Better Music (from a past slogan)
Owner CBS Radio
Website www.wbbm780.com

WBBM (AM), also known on-air as "Newsradio 780," is an all-news clear channel radio station in Chicago, Illinois broadcasting on the AM dial at 780 kHz. It is owned by CBS along with WBBM-TV.

The station traces its history to 1911, when Leslie and Ralph Atlass, owners of the Mallory Battery Company of Lincoln, Illinois began an amateur spark station . In 1923, it received a commercial license and was assigned the frequency of 1300 kHz. It also received its current call letters, which stand for World's Best Battery Maker. In later years, an alternate meaning, "We Broadcast Better Music," was created.[citation needed]

The Atlasses sold their battery company in 1924 to devote their full attention to WBBM, and moved to Chicago that same year. It became a charter CBS affiliate in 1928. The new network liked what it saw in the station, and bought a controlling interest in 1929. Leslie Atlass remained station manager with a 33 percent interest. CBS bought the remaining stock in 1933. As part of the deal, Atlass became vice president of CBS' Central Division while remaining station manager of WBBM--positions he continued to hold until his retirement in 1959. A series of power increases over the years culminated in its current power of 50,000 watts in 1935, allowing the station to cover much of North America after dark. It had studios at various locations in Chicago until 1956. In 1956-2006, it operated from a converted arena on North McClurg Court, and in 2006 it moved to Two Prudential Plaza.

The station has been all-news since the late 1960's. Prior to its current incarnation, the station had a MOR/Personality-based format. It is the radio flagship of the Chicago Bears.

  • Felicia Middlebrooks, News Anchor
  • Pat Cassidy, News Anchor
  • Len Walter, Financial Editor
  • Jeff Joniak, Sports Anchor
  • Josh Liss, Sports Anchor
  • Daniela Ashe,News Writer/Producer
  • Terry Bauer, Writer/News Editor
  • Jim Benes, Morning News Editor
  • Dave Berner, Reporter
  • Mary Frances Bragiel, Reporter
  • John Cody, Reporter
  • Don Coleman, Chief Engineer
  • Jan Coleman, News Anchor
  • Joe Collins, Traffic Reporter
  • Leon Colvin, Writer/Editor
  • Bob Conway, News Anchor
  • Madeleine Creevy, Web Content Producer
  • Steve Crocker, News Anchor
  • Debra Dale, News Anchor/Reporter
  • Craig Dellimore, Political Editor
  • Paul Dombrowski , Writer/News Editor
  • Lisa Fielding, News Anchor
  • Michele Fiore, News Anchor/Reporter
  • Adam Franklin, Assistant Producer
  • Susan Glick, Writer
  • Mark Grote, Sports Anchor/Reporter
  • Steve Grzanich, Reporter
  • Steven Haas, Traffic Reporter
  • Kris Habermehl, Traffic Reporter
  • Nancy Harty, Reporter
  • John Hultman, News Anchor
  • Kendra Jessen, Assistant Producer
  • Keith Johnson, News Anchor
  • Barry Kanarek, Assistant Producer
  • Sherman Kaplan, News Anchor
  • Dr. Barry Kaufman, Health Reporter
  • Dave Kerner, Sports Anchor/Reporter
  • Ken Kosek, Writer/News Editor
  • Mike Krauser, News Director
  • Kris Kridel, News Anchor
  • Julie Mann, Suburban Editor
  • Dave Marsett, News Anchor/Reporter
  • Helen Marshall, Morning Web Editor
  • Steve Miller, Reporter
  • Jim Mulvaney, Production Manager
  • Jackie Pecirno, Assistant Producer
  • Bob Roberts, Reporter
  • David Roe, News Anchor
  • Al Rosen, Technician
  • Regine Schlesinger, News Anchor/Reporter
  • Bart Shore, Traffic Reporter
  • Susan Stevens, Asst. Web Producer
  • Ken Sumka, Traffic Reporter
  • Jackie Swike, News Anchor/Reporter
  • Bernie Tafoya, Reporter
  • Tom Thayer, Bears Play-by-Play Analyst
  • Jill Urchak, Traffic Reporter
  • Steve Wright, Engineer

AM Radio stations in the Chicago market (Arbitron #3)
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By callsign

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Satellite Radio Local Traffic/Weather: XM Channel 217 | Sirius Channel 151

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See also: Chicago (FM) (AM)

Illinois Radio Markets

Bloomington | Champaign | Chicago (FM) (AM) | Decatur | LaSalle-Peru | Marion-Carbondale | Peoria (FM) (AM) | Quincy/Hannibal | Quad Cities | Rockford | Springfield (FM) (AM)

See also: List of radio stations in Illinois and List of United States radio markets
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