Chicago Radio: Report..Talk WLS 89 AM Plans Changes

Plans are in the works for a major overhaul for Monday-through-Friday lineup of Talk WLS 890 AM starting in January under operations manager and program director Peter Bolger, according to Chicago Media Watcher Robert Feder.

Once among the top-rated stations in Chicago, the 50,000-watt AM giant never recovered after the loss of longtime morning star Don Wade, who died in 2013.

In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, WLS ranks 23rd with a 1.7 percent share and cumulative weekly audience of 315,200. Among listeners between 25 and 54 — the group tied most closely to advertising — the station tied for 29th with 0.7 share and 96,000 weekly cume.

“We’re committed to making all of our stations as strong as we can from a program and product standpoint,” said Marv Nyren, vice president and market manager of Cumulus Chicago. “We’re always looking at ways to upgrade what we have.”

Nyren declined to comment on specific plans, but said WLS would continue its news/talk format with a combination of local and syndicated programs on its revamped weekday schedule.