Chicago Radio: Leff, Snyder OUT As WGN Revamps Line-up

In an message to staff, Mary Sandberg Boyle Director of News and Operations at News/Talk WGN 720 AM in Chicago, has announced a revamped line-up and the departure of mid-day hosts Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder.

According to Chicago media watcher Robert Feder, Leff and Snyder learned their fate by phone late Wednesday. Leff was out of town on vacation, and Snyder hosted what turned out to be their last show earlier in the day.

Leff & Snyder

The changes at the station are effective as of December 2.

Feder notes all of the moves mark the first major programming realignment under Sean Compton, who was named executive vice president overseeing the station after Nexstar Media Group acquired Tribune Media in September.

In the latest Nielsen Audio survey WGN was in ninth place overall with a 3.5 percent audience share. In middays — from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — the station ranked 12th with a 3.3 share.

Here is the text of Boyle’s email to staff:

We are making some program changes effective Monday, Dec. 2.  Our emphasis, as always, is to be local, and we think these changes will serve our listeners well. 

Among the changes you’ll notice that we will begin simulcasting WGN-TV’s morning news from 4 am to 5 am.  Steve Cochran’s show will start an hour earlier, at 5 am, and the John Williams show will run from 9 am to Noon. Ji will host the Wintrust Business Lunch and Anna will be leaving afternoon drive to host her own show from 1 pm to 3 pm.   

Change means making difficult choices, and unfortunately there is not a place for everyone in this new line-up.  Tonight we are saying farewell to Bill and Wendy. Please join me in wishing them well and thanking them for their years of service to WGN and their loyal audience.

Thanks for your help and support as we move forward.

Mary

The new Monday through Friday WGN program schedule:   

4am: WGN Radio simulcast of WGN-TV Early Morning News 
5am: Steve Cochran
9am: John Williams
Noon: Wintrust Business Lunch, hosted by Ji 
1pm: Anna Davlantes
3pm: Roe Conn
7pm: Justin Kaufmann
11pm: Nick Digilio 

In the latest Nielsen Audio survey WGN was in ninth place overall with a 3.5 percent audience share. In middays — from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — the station ranked 12th with a 3.3 share.