WGN (AM)
WGN (720 kHz) is a commercial AM radio station in Chicago, Illinois, with studios on the 18th floor of 303 East Wacker Drive in the Chicago Loop.[2] WGN has a news/talk format, along with broadcasts of Chicago Blackhawks hockey and Northwestern University football and basketball.
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| City | Chicago, Illinois |
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| Broadcast area | Chicago metropolitan area, Northern Illinois, Northwest Indiana, Southeast Wisconsin |
| Frequency | 720 kHz |
| Branding | 720 WGN |
| Programming | |
| Format | News/Talk |
| Affiliations | NewsNation Chicago Blackhawks Radio Network |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Nexstar Media Group (Tribune Media Company) |
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| History | |
First air date |
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Former call signs | WDAP (1922–1924) WGN (1924–1928) WGN-WLIB (1928–1933) |
Call sign meaning | "World's Greatest Newspaper" (Chicago Tribune slogan) |
| Technical information | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 72114 |
| Class | A (clear channel) |
| Power | 50,000 watts |
Transmitter coordinates |
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| Links | |
Public license information | Profile LMS |
| Webcast | |
| Website | |
WGN is the only radio station owned by Nexstar Media Group, which primarily owns television stations. From 1924 to 2014, WGN was owned by Tribune Media, which also owned the Chicago Tribune, whose "World's Greatest Newspaper" slogan served as the basis for the WGN call sign.
WGN is a clear channel, Class A station, broadcasting at the maximum power of 50,000 watts, and using a non-directional antenna. The transmitter is on Martingdale Road in Elk Grove Village, near Interstate 290.[3] During daytime hours, near-perfect ground conductivity gives WGN at least secondary coverage to almost two-thirds of Illinois (as far south as Springfield) as well as large slices of Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan and Iowa. During nighttime skywave hours, with a good radio, it is audible over most of the Eastern and Central United States and Central Canada. The station also streams its programming on its website and supplies podcasts as well.
WGN is responsible for the activation of the Chicago metropolitan area Emergency Alert System when hazardous weather alerts, disaster area declarations, and child abductions are issued.