Newsweb Radio streamlines WCPT talk simulcast

WCPTNewsweb Radio plans to drop its progressive talk simulcast from two of its FM signals while continuing the format on WCPT AM 820 and WCPY FM 92.5.

Starting June 2, WCPT FM 92.7 and WCPQ FM 99.9 will switch to Polski.FM, a time-brokered format of Polish-language news, talk and music, airing from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Charley Gross, president of Newsweb Radio, said the move will allow the company to focus progressive talk on its 820 AM flagship, 92.5 FM (which covers mainly the western suburbs and northwest Illinois) and its webstream.

“The 92.5 FM coverage complements the nighttime 820 AM signal as it fills in areas where the nighttime 820 AM is not as strong,” Gross told staffers in an email Monday.  “We intend to change the 92.5 FM call letters to WCPT FM so we will continue to go by WCPT AM and FM. ChicagosProgressiveTalk.com continues to grow in Chicago and across the country making this a logical step forward for us.”

The decision to sell the majority of airtime on 92.7 FM (covering mainly the northern suburbs, northwestern Illinois and southern Wisconsin) and 99.9 FM (covering mainly the southern suburbs and northwest Indiana) “eliminates our broadcasting the same programming on multiple stations in the same area for much of the day and brings in a new revenue source to support our ongoing operations,” Gross said.

In the latest Nielsen Audio survey, WCPT FM tied for 39th with a 0.4 percent share and a cumulative weekly audience of 134,100. WCPT AM tied for 47th with a 0.2 share and a weekly cume of 76,600.

Newsweb Radio is owned by Fred Eychaner, the Chicago media mogul and prominent contributor to liberal candidates and causes.