Chuck Schaden returns to his thrilling days of yesteryear

Chuck Schaden on WLTD (1974)

Chuck Schaden on WLTD (1974)

As Chicago’s preeminent broadcast historian, Chuck Schaden brought listeners back to the golden age of radio every Saturday afternoon for four decades. Now he’s taking a nostalgic journey of his own.

On Friday Schaden will join afternoon host Milt Rosenberg as a guest from 4 to 6 p.m. on Kovas Communications news/talk WCGO AM 1590. They’ll be in the same Evanston studio and on the same frequency where Schaden started “Those Were the Days” in 1970. Continue reading

ABC 7 moves news to play ball

Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati

Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati

In the tug of war between baseball and news at WLS-Channel 7, baseball just won.

The second game of Wednesday’s day-night doubleheader between the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds will air on the ABC-owned station starting at 5 p.m., bumping the top-rated 5 and 6 p.m. local newscasts as well as “ABC World News Tonight” at 5:30 p.m. Continue reading

A sober Nick Digilio ‘unbelievably thankful to be back’ on WGN

Nick Digilio

Nick Digilio

Nick Digilio returned to his WGN AM 720 overnight show Monday, attributing his monthlong absence to a stomach ailment worsened by alcohol and vowing: “I’m not gonna have a drink ever again.”

In an emotional broadcast his first night back on the Tribune Media news/talk station since mid-June, Digilio said the effects of drinking without eating landed him in Swedish Covenant Hospital for five days and prompted a reassessment of his life. Continue reading

Double play: WLS signs radio deals for White Sox, Bulls

Chicago White Sox/Chicago Bulls

Chicago White Sox/Chicago Bulls

You read it here first and now it’s official: Chicago White Sox baseball will air on WLS AM 890 under a six-year deal starting in April 2016.

But that’s not all: Chicago Bulls basketball also will air on the Cumulus Media news/talk station under a five-year deal starting in November 2016.

Both agreements were announced Thursday in a joint statement by the teams and WLS management. The deals, which run through 2021 with both teams, include regular and postseason games, select spring training and exhibition contests, pregame and postgame programming, and weekly year-round shows. Financial terms were not disclosed. Continue reading