WLS AM's new programming schedule

Starting next Monday WLS AM's new programming starts, so the majority of their shows will be starting and ending at the same time as WGN Radio's shows expect for a 3 hour break in the early afternoon. And that will be from 5:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The only time that WGN and WLS' programs that won't start and finish at the same time as each other will be between Noon and 3 PM, at which time on WLS Rush Limbaugh's syndicated radio talk show will be airing on a 1 hour tape delayed basis. While on WGN Radio will be having Steve Bertand still be doing his Noon show and Bill and Wendy come back on a 1 PM for their other 2 hours of their show. As far as I am aware of WLS has not announced who will be on hosting a show from 5:00-6:00 AM and also between 7:00-9:00 PM. But here is how their new schedule will look as long as there is no pre-empytions by Chicago White Sox baseball or Chicago Bulls basketball.

5:00-6:00 AM TBA
6:00-10:00 AM Big John and Ray
10:00-Noon Sirott and Muricano
Noon-3:00 Rush Limbaugh
3:00-7:00 The Steve Dahl Show
7:00-9:00 TBA
9:00-Midnight Mark Levin

So Michael Savage's syndicated talk show is canceled as Mark Levin will move back to that time slot. So other wise WGN Radio and WLS's mornings, mid-mornings and afternoons shows will be competing against each other in the same time slot as each other. Bob Sirrott and Marrianne Muricano is talking the spot of Jonathon Brandmeier's talk show that was syndicated by West Wood One until its recent cancelation that it ha already been announced as ending. The only hour that Bob and Marrianne will have in common with Jonathon Brandmeier's time slot is the 10 AM hour in which his show was heard live on WLS from 9:00 to 11:00 AM with Rush Limbaugh's show starting at 11 AM and airing live for all 3 hours. Now even through WLS's new schedule will start on Monday, but the two stations lineups won't start really competing against each other until Tuesday, as the Chicago Blackhawks and St Louis Blues will be taking part in the Winter Classic. So that means for special programming start and 9 AM and going until 11:30 AM that morning will be Steve Cochran and Dave Eanet doing a pre-pregame show live from St. Louis before the game. Now for nights that Chicago Blackhawks or Northwestern basketball don't have a game scheduled to play, The Download with Justin Kuffmann will air for all 4 hours. When the Chicago Blackhawks play pretty much his show will be pre-emptied in less they have a game that starts at 6 PM local time and is being played on the east coast. But if it at the United Center or another city in the central time zone his show will be pre-emited. Now depending on when Northwestern plays regardless he will still have at least a couple hours after the game and maybe a shortened show like say if it is a 8 PM tipoff.

So I see WLS has now put on their website their new schedule and they have now listed one of the two shows that will be taking off the slots I listed as new show is what will be airing from 5:00-6:00 AM and that will be First Light with Evan Haning. So it looks like that Big John and Ray will still be the first local hosts to be on WLS. And there is no announced show that will air from 7:00-9:00 PM on nights that the Chicago Bulls or Chicago White Sox won't be playing. The Chicago Bulls will be be playing Monsyt night, so that won't have to have anybody or a show in place until Tuesday. If you are a fan of Michael Savage’s show you will have to look else to hear the show while Westwood One looks for another Chicago radio station to air the show. But you can find out where you can find it at http://www.michaelsavage.wnd.com/wp-content/themes/savage-theme/affiliatesmap.php , his talk show is not ending, but it is on WLS or as ended as of yesterday.