1 of 1- RadioActive
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Why The Big 10 (Ex-WCFL) Finally Moved Its Mighty Transmitter
If you grew up in Toronto, you probably DXed both WLS and WCFL from Chicago at night sometime. Both were great Top 40 powerhouses in their day. Which is why I thought some here might find this story from Radio World interesting.
It's about how and why the engineers at what is now WMVP, an all sports-format at AM1000, decided to move its massive tower, which had been in place since 1932. And as has been discussed here often, a lot it was all about land value, even though the move has let the signal degrade in some parts of the Windy City.
WMVP(AM) Engineer Explains Its Transmitter Move to Joliet
Super CFL, as it was known, was always problematic into Toronto, what with CFRB right next door at 1010 getting in the way. But if you turned your radio in just the right direction, you could hear greats like Larry Lujack and Big Ron O'Brien at night. The battle for ratings supremacy between 89 WLS and the Chicago Federation of Labour's WCFL was one of the best radio rivalries in the Top 40 era. The competition made them both among the best that ever did the format.
- mace
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Re: Why The Big 10 (Ex-WCFL) Finally Moved Its Mighty Transmitter
When I lived in Hamilton from 1972-76, at night WCFL would sometimes cause splatter on CFRB. Of course, with CHML next door listening to WLS was often challenging.
- turkeytop
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For a period, back in the 70s. WCFL flipped to a Beautiful Music format. I wrote them a letter complimenting them on the change. They sent me an album specially made for them, with the music of WCFL. The picture on the album cover was of a nighttime view of the Chicago skyline.
After all is said and done, more is usually said than done.
- RadioActive
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Re: Why The Big 10 (Ex-WCFL) Finally Moved Its Mighty Transmitter
Chicago Tribune, Feb. 18, 1976:
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Thread Starter- RadioActive
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Re: Why The Big 10 (Ex-WCFL) Finally Moved Its Mighty Transmitter
Boy do I remember that period well.
It was the only time I ever heard a direct competitor advertise on another station's airwaves, with WLS taking ad time in the fading days of CFL telling Top 40 fans to turn their radios over to the Big 89. Other stations in the market also bought time.
That was weird enough, but then when the final rock song was played, WCFL played hours and hours of surf hitting the shore before starting the new music format.
It was a truly unforgettable few days of radio.
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Thread Starter- RadioActive
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Re: Why The Big 10 (Ex-WCFL) Finally Moved Its Mighty Transmitter
RadioActive wrote:
Chicago Tribune, Feb. 18, 1976:
In an incredible coincidence, I came across this not long after I posted the article above, which was written by famed Tribune writer Gary Deeb. What are the odds?
Newspaper columnist turned TV commentator Gary Deeb dead at age 79
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Thread Starter- mic'em
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The O'Brien I best remember from WCFL was Larry. I used to hide a small transistor under my pillow at age 12 or 13 and listen to him in Trenton Ontario when our family lived there. I still have that radio in my collection of vintage radios. Remembering Larry O’Brien – RAMP – Radio and Music Pros
- Paul Jeffries
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Interesting that the (nameless) WCFL personality quoted in that column felt that radio was in a state of deterioration even back in 1976.
PJ
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- Easily Amused
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Re: Why The Big 10 (Ex-WCFL) Finally Moved Its Mighty Transmitter
Chicago Tribune, Feb. 18, 1976:
In an incredible coincidence, I came across this not long after I posted the article above, which was written by famed Tribune writer Gary Deeb. What are the odds?
Newspaper columnist turned TV commentator Gary Deeb dead at age 79
Gary Deeb also was the television and radio columnist for the Buffalo News before he went off to Chicago, if I recall correctly. I enjoyed his writing far more than his successor, Alan Pergament.
- darcyh
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Re: Why The Big 10 (Ex-WCFL) Finally Moved Its Mighty Transmitter
I too was fortunate to be able to listen to WCFL in its best days.
In the 60's and to some extent the 70's AM radio was a real treat to listen to at night if you liked top 40 hits and did not mind a bit of signal fade. If you did not like the song that was currently playing or a commercial a quick twist of the tuning dial until you found something you liked.
Interesting the Federation of Labour had the station and supposedly treated the DJ's poorly as they implemented automation.
With respect to transmitter relocation, with land values and declining revenue I expect to see more stations combine sites. I think under ideal conditions (mostly depending on frequency) it is possible to diplex (combine) up to three stations on a tower. It is probably possible to do more but perhaps not practical. I have not tried to tune in WMVP but will give it a try.
I believe CJBC 860 and AM 740 are diplexed on the tower near Milton and that was probably when they were both owned by the CBC. I am not aware of any other stations in the area doing this but stand to be corrected. With GTA land values, it is only a matter of time until others combine transmitter sites or cash out selling the station for the value the transmitter property.
Last edited by darcyh (June 5, 2025 11:36 am)
- fybush
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Re: Why The Big 10 (Ex-WCFL) Finally Moved Its Mighty Transmitter
There are several other diplexed sites in the area. CJYE (ex-CHWO) 1250 and CJMR 1320 share their site in Mississauga, at least until it's claimed by impending redevelopment of the valuable land. CHIN 1540 is on a temporary diplex with CHLO 530 after losing its own longtime Toronto Island site. CJTM 1280 and CHHA 1610 are a shared site off Unwin Avenue, though I'm not sure it's actually a diplex - I think one of the two stations is on a longwire running off the side of the tower. And across the border, WDCZ (ex-WEBR) 970 shares its site south of Buffalo with WUSW (ex-WHLD) 1270.