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WCFS-FM AI simulator
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WCFS-FM AI simulator
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WCFS-FM
WCFS-FM (105.9 MHz) – branded Newsradio 105.9 WBBM – is a commercial all-news radio station licensed to the Chicago suburb of Elmwood Park, Illinois. Owned by Audacy, Inc., the station services the Chicago metropolitan area, operating as a full-time simulcast of WBBM (780 AM).
WCFS-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 4,100 watts. The transmitter is atop the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower). The studios and newsroom are located at Two Prudential Plaza in the Loop. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WCFS-FM broadcasts over two HD Radio subchannels, and is available online via Audacy.
The station originally held the call sign WLEY and broadcast at 107.1 MHz. WLEY was founded in February 1948, with commercial broadcasts beginning in April. The "LEY" in its call letters stood for Leyden Township, which contains the city of license of Elmwood Park. WLEY was owned by Zeb Zarnecki. The station broadcast in English and Polish. WLEY broadcast the "Polish Barn Dance", hosted by Zeb Zarnecki, along with other programs for the local Polish community. It is not related to today's 107.9 WLEY-FM in Aurora.
The station's studios and transmitter were located on Harlem Ave, in Elmwood Park. It had an ERP of 320 watts at a height above average terrain (HAAT) of 240 feet. In 1949, its ERP was increased to 1,000 watts and its HAAT was increased to 250 feet. In 1955, the station's ERP was increased to 32,000 watts and its frequency was changed to 105.9 MHz, after the previous occupant of that frequency, WFMT, moved to 98.7 MHz. WLEY was taken silent in 1956.
In 1957, the station was sold to Evelyn Chauvin Schoonfield, a school teacher from Detroit, for $22,500, and its call sign was changed to WXFM. In the early 1960s, the FCC investigated several unauthorized transfers of control, which placed renewal of the station's license in jeopardy. However, the FCC allowed Schoonfield to keep the license, and authorized the sale of the station to WXFM Inc., with controlling interest owned by Robert Victor.
In the 1960s and 1970s, WXFM featured a variety of musical programming, including classical, jazz, show tunes, folk music, light classical, and MOR programs. On October 3, 1962, it became an affiliate of the QXR Network.
In 1966, the station's transmitter was moved to 333 North Michigan Ave. in Downtown Chicago, and in 1974 its transmitter was moved to the Sears Tower.
In 1970, Triad Radio, a freeform program, began airing on the station. Triad Radio began in 1969, as a three hour weekly program on 105.1 WEAW-FM. The program eventually aired for five hours nightly on WXFM, and continued to air on the station through 1977. Triad Radio published a free monthly magazine that was distributed through retail outlets.
WCFS-FM
WCFS-FM (105.9 MHz) – branded Newsradio 105.9 WBBM – is a commercial all-news radio station licensed to the Chicago suburb of Elmwood Park, Illinois. Owned by Audacy, Inc., the station services the Chicago metropolitan area, operating as a full-time simulcast of WBBM (780 AM).
WCFS-FM has an effective radiated power (ERP) of 4,100 watts. The transmitter is atop the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower). The studios and newsroom are located at Two Prudential Plaza in the Loop. In addition to a standard analog transmission, WCFS-FM broadcasts over two HD Radio subchannels, and is available online via Audacy.
The station originally held the call sign WLEY and broadcast at 107.1 MHz. WLEY was founded in February 1948, with commercial broadcasts beginning in April. The "LEY" in its call letters stood for Leyden Township, which contains the city of license of Elmwood Park. WLEY was owned by Zeb Zarnecki. The station broadcast in English and Polish. WLEY broadcast the "Polish Barn Dance", hosted by Zeb Zarnecki, along with other programs for the local Polish community. It is not related to today's 107.9 WLEY-FM in Aurora.
The station's studios and transmitter were located on Harlem Ave, in Elmwood Park. It had an ERP of 320 watts at a height above average terrain (HAAT) of 240 feet. In 1949, its ERP was increased to 1,000 watts and its HAAT was increased to 250 feet. In 1955, the station's ERP was increased to 32,000 watts and its frequency was changed to 105.9 MHz, after the previous occupant of that frequency, WFMT, moved to 98.7 MHz. WLEY was taken silent in 1956.
In 1957, the station was sold to Evelyn Chauvin Schoonfield, a school teacher from Detroit, for $22,500, and its call sign was changed to WXFM. In the early 1960s, the FCC investigated several unauthorized transfers of control, which placed renewal of the station's license in jeopardy. However, the FCC allowed Schoonfield to keep the license, and authorized the sale of the station to WXFM Inc., with controlling interest owned by Robert Victor.
In the 1960s and 1970s, WXFM featured a variety of musical programming, including classical, jazz, show tunes, folk music, light classical, and MOR programs. On October 3, 1962, it became an affiliate of the QXR Network.
In 1966, the station's transmitter was moved to 333 North Michigan Ave. in Downtown Chicago, and in 1974 its transmitter was moved to the Sears Tower.
In 1970, Triad Radio, a freeform program, began airing on the station. Triad Radio began in 1969, as a three hour weekly program on 105.1 WEAW-FM. The program eventually aired for five hours nightly on WXFM, and continued to air on the station through 1977. Triad Radio published a free monthly magazine that was distributed through retail outlets.
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