Historic Chicago radio station makes changes

September 22, 2006 (WLS) -- One Chicago radio station is making some big changes. WVON is now higher on your AM dial and for good reason -- it has more power to reach its listeners who have been tuning in for more than 40 years.

For 43 years, WVON's signal did not reach much further than the city limits. But with 10 times the power, the dawning of a new day took place this week at the station. With 10,000 watts it began broadcasting at 1690 AM.

"People are excited, they are excited we are able to reach so many more people in the listening audience. We're getting calls now from Bloomington, Illinois. One guy calls in, he said he's at the Indiana/Ohio border," said Melody Spann-Cooper, president and general manager.

Now on the air 24 hours a day, seven days a week with an all-talk format, the station now operates on a frequency leased from clean channel communications.

"Growth is the reason why we moved. I had to move. WVON was the only station in the entire country that shared a frequency with an entirely different radio station. How long can we do that and stay in business," said Spann-Cooper.

Along with enjoying a new frequency, the station is preparing to enjoy a new location. Currently work is underway on a studio being constructed in the former Softsheen headquarters on East 87th Street.

"I think this radio station is one of those institutions in Chicago that is just meant to be and when I'm long gone WVON will be around. If I can survive a 1,000 watt part-time radio station and still make money, kept people employed, wasn't bouncing checks, I am going to do well with 10,000 watts 24 hours a day," said Spann-Cooper.

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