WMVP
Encyclopedia
WMVP is the callsign of a commercial radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is owned by ABC
. Its transmitter is located in Downers Grove
. The station broadcasts live sports talk, both locally and nationally. Daily programming consists of talk shows that are both national and local. Mike and Mike in the Morning
and the Scott Van Pelt show are done by ESPN, while Waddle
& Silvy, and The Afternoon Saloon are more focused on Chicago sports. It is also currently the flagship station of the Chicago Bulls
.
Its former call sign was WCFL
, for the Chicago Federation of Labor
. The station billed itself as "The Voice of Labor" from its inception until its sale to Mutual in 1978.
abruptly dropped its Top 40 format in favor of "The World's Most Beautiful Music
," leaving WLS once again as Chicago's only AM Top 40 station. Station management released all disc jockeys who did not have "no cut" clauses in their contracts with the official explanation of the format change as "being more in keeping with the labor movement". Larry Lujack
, still under contract with the station, stayed on at WCFL playing easy listening music until moving back to WLS in September 1976. This format won few listeners from FM beautiful music stations such as WLOO
, and by 1978 had been replaced by a gold-based adult contemporary format.
WCFL and the Chicago Federation of Labor enjoyed the support of Mayor Richard J. Daley
throughout his 1955-1976 administration. He proclaimed January 11, 1966 "WCFL Day in Chicago" to mark the 40th anniversary of the station. In 1976, when it became evident it was time for the Federation to sell the radio station, Federation President William A. Lee turned to his long-time friend, Mayor Daley, for advice.
After deciding its profit margin was too small for the Chicago Federation of Labor to maintain, WCFL was sold April 3, 1978 to the Mutual Broadcasting System
, at the time a subsidiary of the Amway Corporation
. The history of the first and longest-lived labor radio station was over; after nearly 52 years, the "Voice of Labor" had been stilled. The station began to identify itself as "Mutual/CFL." A magazine-type news/talk format was adopted, with sports talk in the evening hours and Larry King
overnight, but ratings remained low. In 1982 WCFL flipped to an MOR format playing standards and non rock hits of the '50s and '60s mixed in with some softer rock and roll oldies and soft '70s and '80s AC cuts and even a few currents. Ratings were still low so WCFL evolved by the end of 1983 to an adult contemporary format.
about 10 hours a day and teaching programs the rest of the time. WCFL basically sold blocks of time to various Christian
organizations. The format was profitable but received very low ratings. At that time, they advertised the call letters as standing for "Winning Chicago For the Lord". In early 1985, the station moved from Marina City into a two-story brick building built on its Downers Grove transmitter site. Statewide specialized in religious formats but opted to merge with a secular company called Heftel Broadcasting
. WCFL became WLUP-AM just after the stroke of midnight, April 29, 1987.
an AOR format. Heftel opted to end the religious format in April 1987. The call letters of the station were changed to WLUP, and its FM sister became WLUP-FM. WLUP-FM remained an AOR station while 1000 WLUP switched to a full service rock format focusing on personality, comedy, talk and a few rock cuts an hour. After 7 p.m. WLUP and WLUP-FM simulcast the AOR format. Heftel had bought a few Spanish stations in the late 1980s and bought a Spanish station in Chicago in 1992. They then sold their English stations including WLUP and WLUP-FM
. Evergreen Media would buy WLUP-AM-FM late in 1992.
. 97.9 then became WLUP and AM 1000 changed its call sign to WMVP, or "Most Valuable Player," to reflect the station's new emphasis on sports programming. WMVP's programming included nationally-syndicated shows "Fabulous Sports Babe" and "Farrell On The Bench" as well as play-by-play local sports games. The station trailed in the ratings to WSCR and to WMAQ's Sports Huddle at night. WMVP dropped its all sports format in June 1996, the night before the Chicago Bulls opened the NBA Finals against Seattle. Evergreen later merged with Chancellor and sold WLUP 97.9 to Bonneville International
. WMVP was sold to ABC in 1998.
ABC operates WMVP from 190 North State Street in the Chicago Loop, where sister station WLS-TV
also has its studios.
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. Its transmitter is located in Downers Grove
Downers Grove, Illinois
Downers Grove is a village in Downers Grove and Lisle Townships, DuPage County, Illinois, United States. The population was 48,724 at the 2000 census, with an official estimated population of 49,250 in 2008.-History:...
. The station broadcasts live sports talk, both locally and nationally. Daily programming consists of talk shows that are both national and local. Mike and Mike in the Morning
Mike and Mike in the Morning
Mike and Mike in the Morning is an American sports-talk radio show hosted by Mike Golic and Mike Greenberg on ESPN Radio and simulcast on television, normally on ESPN2. If ESPN is broadcasting a live sporting event during the show's timeslot, Sportscenter will air on ESPN2, and the show's...
and the Scott Van Pelt show are done by ESPN, while Waddle
Tom Waddle
Gregory Thomas Waddle is a former American football wide receiver in the NFL. Waddle is currently a co host of "Waddle and Silvy" on ESPN 1000, as well as co-hosting "The Final Word" on WFLD FOX Chicago. He also appears on Pro Football Weekly and NFL Network. He spent his entire six year career...
& Silvy, and The Afternoon Saloon are more focused on Chicago sports. It is also currently the flagship station of the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
.
Its former call sign was WCFL
WCFL (AM)
WCFL was the callsign of a commercial radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was owned by the Chicago Federation of Labor, hence its call letters. The station is now known as WMVP. Its transmitter is located in Downers Grove and is still in use by WMVP...
, for the Chicago Federation of Labor
Chicago Federation of Labor
The Chicago Federation of Labor is an umbrella organization for unions in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is a subordinate body of the AFL-CIO, and as of 2011 has about 320 affiliated member unions representing half a million union members in Cook County....
. The station billed itself as "The Voice of Labor" from its inception until its sale to Mutual in 1978.
The sale of WCFL to Mutual
On March 15, 1976, after two years of falling ratings, WCFLWCFL (AM)
WCFL was the callsign of a commercial radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was owned by the Chicago Federation of Labor, hence its call letters. The station is now known as WMVP. Its transmitter is located in Downers Grove and is still in use by WMVP...
abruptly dropped its Top 40 format in favor of "The World's Most Beautiful Music
Beautiful music
Beautiful music is a mostly instrumental music format that was prominent in American radio from the 1960s through the 1980s...
," leaving WLS once again as Chicago's only AM Top 40 station. Station management released all disc jockeys who did not have "no cut" clauses in their contracts with the official explanation of the format change as "being more in keeping with the labor movement". Larry Lujack
Larry Lujack
Larry Lujack , a Top 40 Music radio disc jockey, was known for his world-weary sarcastic style, "Klunk Letter of the Day" and darkly humorous "Animal Stories" along with "sidekick Little Tommy", and "Cheap Trashy Show Biz Report." He was also referred to as Superjock, Lawrence of Chicago, Uncle...
, still under contract with the station, stayed on at WCFL playing easy listening music until moving back to WLS in September 1976. This format won few listeners from FM beautiful music stations such as WLOO
WILV
WILV is a radio station broadcasting an Adult Hits format. Licensed to Chicago, Illinois, USA, the station serves the Chicago area. The station is currently owned by Hubbard Broadcasting. The station is also broadcast on HD radio....
, and by 1978 had been replaced by a gold-based adult contemporary format.
WCFL and the Chicago Federation of Labor enjoyed the support of Mayor Richard J. Daley
Richard J. Daley
Richard Joseph Daley served for 21 years as the mayor and undisputed Democratic boss of Chicago and is considered by historians to be the "last of the big city bosses." He played a major role in the history of the Democratic Party, especially with his support of John F...
throughout his 1955-1976 administration. He proclaimed January 11, 1966 "WCFL Day in Chicago" to mark the 40th anniversary of the station. In 1976, when it became evident it was time for the Federation to sell the radio station, Federation President William A. Lee turned to his long-time friend, Mayor Daley, for advice.
After deciding its profit margin was too small for the Chicago Federation of Labor to maintain, WCFL was sold April 3, 1978 to the Mutual Broadcasting System
Mutual Broadcasting System
The Mutual Broadcasting System was an American radio network, in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the golden age of U.S. radio drama, MBS was best known as the original network home of The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Superman and as the long-time radio residence of The Shadow...
, at the time a subsidiary of the Amway Corporation
Amway
Amway is a direct selling company and manufacturer that uses network marketing to sell a variety of products, primarily in the health, beauty, and home care markets. Amway was founded in 1959 by Jay Van Andel and Richard DeVos...
. The history of the first and longest-lived labor radio station was over; after nearly 52 years, the "Voice of Labor" had been stilled. The station began to identify itself as "Mutual/CFL." A magazine-type news/talk format was adopted, with sports talk in the evening hours and Larry King
Larry King
Lawrence Harvey "Larry" King is an American television and radio host whose work has been recognized with awards including two Peabodys and ten Cable ACE Awards....
overnight, but ratings remained low. In 1982 WCFL flipped to an MOR format playing standards and non rock hits of the '50s and '60s mixed in with some softer rock and roll oldies and soft '70s and '80s AC cuts and even a few currents. Ratings were still low so WCFL evolved by the end of 1983 to an adult contemporary format.
Religious years
In 1983 WCFL was sold by Mutual to Statewide Broadcasting. Statewide switched WCFL to adult contemporary Christian musicContemporary Christian music
Contemporary Christian music is a genre of modern popular music which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian faith...
about 10 hours a day and teaching programs the rest of the time. WCFL basically sold blocks of time to various Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
organizations. The format was profitable but received very low ratings. At that time, they advertised the call letters as standing for "Winning Chicago For the Lord". In early 1985, the station moved from Marina City into a two-story brick building built on its Downers Grove transmitter site. Statewide specialized in religious formats but opted to merge with a secular company called Heftel Broadcasting
Cecil Heftel
Cecil Landau Heftel, popularly known as Cec Heftel was an American politician and businessman from Hawai'i...
. WCFL became WLUP-AM just after the stroke of midnight, April 29, 1987.
1000 WLUP
Initially they opted to remain religious while keeping their longtime rock station 97.9 FM WLUPWLUP
WLUP-FM is a commercial classic rock radio station serving the Chicago metropolitan area. Owned and operated by Merlin Media, LLC, WLUP transmits its signal from an antenna located the top of the Willis Tower in Downtown Chicago at a height of with an effective radiated power of 4,000 watts...
an AOR format. Heftel opted to end the religious format in April 1987. The call letters of the station were changed to WLUP, and its FM sister became WLUP-FM. WLUP-FM remained an AOR station while 1000 WLUP switched to a full service rock format focusing on personality, comedy, talk and a few rock cuts an hour. After 7 p.m. WLUP and WLUP-FM simulcast the AOR format. Heftel had bought a few Spanish stations in the late 1980s and bought a Spanish station in Chicago in 1992. They then sold their English stations including WLUP and WLUP-FM
Cecil Heftel
Cecil Landau Heftel, popularly known as Cec Heftel was an American politician and businessman from Hawai'i...
. Evergreen Media would buy WLUP-AM-FM late in 1992.
Becoming sports radio
Initially, the AM and FM stations remained the same. In 1993, though, WLUP FM switched to a full-service talk/comedy/rock format, while WLUP 1000 became sportsSports radio
Sports radio is a radio format devoted entirely to discussion and broadcasting of sporting events. A popular format with an almost exclusively male demographic in most areas, sports radio is characterized by an often-boisterous on-air style and extensive debate and analysis by both hosts and...
. 97.9 then became WLUP and AM 1000 changed its call sign to WMVP, or "Most Valuable Player," to reflect the station's new emphasis on sports programming. WMVP's programming included nationally-syndicated shows "Fabulous Sports Babe" and "Farrell On The Bench" as well as play-by-play local sports games. The station trailed in the ratings to WSCR and to WMAQ's Sports Huddle at night. WMVP dropped its all sports format in June 1996, the night before the Chicago Bulls opened the NBA Finals against Seattle. Evergreen later merged with Chancellor and sold WLUP 97.9 to Bonneville International
Bonneville International
Bonneville International Corporation is a broadcasting company wholly owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through its for-profit arm, Deseret Management Corporation...
. WMVP was sold to ABC in 1998.
ABC operates WMVP from 190 North State Street in the Chicago Loop, where sister station WLS-TV
WLS-TV
WLS-TV, virtual channel 7, is an owned-and-operated television station of the Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company, located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The station operates their full power digital operations on UHF channel 44, with their digital fill-in translator on VHF channel...
also has its studios.