
About
WGN traces its roots back to 1922 when it launched as WDAP, a radio station that changed its identity forever after the Chicago Tribune bought it in 1924. The newspaper's famous slogan "World's Greatest Newspaper" became the call letters WGN, setting a tone of local pride that still defines the brand today. This media powerhouse grew from a single radio frequency into a dual-platform operation covering both audio and visual content for the Chicago metropolitan area.
Nexstar Media Group currently owns the brand following its 2019 acquisition of Tribune Broadcasting. Before this major shift, the station served as a flagship asset for the Tribune Company for nearly a century. The ownership change brought new management structures while maintaining the core mission of delivering news, sports, and entertainment to the region.
The brand operates two distinct pillars: WGN Radio on 720 AM and WGN-TV on Channel 9. Radio listeners tune in for live coverage of breaking news, traffic updates, weather forecasts, and sports commentary featuring teams like the Chicago Blackhawks and White Sox. Television viewers access The CW network programming alongside local news broadcasts that reach audiences in northwest Indiana and southern Wisconsin.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Company Info
- Founded
- 1922-01-01
- Founder
- WDAP Founders (Acquired by Chicago Tribune)
- Headquarters
- Chicago, Illinois
- Industry
- Broadcasting and Media
- Parent Company
- Nexstar Media Group
- Original Call Letters
- WDAP
- Tribune Acquisition Year
- 1924
- Radio Frequency
- 720 AM
- TV Channel Number
- 9
- Network Affiliation
- The CW
- Current Owner Since
- 2019
Official Website
wgntv.com/
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