Fred Eychaner (born 1944) is an American businessman and philanthropist.
39-569: Eychaner is the chairman of Newsweb Corporation . He was included in Chicago magazine's 2014 list of the 100 most powerful Chicagoans. In 2005, the Chicago Tribune estimated his wealth at $ 500 million. In 2015, he was inducted into the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame . Eychaner is a major donor to Democratic campaigns, gay rights advocacy groups, and arts organizations. Eychaner is gay and
78-541: A Catholic talk format. Hosts included Ray Guarendi , Raymond Flynn , Dan Lungren , and Al Kresta . In April 2000, Catholic Family Radio placed all of its radio stations up for sale, and on May 29, most of Catholic Family Radio's programming was replaced by EWTN Radio , with Al Kresta's show being the only Catholic Family Radio show remaining on the station. In early 2001, WYPA was purchased by Newsweb Corporation for $ 10.5 million. On March 1, 2001, One on One Sports moved its programming from WJKL to WYPA, and
117-524: A beautiful music format in early 1963, which it continued to air through the 1970s. It was branded "The World's Most Beautiful Music" and used the slogan "try a little tenderness". Personalities heard on WAIT during this era included Ken Alexander, Dick Buckley , and John Doremus . In 1967, the station applied to the Federal Communications Commission for a waiver of its clear-channel rules so that it could operate at night. When
156-537: A hot AC format branded "The Point," simulcasting WPNT-FM. In early January 1991, the station was taken off the air, as its owner disposed of its transmitter site in Elmhurst, Illinois. In late 1991, the station was sold to Diamond Broadcasting. At 7:15 a.m. on January 2, 1992, it returned to the air from a new site in Chicago's Cragin neighborhood, though without nighttime operations. It became WSCR "The Score,"
195-416: A variety hits format as Nine FM , and the station later became a split-format station with Nine FM during the day and Dance Hits format Dance Factory at night. Dance Factory is operated by TKC Entertainment, which leases the air time from Newsweb. Nine FM was discontinued as of October 19, 2008, in favor of Progressive Talk simulcast with sister station WCPT . WCPT-FM 92.7, WCPQ 99.9, and WCPY 92.5
234-463: A Spanish language talk format as an affiliate of "Radio Unica." Personalities heard on Radio Unica included Pedro Sevcec , Isabel Gómez-Bassols , among others. In 1998, the station's owner, Achievement Radio Holdings, merged with Z-Spanish Media. On May 15, 1999, Radio Unica moved to 950 WNTD , though it continued to simulcast on WYPA. In mid-1999, the station was purchased by Catholic Family Radio for $ 10.5 million, and on June 9 it began airing
273-464: A basic cable service. In 2002, WPWR was sold to Fox Television Stations for a reported $ 425 million. Then, in 2005, through Newsweb, he launched Chicago radio station WCPT (820 AM), branded as Chicago's Progressive Talk. He is President of the charitable organization Alphawood Foundation which granted the School of Oriental and African Studies , University of London £20m in 2013. Eychaner has given
312-584: A chart of the top 20 popular songs in Chicago. Reed Farrell and Lloyd 'Spider' Webb were DJs on the station during this period. In 1957, the station's studios were moved to the Steuben Club Building . In 1963, its studios were moved back to its transmitter site in Elmhurst, though its offices remained in the Steuben Club Building. In 1962, the station was sold to a partnership led by Maurice and Lois Rosenfield, for $ 1 million. It adopted
351-612: A day, although it reduces power to 1,500 watts after sunset so not to interfere with WBAP in Fort Worth. On June 2, 2014, WCPT-FM and WCPQ broke away from the simulcast, and 92.5 in DeKalb took the WCPT-FM call sign. In 2016, WCPT's daytime power was increased to 5,800 watts, and its daytime transmitter was moved to Chicago's Jefferson Park neighborhood. In 2018, WCPT-FM was sold to Educational Media Foundation and became an affiliate of K-Love ,
390-437: A fire set by a teenager who believed Voliva had swindled his father. Its transmitter site was relocated to Addison Township , in what today is part of Elmhurst, Illinois , and its studios were moved to 2400 W. Madison in Chicago. WCBD shared WMBI's transmitter while its new transmitter was being built. In 1940, Voliva filed suit against WCBD, alleging that the station's insistence that he provide scripts of speeches violated
429-754: A general trustee to the board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts . Eychaner was awarded the 2021 National Medal of Arts . Newsweb Corporation Newsweb Corporation is a printer of ethnic and alternative newspapers in the United States, based in Chicago , Illinois . The company also owns several radio stations in the Chicago area. Newsweb was founded in 1971 by Chicago entrepreneur, political activist, and philanthropist Fred Eychaner to continue his printing business. In early 2004,
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#1732854859608468-560: A motivational talk format as "Personal Achievement Radio", and its call sign was changed to WYPA. Its programming was presented in short segments, less than ten minutes long, and included material culled from the libraries of self-help publishers featuring speakers such as Tony Robbins , as well as locally produced segments featuring Wayne Messmer and Mary Laney. Weekends featured longer shows, with local hosts such as Les Brown , as well as brokered programming . On June 9, 1998, "Personal Achievement Radio" moved to WNDZ , and WYPA adopted
507-409: A wide variety of newspapers. It was in 1982 that, through Metrowest, he launched Chicago television station WPWR-TV Channel 50 in Chicago. It was also in 1982 that, alongside Chicago White Sox owners Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn , he was involved in the launching of the subscription sports television service Sportsvision . The service was sold to Cablevision in 1984, which converted it into
546-509: Is a commercial progressive talk radio station licensed to Willow Springs, Illinois . Owned by Heartland Signal LLC, the station serves the Chicago metropolitan area . The station's studios and daytime transmitter are located in the Jefferson Park neighborhood on Chicago's Northwest Side , while its nighttime transmitter is located in Joliet . On June 23, 1923, the station signed on using
585-591: Is married to Danny Leung. Eychaner was born to a middle-class Methodist family in DeKalb, Illinois , the son of Mildred (Lovett) and Howard Franklin Eychaner. His father owned a moving and storage business. He has three siblings, including Iowa businessman Rich Eychaner. He attended the Medill School of Journalism . In the late 1970s, Eychaner founded Metrowest Corporation, which would eventually become Newsweb, which prints
624-470: The 1993–1994 season, but their status as a daytimer limited the number of games they could air. Night games instead aired on 92.7 WCBR-FM . On November 10, 1994, WSCR was granted a construction permit to broadcast at night, running 1,200 watts from a site in Lemont, Illinois . In 1995, the station was sold to Westinghouse (Group W), along with WXRT , for $ 60 million. Westinghouse decided against building
663-527: The Chicago metropolitan area. The WCPT call letters moved along with the format to 820 AM, and the WAIT call letters returned to 850 AM. Hosts included Ed Schultz , Stephanie Miller , Randi Rhodes , Thom Hartmann , Bill Press , and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. On March 29, 2008, Jake Hartford joined WCPT, hosting Saturday mornings. On May 19, 2008, WCPT began airing The Rachel Maddow Show , and in January 2010
702-577: The Clinton Foundation more than $ 25 million. He is also credited with getting the long-delayed FDR Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island in New York finally constructed. In November 2013, Alphawood announced a $ 2 million matching grant to help jumpstart construction of the Bloomingdale Trail in Chicago. Eychaner commissioned architect Tadao Ando to design his house in Chicago, which
741-514: The FCC denied its application, it appealed to the D.C. Court of Appeals , which upheld the FCC's decision. In autumn 1976, the station shifted to an adult contemporary format. In October 1977, WAIT switched to a talk format. However, its ratings dropped considerably after it abandoned the beautiful music format, and in August 1978 it returned to the beautiful music format it had long aired. In 1979,
780-592: The call sign WCBD, broadcasting at 870 kHz. The station was located in Zion, Illinois , and was owned by Wilbur Glenn Voliva , who was the "General Overseer" of the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church , and was known for his flat Earth beliefs. WCBD was non-commercial, airing religious programming that reflected Voliva's viewpoints, along with vocal and instrumental music. The station originally ran at 500 watts. On February 2, 1925, its power
819-407: The company purchased 99.9 FM WRZA from Entravision and in late 2004, the company purchased three suburban Chicago radio stations from Spanish Broadcasting System : 92.5 FM WDEK , 92.7 FM WKIE and 92.7 FM WKIF . The trimulcast was formerly the home to Energy 92.7&5. WKIF was broken away from the trimulcast and WRZA took its place. WKIF became a CNN Radio affiliate. The new trimulcast became
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#1732854859608858-611: The entire day. On May 3, 2005, the station's call letters were changed back to WAIT when Newsweb's WAIT (850 AM) launched a progressive talk format with the new call letters WCPT. Newsweb's owner, Fred Eychaner , is a significant donor to Democratic Party causes. Later that year, the station's city of license was changed from Chicago to Willow Springs. In October 2007, Relevant Radio moved to WNTD, though it continued to simulcast on WAIT until November 25. On November 26, 2007, Chicago's Progressive Talk moved from 850 AM to 820 AM, doubling its power and providing coverage to all of
897-507: The first all-sports station in Chicago. The Score's original hosts included Tom Shaer, Dan Jiggetts partnered with Mike North , and Dan McNeil. McNeil would later be partnered with Terry Boers . Former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka hosted a weekly show in 1992, and served as an analyst during football season until 1997, when he was hired to coach the New Orleans Saints . WSCR carried Illinois Fighting Illini basketball in
936-426: The hits of the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. The station aired Chuck Schaden 's Radio Theatre weekday evenings. Eddie Hubbard joined WAIT in 1983, and hosted the morning drive show. Dick Buckley hosted a jazz program Saturday nights from 1984 to 1985. On April 7, 1986, the station began airing a soft adult contemporary format as "Cozy" WCZE. Gary Parks hosted morning drive, while the rest of its programming
975-513: The nighttime transmitter site in Lemont, and instead made plans to move "The Score" to 1160 AM . The construction permit to add nighttime operations was cancelled. On April 7, 1997, at 2:30 p.m., "The Score" moved to 1160 AM, along with the WSCR call letters. In early 1997, the station was sold to N. John Douglas's Personal Achievement Radio, Inc. for $ 7.5 million. On April 7, 1997, it began airing
1014-519: The station adopted a sports format. On March 26, 2001, One-on-One Sports' name was changed to Sporting News Radio, and the station's call sign was changed to WCSN. Personalities heard on the station included Jay Mariotti , Chet Coppock , Phil Jackson , and Bruce Murray . In April 2003, Starboard Broadcasting began leasing two hours of airtime a day to air the Relevant Radio Catholic network. On December 1, 2003, it began leasing
1053-609: The station began airing The Norman Goldman Show . In late October 2008, the station started simulcasting on 92.7 WCPT-FM in Arlington Heights , 92.5 WCPY in DeKalb , and 99.9 WCPQ in Park Forest . On March 19, 2009, WCPT and WIND hosted "The Great Debate", featuring Thom Hartmann representing the liberal viewpoint and Michael Medved representing the conservative viewpoint, and moderated by Cisco Cotto and Dick Kay. On April 29, 2010, WCPT began broadcasting 24 hours
1092-670: The station to Fox Television Stations . In 2006, they also sold Denver UPN affiliate KTVD to Gannett , who made it part of a duopoly with Gannett's local NBC affiliate, KUSA-TV . Newsweb retained KTVD's former satellite station in Sterling, Colorado , KUPN (now KCDO-TV ), which was operated as independent station from 2010 to 2020. The company later sold KCDO-TV, which was briefly affiliated with Grit , to Scripps in November 2020. Coincidentally, both WPWR and KTVD are affiliates of MyNetworkTV . WCPT (AM) WCPT (820 AM )
1131-461: The station until 1956, when he began hosting a nighttime show on 670 WMAQ . In 1951, the station's studios were moved to its transmitter site in Elmhurst. In 1954, it was sold to Robert Oscar Miller and family. Nelson Eddy , the Wayne King Orchestra , Liberace , Coke Time with Eddie Fisher , and The Hour of Charm were heard on WAIT in the 1950s. In the mid-1950s, WAIT published
1170-513: The station's license was assigned to Century Chicago Broadcasting, a partnership of Century Broadcasting Corporation and the station's previous owners. In 1980, it applied to the FCC for a construction permit to add nighttime operations at 1,000 watts. The permit was granted in 1981, and it began nighttime operations by 1982. In 1981, the station started carrying Northwestern Wildcats football games. In October 1982, WAIT began airing an adult standards format branded "Great Hits", featuring
1209-751: The terms of his contract, which allowed him to speak on the station without censorship. Dyer stated that the requirement was necessary because Voliva had violated his promise not to air his political views. WCBD's frequency was changed to 1110 kHz in March 1941, as a result of the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement . In June 1941, the station's frequency was changed to 820 kHz. It ran 5,000 watts, signing off at sunset in Dallas to protect WBAP in Fort Worth . The call sign
Fred Eychaner - Misplaced Pages Continue
1248-487: Was a trimulcast which simulcast WCPT between 5 AM and 9 PM, and operates Dance Hits format Dance Factory at night. On June 2, 2014, WCPT-FM and 99.9 WCPQ broke away from the Progressive Talk simulcast and changed their daytime format to Polish, branded as "Polski FM". WCPT-FM then swapped callsigns with 92.5 WCPY in DeKalb, which remained part of the Progressive Talk simulcast. Newsweb Corporation owns WCPT which
1287-499: Was an Air America and CNN Radio affiliate, and also includes locally hosted Progressive talk programming. WCPT operates on 820 AM in the Chicago area. Newsweb purchased AM 850 WAIT in 2004. Newsweb also owns WSBC 1240 AM and WNDZ 750 AM, WCPY 92.7 FM and formerly owned WCFJ 1470 AM, until surrendering the station's license to the Federal Communications Commission on November 9, 2015. In May 2018, Newsweb sold WCPQ to Bible Broadcasting Network for $ 5,099,000. WCPT-FM
1326-577: Was appointed station director. The station began to air some Italian language programming. In 1936, the station was sold to Gene T. Dyer and its studios were moved to the Guyon Paradise Ballroom in Chicago. It became a commercial operation, and aired religious, ethnic, and music programming. On April 2, 1937, the station's transmitter and the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church's Shiloh Tabernacle were destroyed in
1365-529: Was changed to WAIT on September 15, 1941. In 1947, the station began sharing time with a new WCBD, owned by the Christian Catholic Church in Zion, Illinois, which operated on Sundays only. In 1959, WAIT's owners purchased WCBD for $ 132,000, and WAIT was granted full daytime operations on the frequency. Daddy-O Daylie began his radio career on WAIT in 1948, hosting a jazz program. Daylie remained on
1404-758: Was completed in 1997, and the Wrightwood 659 gallery next door, which officially opened in 2018. He has been a top Democratic donor for several cycles and in the 2012 election cycle was the top donor to Democratic Super PACs, giving more than $ 14 million. He serves on the board of the Joffrey Ballet, and of the Art Institute of Chicago. He is also a trustee of the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco. In September 2010, President Barack Obama appointed Eychaner
1443-414: Was delivered by satellite from Transtar Radio Networks ' "Format 41" service. In April 1988, its call sign was changed to WXEZ, standing for "Extra Easy", and it became a simulcast of WXEZ-FM , airing easy listening music. In 1989, it shifted back to a soft AC format, playing more vocals and fewer instrumentals. On November 16, 1990, the station's call sign was changed to WPNT, and it briefly aired
1482-584: Was increased to 5,000 watts. From April 1924 until November 11, 1928, WCBD shared time on its frequency with WLS . In November 1928, its frequency was changed to 1080 kHz, where it shared time with WMBI . Both WCBD and WMBI were restricted to daytime operations to protect WBT in Charlotte, North Carolina . In 1934, WCBD's studios were moved to the Karcher Hotel in Waukegan, Illinois , and Gene T. Dyer
1521-478: Was sold to Educational Media Foundation for $ 1.6 million in autumn of 2018. In August 2019, Newsweb sold WAIT's transmitter site to McHenry County College , and the station was taken off the air. Newsweb surrendered WAIT's license on July 15, 2020, and the FCC cancelled the license on July 21. Newsweb had formerly owned the Gary, Indiana - licensed UPN affiliate for Chicago, WPWR-TV , until 2003, when they sold
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