View source for WBEZ

{{Short description|Public radio station in Chicago}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox radio station
| name                = WBEZ
| logo                = WBEZ 91.5 logo.png
| logo_size           = 200px
| city                = [[Chicago|Chicago, Illinois]]
| country             = US
| area                = [[Chicago metropolitan area]]
| branding            = WBEZ 91.5
| frequency           = {{Frequency|91.5|[[Hertz#SI multiples|MHz]]}} {{HD Radio}}
| repeaters           = See {{section link||Satellites and translators}}
| translators         = See {{section link||Satellites and translators}}
| airdate             = {{start date and age|1943|4|7}}
| format              = [[All-news radio|News]]/[[Talk radio|talk]] ([[Public broadcasting|public]])
| subchannels         = HD2: Vocalo (urban alternative)
| language            =
| erp                 = 5,700 [[watt]]s
| haat                = {{convert|425.1|m|sp=us}}
| class               = B [[non-commercial educational|NCE]]
| facility_id         = 66649
| coordinates         = {{coord|41|53|56.1|N|87|37|23.2|W|type:landmark_region:US-IL_source:FCCInfoNAD83|display=inline,title}} ([[NAD83]])
| callsign_meaning    =
| former_callsigns    = WBEZ-FM (1983&ndash;88)
| former_frequencies  = 42.5 MHz (1943–1947)
| affiliations        = {{ubl|[[American Public Media]]|[[BBC World Service]]|[[NPR]]|[[Public Radio Exchange]]}}
| owner               = [[Chicago Public Media]]
| licensing_authority = [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
| sister_stations     = [[WBEW]]
| webcast             = {{listenlive|http://www.wbez.org/player}}
| website             = {{URL|http://www.wbez.org/}} 
}}
'''WBEZ''' (91.5 [[FM broadcasting|FM]]) – branded ''WBEZ 91.5'' – is a [[non-commercial educational]] [[Radio broadcasting|radio station]] licensed to [[Chicago]], Illinois, and primarily serving the tri-state region of the [[Chicago metropolitan area]]. It is owned by [[Chicago Public Media]] and is financed by listener contributions, corporate underwriting and some government funding.<ref name="stratplan">{{Cite news|newspaper=Chicago Reader|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2009/11/09/chicago-public-radioan-internal-report-on-its-new-strategic-plan|date=November 9, 2009|title=Chicago Public Radio—an internal report on its new Strategic Plan|first=Michael |last=Miner}}</ref> WBEZ is [[network affiliate|affiliated]] with both [[National Public Radio]] (NPR) and the [[Public Radio Exchange]] (PRX). It also broadcasts content from [[American Public Media]] and the [[BBC World Service]]. It produces several [[radio syndication|nationally syndicated]] shows for public radio stations, including documentary program ''[[This American Life]]'', and co-produces news and politics quiz program, ''[[Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!]]'' with NPR.

WBEZ has an [[effective radiated power]] (ERP) of 5,700 [[watt]]s with its [[transmitter]] atop the [[John Hancock Center]] on [[North Michigan Avenue]]. It broadcasts over two [[HD Radio]] [[digital subchannels]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://hdradio.com/stations |title=HD Radio AM & FM: Find Stations |access-date=October 6, 2019}}</ref> It operates full-power [[repeater]]s [[WBEK (FM)|WBEK]] (91.1 FM) in [[Kankakee, Illinois|Kankakee]] and WBEQ (90.7 FM) in [[Morris, Illinois|Morris]], as well as several [[FM translator]]s. WBEZ-HD2, carrying a [[user-generated content]] format focused on "[[urban adult contemporary|urban alternative music]]" and branded ''Vocalo.org'', is also relayed over [[WBEW]] (89.5 FM) in [[Chesterton, Indiana]].

==History==
===Classroom instruction===
WBEZ was among the earliest FM stations in Chicago. first went on the air on April 7, 1943,<ref>{{Cite thesis|title=Comparison of the Philosophies and Program Policies of Ten Educational Radio Stations|first=Robert Leland |last=Davy
|publisher=University of Wisconsin-Madison |year=1948|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1wUzAAAAMAAJ}}</ref> carrying instructional programming for the [[Chicago Public Schools]].<ref name=Bianchi2008p227>{{Cite book |title=Schools of the Air: A History of Instructional Programs on Radio in the United States
|first=William |last=Bianchi |publisher=McFarland & Company |year=2008 |page=227}}</ref><ref name="Trib4643">"Schools' Own FM Station Is Ready to Test", ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. April 6, 1943. p. 16.</ref> However, initially only a few classrooms were able to tune in, because most did not have FM receivers.<ref name=Bianchi2008p227 /> It originally broadcast at 42.5&nbsp;MHz, before moving to 91.5&nbsp;MHz in 1947.<ref name="HistoryCards">[https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=70032 History Cards for WBEZ], Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved October 14, 2020.</ref>

Its transmitter was located atop Chicago's [[Morrison Hotel (Chicago)|Morrison Hotel]] and its studios were in the [[Builders Building]].<ref name="Trib4643"/><ref name="HistoryCards"/> In 1949, the station's transmitter was moved to [[Marshall Metropolitan High School]] in Chicago's [[East Garfield Park, Chicago|East Garfield Park]] neighborhood.<ref name="HistoryCards"/><ref>"FM Tower Shift Gets Zoning Ear: Move to Marshall High Asked", ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. February 1, 1948. Part 3, p. 1.</ref> As of 2021, it is atop the [[John Hancock Center]].<ref>{{cite web| publisher=[[radio-locator]]| title=WBEZ-FM 91.5 MHz Chicago, Illinois: "Chicago Public Radio"| date=January 21, 2021| url=https://radio-locator.com/info/WBEZ-FM| accessdate=January 21, 2022}}</ref><!-- This source gives the location as "41° 53' 56" N, 87° 37' 23" W", which is the John Hancock Center, per Google Maps. Acwilson9 2022-01-21 -->

===NPR affiliation===
In 1970, WBEZ joined [[National Public Radio]] as a charter member and began general programming outside of school hours.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagopublicmedia.org/about/history|title=History|publisher=Chicago Public Media |access-date=January 18, 2015 }}</ref> Initially, most programming outside of the instructional programs and NPR programs was jazz music. The Board of Education sold the station to the current license holders, the not-for-profit WBEZ Alliance, Inc., in 1990.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.vocalo.org/feder/2010/03/feder%E2%80%99s-chicago-media-flashback-march-1990/17249#more-17249|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311064233/http://blogs.vocalo.org/feder/2010/03/feder%E2%80%99s-chicago-media-flashback-march-1990/17249#more-17249 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 11, 2010 |title=Feder's Chicago Media flashback March 1990|last=Feder|first=Robert|date=March 9, 2010 |publisher=Vocalo.org |access-date=March 10, 2010}}</ref> In September 1995 the parent company and station moved from its old offices to its current location at [[Navy Pier]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-09-20-9509200189-story.html |title=WBEZ Plugs into Navy Pier |last=Stein |first=Sharman |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=September 20, 1995 |access-date=October 8, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref>

The corporate name was changed in 2010 to Chicago Public Media, Inc. [[Torey Malatia]], the general manager, stepped down in July 2013 after 20 years with the station.<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=Chicago Reader|title=The highs and lows of longtime WBEZ visionary Torey Malatia |first=Michael |last=Miner |date=August 14, 2013 |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/public-media-wbez-torey-malatia-board-glass/Content?oid=10646101}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2013/07/26/torey-malatia-leaves-wbez|title=Torey Malatia leaves WBEZ |last=Miner |first=Michael|newspaper=Chicago Reader |access-date=October 8, 2018 |language=en}}</ref> Goli Sheikholeslami, formerly of ''[[The Washington Post]]'', was appointed as CEO. She took office in April 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Chicago Public Media |url=http://www.wbez.org/cpm-announces-goli-sheikholeslami-new-ceo-109949 |title=CPM announces Goli Sheikholeslami as new CEO |access-date=January 19, 2015 }}</ref> Goli Sheikholeslami left WBEZ to head [[New York Public Radio]] in fall 2019; Steve Edwards, back on staff at WBEZ since 2017, was named interim CEO as of the end of September 2019.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/steve-edwards-named-interim-ceo-of-chicago-public-media/ee615c65-817a-462d-9461-5fc8170105db |title=Steve Edwards Named Interim CEO Of Chicago Public Media |date=September 11, 2019 |access-date=October 6, 2018 |work=WBEZ News }}</ref>

WBEZ broadcasts at 5,700 watts, which on paper is somewhat modest for an NPR member on the FM band. However, with its transmitter being located atop Chicago's second tallest building, its coverage area is largely comparable to Chicago's major commercial FM stations. Even so, some inner suburbs such as [[Waukegan, Illinois|Waukegan]], [[Aurora, Illinois|Aurora]] and [[Elgin, Illinois|Elgin]] only get a grade B signal.

===Reduction in music programming===
[[File:Chicago Public Radio-Logo.png|thumb|Logo until 2010]]
On January 4, 2007, the station's long-time overnight [[jazz]] programming was eliminated.<ref>{{Cite news|work=The Chicago Maroon|url=http://chicagomaroon.com/2007/01/05/the-end-of-jazz-on-wbez/|date=January 5, 2007 |title=The End of Jazz on WBEZ |first=Andrew|last=Hammond}}</ref> The music program remaining on the schedule was the world music program ''Radio M'' (formerly ''Passport'' and in 2019 re-titled Radio Z) on Friday nights. All other music hosts were to be reassigned to other positions at the station, according to a March 2006 article in the ''[[Chicago Reader]]''. The replacement of music programming, which management said was due to the prevalence and popularity of other music delivery systems, caused outrage amongst many in the [[Music of Chicago#Jazz|Chicago jazz scene]].<ref name="less"/> Protest sites were organized but were unsuccessful.<ref name="less">{{Cite news|newspaper=Chicago Reader |first=Peter |last=Margasak|title=WBEZ: Less jazz, more talk|date=October 20, 2006 }}</ref> Legendary jazz disc jockey [[Dick Buckley]] retained a time slot Sunday afternoons until mid-2008.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Chicago Reader|first=Peter|last=Margasak|title=Dick Buckley's last sign-off |date=July 25, 2008 |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2008/07/25/dick-buckleys-last-sign-off}}</ref>

Station management announced a five-year plan for Chicago-oriented programs to cover all seven hours between the national news programs.<ref name="WBEZ's Steve Edwards to depart for U of C gig">{{cite web |first=Zoe |last=Galland |url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120904/BLOGS08/120909965/wbezs-steve-edwards-to-depart-for-u-of-c-gig |title=WBEZ's Steve Edwards to depart for U of C gig |newspaper=[[Crain's Chicago Business]]|date=September 4, 2012|access-date=June 15, 2013 }}</ref>

Other program changes happened in October 2012, with various programs being reshuffled. At the same time, ''Smiley and West'' from PRI was dropped from the Sunday afternoon line-up.<ref name="Chicago's WBEZ is the 4th station to drop Smiley and West">{{cite web |first=Paul |last=Riismandel|url=http://www.radiosurvivor.com/2012/10/14/chicagos-wbez-is-the-4th-station-to-drop-smiley-and-west|title=Chicago's WBEZ is the 4th station to drop Smiley and West|publisher=Radio Survivor|date=October 14, 2012|access-date=June 15, 2013}}</ref>

===Midday program change===
The last day WBEZ aired locally produced international programming was October 4, 2019, with the final broadcast of ''Worldview'' with host Jerome McDonnell, which aired weekdays since 1994. The news on the hour at noon stopped being BBC news October 4, and started being NPR news on Monday October 7, 2019, the start of a week of transition.<ref name=FederOctober2019 /><ref name=WorldViewGoodbye2019>{{cite web| publisher=Chicago Public Media| title="The Thing That Gives Me Hope Is You": Jerome Thanks Worldview's Listeners| authorlink=Jerome McDonnell|author=McDonnell, Jerome| date=October 4, 2019| url=https://www.wbez.org/stories/the-thing-that-gives-me-hope-is-you-jerome-thanks-worldviews-listeners/bfb8005a-b6db-42d6-98f7-a362152c19ae| access-date=January 19, 2022}}</ref>

A daytime hour of ''Newshour'' from the BBC World Service began Monday October 7, 2019, replacing ''The Morning Shift''. Beginning Monday October 14, 2019, a new local talk show called ''Reset'' started. It was originally hosted by [[Jenn White]].<ref name=FederOctober2019>{{cite news |url=https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20191002/feder-wbez-to-debut-midday-talk-show-reset-with-jenn-white-oct-14 |title=Feder: WBEZ to debut midday talk show 'Reset with Jenn White' Oct. 14 |newspaper=Daily Herald |first=Robert |last=Feder |date=October 2, 2019 |access-date=October 7, 2019 }}</ref><ref name=FederMay2019>{{cite news |url=https://www.robertfeder.com/2019/05/23/wbez-debut-two-hour-midday-talk-show-fall/ |title=WBEZ to debut two-hour midday talk show this fall |last=Feder |first=Robert |access-date=October 6, 2019 |date=May 23, 2019 |work=Robert Feder: Chicago media served fresh daily since 1980 }}</ref> This was considered a shake-up of midday programs, which had not drawn as large an audience as the NPR morning and afternoon news programs, ''Morning Edition'' and ''All Things Considered''.<ref name=FederMay2019 />

==Programming==
[[File:Eilee Heikenen-Weiss interviews Shimer College student 2010.JPG|thumb|A WBEZ reporter interviewing a [[Shimer College]] student at a protest in 2010]]

Programming on WBEZ includes international news and local news including ''Curious City'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.wbez.org/shows/curious-city/7b79e16d-f3a9-4156-9b27-4d2cc6ce351e |title=Curious City |access-date=January 27, 2017}}</ref> [[world music]], and quiz shows. Notable national programs offered by WBEZ include ''[[All Things Considered]]'', ''[[Marketplace (radio program)|Marketplace]]'', ''[[Morning Edition]]'', ''[[Weekend Edition]]'', [[The World (radio program)|''PRI's The World'']] and ''[[Live From Here]].'' Generally, news and talk programming is heard weekdays and evenings with music and entertainment talk programming on the weekends.<ref>{{Cite web|type=PDF|url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/wbez-assets/Assets/wbez_program_schedule.pdf|title=WBEZ Program Schedule|publisher=WBEZ|access-date=January 19, 2015 }}</ref>

[[File:ChrisWallaBenGibbard.jpg|thumb|left|[[Death Cab for Cutie]] playing for WBEZ's ''Sound Opinions'' in 2008]]

WBEZ is best known nationally as the producer of ''[[This American Life]]'' through [[Public Radio Exchange]]. ''This American Life'' began in 1995 as the local show ''Your Radio Playhouse''; it was renamed in March 1996 and has been national since June 1996.<ref>{{Cite news|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|title=Lights! Camera! Ira? In 1998, NPR began producing ''[[Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me!]]'' in Chicago with WBEZ as a co-production partner. NPR used their studios and office space for many years until 2019.
|date=November 15, 2005 }}</ref>

In addition, Chicago Public Media founded [[Third Coast International Audio Festival]], a showcase for independent radio producers, and the producer of the weekly program ''Re:sound''.<ref name="Third Coast International Audio Festival">{{cite web |url=http://thirdcoastfestival.org/|title=Third Coast International Audio Festival|publisher=Third Coast International Audio Festival|access-date=June 15, 2013 }}</ref> WBEZ stopped broadcasting ''Re:sound'' circa 2019.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}".

WBEZ was also the flagship station of ''The Annoying Music Show!'', a 3-minute program that showcased generally annoying songs. The program was produced by former WBEZ program director Jim Nayder. Nayder Communications also produced the somewhat more serious ''Magnificent Obsession,'' a program of interviews with persons who have overcome various addictions.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/remembering-annoying-music-show-and-magnificent-obsession-host-jim-nayder/e0358041-73b4-4788-8f16-8cbbe7b2668f |publisher=WBEZ|title=Remembering 'Annoying Music Show' and 'Magnificent Obsession' host Jim Nayder|date=August 1, 2014 |first=Monica|last=Eng|access-date=January 19, 2015 }}</ref> The station was also once the flagship station of Steve Cushing's nationally distributed Saturday night blues music program ''Blues Before Sunrise,'' which started in 1979 and has been independently produced and distributed by Cushing since 1995. ''Blues Before Sunrise,'' was eliminated from WBEZ's lineup in the 2007 restructuring, but was taken over by public radio station [[WDCB]] in nearby [[Glen Ellyn, Illinois|Glen Ellyn]].<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=Chicago Reader |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/Bleader/archives/2006/12/06/wdcb-saves-blues-before-sunrise |date=December 6, 2006 |first=Peter|last=Margasak|title=WDCB Saves Blues Before Sunrise}}</ref>

Its morning magazine program ''Eight Forty-Eight'' was initially named after the postal address of the station, 848 East Grand Avenue. The show was renamed to ''The Morning Shift'',<ref name="programming">{{Cite web|url=http://www.wbez.org/programs/|publisher=WBEZ|title=Programs|access-date=January 18, 2015 }}</ref> and was dropped in October 2019 in favor of a two-hour local talk show midday, called ''Reset''.

The corresponding afternoon program was called ''The Afternoon Shift''.<ref name="programming"/> WBEZ touted the program as "a live talk show featuring in-depth interviews and conversations with [mostly local] newsmakers, artists, writers, and innovators".<ref name="The Afternoon Shift">{{cite web|url=http://www.wbez.org/programs/afternoon-shift|title=The Afternoon Shift |publisher=WBEZ|access-date=June 15, 2013}}</ref> Original host Steve Edwards left the station after a few months,<ref name="Steve Edwards departs for University of Chicago's Institute of Politics">{{cite web|first=Tim |last= Akimoff|url=http://www.wbez.org/sections/media/steve-edwards-departs-university-chicagos-institute-politics-102200|title=Steve Edwards departs for University of Chicago's Institute of Politics|publisher=WBEZ|date=September 5, 2012|access-date=June 15, 2013 }}</ref><ref name="WBEZ's Steve Edwards heading to University of Chicago">{{cite web|first=Kim |last=Janssen|url=http://www.suntimes.com/business/14936001-420/wbezs-edwards-heading-to-u-of-c.html|title=WBEZ's Steve Edwards heading to University of Chicago|publisher=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|date=September 4, 2012 |access-date=June 15, 2013 }}</ref> and longtime ''Chicago Tribune'' journalist [[Rick Kogan]] temporarily replaced him.<ref name="Tribune's Kogan to keep 'Afternoon Shift' buzzing at WBEZ">{{cite web|first=Robert |last=Feder |url=http://timeoutchicago.com/arts-culture/chicago-media-blog/15698191/tribune%E2%80%99s-kogan-to-keep-%E2%80%98afternoon-shift%E2%80%99-buzzing-at-wbez|title=Tribune's Kogan to keep 'Afternoon Shift' buzzing at WBEZ|publisher=[[Time Out (magazine)|Time Out Chicago]]|date=September 16, 2012|access-date=June 15, 2013 |author-link=Robert Feder}}</ref><ref name="Rick Kogan Exits WGN-AM; Dean Richards To Replace Him">{{cite web |url=http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/news/2792-rick-kogan-exits-wgn-am-dean-richards-to-replace-him |title=Rick Kogan Exits WGN-AM; Dean Richards To Replace Him |publisher=Chicagoland Radio and Media|date=September 21, 2012|access-date=June 15, 2013 }}</ref> As of 2013 and the conclusion of Kogan's interim stint, WBEZ introduced Niala Boodhoo as the show's permanent on-air host. In 2015, WBEZ canceled "The Afternoon Shift"; the final episode aired on June 5, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-wbez-programming-0604-biz-20150603-story.html |title=WBEZ cancels 'The Afternoon Shift' |date=June 3, 2015 |first=Robert|last=Channick |newspaper=Chicago Tribune|access-date=October 6, 2019}}</ref>

Another local program heard Monday through Friday was ''[[Worldview (radio show)|Worldview]]'', a global issues program that began in 1986 as ''Midday with Sondra Gair''.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=New York Times|title=Sondra B. Gair Is Dead at 70; Host of Radio Show in Chicago
|first=Wolfgang|last=Saxon|date=May 28, 1994 }}</ref> After Gair's death in 1994, her producer Jerome McDonnell took over the program and hosted it since. It was heard nationally on [[Sirius Satellite Radio]]'s now-defunct PRI channel from Sirius' inception until 2006. Worldview aired its last program after 25 years on October 4, 2019.<ref name=WorldViewGoodbye2019/>

Chicago Public Media is a founding member of the [[Public Radio Exchange]] (PRX), a programming cooperative for public radio stations and independent producers.<ref>{{Cite news |work=Current.org|title=PRX: online audio market begins beta test this month
|date=May 12, 2003 |first=Mike|last=Janssen|url=http://www.current.org/wp-content/themes/current/archive-site/radio/radio0309prx.html|access-date=January 19, 2015 }}</ref> The [[rock music]] [[talk show]] ''[[Sound Opinions]],'' which moved from [[WXRT]] in 2005, was distributed nationally by [[American Public Media]] until 2010, when its distribution was transferred to PRX.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.apmstations.org/programs/news_include.php?pgm_code=snd&item=snd_prx|title=Distribution for Sound Opinions moving from APM to PRX July 1|publisher=American Public Media|access-date=January 19, 2015 }}</ref> PRX also distributes the film show ''[[Filmspotting]]''.<ref>{{Cite web| title = PRX » Series » Filmspotting (weekly series) |work=PRX - Public Radio Exchange |access-date =March 7, 2019 |url=https://exchange.prx.org/series/16673-filmspotting-weekly-series}}</ref>

News and news discussion/documentary programs aired on a weekly basis include [[Latino USA]] from NPR; Canadian [[CBC Radio]] shows [[Q (radio show)|''Q'']], [[Ideas (radio show)|''Ideas'']], and [[Under the Influence (radio documentary series)|''Under the Influence with Terry O'Reilly'']]; and ''Radio Netherlands: The State We're In''.<ref name="The State We're In">{{cite web|url=http://www.wbez.org/program/363/about|title=Radio Netherlands: The State We're In|publisher=WBEZ|access-date=January 18, 2015 }}</ref> Other programs that air weekly include ''Snap Judgment'' with [[Glynn Washington]], a story-telling show from [[Public Radio Exchange|PRX]] and NPR.<ref name="PRX » Snap Judgment">{{cite web|url=http://www.prx.org/snap |title=PRX » Snap Judgment|publisher=[[Public Radio Exchange]]|access-date=June 15, 2013 }}</ref>

== Satellites and translators ==
In addition to its main transmitter on 91.5 FM, WBEZ extends its signal by operating full-power satellite WBEQ/[[Morris, Illinois]] (90.7 FM). The station also formerly operated a low-power translator in [[Elgin, Illinois]] (W217BM at 91.3). In 2013, Chicago Public Media purchased 91.7 W219CD in Elgin from [[LifeTalk Radio]] for $52,500,<ref>"[https://radioinsight.com/headlines/83807/fcc-applications-612/ FCC Applications 6/12]", ''RadioInsight''. June 12, 2013. Retrieved October 14, 2020.</ref> and W217BM moved to Chicago the following year and changed its frequency to 91.1 as W216CL.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 8, 2014|title=WDCB-FM Seeks Help From Listeners & FCC To Battle WBEZ-FM's Interfering Translator|url=http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/news/6833-wdcb-fm-seeks-help-from-listeners-fcc-to-battle-wbez-fm-s-interfering-translator|access-date=January 18, 2015|work=Chicago Radio and Media}}</ref>

Listeners can also receive the broadcast online with [[streaming audio]], [[MP3]] download or by [[podcast]]. {{As of|2013}}, the station drew an estimated 400,000 listeners each week.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lapin|first=Andrew|date=August 15, 2013|title=Malatia's exit from WBEZ leaves staff guessing|work=Current.org|url=http://www.current.org/2013/08/malatias-exit-from-wbez-leaves-staff-guessing/}}</ref>

Several other radio stations also are or were affiliated with [[Chicago Public Media#Radio stations|Chicago Public Media]].

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|+ Full-power satellites
|-
! [[Call signs in North America|Call sign]]
! data-sort-type="number" | [[Frequency]]
! [[City of license]]
! data-sort-type="number" | [[Facility ID]]
! [[List of North American broadcast station classes|Class]]
! data-sort-type="number" | [[Effective radiated power|ERP]]<br />([[watt|W]])
! data-sort-type="number" | [[Height above average terrain|Height]]<br />([[Metre|m]] ([[Foot (unit)|ft]]))
! class="unsortable" | Transmitter coordinates
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| {{rh}} | [[WBEK (FM)|WBEK]] || 91.1 FM || [[Kankakee, Illinois]] || {{FID|33327}} || A || 2,600 || {{convert|77.3|m|ft|abbr=on}} || {{coord|41|9|39|N|87|52|30|W|region:US-IL_type:landmark_source:FCC|name=WBEK}} || Simulcasts WBEZ-FM/HD1
|-
| {{rh}} | WBEQ || 90.7 FM ([[HD Radio|HD]]) || [[Morris, Illinois]] || {{FID|92544}} || A || 1,470 || {{convert|142.6|m|ft|abbr=on}} || {{coord|41|17|9.12|N|88|25|49.25|W|region:US-IL_type:landmark_source:FCC|name=WBEQ}} || Simulcasts WBEZ-FM/HD1
|-
| {{rh}} | [[WBEW]] || 89.5 FM ([[HD Radio|HD]]) || [[Chesterton, Indiana]] || {{FID|3248}} || B1 || 4,000 || {{convert|181.9|m|ft|abbr=on}} || {{coord|41|38|6.1|N|87|2|59.1|W|region:US-IN_type:landmark_source:FCC|name=WBEW}} || Simulcasts WBEZ-HD2
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
|+ [[Broadcast relay station|Broadcast translators]]
|-
! [[Call signs in North America|Call sign]]
! data-sort-type="number" | [[Frequency]]<br />([[Hertz#SI multiples|MHz]])
! [[City of license]]
! data-sort-type="number" | [[Facility ID]]
! [[List of North American broadcast station classes|Class]]
! data-sort-type="number" | [[Effective radiated power|ERP]]<br />([[watt|W]])
! data-sort-type="number" | [[Height above average terrain|Height]]<br />([[Metre|m]] ([[Foot (unit)|ft]]))
! class="unsortable" | Transmitter coordinates
! Rebroadcasts
|-
| {{rh}} | W216CL || 91.1 || [[Chicago, Illinois]] || {{FID|91647}} || D || 50 || {{convert|377.2|m|ft|abbr=on}} || {{coord|41|53|56.12|N|87|37|23.18|W|region:US-IL_type:landmark_source:FCC|name=W216CL}} || WBEZ-HD2
|-
| {{rh}} | W219CD || 91.7 || [[Elgin, Illinois]] || {{FID|90195}} || D || 10 || {{convert|145|m|ft|abbr=on}} || {{coord|42|1|11.09|N|88|22|53.30|W|region:US-IL_type:landmark_source:FCC|name=W219CD}} || WBEZ (FM/HD1)
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.wbez.org/}}
* {{FM station data|66649|WBEZ}}
* {{FM station data|92544|WBEQ}}
* {{FCC-LMS-Facility|90195|W219CD}}
* {{FMXL|W219CD}}
* [http://www.thirdcoastfestival.org Third Coast International Audio Festival]
* [http://www.chicagoreader.com/pdf/060414/060414_business.pdf "The Business: All Talk"], ''[[Chicago Reader]]'', April 14, 2006, Section 2, p.&nbsp;2

{{Chicago Radio}}
{{Joliet-Morris-Crete Radio}}
{{NPR Illinois}}
{{TAL}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Radio stations established in 1943]]
[[Category:NPR member stations]]
[[Category:Public Radio International stations]]
[[Category:Radio stations in Chicago|BEZ]]
[[Category:1943 establishments in Illinois]]