Update 10/8: Cumulus has officially announced the hiring of Steve Dahl for afternoons at 890 WLS Chicago.
Dahl will replace Roe Conn and Richard Roeper who have exited the station. Conn told WLS-TV’s “Windy City Live” that they were informed last night that they have already hosted their final show for the station.
Cumulus Chicago announces that iconic Chicago personality Steve Dahl will return to 89 WLS-AM as host of a new weekday show, after almost six years away from broadcast radio.
Cumulus will also partner with Dahl to expand his successful podcasting network, the Steve Dahl Network. Dahl’s new weekday show will debut on WLS-AM (890 AM) Monday, November 3, from 2:00-6:00p.m. A Chicago radio fixture for over 30 years, Dahl hosted a popular show on WLS-AM from 1980-1985. He has been called the “Founder of Modern FM Talk Radio”, and has influenced countless other comedians and broadcasters.
Dahl’s new show will feature his signature “everyman” sense of humor and his passion for music, sports and entertainment. Although he was born in Southern California, Steve is as Chicago as they come and embraces the city and its people as his own. Turning 60 this November casts a new era of Dahl on air, with banter with his editor-in-chief and wife of 36 years, Janet Dahl, checking in with their three grown Dahl boys navigating fatherhood, and the joy of being a grandparent to four grandchildren.
In 2009, Dahl began working in the new medium of podcasting and started the Steve Dahl Network (www.dahl.com) in August, 2011, from his home in the Western suburbs of Chicago. The Network offers 11 unique weekly shows via a subscription-based podcast.
Peter Bolger, Operations Manager for 89 WLS-AM said: “Chicago and WLS are known for great radio personalities. That’s why I’m proud and excited to have Steve Dahl back on The Big 89.”
Dahl said: “I am ecstatic to not only be a part of the Cumulus radio family, but also a partner with them in the Podcast Network. This is an important new chapter in radio’s future.”
Original Report 10/7: RobertFeder.com is reporting that Steve Dahl will soon join Cumulus Talk 890 WLS Chicago for afternoons.
Feder’s report states that Dahl will replace incumbent hosts Roe Conn and Richard Roeper in early November. Dahl has been off the air since 2008 when his morning show was dropped from CBS’ then Variety Hits “104.3 Jack-FM” WJMK. Since 2011 he has run a subscription Podcast network that will continue along with the WLS show. Feder indicates that Cumulus will provide backend support for the network.
More details at RobertFeder.com.