WKRS

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Radio station in Waukegan, Illinois

title: "WKRS" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["radio-stations-in-illinois", "spanish-language-radio-stations-in-illinois", "connoisseur-media-radio-stations", "radio-stations-established-in-1949", "1949-establishments-in-illinois", "waukegan,-illinois"] description: "Radio station in Waukegan, Illinois" topic_path: "geography/spain" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WKRS" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Radio station in Waukegan, Illinois ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox radio station"]

FieldValue
nameWKRS
logoWKRS TUDN logo.png
cityWaukegan, Illinois
countryUS
area
brandingTUDN Radio
frequency1220 kHz
airdateSeptember 25, 1949
formatSpanish Sports
power
classD
facility_id10450
coordinates
callsign_meaningWaukegan Radio Station
ownerConnoisseur Media
licenseeAlpha Media Licensee LLC
licensing_authorityFCC
sister_stations
webcast
website
affiliations
::

| name = WKRS | logo = WKRS TUDN logo.png | logo_size = | city = Waukegan, Illinois | country = US | area = | branding = TUDN Radio | frequency = 1220 kHz | repeater = | airdate = September 25, 1949 | format = Spanish Sports | power = | class = D | facility_id = 10450 | coordinates = | callsign_meaning = Waukegan Radio Station | former_callsigns = | owner = Connoisseur Media | licensee = Alpha Media Licensee LLC | licensing_authority = FCC | sister_stations = | webcast = | website = | affiliations =

WKRS (1220 AM) is a radio station broadcasting a Spanish-language sports format. Licensed to Waukegan, Illinois, United States, the station is owned by Connoisseur Media, through licensee Alpha Media Licensee LLC, and features programming from TUDN Radio. Its transmitter is located in Waukegan, while its studios are based in the north end of the Gurnee Mills mall in Gurnee.

History

The station began broadcasting September 25, 1949. It ran 1,000 watts during daytime hours only, and was owned by The News-Sun Broadcasting Company. In 1983, WKRS was sold to Roger E. Kaplan, owner of 102.3 WXLC, for $650,000. In 1987, the station was sold to H&D Radio Limited Partnership, along with WXLC, for $5.5 million. In 1997, it was sold to Spring Broadcasting, and in 1999 it was sold to Belvidere Broadcasting, along with WXLC, for $4.3 million. In 2000, the station was sold to NextMedia Group, along with WXLC, for $9.4 million.

Between 1949 and 2012, WKRS had been a longtime English language radio station broadcasting local news and information for the Lake County region. Personalities heard on WKRS included national hosts Laura Ingraham, Michael Savage, Bill O'Reilly, and Dave Ramsey, along with local hosts Al Salvi, Libby Collins, and Lenny Palmer, The Jack Taylor Program, among others. Known at times as "The Voice Of Lake County" and "The Talk of Lake County", WKRS also broadcast Lake County Fielders minor league baseball games as well as high school sports for the Lake County area.

Among its alumni are Chicago TV reporters Anita Padilla, Matt Rodewald, and Susan Carlson.

Spanish-language era

In January 2012, it was announced that the station would drop its longtime English-language talk format in favor of a Spanish-language sports format, with programming from ESPN Deportes Radio, effective February 1, 2012.

In 2014, WKRS and NextMedia's 32 other radio stations were sold to Digity, LLC for $85 million. In 2016, Digity, LLC was purchased by Alpha Media for $264 million.

After ESPN Deportes Radio was discontinued on September 8, 2019, the station became an affiliate of TUDN Radio.

Alpha Media merged with Connoisseur Media on September 4, 2025.

References

References

  1. ''[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1971/Section-B-Radio-Broadcasting-Yearbook-1971-11.pdf 1971 Broadcasting Yearbook]'', [[Broadcasting & Cable. Broadcasting]], 1971. p. B-68. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  2. ''[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Other-Documments/City-Magazines-Misc/Chicagoland-Radio-Waves-Two-Issues.pdf Chicagoland Radio Waves]'', MediaTies. Summer 1988/Spring-Summer 1989. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  3. [https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=62648 History Cards for WKRS], fcc.gov. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
  4. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1983/BC-1983-01-10.pdf Changing Hands]", ''[[Broadcasting & Cable. Broadcasting]]''. January 10, 1983. p. 91. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  5. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1980s/1987/RR-1987-07-17.pdf Transactions]", ''[[Radio & Records]]''. July 17, 1987. p. 12. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  6. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/1990s/1996/R&R-1996-05-10.pdf Transactions]", ''[[Radio & Records]]''. May 10, 1996. p. 6. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  7. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1999/BC-1999-02-15.pdf Combos]", ''[[Broadcasting & Cable]]''. February 15, 1999. p. 46. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  8. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-2000/BC-2000-08-07.pdf Changing Hands]", ''[[Broadcasting & Cable]]''. August 7, 2000. p. 50. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  9. Ghrist, John R. (1996). ''Valley Voices: A Radio History''. Crossroads Communications. p. 345-347.
  10. "[https://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Station-Albums/Chicago-Trib-1979-Mar-About-Chi-Radio.pdf Stations, everywhere: a listeners' guide to the AM and FM bands]", ''[[Chicago Tribune Magazine]]'', March 4, 1979. p. 34. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  11. "[https://www.rbr.com/wkrs-flipping-to-espn-deportes/ WKRS flipping to ESPN Deportes]", Radio & Television Business Report. January 24, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  12. "WKRS Happenings". WKRS.
  13. "Weekday Programs". WKRS.
  14. "News 1220 WKRS The Talk of Lake County". WKRS.
  15. "[https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Other-Documments/Chicago_Magazine/Chicago-1989-Fall.pdf WKRS AM 1220]", ''Radio Chicago''. Fall 1989. p. 19. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  16. "[https://www.ihsa.org/NewsMedia/Announcements/tabid/93/ID/187/Comcast-SportsNet-Chicago-Brings-Fans-2012-IHSA-Football-State-Championships-in-HD.aspx Comcast SportsNet Chicago Brings Fans 2012 IHSA Football State Championships in HD]", [[Illinois High School Association]]. November 13, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  17. [[Phil Rosenthal. Rosenthal, Phil]]. "[https://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/towerticker/2010/08/susan-carlson-to-coanchor-wbbmch-2-early-news.html Susan Carlson to co-anchor WBBM-Ch. 2 early news]", ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. August 18, 2010. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  18. "WKRS flips to 'Deportes 1220'". [[Lake County News Sun]].
  19. "[http://chicagoradioandmedia.com/news/6316-nextmedia-radio-stations-now-owned-and-operated-by-digity NextMedia Radio Stations Now Owned And Operated By Digity]", ''Chicagoland Radio and Media''. February 10, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  20. "[http://www.insideradio.com/free/with-digity-alpha-is-now-fourth-largest-radio-co/article_41e9dcb8-dc5d-11e5-8a45-f368858e2092.html With Digity, Alpha Is Now Fourth-Largest Radio Co.]", ''InsideRadio''. February 26, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
  21. "TUDN 1220". WKRS.
  22. "[https://www.rbr.com/tudn-radio-afi/ TUDN Picks Up Some Former ESPN Deportes Radio Affiliates]", ''Radio & Television Business Report''. September 9, 2019. Retrieved September 9, 2019.
  23. (September 4, 2025). "Introducing The New Connoisseur Media". RadioInsight.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

radio-stations-in-illinoisspanish-language-radio-stations-in-illinoisconnoisseur-media-radio-stationsradio-stations-established-in-19491949-establishments-in-illinoiswaukegan,-illinois