Bob Sirott re-ups at WGN Radio

Signs multi-year extension

Nexstar’s WGN Radio announced a multi-year contract extension for Bob Sirott, who will continue to host the station’s morning show. 

“Management has given me a terrific on-air and behind-the-scenes team, plus freedom to do whatever I want,” said Sirott in a statement. “That’s why waking up at 4:30 am is fun now. Actually…that last line is a lie.” (no one likes waking up at 4:30 am.) 

Sirott returned to the station in January 2020 after two other stints from 2007 to 2010 in a midday slot and again from 2013 to 2015 with his wife, Marianne Murciano. 

“Bob’s work ethic, focus, and character is the stuff of legends in the broadcast industry,” said WGN Radio Vice President and General Manager Mary Sandberg Boyle. “He’s an excellent communicator and continues to strategically engage and connect with the WGN Radio audience daily. Bob is one of the best in the business and we’re proud to have him as part of the WGN Radio team.”

Unlike the typical AM radio show whose topics are often political (and usually to one side of the spectrum), Sirott’s show spans various subjects, including tech, entertainment, and food. Sirott occupies a slot with a lot of history, featuring iconic, high-rated personalities including Wally Phillips, Bob Collins, and Spike O’Dell. The multi-year extension also gives the 75-year-old Sirott stability, as he has worked for numerous Chicago radio and television stations over his 50-plus-year career. Sirott began his career as a disc jockey at WBBM-FM in 1971, then landed at WLS-AM in the same capacity in 1973, before landing at sister station WRCK-FM (now WLS-FM) as morning personality in 1980. His first TV job was as an entertainment reporter for CBS-owned WBBM-TV and was also a correspondent for CBS News’ West 57th newsmagazine in the mid-1980s. 

Since then, Sirott has had stints at WFLD (twice), WMAQ-TV (twice), WTTW’s Chicago Tonight, and back to WLS-AM, as a talk show host with Muricano. 

Despite being on a frequency some say is destined for extinction, WGN-AM is still Chicago’s second-highest AM station in Chicago, tied for tenth in the recent overall Nielsen PPM rankings behind WBBM-AM and up 19 percent from October, holding up well despite the Christmas music onslaught from 93.9 The Lite.