Mike McConnell
Encyclopedia
Mike McConnell is an American talk radio
host based in Chicago
on WGN
. He left 700 WLW
in Cincinnati after 25 years in 2010.
) in Dayton, Ohio in the 1970s. He then worked as a DJ at a top 40 rock station in Dayton, WTUE
, before moving to Cincinnati, Ohio to host a local talk show on 700 WLW.
On WLW, McConnell previously hosted two programs. His weekday show, Midday with Mike, aired Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon (ET) on WLW in Cincinnati and formerly nationwide on XM Satellite Radio
(discontinued by Clear Channel
in March 2009). "Midday with Mike" was picked up for national syndication by Premiere Radio Networks
in July 2006 (replacing the then retiring Phil Hendrie
, who returned to radio in 2007), and at its peak, aired on roughly 20 stations across America, including WIBC in Indianapolis
, WGST in Atlanta, and WSYR
in Syracuse
. However, the show failed to acquire a nationwide audience, and a dwindling affiliate count resulted in Premiere quietly canceling the show's syndicated run in February 2008.
McConnell's Saturday show, The Weekend with Mike McConnell, was heard Saturdays from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm (ET) on over 100 stations. The Weekend was developed in 1998 to feature different rotating guest hosts weekly. McConnell took over the show permanently in 2004. McConnell's shows often feature a broad range of topics, from "in the news" social issues to the oddities of everyday life. McConnell describes himself as politically and socially conservative on most issues but not part of a conservative movement. More so than such hosts as Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity, he can be dismissive of conservative callers who agree with him but make statements that he finds exaggerated or poorly reasoned. McConnell has taken a libertarian position on various issues including his opposition to the drug war and specifically on marijuana being illegal.
It was announced on June 7, 2010, that McConnell is no longer working at WLW-AM, and is leaving Cincinnati to become a host for WGN in Chicago. McConnell now hosts a talk show Monday through Friday from 8:30 until 12:30 (CT) on WGN.
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
host based in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
on WGN
WGN (AM)
WGN is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is the only radio station owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns the flagship television station WGN-TV, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and Chicago magazine locally. WGN's transmitter is located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois...
. He left 700 WLW
WLW
WLW is a clear channel talk radio station located in Cincinnati, Ohio, run by Clear Channel Communications. The station broadcasts locally on 700 kHz AM...
in Cincinnati after 25 years in 2010.
Radio program
McConnell started out in radio as Alan McConnell, as a rock music DJ at an album-oriented college radio station WVUD (University of DaytonUniversity of Dayton
The University of Dayton is a private Roman Catholic university operated by the Society of Mary located in Dayton, Ohio...
) in Dayton, Ohio in the 1970s. He then worked as a DJ at a top 40 rock station in Dayton, WTUE
WTUE
WTUE is a classic rock formatted radio station with studios in Dayton, Ohio. Its transmitter is located in Moraine, Ohio and can be heard clearly throughout Southwest Ohio, including in Cincinnati....
, before moving to Cincinnati, Ohio to host a local talk show on 700 WLW.
On WLW, McConnell previously hosted two programs. His weekday show, Midday with Mike, aired Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon (ET) on WLW in Cincinnati and formerly nationwide on XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio
XM Satellite Radio is one of two satellite radio services in the United States and Canada, operated by Sirius XM Radio. It provides pay-for-service radio, analogous to cable television. Its service includes 73 different music channels, 39 news, sports, talk and entertainment channels, 21 regional...
(discontinued by Clear Channel
Clear Channel Communications
Clear Channel Communications, Inc. is an American media conglomerate company headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in 1972 by Lowry Mays and Red McCombs, and was taken private by Bain Capital LLC and Thomas H. Lee Partners LP in a leveraged buyout in 2008...
in March 2009). "Midday with Mike" was picked up for national syndication by Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Radio Networks
Premiere Networks is an American radio network. It is the largest syndication company in the United States based on popularity of programming...
in July 2006 (replacing the then retiring Phil Hendrie
Phil Hendrie
Philip Stephen Hendrie is an American radio personality. He is best known as the host of The Phil Hendrie Show, a comedy talk radio program that is syndicated throughout North America on Talk Radio Network...
, who returned to radio in 2007), and at its peak, aired on roughly 20 stations across America, including WIBC in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, WGST in Atlanta, and WSYR
WSYR (AM)
WSYR is a 5,000 watt radio station licensed to Syracuse, New York. Owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications, it broadcasts a talk radio format under the moniker "Newsradio 106.9 WSYR." It was previously billed as "Newsradio 570 WSYR" until it became a simulcast with WPHR-FM in January...
in Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. However, the show failed to acquire a nationwide audience, and a dwindling affiliate count resulted in Premiere quietly canceling the show's syndicated run in February 2008.
McConnell's Saturday show, The Weekend with Mike McConnell, was heard Saturdays from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm (ET) on over 100 stations. The Weekend was developed in 1998 to feature different rotating guest hosts weekly. McConnell took over the show permanently in 2004. McConnell's shows often feature a broad range of topics, from "in the news" social issues to the oddities of everyday life. McConnell describes himself as politically and socially conservative on most issues but not part of a conservative movement. More so than such hosts as Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity, he can be dismissive of conservative callers who agree with him but make statements that he finds exaggerated or poorly reasoned. McConnell has taken a libertarian position on various issues including his opposition to the drug war and specifically on marijuana being illegal.
It was announced on June 7, 2010, that McConnell is no longer working at WLW-AM, and is leaving Cincinnati to become a host for WGN in Chicago. McConnell now hosts a talk show Monday through Friday from 8:30 until 12:30 (CT) on WGN.