WRME-LD

WRME-LD is a low-power television station serving Chicago, Illinois, with an unusual dual-service identity. Its digital television transmission operates on channel 33 and carries Jewelry Television, while its associated audio service broadcasts at 87.75 MHz, commonly received as 87.7 FM, under the 87.7 MeTV FM brand. The radio format is a soft adult contemporary and oldies service built around Weigel Broadcasting's MeTV television brand. The station began broadcasting in 2003 as W55DF on television channel 55. It later moved to channel 6, where its analog audio occupied a frequency within the commercial FM band. This made it part of the group of stations sometimes informally called “Franken-FM” outlets: television stations whose channel 6 audio could be heard on 87.7 FM. Over time, the station carried infomercials, home-shopping programming, MTV Tr3s, Azteca América, alternative country, smooth jazz, all-news programming, alternative rock, sports talk, and WGN talk programming before settling into its current MeTV FM format. The station's most important modern transition began in February 2015, when Weigel Broadcasting took over programming and advertising operations. Weigel replaced the preceding sports-talk service with a soft-oldies format branded MeTV FM, extending the company's established classic-television identity into radio. The format emphasizes familiar, generally soft or mid-tempo recordings from approximately the 1960s through the 1980s, while maintaining a broad library that has expanded beyond narrowly defined adult-contemporary and oldies boundaries. The service became notable for its large playlist, local Chicago identity, and ability to use the 87.7 frequency despite being licensed primarily as a television station. WRME-LD remains owned by Venture Technologies Group; operational control and programming are provided by Weigel Broadcasting under a local marketing agreement. Its studios are co-located with Weigel's headquarters in Chicago's Greektown area, and its transmitter is located atop the John Hancock Center. The station's low-power television status historically exempted it from certain full-power television educational and informational programming obligations, supporting a largely uninterrupted radio-oriented schedule. Beginning in 2019, it also carried selected WBBM-TV news and weather updates during weekday morning and afternoon drive periods. In July 2021, the station converted its television transmission from analog to ATSC 3.0 Next Gen TV and changed its call sign from WRME-LP to WRME-LD. The digital service uses virtual channel 33, with Jewelry Television as its principal television programming. The MeTV FM audio service continued on 87.7 FM under special FCC authority. A July 2023 FCC Report and Order subsequently included WRME-LD among the FM6 stations permitted to continue an associated FM audio service as an ancillary or supplementary operation. By 2024, the 87.7 signal was reported as covering much of the Chicago metropolitan area, giving the station a reach comparable in practical listening terms to many full-power local FM services.

WRME-LD began service in 2003 as W55DF, a low-power television station broadcasting on channel 55. Its early programming included infomercials, home-shopping services, MTV Tr3s, and Azteca América. The station later moved to channel 6, partly because of the planned expansion of Qualcomm's MediaFLO mobile-television service in Chicago. After the move, its analog channel-6 audio could be received at 87.7 FM, creating the hybrid television-and-radio operating model that ultimately defined the station. In 2006, the station adopted the WLFM-LP call sign. In 2009, it briefly aired an alternative-country format known as The L after a proposed agreement to launch a dance service modeled on New York's Pulse 87 was abandoned. Later that year, the station took over the smooth-jazz format vacated by WNUA. Branded 87.7 Chicago's Smooth Jazz, it initially relied on the Broadcast Architecture Smooth Jazz Network and subsequently added local personalities, including program director and midday host Rick O'Dell and evening host Loni Taylor. The station also carried syndicated programs and specialty music shows. Its television picture was used for still images, weather, traffic, song information, and advertising, allowing the outlet to satisfy the then-existing requirement that a television license transmit a video component. The smooth-jazz service evolved into Smooth Adult Contemporary in 2010, adding mainstream and rhythmic adult-contemporary music while retaining some instrumental jazz. In July 2009, the audio service began appearing on a subchannel of WCHU-LD, and in 2011 it became available to Comcast digital cable subscribers as channel 877. Merlin Media entered a local marketing agreement with Venture Technologies Group in April 2012. Merlin replaced the music format with an all-news simulcast of WIQI and changed the call sign to WKQX-LP. In May, the station launched Q87.7, an alternative-rock service aimed at younger listeners and promoted with an intentionally unconventional identity tied to the station's position on the FM dial. When Merlin and Cumulus Media reached an agreement affecting Merlin's Chicago stations in 2014, the alternative-rock format moved to 101.1 FM. Cumulus ended its operation of the low-power station in February 2014. Tribune Broadcasting then entered an LMA and renamed the station WGWG-LP. Tribune introduced The Game, a WGN-produced sports-talk format featuring local hosts and NBC Sports Radio programming. The service also functioned as an alternate outlet for Chicago Blackhawks broadcasts when WGN's schedule conflicted with Chicago Cubs coverage. The Game was discontinued at the end of 2014 because of low ratings and insufficient advertising revenue, after which the station temporarily simulcast WGN talk programming. Weigel Broadcasting announced in December 2014 that it would assume control of the station. On February 23, 2015, it launched MeTV FM, a soft-oldies format and a radio extension of Weigel's MeTV classic-television network. The station changed its call sign to WRME-LP. The format used a broad library, largely covering the 1960s through the 1980s, with mostly soft- and mid-tempo selections. Its playlist later expanded to include recordings associated with album-oriented rock while retaining its generally accessible, nostalgic character. Weigel eventually pursued wider distribution of the format through a partnership with Envision Networks. The audio service also became an official repeater on WMYX-FM-HD2 in Milwaukee and was made available through digital listening platforms. In November 2019, the station began airing WBBM-TV news and weather updates during morning and afternoon drive times. On July 13, 2021, it completed the transition from analog television to ATSC 3.0, becoming Chicago's first Next Gen TV station. Two days later, it adopted the WRME-LD call sign and moved its television virtual channel to 33. Jewelry Television became the station's digital television service, while the MeTV FM audio continued on 87.7 FM under special temporary authority. In 2023, the FCC adopted an order allowing WRME-LD and a limited group of other FM6 stations to continue associated FM audio operations. By 2024, the station's 87.7 signal was described as reaching the wider Chicagoland area, while its digital television operation continued as a low-power ATSC 3.0 service.

• 2023

  FM6 continuation authorized

  [1]WRME-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC included the station in an order permitting continued associated FM audio operation.

• 2021

  ATSC 3.0 conversion and WRME-LD designation

  [1]WRME-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The television service converted to Next Gen TV, adopted virtual channel 33, and began carrying Jewelry Television.

• 2015

  MeTV FM launches

  [1]WRME-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Weigel Broadcasting began operating the station and established its current core music brand.

• 2014

  WGN-produced sports-talk period

  [1]WRME-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Tribune operated the station as WGWG-LP and launched The Game.

• 2012

  Merlin Media LMA begins

  [1]WRME-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Merlin took over programming and advertising operations and introduced news and alternative-rock formats.

• 2009

  Smooth-jazz format launched

  [1]WRME-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station became 87.7 Chicago's Smooth Jazz after WNUA abandoned its smooth-jazz format.

• 2006

  WLFM-LP call sign adopted

  [1]WRME-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station began using the WLFM-LP identity after its move to channel 6.

• 2003

  Initial sign-on as W55DF

  [1]WRME-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The low-power television station began broadcasting on channel 55.

A Chicago-focused hybrid broadcast service combining a nostalgia-oriented music station on 87.7 FM with a low-power ATSC 3.0 television station. Its principal audience proposition is familiar soft adult contemporary and oldies music presented as an extension of the MeTV classic-television brand.

• Radio format · 2015

  87.7 MeTV FM

  The station's principal audio service is a Chicago-oriented soft adult contemporary and oldies format. It relies on a broad library concentrated on recordings from the 1960s through the 1980s, with an emphasis on familiar, relatively gentle and mid-tempo music. The playlist has expanded over time to include selected artists associated with album-oriented rock. MeTV FM extends Weigel Broadcasting's MeTV television brand into radio and is distributed locally through WRME-LD's 87.7 FM audio signal, with additional digital distribution and a Milwaukee HD Radio repeater.

• Digital television programming · 2021

  Jewelry Television

  Jewelry Television is the principal television service carried by WRME-LD's ATSC 3.0 transmission. Following the 2021 digital conversion, it was mapped to virtual channel 33.1. The television service provides the station's required broadcast identity while the associated 87.7 FM audio operation carries the independently branded MeTV FM music service.

• Former radio format · 2009

  Smooth Jazz

  From 2009 through 2012, the station operated as 87.7 Chicago's Smooth Jazz and later Smooth Adult Contemporary. Programming combined network-supplied smooth jazz with local hosts, syndicated personalities, specialty programs, and instrumental selections. The format helped establish the station's identity as a radio-like service delivered through the audio portion of a channel-6 television license.

• Former sports-talk format · 2014

  The Game

  The Game was a Tribune and WGN-produced sports-talk service carried by the station in 2014. Its lineup included Chicago radio personalities, local sports discussion, and NBC Sports Radio programming. It also served as an alternate outlet for Chicago Blackhawks broadcasts when WGN's programming schedule conflicted with Chicago Cubs coverage. The format ended after weak ratings and limited advertising revenue.

• 2015MeTV FM brand extension

  Chicago

  Weigel launched a soft-oldies radio format using the established MeTV television brand, positioning the station as an audio companion to classic television programming.

  Outcome. The format became the station's enduring operating identity and was later prepared for wider syndication through a partnership with Envision Networks.

  Source

• 2023

  Continued FM6 operationOther

  Background

  The station's hybrid television and 87.7 FM model required regulatory treatment after the analog television transition.

  Action taken

  The FCC included WRME-LD among FM6 stations permitted to continue an FM audio broadcast as an ancillary or supplementary service.

  Aftermath

  The MeTV FM audio service remained available throughout the Chicago area while the digital television service operated on ATSC 3.0.

  Source

• 2021

  Conversion to ATSC 3.0Generation change

  Background

  Low-power television stations faced the end of the analog television era, while WRME's 87.7 FM audio service depended on the special characteristics of channel 6.

  Action taken

  The station converted its television transmission to ATSC 3.0, changed from WRME-LP to WRME-LD, adopted virtual channel 33, and retained the 87.7 audio service under FCC authority.

  Aftermath

  Jewelry Television became the digital television offering and MeTV FM continued as the associated audio brand.

  Source

• 2015

  Weigel launches MeTV FMProduct launch

  Background

  Weigel sought to use its MeTV television identity in a radio-oriented service while operating Venture Technologies' low-power station.

  Action taken

  The station adopted a soft-oldies and adult-contemporary format under the MeTV FM name.

  Aftermath

  MeTV FM became the station's long-term brand and achieved strong Chicago-market ratings relative to its low-power television origins.

  Source

• 2014

  Tribune ends The GameStrategy

  Background

  The sports-talk format faced low ratings and weak advertising revenue.

  Action taken

  Tribune discontinued The Game and temporarily shifted the station to a WGN talk simulcast.

  Aftermath

  Weigel Broadcasting assumed operational control in February 2015 and replaced the talk service with MeTV FM.

  Source

• 2012

  Merlin replaces smooth jazz with news and alternative rockStrategy

  Background

  Merlin Media entered an LMA with Venture Technologies Group while the future regulatory treatment of low-power analog television stations was uncertain.

  Action taken

  Merlin ended the smooth-jazz service, introduced an all-news simulcast, and then launched the Q87.7 alternative-rock identity.

  Aftermath

  The alternative-rock format later moved to 101.1 FM under a Cumulus arrangement.

  Source

1. 1WRME-LDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WRME-LD official websitemetv.fm