A Minneapolis-based commercial AM news and talk radio station serving the Twin Cities and a broad Upper Midwest listening area.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
WCCO is a commercial AM radio station broadcasting at 830 kHz from Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is best known for its long-running news, talk, weather, emergency-information and sports programming, as well as for the unusually broad regional reach of its clear-channel signal. The station operates with up to 50,000 watts during the daytime, the maximum power generally authorized for U.S. AM stations, and its signal covers much of Minnesota and portions of neighboring states by day. At night, the station's protected clear-channel service reaches a large part of the central United States and portions of Canada. The station began broadcasting on September 4, 1922, under the call sign WLAG. Its initial operator, Cutting & Washington Radio Corporation, encountered financial problems, and the station was deleted in September 1924. It returned to the air shortly afterward under the ownership of Washburn-Crosby Company, the flour manufacturer that later became part of General Mills. The call sign was changed to WCCO, reflecting the new owner's initials, and broadcasts resumed in October 1924. WCCO was an important network affiliate during radio's formative decades. It joined the NBC Red Network in 1927 and the CBS Radio Network in 1928. During radio's network era it carried entertainment, news, sports and variety programming. As television drew network entertainment away from radio during the 1950s, WCCO developed a full-service local format combining music, news, talk and sports. Music remained part of the schedule for decades, shifting from middle-of-the-road programming toward adult contemporary before being phased out as the station moved toward its present news, talk and sports identity in the late twentieth century. The brand has traditionally emphasized local relevance and public service. WCCO has maintained frequent newscasts, local hosts, severe-weather coverage, school-closing information and emergency broadcasts. It is Minnesota's Primary Entry Point station for the Emergency Alert System. Its reputation for weather coverage was reinforced by listener reports during major storms and floods, and by distinctive tornado-warning alert practices. The station's coverage of major Minnesota weather disasters in 1965 received multiple major broadcasting and journalism awards. Sports have also been central to WCCO's identity. The station has carried Minnesota Twins baseball for substantial portions of the team's history and resumed as the Twins' radio home in 2018. It has also carried Minnesota Vikings football during several periods, Minnesota Timberwolves basketball from 2011 through the 2022–23 season, University of St. Thomas football for several seasons, and other Minnesota professional and college sports. Ownership has changed several times. CBS acquired WCCO in 1932, later sold majority control to the Murphy and McNally families in 1952, and regained full ownership in 1992 through the merger of CBS and Midwest Radio and Television. WCCO Radio separated from WCCO-TV when CBS Radio merged with Entercom in November 2017. Entercom subsequently rebranded as Audacy. The station remains an Audacy property and continues to combine locally produced programming with syndicated shows and network news. Its studios are in downtown Minneapolis, while its transmission facilities have historically been located in the northern Twin Cities suburbs. In the mid-2020s, Audacy pursued a move from the historic Coon Rapids transmitter property to a smaller auxiliary facility in Ramsey as part of a broader effort to monetize valuable transmission real estate.
History
WCCO traces its origins to WLAG, which first signed on in Minneapolis on September 4, 1922. The station was initially operated by Cutting & Washington Radio Corporation from studios near Loring Park. Financial difficulties led to its deletion in September 1924, but it was relicensed approximately a week later. Washburn-Crosby Company, the predecessor of General Mills, took control, changed the call sign to WCCO and returned the station to the air on October 2, 1924. The station quickly became part of the developing national radio system. It was among the original affiliates of the NBC Red Network in 1927 and joined CBS Radio in December 1928. CBS purchased WCCO from General Mills in 1932. During the network era the station aired a broad range of dramas, comedies, news, sports, serials and musical programs. It also established an artist-management bureau in the 1930s. WCCO's technical history contributed to its regional importance. Following the Federal Radio Commission's 1928 frequency reorganization, the station moved to 810 kHz and received clear-channel status. It began 50,000-watt operation in 1932 and expanded its antenna system during the following decade. A major tower was built at Coon Rapids in 1939. The station moved to 830 kHz in 1941 under the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement. Minnesota's relatively flat terrain and favorable ground conductivity helped give WCCO one of the most extensive AM coverage areas in the country. In 1952, CBS sold majority control to the Murphy and McNally families, who formed Midwest Radio and Television to hold WCCO Radio and the newly associated WCCO-TV. Federal ownership limits required CBS to dispose of its remaining interest in 1954. Midwest operated the radio and television properties until CBS reacquired them outright in 1992. During the 1950s, WCCO adapted to television's rise by becoming a full-service station with music, local news, talk and sports rather than relying primarily on network entertainment. The station developed a particularly strong public-service identity. It became a key source for severe-weather reports, school closings and emergency information, and it participated in coverage of major Minnesota storms, floods and tornado outbreaks. Its broadcasts during the major weather events of 1965 earned Peabody, DuPont and Sigma Delta Chi recognition. WCCO also became Minnesota's Primary Entry Point station for the Emergency Alert System. Its music strategy changed over time. Middle-of-the-road programming in the 1950s gradually moved toward adult contemporary in the 1980s. By the early 1990s music had largely disappeared, leaving news, talk and sports as the core format. The station remained a major Twin Cities outlet for decades, although FM competition and declining AM listening later reduced its ratings leadership. The discontinuation of its long-running farm report in 2004 reflected changes in agriculture, demographics and the growing use of online information. WCCO experimented with AM stereo using Motorola's C-QUAM system beginning in 1985 and added an HD Radio signal in 2005. The AM HD signal was discontinued in 2018, while programming continued through digital distribution, including KMNB-HD2. Sports programming has remained important: WCCO carried the Twins from 1961 to 2007 and again from 2018, and it has periodically served as the radio home of the Vikings, Timberwolves, University of Minnesota athletics, Minnesota Wild and University of St. Thomas football. The CBS Radio–Entercom merger closed in November 2017, ending WCCO Radio's common ownership with WCCO-TV. Entercom later adopted the Audacy name. In the mid-2020s, Audacy sought to move the WCCO transmitter from its long-standing Coon Rapids site to an auxiliary facility in Ramsey. The proposal reflected the increasing real-estate value of large broadcast parcels and Audacy's broader effort to reduce debt and sell non-core property while preserving the station's regional service.
- 2024
Transmitter relocation proposed
[1]Audacy filed for a permanent move from the historic Coon Rapids transmitter site to Ramsey.
- 2018
Twins broadcasts return
[1]Minnesota Twins play-by-play returned to WCCO beginning with the 2018 season.
- 2017
Entercom merger closes
[1]CBS Radio merged with Entercom, transferring WCCO Radio to the surviving company.
- 2011
Adds Timberwolves and St. Thomas football coverage
[1]WCCO became a radio outlet for Minnesota Timberwolves basketball and University of St. Thomas football.
- 2005
HD Radio service begins
[1]WCCO added an HD Radio transmission, later discontinued on its AM signal in 2018.
- 1992
CBS regains full ownership
[1]CBS reacquired the WCCO radio and television properties through its merger with Midwest Radio and Television.
- 1985
AM stereo launches
[1]WCCO began C-QUAM AM stereo broadcasts after an extended technical preparation period.
- 1952
Midwest Radio and Television takes majority control
[1]The Murphy and McNally families formed Midwest Radio and Television and acquired majority control of the WCCO stations.
- 1941
Moves to 830 kHz
[1]The station changed frequency from 810 to 830 kHz under the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement.
- 1939
Coon Rapids tower constructed
[1]WCCO built the major Coon Rapids transmission tower that became associated with its clear-channel service.
Products and positioning
A trusted, service-oriented Upper Midwest news and talk station whose differentiation comes from local hosts, emergency information, weather coverage, sports rights and a powerful clear-channel signal.
AM radio station · 1922
WCCO AM 830
The core WCCO service is a commercial news, talk and sports station on 830 kHz. It combines frequent local and national newscasts with locally hosted discussion, weather, traffic, public-service information and live sports. Its 50,000-watt clear-channel operation gives the brand unusually broad geographic reach for a local station.
digital radio and streaming · 2005
WCCO digital and HD distribution
WCCO programming is distributed through the station's website and digital listening platforms and has also been carried on the HD2 subchannel of co-owned KMNB. The station's original AM HD transmission ended in 2018, but digital distribution remains part of its audience strategy.
sports broadcasting · 1961
Minnesota Twins broadcasts
WCCO has served as a major radio outlet for Minnesota Twins baseball, including the team's first Twin Cities season in 1961 and a renewed relationship beginning in 2018. The broadcasts reinforce the station's regional identity and provide live play-by-play alongside its news and talk schedule.
Brand decisions
2024
Relocation of the primary transmitterStrategyBackground
The Coon Rapids transmitter property had substantial real-estate value after decades of suburban development, while Audacy was seeking to reduce debt and monetize non-core properties.
Action taken
Audacy sought FCC authorization to move WCCO's primary transmission operation to an existing auxiliary site in Ramsey. The proposed facility would retain 50,000 watts by day and use somewhat lower nighttime power.
Aftermath
The move was intended to preserve service while making the historic Coon Rapids parcel available for possible redevelopment.
2017
CBS Radio merges with EntercomM&ABackground
CBS agreed to combine its radio division with Entercom through a transaction structured as a Reverse Morris Trust.
Action taken
The merger closed in November 2017, making Entercom the owner of WCCO Radio and ending its common ownership with WCCO-TV.
Aftermath
WCCO became part of the Entercom portfolio, later operated under the Audacy name.
1990
Moves from music toward news, talk and sportsStrategyBackground
Changing listener behavior and the growing dominance of television and FM radio weakened the role of music on the AM service.
Action taken
WCCO gradually phased out music, completing its transition to a news, talk and sports format by the early 1990s.
Aftermath
The change established the format and service identity that continues to define the station.
Sources2 sources
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