Posted by chicagomedia.org on July 13, 2009 at 16:16:31:
Emmis Communications' WKQX-FM 101.1 is bringing Tim Virgin back to Chicago as its new 3-to-7 p.m. host, cutting loose nighttime host Alex Quigley so afternoon host Ryan Manno, minus brother Kevin Manno, can move into Quigley's old 7-to-10 p.m. slot.
Emmis also is releasing WLUP-FM 97.9's Tom O'Toole, a part-timer as part of a move to reassign weekend shifts to full-timers already on staff.
Virgin, who worked evenings at The Loop and afternoons at Q101 between late 1996 and early 1999, most recently was at Phoenix's KEDJ-FM.
The Arizona Republic last week reported that, according to Federal Communications filings, KEDJ parent Riviera Broadcast Group missed interest payments totaling $3.9 million and requested in May to transfer control of its stations to Atmor Properties Inc.
"In the alternative format, there aren't many personalities around the country that are good enough for Q101," said Marv Nyren, Emmis Radio's regional vice president and market manager for Chicago's WKQX and WLUP. "Tim Virgin is one of the few, and because he was right now available, we had to grab him right now."
Although Kevin Manno has been taken off the air at Q101, a role of some kind has not been ruled out.
(Phil Rosenthal, Chicago Tribune)