Posted by chicagomedia.org on July 30, 2008 at 12:25:46:
Pat Cassidy has left as co-host of CBS Radio's all-news WBBM-AM 780's high-rated morning program, station staff members were told today.
John Hultman will replace him opposite Felicia Middlebrooks on an interim basis from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., effective tomorrow, until a successor is named in the coming weeks, according to Rod Zimmerman, senior vice president and market manager of CBS Radio Chicago and general manager of Newsradio 780.
"[Cassidy] has told me he has a desire to do talk-radio, so we have respected that decision and today was his last day on WBBM," Zimmerman said. "He's been a great contributor to a great brand and a great product that a lot of people use every day. So we certainly wish him well personally."
Cassidy was not immediately available for comment. It was not yet known what station he plans to join.
Hultman anchored mornings on WBBM-AM from 1980 to 1998 before retiring after 30 years at the station.
Cassidy joined Middlebrooks on the morning shift at WBBM in 2000 when sister station WMAQ-AM, where Cassidy had been morning anchor and a franchise player since 1975, scrapped its dueling all-news format.
(Rosenthal)