It starts Monday, August 1. There was an 11:30am Chicago-time staff meeting today, tweets Robert Feder at Time Out Chicago. CBS looks to fend off a news challenge from Merlin Media, which could come as soon as tomorrow (7/15), when Merlin takes over Emmis' alternative "Q101" WKQX through an LMA. But many observers predict a period of stunting by Merlin. All-news WBBM-AM (780) is the Windy City's leading revenue biller, and CBS wants to protect its franchise. Market manager Rod Zimmerman "offering listeners and AM and FM option to interact with our stations has been a winning strategy for CBS Radio in major markets such as San Francisco and Detroit. The upside for the consumer, and the advertisers who want to reach them, is enormous." Talk about the changes on the Chicago Board of Radio-Info.com.