Steve Harvey shifting down the dial to V103

In what amounts to a little bit of corporate radio shuffling, Clear Channel Communications is shifting Steve Harvey's syndicated morning show from urban-contemporary WGCI 107.5-FM to its adult-urban sibling WVAZ 102.7-FM. Starting Tuesday, it will replace Tom Joyner's syndicated morning show from 5 to 9 a.m. weekdays.

It looks as if Clear Channel is consolidating its best morning show on its strongest station. Harvey's show has an estimated 7 million listeners nationally and has benefited from publicity surrounding his new book, "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man."

Both urban stations have taken hits in the ratings with Arbitron's new People Meter system, but in the most recent monthly Arbitrends V103 tied for sixth overall in the Chicago market, down from third in the quarterly winter ratings book, while 'GCI-FM was tied for 15th, down from 12th in the winter. Previously, it usually competed for the top spot against personality-talk WGN 720-AM.

"I feel like V103 just won the lottery!" said Program Director Derrick Brown.

Both stations will simulcast Harvey's show through the end of the month. 'GCI-FM plans to announce its plans for a new morning show starting in April "within a week," according to a Clear Channel official.

Harvey, who began his showbiz career as a standup comedian, made his radio debut as a host at 'GCI-FM in 1996, then left to do a prime-time network sitcom, only to return to the airwaves doing a syndicated morning show picked up by 'GCI-FM.