WCIU-TV
Encyclopedia
WCIU-TV is an independent television station located in Chicago, Illinois. It operates on UHF
digital channel
27 (virtual channel
26) and is Chicago's oldest UHF station, signing on the air in 1964. WCIU-TV is the flagship station of Weigel Broadcasting
, a locally-based broadcaster which has owned the station since its inception. Weigel Broadcasting also owns two low-powered sister-stations, WWME-CA
(channel 23) and WMEU-CA
(channel 48) in Chicago, as well as stations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
and South Bend, Indiana
.
WCIU-TV operates a low-power repeater station, WFBN-LP (channel 33), in Rockford, Illinois
.
, hosted by its creator (and then-WCIU station employee) Don Cornelius
. The show later moved into national syndication
and to Los Angeles
the following year, though WCIU continued to produce Soul Train for its local viewers through 1976, initially with Cornelius as host (simultaneous with the Los Angeles-based version), and later hosted by Clinton Ghent, who was substitute host and producer under Cornelius. Currently, WCIU is the home of the long-running locally produced show Svengoolie
.
From the late 1960s to 1985, WCIU ran religious shows in the early morning. From about 8:00AM to 3:30PM, it ran The Stock Market Observer (business news similar to today's CNBC
) from the Chicago Board of Trade
(whose building housed the WCIU studios). After 5:00PM on weekdays, the station ran Spanish entertainment programming from the Spanish International Network, (including controverisal bullfighting
) the forerunner to today's Univision
. On weekends, WCIU ran a blend of religious shows, ethnic brokered shows, and Spanish programming. Beginning in the summer of 1985, SIN moved to WSNS-TV
(channel 44). WCIU picked up NetSpan, which would later become Telemundo
, shortly thereafter. In 1989 Univision returned to WCIU, swapping affiliations with WSNS-TV.
(channel 66) and move its programming there. On January 1, 1995, WCIU began to broadcast general entertainment programming, taking the leftover programming from WGBO, along with newly-purchased shows that were not on the air in Chicago, moving its remaining ethnic programming to its low-powered sister station on channel 23, then WFBT
. They also revived Svengoolie
, which had previously run in the market on other stations. The shows run were mostly classic sitcoms and drama shows.
Initially, the station continued to run the Stock Market Observer from 8:30AM until 3:30PM and entertainment programming afterward and on weekends. WCIU then added a 7:00AM–9:00AM weekday kids block by March 1995. In the fall of 1995, the station began to air children's programming from The WB Television Network
(known as Kids' WB
) in lieu of WB affiliate WGN-TV
(channel 9), which continued to air their morning newscast and afternoon sitcom block instead. The business news was pulled back to 9:00AM–12:00PM on the weekdays, and a couple years later it would move to their low power station on channel 23 as "WebFN", a joint venture between Weigel and Bridge Information Systems
which also aired on Milwaukee sister station WMLW
, and featured several former anchors from WMAQ radio after that station converted to sports talk in 2000 as WSCR
. By the late 1990s WCIU began adding more recent sitcoms and in 2000 they began to move more talk and reality first run syndicated shows into their daytime lineup.
In 2002, WCIU dropped the afternoon kids block and kept children's programming in the morning. In 2003, the station dropped Kids' WB, which moved to WGN-TV. Classic sitcoms gradually fell off WCIU's Schedule from 2001 to 2004. Today, WCIU focuses on more recent sitcoms, talk shows, court shows, and news magazines.
Early in 2005, the business news format was scaled back to a daily program, "First Business". On January 1, 2005 (exactly 10 years after WCIU became a general-market station,) channel 23's ethnic programming moved to channel 48, and 23 became "Me-TV" WWME-CA expanding a lineup of classic TV shows that had started several months earlier. These are shows that in many cases previously aired on WCIU. On March 1, 2008, channel 48 became "MeToo" WMEU-CA, an extension of Me-TV's "Classic TV" format and channel 48's ethnic programming returned to WCIU on a digital channel "FBT." FBT was dropped on December 1, 2010 and was replaced by a temporary simulcast of WCIU-TV.
In April 2006, WCIU began broadcasting home games of the Chicago White Sox
, Chicago Cubs
, and the Chicago Bulls
in 720p HD with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio on its digital signal.
In April 2008, WCIU began broadcasting both home and away games of the Chicago White Sox
, Chicago Cubs
in 720p HD with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio on its digital signal.
In July 2008, Weigel announced the creation of This TV
, a nationwide subchannel network operated as a joint venture of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
and Weigel Broadcasting
. This TV was officially launched on November 1, 2008 and is currently offered on digital channel 26.5.
WCIU is also known for its "dog promos" (an idea borrowed from KOFY-TV in San Francisco) where Chicagoan's pet dogs are filmed to promote shows on the station. Casting calls are announced on the station's website every few months.
Weigel Broadcasting launched You and Me This Morning, a program that features entertainment news.
In 2010, sports coverage on WCIU was rebranded as "WGN
Sports on The U" to reflect the fact that the games are produced by WGN. Even though WGN had always produced these telecasts, the coverage was previously referred to as "BullsNet," "CubsNet," and "SoxNet" rather than under the WGN name.
On January 4, 2011, MGM and Weigel Broadcasting announced plans to distribute Me-TV nationwide.
In 2011, all White Sox, Bulls, and Cubs games televised on WCIU began to be simulcast to local stations in central Illinois and Iowa through what is referred to on-air as the "WGN Sports Network." Prior to this, select Bulls games on WCIU and WGN had been simulcast to these same stations.
WCIU-TV is broadcasting digitally on its current pre-transition channel number, 27. However, through the use of PSIP
, digital television receivers are displaying WCIU-TV's virtual channel
as 26. Also, the "WCIU-TV" callsign was transferred from the now-defunct analog channel 26 to digital channel 27 on June 12, 2009 and the "WCIU-DT" callsign was removed.
From June 13, 2009 to January 9, 2011, WCIU-TV's main programming was simulcasted on low-power analog station WWME-CA Channel 23 to provide a nightlight
service. From June 13 to July 12, 2009, they even aired newscasts from WMAQ-TV
and WGN-TV
for those viewers who either were unready or had problems since the June 12 digital transition.
On January 5, 2011, a brand new digital subchannel, The U Too, was officially launched on digital subchannel 26.2. The new digital network airs some time-shifted programming from WCIU's main channel, including new syndicated programs airing for the first time in the Chicago market. It also broadcast a handful of DePaul Blue Demons
and other Big East Conference
Basketball games. As of January 10, 2011, the digital subchannel is also simulcast on WWME-CA analog channel 23.
}
Ultra high frequency
Ultra-High Frequency designates the ITU Radio frequency range of electromagnetic waves between 300 MHz and 3 GHz , also known as the decimetre band or decimetre wave as the wavelengths range from one to ten decimetres...
digital channel
Digital terrestrial television
Digital terrestrial television is the technological evolution of broadcast television and advance from analog television, which broadcasts land-based signals...
27 (virtual channel
Virtual channel
In telecommunications, a logical channel number , also known as virtual channel, is a channel designation which differs from that of the actual radio channel on which the signal travels....
26) and is Chicago's oldest UHF station, signing on the air in 1964. WCIU-TV is the flagship station of Weigel Broadcasting
Weigel Broadcasting
Weigel Broadcasting is an American locally based television broadcasting company. The company is based in downtown Chicago, Illinois, alongside its flagship station WCIU-TV , at the apt address of 26 North Halsted Street in the Greektown neighborhood.- History :The company was founded by Chicago...
, a locally-based broadcaster which has owned the station since its inception. Weigel Broadcasting also owns two low-powered sister-stations, WWME-CA
WWME-CA
WWME-CA is a class A station in Chicago, Illinois. It is owned by Weigel Broadcasting, which also owns sister stations WCIU-TV and WMEU-CA. This station is the flagship of the Me-TV network. Me-TV is also broadcast on WCIU's digital subchannel 26.3....
(channel 23) and WMEU-CA
WMEU-CA
WMEU-CA is a class A station in Chicago, Illinois. It is owned by Weigel Broadcasting, which also owns sister stations WCIU-TV and WWME-CA. The station is an extension of WWME's classic programming format, and brands as "MeToo"...
(channel 48) in Chicago, as well as stations in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...
and South Bend, Indiana
South Bend, Indiana
The city of South Bend is the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River near its southernmost bend, from which it derives its name. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a total of 101,168 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
.
WCIU-TV operates a low-power repeater station, WFBN-LP (channel 33), in Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
.
1964–1993
Since going on the air on February 6, 1964, WCIU spent much of its history carrying multi-ethnic entertainment. In 1970, Channel 26 was the birthplace of the ground-breaking African-American music program Soul TrainSoul Train
Soul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared.As a nod to Soul Trains...
, hosted by its creator (and then-WCIU station employee) Don Cornelius
Don Cornelius
Donald Cortez "Don" Cornelius is an American television show host and producer who is best known as the creator of the nationally syndicated dance/music franchise Soul Train, which he hosted from 1971-1993...
. The show later moved into national syndication
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
and to Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
the following year, though WCIU continued to produce Soul Train for its local viewers through 1976, initially with Cornelius as host (simultaneous with the Los Angeles-based version), and later hosted by Clinton Ghent, who was substitute host and producer under Cornelius. Currently, WCIU is the home of the long-running locally produced show Svengoolie
Svengoolie
Svengoolie is the name of a character from a long-running series of locally-produced television programs in the Chicago, Illinois metropolitan area...
.
From the late 1960s to 1985, WCIU ran religious shows in the early morning. From about 8:00AM to 3:30PM, it ran The Stock Market Observer (business news similar to today's CNBC
CNBC
CNBC is a satellite and cable television business news channel in the U.S., owned and operated by NBCUniversal. The network and its international spinoffs cover business headlines and provide live coverage of financial markets. The combined reach of CNBC and its siblings is 390 million viewers...
) from the Chicago Board of Trade
Chicago Board of Trade
The Chicago Board of Trade , established in 1848, is the world's oldest futures and options exchange. More than 50 different options and futures contracts are traded by over 3,600 CBOT members through open outcry and eTrading. Volumes at the exchange in 2003 were a record breaking 454 million...
(whose building housed the WCIU studios). After 5:00PM on weekdays, the station ran Spanish entertainment programming from the Spanish International Network, (including controverisal bullfighting
Bullfighting
Bullfighting is a traditional spectacle of Spain, Portugal, southern France and some Latin American countries , in which one or more bulls are baited in a bullring for sport and entertainment...
) the forerunner to today's Univision
Univision
Univision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
. On weekends, WCIU ran a blend of religious shows, ethnic brokered shows, and Spanish programming. Beginning in the summer of 1985, SIN moved to WSNS-TV
WSNS-TV
WSNS-TV, channel 44, is an owned-and-operated station of the Spanish-language Telemundo network, located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. This station is owned by NBCUniversal, which is also the parent company of Telemundo...
(channel 44). WCIU picked up NetSpan, which would later become Telemundo
Telemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
, shortly thereafter. In 1989 Univision returned to WCIU, swapping affiliations with WSNS-TV.
1994–2004
In 1994, Univision asked WCIU to drop Stock Market Observer and all other non-Spanish programs and become a full-time affiliate. WCIU refused, which led Univision to purchase WGBO-TVWGBO-TV
WGBO-DT, channel 66, is the Univision owned and operated station licensed to Joliet, Illinois, United States. Its studios are in Chicago. WGBO offers a Spanish programming format featuring news, talk shows, dramas, movies, and other Spanish-language programming.-History:Channel 66 signed on in...
(channel 66) and move its programming there. On January 1, 1995, WCIU began to broadcast general entertainment programming, taking the leftover programming from WGBO, along with newly-purchased shows that were not on the air in Chicago, moving its remaining ethnic programming to its low-powered sister station on channel 23, then WFBT
WWME-CA
WWME-CA is a class A station in Chicago, Illinois. It is owned by Weigel Broadcasting, which also owns sister stations WCIU-TV and WMEU-CA. This station is the flagship of the Me-TV network. Me-TV is also broadcast on WCIU's digital subchannel 26.3....
. They also revived Svengoolie
Svengoolie
Svengoolie is the name of a character from a long-running series of locally-produced television programs in the Chicago, Illinois metropolitan area...
, which had previously run in the market on other stations. The shows run were mostly classic sitcoms and drama shows.
Initially, the station continued to run the Stock Market Observer from 8:30AM until 3:30PM and entertainment programming afterward and on weekends. WCIU then added a 7:00AM–9:00AM weekday kids block by March 1995. In the fall of 1995, the station began to air children's programming from The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network
The WB Television Network is a former television network in the United States that was launched on January 11, 1995 as a joint venture between Warner Bros. and Tribune Broadcasting. On January 24, 2006, CBS Corporation and Warner Bros...
(known as Kids' WB
Kids' WB
Kids' WB! was Warner Bros. American childrens programing division brand for The WB Television Network. In September 2006, the block moved to The CW Television Network. The CW is the result of The WB's merger with UPN in 2006...
) in lieu of WB affiliate WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
(channel 9), which continued to air their morning newscast and afternoon sitcom block instead. The business news was pulled back to 9:00AM–12:00PM on the weekdays, and a couple years later it would move to their low power station on channel 23 as "WebFN", a joint venture between Weigel and Bridge Information Systems
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
which also aired on Milwaukee sister station WMLW
WMLW-CA
WMLW-CA, channel 41 , is a LPTV independent television station located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its transmitter is located in Milwaukee's Lincoln Park...
, and featured several former anchors from WMAQ radio after that station converted to sports talk in 2000 as WSCR
WSCR
WSCR is a sports radio station in the Chicago, Illinois radio market. The station is owned by CBS Radio and transmits on 670 kHz on the AM dial. Its transmitter is located just off Army Trail Road in Bloomingdale, which is a western suburb of Chicago. It is known as "The Score," and has been on...
. By the late 1990s WCIU began adding more recent sitcoms and in 2000 they began to move more talk and reality first run syndicated shows into their daytime lineup.
In 2002, WCIU dropped the afternoon kids block and kept children's programming in the morning. In 2003, the station dropped Kids' WB, which moved to WGN-TV. Classic sitcoms gradually fell off WCIU's Schedule from 2001 to 2004. Today, WCIU focuses on more recent sitcoms, talk shows, court shows, and news magazines.
2005–present
In April 2006, WCIU began broadcasting home games of the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, and the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
in 720p HD with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio on its digital signal.
In April 2008, WCIU began broadcasting both home and away games of the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in 720p HD with Dolby Digital 5.1 audio on its digital signal.
In July 2008, Weigel announced the creation of This TV
This TV
This TV is a United States general entertainment television network, with a large emphasis in its programming on movies....
, a nationwide subchannel network operated as a joint venture of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
and Weigel Broadcasting
Weigel Broadcasting
Weigel Broadcasting is an American locally based television broadcasting company. The company is based in downtown Chicago, Illinois, alongside its flagship station WCIU-TV , at the apt address of 26 North Halsted Street in the Greektown neighborhood.- History :The company was founded by Chicago...
. This TV was officially launched on November 1, 2008 and is currently offered on digital channel 26.5.
WCIU is also known for its "dog promos" (an idea borrowed from KOFY-TV in San Francisco) where Chicagoan's pet dogs are filmed to promote shows on the station. Casting calls are announced on the station's website every few months.
Weigel Broadcasting launched You and Me This Morning, a program that features entertainment news.
In 2010, sports coverage on WCIU was rebranded as "WGN
WGN
WGN may refer to:*World's Greatest Newspaper, former slogan of the Chicago Tribune and the namesake for the WGN broadcasting outlets in Chicago, Illinois.** WGN , a radio station licensed to Chicago, Illinois, United States...
Sports on The U" to reflect the fact that the games are produced by WGN. Even though WGN had always produced these telecasts, the coverage was previously referred to as "BullsNet," "CubsNet," and "SoxNet" rather than under the WGN name.
On January 4, 2011, MGM and Weigel Broadcasting announced plans to distribute Me-TV nationwide.
In 2011, all White Sox, Bulls, and Cubs games televised on WCIU began to be simulcast to local stations in central Illinois and Iowa through what is referred to on-air as the "WGN Sports Network." Prior to this, select Bulls games on WCIU and WGN had been simulcast to these same stations.
Digital television
WCIU's digital channel features multicasting of five digital channels:| Channel | Video | Aspect Aspect ratio The aspect ratio of a shape is the ratio of its longer dimension to its shorter dimension. It may be applied to two characteristic dimensions of a three-dimensional shape, such as the ratio of the longest and shortest axis, or for symmetrical objects that are described by just two measurements,... |
Name | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26.1 | 720p 720p 720p is the shorthand name for 1280x720, a category of High-definition television video modes having a resolution of 1080 or 720p and a progressive scan... |
16:9 16:9 16:9 is an aspect ratio with a width of 16 units and height of 9. Since 2009, it has become the most common aspect ratio for sold televisions and computer monitors and is also the international standard format of HDTV, Full HD, non-HD digital television and analog widescreen television ... |
WCIU-HD | Main WCIU programming |
| 26.2 | 480i 480i 480i is the shorthand name for a video mode, namely the US NTSC television system or digital television systems with the same characteristics. The i, which is sometimes uppercase, stands for interlaced, the 480 for a vertical frame resolution of 480 lines containing picture information; while NTSC... |
4:3 | U Too | Time-shifted simulcast of 26.1 |
| 26.3 | 480i 480i 480i is the shorthand name for a video mode, namely the US NTSC television system or digital television systems with the same characteristics. The i, which is sometimes uppercase, stands for interlaced, the 480 for a vertical frame resolution of 480 lines containing picture information; while NTSC... |
4:3 | Me-TV | WWME-CA |
| 26.4 | 480i 480i 480i is the shorthand name for a video mode, namely the US NTSC television system or digital television systems with the same characteristics. The i, which is sometimes uppercase, stands for interlaced, the 480 for a vertical frame resolution of 480 lines containing picture information; while NTSC... |
4:3 | MeToo | WMEU-CA |
| 26.5 | 480i 480i 480i is the shorthand name for a video mode, namely the US NTSC television system or digital television systems with the same characteristics. The i, which is sometimes uppercase, stands for interlaced, the 480 for a vertical frame resolution of 480 lines containing picture information; while NTSC... |
4:3 | THIS | This TV This TV This TV is a United States general entertainment television network, with a large emphasis in its programming on movies.... |
WCIU-TV is broadcasting digitally on its current pre-transition channel number, 27. However, through the use of PSIP
Program and System Information Protocol
The Program and System Information Protocol is the protocol used in the ATSC digital television system for carrying metadata about each channel in the broadcast MPEG transport stream of a TV station and for publishing information about television programs so that viewers can select what to watch...
, digital television receivers are displaying WCIU-TV's virtual channel
Virtual channel
In telecommunications, a logical channel number , also known as virtual channel, is a channel designation which differs from that of the actual radio channel on which the signal travels....
as 26. Also, the "WCIU-TV" callsign was transferred from the now-defunct analog channel 26 to digital channel 27 on June 12, 2009 and the "WCIU-DT" callsign was removed.
From June 13, 2009 to January 9, 2011, WCIU-TV's main programming was simulcasted on low-power analog station WWME-CA Channel 23 to provide a nightlight
Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act
The Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act, or SAFER Act, is a U.S. law to require the Federal Communications Commission to allow the continuation of full-power analog TV transmissions in 2009 for 30 more days, for the purpose of broadcasting public service announcements regarding the...
service. From June 13 to July 12, 2009, they even aired newscasts from WMAQ-TV
WMAQ-TV
WMAQ-TV, channel 5, is an owned-and-operated television station of the NBC Television Network, located in Chicago, Illinois. WMAQ-TV's main studios and offices are located within the NBC Tower in the Streeterville neighborhood, with an auxiliary street-level studio on the Magnificent Mile at 401...
and WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
for those viewers who either were unready or had problems since the June 12 digital transition.
The U Too
On December 1, 2010, WCIU dropped its FBT foreign broadcasting digital subchannel and for two weeks aired a simulcast of WCIU-TV on digital subchannel 26.6. On December 15, WCIU-DT 26.6 disappeared and programming was shifted to subchannel 26.2 (replacing Me-TV, which moved to WCIU digital subchannel 26.3) where it continued to simulcast most of WCIU's main programming. In addition, PSIP channel 48.1 was discontinued (to be later used by the future WMEU-CA) while 23.1 reverted to being the virtual channel number for WWME-CA (23.2 was also discontinued).On January 5, 2011, a brand new digital subchannel, The U Too, was officially launched on digital subchannel 26.2. The new digital network airs some time-shifted programming from WCIU's main channel, including new syndicated programs airing for the first time in the Chicago market. It also broadcast a handful of DePaul Blue Demons
DePaul Blue Demons men's basketball
The DePaul Blue Demons Men's Basketball program is the NCAA Division I intercollegiate men's basketball program of DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois...
and other Big East Conference
Big East Conference
The Big East Conference is a collegiate athletics conference consisting of sixteen universities in the eastern half of the United States. The conference's 17 members participate in 24 NCAA sports...
Basketball games. As of January 10, 2011, the digital subchannel is also simulcast on WWME-CA analog channel 23.
Local programming
- Ultrascope (a program sponsored by Sears which was used to sell UHF-capable televisions and converter boxes within their Chicago area stores. An early version of Music ChoiceMusic ChoiceMusic Choice is a United States company that programs music and produces music-related content for digital cable, cell phones, and cable modem subscribers in the US. Music Choice programs dozens of audio music channels for digital cable subscribers, as well as programs and produces music-related...
featuring a clock/album cover display and album audio which aired from 9am-5pm daily) - Ted and the Angel (talk show with Angel TompkinsAngel TompkinsAngel Tompkins is an American actress and Golden Globe nominee, who appeared in several films and television shows.-Career:...
), 1967–1968 - The Homework Show, 1995–2006
- Green Screen AdventuresGreen Screen AdventuresGreen Screen Adventures is a children's television series which premiered in 2007. The series was originally produced for local broadcast on WCIU-TV in Chicago, which is the flagship station of Weigel Broadcasting, and is designed to fit the FCC's educational and information programming...
2007–present (also syndicated to This TV and other Weigel stations) - U Dance with B96, 1995–1997 (American BandstandAmerican BandstandAmerican Bandstand is an American music-performance show that aired in various versions from 1952 to 1989 and was hosted from 1956 until its final season by Dick Clark, who also served as producer...
-type show with DJs from WBBM-FMWBBM-FMWBBM-FM, known on air as "B96", is a Rhythmic Contemporary outlet in Chicago, Illinois with a Rhythmic based playlist. The station is owned by CBS Radio and broadcasts at 96.3 MHz with an ERP of 4.2 kW. WBBM's main competition is WKSC-FM "103.5 Kiss FM", as well as urban rivals WGCI-FM &...
) - SvengoolieSvengoolieSvengoolie is the name of a character from a long-running series of locally-produced television programs in the Chicago, Illinois metropolitan area...
, 1994–present (also airing on to Me-TV and other Weigel stations) - Stooge-A-PaloozaThree StoogesThe Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
, 2003–2010 (Three StoogesThree StoogesThe Three Stooges were an American vaudeville and comedy act of the early to mid–20th century best known for their numerous short subject films. Their hallmark was physical farce and extreme slapstick. In films, the Stooges were commonly known by their first names: "Moe, Larry, and Curly" and "Moe,...
showcase with Rich KozRich KozRich Koz is a Chicago area actor and broadcaster best known as horror-movie host Svengoolie. Out of costume, he is also the knowledgeable host of the syndicated Three Stooges Stooge-a-Palooza program.- Beginnings :...
) - Rock of Ages, 1970?–present (religious)
- A Black's View of the News, 1968–?? (news)
- Soul TrainSoul TrainSoul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared.As a nod to Soul Trains...
, 1970–1976 (local version only; nationally-syndicated version from Los Angeles was seen from 1971 to 2006, locally on WBBM-TVWBBM-TVWBBM-TV, virtual channel 2 , is the CBS owned-and-operated television station in Chicago, Illinois. WBBM-TV's main studios and offices are located in The Loop section of Chicago, as part of the development at Block 37, and its transmitter is atop the Willis Tower.-History:WBBM-TV traces its history...
and later, WGN-TVWGN-TVWGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
) - The Bob Lewandowski Show, 1964–1995 (Fansite)
- Outdoor Sportsman, 1978–1985; originally on WSNS Channel 44, it was produced and hosted by local outdoorsman Joe Wyer
- Stock Market Observer, 1968–2000
- WebFN, 2000-2003 (replaced SMO)
- First BusinessFirst BusinessFirst Business is a nationally syndicated financial news and analysis television program, produced by First Business Network LLC, a subsidiary of Weigel Broadcasting, in Chicago...
, 2003–present (replaced WebFN, syndicated through MGM TelevisionMGM TelevisionMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer Television is an American television production/distribution launched in 1955 and a subsidiary of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, Inc....
) - Kiddie-A-Go-Go, 1964–1967
- Western Theatre with Two Ton Baker (1964–1965)
- Marty Faye Show
- The Chicago Party (c. 1982)
- Eddie Korosa's Polka Party (c. 1978)
External links
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