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*] - sports anchor (1983–1988, later at ], now at ]) *] - sports anchor (1983–1988, later at ], now at ])
*Michelle Alegria - ''190 North'' contributor (2002–2010)
*] - anchor/reporter (1979–1982) *] - anchor/reporter (1979–1982)
*] - reporter (1980–1984, later at ], now at ]) *Andy Avalos - weather anchor (1983–1993, now at ])
*] - reporter (1980–1984, later at ], now at ]) )
*Dave Ball - ''190 North'' contributor (per diem) (2008–2009, now Senior Production Coordinator/Marketing Manager for Prewards, LTD)
*] - investigative reporter (1980–1984) *] - investigative reporter (1980–1984)
*Nancy Becker - anchor (1974–1977)
*Jay Berry - sports anchor (?–?)
*Jeff Blanzy - weekend sports anchor/reporter (1998–2009)
*Carol Bogart - reporter (1978–1981)
*] - anchor/reporter (1985–2003, later at ], now host of Next TV) *] - anchor/reporter (1985–2003, later at ], now host of Next TV)
*Bill Campbell - ''Chicagoing'' host (1989–2010)
*Lou Canellis - ''190 North'' contributor (1999–2008, now at ])
*] - reporter (1983–1984, later at '']'') *] - reporter (1983–1984, later at '']'')
*Susan Carlson - traffic reporter (1998–2002, now at ])
*] - anchor/reporter (1980–1994, later at ], now Senior Consultant at Res Publica Group) *] - anchor/reporter (1980–1994, later at ], now Senior Consultant at Res Publica Group)
*] - anchor/reporter (1993–1997, later at ] and ], now at ] in Philadelphia) *] - anchor/reporter (1993–1997, later at ] and ], now at ] in Philadelphia)
*] - longtime meteorologist (1968–1979) *] - longtime meteorologist (1968–1979)
*] - anchor (1967–2005, also part-time legal contributor 2005–2007, now retired) *Liza Cruzat - ''190 North'' contributor (1999–2002)
*John Culea - reporter (1977–1980)
*] - anchor (1967–2005, also part-time legal contributor 2005–2007, now retired)
*Gary Deeb - media critic/commentator (1983–1995) - now retired in Matthews, N.C.
*Steve Deshler - weather anchor (1980–1993, later at ])
*] - anchor (1950s, deceased) *] - anchor (1950s, deceased)
*] - anchor (1970–1979 and 1984–2002, deceased) *] - anchor (1970–1979 and 1984–2002, deceased)
*] - talk show/mob basher (1954–1956, deceased) *] - talk show/mob basher (1954–1956, deceased)
*] - (?–?)
*] - ''A.M. Chicago'' host (1975–1978), now host of ''Good Day LA'' at ] in ] *] - ''A.M. Chicago'' host (1975–1978), now host of ''Good Day LA'' at ] in ]
*Dr. Dave Eiser - weather anchor (1981–1984)
*Joan Esposito - anchor/reporter (1981–1989, later at ])
*Russ Ewing - investigative reporter (1981–1995)
*] - anchor (1968–1983, deceased) *] - anchor (1968–1983, deceased)
*Bill Frink - sports anchor (1968–1979, deceased)
*] - anchor/reporter (1996–2001, later at ], now at ]) *] - anchor/reporter (1996–2001, later at ], now at ])
*Hugh Hill - longtime political editor (1960's-1995?)
*] - anchor/reporter (1983–1989)
*Dick Johnson - anchor/reporter (1982–2002, now at ])
*] - weekend anchor/reporter (1998–2006, now at ]) *] - weekend anchor/reporter (1998–2006, now at ])
*] (1980–1984, deceased) *] (1980–1984, deceased)
*] - anchor (1984–1998, deceased) *] - anchor (1984–1998, deceased)
*Lonnie Lardner- weekend anchor (1983–1986)
*Andrew Leckey - financial editor
*Jay Levine - reporter, weekend anchor, 6PM anchor (1974–1990, now at ])
*] - sports anchor (1978–1984)
*Dr. Walt Lyons - meteorologist (1976–1979)
*Johnny Mountain- meteorologist (1977) Later to KABC in LA now on KCBS and KCAL in LA
*Cora Ann Milhalik - anchor (1982–1984)
*] - reporter (1993–1998) *] - reporter (1993–1998)
*] - sports anchor (1975–1978)
*Terry Murphy - reporter/5PM anchor (1976–1980), later co-anchor of '']''
*] - sports reporter/anchor (1985–2006)
*] - anchor/reporter (1979–1982) *] - anchor/reporter (1979–1982)
*Bob Petty - weekend anchor/reporter/host of ''Weekend Edition'' (1971–2002)
*] - reporter (2006–2009, now at ]) *] - reporter (2006–2009, now at ])
*Harry Porterfield - features reporter/host of ''People, Places, & Things'' & ''Someone You Should Know'' (1985–2009, now at ])
*Jim Ramsey - weather anchor (1980–1983, now at ])
*] - anchor/reporter (early 1960s?–1967, later at ], deceased) *] - anchor/reporter (early 1960s?–1967, later at ], deceased)
*] - ''A.M. Chicago'' host (1978–1979), now host of his own self-titled late-night talk show on ] *] - ''A.M. Chicago'' host (1978–1979), now host of his own self-titled late-night talk show on ]
*] - anchor/reporter (1989–1998) *] - anchor/reporter (1989–1998)
*Charles Rowe - anchor/reporter (1969–1973). Last worked for ] in Spokane, WA from 1987–2007. Currently retired.
*] - host of ''For Blacks Only'' (1968–1972, later at ] and ], now retired)
*Kevin Roy - weekend morning anchor/reporter (1998–2010, now at ] in San Diego)
*] - reporter (1983–1989)
*] - host of ''For Blacks Only'' (1965–1972, later at ] and ], now retired)
*] - sports anchor/reporter (1990–1998, now at ]) *] - sports anchor/reporter (1990–1998, now at ])
*Andy Shaw - political reporter (1983–2009, now Executive Director at Better Government Association)
*] - reporter (1970–1976, later at ABC News, deceased)
*Joe Templeton - anchor (1964–1967)
*Paul Udell - anchor 4:30 The Eyewitness Newsmagazine (1980–1982)
*James Ward - restaurant/food critic (1985–2005, deceased)
*] - sports anchor/short time anchorman (1977–1994, later at ], deceased) *] - sports anchor/short time anchorman (1977–1994, later at ], deceased)
*] - anchor/host of ''A.M. Chicago'' (1984–1986), which evolved into her current program (1986–present) *] - anchor/host of ''A.M. Chicago'' (1984-1986), which evolved into her current program (1986-present)
*] - ''A.M. Chicago'' host (1979–1983, later co-anchor of '']'') *] - ''A.M. Chicago'' host (1979–1983, later co-anchor of '']'')
*] - reporter/producer (1982–1993 now at ]) *] - reporter/producer (1982–1993 now at ])
|} |}

Revision as of 08:39, 16 January 2011

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WLS-TV, virtual channel 7, is a television station in Chicago, Illinois. The station is owned and operated by Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company. The station operates their full power digital operations on UHF channel 44, with their digital fill-in translator on VHF channel 7. Both operating frequencies are transmitted from the Willis Tower. WLS-TV produces its broadcasts at 190 North State Street in The Loop and The WLS-TV call letters stand for "World's Largest Store," recognizing their AM sister station's founding part-owners, Sears, Roebuck and Company.

History

The station first went on the air as the third TV station in Chicago (after WBKB-TV, which later became WBBM-TV, and WGN-TV) on September 17, 1948 as WENR-TV. It was named after WENR-AM, ABC's Chicago radio affiliate. As one of the original ABC-owned stations on channel 7, it was the second station after WABC-TV in New York City to begin operations, ahead of WXYZ-TV in Detroit, KGO-TV in San Francisco and KABC-TV in Los Angeles.

In 1953, ABC merged with United Paramount Theatres, the former theater division of Paramount Pictures. UPT owned WBKB on channel 4 (which shared a CBS affiliation with WGN-TV) but the new ABC could not keep both, because of Federal Communications Commission regulations at that time. As a result, WBKB was sold to CBS and renamed WBBM-TV; while WENR was renamed WBKB-TV. The old WBKB's talent stayed at WBBM (which moved to channel 2), while the old WBKB's call letters and management moved to channel 7.

The general manager from the early 1950s to the mid-1960s was Sterling "Red" Quinlan, who was a giant in early Chicago television. He was instrumental in the careers of Tom Duggan, Frank Reynolds, and Bob Newhart. The station courageously aired The Tom Duggan Show in the mid-1950s, which was the most popular show in Chicago far out drawing other network competition. The station became WLS-TV on October 7, 1968, after WLS-AM, which ABC had owned since 1959. Today, the WBKB-TV calls are used by a CBS affiliate in Alpena, Michigan.

WLS-TV had claimed to be "Chicago's first television station" in sign-ons in the 1980s (implying a connection with the original WBKB on channel 4,) but admitted to its true roots with WENR with its 60th anniversary in 2008.

Digital programming

WLS-TV's operation is multiplexed:

Virtual Channel Digital Channel Video
Resolution
Aspect
Ratio
Programming
7.1 44.1 720p 16:9 main WLS-TV programming / ABC HD
7.2 44.2 720p 16:9 Live Well Network
7.3 44.3 480i 4:3 ABC 7 News Now / The Local AccuWeather Channel

Upon completion of the digital transition, WLS officially transferred the "WLS-TV" legal callsign from the now-defunct analog channel 7 to the original post-transition digital television channel 7, and discontinued the "WLS-DT" callsign. In late 2009, after moving full-power digital operations to UHF channel 44, the "WLS-TV" callsign was moved to channel 44. Even though WLS-TV converted VHF channel 7 into a digital fill-in translator and it is a LD facility (-LD meaning "Low-power Digital"), it uses the same call letters and suffix like their main full power facility. However, the PSIP identifier for WLS-TV's virtual channels still continues to identify the station as "WLS-DT."

After the digital transition on June 12, 2009, WLS moved from out-of-core UHF Channel 52 to their pre-analog VHF channel 7 for their digital operations. WLS operated their digital signal at low power (4.75 kW) to protect the digital signal of WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, Michigan (which also broadcasts on channel 7, but with much higher power). As a result, many viewers were not able to receive the station. The FCC sent extra personnel to Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York City to deal with difficulties in those cities. WLS had received 1,735 calls just by the end of the day on June 12 (WBBM only received 600), and an estimated 5000 calls in total by June 16.

WLS-TV was just one station which needed to increase its signal strength or move its frequency to solve its problems, but a power increase required making sure no other stations were affected. WLS received a two-week experimental permit for a power increase late in June. WLS had also applied for a permit to construct a low-power fill-in digital translator station on UHF channel 32, (the former analog frequency of WFLD) but abandoned that plan (the channel 32 RF frequency has since been claimed by WMEU-LD). Eventually the FCC granted it a permit to transmit on a second frequency, Channel 44, formerly occupied by WSNS-TV, and WLS announced the availability of that frequency on October 31, 2009.

As of June 2010, WLS is operating both channels 7 and 44 from their auxiliary transmitting facilities at the John Hancock Center under an extension of an existing STA, while construction continues of its maximized facilities at the Willis Tower. WLS is operating channel 7 as a fill-in translator with a power of 7 kW & operating their full power operations on channel 44 with a power of 1 MW. Through PSIP technology, both operating frequencies are re-mapped and displayed as virtual channel 7, which would cause some digital tuners to have two versions of virtual channels 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3, while tuning sequentially. WLS-TV is expected to operate channel 44 at the 473.3 kW power level from the Willis Tower in the near future.

Since WLS-TV officially moved their full power operations to channel 44, it is the only ABC O&O to vacate its former analog allotment for its digital operations and the second ABC O&O to operate its full-power operations on the UHF band, after KFSN-TV.

Programming

Station oddities

Syndicated programming produced in Chicago

Former syndicated programming produced in Chicago

  • At the Movies - nationally syndicated film review program, produced at WLS-TV's studios, and syndicated by Disney-ABC Domestic Television. It aired Saturdays 10:35 p.m. with reruns Sundays 10:30 a.m. The program was cancelled and aired its final original broadcast on Saturday, August 14, 2010.

Other WLS-TV produced programs

  • 190 North - local lifestyle program named after the station's studio address at 190 N. State St. in the Loop and hosted by Janet Davies; began broadcasting in HD on Sunday, May 6, 2007
    • Sundays 10:35 p.m., reruns Saturdays 11:05 p.m. (reruns airs later during fall college football season)
  • Let's Dish, for the Live Well Network
    • Shown locally on Channel 7.2.
  • Morning Rush - local morning talk show set to launch in the fall of 2011, following the conclusion of the Oprah Winfrey Show in September
    • Weekdays 9 a.m. (beginning fall 2011)

Former WLS-TV produced programs

  • The Chicago Huddle - local sports program about the Chicago Bears hosted by Ryan Chiaverini The program aired Sundays 10:30 a.m. during football season. It last aired during the 2009-2010 season.
  • Chicagoing - local public affairs program hosted by Bill Campbell, aired Sunday mornings at 11:30 a.m. The program aired it's final broadcast on Sunday, December 26, 2010.

News operations

File:Abc7 opening.JPG
WLS-TV's ABC 7 News opening.
File:ABC7 Sign.JPG
WLS-TV's State Street Studio Sign, c. 2007.

WLS, like the other ABC owned-and-operated stations, adopted the Eyewitness News format in the late 1960s after it became a hit at flagship WABC-TV in New York. Fahey Flynn, a local broadcaster known for his bow ties and Joel Daly served as the anchormen of the newscasts from the mid 1960s until the early 1980s. In 1973, Eyewitness News surpassed WMAQ-TV to become Chicago's top-rated new operation, a lead it held until WBBM-TV surpassed it in 1979. For much of the 1970s and 1980s, it waged a spirited battle for second place in the Chicago news ratings.

By 1983, a disastrous anchor change had dropped WLS into third place. That prompted two major changes. First was the hiring of Dennis Swanson as General Manager, who in turn, hired Bill Applegate as News Director. Secondly, ABC commissioned Frank Gari to write an updated version of the Cool Hand Luke theme widely associated with the Eyewitness News format. The result was News Series 2000, which was quickly picked up by the other ABC O&Os.

Swanson was instrumental in hiring Oprah Winfrey to host its then low-rated morning talk show, "AM Chicago," in 1983. Within a year, it had shot to first place. It was picked up nationally in 1986 and renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show. Channel 7 still airs it today, along with most other ABC O&Os. Swanson also hired lead anchor John Drury, who had previously worked at WLS, WBBM and WGN-TV and Floyd Kalber, who had led WMAQ-TV to the top of the ratings in the 1960s.

Drury and Mary Ann Childers were a popular anchor team at WLS during the 1980s and 1990s, accompanied by weatherman Steve Deshler and sportscaster Tim Weigel. In March 1986, WLS passed WBBM as the highest-rated news station in Chicago. It has held the lead ever since, aside from a brief period when WBBM managed to forge a tie for first.

As of 1996, the station currently brands its newscast as "ABC7 News" even though it still uses the same basic format from its Eyewitness News days. The station has been using its current news music package, News Series 2000 Plus by Frank Gari since 1992. It also updated the on-air graphics for its newscasts on Saturday, June 3, 2005.

The new State Street Studio officially debuted Monday, April 10, 2006, during the station's morning newscast, but it started broadcasting its newscasts from the new studio on Saturday, April 8, 2006. On the weekend of April 29–30, 2006, WLS-TV began using Chopper 7 HD. On Saturday, January 6, 2007, WLS-TV became the first Chicago television station to broadcast its entire news and local programming in high definition news although most remote field footage remains in 16:9 widescreen standard definition.

On Sunday, December 23, 2007, the State Street Studio became breaking news when a minivan drove through a reinforced studio window two minutes into the 10 p.m. newscast, startling anchor Ravi Baichwal on air and creating a 20° draft, but injuring no one.

News/station presentation

Newscast titles

  • Tomorrow's News Tonight (early 1950s)
  • Channel 7 News (mid-1950s to mid-1960s)
  • NewsNight (mid-1960s-1968)
  • Flynn-Daly News (1968-1969)
  • Flynn-Daly Eyewitness News (1969-1973?)
  • Channel 7 Eyewitness News (1969-1994)
  • Channel 7 News (1994-1996)
  • ABC 7 News (1996–present)

Station slogans

  • 7's On Your Side (1980–1983)
  • 7's On The Move (1984–1985)
  • Stand Up and Tell'em Chicago's Great (1985–1992; image campaign based on Frank Gari's Turn To News)
  • The Chicago Area's Leading News (late 1980s-1991)
  • Chicago's #1 News (1991–present)
  • People Make the Difference (2000–present)
  • Your News. Your Way. (2008–present)
This list related to film, television, or video is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items.

News music packages

  • Cool Hand Luke: The Tar Sequence by Lalo Schifrin (1969–1980)
  • On Your Side by Gari Communications (1980–1983)
  • News Series 2000 by Gari Communications (1983–1992)
  • Turn To News by Gari Communications (1985–1992; only used for bumpers, promos, and closings)
  • News Series 2000 Plus (A.K.A. "Stimulus") by Gari Communications (1992–present)
  • First News by Gari Communications (2001–present)

News team

Current on-air staff

Anchors

  • Stacey Baca - weekend mornings; also weekday field reporter
  • Ravi Baichwal - weekend evenings; also weekday field reporter
  • Ben Bradley - Sunday mornings; also weekday field reporter
  • Kathy Brock - weeknights at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.
  • Cheryl Burton - weeknights at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. contributor
  • Judy Hsu - weekday mornings; also field reporter
  • Karen Jordan - weekend evenings; also weekday field reporter
  • Alan Krashesky - weekdays at 4 and 6 p.m.; also host of Sunday morning NewsViews
  • Ron Magers - weeknights at 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.
  • Sylvia Perez - weekdays at 11 a.m.; also 4 p.m. "Healthbeat" contributor
  • Hosea Sanders - weekday mornings; also field reporter
  • Linda Yu - weekdays at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

ABC 7 MetroVision Weather

  • Jerry Taft (AMS Seal of Approval) - chief meteorologist; weeknights at 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
  • Mark Bishop (AMS Seal of Approval) - meteorologist; Saturday mornings
  • Tracy Butler (AMS and NWA Seals of Approval) - meteorologist; weekday mornings and 11 a.m.
  • Mike Caplan - weather anchor; weekdays at 4 p.m.
  • Phil Schwarz (AMS Seal of Approval) - meteorologist; Sunday mornings and weekend evenings

Sports team

  • Mark Giangreco - sports director; weeknights at 5 and 10 p.m.
  • Ryan Chiaverini - sports anchor; weekend evenings; also sports reporter
  • Jim Rose - sports anchor; weekdays at 4, and weeknights at 6 p.m.

Traffic

  • Roz Varon - weekday mornings
  • Thom Johnson - weekday morning fill-in

Reporters

  • Steve Dolinksy - food reporter
  • Jessica D'Onofrio - general assignment reporter
  • Michelle Gallardo - general assignment reporter; also fill-in anchor
  • John Garcia - general assignment reporter
  • Chuck Goudie - chief investigative reporter; also 6 p.m. "Intelligence Report" contributor
  • Evelyn Holmes - general assignment reporter
  • Leah Hope - general assignment reporter; also host of Heart & Soul
  • Eric Horng - general assignment reporter
  • Jason Knowles - general assignment reporter
  • Frank Mathie - feature reporter
  • Paul Meincke - general assignment reporter
  • Karen Meyer - disability issues reporter
  • Sarah Schulte - general assignment reporter
  • Charles Thomas - political reporter; also host of Heart & Soul

Local program hosts

  • Doug Banks - 190 North contributor
  • Janet Davies - 190 North host; also features and entertainment reporter; also fill-in anchor
  • Theresa Gutierrez - The ñ Beat host; also weekday field reporter
  • Mark Nilsson - 190 North contributor

Former on-air staff

  • Mike Adamle - sports anchor (1983–1988, later at WBBM-TV, now at WMAQ-TV)
  • Michelle Alegria - 190 North contributor (2002–2010)
  • Diane B. Allen - anchor/reporter (1979–1982)
  • Andy Avalos - weather anchor (1983–1993, now at WMAQ-TV)
  • Jim Avila - reporter (1980–1984, later at ABC News, now at NBC News) )
  • Dave Ball - 190 North contributor (per diem) (2008–2009, now Senior Production Coordinator/Marketing Manager for Prewards, LTD)
  • Roberta Baskin - investigative reporter (1980–1984)
  • Nancy Becker - anchor (1974–1977)
  • Jay Berry - sports anchor (?–?)
  • Jeff Blanzy - weekend sports anchor/reporter (1998–2009)
  • Carol Bogart - reporter (1978–1981)
  • Diann Burns - anchor/reporter (1985–2003, later at WBBM-TV, now host of Next TV)
  • Bill Campbell - Chicagoing host (1989–2010)
  • Lou Canellis - 190 North contributor (1999–2008, now at WFLD-TV)
  • Jann Carl - reporter (1983–1984, later at Entertainment Tonight)
  • Susan Carlson - traffic reporter (1998–2002, now at WBBM-TV)
  • Mary Ann Childers - anchor/reporter (1980–1994, later at WBBM-TV, now Senior Consultant at Res Publica Group)
  • Lauren Cohn - anchor/reporter (1993–1997, later at WBBM-TV and WFLD-TV, now at WTXF-TV in Philadelphia)
  • John Coleman - longtime meteorologist (1968–1979)
  • Liza Cruzat - 190 North contributor (1999–2002)
  • John Culea - reporter (1977–1980)
  • Joel Daly - anchor (1967–2005, also part-time legal contributor 2005–2007, now retired)
  • Gary Deeb - media critic/commentator (1983–1995) - now retired in Matthews, N.C.
  • Steve Deshler - weather anchor (1980–1993, later at WBBM-TV)
  • Alex Dreier - anchor (1950s, deceased)
  • John Drury - anchor (1970–1979 and 1984–2002, deceased)
  • Tom Duggan - talk show/mob basher (1954–1956, deceased)
  • John Edwards - (?–?)
  • Steve Edwards - A.M. Chicago host (1975–1978), now host of Good Day LA at KTTV in Los Angeles
  • Dr. Dave Eiser - weather anchor (1981–1984)
  • Joan Esposito - anchor/reporter (1981–1989, later at WMAQ-TV)
  • Russ Ewing - investigative reporter (1981–1995)
  • Fahey Flynn - anchor (1968–1983, deceased)
  • Bill Frink - sports anchor (1968–1979, deceased)
  • Judie Garcia - anchor/reporter (1996–2001, later at WBBM-TV, now at WGN-TV)
  • Hugh Hill - longtime political editor (1960's-1995?)
  • Mike Jackson - anchor/reporter (1983–1989)
  • Dick Johnson - anchor/reporter (1982–2002, now at WMAQ-TV)
  • Rob Johnson - weekend anchor/reporter (1998–2006, now at WBBM-TV)
  • Jack Jones (1980–1984, deceased)
  • Floyd Kalber - anchor (1984–1998, deceased)
  • Lonnie Lardner- weekend anchor (1983–1986)
  • Andrew Leckey - financial editor
  • Jay Levine - reporter, weekend anchor, 6PM anchor (1974–1990, now at WBBM-TV)
  • Al Lerner - sports anchor (1978–1984)
  • Dr. Walt Lyons - meteorologist (1976–1979)
  • Johnny Mountain- meteorologist (1977) Later to KABC in LA now on KCBS and KCAL in LA
  • Cora Ann Milhalik - anchor (1982–1984)
  • Kent Ninomiya - reporter (1993–1998)
  • Mike Nolan - sports anchor (1975–1978)
  • Terry Murphy - reporter/5PM anchor (1976–1980), later co-anchor of Hard Copy
  • Brad Palmer - sports reporter/anchor (1985–2006)
  • Kim Peterson - anchor/reporter (1979–1982)
  • Bob Petty - weekend anchor/reporter/host of Weekend Edition (1971–2002)
  • Dan Ponce - reporter (2006–2009, now at WGN-TV)
  • Harry Porterfield - features reporter/host of People, Places, & Things & Someone You Should Know (1985–2009, now at WBBM-TV)
  • Jim Ramsey - weather anchor (1980–1983, now at WGN-TV)
  • Frank Reynolds - anchor/reporter (early 1960s?–1967, later at ABC News, deceased)
  • Charlie Rose - A.M. Chicago host (1978–1979), now host of his own self-titled late-night talk show on PBS
  • Jim Rosenfield - anchor/reporter (1989–1998)
  • Charles Rowe - anchor/reporter (1969–1973). Last worked for KREM-TV in Spokane, WA from 1987–2007. Currently retired.
  • Kevin Roy - weekend morning anchor/reporter (1998–2010, now at KGTV-TV in San Diego)
  • Tim Ryan - reporter (1983–1989)
  • Warner Saunders - host of For Blacks Only (1965–1972, later at WBBM-TV and WMAQ-TV, now retired)
  • Mark Schanowski - sports anchor/reporter (1990–1998, now at Comcast Sportsnet Chicago)
  • Andy Shaw - political reporter (1983–2009, now Executive Director at Better Government Association)
  • Jack Smith - reporter (1970–1976, later at ABC News, deceased)
  • Joe Templeton - anchor (1964–1967)
  • Paul Udell - anchor 4:30 The Eyewitness Newsmagazine (1980–1982)
  • James Ward - restaurant/food critic (1985–2005, deceased)
  • Tim Weigel - sports anchor/short time anchorman (1977–1994, later at WBBM-TV, deceased)
  • Oprah Winfrey - anchor/host of A.M. Chicago (1984-1986), which evolved into her current program (1986-present)
  • Robb Weller - A.M. Chicago host (1979–1983, later co-anchor of Entertainment Tonight)
  • Larry Yellen - reporter/producer (1982–1993 now at WFLD-TV)

News directors

  • Phyllis Schwartz
  • Eric Lerner
  • Jennifer Graves
  • Harlan Shapiro
  • Howard Shapiro
This list related to film, television, or video is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items.

See also

References

  1. Television News section, Chicago Tribune, October 6, 1968.
  2. http://www.fuzzymemories.tv/screen.php?c=2929&m=xxsignonxx&p=1
  3. http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=resources/inside_station/station_info&id=6397505
  4. Eggerton, John (2009-06-17). "Weigel's Analog Nightlight Could Help Chicago Stations With Reception Issues". Broadcasting & Cable.
  5. Wong, Wailin (2009-06-17). "DTV Transition Problems Linger; FCC Beefs Up Role". Chicago Tribune.
  6. Eggerton, John (2009-06-29). "Boise Station Gets Power Boost". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
  7. https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101319886&formid=346&fac_num=73226
  8. http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/Auth_Files/1335680.pdf
  9. "ABC7 is adding a DTV frequency; UHF frequency should help reception". ABC7Chicago.com. October 31, 2009.
  10. http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1363188&Service=DS&Form_id=911&Facility_id=73226
  11. https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101370985&formid=911&fac_num=73226
  12. https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101360475&formid=911&fac_num=73226
  13. https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101335680&formid=301&fac_num=73226
  14. http://licensing.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/Auth_Files/1335680.pdf
  15. "Live Well HD Network debuts". abc7chicago.com. April, 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. "TV Schedule for Chicago, Illinois". Live Well HD Network.
  17. http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=sports&id=5620244
  18. ABC7 Unveils State Street Studio, ABC 7 Chicago, April 25, 2006
  19. YouTube - WLS-TV Studio Car Crash

External links

Broadcast television in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana
This region includes the following cities: Chicago/Aurora/Joliet/DeKalb/Kankakee, IL
Gary/Michigan City, IN
Reception may vary by location and some stations may only be viewable with cable television
Full power
Low power
ATSC 1.1 MPEG-4
(converter required for older sets)
ATSC 3.0
Cable
Streaming
Defunct
Silent
ABC network affiliates licensed to and serving the state of Illinois
Primary*
Secondary**
Defunct
(*) – indicates station is in one of Illinois' primary TV markets
(**) – indicates station is in an out-of-state TV market, but reaches a small portion of Illinois
See also
ABC
CBS
CW
Fox
Ion
MyNetworkTV
NBC
PBS
Other stations in Illinois
The Walt Disney Company
Company
officials
Key
Board of
directors
Entertainment
Studios
General
Entertainment
Disney Branded
Television
ABC Entertainment
Group
FX Networks
National Geographic
Global Networks
Production studios
Other units
Streaming
Distribution
International
ABC TV Stations
Other assets
Experiences
Parks and
resorts
Experiences
Consumer
Products
ESPN Inc. (80%)
Other assets
Former/defunct
units and
predecessors
Related
Owned and/or operated stations of the major television networks in the United States
ABC
(Walt Disney Co.)
CBS
(Paramount)
Fox
(Fox Corporation)
NBC
(Comcast)
Telemundo
(Comcast)
The CW
(Nexstar Media Group,
Paramount Global
and Warner Bros. Discovery
)
Nexstar
Paramount
Univision
(TelevisaUnivision)
These stations are owned by Mission Broadcasting but operated by Nexstar under an LMA.
These stations are owned by Londen Media Group but operated by Nexstar under a TBA.
Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery still own a combined 25 percent stake in The CW, however the network is operated entirely by Nexstar.
These stations are owned by Vaughan Media but operated by Nexstar under an LMA.
TelevisaUnivision owns the licenses to these stations but the stations themselves are operated by Entravision Communications (of which the company owns a 10 percent stake) under an LMA.

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