WGN-TV

WGN-TV. WGN-TV is a television station located in Chicago, Illinois, owned by Nexstar Media Group, and affiliated with The CW and Independent. The station is known for its historic broadcasts, including the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox games, as well as its popular programming such as Bozo's Circus and The Bozo Show, hosted by Bob Bell and later Joey D'Auria. WGN-TV has been a staple in Chicago's broadcasting scene, with notable personalities like Walter Jacobson, Bill Kurtis, and Harry Caray.

● History

WGN-TV began broadcasting on April 5, 1948, as a CBS affiliate, and was founded by Tribune Media, which also owned the Chicago Tribune newspaper and WGN (AM) radio station. The station's early years featured a mix of local programming, including children's television series like Garfield Goose and Friends, and network shows from CBS, such as I Love Lucy and The Ed Sullivan Show. In the 1950s and 1960s, WGN-TV became known for its broadcasts of Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox games, with Jack Brickhouse and Vince Lloyd providing play-by-play commentary. The station also aired NFL games, featuring the Chicago Bears, with Red Grange and George Connor as commentators.

● Programming

WGN-TV's programming lineup has included a variety of popular shows, such as The Simpsons, Family Guy, and American Idol, as well as local productions like The Bozo Show and Svengoolie, hosted by Rich Koz. The station has also broadcast Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks games, with Tom Dore and Pat Foley providing play-by-play commentary. In addition, WGN-TV has aired PBS programming, including Sesame Street and Nova, as well as CNN and Fox News Channel news programs. The station's schedule has also featured off-network sitcoms like Friends and Seinfeld, and drama series like Law & Order and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

● Digital television

WGN-TV began broadcasting in HDTV in 2004, with the launch of its digital signal on Virtual channel 9. The station's digital channel lineup includes The CW programming, as well as This TV and Antenna TV networks. WGN-TV's digital signal is broadcast from the Willis Tower in Chicago, and can be received by viewers in the Chicago metropolitan area and surrounding regions. The station's digital broadcasts also include closed captions and descriptive video service for viewers with disabilities.

● News operation

WGN-TV's news operation, known as WGN News, provides local news coverage to the Chicago metropolitan area. The station's news team includes anchors like Robin Robinson and Lourdes Duarte, as well as reporters like Julie Unruh and Sean Lewis. WGN-TV's news programming includes WGN Morning News, WGN News at Nine, and WGN News at Ten, with coverage of local events, politics, and sports. The station's news operation has won numerous awards, including Emmy Awards and Peabody Awards, for its coverage of stories like the Great Chicago Fire and the Chicago Blizzard of 1993.

● Controversies

WGN-TV has been involved in several controversies over the years, including a dispute with DirecTV in 2014, which resulted in the station's signal being removed from the satellite television provider's lineup. The station has also faced criticism for its coverage of certain events, such as the 2012 NATO summit in Chicago, which some viewers felt was inadequate. In addition, WGN-TV has been involved in a long-standing retransmission consent dispute with Cablevision, which has resulted in the station's signal being removed from the cable television provider's lineup on several occasions.

● Technical information

WGN-TV's broadcast signal is transmitted from the Willis Tower in Chicago, and can be received by viewers in the Chicago metropolitan area and surrounding regions. The station's Virtual channel 9 signal is broadcast on a frequency of 19, and its digital signal includes HDTV and SDTV channels. WGN-TV's technical facilities are located at its studios in the Tribune Tower in Chicago, and the station's engineering team is responsible for maintaining its broadcast equipment and ensuring compliance with FCC regulations. The station's signal is also available on cable television providers like Comcast Xfinity and AT&T U-verse, as well as satellite television providers like Dish Network and DirecTV. Category:Television stations in Illinois