WBBM-TV
WBBM-TV is a CBS-owned-and-operated television station serving the Chicago market on virtual channel 2.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WBBM-TV, branded as CBS 2 Chicago, is a CBS-owned-and-operated television station licensed to Chicago, Illinois. It broadcasts on virtual channel 2 and uses digital VHF channel 12, with its transmitter located at Willis Tower. The station is one of the oldest television outlets in Chicago and has been closely associated with CBS since 1953. Its principal business is the production and distribution of local television news, weather, traffic, public-affairs programming and community information, supplemented by CBS network programming, syndicated content and digital multicast services. The station's technical and institutional history reaches back to 1940, when Balaban and Katz established experimental station W9XBK. William C. Eddy, a television pioneer recruited from RCA's New York experimental operation, helped develop the facility. During the Second World War, the site was also used to train Navy electronics technicians. W9XBK received a commercial license in 1946 as WBKB on VHF channel 4, becoming one of the earliest commercial television stations in the United States and the first commercial station outside the Eastern Time Zone. Its early programming included local productions, early CBS programming and major sporting events, including a 1947 National Football League championship game. The station became part of the corporate changes surrounding Paramount, United Paramount Theatres, ABC and CBS. After the 1953 merger of United Paramount Theatres and ABC created an ownership conflict in Chicago, CBS acquired WBKB. The call letters changed to WBBM-TV, aligning the television station with CBS-owned WBBM radio, and the station moved to channel 2 in July 1953 as part of an FCC frequency reallocation. The acquisition gave CBS control of its Chicago programming and made WBBM-TV the network's primary local outlet in the market. WBBM-TV has occupied an important place in American television history. Its McClurg Court studios hosted the first televised presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon on September 26, 1960. The facility also served as the production base for nationally syndicated programs including Donahue and Siskel & Ebert. The station has carried major Chicago sports programming over the decades, including Chicago Cubs baseball, Chicago Cardinals and Chicago Bears football, Chicago Bulls basketball and CBS network sports events such as Super Bowl XLI. In 2008, WBBM-TV moved its operations to a purpose-built street-level studio in the Block 37 development in Chicago's Loop and introduced high-definition local newscasts. It later shifted its primary news set to an upper-level studio, while the street-facing space was used again during the COVID-19 period to provide additional working distance. The station completed the federally mandated transition from analog broadcasting in 2009, retaining virtual channel 2 while moving its digital transmission to VHF channel 12. WBBM-TV also operates within CBS's wider digital and multiplatform news structure. Its content is distributed through broadcast television, the station website, streaming products, mobile platforms and social channels. Its digital subchannels have carried CBS and Weigel Broadcasting services, including Decades and Start TV. Although WBBM radio was separated from CBS television in 2017 when CBS sold its radio assets to Entercom, now Audacy, the radio and television operations have continued to cooperate on news coverage. WBBM-TV remains an active Chicago news organization and a major CBS network outlet, although its competitive position is shaped by other local broadcast stations, cable news, streaming video and digital publishers.
History
WBBM-TV developed from W9XBK, an experimental television station established by Balaban and Katz in 1940. The company recruited William C. Eddy, who helped operate the facility and used it during the Second World War as a training site for Navy electronics technicians. In September 1946, the station received a commercial license as WBKB on channel 4. It was among the first commercial television stations in the United States and the first such station outside the Eastern Time Zone. WBKB initially operated independently but carried early CBS programs and notable local productions. It also transmitted early sports broadcasts, including Chicago Cubs games and the 1947 NFL championship game between the Chicago Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles. In 1948, the station began sharing CBS affiliation with WGN-TV. The corporate environment around the station changed after Balaban and Katz became part of United Paramount Theatres, which merged with ABC in 1953. Because the merged company could not retain two Chicago television stations under the FCC's ownership rules, CBS purchased WBKB for $6.75 million. The station changed its call letters to WBBM-TV in February 1953, taking the identity of CBS-owned WBBM radio. In July of that year, an FCC frequency realignment moved it from channel 4 to channel 2. The change made WBBM-TV CBS's principal Chicago outlet and transferred CBS programs previously seen on WGN-TV. CBS consolidated its Chicago television operations in 1956 at the former Chicago Arena building on McClurg Court. The facility hosted nationally significant programming, including the first televised presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon in 1960. It also became a production center for syndicated shows such as Donahue and Siskel & Ebert. The station's license faced a challenge in 1987 from Center City Communications, a locally based investor group led by Brenda Minor. The challenge followed public criticism concerning staff diversity and the station's public-affairs obligations, including concerns associated with an Operation PUSH boycott. Center City withdrew the challenge after reaching a settlement with CBS. The episode contributed to broader debate about the FCC's comparative license-renewal process. CBS and Paramount were reunited under common corporate ownership when Viacom acquired CBS in 2000. That combination was separated in 2005, when the CBS Corporation and a renamed Viacom became distinct companies. WBBM-TV later moved from its long-standing McClurg Court facility to a street-level studio in the Block 37 development in September 2008. The move accompanied the station's conversion of its local newscasts to high definition. The former McClurg Court building was demolished in 2009. WBBM-TV ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, as part of the United States digital television transition. Its digital service ultimately operated on VHF channel 12 while retaining virtual channel 2. In the following decade, the station expanded its digital multicast role through arrangements involving CBS and Weigel Broadcasting. Decades launched on its second digital channel in 2015 and later moved elsewhere in the Chicago market; Start TV then took its place. CBS's 2017 sale of its radio assets to Entercom, now Audacy, ended common ownership of WBBM-TV and WBBM radio. The separation did not eliminate their local news relationship. WBBM-TV continued to operate as a CBS-owned-and-operated station within CBS News and Stations, producing local journalism for broadcast and digital audiences. Its later news operation included leadership and anchor changes, including the appointment of Jeff Harris as news director in 2018, the departure of Rob Johnson in 2019, the later reassignment of Brad Edwards and the appointment of Jennifer Lyons as president and general manager.
- 2015
Decades launches in Chicago
[1]The CBS–Weigel digital multicast network begins service on WBBM-TV's second subchannel.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends
[1]The station ends analog broadcasting and continues digitally with virtual channel 2.
- 2008
Move to Block 37 and high-definition news
[1]WBBM-TV relocates to a Loop studio and upgrades its local newscasts to high definition.
- 1987
License-renewal challenge is settled
[1]Center City Communications challenges renewal of the station's license and later withdraws the challenge under a settlement with CBS.
- 1960
First televised presidential debate
[1]The station's Chicago studios host the Kennedy–Nixon presidential debate.
- 1956
CBS consolidates Chicago operations
[1]WBBM-TV moves into CBS's renovated McClurg Court facility.
- 1953
CBS acquires the station and adopts WBBM-TV calls
[1]CBS purchases WBKB after the United Paramount Theatres–ABC merger and renames it WBBM-TV.
- 1953
Broadcast frequency moves to channel 2
[1]An FCC frequency reallocation moves the station from channel 4 to channel 2.
- 1946
WBKB receives commercial license
[1]The station becomes a commercial broadcaster as WBKB on VHF channel 4.
- 1940
Experimental television operation begins
[1]Balaban and Katz establishes W9XBK, the experimental predecessor of WBBM-TV.
Products and positioning
A CBS-owned, locally focused Chicago television station combining network programming with continuous local news, weather, traffic, sports and digital reporting.
Local television news · 1953
CBS 2 Chicago local news
The station's core offering consists of locally produced newscasts and rolling coverage of Chicago-area breaking news, politics, public safety, community affairs, weather and traffic. The content is distributed through broadcast television and digital channels.
Network television · 1953
CBS network programming
As a CBS-owned-and-operated station, WBBM-TV carries CBS entertainment, news, daytime, late-night and sports programming for the Chicago market, subject to scheduling and local-news requirements.
Digital multicast television · 2015
Decades
Decades was a CBS–Weigel Broadcasting digital multicast network carried by WBBM-TV's second subchannel in Chicago beginning in 2015. Its schedule emphasized archival television programs and historical content before the service moved to another local station.
Digital multicast television · 2018
Start TV
Start TV replaced Decades on WBBM-TV's second digital subchannel in 2018. The service is built around procedural dramas and programs featuring women in leading roles.
Brand decisions
2014
Digital multicast partnershipProduct launchBackground
CBS and Weigel Broadcasting pursued a jointly operated digital multicast network.
Action taken
WBBM-TV became the Chicago launch outlet for Decades.
Aftermath
Decades later moved to WCIU-DT4, while Start TV took over WBBM-TV's second subchannel.
2008
Relocation and high-definition news conversionStrategyBackground
CBS sought a new Chicago facility and WBBM-TV had postponed earlier relocation plans while preparing for high-definition broadcasting.
Action taken
The station moved to Block 37 and converted its local newscasts to high definition.
Aftermath
WBBM-TV gained a prominent Loop presence and continued transitioning field production to high definition over time.
1953
CBS acquisition of WBKBM&ABackground
The merger of United Paramount Theatres and ABC created overlapping station ownership in Chicago under the FCC rules then in force.
Action taken
CBS acquired WBKB and renamed it WBBM-TV.
Aftermath
The station became CBS's Chicago owned-and-operated outlet and assumed CBS programming previously carried by WGN-TV.
Acquisition price. $6.75 million (1953)
Recent events
- 2019
WBBM-TV adjusts evening anchor lineup[1]
Leadership change
Rob Johnson departed the station and Brad Edwards took a prominent evening-anchor role alongside Irika Sargent.
- 2018
WBBM-TV changes news leadership[1]
Leadership change
Jeff Harris became the station's news director.
- 2018
Start TV replaces Decades on WBBM digital subchannel[1]
Product generation
After Decades moved to another Chicago station, WBBM-TV's second digital subchannel began carrying Start TV, a procedural-drama service centered on female leads.
- 2017
CBS radio sale separates WBBM radio from WBBM-TV[1]
M&A
CBS agreed to sell its radio business to Entercom, separating the WBBM radio stations from the CBS-owned television station while leaving ongoing news cooperation.
- 2015
Decades begins Chicago service on WBBM-TV[1]
Product launch
Decades launched on WBBM-TV's second digital subchannel before expanding nationally.
- 2014
CBS and Weigel Broadcasting announce Decades partnership[1]
Product launch · M&A
CBS and Weigel Broadcasting announced a partnership to launch the Decades digital multicast network, with WBBM-TV serving as its Chicago outlet.
Sources2 sources
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