WCIU-TV

WCIU-TV is a commercial television station serving the Chicago, Illinois, metropolitan area on channel 26. It is the flagship television property of privately held Weigel Broadcasting, a locally based company that has owned the station since its launch. The station operates from studios on North Halsted Street in Chicago's Greektown area, while its main transmitter is located at Willis Tower in the Chicago Loop. WCIU is also associated with Weigel's nearby low-power stations, including WMEU-CD and WWME-CD, and with several digital subchannels and regional distribution arrangements. The station began broadcasting on February 6, 1964, as Chicago's first UHF television outlet. Its call letters were derived from the phrase “Chicago Independent UHF,” reflecting its original status as an independent station. During its early decades, WCIU developed a distinctive schedule combining ethnic programming, religious shows, business information, paid programming, and locally produced entertainment. Spanish-language programming became particularly important, first through the Spanish International Network and later through affiliations with NetSpan and Univision. The station also carried the Stock Market Observer, a weekday business-news block originating from facilities at the Chicago Board of Trade. WCIU has had an unusually broad role in Chicago television history. Local productions included the children's program Kiddie-A-Go-Go, various talk and variety shows, and the Chicago edition of Soul Train. The latter began at WCIU in 1970 under creator and host Don Cornelius before the program expanded into national syndication and moved production to Los Angeles. WCIU also became known for locally oriented programming such as sports, educational content, business news, and movie showcases. A major strategic transition occurred in the 1990s. Univision sought full-time carriage of its Spanish-language schedule, but WCIU declined to abandon its English-language programming. Univision consequently acquired WGBO-TV and moved its programming there. After the Univision affiliation ended, WCIU shifted to a full-time English-language general-entertainment format on December 31, 1994, adopting the identity “The U.” The station carried syndicated sitcoms, dramas, talk programs, children's programming, movies, and local productions. Its revived Svengoolie horror-movie franchise became one of its most recognizable offerings, with Rich Koz returning to the character. WCIU later carried selected programming from The WB, including Kids' WB, while continuing to develop its own schedule. Its business-news operations evolved from Stock Market Observer into WebFN and later into First Business. Classic television programming increasingly moved to sister station WWME-CD, which became the home of the MeTV format, while WCIU concentrated more heavily on contemporary syndicated entertainment and local content. From September 1, 2019, through August 31, 2024, WCIU was Chicago's affiliate of The CW under an agreement with CBS Corporation. The affiliation required the station to move much of its syndicated evening schedule to WMEU-CD and its second digital subchannel. The CW subsequently returned to WGN-TV, and WCIU resumed independent programming in September 2024. The station revived “The U” branding in August 2024 and continued its role as a general-entertainment independent outlet, carrying syndicated series, local programming, sports and specialty content. Its long-term identity is defined by local ownership, flexible programming strategy, and a history of serving both broad English-language audiences and Chicago's diverse communities.

WCIU-TV signed on February 6, 1964, as Chicago's first UHF station. Founded by John J. Weigel, it operated as an independent station and used call letters associated with “Chicago Independent UHF.” Howard and Gene Shapiro became influential in the station's ownership structure after acquiring control of Weigel Broadcasting in 1966. For much of its early history, WCIU combined religious programs, Spanish-language entertainment, paid programming, business information and locally produced shows. Its Stock Market Observer block, broadcast from the Chicago Board of Trade, gave the station a specialized weekday business identity. WCIU also aired the locally originated Kiddie-A-Go-Go and, beginning in 1970, the Chicago version of Soul Train. The latter was created and hosted by Don Cornelius, who was then working at the station, and later became a nationally syndicated landmark. WCIU completed its transition from black-and-white to full-time color broadcasting at the end of 1974. In the 1980s it used translator stations to extend portions of its programming beyond Chicago, while its network relationships shifted among Spanish-language services. After its Spanish International Network affiliation moved to WSNS-TV, WCIU briefly carried NetSpan and then returned to Univision in January 1989. The station's most consequential change came after Univision demanded a full-time Spanish-language schedule in the early 1990s. WCIU refused, and Univision purchased WGBO-TV as a replacement outlet. Under general manager Neal Sabin, WCIU prepared for a new English-language format. On December 31, 1994, it became a full-time general-entertainment independent station branded “The U.” It moved into a large Halsted Street studio facility and added syndicated programs, children's shows, classic series, talk programming and local productions. The station also revived Svengoolie with Rich Koz, creating a durable Chicago television franchise. During the late 1990s and 2000s, WCIU progressively reduced its classic and business-oriented blocks as syndicated entertainment became more prominent. Kids' WB programming was carried for a period before moving to WGN-TV. The business service evolved through WebFN and First Business, with the latter continuing through 2014. Meanwhile, Weigel developed MeTV on a sister station, allowing classic programming to become a dedicated branded service. On September 1, 2019, WCIU became Chicago's CW affiliate, replacing WPWR-TV. To make room for the network schedule, many syndicated programs moved to WMEU-CD and a related digital subchannel. In 2024, The CW returned to WGN-TV. WCIU consequently resumed independent status and brought “The U” branding back to the main station. The station remains a Weigel-owned Chicago broadcaster focused on syndicated entertainment, local productions, sports and digital multicast services.

• 2024

  Returns to independence

  [1]WCIU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Following The CW's move back to WGN-TV, WCIU resumes independent programming and revives The U branding.

• 2019

  Joins The CW

  [1]WCIU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WCIU replaces WPWR-TV as Chicago's CW affiliate.

• 1994

  Launch of The U

  [1]WCIU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WCIU becomes a full-time English-language general-entertainment independent station and adopts The U identity.

• 1989

  Return to Univision

  [1]WCIU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WCIU resumes its Univision affiliation after a change in Chicago Spanish-language television arrangements.

• 1974

  Full-time color broadcasting

  [1]WCIU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WCIU completes its transition from monochrome transmission to full-time color broadcasting.

• 1970

  Soul Train begins at WCIU

  [1]WCIU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Don Cornelius launches the Chicago version of Soul Train at WCIU before the program expands into national syndication.

• 1964

  WCIU-TV signs on

  [1]WCIU-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station begins broadcasting on channel 26 as Chicago's first UHF television outlet.

Locally owned independent television station with a general-entertainment schedule and a strong Chicago programming identity.

• Station brand · 1994

  The U

  WCIU's principal general-entertainment identity, originally introduced during the station's 1994 conversion to full-time English-language independent programming. The branding was later used on a sister outlet during WCIU's CW affiliation and returned to the main station in 2024.

• Locally associated entertainment program · 1994

  Svengoolie

  A horror and science-fiction movie showcase associated with WCIU and hosted by Rich Koz. The station revived the character in the 1990s, making the program one of its best-known local television properties.

• Business programming · 1968

  Stock Market Observer / WebFN / First Business

  A sequence of business-news services carried by WCIU and related Weigel outlets. The programming originated with Stock Market Observer, later became WebFN, and was followed by First Business, reflecting the station's historic connection to Chicago financial markets.

• Music and dance programming · 1970

  Soul Train

  The Chicago-originated edition of Don Cornelius's music and dance program began on WCIU in 1970. It later became a nationally syndicated television franchise, while WCIU continued a local version for several years.

• 2024The U'z STILL Got It!

  Chicago metropolitan area

  WCIU promoted its return to independent programming and the restoration of The U identity with a modified version of its earlier slogan.

  Outcome. The branding returned to WCIU's main channel in August 2024, ahead of the station's full return to independence.

  Source

• 2024

  Return to independent programmingStrategy

  Background

  The CW announced that it would return to WGN-TV in Chicago.

  Action taken

  WCIU resumed independent status and restored The U branding to its main channel.

  Aftermath

  The station continued as a locally owned general-entertainment outlet with syndicated, local, sports and multicast programming.

  Source

• 2019

  Accept The CW affiliationStrategy

  Background

  The CW needed a new Chicago-area affiliate after WPWR-TV's affiliation ended.

  Action taken

  Weigel Broadcasting agreed to place The CW's programming on WCIU-TV beginning September 1, 2019, moving much of the station's syndicated schedule to WMEU-CD and a digital subchannel.

  Aftermath

  WCIU operated as a network affiliate until The CW returned to WGN-TV in 2024.

  Source

• 1994

  Convert to full-time English-language independenceStrategy

  Background

  Univision sought full-time use of WCIU for Spanish-language programming, while the station wanted to preserve English-language business and entertainment content.

  Action taken

  WCIU declined to drop its English-language schedule and converted to a conventional English-language general-entertainment independent format after its Univision agreement ended.

  Aftermath

  Univision acquired WGBO-TV as its Chicago outlet, while WCIU adopted The U identity and expanded syndicated and locally produced programming.

  Source

1. 1WCIU-TVen.wikipedia.org