WGN-TV

WGN-TV is a commercial television station serving the Chicago, Illinois, metropolitan area on channel 9. The station currently operates as a local affiliate of The CW and is owned and operated by Nexstar Media Group. Its studios are located on West Bradley Place in Chicago's North Center neighborhood, while its principal transmitter is located on Willis Tower in the Chicago Loop. This makes WGN-TV distinctive among Chicago's major commercial stations because its main production facility is outside the downtown Loop. The station originated with the Chicago Tribune Company, which applied to the Federal Communications Commission in 1946 for authority to build a VHF television station. The call sign initially considered was WGNA, but the company ultimately selected WGN-TV, extending the identity of WGN radio. WGN was derived from the Tribune's slogan, “World's Greatest Newspaper.” Test transmissions began in February 1948, an informal opening followed with coverage of the Golden Gloves boxing finals in March, and regular programming began on April 5, 1948. During its early years, WGN-TV operated as an independent station while carrying selected programming from CBS and the DuMont Television Network. Its Chicago facilities also produced several DuMont programs, making the station an important early center of network television production. After DuMont ceased operations in 1956, WGN-TV became an independent station by default. It developed a broad schedule of films, syndicated series, cartoons, religious programs, public-affairs programming, locally produced shows, news, and sports. Chicago Cubs baseball became particularly important to the station's identity, alongside other local and regional sports coverage. WGN-TV was an early adopter of color television and began selected color broadcasts in 1957, followed by local color programming in 1958. The station also used color-capable videotape technology at an early stage. Its children's programming received national recognition when The Blue Fairy won a Peabody Award in 1958. In 1961, the WGN television and radio operations moved to a purpose-built broadcast center in North Center, designed for color production and large-scale local programming. A major turning point came in 1978, when United Video uplinked WGN-TV's Chicago signal to satellite. The station thereby became one of the first American “superstations,” allowing cable and satellite systems across the country to carry its programming. National viewers became familiar with WGN through Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bulls broadcasts, films, syndicated entertainment, and locally originated programs such as The Bozo Show. For many years the national signal largely mirrored the Chicago station, although the national distribution operation later evolved into a separate cable network known first as WGN America and eventually as NewsNation. WGN-TV remained a flagship property of Tribune Broadcasting for decades. Tribune's broadcasting portfolio also included WGN radio and, for a period, the regional cable news service Chicagoland Television. WGN-TV was a charter affiliate of The WB and subsequently of The CW. It became an independent station in 2016 after The CW affiliation moved to another Chicago outlet, then returned to The CW in 2024. The station's programming mix continues to combine network shows with local news, syndicated programming, special events, and digital content aimed at the Chicago market. Nexstar Media Group acquired Tribune Media in 2019, bringing WGN-TV under Nexstar ownership. The station remains an active Chicago broadcast brand, with its local identity built on news, weather, community coverage, entertainment, and a long association with regional sports and Chicago institutions.

WGN-TV traces its origins to the Chicago Tribune Company's effort to establish a Chicago VHF television station. The company filed its FCC application in September 1946 and received approval in November of that year. Although WGNA was initially considered as the call sign, the station adopted WGN-TV in early 1948, linking it to WGN radio and the Tribune's “World's Greatest Newspaper” slogan. Test broadcasts began on February 1, 1948. The station informally opened on March 6 with coverage of the Golden Gloves boxing finals, and regular service commenced on April 5 with a Chicago-themed inaugural broadcast. WGN-TV initially operated from facilities associated with WGN radio and the Tribune, later consolidating its operations in the Tribune's Centennial Building. It began carrying selected CBS and DuMont programs after obtaining access to a live network feed in January 1949. WGN also became a significant production location for DuMont programs during the network's early years. Changes in Chicago television ownership and affiliation patterns left WGN-TV exclusively associated with DuMont for a period. When DuMont ended operations in August 1956, WGN-TV became an independent station. Under general manager Ward L. Quaal, it developed the broad entertainment format that became typical of major-market independents: films, syndicated series, cartoons, religious shows, public affairs, children's programming, locally produced entertainment, news, and sports. Sports, especially Chicago Cubs baseball, helped the station establish a strong regional identity and differentiate it from network-owned competitors. The station reached profitability by the late 1950s. Technological development was another part of WGN-TV's early history. It began selected color transmissions in 1957 and local color programming in 1958, using advanced color videotape equipment. The children's program The Blue Fairy won a Peabody Award in 1958. WGN-TV and WGN radio moved to the WGN Mid-America Broadcast Center in North Center in 1961. The facility was built to support color production and continued to serve as the station's principal studio complex. The station's influence expanded beyond Chicago during the 1970s. Cable systems in the Midwest began carrying its signal, and on November 9, 1978, United Video distributed WGN-TV by satellite to cable and satellite subscribers nationwide. WGN-TV consequently became one of America's earliest superstations. The national feed helped popularize Chicago sports, films, syndicated series, and local programs throughout the country. Tribune generally treated the satellite signal as a passive national service while continuing to operate the Chicago station as a local broadcaster. The national operation later became WGN America and was eventually relaunched as NewsNation, although the Chicago station retained the WGN-TV identity. Tribune Broadcasting developed WGN-TV as one of its flagship stations. The station participated in national syndication initiatives, expanded its library of films and syndicated programs, and continued to use sports and local production as central parts of its schedule. It was a charter affiliate of The WB when that network launched in 1995 and later became an original affiliate of The CW when The WB and UPN were combined in 2006. WGN-TV remained with Tribune through the company's later corporate changes. Tribune Broadcasting's Chicago portfolio also included WGN radio and the now-defunct regional cable news service Chicagoland Television. In 2016, WGN-TV ended its CW affiliation and became independent again, creating a schedule centered on local news, syndicated programming, sports, and other acquired content. Nexstar Media Group acquired Tribune Media in 2019. WGN-TV returned to The CW in 2024 and continues to serve the Chicago market through broadcast, digital, and local news platforms.

• 2024

  Returns to The CW

  [1]WGN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WGN-TV again became Chicago's local CW affiliate.

• 2019

  Ownership transfers to Nexstar

  [1]WGN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Nexstar's acquisition of Tribune Media placed WGN-TV under Nexstar Media Group.

• 2016

  Returns to independent status

  [1]WGN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WGN-TV ended its CW affiliation and resumed independent-station operations.

• 2006

  Becomes a charter CW affiliate

  [1]WGN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Following the merger of The WB and UPN, WGN-TV became an original affiliate of The CW.

• 1995

  Becomes a charter WB affiliate

  [1]WGN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WGN-TV joined The WB at that network's launch.

• 1978

  National superstation distribution begins

  [1]WGN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  United Video placed WGN-TV's signal on satellite, enabling nationwide cable and satellite distribution.

• 1961

  Move to North Center broadcast facility

  [1]WGN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WGN-TV and WGN radio moved major operations to the WGN Mid-America Broadcast Center.

• 1958

  Early color broadcasting and Peabody recognition

  [1]WGN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WGN-TV expanded local color programming and received a Peabody Award for The Blue Fairy.

• 1956

  Becomes an independent station

  [1]WGN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The closure of the DuMont network left WGN-TV operating as an independent commercial station.

• 1948

  Regular broadcasting begins

  [1]WGN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WGN-TV began regular programming on April 5 after test transmissions and an earlier informal opening.

• 1946

  FCC application submitted

  [1]WGN-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The Chicago Tribune Company applied to build a VHF television station on channel 9 in Chicago.

A long-established, mass-market Chicago television station combining local news and weather with network, syndicated, entertainment, community, and historically significant sports programming.

• Broadcast television · 1948

  Local news and information programming

  WGN-TV's core local service includes regularly scheduled news, weather, traffic, public-affairs coverage, and reporting focused on Chicago and surrounding communities. Its broadcast output is complemented by articles, video, alerts, and other material distributed through the station's website and digital channels.

• Network affiliation · 2024

  The CW programming

  WGN-TV carries programming supplied by The CW as the network's Chicago-market outlet. The affiliation complements the station's locally produced news and independently acquired content and follows WGN-TV's earlier periods as a WB and CW affiliate.

• Sports broadcasting

  Sports telecasts

  Sports have historically been central to WGN-TV's identity. The station became widely associated with Chicago Cubs baseball and Chicago Bulls basketball, as well as other regional sports coverage. These broadcasts also helped make the station's signal valuable to cable systems during its superstation era.

• Digital media

  Digital news and video

  Through wgntv.com and related digital channels, WGN-TV distributes local reporting, live and recorded video, weather information, community stories, alerts, and station-produced features beyond the linear broadcast schedule.

• 2024

  Return to The CWStrategy

  Background

  WGN-TV had operated as an independent station since 2016, while Nexstar became the parent company of The CW.

  Action taken

  WGN-TV resumed its affiliation with The CW in the Chicago market.

  Aftermath

  The station combined network programming with its established local news and digital operations.

  Source

• 2019

  Transfer to Nexstar Media GroupM&A

  Background

  Tribune Media owned WGN-TV as part of its national portfolio of local television stations.

  Action taken

  Nexstar Media Group acquired Tribune Media, including WGN-TV and other Tribune broadcasting assets.

  Aftermath

  WGN-TV became part of Nexstar's national station group while retaining its Chicago call sign and local identity.

  Source

• 2016

  Transition to independent programmingStrategy

  Background

  After its CW affiliation ended, WGN-TV needed to fill the schedule without a network programming package.

  Action taken

  The station returned to independent status and emphasized local news, syndicated entertainment, sports, and acquired programming.

  Aftermath

  WGN-TV operated independently until it rejoined The CW in 2024.

  Source

• 1978

  Satellite distribution of the Chicago signalStrategy

  Background

  WGN-TV already reached cable systems beyond Chicago, but satellite distribution offered a way to extend the station's programming across the United States.

  Action taken

  United Video uplinked the WGN-TV signal for nationwide cable and satellite carriage, creating one of the earliest American superstations.

  Aftermath

  The expanded footprint made WGN-TV nationally recognizable and established a business and programming model that later developed into the separate WGN America cable operation.

  Source

1. 1WGN-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WGN-TV official websitewgntv.com