WPWR-TV
A Chicago-area television station licensed to Gary, Indiana, operated by Fox Television Stations and primarily programmed as an independent station with a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WPWR-TV is a commercial television station serving the Chicago metropolitan area. Although its city of license is Gary, Indiana, the station operates as part of the Chicago television market and shares facilities with Fox-owned WFLD. Its programming identity has changed several times: it began as an independent station, became a charter affiliate of the United Paramount Network (UPN) in 1995, joined MyNetworkTV at that network’s launch in 2006, carried The CW from 2016 to 2019, and subsequently returned to a primarily independent schedule under the Fox Chicago Plus branding. MyNetworkTV programming remains a secondary affiliation rather than the station’s sole programming identity. The station’s origins are unusually complex. WPWR first went on the air in April 1982 on UHF channel 60 in a shared-time arrangement with WBBS-TV, a Spanish-language station. The arrangement brought together interests associated with Fred Eychaner’s Metrowest Corporation and HATCO-60, led by Chicago Hispanic media entrepreneur Marcelino Miyares. WPWR initially filled its schedule with independent programming, including sports-related subscription programming from SportsVision, movies, older syndicated series, cartoons, and business programming. SportsVision did not succeed as a subscription service and was later transformed into a cable sports channel, while WPWR developed a more conventional independent-station schedule. Eychaner pursued a full-time facility and a more favorable channel position. Through transactions involving a Gary construction permit and the former educational allocation on channel 50, the station secured authorization to move its commercial operation to channel 50. After WBBS ceased operations and Eychaner acquired the remaining license interest, WPWR became a full-time station. On January 18, 1987, its call sign and programming moved from channel 60 to channel 50. The station expanded its inventory of syndicated entertainment, adding programs such as Star Trek: The Next Generation and War of the Worlds, and established itself as one of Chicago’s principal independent stations. WPWR joined UPN when the network launched in January 1995. Newsweb Corporation sold the station to Fox Television Stations in 2002, making it one of the largest UPN affiliates controlled by the corporate parent of another broadcast network. When UPN and The WB were replaced by The CW and MyNetworkTV in 2006, WPWR was selected as a founding MyNetworkTV station and became a Fox-owned-and-operated outlet of that service. Fox later negotiated a CW affiliation for WPWR beginning in 2016, while WGN-TV moved away from The CW after Tribune’s agreement ended. WPWR’s CW period ended in 2019, after which the station adopted the Fox Chicago Plus identity and emphasized syndicated, local, sports, and other independently programmed content. In the FCC incentive auction, WPWR surrendered its individual broadcast spectrum and began sharing a transmission channel with sister station WFLD on June 11, 2018. The stations share studio facilities on North Michigan Avenue in Chicago’s Loop and transmission facilities at Willis Tower. WPWR is one of only two commercial Chicago-market stations licensed in Indiana, the other being WJYS in Hammond. Its current role is that of a Fox-owned Chicago-market independent station with a secondary MyNetworkTV relationship, using programming and branding designed to complement rather than duplicate WFLD’s Fox network service.
History
WPWR-TV signed on April 4, 1982, on channel 60 as part of a shared-time operation with WBBS-TV. WPWR served English-language viewers while WBBS provided Spanish-language programming. The arrangement reflected the participation of Metrowest Corporation, associated with Fred Eychaner, and HATCO-60, associated with Marcelino Miyares and other applicants. Both services transmitted from the Sears Tower. During its first years, WPWR was an independent station with a schedule shaped by limited resources and changing opportunities. A substantial portion of its early schedule was occupied by SportsVision, a subscription service developed by Eychaner with Chicago White Sox co-owners Jerry Reinsdorf and Eddie Einhorn. SportsVision required viewers to rent a converter and pay for access to sports telecasts, but the service failed to attract a sustainable audience and moved to cable in early 1983. WPWR then relied on public-domain films, older syndicated programs, cartoons, classic sitcoms, and selected programming obtained from other stations. It also carried a weekday business-news simulcast from the Financial News Network before replacing that service with entertainment programming in 1984. Eychaner sought a full-time station and a stronger channel position. In Gary, Indiana, Great Lakes Broadcasting held a construction permit for commercial channel 56, while the area’s educational channel 50 was silent after the collapse of WCAE. Eychaner acquired a majority interest in Great Lakes and worked with Northwest Indiana Public Broadcasting on a channel-allocation exchange. The FCC approved the changes in 1986, allowing the commercial facility to use channel 50 and enabling the public station to rebuild on channel 56 as WYIN. The changing Spanish-language television market weakened WBBS-TV. After WSNS-TV moved away from subscription programming and became a Spanish-language network affiliate, WBBS lost important network access. Its schedule was reduced, and WPWR acquired more of the channel’s available airtime. WBBS ultimately ceased broadcasting, and Eychaner acquired the remaining license interest in 1986. WPWR then operated full time. In 1987, the channel 60 license was sold to the Home Shopping Network, and WPWR’s call sign and programming were transferred to channel 50. The first program on the new frequency was a rerun of Night Gallery. By the late 1980s, WPWR had become a significant Chicago independent. Its schedule included cartoons, off-network sitcoms, drama programs, movies, and first-run syndicated shows. Star Trek: The Next Generation joined the schedule in 1987, followed by War of the Worlds in 1988. The station continued to build an entertainment identity while competing with WGN-TV and WFLD. WPWR signed with UPN in 1993 and became a charter affiliate when the network launched on January 16, 1995. The affiliation gave the station a network schedule while retaining local control over substantial portions of its broadcast day. Newsweb Corporation sold WPWR to Fox Television Stations in 2002, with the transaction closing on August 21. Fox renewed the station’s UPN affiliation despite concerns that UPN’s largest affiliates were being controlled by a rival network group. In 2006, The WB and UPN were replaced by The CW, while Fox created MyNetworkTV for many of its displaced UPN stations. WPWR was selected as a founding MyNetworkTV outlet and adopted the My50 identity. It remained associated with the service for the next decade. In 2016, WPWR became Chicago’s CW affiliate, replacing WGN-TV. The station later returned to an independent-oriented schedule in 2019 and adopted the Fox Chicago Plus brand. The station’s technical status changed after the FCC incentive auction. WPWR sold its spectrum position and began channel sharing with WFLD on June 11, 2018. The two stations operate from shared studios in Chicago’s Loop and use transmission facilities at Willis Tower. WPWR continues to serve the Chicago market under a Gary, Indiana, license.
- 2019
Station returns to independent programming
[1]WPWR ends its CW affiliation and resumes a primarily independent format under the Fox Chicago Plus identity.
- 2018
Channel sharing begins
[1]WPWR begins sharing WFLD’s broadcast channel after participating in the FCC incentive auction.
- 2016
CW affiliation begins
[1]WPWR assumes The CW affiliation in the Chicago market.
- 2006
MyNetworkTV launches on WPWR
[1]WPWR becomes a founding MyNetworkTV owned-and-operated station and adopts the My50 branding.
- 2002
Fox acquires WPWR-TV
[1]Fox Television Stations completes its acquisition of WPWR from Newsweb Corporation.
- 1995
UPN affiliation begins
[1]WPWR becomes a charter UPN affiliate when the network launches on January 16.
- 1987
WPWR moves to channel 50
[1]The station transfers its call sign and programming from channel 60 to channel 50 on January 18.
- 1986
FCC approves the Gary channel exchange
[1]The commercial and educational allocations in Gary are exchanged, clearing the way for WPWR’s move to channel 50.
- 1983
SportsVision leaves the broadcast schedule
[1]The unsuccessful subscription sports service is moved toward a cable-channel model, allowing WPWR to expand conventional independent programming.
- 1982
WPWR-TV begins broadcasting
[1]WPWR-TV signs on April 4 on UHF channel 60 in a shared-time operation with WBBS-TV.
Products and positioning
Chicago-area independent television station operated by Fox Television Stations, with a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation and programming positioned as complementary to Fox-owned WFLD.
television station brand · 2019
Fox Chicago Plus
The station identity used for WPWR-TV’s primarily independent programming after its CW affiliation ended. The brand distinguishes WPWR from sister station WFLD, which carries the Fox network, while allowing WPWR to present syndicated entertainment, sports, movies, local material, and other acquired programming.
television network affiliation · 2006
MyNetworkTV programming
A secondary network programming service carried by WPWR. MyNetworkTV originally supplied a weekday evening schedule of serialized and syndicated-style programming for stations that were displaced by the creation of The CW; WPWR became a founding station in 2006 and retained a secondary relationship after returning to an independent format.
television programming · 1982
Independent syndicated programming
WPWR’s broader programming offering includes acquired entertainment series, films, cartoons, off-network sitcoms, drama programs, first-run syndicated shows, and selected sports or special-event content. This category has been central to the station’s identity since its early years and remains important alongside its network affiliations.
Marketing campaigns
- 2006My50 launch branding
Chicago metropolitan area
WPWR promoted its transition from UPN to MyNetworkTV through the temporary Power 50 identity and the My50 branding, including promotion at station-sponsored public events such as the Taste of Chicago.
Outcome. The My50 identity became the station’s principal branding after MyNetworkTV launched.
Brand decisions
2018
Spectrum sale and channel sharingStrategyBackground
The FCC incentive auction reorganized over-the-air broadcast spectrum and offered stations an opportunity to relinquish individual spectrum assignments.
Action taken
WPWR sold its spectrum position and began sharing WFLD’s transmission channel on June 11, 2018.
Aftermath
The stations continued operating as separate services while using shared transmission infrastructure.
2006
Transition from UPN to MyNetworkTVProduct launchBackground
The CW selected WGN-TV as its Chicago affiliate after UPN and The WB announced their combination, leaving Fox-owned UPN stations without a place on the new network.
Action taken
Fox designated WPWR as a founding MyNetworkTV station and launched the service on the station on September 5, 2006.
Aftermath
WPWR remained a MyNetworkTV outlet until it became a CW affiliate in 2016.
2002
Sale to Fox Television StationsM&ABackground
Newsweb Corporation monetized its long-held Chicago television asset after WPWR had developed into a major UPN affiliate.
Action taken
Fox Television Stations agreed to acquire WPWR for $425 million; the sale closed on August 21, 2002.
Aftermath
WPWR became a Fox-owned UPN affiliate and later served as a founding MyNetworkTV station.
transaction value. 425 million USD (2002 transaction)
1986
Pursuit of a full-time channel 50 operationStrategyBackground
The shared-time channel 60 arrangement limited WPWR’s schedule, while a silent educational allocation and an unbuilt Gary commercial permit created an opportunity to reorganize the market’s channel assignments.
Action taken
Eychaner-related interests pursued the allocation exchange that moved the commercial operation to channel 50 and enabled WPWR to become a full-time station.
Aftermath
WPWR moved to channel 50 in 1987 and established itself as a major Chicago independent station.
Recent events
- 2018
WPWR-TV begins channel sharing with WFLD[1]
Regulation
Following the FCC incentive auction, WPWR-TV surrendered its separate spectrum allocation and began sharing WFLD’s transmission channel.
- 2016
WPWR-TV becomes a CW affiliate[1]
Leadership change · Other
WPWR-TV began carrying The CW in the Chicago market after Tribune Broadcasting’s WGN-TV ended its CW affiliation.
- 2006
WPWR-TV selected for MyNetworkTV[1]
Product launch
Fox announced WPWR-TV as one of the initial stations forming the core of its new MyNetworkTV service after UPN and The WB were scheduled to close.
- 2002
Fox Television Stations agrees to acquire WPWR-TV[1]
M&A
Newsweb Corporation agreed to sell WPWR-TV to Fox Television Stations for $425 million; the transaction closed in August 2002.
- 1993
WPWR-TV signs UPN affiliation agreement[1]
Other
WPWR-TV agreed to become a charter affiliate of the United Paramount Network, beginning when UPN launched in 1995.
Sources2 sources
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