| WLS-TV | |
|---|---|
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| Chicago, Illinois | |
| Branding | ABC 7 Chicago (general) ABC 7 News (newscasts) |
| Slogan | People make the difference. Chicago's #1 News. Your News. Your Way. |
| Channels | Digital: 44 (UHF) |
| Subchannels | (see article) |
| Translators | 7 (VHF) Chicago |
| Affiliations | ABC |
| Owner | Disney/ABC (WLS Television, Inc.) |
| First air date | September 17, 1948 |
| Call letters’ meaning | World's Largest Store (reflecting its sister radio station's past ownership by Sears) |
| Former callsigns | WENR-TV (1948-1953) WBKB (1953-1968) |
| Former channel number(s) | Analog: 7 (VHF, 1948-2009) Digital: 52 (UHF, 1996-2009) 7 (VHF, 2009) |
| Transmitter Power | VHF 7: 4.75 kW UHF 44: 346 kW |
| Height | 515 m |
| Facility ID | 73226 |
| Transmitter Coordinates | 41°52′44″N 87°38′10.2″W / 41.87889°N 87.636167°W (digital) |
| Website | http://www.abc7chicago.com |
WLS-TV is a television station in Chicago, Illinois. The station is owned and operated by Walt Disney Company-owned American Broadcasting Company. The station operates their full power digital operations on UHF channel 44, with their digital fill-in translator on VHF channel 7. Both operating frequencies are transmitted from the Willis Tower. WLS-TV produces its broadcasts at 190 North State Street in The Loop and The WLS-TV call letters stand for "World's Largest Store," recognizing their AM sister station's founding part-owners, Sears, Roebuck and Company.
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History
The station first went on the air as the third TV station in Chicago (after WBKB-TV which later became WBBM-TV and WGN-TV) on September 17, 1948 as WENR-TV. It was named after WENR-AM, ABC's Chicago radio affiliate. As one of the original ABC-owned stations on channel 7, it was the second station after WABC-TV in New York City to begin operations, ahead of WXYZ-TV in Detroit, KGO-TV in San Francisco and KABC-TV in Los Angeles.
In 1953, ABC merged with United Paramount Theatres, the former theater division of Paramount Pictures. UPT owned WBKB on channel 4 (which shared a CBS affiliation with WGN-TV) but the new ABC could not keep both, because of Federal Communications Commission regulations at that time. As a result, WBKB was sold to CBS and renamed WBBM-TV; while WENR was renamed WBKB-TV. The old WBKB's talent stayed at WBBM (which moved to channel 2), while the old WBKB's call letters and management moved to channel 7. The general manager from the early 1950s to the mid-1960s was Sterling "Red" Quinlan,[1] who was a giant in early Chicago television. He was instrumental in the careers of Tom Duggan, Frank Reynolds, and Bob Newhart. The station courageously aired The Tom Duggan Show in the mid-1950s, which was the most popular show in Chicago far out drawing other network competition. The station became WLS-TV on October 7, 1968,[1] after WLS-AM, which ABC had owned since 1959.
Today, the WBKB-TV calls are used by a CBS affiliate in Alpena, Michigan.
Digital Television
The station's digital channel is multiplexed.
| Channel | Programming |
|---|---|
| 7.1 | WLS-DT |
| 7.2 | Live Well HD Network |
| 7.3 | ABC 7 News Now |
After the digial transition on June 12, 2009, WLS moved from out-of-core UHF Channel 52 to their pre-analog VHF channel 7 for their digital operations. WLS operated their digital signal at low power (4.75 kW) to protect the digital signal of WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, Michigan (which also broadcasts on channel 7, but with much higher power). As a result, many viewers were not able to receive the station.[2] The FCC sent extra personnel to Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York City to deal with difficulties in those cities. WLS had received 1,735 calls just by the end of the day on June 12 (WBBM only received 600), and an estimated 5000 calls in total by June 16. WLS-TV is just one station which may need to increase its signal strength to solve its problems, but doing this will require making sure no other stations are affected.[3] WLS received a two-week experimental permit late in June.[4] WLS had also applied for a permit to construct a low-power fill-in digital translator station on UHF channel 32, (the former analog frequency of WFLD)[5] but abandoned that plan. Eventually the FCC granted it a permit to transmit on a second frequency, Channel 44,[6] formerly occupied by WSNS-TV, and WLS announced the availability of that frequency on October 31, 2009. [7] WLS is operating channel 7 as a fill-in translator with a power of 4.75 kW & operating their new full power operations on Channel 44 with the power level 346kW under a special temporary authority for six months. This move would cause some tuners to have both 7.1s, 7.2s & 7.3s. They are expected to operate channel 44 at the 473.3 kW power level in the near future.
Since WLS-TV officially moved their full power operations to channel 44, they are the only ABC O&O to vacate from their pre-analog channel for their digital operations and the 2nd ABC O&O to operate their full power operations on the UHF band, after KFSN-TV.
News operations
WLS, like the other ABC owned-and-operated stations, adopted the Eyewitness News format in the late 1960s after it became a hit at flagship WABC-TV in New York. Fahey Flynn, a local broadcaster known for his bow ties and Joel Daly served as the anchormen of the newscasts from the mid 1960s until the early 1980s. In 1973, Eyewitness News surpassed WMAQ-TV to become Chicago's top-rated new operation, a lead it held until WBBM-TV surpassed it in 1979. For much of the 1970s and 1980s, it waged a spirited battle for second place in the Chicago news ratings.
By 1983, a disastrous anchor change had dropped WLS into third place. That prompted two major changes. First was the hiring of Dennis Swanson as General Manager, who in turn, hired Bill Applegate as News Director. Secondly, ABC commissioned Frank Gari to write an updated version of the Cool Hand Luke theme widely associated with the Eyewitness News format. The result was News Series 2000, which was quickly picked up by the other ABC O&Os.
Swanson was instrumental in hiring Oprah Winfrey to host its then low-rated morning talk show, "AM Chicago," in 1983. Within a year, it had shot to first place. It was picked up nationally in 1986 and renamed The Oprah Winfrey Show. Channel 7 still airs it today, along with most other ABC O&Os. Swanson also hired lead anchor John Drury, who had previously worked at WLS, WBBM and WGN-TV and Floyd Kalber, who had led WMAQ-TV to the top of the ratings in the 1960s.
Drury and Mary Ann Childers were a popular anchor team at WLS during the 1980s and 1990s, accompanied by weatherman Steve Deshler and sportscaster Tim Weigel. In March 1986, WLS passed WBBM as the highest-rated news station in Chicago. It has held the lead ever since, aside from a brief period when WBBM managed to forge a tie for first.
As of 1996, the station currently brands its newscast as "ABC7 News" even though it still uses the same basic format from its Eyewitness News days. The station has been using its current news music package, News Series 2000 Plus by Frank Gari since 1992. It also updated the on-air graphics for its newscasts on Saturday, June 3, 2005.
The new State Street Studio officially debuted Monday, April 10, 2006 during its morning newscast, but they started broadcasting their newscast from the new studio on Saturday, April 8, 2006.[8]
On the weekend of April 29-30, 2006, ABC7 began using Chopper 7 HD.
On Saturday, January 6, 2007, ABC7 became the first Chicago station to broadcast its entire news and local programming in high definition.
On Sunday, December 23, 2007, the State Street Studio became news when a minivan drove through a reinforced studio window two minutes into the 10pm newscast, startling anchor Ravi Baichwal on air and creating a 20° draft, but injuring no one.[9]
ABC 7 News personnel
Current ABC 7 News anchors
- Stacey Baca - Weekend Mornings; Field Reporter
- Ravi Baichwal - Weekend Evenings; Field Reporter
- Kathy Brock - Weeknights 6:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m.
- Cheryl Burton - Weeknights 5:00 p.m.
- Judy Hsu - Weekday mornings; Field Reporter
- Thom Johnson - Fill-in Weekday Morning Traffic
- Karen Jordan - Weekend Evenings; Field Reporter
- Alan Krashesky - Weekdays 4:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.; "NewsViews" Sundays 9:00 a.m.
- Ron Magers - Weeknights 5:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m.
- Sylvia Perez - Weekdays 11:00 a.m.; "Healthbeat"
- Kevin Roy - Weekend Mornings; Field Reporter
- Hosea Sanders - Weekday Mornings; Field Reporter
- Roz Varon - Weekday Morning Traffic
- Linda Yu - Weekdays 11:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m.
ABC 7 Weather Team
- Jerry Taft - Chief Meteorologist - Weeknights 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m.
- Mike Caplan - Weekdays 4:00 p.m.
- Tracy Butler - Weekday Mornings & 11:00 a.m.
- Phil Schwarz - Sunday Mornings; Weekend Evenings
- Mark Bishop - Saturday Mornings
ABC 7 Sports Team
- Mark Giangreco - Weeknights 5:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m.
- Jim Rose - Weekdays 4:00 p.m. & 6:00 p.m.
- Ryan Chiaverini - Weekend Evenings & Sports Reporter; Host of the "Chicago Huddle"
ABC 7 Local Programs
- Bill Campbell - "Chicagoing"
- Janet Davies - "190 North" Host; Feature/Entertainment Reporter
- Theresa Gutierrez - "The ñ Beat"; Field Reporter
ABC 7 reporters
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Past personalities
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Other WLS-TV produced programs
- 190 North - local life style program named after the station's studio address at 190 N. State St. in the Loop - began broadcasting in HD on Sunday, May 6, 2007
- Sundays 10:35 p.m., reruns Saturdays 11:05 p.m. (airs later during the fall season)
- Chicagoing - local public affairs program
- Sundays 11 a.m. (11:30 a.m. during the fall season)
- The Chicago Huddle - local sports program about the Chicago Bears hosted by Ryan Chiaverini [10]
- Sundays 10:30 a.m. (during football season)
- Let's Dish, for the Live Well HD Network[11]
- Shown locally on Channel 7.2.[12]
Syndicated programming produced in Chicago
- The Oprah Winfrey Show - former A.M. Chicago 9am local program, retained name about one year after Oprah Winfrey became host - originally created by WLS-TV, but now produced by Harpo Productions and CBS Television Distribution at Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Studios
- Weekdays 9 a.m., reruns Weeknights 11:07 p.m.
- At the Movies - nationally syndicated film review program, produced at WLS-TV's studios, and syndicated by Disney-ABC Domestic Television
- Saturdays 10:35 p.m. (airs later during the fall season), reruns Sundays 10:30 a.m. (11 a.m. during the fall season)
News directors
- Jennifer Graves - (2001-present)
- Eric Lerner - (1999-2001)
- Phyllis Schwartz - (1993-1998)
News/Station presentation
Newscast titles
- Channel 7 Eyewitness News (late 1960s-1996)
- ABC7 News (1996-present)
Station slogans
- Still The One on Channel 7 (1977-1980; customized version of the ABC campaign)
- You and Me, and Channel 7 (1980-1981; customized version of the ABC campaign)
- 7's On Your Side (1980-1983)
- Now is the Time, Channel 7 is the Place (1981-1982; customized version of the ABC campaign)
- 7's On The Move (1984-1985)
- You'll Love It (1985-1986; local version of the ABC fall campaign)
- Chicago's #1 News (late 1980s-present)
- People Make the Difference (2000-present)
- Your News. Your Way. (2008-present)
This film, television or video-related list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it with reliably sourced additions.News Music Packages
- Cool Hand Luke: The Tar Sequence by Lalo Schifrin (1969-1980)
- On Your Side by Gari Communications (1980-1983)
- News Series 2000 by Gari Communications (1983-1992)
- News Series 2000 Plus by Gari Communications (1992-present)
- First News by Gari Communications (2001-present)
Station oddities
WLS-TV airs Jimmy Kimmel Live! in a one-hour delay at 12:07 a.m. instead of 11:07 p.m. due to airing the re-broadcast of The Oprah Winfrey Show after Nightline.
See also
References
- ^ Television News section, Chicago Tribune, October 6, 1968.
- ^ Eggerton, John (2009-06-17). "Weigel's Analog Nightlight Could Help Chicago Stations With Reception Issues". Broadcasting & Cable. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/295225-Weigel_s_Analog_Nightlight_Could_Help_Chicago_Stations_With_Reception_Issues.php?rssid=20068&q=digital+tv.
- ^ Wong, Wailin (2009-06-17). "DTV Transition Problems Linger; FCC Beefs Up Role". Chicago Tribune. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-wed-dtv-0617-jun17,0,5744081.story.
- ^ Eggerton, John (2009-06-29). "Boise Station Gets Power Boost". Broadcasting & Cable. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/307121-Boise_Station_Gets_Power_Boost.php?rssid=20068&q=digital+tv. Retrieved 2009-07-01.
- ^ https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101319886&formid=346&fac_num=73226
- ^ http://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/Auth_Files/1335680.pdf
- ^ "ABC7 is adding a DTV frequency; UHF frequency should help reception". ABC7Chicago.com. October 31, 2009. http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=7091863.
- ^ ABC7 Unveils State Street Studio, ABC 7 Chicago, April 25, 2006
- ^ YouTube - WLS-TV Studio Car Crash
- ^ http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=sports&id=5620244
- ^ "Live Well HD Network debuts". abc7chicago.com. April, 2009. http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=resources/inside_station/station_info&id=6779492.
- ^ "TV Schedule for Chicago, Illinois". Live Well HD Network. http://livewellhd.com/feature?id=6758734.
External links
- Official website
- ABC7ToGo.com - WLS-TV Wireless Web site
- 190 North Web site
- The Chicago Huddle Web site
- Query the FCC's TV station database for WLS-TV
- BIAfn's Media Web Database -- Information on WLS-TV
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