WCIU-TV

WCIU-TV
Channels
Branding
  • The U
  • The U Too (on DT2)
  • MeTV Chicago (on DT3)
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
WWME-CD, WMEU-CD, WRME-LD
History
First air date
February 6, 1964 (60 years ago) (1964-02-06)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 26 (UHF, 1964–2009)
  • Digital: 27 (UHF, 2002–2019)
Call sign meaning
Chicago Independent UHF
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID71428
ERP1,000 kW
HAAT473 m (1,552 ft)
Transmitter coordinates41°52′44.1″N 87°38′10.2″W / 41.878917°N 87.636167°W / 41.878917; -87.636167
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.wciu.com

WCIU-TV (channel 26) is an independent television station in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is the flagship television property of locally based Weigel Broadcasting, which has owned the station since its inception, and is sister to two low-power stations: independent outlet WMEU-CD (channel 48) and MeTV/Heroes & Icons flagship WWME-CD (channel 23). The stations share studios on Halsted Street in the Greektown neighborhood; WCIU-TV's transmitter is located atop the Willis Tower in the Chicago Loop.

WCIU-TV was previously an affiliate of The CW; it was the largest CW affiliate by market size that was not owned or operated by Nexstar Media Group, which owns 75% of the network. This changed on September 1, 2024, when The CW moved back to Nexstar-owned WGN-TV. Gray Television–owned WPCH-TV in Atlanta now holds the title.[2]

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WCIU-TV". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "The CW moving from WCIU back to WGN in September". Chicago Sun-Times. May 1, 2024. Retrieved June 13, 2024.