WCIA
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WCIA (channel 3) is a television station licensed to Champaign, Illinois, United States, serving as the CBS affiliate for the Central Illinois region. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside Springfield-licensed MyNetworkTV affiliate WCIX (channel 49). Both stations share studios on South Neil Street/US 45 in downtown Champaign and also operate a sales office and news bureau on West Edwards Street near the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield. WCIA's transmitter is located west of Seymour, Illinois.
Since WCIA's over-the-air signal cannot be seen in western parts of the market (including Springfield and Jacksonville), it is simulcast in high definition on WCIX's second digital subchannel (49.2) from a transmitter in Clear Lake Township. Nielsen Media Research treats WCIA and WCIX-DT2 as one station in local ratings books, using the identifier name WCIA+.
History
WCIA made its first broadcast on November 14, 1953. It was owned and operated by Champaign-based Midwest Television, headed by August C. Meyer Sr., a lawyer and
WCIA was a primary CBS affiliate, carrying secondary affiliations with NBC and DuMont.[2] DuMont shut down in 1956 and WCIA dropped NBC in 1959 when WCHU-TV (now WICD) started. It also carried a few ABC shows during the 1953–1954 television season.
As the only commercial VHF station in Central Illinois, WCIA has been one of the country's most dominant television stations for most of its history. On two occasions, it fought off attempts by
Despite its dominance of the market, WCIA provides only a Grade B signal to the Springfield area. Meyer realized early on that Champaign–
While it frequently trounced WICS/WICD and WAND in the ratings, Meyer decided to open a low-powered relay of WCIA on UHF channel 49 to get better coverage in the state capital. In 1985, this became full-powered station WCFN. In 2002, WCFN separated from WCIA and became the area's UPN affiliate. However, few viewers on the western half of the market lost access to WCIA due to the extremely high penetration of cable and satellite, which is all but essential for acceptable television in much of this vast market. The few viewers who lost access regained it soon afterward when WCIA and WCFN activated their
For decades, WCIA was available on cable systems in
In November 2006, work began to re-secure WCIA's existing tower in Seymour so it would be able to hold a new digital transmission line and antenna.[3]
WCIA was the longtime home to
In 2009, WCIA's longtime weathercaster Judy Fraser retired from the station after 34 years.[4] She was only the second head weathercaster in the station's history at the time. Meteorologist Robert Reese took over as Chief Meteorologist. His death in connection with complications from cancer in October 2012 came as a shock to the community.[5] In his early battle, WCIA sold red ribbons in support of Reese and the American Cancer Society.
On September 11, 2014, WCIA anchor Dave Benton announced on-air that he was diagnosed with terminal
On December 3, 2018, Nexstar announced it would acquire the assets of
Programming
Local entertainment programs
- Happy Home (1950s)
- Welcome Travelers (1950s)
- At the Hop (1950s–1960s; hosted by John Coleman and later by Ed Mason)
- Sun-Up (1960s; hosted by Tom Jones)
- Sheriff Sid (1960s)
- Dialing for Dollars (1960s–1970s)
- Way Out with Cousin Trebor (1963–1965)
- The Second Cup (1970s)
- The Bruce WeberShow (2000s)
- PM Magazine (1977–1990)
- Illinois Journal[clarification needed]
News operation
This section needs expansion with: further information on the history of WCIA's news department. You can help by adding to it. (September 2017) |
WCIA currently broadcasts its news from its studios in Champaign. It currently broadcasts 40 hours of news a week, and one hour on Saturday and Sunday. For most of its history, it has been central Illinois' dominant news station, owing to its status as the market's only VHF station.
On September 12, 2011, WCIA debuted an hour-long lifestyle and news program titled ciLiving.tv, the Springfield market's first hour-long 4 p.m. news program; the show utilizes interactivity with viewers, through the use of social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter, along with online polls and audience quizzes via text message and the station's website.[22] The show also utilizes the station's new set, which is also used for the station's morning show, as well as other programs.
On October 24, 2012, during the 5:00 p.m. newscast, WCIA and sister station WCIX began broadcasting local news in high definition.
In April 2015, WCIA expanded its 6 p.m. newscast from 30 minutes to one hour to provide better coverage of local news.
In late 2015, WCIA expanded its news coverage from the State Capitol. The station now produces and airs Capitol Connection on Sunday mornings after CBS' Face the Nation. The show is also carried on other Nexstar stations in Illinois.
In October 2016, WCIA expanded its morning show from four hours to five hours, making the station have the only local news at 9 a.m. in the market.
Controversies
Department of Agriculture video news releases
In an article published on March 13, 2005, The New York Times documented WCIA's use of government video news releases without clear attribution as such. The Times reported, "WCIA, based in Champaign, had run 26 segments made by the U.S. Agriculture Department over the past three months alone." WCIA acknowledged running the releases in the early hours of its morning news as part of its traditional service of agribusiness news to its rural viewers.[24]
Abigail Metsch bikini photo
The station gained national attention in April 2021 when reporter Abigail Metsch posted a photo of herself on Instagram in a thong bikini, with Metsch's back facing the camera with her head turned towards the camera, completely exposing her buttocks and mentioning the station in the photo caption. After a viewer complained to the station, the News Director asked her to remove the photo.[25] WCIA management reportedly planned to keep the punishment "in house" until it was reported on news station website FTVLive.com, after which the Nexstar corporate office got involved and the station was forced to terminate Metsch.[26] Metsch removed the photo and went private on all of her social media accounts.[27] Metsch has since resurfaced as a reporter for KBTX-TV in Bryan, Texas.[28]
2021 Champaign shooting
On May 19, 2021, WCIA reported that Champaign police officer Chris Oberheim had been killed in the line of duty. Officer Oberheim had responded to a domestic dispute call; during that call, shots were fired. Oberheim was shot and killed, along with Darion Lafayette who originally fired shots at the responding officers. On May 21, WCIA reported on the incident and appeared to memorialize Lafayette. A graphic provided by the Lafayette family was displayed on screen, which depicted Lafayette with angel wings. What followed was community outrage, including thousands of comments on the WCIA Facebook page.[citation needed]
Notable former on-air staff
- Susan Barnett[29]
- Colleen Callahan – agribusiness reporter (1974–1997)[30]
- KUSI; retired in April 2014[31](deceased)
- Michael Marsh[32]
- George W. Bush administration White House Press Secretary)[33]
- Elaine Quijano[34] (now with CBS News)
- Martin Savidge[35]
- Lori Stokes – anchor/reporter (1986–1988); now at WNYW[36]
Former logo
-
WCIA logo, c. 1970 to 2000
Technical information
Subchannels
WCIA and WCIX broadcast two shared channels (CBS on 3.1 and 49.2 and MyNetworkTV on 3.2 and 49.1) and two unique
Channel | Res. | Aspect | Short name | Programming |
---|---|---|---|---|
3.1 | 1080i | 16:9 |
WCIA-HD | CBS |
3.2 | WCIX-HD | MyNetworkTV (WCIX) | ||
3.3 | 480i | Bounce | Bounce TV | |
3.4 | Grit | Grit | ||
27.2 | 480i | 16:9 | TrueCri | True Crime Network (WCCU-DT2) |
Originally, WCFN/WCIX aired its digital signal in a reduced
Analog-to-digital conversion
WCIA shut down its analog signal, over
See also
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WCIA". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Quick, Doug. "WCIA, Channel 3, Champaign, Illinois, Part 1". dougquick.com. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
- ^ "High Definition work". WCIA. Archived from the original on November 12, 2006.
- ^ Dodson, Don (October 21, 2009). "Fraser to say goodbye on Thursday evening". News Gazette. Champaign, Illinois.
- ^ "Robert Reese". News Gazette. Champaign, Illinois. October 13, 2012.
- ^ Takeda, Allison (September 15, 2014). "Illinois Anchorman Dave Benton Announces He Has Terminal Cancer, Months to Live". US Magazine. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ^ Weisman, Aly. "Local Anchorman Tells Viewers He Only Has 4 To 6 Months To Live". Business Insider. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ^ "TV Anchorman Dave Benton, 51, tells WCIA-TV viewers in Chicago, Illinois that he has six months to live". News.com.au. Retrieved September 16, 2014.
- ^ "WCIA-TV anchor battling brain cancer to step down," from The State Journal-Register, April 13, 2015
- ^ "WCIA-TV anchor Dave Benton dies of brain cancer". May 26, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
- ^ "Former WCIA news anchor Dave Benton dies after fighting brain tumor," from The State Journal-Register, May 26, 2015
- ^ "Acquisition of Tribune Media Company" (PDF). Nexstar Media Group. December 3, 2018.
- ^ Mark K. Miller (December 3, 2018). "Nexstar Buying Tribune Media For $6.4 Billion". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media.
- ^ Peter White; Dade Hayes (December 3, 2018). "Nexstar Confirms $4.1B Tribune Media Acquisition To Become Leading Local TV Station Owner". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation.
- ^ Gerry Smith; Nabila Ahmed; Eric Newcomer (December 3, 2018). "Nexstar to buy WGN owner Tribune Media for $4.1 billion". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. Bloomberg News.
- ^ Arjun Panchadar; Sonam Rai (December 3, 2018). "Nexstar to buy Tribune Media for $4.1 billion". Reuters.
- ^ Jon Lafayette (December 3, 2018). "Nexstar Announces Deal to Buy Tribune for $6.4B". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media.
- ^ Adam Jacobson (December 3, 2018). "It's Official: Nexstar Takes Tribune In Billion-Dollar Stock Deal". Radio-Television Business Report. Streamline-RBR, Inc.
- ^ Harry A. Jessell; Mark K. Miller (December 3, 2018). "Nexstar To Spin Off $1B In Stations". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media.
- ^ "Nexstar Media Group Enters into Definitive Agreement to Acquire Tribune Media Company for $6.4 Billion in Accretive Transaction Creating the Nation's Largest Local Television Broadcaster and Local Media Company". Nexstar Media Group. December 3, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
- ^ "Nexstar Media Group Enters Into Definitive Agreement To Acquire Tribune Media Company". Tribune Media. December 3, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
- ^ WCIA Adds Local News-Lifestyle At 4 P.M., TVNewsCheck, September 9, 2011.
- ^ "WCIA goes high definition!". Illinoishomepage.net. Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. October 24, 2012.
- Barstow, David; Stein, Robin (March 13, 2005). "Under Bush, a New Age of Prepackaged TV News". The New York Times. Retrieved May 13, 2009.)
{{cite news}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ "Getting to the Butt of the News — FTVLive".
- ^ "Butt Out? — FTVLive".
- ^ "They Have Both Gone Missing.... — FTVLive".
- ^ "Abigail Metsch".
- ^ "Susan Barnett Bio". KYW-TV. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
- ^ Callahan, Colleen. "Colleen Callahan resume" (PDF). Retrieved March 10, 2013.
- ^ "John Coleman bio". KUSI-TV. Archived from the original on April 4, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
- ^ "Michael Marsh Bio". WBRZ-TV. October 20, 2010. Archived from the original on December 10, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
- ^ "UIS grad makes good". University of Illinois Alumni Association. Fall 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
- ^ "Elaine Quijano Bio". CBS News. February 2, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
- ^ "Martin Savidge bio". CNN. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
- ^ "Lori Stokes bio". Archived from the original on December 22, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
- ^ RabbitEars TV Query for WCIA
- ^ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Retrieved March 24, 2012.
External links
- Official website
- dougquick.com/wciachampaign2.html — provides a three-part history of WCIA, with many pictures