WMEU-CD
CP) | |
Transmitter coordinates | 41°52′44.1″N 87°38′10.2″W / 41.878917°N 87.636167°W |
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Translator(s) | WCIU-TV 26.2 Chicago |
Links | |
Public license information | |
Website | www |
WMEU-CD (channel 48) is a
Even though WMEU operates a digital signal of its own, the low-power broadcasting radius does not reach the outer ring of Chicago proper or surrounding suburbs. Therefore, the station can also be seen through a
History
Early history
The station first signed on the air on October 28, 1987, as W54AP, originally broadcasting on
On January 1, 2005, the station's callsign was changed again to WFBT-CA and adopted an ethnic programming format called "FBT" (Foreign-language Broadcast Television) and changed its callsign to WFBT-CA; the FBT format originated on WWME-CA (channel 23), which previously held the WFBT call letters (as WFBT-CA) from 2001 until 2004, shortly after that station expanded the block of classic television shows it began airing one year earlier in January 2003 (including many series that previously aired on WCIU-TV) into a 24-hour format called "MeTV".
Conversion to classic television format as "MeToo"
On March 1, 2008, channel 48 adopted a new programming format as "MeToo", serving as an extension of WWME's MeTV classic television format; accordingly, the station changed its callsign to WMEU-CA. The ethnic programming that was dropped by WMEU returned to WCIU through the launch of a new locally programmed service called "FBT" on digital subchannel 26.6 (FBT was dropped on December 1, 2010, and was replaced by a simulcast of WCIU-TV until the subchannel was removed on December 15).[2][3][4] Prime time feature films were added to the station's schedule on June 30, 2008, when WMEU-CA debuted Me-Too's Movie Classics, which showcased classic films from the 1950s to the 1970s without editing – outside of necessary removal of inappropriate content – at 7 p.m. each weeknight.[5] In an effort to streamline the schedules of both MeTV stations, on September 14, 2009, WMEU's MeToo schedule was restructured to feature only dramatic programs and films while the MeTV schedule on WWME was reformatted to feature mainly comedic series.
The station's call letters were changed to WCUU-CA on September 22, 2010; however, just a month and a half later on November 5, they were reverted to the prior WMEU-CA calls.
On January 5, 2011, virtual channel 48.1 was temporarily discontinued while 23.1 reverted to being the virtual channel number for WWME-CA (23.2 was discontinued at that time, but later returned as an affiliate of Bounce TV). On April 24, 2012, WMEU-CA filed an application to transfer its Class A status from its analog allotment to its digital frequency.[9] On April 30, the call letters for the digital signal were changed to WMEU-CD, while the analog channel's calls became WMEU-LP.[10]
Switch to "The U Too"
In September 2013, WMEU dropped the MeToo format (which moved to WWME analog channel 23, while continuing to air on WCIU digital subchannel 26.4 until it was replaced by Heroes & Icons on December 29, 2014).[11] Digital channel 48.1 began running a high-definition feed of "The U Too", a general entertainment service which originated as a subchannel-only service on WCIU digital subchannel 26.2 on January 5, 2011 (replacing the WWME simulcast, which moved to WCIU digital subchannel 26.3 on December 15, 2010)[12][13] and continued to be transmitted in 16:9 standard definition widescreen on that channel until it was upgraded to 720p high definition at some point during 2018.
CW affiliation on WCIU-TV, move of "The U" branding to WMEU-CD
On April 18, 2019, Weigel Broadcasting signed an agreement with CBS Corporation through which WCIU-TV would take over as The CW's Chicago-area affiliate, while shifting syndicated programs that it either currently features on or has acquired with the intent of including in its prime time lineup to "The U Too" service carried on WMEU and simulcast on WCIU-DT2.[14][15][16] WCIU's main signal took on the branding of "CW 26", while WMEU-CD took on the main signal's former branding of "The U" on September 1, 2019. WMEU-CD also became the flagship of the Illinois High School Association network, taking over from NBC Sports Chicago. WMEU-CD carries a game of the week, along with the IHSA's football and girls' and boys' basketball championships.[17]
Programming
Sports programming
In 2008, WMEU began carrying Big East Conference basketball games supplied by ESPN Plus, allowing the station to carry certain DePaul Blue Demons game telecasts (most of those games moved to "The U Too", when it launched on WCIU-TV digital subchannel 26.2 in January 2011). In addition, WMEU also broadcast sporting events from the Chicago Public High School League.
On May 21, 2013, Weigel reached a broadcast agreement with the
Technical information
Subchannels
The station's signal is
Channel | Res. | Aspect | Short name | Programming |
---|---|---|---|---|
48.1 | 720p | 16:9 |
The U | Main WMEU-CD programming |
48.2 | 480i | START | Start TV (WBBM-TV) | |
48.3 | 1080i | CATCHY | Catchy Comedy (WCIU-TV) | |
48.4 | 480i | MeTV+ | MeTV+
|
Subchannel broadcast with MPEG-4 video
In early 2010, WMEU-CA filed an application with the
In addition to its carriage on digital subchannel 48.2,
The station's second subchannel transmits in
References
- ^ "Facility Technical Data for WMEU-CD". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ Feder, Robert (February 6, 2008). "It's 'Me-Too'". Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times Media Group. Archived from the original on January 23, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ Feder, Robert (March 5, 2008). "Big reception". Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times Media Group. Archived from the original on January 23, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ "Me-Too and Me-TV Milwaukee launches today". TDog Media. March 1, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ "WMEU (Me-Too) to air classic movies". TDog Media. June 23, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ "Call Sign Change Application". Federal Communications Commission.
- Me-TV. Weigel Broadcasting.
- ^ "Weigel Broadcasting to switch around Chicago channels". TDog Media. December 10, 2010. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
- ^ "License Application for WMEU-CD". Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "License Application for WMEU-CD". Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "T Dog Media's Stocking Suffer: Heroes & Icons takes over MeToo". T Dog Media. December 30, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
- ^ Rosenthal, Phil (October 5, 2010). "WCIU Parent Weigel to Drop Foreign Subchannel, Launch The U Too". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
- ^ Malone, Michael (October 5, 2010). "WCUU Launches The U Too Subchannel". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
- ^ Miller, Mark (April 18, 2019). "Weigel's WCIU Chicago Adds CW Affiliation". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- ^ Feder, Robert (April 18, 2019). "Weigel Broadcasting's WCIU to become CW Network affiliate". RobertFeder.com. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- ^ Hill, Michael (May 4, 2019). "Chicago CW affiliation moving again – triggering a series of changes". NewscastStudio. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
- ^ Rosenthal, Phil (July 15, 2019). "Weigel's The U is the new Chicago TV home for Illinois' high school football and basketball state championships". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
- ^ Ecker, Danny (May 21, 2013). "Chicago Sky land TV deal with WCIU parent". Crain's Chicago Business. Crain Communications. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
- ^ "Wolves Partner With WCIU's U-Too Network". Chicago Wolves (Press release). October 1, 2013.
- ^ Ecker, Danny (October 1, 2013). "Chicago Wolves doubling number of games on network TV". Crain's Chicago Business. Crain Communications. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
- ^ "Wolves Partner With WCIU's U-Too Network". Chicago Wolves. October 1, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
- ^ "Two Wolves Broadcasts Shifiting From U-TOO To WCIU". Chicago Wolves. January 2, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
- ^ Ecker, Danny (August 15, 2014). "Get the picture: Sky, Wolves games move to HD". Crain's Chicago Business. Crain Communications. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
- KNDU.
- ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WMEU-CD". RabbitEars. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
- ^ "Construction Permit" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "Call Sign Change Application". U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
- ^ "TouchVision Releases Apps, Comes To Chicago TV". Chicagoland Radio and Media. October 1, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
- ^ Marek, Lynne (January 14, 2016). "Weigel-backed TV outlet TouchVision shutters". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
- ^ Feder, Robert (January 15, 2016). "TouchVision ends as noble failure". RobertFeder.com. Retrieved January 15, 2016.