WMEU-CD

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WMEU-CD
WMEU-CD Logo.png
Chicago, Illinois
United States
BrandingThe U Too
ChannelsDigital: 32 (UHF)
(to move to 18 (UHF))
Virtual: 48 (PSIP)
TranslatorsWCIU-DT 26.2 (27.2 UHF) Chicago
Affiliations
OwnerWeigel Broadcasting Company
FoundedOctober 28, 1987 (31 years ago) (1987-10-28)
Call letters' meaningDisambiguation of sister stations WWME (Memorable Entertainment) and WCIU (branded as "The U")
Sister station(s)
Former callsigns
  • W54AP (1987–2004)
  • W48DD (2004–2005)
  • WFBT-CA (2005–2008)
  • WMEU-CA (2008–2010)
  • WCUU-CA (2010)
Former affiliationsEWTN (1990s)
Transmitter power15 kW
11 kW (CP)
Height474 m (1,555 ft)
475 m (1,558 ft) (CP)
ClassCD
Facility ID168662
Transmitter coordinates41°52′44.1″N 87°38′10.2″W / 41.878917°N 87.636167°W / 41.878917; -87.636167Coordinates: 41°52′44.1″N 87°38′10.2″W / 41.878917°N 87.636167°W / 41.878917; -87.636167
Licensing authorityFCC
Public license informationProfile
CDBS

WMEU-CD, virtual channel 48 (UHF digital channel 32), is a Class A independent television station licensed to Chicago, Illinois, United States. The station is owned by locally based Weigel Broadcasting, and is sister to fellow Weigel flagship properties, independent station WCIU-TV (channel 26) and MeTV outlet WWME-CD (channel 23). All three stations share studios on Halsted Street (between Washington Boulevard and Madison Street) in the Greektown neighborhood; WMEU-CD's transmitter is located atop the Willis Tower on South Wacker Drive in the Chicago Loop.

Even though WMEU operates a digital signal of its own, the low-powered broadcasting radius does not reach the outer ring of Chicago proper or surrounding suburbs. Therefore, the station can also be seen through a 16:9 widescreen standard definition simulcast on WCIU-TV's second digital subchannel in order to reach the entire market. This signal can be seen on UHF channel 27.2 (or virtual channel 26.2 via PSIP), broadcasting from the Willis Tower transmitter. Additionally, CBS Television Stations contracts with Weigel to simulcast the subchannels of WBBM-TV over-the-air over WMEU-CD, in order to give viewers within the inner ring of Chicago access to that station via UHF, due to the limitations of WBBM's main channel 12 VHF signal.

The station is available on RCN channel 35, AT&T U-verse channel 24, WOW! digital channel 170, Comcast Xfinity digital channels 230 and 360, and Dish Network channel 48.

History[edit]

Early history[edit]

The station first signed on the air on October 28, 1987 as W54AP, originally broadcasting on UHF channel 54. In the late 1990s, it became an affiliate of the Eternal Word Television Network. The station moved to UHF channel 48 in 2004, and changed its callsign to W48DD.

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"[edit]

WMEU's logo as "MeToo", used from 2008 to 2013.

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).[1][2][3] 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 inapporiate content – at 7:00 p.m. each weeknight.[4] 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 mainly feature 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.[5] On December 15, 2010, WMEU added comedy programming to its schedule, coinciding with MeTV's expansion into a nationally-distributed television network (WWME became the flagship station of the national MeTV service, as well as an owned-and-operated station of the network). As a result, both WWME and WMEU once again maintained identical formats, albeit with different programming from the national MeTV network (which focuses mainly on series from the 1950s to the 1970s) as WMEU/MeToo continued to incorporate series from the 1980s to the 2000s onto its schedule, in addition to programs from prior decades. The WMEU/MeToo simulcast on WCIU's signal moved to that station's 26.4 subchannel with the format change.[6][7] In addition, This TV moved to WCIU subchannel 26.5.

On January 5, 2011, PSIP 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.[8] On April 30, the call letters for the digital signal were changed to WMEU-CD, while the analog channel's calls became WMEU-LP.[9]

Switch to "The U Too"[edit]

Former logo, from 2013 to 2017.

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).[10] 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).[11][12] and continues to be transmitted in 16:9 standard definition widescreen on that channel).

CW affiliation on WCIU-TV, move of "The U" branding to WMEU-CD[edit]

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 sister station WMEU-CD (channel 48) and simulcast on WCIU-DT2.[13][14][15] WCIU's main signal will take on the branding of "The CW 26", while WMEU-CD will take on "The U" branding after September 1, 2019, with the former "The U Too" branding set aside. WMEU-CD will also become the flagship of the Illinois High School Association network, taking over from NBC Sports Chicago. WMEU-CD will carry a game of the week, along with the IHSA's football and girls' and boys' basketball championships.[16]

Digital television[edit]

Digital channels[edit]

The station's digital signal is multiplexed:

Channel Video Aspect PSIP Short Name Programming[17]
48.1 720p 16:9 The U Too Main WMEU-CD programming
48.2 480i Start TV Simulcast of WBBM-DT2 Start TV
48.3 1080i CBS2-HD Simulcast of WBBM-TV (CBS)
48.4 480i Decades Simulcast of WCIU-DT6 (Decades)

In early 2010, WMEU-CA filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission to operate a companion digital signal on UHF channel 46. However, due to possible interference with the digital signal of WHME-TV in South Bend, Indiana on that same channel, WMEU later applied to move to UHF channel 32, which was formerly occupied by the analog signal of Fox owned-and-operated station WFLD. On June 8, 2010, the station was granted a construction permit to build its digital transmitter.[18] The license to cover for WMEU's digital signal was approved by the FCC on June 13, 2011; the station signed on its digital signal one month later on July 11, under the call sign WMEU-LD.[19] However, since WMEU-LD's signal does not cover the entire Chicago market, WCIU continues to simulcast WMEU's programming on digital subchannel 26.2.

In addition to its carriage on digital subchannel 48.2,[20] WMEU simulcasted TouchVision in a letterboxed format on its analog channel 48 signal from September 29, 2014 to January 14, 2016.[21][22]

Programming[edit]

Sports programming[edit]

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 Schools Public League.

On May 21, 2013, Weigel reached a broadcast agreement with the Chicago Sky to carry the WNBA team's games on "The U Too".[23] Subsequently on October 1, 2013, Weigel and the Chicago Wolves reached a deal to allow "The U Too" to serve as the over-the-air broadcaster for the AHL hockey team. The station carries most Wolves games, except for select matches that are subject to be moved to WCIU-TV.[24][25][26][27] The station began broadcasting all of its Wolves and Sky game telecasts in high-definition beginning with the team's respective 2014 seasons.[28] On October 1, 2014, it was announced that Weigel reached an agreement to carry select games from the inaugural season of the Fall Experimental Football League on WMEU-CD, during October and November.[29]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Robert Feder (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 – via HighBeam Research.
  2. ^ Robert Feder (March 5, 2008). "Big reception". Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times Media Group. Archived from the original on January 23, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2015 – via HighBeam Research.
  3. ^ "Me-Too and Me-TV Milwaukee launches today". TDog Media. March 1, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  4. ^ "WMEU (Me-Too) to air classic movies". TDog Media. June 23, 2008. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  5. ^ "Call Sign Change Application". U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
  6. ^ "Me-TV Network – Memorable Entertainment Television". Me-TV. Weigel Broadcasting.
  7. ^ "Weigel Broadcasting to switch around Chicago channels". TDog Media. December 10, 2010. Retrieved September 9, 2015.
  8. ^ "License Application for WMEU-CD". U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
  9. ^ "License Application for WMEU-CD". U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
  10. ^ "T Dog Media's Stocking Suffer: Heroes & Icons takes over MeToo". T Dog Media. December 30, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  11. ^ Rosenthal, Phil (October 5, 2010). "WCIU Parent Weigel to Drop Foreign Subchannel, Launch The U Too". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  12. ^ Malone, Michael (October 5, 2010). "WCUU Launches The U Too Subchannel". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  13. ^ Miller, Mark (April 18, 2019). "Weigel's WCIU Chicago Adds CW Affiliation". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  14. ^ Feder, Robert (April 18, 2019). "Weigel Broadcasting's WCIU to become CW Network affiliate". RobertFeder.com. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  15. ^ Hill, Michael (May 4, 2019). "Chicago CW affiliation moving again – triggering a series of changes". NewscastStudio. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for WMEU-CD". RabbitEars. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  18. ^ "Construction Permit" (PDF). U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
  19. ^ "Call Sign Change Application". U.S. Federal Communications Commission.
  20. ^ "TouchVision Releases Apps, Comes To Chicago TV". Chicagoland Radio and Media. October 1, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  21. ^ Marek, Lynne (January 14, 2016). "Weigel-backed TV outlet TouchVision shutters". Crain's Chicago Business. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  22. ^ Feder, Robert (January 15, 2016). "TouchVision ends as noble failure". RobertFeder.com. Retrieved January 15, 2016.
  23. ^ Danny Ecker (May 21, 2013). "Chicago Sky land TV deal with WCIU parent". Crain's Chicago Business. Crain Communications. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  24. ^ "Wolves Partner With WCIU's U-Too Network". Chicago Wolves (Press release). October 1, 2013.
  25. ^ Danny Ecker (October 1, 2013). "Chicago Wolves doubling number of games on network TV". Crain's Chicago Business. Crain Communications. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  26. ^ "Wolves Partner With WCIU's U-Too Network". Chicago Wolves. October 1, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  27. ^ "Two Wolves Broadcasts Shifiting From U-TOO To WCIU". Chicago Wolves. January 2, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  28. ^ Danny Ecker (August 15, 2014). "Get the picture: Sky, Wolves games move to HD". Crain's Chicago Business. Crain Communications. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  29. ^ "FXFL To Be Carried on ESPN3" (Press release). Fall Experimental Football League. PR Newswire. October 1, 2014. Archived from the original on October 21, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2014 – via KNDO/KNDU.

External links[edit]

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