wcia 3 champaign, wicd 15 champaign, wand 17 decatur, wics 20 Springfield, week 25 peoria, whoi 19 peoria, wmbd 31 peoria, wyyz 43 Bloomington, wbln, wtvh, wirl, wrau, wtvp, wdan, classic tv, central Illinois tv, radio, automation, Jimmy Kimmel, Nexstar Media Group, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Television News
Announcing...
I’m announcing my association with a new radio consulting company called “Open-Source Radio Group.” Their website states: “At Open-Source Radio Group, we believe in the power of open, flexible radio formats that give stations the freedom to create unique sounds without constraints. Our professionally programmed music formats are tailored to local markets, blending familiarity and innovation to connect with listeners.”
My association focused on developing a mass appeal format for radio listeners whom contemporary music formats have left behind. “Doug Quick’s Golden Classics” is available to small-market, low-power, and large-to-medium-market radio stations with HD channels and offers stations ultimate program flexibility, with 100% of the commercial time going to the station. Each format is available in three service tiers. It offers a station an automation-ready, custom, personality-driven format with music from the mid-60s, 70s, and early 80s. For more information, click on the logos above.
So, what does Doug Quick's Golden Classics sound like? Click on the Video above for a sample!
This is a one-hour sample of "Golden Classics" with complete songs, and only the commercials are edited out. The call letters and the radio station are for demonstration purposes only and do not exist.
Featured Videos
TV in Reverse....or Sideways....
Now through May 23rd, it’s TV in Reverse...or Sideways! Let me explain, many shows were never meant to air much longer than a few episodes, and others were canceled. Some got to wrap up the story lines, and others didn’t. Some just existed, but were revisited by a newer series remake. Some of those were rejuvenated, and others were remade, but didn't get the chance to air at all.
Unfortunately, many of these shows aren’t available to share here. Remember, “Resurrected?” That was a series about people who had died years before and were buried, suddenly returning years later, with one community seeing many of its former citizens resurrected. It was an intriguing idea, but was the series wrapped up with a plausible ending? I save you the trouble of remembering. It wasn’t. It was a total waste of time!
That wouldn’t have been the first time it occurred with a TV series. One such series, “The Time Tunnel,” is shown below, with a resurrected pilot remake. A well-done series remake, once again, an intriguing idea, but it failed to air at all.
How about a British series with Patrick McGoohan playing a security agent in a long-running series from the early 1960s? Yeah, a series spawned by the Cold War, even before James Bond made an appearance on the big screen. This series was even rebroadcast on CBS during the period. When it was canceled, the series's star wanted it to continue, took over production, and reshaped enough of the storyline to make it his own, so as not to be accused of stealing the series from the original producers. He basically was the same character, but eliminated the use of his name in a very ingenious way. That new series was also a British production and aired on CBS. It was called “The Prisoner.” The pilot is shown below.
One of my favorite series of the early 1960s affected yours truly as a nine-year-old boy. It must have affected many other people as well. I explain with scenes from the episode in question. Even though the original “The Outer Limits” series aired for just a couple of seasons, it had an impact on audiences for years and paved the way for a new series update on cable television in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Our classic radio lookback features some airchecks from the years of our featured videos, from WLS and KXOK Radio.
Classic Television
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Fugitive (1967) ABC
The Judgment Parts 1 & 2
From the Nostalgic PodBlast YouTube Channel: "From my 16mm film collection comes the original commercials from the original 1967 airing of the final 2 episodes of 'The Fugitive' starring David Janssen from Tuesday, August 22nd and Tuesday, August 29th, 1967 at 10 PM on ABC TV.
"The episodes themselves are from a Canadian VHS from GoodTimes Home Video in 1986 (which used the Canadian airing a week after the U.S. airing as the source) with the commercials edited in from my 1967 film prints. At the very end of this presentation, the correct "day the running stopped" of "Tuesday, August 29th, 1967" is heard and seen from a rare March 1993 NBC primetime rerun of "The Fugitive" series finale, which they aired in conjunction with the 1993 theatrical release of the feature film that starred Harrison Ford and Tommy Lee Jones, among others. Enjoy!"
The airing of the final episodes of "The Fugitive" not only ended its run but also provided a solution to the long-running series. It aired on August 29, 1967, and was seen by more viewers than any single episode of a regular series in TV history up to that time, with a viewership share of 72 percent! That record stood for 13 years, only surpassed by "Dallas" with the reveal of the attacker of J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman). By the way, to answer one of the most asked questions about the series, yes, the narrator was William Conrad, who was also the narrator for the "Bullwinkle and Rocky" cartoons from the late 1950s into the early 1960s, during the time he was also producing and directing "77 Sunset Strip" for Warner Brothers Television.
By the time the final episodes aired here, there were a few changes among the TV stations listed above. WTVP became WAND, and WTVH became WIRL. KTVI remained the ABC affiliate for St. Louis.
Richard Janssen from a black and whirte episode of "The Fugitive"
(YouTube screen grab)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Fugitive (1963) ABC Pilot episodes
Real Time 1960s YouTube Channel posted this: "This is the original, unaired pilot episode of 'The Fugitive' television series. A revised version of the episode, "Fear in a Desert City," was broadcast as the first episode of the series, which ran from Sept. 17, 1963, to Aug. 29, 1967. Starring in the pilot are David Janssen (Dr. Richard Kimble), Vera Miles (Monica Welles), Brian Keith (Edward Welles), and Barry Morse (Lieut. Philip Gerard). Walter Grauman directed this episode."
I'm sure by now, everyone's heard the story of "The Fugitive," either the movie with Harrison Ford playing the role of Dr. Richard Kimball, or him being charged and sentenced to prison for killing his wife. In the TV version, the role was played by David Janssen from September 17, 1963, to August 29, 1967. It was similar to an anthology series, with guest stars playing supporting roles as the falsely charged Kimball met various people at different places. At the same time, he searched for the real killer, the one-armed man Fred Johnson, played by Bill Raisch. To complicate matters, Kimball was constantly chased by Lt. Phillip Gerard, the man in charge of taking him to prison. The pilot episode told the story of how Kimball escaped from custody when a train derailed during his trip to the "big house."
At the time of "The Fugitive" airing, it was seen across Mid-Illinois on WTVP, WTVH, and KTVI.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Prisoner (1968) CBS Pilot
This video was posted by Shout! Studio's YouTube Channel: This series was one of the most distinctive limited-run television mystery series ever! It starred Patrick McGoohan as an unnamed former government agent who, after resigning his position within the intelligence agency where he was employed, was kidnapped and held prisoner within a tightly held security village. When he awoke there after being drugged, he knew not where he was or why he was there. It was actually a very delightful village if you were there as a tourist, but he wasn't. We're not sure why the others were there, as they could have been actors or prisoners as well, but it was never explained.
There were 17 episodes of this summer series, produced by a British TV company and aired on CBS in the US. It aired from June to September 1968, and by popular demand, it returned from May through September 1969. The series was created and produced by the series star, Patrick McGoohan. It was said to be a sequel to his previous British series, "Secret Agent," which aired on CBS from April 5 to September 13, 1961, and was titled "Danger Man."
McGoohan also starred as secret agent John Drake. Later, McGoohan would return as John Drake in "Secret Agent," also airing on CBS from April 3 to September 10, 1966.
Below are examples of both "Danger Man" and "Secret Agent" airing on CBS before "The Prisoner" was produced. You had to watch the final series first to get some context for Patrick McGoohan's trilogy of TV secret-agent series.
The title graphic for the TV series "The Prisoner" that starred it's executive producer, Patrick McGoohan.
(YouTube screen grabs)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Danger Man (1965) UK Version/CBS
This was from season 3, episode 18, called "The Hunting Party," a 60-minute episode (actually 50 minutes without commercials). This is the UK version with the "Danger Man" titles. The US version aired with the Johnny Rivers theme song and opening graphics as shown below.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Secret Agent (1965) CBS opening credits for the US version of the UK series
If you were a listener of Top 40 Radio in the mid-1960s, you might recognize this TV theme as being a hit for Johnny Rivers. It was called "Secret Agent Man" and peaked at number three on the music charts in early 1966. This is the opening graphics and theme song of the US version of "Danger Man," still being produced in the UK.
Patrick McGoohan from an episode of "Danger Man" or "Secret Agent."
(YouTube screen grabs)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Secret Agent (1961) ITC
This is the first episode of the original UK version, titled "Danger Man," which aired on CBS as "Danger Man."
It starred Patrick McGoohan as agent John Drake. That brings us full circle, as when this series ended its run September 10, 1966, on CBS, Patrick McGoohan was so involved in playing the character of John Drake, he wanted to continue as Drake, or in the case of "The Prisoner," a character inspired by John Drake.
All of the CBS series of "Danger Man," "Secret Agent," and "The Prisoner" aired on WCIA, WMBD-TV, KHQA, WTHI-TV, and KMOX-TV.
WCIA Fall Promo 1981
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Outer Limits (1995) Showtime
From YouTube: “In this stunning adaptation of G.R.R. Martin's harrowing novelette, Simon Kress is a scientist working on incubating eggs taken from Martian soil. But when the project is shut down, Kress continues the dangerous work on his own.”
This was the second episode of the first season, airing in 1995 on the Showtime pay-cable movie channel. “The Outer Limits” aired from 1995 through 2001 on Showtime, then shifted to the Sci-Fi Channel, where it aired from 2001 through 2002.
Now that you’ve seen the remake, below is the series that inspired the Showtime/Sci-Fi Channel version originally seen on ABC.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Outer Limits (1963) ABC
This former ABC series, and this episode in particular, held a special place in my childhood. This was an incredibly dark series and one quite frightening for me, and I’m sure a few other viewers, as several episodes were pulled from the schedules of ABC stations around the country, airing as late-night delayed broadcasts or not at all. This episode was the third in the series, airing on October 7, 1963, and it had a real impact on me. Watching this episode, I found it the most frightening and disturbing thing I'd ever seen on television, bringing me nightmares, and even staying home by myself occasionally became a terrifying prospect for me for a time.
In this episode, "Architects of Fear," a group of scientists decides to unite the world's governments by scaring them into believing that an alien invasion is imminent. They would draw straws to decide who among them would volunteer to undergo a transformation that would turn him into a creature so gruesome and frightening that world governments would unite to defend the planet from the invasion. Robert Culp starred as Allen Leighton and Geraldine Brooks as his recent bride, Yvette. Others in the cast include Leonard Stone, Martin Wolfson, and Douglas Henderson.
I have a short video of the episode above. If you would like to watch the entire series, it is available on Tubi for free.
I don't mean to give away the looks of what frightened many, including me, from the episode "Architects of Fear," but here he is.
(Youtube screen grab)
I mentioned that many stations went to a black screen whenever the "creature" was shown, or didn't air the episode at all. I don't remember any issues with watching it on WTVP originally, but I can't say the same for the other ABC affiliates in the Mid-Illinois market, WTVH and KTVI.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Outer Limits (1963) Opening credits
"There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture. We are controlling transmission. If we wish to make it louder, we will bring up the volume. If we wish to make it softer, we will tune it to a whisper. We will control the horizontal. We will control the vertical. We can roll the image, make it flutter. We can change the focus from soft blur to crystal clarity. For the next hour, sit quietly, and we will control all that you see and hear. We repeat: there is nothing wrong with your television set. You are about to participate in a great adventure. You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to — The Outer Limits."
Those were the words of "The Control Voice" each week for "The Outer Limits." The opening credits video is above. For those who always wondered whose voice terrified viewers, the answer is Vic Perrin. He was a character actor for many TV series in the late 1950s into the 60s and 70s.
Vic Perrin, the "Control Voice" on the opening credits of
the original "The Outer Limits." Here he is pictured as a guest star on "Star Trek" in the late 1960s.
(unknown source from Star Trek")
Vic Perrin, the "Control Voice" of "Outer Limits," was a native of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, who became a radio announcer during the 1940s, appearing in many commercial programs, and was a staff announcer for NBC and later ABC. He was a regular guest actor for many radio dramas, then TV shows like "Dragnet," "Laramie," "Maverick," "Perry Mason," "Mission Impossible," "The Untouchables," and many others. He passed away in 1989.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Time Tunnel (2002) Unsold Pilot-Update
After watching this unsold pilot, my only question was "Why did this not sell?" By 2004, the series "Lost" was a huge success for ABC, not to mention the less successful but mysterious "Resurrection" from the 2014-15 season. "Quantum Leap" could have been interesting, but it was a bit "over the edge" for me personally.
The plot for this "Time Tunnel" would have been familiar from the first "Time Tunnel" series, but somehow, some way, it was passed over by potential sponsors or TV network executives. That was our loss.
This unsold pilot is shared on YouTube by The BMF channel, which has posted the following: "Unaired 2002 attempt to relaunch Irwin Allen's original series "The Time Tunnel."
"In this version, a secret Department of Energy project to create 'hot fusion,' instead creates a 'storm' in time. It takes the scientists four hours (240 minutes) to lock down one end of the storm, while the other is still randomly sweeping across the time stream. When they leave their bunker, the scientists discover that the "two-forty" (the 240 minutes the storm was out of control) caused random changes to the fabric of history, and only they know the true history of the world. Now the scientists must send teams back through the time tunnel to correct major errors caused by the storm.
"DOE employee Doug Phillips is recruited into the group because of his particular knowledge of a World War 2 battle, where the Time Tunnel team must go to stop an outbreak of the Black Plague."
The text is attributed to "Mooncity."
Things to look for as you watch include the colors of the traffic lights and their meanings, as well as references to "Hogan's Heroes."
To my knowledge, this 2002 version was never broadcast.
This is from the 2002 version of "The Time Tunnel" and the main control room. The tunnel is much more subdued on the set, with the main control room featuring PCs (hopefully not Windows 11) and a much more utilitarian look, with cables running openly between groups of equipment.
(YouTube screen grab)
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
The Time Tunnel (1966) ABC
This series was created and produced by Irwin Allen Productions, which also created "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea," "Lost in Space," "Swiss Family Robinson," and "Land of the Giants." He was also responsible for the movie "The Poseidon Adventure" (starring Danville's own Gene Hackman) and "The Towering Inferno." Irwin Allen, also known as the "Master of Disaster," specialized in producing films and series about human disasters, with most of his projects featuring an ensemble cast.
The Time Tunnel included an ensemble cast of time travelers played by James Darrin(Dr. Tony Newman) and Robert Colbert(Dr. Doug Phillips), with a supporting cast at the "tunnel" being Lee Meriwether(Dr. Ann MacGregor), Whit Bissel(General Heywood Kirk) and John Zaremba(Dr. Raymond Swain). Guest stars filled the roles of those portrayed in history or the future. The set used for the tunnel was the show's unnamed star. It appeared to be massive! In fact, special effects were used, and many of the equipment panels that flashed different-colored lights were salvaged or used in "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea."
Irwin Allen relied on the 20th Century Fox film library for stock footage of movies that portrayed historical events, such as the sinking of the Titanic, as shown in the video above. Guest stars included Michael Rennie, who starred in the 1953 20th Century Fox film, "The Day the Earth Stood Still." The video above was originally seen on September 9, 1966, on ABC and seen locally on WAND, WIRL, and KTVI.
Here are a group of ABC publicity pictures from my collection of "The Time Tunnel"
At the top left shows the same lighted equipment panel used in "Voyage ot the Bottom of the Sea" from the control point of the "Time Tunnel."
Right: The actual Time Tunnel a huge set within a set used in "The Time Tunnel."
Above and right: two ABC promo slides used in local promotional material sent to local ABC stations.
Classic Radio
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
WLS (1967) Ron Riley Show
This is an aircheck of WLS 890 AM, Chicago, featuring DJ Ron Riley. It was recorded on August 26, 1967, just a day before the final episode of "The Fugitive" on sister station WLS-TV, Channel 7, Chicago, and, of course, the ABC affiliates across Mid-Illinois.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
KXOK (1963) Ray Otis
From St. Louis, KXOK 630AM and the DJ Ray Otis, just a few weeks ahead of the airing of the pilot of "The Fugitive" on St. Louis KTVI, Channel 2.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
WABC (1968) Dan Ingram
Here, the former WIL AM 1430, St. Louis DJ, celebrates the 4th of July on his longtime New York employer, WABC (WLS sister station). Listen to this as listeners heard it, a full three hours of great late 60s top 40 radio! This aired during the run of "The Prisoner" on CBS.
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
WDNL (2002) Doug Quick
I found it difficult to find any airchecks from 2002, but I did find this on my YouTube Channel from right after the Sci-Fi Channel's show "The Outer Limits" wrapped up in 2002, and an even newer version of "The Time Tunnel" was produced. It's yours truly from June 30, 2002, hosting the "Sunday at the 70s" show on WDNL, 102.1FM, Danville, Illinois. By the way, not for a second do I think I rank high enough to be on the same page as these other guys!
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
This WLS aircheck, recorded exactly one week before the finale of "The Time Tunnel" was broadcast on September 1, 1967, was recorded on August 25, 1967. It features Ron Riley. This also includes an interview with Van Morrison.
WLS (1967) Ron Riley Show
TV Time Capsule
On this rerun from May of 2025, you'll find all the TV listings from the Central Illinois Edition of TV Guide. What I've tried to do is find a sample of at least one of the shows listed on that page just above the video. In many cases, I found the EXACT SAME SHOW that was listed and seen on that day!
In May of 2026 enjoy this rerun of the "TV Time Capsule" from Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum!
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The Latest Threat to Local TV Channels
2026-0430
At the recent National Association of Broadcasters Convention in Las Vegas, broadcasters reached a consensus that “ATSC 1.0 Must Go!”
Among those involved, one of the most vocal opponents of the current digital TV broadcast format is Sinclair Broadcast Group, the former owner of central Illinois stations WICS and WICD.
ATSC 1.0 is now over 20 years old and has served over-the-air TV viewers well. Certainly, the quality of the video signal is considerably better than the previous NTSC signal, developed in the mid-1940s. This site has been introducing visitors to the newer, non-compatible ATSC 3.0 digital format, also known as NextGen TV, for several years. So far, both have been operating simultaneously for at least a couple of years....
to continue reading of the latest threat to how you watch and what you watch click here to go my latest blog.
Jimmy Kimmel Once Again is in the Crosshairs of the Trumps
2026-0428
The First Lady, the current wife of President Trump, is calling for ABC to take action against Jimmy Kimmel over a joke he made during a sketch he presented on Thursday night, in which he delivered a "roast" directed at the age difference between the couple.
In Thursday's monologue, he said that Melania Trump had "a glow like an expectant widow." The alleged assassination attempt occurred two evenings later. Kimmel’s joke did not include any mention of violence, but was referring instead to his advanced age, compared to her age.
Now the FCC chair, Brendan Carr, is threatening ABC (to satisfy Trump) to challenge the licenses of the network-owned-and-operated stations, including WLS-TV, Channel 7, in Chicago).
Some Democratic lawmakers and First Amendment experts say that such action by Carr would be unconstitutional. It’s been over 40 years since any TV station has had its broadcast license revoked, and any such action today would be a long process, taking several years.
WEIU-TV Ceases Broadcast Operations on May 15
2026-0427
WEIU-TV has announced that its final television broadcast will be on May 15th. This follows months of uncertainty about the public station's future after losing 80% of its funding due to the Trump administration’s cut to PBS’s funding.
News Watch viewers will still be able to view the stations’ production of local and area news, sports, and weather on the station’s YouTube Channel and at the WEIU-TV website beginning in the Fall.
According to the Daily Eastern News report, the newscast will still be produced live each day of the week. The WEIU Hit-Mix 88.9 will not be affected as it will continue to broadcast on the radio.
Nexstar-Tegna Merger Approved by the FCC But Challenges Remain
Updated 2026-0420
The FCC approved the merger of Nexstar Media Group and former competitor Tegna, but lawsuits have now emerged to challenge the deal.
There now seems to be a stronger possibility that the merger will not take place, but it's still a possibility.
A federal judge in California has issued a preliminary injunction against the purchase of Tegna by Nexstar.
The federal judge sided with the claims of DirecTV and another state attorneys general that the merger would cause "irreparable harm" to the FCC rules and regulations as that merger would place the Nexstar/Tegna single ownership well above the FCC ownership rules. The judge has also ordered the companies be run separately until a final ruling is made.
Nexstar currently owns/operates the TV stations WICA and WCIX (Champaign, IL) WMBD-TV and WYZZ (Peoria-Bloomington, IL) WTVO and WQRF (Rockford), WHBF-TV and KLJB(Quad Cities), WTTV, WTTK, and WXIN(Indianapolis), KPLR-TV and KTVI (St. Louis, MO).
Tegna currently owns/operates the TV stations WQAD (Quad Cities), KSDK-TV (St. Louis) and WTHR, WALV-CD (Indianapolis).
UPDATE 2026-0422
Perry Sook, the CEO of Nexstar criticized the DirecTV opposition to the merger of his company with Tegna.
He also predicted that only two or three companies will eventually own all of local TV stations!
ABC News and SiriusXM Launch New Audio Channels
2026-0422 from Variety
SiriusXM and ABC is launching two new audio channels on the satellite audio providers bank of channels as well as it's on-line streaming services.
"ABC News Live" will be a simulcast of the network's streaming channel available on the SXM Channel 796.
Other programming will be added to the POTUS channel on Channel 124 and the eventual addition of the network's "Start Here Weekend" newscast that will begin later this spring.
The Final Late Show with Stephen Colbert is Approaching....so Now What?
According to CNN, CBS has announced the replacement for "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" for late May.
Some may already be at least somewhat familiar with Byron Allen. His first national exposure was as one of the co-hosts of "Real People" back in the 1980s. More recently, he started a media company and purchased several TV stations. He was the owner of WLFI, Channel 18 in Lafayette, IN, and WTHI-TV, Channel 10 in Terre Haute, among others..
It was his company that decided to trim the operating budgets of his TV stations by firing many meteorologists, instead centralizing local weather from a remote location. Since then, he sold off the stations to Gray Television.
He's maintained an interest in comedy and stand-up comedy over the years, and now CBS is planning to fill the hour-long slot with "Comics Unleashed," airing two 30-minute reruns, followed by "Funny You Should Ask," a syndicated game show Allen created. Jon Kelly hosts it.
According to CNN, "CBS has a time-buy agreement with Allen Media Group for the 2026-27 season, meaning Allen PAYS to air his programs on the CBS network!" making it more of an infomercial!!
I'm sure the local affiliates will be screaming about the loss of audience and revenue soon!
Colbert's last show is on Thursday, May 21st.
WICS and WICD are reported to Change Owners Again
2026-0331
Springfield based Illinois Times reported the proposed sale of WICS, Channel 20, Springfield and WICD, Channel 15, Champaign. This sale follows an earlier sale of the stations just over a year ago to Rincon Broadcasting (president Todd Parkin) which purchased the station duo among other TV stations previously owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Others in original sale included ones in Hannibal, MO-Quincy IL (KHQA), Kirksville, MO-Ottumwa, IA (KTVO). That sale to Rincon was reported to total $29.5 million.
Compare that to the most recent announcement of the sale being $116.5 million for the Springfield and Champaign stations and many others located in Memphis, TN; Omak-Okanogan, Washington; Milwaukee, Wi; Lincoln, NE; Prosser, WA; Sandpoint, ID; Colville, WA; Cape Girardeau, MO; Grangeville, ID; Pendleton, OR; Spokane, WA; Lewiston, ID; New Bedford, MA; Yuma, AZ; Richland, WA; Yakima, WA; Coeur D’Alene, ID; Tulsa, OK; and Paducah, KY. The sale also includes a number of translator stations that rebroadcast the main stations owned by Rincon to hard to reach areas in the Rockies.
The purchaser is Community News Media LLC. It’s website states that it is “a leading multimedia company providing local news and information through a wide range of print, digital, and radio products...”
The local newspapers owned by Community News Media in our region include the Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette, The Iroquois Times-Republic (Watseka, IL), Piatt County (Monticello, IL) Journal-Republican, and Fountain County Neighbor (Covington, IN).
Local radio stations owned by Community News Media include: WDWS (AM-FM), WHMS (FM), Champaign, IL; WKIO (FM), Monticello, IL; WDAN (AM), WDNL (FM), WRHK (FM), Danville, IL, WSOY (AM) and (FM), WDZ (AM), WDZQ (FM).
This purchase of the Rincon TV stations appears to be the first venture into television for the company.
The ownership change is pending FCC approval.
More TV stations could appear soon in the Central Illinois market
2026-0319 For the first time in several years, March 19th was the day applicants could file for new low-power TV stations. Nationally, over 1000 applications were filed with the FCC. Each applicant, after legally filing including engineering studies and paying the $910 filing fee, now awaits the FCC's decision on their request and the issuance of a construction permit.
In Illinois, filings were made for Arlington Heights, 3 for Chicago, 2 for Yorkville, 2 for Elgin, Justice, and 1 each for Springfield and Champaign.
The applications for both Springfield and Champaign were submitted by the same person/group, whose address is 26 N. Halsted, Chicago. That is the home of Weigel Broadcasting. Two of the contacts listed in the application are with Weigel Broadcasting.
Weigel is the owner of MeTV, MeTV Toons, Movies!, H&I, StartTV, Story Television, Catchy Comedy, Dabl, West, and MeTV+. I'm assuming it's their intention to place all, or at least some, of those TV networks on each designated channel as digital subchannels.
In Springfield, the application is for Channel 14 with a power of 15kW from a tower/antenna height of 489-feet.
For Champaign the group is seeking Channel 33 with a power of 15kW from an tower/antenna, 450 feet high.
Now Streaming Nationally
Click on the image above to listen to MeTVFM. It's the popular music companion to MeTV, Memorable Entertainment Television, America’s #1 all classic television network. Launched at 87.7FM in late February, 2015, MeTVFM features a unique mix of timeless and memorable music incorporating a wide variety of classic hits, deep tracks and softer sounds spanning several decades of popular music.
Previously on Videos of the Week...
If you've missed any of the "Videos of the Week" or "Classic Radio" recordings, you'll find them here. Unfortunately, there's no written narrative to go along with each. You have to visit each week for that.
77 Sunset Strip (1958) ABC "All Our Yesterday's" Episode
Hawaiian Eye (1959-63) ABC Intro Credits
Hawaiian Eye (1959) ABC Original Credits
Maverick (1959) ABC Edit from "Duel at Sundown"
Maverick (1962) Season 5 Opening credits
The Roaring 20s (1960) ABC opening network credits
The Roaring 20s (1960) ABC opening credits and Dorothy Provine performances
Surside 6 (1960-62) ABC opening/closing credits
Wendy and Me (1965) ABC Connie Stevens
Classic Radio
WLS Radio (1972) Joel Sebastian
WLS Radio (1977) John Records Landecker
Cowboy G-Men (1952) Syndicated
Laredo (1966) NBC “Rendezvous at Arillo”
Happy Days (1974-2005) ABC 30th Anniversary Special, Part 1
Happy Days (1974-2005) ABC 30th Anniversary Special, Part 2
Love American Style (1972) ABC “Love and the Television Set”
Classic Radio
Larry Ware Interview with Harry Harrison
WIL Radio (1961) St. Louis with Dan Ingram
WIL Radio (1962) St. Louis with Ron Lundy
WABC Radio (1970) New York with Ron Lundy and Dan Ingram
Fame is the Name of the Game (1966) NBC Pilot
Movin' On (1974) NBC
ABC Sunday Night Movie (1978) “Crash”
CBS Tuesday Night Movies (1979) “Speedtrap”
ABC Sunday Night Movie (1980) “Fighting Back”
ABC Summer Movie (1980) “Make Me an Offer”
CBS Special Movie Presentation (1981) “The Other Victim”
Search for Tomorrow (1953) CBS
Art Linkletter’s House Party (1955) CBS Art Linkletter
The Match Game (1962), NBC Gene Rayburn
The Match Game (1964) NBC Gene Rayburn
You Don’t Say (1963) NBC Tom Kennedy
Art Linkletter’s House Party (1966) CBS Art Linkletter
Temptation (1968) ABC Art James
The Baby Game (1968) ABC Richard Hayes
Classic Radio
The Breakfast Club (ABC Radio and Television) Don McNeil
Next Regular Update Comes May 23rd
to be announced!
Central Illinois On-Line Broadcast Museum and dougquick.com supports the work of the St. Louis Media History Foundation.
Visit their website at:
National Academy
of Television Arts
and Sciences
Mid-America Chapter
Silver Circle Award
Winner 2013
Doug Quick, the 2017
Medium market TV
Best TV News Anchor Sliver Dome Award from the Illinois Broadcasters Association
for his work with WCCU-TV
Welcome to Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum. This website documents in detail the history of each of the viewable TV stations, past and present, across mid-Illinois in text, photos, and videos, as well as each station's current status. This site also includes local radio history and automated analog formats, again told in pictures, videos, and text.
Note that this website displays best on a full-size monitor, desktop, or laptop computer. If you're watching on your mobile phone, the mobile phone view has been replaced by the desktop view throughout this site. You can zoom in on the page if needed. Also, you may have to sign in to YouTube to view some videos. Some browsers do not allow some embedded videos to play, so click on the "YouTube" logo on the video to view it from YouTube.
