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
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 If you're watching on your mobile phone, the mobile phone view has been replaced by the desktop view throughout this site.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.
A 55 Year Salute to
(left): Sandy Duncan, called by many as one of television's most promising new stars, hosted her own sitcom on September 18, 1971, 55 years ago, on CBS. Her character, Sandy Stockton, was a native of Taylorville, IL, which happens to be my hometown. Her series, "Funny Face," aired from September through December 14, 1971.
(right):The following year, on September 17, 1972, Sandy returned in “The Sandy Duncan Show,” where she played the same character in a new locale with a new cast. It didn’t last long, as it was canceled in December.
Sandy Duncan
On May 20, 1972, Sandy Duncan visited her "fictional hometown" of Taylorville, IL. She had a street named after her, Sandy Duncan Drive. It was a great publicity event for Taylorville that was featured in TV Guide.
“Norlyn Willard Dossey: The Last Broadcast Pioneer”
Click on the image to watch the video directly from YouTube.
This video spotlights the contribution of Norlyn Dossey of Danville, Illinois. He was one of the engineers and operators at WDAN-TV, Channel 24 in Danville during its construction in 1953.
Mr. Dossey, at age 102, is the last surviving person involved in building WDAN-TV.
I also include details and pictures from those early days at WDAN-TV,
This video is also posted on the History of WDAN-TV page on this site.
Featured Videos
Classic TV and Radio from Broadcasting's Real Golden Years!
Now through October 16th, I present a collection of popular programming from the mid-60s through the late 1970s. The collection includes a spin-off of a classic sitcom; crime dramas including one fantasy crime drama and one 2-hour realistic anthology crime drama; the premiere of a long-running popular game show; a country music variety special from 1974 with a recent connection to the loss of an iconic country music star; a preview of Saturday morning TV shows for kids from 1976; and, to really give you a feeling of being in the 1970s, a 30-minute collection of commercials from the decade!
In my last Classic Television presentation on the site, I highlighted William Schallert as the best narrator, in my opinion, of ABC Season Premiere shows from the 70s. So I present him in a segment of "The Patty Duke Show," where he played Patty's father, the 1960s version of an American teenage girl. Just listen to his voice! A natural-born narrator, and recognized as ABC's spokesperson for at least a few years in the 1970s.
I also present a short-lived "fantasy" sitcom spin-off with a strong foundation, "Tabatha." The original "Bewitched" starred Elizabeth Montgomery, but the spin-off starred Lisa Hartman. One of my favorite "tongue-in-cheek" crime dramas came from Great Britain with "The Avengers." I present a high-quality video of the episode called "The Living Dead."
I also include a series based on a real-life, family-driven pop/rock sitcom: "The Partridge Family," with David Cassidy and his real-life stepmom, Shirley Jones. Then I "fill in the blank" with the original installment of a long-running daytime and primetime game show hosted by an Illinois native who attended Knox College in Galesburg, IL.
Anyone who knows me knows I'm not a country music fan, but I was a fan of Dolly Parton and her humanity. So I'm sharing a once-aired NBC "pre-Saturday Night Live" Saturday Night Special hosted by Burt Reynolds, featuring early- to mid-1970s Nashville royalty, including Dolly.
Along with an episode of "Starsky & Hutch" from 1975, I've got another crime drama in this collection: a popular 2-hour-a-week anthology series featuring longtime movie and TV actor Glen Ford. Then I wrap up the bunch with a journey back into the 70s advertising with a 30-minute collection of TV commercials! If you were alive during the decade, you'll experience a memory jolt!
The Classic Radio Collection includes a dozen airchecks from radio stations across the state that were heard in at least part of Mid-Illinois. Along with the WLS from Chicago and KXOK in St. Louis, you'll hear the contemporary stations from Springfield, Decatur, Champaign, Danville, Peoria, and Bloomington from select years from the 60s through the 80s.
Once again, it's an epic journey through some Classic TV and radio, now through October 16th at Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum!
Classic Television
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
The Patty Duke Show (1964) ABC Segment with open/close credits
These are the opening and closing credits to episode 25, which aired during season one, on March 4, 1964. It was called "The Perfect Teenager." The guest star was Kaye Ballard, who would star on "The Mothers-In-Law" on NBC later in the 1960s, but she doesn't appear in this segment. Another future star also appeared as a guest in this episode. She was Marcia Strassman, who would later co-star in "Welcome Back, Kotter" a decade later. Unfortunately, she isn't in this segment either.
Patty Duke was 17 when she starred in dual roles on this ABC sitcom. It also stars one of my all-time favorite voice-over narrators, William Schallert. This episode was written by Sidney Sheldon and was co-produced with William Asher, who was a producer of "Bewitched" and married to Elizabeth Montgomery during much of the run of "Bewitched." Watch a complete episode below.
This would have aired on WTVP, WTVH, and KTVI.
(above) Jean Byron as Natalie Masters (Lane), Patty Duke as Patty Lane, and Cathy Lane as the twin cousins, which is virtually impossible in real life... Go with it; it's TV!
(Left) William Schallert as Martin Lane (and on at least one occasion, he played his twin brother, who was Cathy's father).
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
The Avengers (1967) ABC "The Living Dead"
The original "Avengers" cast included Patrick Macnee as John Steed and Honor Blackman as Cathy Gale. Blackman later starred in an early James Bond film and is considered a "Bond girl" in "Goldfinger." Diana Rigg replaced her in "The Avengers" as Mrs. Emma Peel.
The pair were called upon by an unnamed 'Organization' to fight masterminds and criminals set on ruling the world or at least Great Britain. The series was one of my favorites at the time and remains a cult favorite among fans of the British TV crime-fighting genre.
This episode was one of the later color, higher-budget episodes that aired on ITV in Great Britain and on American Broadcasting Company stations in February 1967.
This episode was seen in Mid-Illinois on WAND, WIRL, and KTVI.
Diana Rigg and Patrick Macnee as Mrs. Peel and John Steed on "The Avengers"
(ABC Publicity Picture)
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
The Partridge Family (1972) ABC "You're Only Young Twice"
This episode of "The Partridge Family" is from Season 3 and is episode 6, titled 'You're Only Young Twice,' which aired on ABC on October 20, 1972.
The YouTube description of the episode is as follows:
"Danny's youth-focused business scheme spirals out of control, leading to laughs and chaos for the whole Partridge family. Danny is tired of being a young child. He wants to be included in the grown-up decisions and events. His efforts to show he is mature only annoy his family."
"The Paridge Family" cast
(YouTube screen grab)
"The Partridge Family" was based on "The Cowsills," a pop/rock band of young siblings from the 1960s who performed together under the kids' mother's leadership. Do I need to list the stars? Probably not, but here they are: Shirley Jones as Shirley Partridge, the family matriarch. David Cassidy played Keith, Susan Dey played Laurie, Danny Bonaduce played Danny, Jeremy Gelbwaks and Brian Foster played Chris, and Suzanne Crough played Tracy. Others in the cast included Dave Madden (see the selection of "Bewitched" above) as Reuben Kincaid, the band's manager.
This series was seen throughout Mid-Illinois from September 25, 1970, through March 23, 1974, on WAND, WIRL, and KTVI, and on other stations in syndication for many years after.
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
Match Game '73 (1973) CBS Host: Gene Rayburn First Show
Welcome to the very first episode of the revived Match Game on CBS—taped initially in June 1973 and aired the week of July 2nd! Hosted by the legendary Gene Rayburn, this premiere sets the tone for one of TV's most iconic game shows.
In this debut episode, contestants try to match answers to questions given to an all-star panel featuring Michael Landon, Vicki Lawrence, Jack Klugman, Jo Ann Pflug, Richard Dawson, and Anita Gillette. From awkward first questions to laugh-out-loud panel moments, it’s a fascinating look at where it all began. This first installment was taped on June 10, 1973, and broadcast on July 2, 1973.
The daytime quiz/game show aired across Mid-Illinois on WCIA, WMBD-TV, WTHI-TV, KHQA, and KMOX-TV.
Gene Rayburn (pictured to the right), by the way, was born in Christopher, Illinois, to Croatian immigrants. After a very young Gene's father died, he was moved by his mother to Chicago. He later attended Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois.
Here's another local connection: Gene Rayburn replaced Danville, Illinois' Dick Van Dyke in "Bye Bye Birdie" on Broadway when Dick left the show to star in "The Dick Van Dyke Show" on CBS.
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
The Burt Reynolds Late Show (1974) NBC
This is a rare video of "The Burt Reynolds' late-night NBC TV Special" from 1973, videotaped in Nashville at the Executive Residence of Gov. Winfield and Betty Dunn. The guests were many of Nashville's royalty performers, including the governor and his wife. Guests included Dinah Shore (who 37-year-old Burt was seeing at the time), Minnie Pearl, Mel Tillis, Roger Miller, Glen Campbell, Charlie Rich, Jim Nabors, Dolly Parton, Porter Wagner, and Bobby Goldsboro.
Dolly Parton, as she appeared on "The Burt Reynolds Late Show" in 1974.
(YouTube screen grab)
I post this in memory of Dolly Parton, who passed away earlier in September. She was a positive influence on the world and was someone Americans should strive to be like. It's also sad to note that Bobby Goldsboro is the only surviving guest star from the show.
The special aired on NBC on Saturday at 10:30 pm (CT) on March 9, 1974. Unfortunately, NBC did not air the broadcast on any Mid-Illinois TV stations, including WICS/WICD and WEEK-TV. So, this is probably the first time viewers in central Illinois will have seen it on a medium directed to them, here at Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum.
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
NBC (1958-59) Fall Preview Show
"Starsky and Hutch" was an iconic TV crime-fighting series that aired on ABC from 1975 through 1979. It starred Michael Glaser as Sgt. David Michael Starsky and David Soul as Sgt. Richard Hutchinson, the lead characters fighting crime on the streets of Los Angeles. Other cast members included Antonio Fargas and Bernie Hamilton.
Here's the description from YouTube: Hutch's girlfriend is a drug kingpin's moll attempting to start a new life. The kingpin wants her back and orders his goons to abduct Hutch and addict him to heroin. For another fix, will the strung-out Hutch divulge her hidden location?" This aired in October 1975.
As of this post, "Starsky and Hutch" isn't available on any streaming, cable, or broadcast networks, or in syndication. Originally, it was seen throughout Mid-Illinois on WAND, WRAU, and KTVI.
Michael Glaser and David Soul as "Starsky & Hutch" in 1975.
(ABC Publicity Picture)
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
Tabitha (1978) ABC
Tabitha aired on January 14, 1978, on ABC. It was considered a spin-off of "Bewitched," but Jerry Mayer is credited with creating it. William Asher, who was a producer and often director of the original series, directed at least one episode of "Tabitha."
The YouTube description of the episode is as follows:
'Tabitha's Party' - When the Witches Council declares that there must be another mixed marriage, they want Tabitha to marry Paul. Cassandra and Minerva create a love potion at one of Tabitha's parties, and everyone else falls in love. Tabitha calls Dr. Bombay, and he and his mortal nurse, Gloria, appear and provide an antidote for the love potion, and Tabitha has Cassandra marry Dr. Bombay and Gloria instead."
Robert Urich and Lisa Hartman on "Tabitha" for ABC.
(YouTube screen grab)
Lisa Hartman played Tabitha. Her co-star, Robert Urich, was soon to be a popular leading man; having already co-starred in "Soap," he went on to star in "Vegas," "Gavilan," Spenser: For Hire," "American Dreamer," several TV movies based on the "Spenser" series, and a large number of other TV series as a guest star from 1972 to 2002. He also appeared in several theatrical films, including "Magnum Force," "Turk 182," and several others. He passed away in 2002 of cancer. During his fight against the disease, he contributed his time, effort, and fame to support cancer research and awareness efforts, and received several awards for it.
"Tabitha" aired on ABC and was seen across Mid-Illinois on WAND, WRAU, and KTVI.
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
Police Story (1978) NBC Guest: Glen Ford
This installment of the anthology police drama "Police Story" was from season 5 and was episode 6, titled "No Margin for Error," and guest-starred popular movie and TV star Glen Ford. It aired on NBC on April 30, 1978, and ran for 2 hours.
This is the YouTube description of the episode:
"Three people are fatally shot by three different policemen, two beat cops and a detective. Deputy Chief Hayes must sort through the shooting team reports to find the truth of each situation, possibly at the risk of his own career. Glenn Ford, James Farentino & Harry Guardino star. A two-hour episode of Police Story is as relevant today as it was in 1978. Glenn Ford should have won an Emmy for his guest performance in the episode “No Margin for Error” -- just watch his scene at the end of the episode!
This series was seen on NBC stations throughout Mid-Illinois, including WICS, WICD, WEEK-TV, WTWO-TV, WGEM-TV, and KSD-TV.
Glen Ford stars in the "Police Story" episode "No Margin for Error."
(YouTube screen grab)
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
30 Minutes of Commercials from the 1970s
Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes
ABBA’s Greatest Hits
Coca-Cola (Coke Adds Life)
Pillsbury cookies with Drew Barrymore
Kentucky Fried Chicken
Campbell’s Soup
Ultrabrite with Farrah Fawcett
Taco Bell
Life (Mikey Likes it!)
McDonalds
Triscuits with Betty Buckley
Free Wheelin' Ford
Cadbury Smash
Campbell Soup
Oscar Mayer (My Bologna)
Pepsi
Cracker Jack
Wella Balsam Shampoo/Conditioner with Farrah Fawcett
Coca-Cola ('Mean' Joe)
Chevrolet
Whiskas Neptune Cat Food
Bell Telephone’s Super Switcher
Pillsbury Plus Pudding Cake
Malibu Barbie
Suntory Whisky with Sammy Davis Jr
Mattel Doll (Rock Flowers)
Hanes (Gentlemen PreferHanes)
Carnation Instant Milk with Vicki Lawrence Del Monte Corn with Bill Cosby (narration)
Purina Puppy Chow with Sterling Holloway
Chevrolet with Jerry Orbach
Soft & Dry Antiperspirant
9 Lives Cat Food
Golden Grahams Cereal (Oh, Those Golden Grahams!) Lipton Tea Bags
Wesson Vegetable Oil
Whirlpool Washing Machine
Banquet Frozen Dinner
Coffee Commercial with Teri Garr
Lady Schick Speed Styler
McDonald’s Breakfast
Hershey Syrup (Messy Marvin)
Burger King (Have it Your Way)
Dominos Pizza
Kraft Dinner Macaroni and Cheese
Head and Shoulders Shampoo with Farrah and Penny
Betty Crocker
Jell-O (Happy Endings)
Cool Whip
Tim Hortons
Kool-Aid (Bowling Kool-Aid Man)
McDonald's (Happy Meal)
Mr. Bubble
Pillsbury (Poppin’ fresh)
Charmin Toilet Paper (Don’t Squeeze the Charmin!)
WLS, AM 890, Chicago, IL (Aug 26, 1967) Ron Riley
TV Time Capsule
September 2026
September 13-19, 1986
Plus, I visit a few maybe-familiar TV Guide covers from previous Fall Premiere editions of the famed weekly magazine. I go back to editions from 30, 50, 60, and even 70 years ago! Check it all out now at the TV Time Capsule!
For September 2026, we’re going back 40 years to the Fall Premiere Season of 1986.
We’re taking a close look at the season's new shows, the returning older shows, and changes to cast, settings, time periods, broadcast days, and new syndicated shows.
Among the new network shows, ABC banked on the appeal of an aging, honored star who returned to prime-time network television! Find out who it was, the show, and how it turned out for the network.
Then I examine what life was like in 1986—a profile of the President, plus statistics about life in the mid-1980s. For those of us starting households and families, buying houses and cars, and experiencing life, it’s nostalgia. It lists what we were paying for houses, cars, and even gasoline.
For others, much younger than I, you might be familiar with the music, movies, and TV shows of the era listed there.
Many everyday items made their first appearances in 1986, from technology to foods and even snacks. Many of those are listed in this month's TV Capsule. Visit it now!
Classic Radio
Mid-Illinois Radio Memories...
The Classic Radio Collection includes a dozen airchecks from radio stations across the state that were heard in at least part of Mid-Illinois. Along with WLS from Chicago and KXOK in St. Louis, you'll hear the contemporary stations from Springfield, Decatur, Champaign, Danville, Peoria, and Bloomington from select years in the 60s through the 80s.
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
KXOK AM630 St. Louis (1965) Keith Morris
From the late-night Midnight show, an unidentified date in 1965.
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
WDBR 103.7FM Springfield, IL (1972) Drake-Chenault Solid Gold
WDBR was broadcasting the Drake-Chenault Solid Gold format from a Harris SP8-10 automation system. Listen for Rich Styles, Bob Taylor, Dave Anderson, and Coley Cowen.
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
WWTO 105.7FM Peoria, IL (1974) Gentle on Your Mind
WWTO-105.7 was broadcasting a station-produced automated format called "Gentle on Your Mind," which was an adult contemporary format that played more "softer" rock songs. The station voice was owner Paul Carnegie.
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
WBNQ 101.5 Bloomington, IL (1974) Drake-Chenault Solid Gold
This air check was recorded during a thunderstorm on a hot summer night in 1974. No commercials, just music and lots of oldies blended with a few current hits. This is an aircheck of about 45 minutes of airtime in the Drake-Chenault "Solid Gold" format.
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
WDZ AM1050 Decatur, IL (1975) Larry Limbach
This air check is with Larry Limbach as DJ. He was voice tracking through an IGM automation system. It was a terrific effort to create a very live-sounding radio station using this antiquated system, originally designed to run a beautiful music format. His music voice-overs were timed(he didn't actually hear the music playing-he just knew how long the intros were). Larry was a great jock and a radio ad executive for years in Decatur.
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
WLS AM890 Chicago (1976) John "Records" Landecker
April 18, 1976
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
WLRW 94.5FM Champaign (1976) Drake-Chenault Solid Gold
From June 19, 1976. Listen for the Dr. Pepper Commercial that stars Bobby Short from Danville, IL.
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
WLS AM890 Chicago (1976) Larry Lujack
From September 1976, after leaving WCFL and returning to WLS
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
WNNS 98.7FM Springfield (1981) Lite Rock 99
WNNS-98.7FM, an aircheck from February 22, 1981, of the AC-formatted automated station.
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
WDNL 102.1FM Danville, IL (1983) Solid Gold Saturday Night
Solid Gold Saturday Night with Dick Bartley was the first live, nationally syndicated oldies radio show created, produced, and hosted by Dick Bartley from the studios of WFYR, 103.5FM Chicago. It began in April 1980 exclusively in Chicago, then went national in January 1982. WDNL (D-102), 102.1 FM Danville, picked it up, with the first show being aired for the Danville, IL, area on July 2, 1983.
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
WDAN 1490AM Danville, IL (1986) Greg Scott
Here's a recently found 30-minute recording of Greg Scott on WDAN from October 1986.
Click on the image on the left to watch the video directly from YouTube
WDNL 102.1FM Danville (1991) Breakfast Flakes
D-102's Breakfast Flakes from May 21, 1991 with Russ Miller and Kerry West.
Announcing...
I’m now associated 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!
2-Hour Sample
Recorded July 5, 2026
This is a two-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 does not exist.
The Weather for
East Central Illinois
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click on the links below the logo for the latest weather story and current radar view of Mid-Illinois.
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New Stuff at the Museum
POSTED 2026-0823
The reference to Part 2 of the WICD series of TV history on the WDAN-TV page led to History of WICD, but it somehow was omitted. Part 2 is now there!
More Music Programming, Automated Radio Format Info
POSTED 2026-0906
Someone who programmed the formats and special programs offered by one of the companies that supplied music and programming elements for analog automated radio stations in the 1970s can speak to that experience.
Louis Coco, from two stations in Louisiana, describes his experience with More Music Programming Service on the Automated Radio Formats Page on this site. Go to Radio History, Automated Radio Formats, and seek out More Music Programming.
Added Old Airchecks to the History of WDNL Page
POSTED 2026-0914
Re posted a large selection of vintage airchecks from the 1980s of the station plus spotlights on two of the most popular RKO syndicated shows of the station, Night Time America and Solid Gold Saturday Night, including airchecks of both shows.
Latest TV
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Headlines
FCC Regulatory Fees Increase for Local TV Stations
NEW 2026-0904
The Federal Communications Commission is raising regulatory fees for broadcast TV stations for fiscal year 2026. You might not know that your local TV and radio stations pay that fee each year, and the amount is calculated using a complicated formula based on population and coverage area. This year, the fee has increased by 6.5% and is due by the end of September.
Various state broadcaster associations and the National Association of Broadcasters protested the increase, but the FCC rejected their objections and issued a final ruling approving it.
From the FCC list of fees for TV stations, I pulled the amounts local Mid-Illinois TV stations will pay, along with each station’s “service area population.”
To see the full report, see page 71 in Appendix F of the Report and Order.
Station Fee Service Area Pop
WAND(17) $9533 1,345,860
WCIA(3) 5738 809,784
WCIX(49) 3939 568,778
WICD(15) 8648 1,220,886
WICS(20) 7505 1,060,412
WCCU(27) 4774 673,293
WRSP(55) 7517 1,062,091
WILL-TV(12) 7891 1,148,587
WBUI(23) 6835 964,071
WEEK(25) 5075 730,054
WMBD(31) 5110 720,722
WHOI(19) 5076 716,055
WYZZ(43) 7109 1,008,995
All other stations are listed in the Report and Order link above.
Lawsuits Filled by Press Organizations against the White House
POSTED 2026-0921
Lawsuits have been filed against Trump and other officials over Trump's decision to ban three legitimate news organizations from the White House press pool. CNN, MS Now, and Politico based their suits on the First Amendment to the United States Constitution that guarantees freedom of the press and the public’s right to independent journalism free from government interference. All three news organizations alleged in their suits, “There could not be a more direct assault on the First Amendment.”
This move by Trump is similar to what happened to former CNN correspondent Jim Acosta in 2018, when he was banned from the White House. A federal judge then ordered a restoration of Acosta’s credentials at least temporarily as CNN continued to pursue a more permanent solution. The Trump White House later dropped the ban against Acosta.
This is a fluid situation, and things are guaranteed to change quickly over time. I urge you to follow the story on objective media. To view a copy of the lawsuit, click here.
The Nexstar-Tegna Merger is Still Pending...
UPDATE 2026-0813
Nexstar was recently reprimanded by a federal judge for placing several of its own company officials onto several boards of directors for Tegna, Inc. Even though the merger deal worth over $6-billion was approved, there are still several antitrust lawsuits that have been filed to hood up the final closing of the sale. There are also injuctions in affect that are requiring the companies to be operated separately in the meantime.
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).
One local historical note is that Tegna is the new name for the former Gannet Publishing's ownership of stations that go back into the 1950s.
The second TV station that went on the air in the former Gannet company was Danville's WDAN-TV! The company sold the station in 1960. To see more about the History of WDAN-TV, click here.
FCC Plans to Auction FM Radio Construction Permits to
Perspective Radio Owners
POSTED 2026-0512
The Federal Communications Commission plans to auction FM radio construction permits beginning in February 2027.
“Auction 114 would make available for bidding construction permits for vacant FM radio channels,” it said in the announcement.
It will offer 132 CPs, including 99 not previously offered; 33 of them were offered at auction before but unsold.
Most are Class A or Class C; there is a Class B1 in Illinois. That is for 96.9FM licensed to Mattoon, IL. Save your money, though, the bidding begins at $25,000.
UPDATED 2026-0920
Earlier in September, ABC filed its opposition to the Federal Communications Commission’s motion to dismiss the network’s lawsuit against the regulatory commission’s early renewal of ABC’s owned-and-operated stations. The FCC asked a federal judge to dismiss ABC’s First Amendment lawsuit challenging the early renewal process. ABC contends that ruling in favor of the FCC would be a “broadcaster death penalty.”
ABC's filing stated, in part, “Those public statements underscore that the purpose of the Commission’s call for early license renewal is not to investigate discrimination; it is to license viewpoints.” That filing went on to state, “Although the Chairman is free to express publicly that he dislikes Jimmy Kimmel or thinks that no one should watch ‘The View,’ he cannot threaten retaliatory enforcement against speech he dislikes. Such threats indisputably qualify as adverse action.”
Meanwhile,, a bipartisan group of 18 former FCC chairmen, Commissioners, and other officials defended ABC and filed a brief supporting the network, saying FCC Chairman Brendan Carr violated the First Amendment “in plain view.”
This concerns the eight ABC Disney-owned stations bringing their license renewal into question now, instead of their original scheduled renewals until 2028 or later.
Brendan Carr, the FCC Chairman, has publicly criticized “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and “The View,” and ABC’s refusal to cover a Trump primetime address on election security is also a factor in the review.
Source: TheWRAP, reporter Tess Patton
WICS and WICD Changing Owners Again
UPDATED 2026-0902
The application also includes details on the continuation of the "shared services agreement" with GoCom Media in the operation of WRSP, WCCU, and WBUI.
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.
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 by Community News Media, LLC, appears to be the first venture into television for the company.
The ownership change is pending and has not reached the final closing.
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.
Jack Benny Program Segment (1957) Mel Blanc
Mel Blanc the Man of a Thousand Voices-Documentary
37 ABC Shows from the Fall of 1961
Route 66 (1963) But What Do You Do in March?
Alcoa Premiere Presents:
“Million Dollar Hospital” (1963) ABC William Shatner
American Bandstand (1964) Dick Clark
American Bandstand (1969) Dick Clark
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1968) NBC original broadcast
Classic Radio
WIL Radio-St. Louis (1963) Ron Lundy
Other selections include those on Select Area Radio Stations from
WDBR, WLRW, WBNQ, WWTO, and KGRS
WHTT (1976) Drake-Chenault "Contempo 300"
WKDQ-FM (1977) Drake-Chenault
"XT-40"
Demo for Great American Country on WIL-FM
Next Regular Update Comes October 16
Top be announced
Get some History of all of these Mid-Illinois Radio stations and others under Radio History on the main menu bar above and here by choosing:
Remembering CBS Radio News
launched in 1927 under William S. Paley layed the foundation for the Columbia Broadcasting System.
The network officially signed off on May 22, 2026 by its parent company Paramount, that eliminated all the staff and distribution to 700 radio affiliate stations.
Central Illinois On-Line Broadcast Museum and dougquick.com supports the work of the St. Louis Media History Foundation.
Visit their website at:
Awards
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
