
Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum
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Champaign, Decatur, Springfield, Illinois
WCIA, Ch 3
City of License
Champaign, IL
Virtual Network Video Audio
Channel Affiliate Def Chan
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
27.2
CBS
WCIX-MyTV
Bounce
Grit
TrueCrime Net
1080i
1080i
480i-w
480i-w
480i-w
5.1
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0

ownership: Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
address: 545 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 700, Irving, TX 75062
phone: 972 373-8800
studio address: 509 South Neil, Champaign, IL 61820
phone: 217 356-8333
contact info: wcia.com/contact-us
transmitter site/coverage area
UHF Channel 34
ERP: 681kW, HAAT: 935-feet

WILL-TV, Ch 12
City of License
Urbana, IL
Virtual Network Video Audio
Channel Affiliate Def Chan
12.1
12.2
12.3
12.3
PBS
PBS-Kids
Create(5a-5p)
World Channel
1080i
480i-w
480i-w
480i-w
5.1
2.0
2.0
2.0
ownership: The University of Illinois, Board of Trustees of the U of I
address: 300 N. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801-2316
phone: 217 244-9479
e-mail: mossb@illinois.edu
transmitter site/coverage area
VHF Channel: 9
ERP: 30kw, HAAT: 991 feet


WSEC, Ch 14
City of License
Jacksonville, IL
Virtual Network Video Audio
Channel Affiliate Def Chan
14.1
14.2
14.3
14.4
PBS
World Channel
Create
PBS-Kids
1080i
480i-w
480i-w
480i-w
5.1
2.0
2.0
2.0

ownership: The Board of Trustees of Southern Illinois University
address: 1003 Communications Building, Mail Code 6602, Carbondale, IL 62901
studio address: SIU Broadcasting-1100 Lincoln Drive, Suite 1003, Carbondale, IL 62901
phone: 618 453-4343
e-mail: fred.martino@wsiu.org
transmitter site/coverage area
UHF Channel 18
ERP: 93.5kw, HAAT: 958 feet
see Quincy for affiliated stations
WQEC(Quincy) and WMEC(Macomb)

WXSL-LD, Ch 14
City of License
St. Elmo, IL
Virtual Channel
14.1
Network
Affiliate
Telemundo
unknown video def
and audio status
ownership: Sagamorehill of Kansas City Licenses, LLC
address: 888C 8th Ave. Suite 733, New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212 580-1349
e-mail: legal@box733.com
transmitter site/coverage area
UHF Channel 14
ERP: 5.2 kW, HAAT: 260 feet
WICD, Ch 15
City of License
Champaign, IL
Virtual Network Video Audio
Channel Affiliate Def Chan
15.1
15.2
15.3
15.4
27.1
ABC
Comet
TBD
Charge!
FOX-WCCU
720p
480i-w
480i-w
480i-w
720p
5.1
2.0
2.0
2.0
5.1
ownership: WICD Licensee, LLC
c/o Miles S. Mason, Pillsbury Winthrop, S 1200 17th NW, Washington DC, 20036
phone: 202 663-8195
e-mail: sdomozyc@sbgi.net
operator: Sinclair Broadcast Group, 10706 Beaver Dam Road, Hunt Valley, MD 21030
phone: 410 568-1500
Studio: WICD, 250 South Country Fair Drive, Champaign, IL 61821
phone: 217 351-8500
contact info: newschannel20.com/station/contact
transmitter site/coverage area
UHF Channel 32
ERP: 1000kW, HAAT: 1299-feet

WRSP (CH 16)
City of License
Springfield, IL
ownership: GOCOM Media
address: 400 Main Street, Suite 200F,
Hilton Head, SC 29926
phone: 843 342-4405
operator: Sinclair Broadcast Group
10706 Beaver Dam Raod, Baltimore, MD 21030
phone: 410 568-1500
website: foxillinois.com
contact info: newschannel20.com/station/contact
address: 2680 East Cook Street, Springfield, IL 62704
phone: 217 753 5620 (same as WICS)
transmitter site/coverage area
UHF Channel 16
ERP: 360kW, HAAT: 1430 feet
Virtual Channel
17.1
20.1
23.1*
49.1
49.2*
55.1
Station
WAND-HD NBC
WICS-HD ABC
WBUI-HD CW
WCIX-HD MyNet
WCIA-HD CBS
WRSP-HD FOX
* Coming Soon

For more information on NextGen TV
scroll to the information near the bottom
of this page.
NextGen TV has come to central Illinois with stations owned by Block Communications, Sinclair Broadcast Group, GoCom Media, and Nexstar Broadcasting.
NextGen TV signals broadcasting in the ATCS 3.0 format signed-
on December 6, 2022. For more details look to the bottom
of this page.
The stations include WCIA and WCIX owned/operated by Nexstar;
WICS/WICD, owned and operated by Sinclair; WCCU/WRSP, and WBUI owned by GoCom and operated by Sinclair; and WAND owned by Block.
WCQA-LD, Ch 16
City of License
Springfield, IL
ownership: DTV America Corporation
Operated by: HC2 Broadcasting, Inc.
address: 295 Madison Ave., 12th Floor, New York, NY 10017
phone: 954 606-5486
e-mail: RILHARDT@HC2BROADCASTING.COM
transmitter site/coverage area
VHF Channel 12
ERP: 1.64kW, HAAT: 256 feet
Virtual Network Video Audio
Channel Affiliate Def Chan
16.1
16.2
16.3
16.4
16.5
16.6
Court TV
Get TV
Defy TV
True Real
Scripps News
Twist
720p
480i
480i-w
480i-w
480i-w
480i
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
WAND, Ch 17
City of License
Decatur, IL
ownership: Block Communications,
c/o WAND(TV) Partnership
address: 904 West South Side Drive,
Decatur, IL 62525
phone: 217 424-2500
contact info: wandtv.com/site/contact.html
transmitter site/coverage area
UHF Channel 20
ERP: 1000kW, HAAT: 1281 feet
Translators:
W23EQ-D, Danville, IL
UHF Channel 23
ERP: 12.1kw, HAAT: 485 feet
transmitter site/coverage area
W29ES-D, Jacksonville, IL
UHF Channel 29
ERP: 15kW, HAAT: 883 feet
transmitter site/coverage area
W33EK-D, Effingham, IL
UHF Channel 33
ERP: 15 kW, HAAT: 334-feet
transmitter site/coverage area
Virtual Network Video Audio
Channel Affiliate Def Chan
17.1 23.5
17.2 23.6
17.3 23.7
17.4 23.8
17.5 23.9
17.6 23.10
55.3 23.11
NBC
Cozi
ION
DefyTV
Scripps News
MeTV
AntennaTV
1080i
480i-w
480i-w
480i-w
480i-w
480i-w
480i
5.1
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0

WBXC-CD, Ch 18
City of License
Champaign-Urbana, IL
ownership: L4 Media Group, LLC
address: 200 South Wacker Drive,
Suite 2450, Chicago, IL 60606
phone: 844 441-3397
transmitter site/coverage area
UHF Channel 18
ERP: 15kW, HAAT: 283 feet
Virtual Network Video Audio
Channel Affiliate Def Chan
Country Network
Religion
Shopping
Buzzr
Shopping
18.1
18.2
18.3
18.4
18.5
480i
480i
480i
480i
480i
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0

WICS, Ch 20
City of License
Springfield, IL
Virtual Network Video Audio
Channel Affiliate Def Chan
20.1
20.2
20.3
20.4
55.1
ABC
Comet
TBD
Charge!
FOX-WRSP
720p
480i-w
480i-w
480i-w
720p
5.1
2.0
2.0
2.0
5.1
ownership: WICS Licensee, LLC
c/o Miles S. Mason, Pillsbury Winthrop, S 1200 17th NW, Washington DC, 20036
phone: 202 663-8195
e-mail: sdomozyc@sbgi.net
operator: Sinclair Broadcast Group, 10706 Beaver Dam Road, Hunt Valley, MD 21030
phone: 410 568-1500
Studio: WICS, 2680 E. Cook Street, Springfield, IL 62703
phone: 217 753-5620
contact info: newschannel20.com/station/contact
transmitter site/coverage area
UHF Channel 15
ERP: 350 kW, HAAT: 1430 feet

WEAE-LD, Ch 21
City of License
Springfield, IL
ownership: DTV America Corporation
address: 295 Madison Ave, 12th Floor,
New York, NY 10017
Phone: 954 606-5486
e-mail: RILHARDT@HC2BROADCASTING.COM
transmitter site/coverage area
UHF Channel 21
ERP: 15 kW, HAAT: 252 feet
Virtual Network Video Audio
Channel Affiliate Def Chan
21.1
21.2
21.3
21.4
Azteca America
shopping
shopping
shopping
720p
480i
480i
480i
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
WBUI,Ch 23
City of License
Decatur, IL
Virtual Network Video Audio
Channel Affiliate Def Chan
23.1
23.2
23.3
23.4
27.3
CW
Dabl
Stadium
Rewind TV
Antenna TV
1080i
480i-w
480i-w
480i-w
480i
5.1
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
ownership: GOCOM Media
address: 400 Main Street, Suite 200F,
Hilton Head, SC 29926
phone: 843 342-4405
operator: Sinclair Broadcast Group
10706 Beaver Dam Raod, Baltimore, MD 21030
phone: 410 568-1648
website: cw23tv.com
contact info: newschannel20.com/station/contact
address: 2680 East Cook Street, Springfield, IL 62704
phone: 217 753 5620 (same as WICS)
transmitter site/coverage area
UHF Channel 22
ERP: 325kW, HAAT: 1,316 feet
WCCU (Ch 36)
City of License
Urbana, IN
virtual channel
3.1
15.1
17.1*
23.1
27.1
49.1*
Station
WCIA-HD CBS
WICD-HD ABC
WAND-HD NBC
WBUI-HD CW
WCCU-HD FOX
WCIX-HD MyNet
ownership: GOCOM Media
address: 400 Main Street, Suite 200F,
Hilton Head, SC 29926
phone: 843 342-4405
operator: Sinclair Broadcast Group
10706 Beaver Dam Raod, Baltimore, MD 21030
phone: 410 568-1500
website: foxillinois.com
contact info: newschannel20.com/station/contact
address: 2680 East Cook Street, Springfield, IL 62704
phone: 217 753 5620 (same as WICS)
Champaign studio address: 250 S. Country Fair Drive,
Champaign, IL 61821
phone 217 351-8500
transmitter site/coverage area
UHF Channel 36
ERP: 125kW, HAAT: 1250 feet

For more information on NextGen TV
scroll to the information near the bottom
of this page.
NextGen TV has come to central Illinois with stations owned by Block Communications, Sinclair Broadcast Group, GoCom Media, and Nexstar Broadcasting.
NextGen TV signals broadcasting in the ATCS 3.0 format signed-
on December 6, 2022. For more details look to the bottom
of this page.
The stations include WCIA and WCIX owned/operated by Nexstar;
WICS/WICD, owned and operated by Sinclair; WCCU/WRSP, and WBUI owned by GoCom and operated by Sinclair; and WAND owned by Block.
* Coming Soon
W27EL-D, Ch 39
City of License
Springfield, IL
ownership: Ventana Television
address: 1 HSN Drive, St. Petersburg, FL 33729
phone: 727 872-7443
e-mail: eric.yonkin@hsn.net
transmitter site/coverage area
UHF Channel 27
ERP: 15 kW, HAAT: 244 feet
Virtual Network Video Audio
Channel Affiliate Def Chan
39.1
39.2
39.3
39.4
39.5
39.6
Shopping
Shopping
Shopping
Shopping
Shopping
Dabl
480i
480i
480i
480i
480i
480i
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
W23EW-D, Ch 41
City of License
Springfield, IL
ownership: DTV American Corporation
address: 295 Madison Ave., 12th Floor, New York, NY 10017
phone: 954 606-5486
e-mail: RILHARDT@HCSBROADCASTING.COM
transmitter site/coverage area
UHF Channel 23
ERP: 15 kW, HAAT: 327 feet
Virtual Network Video Audio
Channel Affiliate Def Chan
41.1
41.2
41.3
41.4
41.5
Azteca America
NTD America
shopping
beInSports Xtra
Novelisima
720p
480i
480i
480i-w
480i
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0
2.0

WCIX, Ch 49
City of License
Springfield, IL
Virtual Network Video Audio
Channel Affiliate Def Chan
49.1
49.2
49.3
49.4
55.2
MyTV
WCIA-CBS
ION-Mystery
Laff
TrueCrime Net
1080i
1080i
480i-w
480i-w
480i-w
2.0
5.1
2.0
2.0
2.0

ownership: Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.
address: 545 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 700,
Irving, TX 75062
phone: 972 373-8800
address: 509 South Neil, Champaign, IL 61820
phone: 217 356-8333
contact info: wcia.com/contact-us
Springfield studio address: 118 W. Edwards Street, #104, Springfield, IL 62704
phone: 217 544-3561
transmitter site/coverage area
VHF Channel 11
ERP: 5kW, HAAT: 577 feet
WEIU-TV, Ch 51
City of License
Charleston, IL

Virtual Network Video Audio
Channel Affiliate Def Chan
51.1
51.2
51.6
PBS
First Nations
Hit-Mix 88.9
1080i
480i-w
480i
2.0
2.0
2.0
ownership: Eastern Illinois University
address: 600 Lincoln Avenue, Charleston, IL 61920
phone: 217 581-9348
e-mail: jdowens@eiu.edu
transmitter site/coverage area
UHF Channel 30
ERP: 174 kW, HAAT: 463 feet


sources: rabbitears.info, FCC
Channel # Programming/Network
3.1 WCIA, Ch 3, CBS
3.2 WCIX, Ch 49, MyTV
3.3 Bounce
3.4 Grit
12.1 WILL, Ch 12, PBS
12.2 PBS Kids
12.3 Create/World
14.1 WSEC, Ch 14, Jacksonville, IL PBS
14.1 Telemundo
14.2 World
14.3 Create
14.4 PBS Kids
15.1 WICD-TV, Ch 15, ABC, Springfield, IL
15.2 Comet
15.3 TBD
15.4 Charge!
16.1 Court TV
16.2 Get TV
16.3 Defy TV
16.4 True Real
16.5 Newsy
16.6 Twist
17.1 WAND-TV, Ch 17, NBC
17.2 COZI
17.3 ION
17.4 Defy TV
17.5 Newsy
17.6 MeTV
18.1 Country Network
Channel # Programming/Network
18.4 BuzzR
20.1 WICS-TV, Ch 20, Springfield, IL
20.2 Comet
20.3 TBD
20.4 Charge!
21.1 Azteca Corazon
23.1 WBUI-TV, Ch 23, Decatur, IL CW
23.2 Dabl
23.3 Stadium
23.4 RewindTV
27.1 WCCU-TV, Ch 27, Urbana, IL FOX
27.2 True Crime Network
27.3 AntennaTV
41.1 Azteca America
41.2 NTD America
41.4 beIN Sports Xtra
41.5 Novelisima
49.1 WCIX-TV, Ch 49, MyTV
49.2 WCIA-TV, Ch 3, Champaign
49.3 Ion Mystery
49.4 Laff
50.1 WEIU-TV, Ch 51, Charleston, IL PBS
50.2 First Nations Experience
55.1 WRSP, Ch 55, Springfield, IL FOX
55.2 True Crime Network
55.3 AntennaTV
Mid-Illinois is a very large geographic area, and not all channels will be watchable across the entire area. If you have questions about what you could expect to receive, click on the "coverage area" links for each station above. Find your location on the map, and if you fall within the circular coverage area, you'll have a better chance of receiving the station you're seeking. Even from within the coverage area, your reception will depend on your antenna placement, height, your local terrain, and the directionality of your antenna.

The Seed has been planted for
Nextgen TV ATSC 3.0
here in Mid-Illinois
Updated December 6, 2022, from an earlier report, posted June 21, 2022- Our first TV standard was called NTSC and was used from 1941 through 2009. It featured 525-line video with FM audio allowing for stereo broadcasts in the 1980s. By 2009 a new TV standard, ATSC 1.0, was adopted to bring high-definition video and 5.1 multi-channel audio but also give local broadcasters an opportunity to piggyback other subchannels along with their primary signals. Now, our TV system will be changing again to ATSC 3.0. Just like ATSC 1.0 wasn't compatible with NTSC, ATSC 3.0 will NOT be compatible with ATSC 1.0.
If you're a satellite or cable subscriber, you probably need NOT be concerned with this in the immediate future. Currently, these signal providers are working on changing the standards to allow for the passing of enhanced digital television but will involve your internet availability as well.
Nextgen TV is another website with a good explanation of what ATSC 3.0, or NextGen TV is all about. In a nutshell, here's what it could mean, according to watchnextgentv.com and other sources.
1 NextGenTV is received over-the-air from your area broadcasters with the primary service being free but it will require either an ATSC 3.0 receiver converter with your existing TV or a newer model TV with a built-in turner to receive the broadcasts. The roll-out of ATSC 3.0 TVs is underway, and many new flat-screen TV monitors already have nextgenTV tuners built in. The cost, though, may reflect the additional tuner. Nextgen TV add-on tuners are just now being turned out and could be a bit pricey, at least for now.
2 The video/audio quality of the primary signal will potentially be better. NextGen 3.0 promises built-in features that will greatly enhance your TV viewing experience. The audio alone will be able to eliminate volume changes between channels and shows, and will offer a more "pleasant, uniform sound experience." Dialog won't get lost in the scene, you will be able to set it to enhance the dialog and lower the volume of the sound effects and background noise, and music. Overall, you'll be able to experience quality sound, similar to a movie theater.
3 Dolby Vision will bring your video "astonishing brightness, contrast, and color." Expect 4K HDR ultra-high-definition video with a sharper picture with available select programming when it becomes available, but the door is open for even more video improvements in the future (8K).
4 Expect at some time in the future interactivity between you and "your favorite shows, news, sports, and live events." You'll also get more localized emergency alerts and a viewer's guide that you can personalize. This will allow for viewers in areas with, for example, strong to severe weather to receive weather information as provided by your local stations but gives viewers the option to continue to watch the programming in areas under no such threat. I understand that many of these optional features will only be available through our internet connection.
5 Your local station would be able to target advertising in your area within programming. For example, one station serves more than one metro area, like most of the stations in central Illinois. That station would be able to sell the same commercial availability more than once. With an advertiser only interested in the metro of their location, their advertising would be able to be targeted in that location, while other advertisers in other metros could target potential customers from their service area. Once again, an internet connection will probably be required to receive these options.
6 Interactive and other features will work in conjunction with your internet connection, but you can still receive NextGen TV without an internet connection. Your location will have to be established in your receiver in order to benefit from geography-based features.
7 Future enhancements are expected down the road. This new technology will leave doors open for future growth with the addition of new features and benefits.
8 Just like with ATSC 1.0, each signal will have the capability to add subchannels to each primary signal. It's unclear as to how many signals will be piggybacked to each primary, but I've seen various sources say that subchannels (SD or HD) could number up to 20 or so.
9 Even though the primary signal will be free, this will allow the station to actually program "pay-per-view" events on a subchannel or multiple subchannels. This may include sporting events, concerts, movies, etc. There are already a couple of markets that offer pay-per-view for viewers in their area. I don't know much as to what kind of entertainment is offered.
10 The NextGen TV signal will be stronger and easier for smaller antennas and even in-door antennas to successfully receive the signal. Since all of the NextGen TV stations will be coming from one transmitter/tower you'll only have to point a directional antenna to one site.
11 It's also being proposed that broadcasters could also become internet providers to offer Internet service to areas that might not have access to more traditional sources.
12 You'll be able to watch NextGen TV while moving in vehicles. (Legally, this doesn't include the driver!)
13 Don't feel pressured to join the NextGen TV era, as the government has not mandated the change-over occur before a specified date. Local television stations will continue to broadcast ATSC 1.0 signals from the current towers/antennas as they do today for what could be another 20 years!
So what's it all mean? Click here for an explanation of Nextgen TV ATSC 3.0
1. The antenna/transmitters of what was formerly WCCU and WRSP are the home base stations for all of the Nextgen TV signals. That is, the ATSC 3.0 signals of all of the participating stations, under agreement from all owners of the stations, Nexstar, GoCom, and Sinclair are coming from the current GoCom/Sinclair transmitters (actually real UHF channels 22 between Champaign and Danville and 16 near Mechanicsburg, Illinois. Those transmitters/antennas/towers will place city-grade signals for all stations into all of the central Illinois metro cities (Jacksonville, Springfield, Decatur, Champaign-Urbana, Mattoon-Charleston, and Danville) and most of central and east central Illinois and western Indiana but also Bloomington-Normal and fringe into Peoria, Terre Haute (IN), and Crawfordsville (IN). Effingham may be beyond the fringe area and will require more elaborate antenna systems from viewers there.
2. That shift required the current channels and subchannels of WRSP/WCCU to be moved to other transmitters. What we know as WCCU, Channel 27, FOX-Illinois is coming from the WICD transmitter and antenna, WRSP, Channel 55, FOX-Illinois is coming from the WICS transmitter and antenna.
If you're watching 27.2-True Crime Network, it says it's 27, but it's actually coming from the WCIA transmitter, tower, and antenna. Here's where it gets complicated: Antenna TV from WRSP is coming from WBUI and WAND's transmitters/towers/transmitters in the Argenta-Oreana area (17), and in Danville on UHF channel 23, in the Jacksonville area on channel 29 and in the Effingham area on Channel 33, even though it's identified as 55.3. AntennaTV from WCCU is coming from WBUI, Channel 23, and its transmitter, tower, and antenna near Argenta-Oreana, and it is labeled as 27.3. True Crime is also coming from that same transmitter and is labeled 23.4, but it's also coming from the WCIX transmitter/tower/antenna east of Springfield as it is labeled 55.2, and from the WCIA transmitter/tower/antenna and is labeled as 27.2. Got it?
3. Don't expect all of the features listed above to appear at once. The rollout of all of the features above will take years maybe a decade or so to achieve. For example, there simply isn't any 4K programming available, and it'll take millions to equip networks and TV stations to broadcast 4K programming. (Remember how long it took for HD programming to reach down to local stations, or even live color broadcasting to take place in the 60s and 70s.)
4. Based on previous experiences I had with C-band satellite channel distribution and promises of features that would be available with de-scrambling equipment, I'm not optimistic viewers will see some of those promises develop especially here in central Illinois. I'm concerned about the "interactivity" between viewers and stations, networks, etc, and whether those entities will find an investment in personnel and technology to follow through on such features as being beneficial. One possible exception could be sporting events when such features could be channeled from national sources. Major events could see this feature occur long before other types of programming.
5 Don't be fooled into thinking your current outdoor antenna, if you're using one, will need to be replaced by a "special NextGen TV antenna." There's NO SUCH THING, just like there's no such thing as a"Color TV Antenna" or "Digital TV antenna." If you're using an antenna on a tower next to your home or on your roof, and it's working fine, it will continue to serve you well.
6 Converter boxes may be available soon, perhaps even now. See this article from tech radar.com.
Markers below: Blue-already on the air Purple-coming soon