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WGN-TV Station History

WGN-TV/WGN-DT, Chicago -- WGN-TV, whose call letters are derived from the Chicago Tribune's first slogan, "World's Greatest Newspaper", hit the airwaves on April 5, 1948 on Channel 9 in Chicago from its studios at Tribune Tower. Colonel Robert McCormick led the Tribune Company into the TV era, believing that "in television, we have embarked upon another of America's adventures."

In addition to carrying Chicago Cubs and White Sox baseball games in the 1950s, WGN-TV made its first attempts at producing entertainment series to air on the station while also distributing them to TV stations across the country. Although initially an affiliate of the DuMont and CBS television networks, WGN-TV realized it could better serve the Chicago area audience as an independent station. By 1957, WGN became one of the first local television stations to offer a full schedule of live programs in color. One year later, the station had scored many firsts, including the first televised appearance of President Truman in Chicago as well as mobile coverage of General MacArthur's visit to the city.

In 1961, WGN-TV began broadcasting from new facilities at 2501 West Bradley Place on Chicago's northwest side and premiered its own version of "Bozo's Circus", which became the most popular and successful locally produced children's series in the history of television. Also in the 1960s, WGN expanded its "10th Hour News" newscast to a half-hour (the first Chicago TV station to do so), and ran programs such as "Garfield Goose and Friends", "Family Classics", "Ray Rayner and His Friends" and "The Cromie Circle." In 1966, the Chicago Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Board of Directors awarded Ward Quaal, then President of WGN Continental Broadcasting Company, the Governors' Award "for developing the finest independent TV station in the U.S."

The 1970s introduced "Donahue" to Chicago and the rest of the nation as Phil Donahue moved his groundbreaking daytime talk show from Dayton, Ohio to WGN-TV's studios. The show's unique format featured discussions on controversial social issues, celebrity guests, and audience participation. The station also recognized the importance of the farm sector by starting a weekly series for the farm belt, "U.S. Farm Report." During this time, new technology was changing the TV industry with lighter, more advanced cameras for the news staff as well as advancement in cable TV and satellites. The latter transformed WGN-TV from a regional power to a national Superstation in 1978.

In 1980, WGN-TV launched the Midwest's first hour-long newscast in prime time, "The 9 O'clock News", by expanding its half-hour 10:00 p.m. "Newsnine" newscast to an hour and shifting it to 9:00 p.m. In 1981, Tribune Company formed Tribune Broadcasting Company, indicating the growing importance of broadcasting to the company. In 1983, WGN-TV adopted its promotional identity, "Chicago's Very Own", stressing the philosophy of the station and its relationship to its community. Indeed, many at WGN-TV believe that a key factor responsible for the continued success of the station is its close association with the community.

In the 1990s, WGN-TV scored big with the return of the Chicago Bulls as a broadcast partner and the six NBA World Championship seasons with Michael Jordan that followed. WGN News launched a highly successful and innovative weekday morning news-hour in 1994. Within two years, "WGN Morning News" expanded to three hours. In 1995, WGN-TV became the primetime affiliate of The WB Television Network and the first TV station with its own website, www.WGNTV.com

Also in 1990, WGN became the first Chicago TV station with a local charitable foundation, WGN-TV Children's Charities, a fund of the Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation. Since its inception, the charity has distributed over $31 million in grants to Chicago area charitable organizations.

WGN-TV ushered in a new millennium in 2000 with a new 29,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art newsroom facility and upgraded digital equipment. In 2004, all Chicago Cubs, White Sox and Bulls home game telecasts produced by and airing on WGN, began airing in the high-definition television format on WGN's Chicago area digital multicast signal, WGN-DT 9.1, making WGN one of the leading HDTV sports programmers in the country. Also in 2004, "WGN Morning News" expanded to a four-hour newscast, increasing the combined total of WGN-TV newscasts to 32 hours-per-week; and Kids' WB moved to WGN-TV. In 2006, WGN-TV 9 and WGN-DT 9.1 became the Chicago affiliate of The CW Television Network.

WGN-TV has received numerous awards for programming excellence and community service. The station is proud of the many contributions it has made to television, and is recognized as a leader for creativity, innovation, quality programming and integrity in operation.