WCIU-TV

WCIU-TV, virtual channel 26 (UHF digital channel 27), is an independent television station located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is the flagship television station of Weigel Broadcasting, and is a sister station to Me-TV owned-and-operated station WWME-CD (channel 23) and fellow independent outlet WMEU-CD (channel 48), both fellow Weigel properties that are respectively relayed on the station's second and third digital subchannels. All three stations share studio facilities located on Halsted Street (between Washington Boulevard and Madison Street) in the Greektown neighborhood; WCIU's transmitter is located atop the Sears Tower on South Wacker Drive in the Chicago Loop.

History

Early history

Founded by John J. Weigel, the station first signed on the air on February 6, 1964, and has been owned by Weigel Broadcasting since its inception. WCIU has spent much of its history carrying multi-ethnic entertainment programming. At its sign-on, channel 26 operated as an independent station. Local businessman Howard Shapiro, who founded appliance store chain C.E.T. (Chicago Engineers for Television) and held a minority interest in the station, took over Weigel Broadcasting and WCIU in 1966.