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Weigel Broadcasting
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Weigel Broadcasting Co. is an American television broadcasting company based in Chicago, Illinois, alongside its flagship station WCIU-TV (Channel 26), at 26 North Halsted Street in the Greektown neighborhood. It currently owns 25 television stations, seven digital over-the-air television networks (most notably MeTV), and one radio station.
Key Information
History
[edit]The company was founded by Chicago broadcasting veteran John Weigel, whose career dated back to the 1930s. With $1,000 of his own money and another $1,000 from his attorney, Daniel J. McCarthy, Weigel bought the broadcasting license for what became the first UHF television station in the Chicago area. WCIU signed on the air on February 6, 1964. One year later, in 1965, the company was the subject of a successful hostile takeover at the hands of the Shapiro family.[1]
Over the years, the company began to acquire and also launch new stations in the adjacent markets of Milwaukee and South Bend, at first by placing WCIU translators in those markets to gain a foothold in each market, before programming the stations independently. Weigel would end up an unexpected beneficiary of the television industry realignment of 1994–95. Full-power independent station WDJT-TV in Milwaukee, which had only signed on five years earlier, ended up with the CBS affiliation in late 1994. WBND-LP became the home of ABC programming in South Bend the next year. In both cases, the longtime affiliates of the networks in those markets — WITI in Milwaukee and WSJV in South Bend — switched to Fox, and the Weigel-owned stations secured 11th-hour affiliation deals after no other viable replacement affiliates surfaced.
Also in that same year, WCIU dropped the Spanish-language Univision network and became Chicago's only true full-power independent station when WGN-TV and WPWR-TV joined The WB and UPN networks respectively, while WGBO-TV became a Univision-owned station. These changes allowed WCIU to pursue sports rights and syndicated programming not previously available, ultimately giving WCIU some strength in the market.
Weigel's MeTV format originated as a programming block that debuted on January 6, 2003, on television station WFBT-CA (channel 23) in Chicago, Illinois, an independent station that otherwise featured an ethnic programming format.[2]
In April 2008, Weigel completed the purchase of WJJA-TV in Racine, Wisconsin, which gave the company its second full-power station in the Milwaukee market. The station carried a local version of MeTV for four years before it and the independent format of low-power WMLW-CA were switched around in August 2012, becoming WMLW-TV.
Network expansion
[edit]In July 2008, Weigel announced the creation of This TV, a national subchannel network, operated as a joint venture with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.[3]
In early August 2008, Weigel agreed to sell all three of its South Bend stations, WBND-LP, WCWW-LP and WMYS-LP, to Schurz Communications, the longtime owner of the local CBS affiliate WSBT-TV, for undisclosed terms.[4] However, in the absence of action by the Federal Communications Commission, the deal was called off in August 2009.[5]
Weigel launched You and Me This Morning, an Interstitial program lifestyle news program in fourth quarter (fall) 2009 on WCIU-TV's first two subchannels.[6][7]
At the end of 2009, Broadcasting & Cable gave Weigel its first annual Multi-Platform Broadcaster of the Year award. The company makes efficient use of digital TV's multicast capabilities, with one main channel and four subchannels for WCIU in Chicago, and MeTV and This TV on subchannels nationwide.[8]
On November 22, 2010, Weigel announced that they would take the MeTV concept national and compete fully with RTV and Antenna TV, while complementing its successful sister network This TV.[9][10]
On December 1, 2010, WCIU dropped their FBT foreign broadcasting digital subchannel (with some of that programming eventually to be moved to Polnet Communications' WPVN-CA) and is currently airing a simulcast of WCIU-TV on WCIU digital subchannel 26.2. The new digital subchannel, The U Too, was officially launched on January 5, 2011. The new digital network will be airing on WCIU digital subchannel 26.2, replacing MeTV, which moved to WCIU digital subchannel 26.3 on December 15, 2010, and mainly consists of other purchased programming without room on the main WCIU schedule, second runs of WCIU programming or programming burned off due to low ratings.[11][12]
On January 4, 2011, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Weigel announced plans to distribute MeTV nationwide.[13][14]
On January 28, 2013, Weigel entered into a partnership with Fox Television Stations to create a new digital subchannel network called Movies!, which is expected to debut on all of Fox's owned-and-operated stations in the spring of 2013.[15] On May 13, 2013, Weigel announced that Tribune Broadcasting would take over operations of This TV on November 1, and that the channel would move to a WGN-TV subchannel following the changes.[16][17]
On July 1, 2013, Weigel premiered the new subchannel service TouchVision, which provides a rolling news and information service designed for television, mobile and tablet platforms starting on WDJT-DT4, after Milwaukee real estate agency Shorewest Realtors ended their time-lease on the channel space to concentrate on an Internet on-demand channel instead. TouchVision was based out of Weigel's Chicago facilities under the LLC "Think Televisual", and was run by former radio and Tribune executive Lee Abrams and Brandon Davis.[18] TouchVision ceased operations on January 14, 2016.[19][20]
On September 29, 2014, Weigel launched Heroes & Icons, a new digital subchannel which specializes in reruns of classic television series and films. Heroes & Icons, abbreviated H&I, aims to attract a generally male audience with shows from the genres of action, police, detective, western, science fiction, superhero, and war and military.
On October 21, 2014, Weigel and CBS announced the launch of a new digital subchannel service called Decades, scheduled to launch on all CBS O&O stations in 2015. The channel will be co-owned by Weigel and CBS, with Weigel being responsible for distribution to stations outside CBS Television Stations. It will air programs from the extensive library of CBS Television Distribution, including archival footage from CBS News.[21]
Post-spectrum auction expansion
[edit]On July 19, 2017, Weigel agreed to acquire Cedar City, Utah station KCSG for $1.1 million.[22] The sale converted the station in a H&I owned-and-operated station, though the possibility of Weigel's other networks being contained to it is also possible. It was Weigel's first station purchase outside of a state along Lake Michigan, as all of its properties were in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. This sale closed December 5, 2017.[23]
On September 8, 2017, it was announced that Weigel agreed to purchase Los Angeles, California station KAZA-TV for $9 million.[24] The same day also saw the announcement of the purchase of KNLC in St. Louis, a religious station holding a commercial license, for $3.75 million.[25] Many of its purchases since 2017 have been made through its LLC for WMLW. It sold that station's spectrum in the 2016 FCC auction for $69.7 million, with WMLW itself re-transitioning to the spectrum of WBME-CD.[26] KNLC's former owners continue to maintain a right to the station's second subchannel to carry their schedule as a part of the sale to Weigel.
On October 18, 2017, Weigel agreed to acquire KAXT-CD and KTLN-TV, in San Francisco and KVOS-TV and KFFV in Seattle, from OTA Broadcasting in a $23.2 million deal.[27] The Seattle deal was completed, while the San Francisco completion took until April 15, 2019, as both KAXT-CD and KTLN-TV are involved in a spectrum transition resulting from the 2016 FCC auction.
On July 18, 2018, CBS Television Stations and Weigel Broadcasting announced the formation of Start TV, with plans to launch the network on Labor Day of that year (September 3). The network focuses on women-led police procedurals and procedural dramas.[28][29]
On May 30, 2019, Marquee Broadcasting agreed to sell KREG-TV (formerly a satellite of KREX-TV) to Weigel Broadcasting for $2 million. Once the sale closed, the station became an H&I owned-and-operated station, and likely be positioned as Weigel's station in the Denver market (many stations surrounding Denver have used cable and satellite carriage to take advantage of the larger market reach).
September 1, 2019, saw WCIU-TV taking over the affiliation for The CW in Chicago as "CW 26", replacing Fox-owned WPWR-TV and resulting in the move of some programming and that station's former "The U" branding to WMEU-CD.
In December 2019, Weigel agreed to purchase low-power WHCT-LD in the Hartford, Connecticut market from Venture Technologies Group LLC for $1.5 million.[30]
On September 11, 2020, Weigel announced that it was buying WJFB in Lebanon, Tennessee (serving the Nashville television market), from HC2 Holdings for $5.5 million, pending FCC approval.[31][32] On October 28, Weigel announced it will acquire KAZD in Dallas, KYAZ in Houston, KMOH-TV in Kingman, Arizona, and its Phoenix translator KEJR-LD from HC2, for $35 million.[33][34] The sale of the Arizona and Texas stations, which at the time of acquisition were all affiliated with Azteca América and later converted to MeTV owned-and-operated stations, was completed on December 29.[35][36] All of the HC2 sales except for WJFB came with the move of the Azteca America affiliations to subchannels under long-term affiliation agreements with Weigel.
On May 3, 2021, Weigel announced it would launch MeTV+ in Chicago and Kingman on May 15, airing more classic shows, some of which are airing on other Weigel stations (i.e. MeTV, H&I).[37]
On September 1, 2021, Weigel acquired WZME in Bridgeport, Connecticut, moving into the New York/Tri-State market for the first time. On October 11, 2021, Weigel filed to acquire WJLP, licensed to Middletown Township, New Jersey and transmitting from 4 Times Square, from PMCM TV LLC for $62.5 million.[38] In March 2022, Weigel filed to purchase Cleveland, Ohio-based W27EA-D.[39]
On February 14, 2022, Weigel announced that it would launch Story Television, a digital multicast network, on March 28, 2022. The network's focus is on historical and factual programming and utilizes the library of the cable network History, expanding its non-fiction offerings beyond Through the Decades.[40]
On February 13, 2023, Weigel announced that Decades would be re-branded as Catchy Comedy on March 27, 2023. It would focus on classic sitcoms weekdays with comedy marathons on weekends.[41]
On December 29, 2023, CBS Media Ventures re-launched Dabl, pivoting it from lifestyle programming to Black-oriented sitcoms owned by their parent company Paramount Global. Weigel took over operations of the channel at this time, although the network is still fully owned by CBS.[42]
On May 1, 2024, Weigel announced that it would launch MeTV Toons on June 25, airing classic cartoons like Looney Tunes, Merrie Melodies, Tom and Jerry, Popeye, The Flintstones. The Jetsons, The Real Ghostbusters, Scooby-Doo, Yogi Bear and Rocky and Bullwinkle, among others.[43]
On June 17, 2025, Weigel announced that it would launch WEST (Western Entertainment Series Television) in the fall of 2025, airing classic TV westerns such as Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Maverick, Wanted Dead or Alive, The Virginian, Rawhide, Wagon Train, The High Chaparral, The Wild Wild West and many more.[44][45]
Major assets
[edit]Television stations
[edit]Stations arranged alphabetically by state and by city of license. Most of the stations are categorized into separate limited partnerships for licensing purposes, with many of Weigel's post-2017 deals using the WMLW limited partnership as a direct result of the profits from that station's spectrum sale.
Notes:
- (**) - Indicates stations built and signed on by Weigel.
| City of license / Market | Station | Channel TV (RF) |
Owned since | Network affiliation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix, AZ | KMEE-TV | 6 (19) | 2020 |
|
| KMEE-LD | 40 (32) | |||
| Clarksville, AR | KKME-LD | 3 (31) | 2025 |
|
| Los Angeles, CA | KHTV-CD | 6 (22) | 2021 | MeTV+ |
| KPOM-CD | 14 (27) | 2021 |
| |
| KSFV-CD | 27 (27) | 2021 |
| |
| KAZA-TV | 54 (22) | 2018 |
| |
| KVME-TV | 20 (20) | 2021 |
| |
| San Francisco, CA | KAXT-CD | 1 (22) | 2019 | Catchy Comedy |
| KTLN-TV | 68 (22) | 2019 |
| |
| Glenwood Springs, CO | KREG-TV | 3 (23) | 2020 |
|
| Hartford–New Haven, CT | WHCT-LD | 35 (35) | 2021 |
|
| Washington, D.C. | WDME-CD | 48 (20) | 2021 |
|
| Jacksonville, FL | WJKF-CD | 9 (11) | 2025 |
|
| Ocala, FL | W30EM-D | 30 (30) | 2021 | Independent |
| Chicago, IL | WWME-CD | 23 (20) | 1992 |
|
| WCIU-TV ** | 26 (23) | 1964 | ||
| WMEU-CD | 48 (18) | 2004 |
| |
| Rockford, IL | WFBN-LD | 35 (23) | 1989 | |
| Evansville, IN | WZDS-LD | 5 (18) | 2021 |
|
| Indianapolis, IN | WJSJ-CD | 51 (14) | 2025 |
|
| South Bend, IN | WCWW-LD | 25 (25) | 2002 |
|
| WBND-LD | 57 (35) | 1990 |
| |
| WMYS-LD | 69 (28) | 1987 |
| |
| Des Moines, IA | KDIT-CD | 45 (17) | 2021 |
|
| St. Louis, MO | KNLC | 24 (14) | 2017 |
|
| Carlsbad, NM | KKAC | 19 (19) | 2022 |
|
| Silver City, NM | KKAD | 10 (10) | 2022 |
|
| Truth or Consequences, NM | KKAB | 12 (12) | 2025 |
|
| Ely, NV | KKEL | 27 (27) | 2024 |
|
| Tonopah, NV | KBWT | 9 (9) | 2022 |
|
| New York, NY | WJLP | 33 (3) | 2021 |
|
| WNWT-LD | 37 (3) | 2021 | Story Television | |
| WZME | 43 (21) | 2021 | ||
| Cleveland, OH | WOCV-CD | 35 (27) | 2022 |
|
| Astoria, OR | KPWT-LD | 3 (36) | 2021 |
|
| Nashville, TN | WJFB | 44 (25) | 2020 |
|
| Dallas–Fort Worth, TX | KAZD | 55 (31) | 2020 |
|
| Houston, TX | KYAZ | 51 (25) | 2020 |
|
| Salt Lake City, UT | KCSG | 8 (14) | 2017 |
|
| Yorktown, VA | WYSJ-CD | 19 (36) | 2025 |
|
| Seattle–Bellingham, WA | KFFV | 44 (16) | 2018 |
|
| KVOS-TV | 12 (14) | 2018 |
| |
| Green Bay, WI | WMEI ** | 31 (31) | 2024 |
|
| Milwaukee, WI | WBME-CD | 41 (17) | 1983 | MeTV |
| WMLW-TV | 49 (17) | 2008 |
| |
| WDJT-TV ** | 58 (29) | 1988 | ||
| WYTU-LD | 63 (16) | 1989 |
|
Television networks
[edit]- Catchy Comedy (launched on May 25, 2015, as Decades; rebranded as Catchy Comedy on March 27, 2023; focus on classic sitcoms)[46]
- Dabl (launched on September 9, 2019; owned by CBS Media Ventures; managed by Weigel since 2023; focus on black sitcoms)[47]
- H&I – Heroes & Icons (launched on September 28, 2014; on WCIU-TV, WMLW-TV; focus on action/adventure, westerns, crime dramas, sci-fi, and superhero series)[48]
- MeTV – Memorable Entertainment Television (launched on January 6, 2003, as a block on WFBT-CA; launched on January 1, 2005, as a program format in Chicago on WWME-CA; launched on December 15, 2010, as a national network; focus on classic programming)[49]
- MeTV+ (launched on May 15, 2021; MeTV brand extension with additional series)[50]
- MeTV Toons (launched on June 25, 2024; partnership with content from Warner Bros. Discovery; focus on classic animation)[51]
- Movies! (launched on May 27, 2013; joint venture with Fox Television Stations; focus on feature films)[52]
- Start TV (launched on September 3, 2018; joint venture with CBS News and Stations; focus on women-led dramas, police and legal procedurals)[53]
- Story Television (launched on March 28, 2022; focus on history)[54]
- WEST – Western Entertainment Series Television (launched on September 29, 2025; focus on classic TV westerns)[55][56][57]
Radio station
[edit]- WRME-LD 87.7FM – branded as "MeTV FM" (Chicago, Illinois; local marketing agreement with Venture Technologies Group)[58][59] (also broadcasts TV signal on digital TV channel 6)
References
[edit]- ^ John Weigel – Man of UHF, The Video Veteran/Chicago Television
- ^ Robert Feder (January 3, 2003). "'ME-TV' joins 'The U' on Weigel's local menu". Chicago Sun-Times. Sun-Times Media Group. Archived from the original on June 29, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2012 – via HighBeam Research. (preview of subscription content)
- ^ "MGM, Weigel Launching This TV Diginet". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. July 28, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
- ^ "WSBT Purchases Three Low-Power Stations". Broadcasting & Cable. Reed Business Information. August 4, 2008.
- ^ Malone, Michael; John Eggerton (August 24, 2009). "WSBT South Bend Deal Fizzles Absent FCC Action". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Retrieved August 25, 2009.
- ^ "Weigel Launching Morning Content Mix". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. July 7, 2009. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
- ^ Rosenthal, Phil (July 6, 2009). "Weigel's WCIU Getting Into A.M. News Fray – In A Small, Unconventional Way". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved April 6, 2016.
- ^ Dickson, Glen (December 21, 2009). "Weigel Maximizes DTV Pipe". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
- ^ Weigel Broadcasting Taking Me-TV National, Chicago Tribune, November 22, 2010
- ^ Weigel Broadcasting's Me-TV Goes National, Broadcasting & Cable, November 23, 2010
- ^ Rosenthal, Phil (October 5, 2010). "WCIU Parent Weigel to Drop Foreign Subchannel, Launch The U Too". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
- ^ WCUU Launches The U Too Subchannel, Broadcasting & Cable, October 5, 2010
- ^ MGM, Weigel Taking Me-TV Nationwide, Broadcasting & Cable, January 4, 2011
- ^ MGM Launches Classic TV Service to Roar Like the Fonz, Los Angeles Times, January 4, 2011
- ^ "Fox O&Os, Weigel Launch Movies! Digi-Net". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. January 28, 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
- ^ Malone, Michael (May 14, 2013). "Tribune Replaces Weigel As Partner on This TV". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Retrieved May 17, 2013.
- ^ Good Times for Digi-Nets...But We've Seen This Movie Before, B&C, August 5, 2013, Retrieved August 6, 2013
- ^ Theilman, Sam (July 8, 2013). "Abrams, Saslow Prepare to Launch News Network This Month". AdWeek. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved July 9, 2013.
- ^ Marek, Lynne (January 14, 2016). "Weigel-backed TV outlet TouchVision shutters". Crain's Chicago Business. Crain Communications. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- ^ Feder, Robert (January 15, 2016). "TouchVision ends as a noble failure". RobertFeder.com. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
- ^ Malone, Michael (October 21, 2014). "CBS Stations, Weigel Partner on Oldies Digi-Net Decades". Broadcasting & Cable. NewBay Media. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
- ^ Application for consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License - Federal Communications Commission
- ^ "Consummation Notice". Federal Communications Commission. December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
- ^ Application for consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License - Federal Communications Commission
- ^ Holleman, Joe (September 12, 2017). "Larry Rice sells KNLC television station for $3.75 million". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Lee Enterprises. Retrieved September 13, 2017.
- ^ Jessell, Harry (September 12, 2017). "Weigel Moving Into Los Angeles, St. Louis". TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
- ^ "Application For Consent To Assignment Of Broadcast Station Construction Permit Or License (KVOS-TV/KFFV)". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. October 24, 2017. Retrieved October 25, 2017.
- ^ Mark K. Miller (July 18, 2018). "Weigel To Launch 'Start TV' Female Diginet". TVNewsCheck. TVNewsCheck Media. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- ^ Robert Feder (July 19, 2018). "Weigel to launch Start TV digital network with CBS Television Stations". RobertFeder.com. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- ^ Application for Transfer of Constrol of A Corporate Licensee or Permittee, or for Assignment of License or Permit of TV or FM Translator Stations or Low Power Television Station. CBDS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission, January 13, 2020, Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ "Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. September 11, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
- ^ TVNewsCheck.com - Station trading roundup 2 deals for $5.5 Million
- ^ "Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License", CDBS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission, November 2, 2020, Retrieved November 7, 2020.
- ^ "Weigel Captures Four Properties From HC2", RBR-TVBR, November 2, 2020, Retrieved November 7, 2020.
- ^ "Consummation Notice", CDBS Public Access, Federal Communications Commission, December 31, 2020, Retrieved February 9, 2021.
- ^ A ‘New’ HC2 Recharges Into ’21, With A New CEO Radio + Television Business Report January 4, 2021 (retrieved January 9, 2021)
- ^ Feder, Robert (May 3, 2021). "Weigel expands memorable entertainment menu with 'MeTV Plus'". RobertFeder.com. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
- ^ "Assignments". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. October 8, 2021. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
- ^ Jacobson, Adam (March 23, 2022). "Weigel Adds A Cleveland LPTV Property To Its Station Roster". Retrieved June 6, 2022.
- ^ Miller, Mark (February 14, 2022). "Weigel Launching Story Television Network". TV News Check. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
- ^ Michael Schneider (February 13, 2023). "Weigel Broadcasting's Decades Network Will Flip to Sitcom-Centric 'Catchy Comedy' in March, Led by Original 'Night Court'". Variety. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- ^ "Privacy Policy". Dabl. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
You may also send inquiries by mail to: 26 North Halsted Chicago, IL 60661
- ^ https://www.weigelbroadcasting.com/national/metv-toons
- ^ Miller, Mark K. (June 17, 2025). "Weigel Broadcasting To Launch WEST Network". TV News Check. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
- ^ "WEST-Western Entertainment Series Television". WEST. Retrieved August 13, 2025.
- ^ "Weigel Broadcasting Co.: Catchy Comedy".
- ^ "Weigel Broadcasting Co.: Dabl".
- ^ "Weigel Broadcasting Co.: H&I".
- ^ "Weigel Broadcasting Co.: MeTV".
- ^ https://www.metv.com/metvplus
- ^ "Weigel Broadcasting Co.: MeTV Toons". Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ "Weigel Broadcasting Co.: Movies!".
- ^ "Weigel Broadcasting Co.: Start TV".
- ^ "Weigel Broadcasting Co.: Story Television".
- ^ Schneider, Michael (June 17, 2025). "Weigel Broadcasting Launches 'WEST' New Broadcast Channel Devoted to Westerns This Fall". Variety. Retrieved June 17, 2025.
- ^ "Weigel Broadcasting Co.: WEST".
- ^ "Future WEST Stations". WEST. Weigel Broadcasting. Retrieved September 13, 2025.
- ^ Feder, Robert (February 9, 2015). "Weigel Broadcasting to Launch Oldies on '87.7 MeTV FM'". Robert Feder. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- ^ https://www.weigelbroadcasting.com/local/metvfm
External links
[edit]- Official website
- John Weigel - Man of UHF (Archive)
Weigel Broadcasting
View on GrokipediaHistory
Founding and early years
Weigel Broadcasting was established in 1964 by Chicago broadcasting veteran John J. Weigel as a family-owned company dedicated to launching an independent UHF television station in the city.[1] The venture centered on WCIU-TV (channel 26), which signed on the air on February 6, 1964, marking it as Chicago's first UHF station and filling a niche for local programming aimed at underserved audiences, including ethnic communities with content such as bullfights, Italian operas, Spanish soap operas, championship soccer matches, and news in languages like Spanish, Polish, German, Swedish, and Gaelic.[8] Initial operations emphasized family-oriented and community-focused fare, reflecting Weigel's vision to serve minorities and immigrants in a market dominated by VHF affiliates.[9] Facing severe financial difficulties shortly after launch, including an inability to pay bills that limited broadcasts to test patterns at times, the company underwent a significant ownership transition in 1965 when it was acquired by the Shapiro family in a hostile takeover.[3] Led by Howard Shapiro, an early advertiser on WCIU-TV through his television retail business, the family bought out investors and stabilized operations while retaining the Weigel Broadcasting Co. name and corporate structure.[10] Under this new leadership, WCIU-TV incorporated as an independent station amid stiff UHF competition in Chicago, introducing innovative local shows such as the business-focused The Stock Market Observer in 1967 and children's programming like Kiddie-A-Go-Go from 1966 to 1970, which featured puppet skits, dances, and audience participation.[9][11] The 1970s brought economic pressures on independent UHF stations nationwide, including rising costs and the emergence of cable television, yet Weigel Broadcasting persevered by diversifying its schedule with cultural and music content.[9] A pivotal milestone came in 1970 when WCIU-TV premiered Soul Train, the groundbreaking syndicated music variety show hosted by Don Cornelius that showcased African American performers and became a cultural phenomenon, originating from the station for several seasons.[9] This era solidified the company's commitment to independent, locally relevant programming, enabling survival through targeted ethnic and family-oriented content while navigating the challenges of the UHF market.[12]Network launches and expansions
Weigel Broadcasting began its foray into syndicated digital networks with the launch of MeTV (Memorable Entertainment Television) as a classic television programming block on January 6, 2003, initially airing on low-power station WFBT-CA (channel 23) in Chicago as a digital subchannel dedicated to nostalgic series from the 1950s to 1990s.[13] This local diginet focused on reruns of popular shows like The Honeymooners and Perry Mason, capitalizing on the growing interest in retro programming amid the shift to digital broadcasting. By 2005, MeTV had evolved into a full-time format on Weigel's owned stations, and in 2010, the company expanded it nationally through affiliation agreements with other broadcasters, transforming it into a competitive alternative to networks like RTV and Antenna TV.[14] By 2015, MeTV had achieved over 60% U.S. household coverage, becoming a cornerstone of Weigel's portfolio by leveraging multicast capabilities to deliver affordable, escapist content to cord-cutters and traditional viewers alike.[15] In 2008, Weigel partnered with MGM Television to launch This TV, a movie-centric digital network emphasizing classic films and select television series from MGM's library, debuting on November 1 as a 24/7 multicast service available on Weigel's stations and affiliates.[16] The network's strategy centered on filling subchannel slots with evergreen Hollywood content, such as The Three Stooges shorts and feature films, to attract older demographics underserved by primetime cable. This partnership highlighted Weigel's approach to collaborative ventures for content acquisition and distribution, though operations shifted to Tribune Broadcasting in 2013, with Tribune assuming programming oversight while Weigel retained an equity stake.[17] Building on this momentum, Weigel introduced Movies! on May 27, 2013, in partnership with Fox Television Stations, creating a dedicated film network airing over 300 classic movies annually from studios like Paramount and Warner Bros., distributed via digital subchannels on Fox's owned-and-operated stations and Weigel's outlets in Chicago and Milwaukee.[18] The following year, on September 29, 2014, Weigel soft-launched Heroes & Icons (H&I), a action-adventure oriented diginet targeting male viewers with reruns of police procedurals, sci-fi series, and war dramas such as Star Trek and The A-Team, initially on its own stations before expanding nationally to reach about 57% of U.S. households by 2016.[19] In 2015, Weigel collaborated with CBS Television Stations to debut Decades on May 25, a "TV time capsule" network featuring archival clips, classic sitcoms, and historical programming from CBS's library, which was rebranded as Catchy Comedy on March 27, 2023, to emphasize lighthearted sitcoms like Night Court and The Odd Couple.[20][15] These expansions were facilitated by the 2009 digital television transition, which enabled efficient use of multicast spectrum to air multiple subchannels per station without additional infrastructure costs, allowing Weigel to roll out networks on existing digital signals post-transition.[21] Revenue strategies for these diginets relied heavily on targeted advertising, including infomercials and paid programming blocks during off-peak hours, which provided stable income streams while minimizing reliance on high-cost original content production.[22] This model underscored Weigel's focus on low-overhead syndication, strategic alliances for content and carriage, and audience segmentation to sustain growth through the mid-2010s.Station acquisitions and spectrum auction
In the 2016–2017 FCC broadcast incentive auction, Weigel Broadcasting sold the spectrum rights for its Milwaukee station WMLW-TV for $69.7 million, allowing the company to relinquish its full-power UHF operations while retaining multicast programming capacity.[23] Following the auction's conclusion in April 2017, WMLW-TV transitioned to a channel-sharing agreement with Weigel's existing low-power station WBME-CD in the same market, enabling continued over-the-air broadcasting on WBME-CD's facilities starting January 8, 2018, without interruption to viewer access.[24] This repacking preserved Weigel's presence in Milwaukee as part of the FCC's broader spectrum reallocation, which relocated or consolidated 987 stations nationwide to free up bandwidth for wireless services.[25] The proceeds from the WMLW-TV spectrum sale funded an aggressive expansion strategy, enabling Weigel to acquire multiple stations in underserved or high-potential markets to strengthen distribution for its national multicast networks like MeTV and Heroes & Icons. In August 2017, Weigel purchased KCSG-TV in Cedar City, Utah—serving the Salt Lake City market—for $1.1 million, converting it into a Heroes & Icons owned-and-operated station and marking entry into a new Western market.[26] Shortly thereafter, in September 2017, the company acquired KAZA-TV in the Los Angeles market for $9 million, establishing a foothold in the nation's second-largest DMA and facilitating broader carriage of Weigel's diginets on the West Coast.[27] By October 2017, Weigel further expanded with a $23.2 million deal to buy four stations from OTA Broadcasting: KFFV and KVOS-TV in Seattle, and KAXT-CD and KTLN-TV in San Francisco, creating duopoly opportunities in these competitive markets to optimize local operations and enhance network affiliation stability. These post-auction purchases, completed amid the FCC's repacking process through 2019, increased Weigel's owned-and-operated station count from around 12 to 25 by 2018, prioritizing regions with limited multicast options to drive national network growth without relying solely on affiliations.[1] This approach emphasized cost-efficient duopolies and low-power integrations, such as the WMLW/WBME sharing, to maintain operational scale amid evolving spectrum constraints.Developments in the 2020s
In the early 2020s, Weigel Broadcasting continued expanding its portfolio of digital multicast networks to target niche audiences amid the ongoing shift toward over-the-air viewing driven by cord-cutting trends. Building on its established model of affordable, accessible entertainment, the company launched Story Television on March 28, 2022, a national over-the-air channel dedicated to history and documentary programming, distributed through affiliates including stations owned by Hearst Television and Marquee Broadcasting.[28] This followed the 2018 debut of Start TV, a female-skewed network featuring crime dramas like The Good Wife and The Closer, which by the 2020s had grown to cover over 80% of U.S. households via partnerships with CBS Television Stations and other broadcasters.[29] Weigel's focus on nostalgic and genre-specific content intensified with the June 25, 2024, launch of MeTV Toons, a 24-hour channel showcasing classic animated series from Warner Bros. Discovery, including Looney Tunes and Scooby-Doo, available on Weigel-owned stations in major markets like New York and Chicago as well as through growing affiliate partnerships.[30] Complementing its flagship MeTV network, Weigel introduced MeTV+ as a companion service in select markets, offering additional classic TV episodes to enhance viewer retention without subscription fees.[1] The company's affiliate base expanded steadily, with networks like MeTV reaching nearly 95% of U.S. television households by mid-decade through deals with operators such as Fubo and DIRECTV.[31] In June 2025, Weigel announced plans for WEST (Western Entertainment Series Television), its tenth national over-the-air network, which launched on September 29, 2025, featuring iconic western series such as Gunsmoke and Bonanza to capitalize on enduring demand for the genre.[32] This initiative underscored Weigel's strategy of leveraging public-domain and licensed content for low-cost, high-engagement diginets, which by 2025 accounted for a significant portion of its revenue amid declining linear cable subscriptions.[22] In September 2025, Weigel acquired low-power station WSKC-CD in Pittsburgh to further expand its multicast distribution.[2] Weigel also deepened its sports broadcasting presence with an October 6, 2025, announcement of a statewide over-the-air network for Milwaukee Bucks games during the 2025-26 NBA season, airing select matchups on flagship WDJT-TV (CBS 58) and affiliates like WMLW-TV in Milwaukee, WSAW-TV in Wausau, and WISC-TV in Madison to broaden free access for fans.[33] This expansion built on prior local partnerships, aiming to serve underserved rural and cord-free viewers in Wisconsin.[34] On November 12, 2025, Weigel reached a new distribution agreement with Dish Network, restoring carriage of MeTV and other networks on the satellite service.[35] On the regulatory front, Weigel actively engaged with the Federal Communications Commission to protect over-the-air broadcasting infrastructure. On July 25, 2025, company representatives met with FCC staff to oppose proposals for a rapid "flash cut" sunset of ATSC 1.0 signals in favor of ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV), arguing that such a transition could disenfranchise millions reliant on existing equipment and undermine free local TV access.[36] Later, on September 4, 2025, Weigel filed comments challenging the ATSC 3.0 Security Authority's (A3SA) centralized control over NextGen TV encryption and security features, contending that the A3SA—dominated by major networks—imposes excessive costs and limits broadcaster flexibility, potentially hindering adoption of the standard.[37] These actions highlighted Weigel's advocacy for policies preserving the viability of multicast diginets in an evolving broadcast landscape.Broadcasting assets
Television stations
Weigel Broadcasting owns and operates 25 television stations across the United States as of November 2025, comprising full-power, Class A, and low-power facilities primarily in major markets. The portfolio emphasizes duopolies and triopolies in key areas such as Chicago and Milwaukee, where stations serve as outlets for local programming, network affiliates, and Weigel's national digital multicast networks like MeTV. These holdings reflect strategic acquisitions and spectrum repacking adjustments following the 2017 FCC incentive auction, enabling efficient operations with a focus on classic entertainment, sports, and news.[38] In Chicago, Weigel's flagship market, the company maintains a strong presence through a duopoly of full-power and Class A stations. WCIU-TV (virtual channel 26, RF 23, 160 kW) operates as an independent station branded as "The U," airing local sports including Chicago Sky WNBA games and syndicated fare.[39] Complementing it are WWME-CD (virtual 23, RF 20, 15 kW Class A), a MeTV owned-and-operated station, and WMEU-CD (virtual 48, RF 18, 15 kW Class A), branded "The U Too" with independent programming and additional multicast channels. This cluster covers over 9 million viewers in the nation's third-largest market.[40] Milwaukee hosts another core duopoly, with WDJT-TV (virtual 58, RF 58, 1,000 kW) serving as the CBS affiliate "CBS 58," delivering local news, weather, and sports alongside national programming.[41] Paired with it is WMLW-TV (virtual 49, RF 49, 500 kW), an independent station known as "The M," featuring Milwaukee Bucks NBA broadcasts, comedy, and drama. Supporting these are WBME-CD (virtual 41, RF 41, 15 kW Class A) for MeTV and low-power WYTU-LD (virtual 63, RF 16) as the Telemundo affiliate, extending reach across Wisconsin.[42] The group reaches approximately 2 million households in the 36th-ranked market.[43]| Market | Call Sign | Virtual Channel (RF) | Affiliation | Power/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | WCIU-TV | 26 (23) | Independent ("The U") | Full-power, 160 kW; post-repack relocation to RF 23; local sports focus.[39] |
| Chicago, IL | WWME-CD | 23 (20) | MeTV | Class A, 15 kW; duopoly with WCIU.[40] |
| Chicago, IL | WMEU-CD | 48 (18) | Independent ("The U Too") | Class A, 15 kW; multicast hub for Weigel networks.[7] |
| Milwaukee, WI | WDJT-TV | 58 (58) | CBS ("CBS 58") | Full-power, 1,000 kW; local news leader.[44] |
| Milwaukee, WI | WMLW-TV | 49 (49) | Independent ("The M") | Full-power, 500 kW; Bucks NBA rights holder.[42] |
| Milwaukee, WI | WBME-CD | 41 (41) | MeTV | Class A, 15 kW; duopoly component.[40] |
| Milwaukee, WI | WYTU-LD | 63 (16) | Telemundo | Low-power; statewide coverage.[43] |
| Los Angeles, CA | KAZA-TV | 54 (22) | MeTV ("MeTV Hollywood") | Full-power, 7.24 kW; serves 18 million+ viewers.[40] |
| New York, NY | WJLP | 33 (3) | MeTV | Full-power; low-power translator network extends reach.[45] |
| Seattle, WA | KFFV | 44 (16) | Independent | Full-power; general entertainment.[7] |
| South Bend-Elkhart, IN | WBND-LD | 57 (35) | ABC | Low-power, 58.2 kW; duopoly/triopoly.[40] |
| South Bend-Elkhart, IN | WMWB-LD | 25 (25) | The CW ("CW 25") | Low-power, 37.8 kW.[40] |
| South Bend-Elkhart, IN | WMYS-LD | 69 (28) | Independent ("My Michiana") | Low-power, 150 kW; MyNetworkTV programming.[40] |
| St. Louis, MO | KNLC | 24 (14) | MeTV | Full-power; religious and classic content mix.[7] |
| Washington, DC | WDME-CD | 48 (20) | MeTV | Class A; RF relocation post-auction.[45] |
| Green Bay-Appleton, WI | WMEI | 31 (31) | MeTV | Full-power; O&O for national network, launched 2024.[46] |
| Houston, TX | KYAZ | 51 (51) | Independent | Full-power; hosts Weigel diginets.[47] |
| Atlanta, GA | WSKC-CD | 22 (14) | Independent | Class A, 15 kW; acquired in 2025 for multicast expansion.[2] |
| Nashville, TN | WJFB | 44 (44) | MeTV | Full-power, 950 kW; full ownership post-2025 acquisition.[40] |
National networks
Weigel Broadcasting manages a portfolio of national digital multicast networks focused on niche genres of classic and specialized programming, distributed primarily via over-the-air subchannels across the United States. These networks target audiences seeking nostalgic entertainment, with content drawn from extensive libraries of vintage television series and films. As of 2025, the company's actively managed networks include eight core offerings, emphasizing formats such as classic TV, movies, action, crime dramas, comedy, documentaries, animation, and westerns.[5][32]| Network | Format | National Launch Year | U.S. Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| MeTV | Classic television series (sitcoms, dramas, westerns, sci-fi) | 2010 | 96% (over 177 affiliates)[14] |
| Movies! | Classic films across genres (action, drama, comedy, noir) | 2013 | Approximately 80% (over 140 affiliates)[48] |
| Heroes & Icons | Action-adventure and sci-fi series (including all original Star Trek shows) | 2014 | Over 150 affiliates[49][50] |
| Start TV | Crime dramas and mysteries featuring female leads | 2018 | Over 140 affiliates[5] |
| Catchy Comedy | Classic sitcoms and comedy series (rebranded from Decades in 2023) | 2015 (as Decades); 2023 rebrand | Over 130 affiliates[51] |
| Story Television | Real-life documentaries and true crime stories | 2022 | Over 100 affiliates[5] |
| MeTV Toons | Classic animation and cartoons | 2024 | Over 120 affiliates[52] |
| WEST | Classic western series (e.g., Bonanza, Gunsmoke) | 2025 | Launching with over 100 affiliates in top markets[38][53] |