WCIA

WCIA is a television station licensed to Champaign, Illinois, and the CBS affiliate for a broad Central Illinois market. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 3 and is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also operates WCIX, a Springfield-licensed independent station carrying MyNetworkTV programming. WCIA and WCIX share facilities and use complementary transmission arrangements to extend CBS programming and local news across a geographically large market. The station began broadcasting on November 14, 1953, under the ownership of Midwest Television, a company established by Champaign businessman and attorney August C. Meyer Sr. From its launch, WCIA was primarily affiliated with CBS and also carried selected NBC and DuMont programming. It later became the market's principal CBS outlet after NBC programming moved to WCHU-TV, now WICD, in 1959, and after the DuMont network ceased operations. A small amount of ABC programming was also carried during the station's first television season. WCIA's VHF channel assignment gave it a major historical advantage over competing UHF stations. For much of its history, it was regarded as one of the most dominant local television stations in Central Illinois. Its transmitter west of Seymour provides strong service to Champaign-Urbana and Decatur, but the station's direct over-the-air signal is weaker in parts of western and southern portions of the market, including Springfield and Jacksonville. Cable, satellite, and later digital simulcast arrangements became important to maintaining broad market coverage. The station's coverage strategy evolved through a series of channel and ownership changes. Midwest Television expanded elsewhere in Illinois and to California before selling controlling interests in its Illinois television holdings to Nexstar in 1999. Nexstar acquired the remaining interest in 2001. A low-power relay serving Springfield began in 1967 and became the full-power station WCFN in 1985. WCFN later separated from WCIA's programming schedule, adopted the WCIX call sign in 2011, and continued to work with WCIA through shared digital subchannels. Today, CBS programming is available through WCIA's primary channel and WCIX's second digital channel, while WCIX's main channel carries MyNetworkTV programming. WCIA's business is centered on local journalism, broadcast advertising, CBS network programming, syndicated content, digital publishing, and community-oriented programming. Its news operation broadcasts from Champaign and maintains a Springfield presence through a sales office and news bureau near the Illinois State Capitol. The station has historically emphasized regional news, weather, agriculture, politics, sports, and public-service coverage. It also carried Illinois Fighting Illini football and men's basketball for many years, first through locally produced broadcasts and later through syndicated Big Ten programming. Nationally distributed Big Ten games moved largely to the Big Ten Network in 2007, while games included in CBS's sports agreements continued to be available through WCIA. WCIA introduced the hour-long lifestyle and news program ciLiving.tv in 2011 and later expanded its local news schedule, including a one-hour evening newscast, additional morning programming, and the Sunday public-affairs program Capitol Connection. Local newscasts moved to high definition in 2012, and the station completed further technical upgrades as digital television and spectrum-repacking requirements changed. Its signal and subchannel arrangements have also incorporated multicast services such as Bounce TV and Grit, as well as shared NextGen TV infrastructure. The station has experienced periods of community scrutiny, including criticism over the use of government-produced video news releases without clear identification and controversy surrounding a 2021 report about a fatal shooting involving Champaign police officer Chris Oberheim. WCIA apologized for the latter report and subse…

WCIA began broadcasting on November 14, 1953, as a Champaign-based commercial television station established by Midwest Television. The company was founded in 1952 by August C. Meyer Sr., a lawyer and banking executive who later expanded Midwest Television through acquisitions in Peoria and San Diego. WCIA launched as a primary CBS affiliate, with secondary NBC and DuMont affiliations and a limited amount of ABC programming during its first season. The station's VHF channel assignment made it unusually competitive in Central Illinois, where much of the opposition operated on UHF channels. WCIA became the region's dominant commercial television outlet and resisted proposals that would have moved it to a UHF channel. Its original coverage plan contemplated a transmitter near White Heath, between Champaign and Decatur, but an objection from the owner of WTVP, now WAND, led to the transmitter being relocated to Seymour. The Seymour site provided strong service to Champaign-Urbana and Decatur, while leaving Springfield and some western communities dependent on cable, satellite, or supplementary transmission arrangements. WCIA dropped NBC programming in 1959 after WCHU-TV, now WICD, began operation. DuMont programming ended after that network shut down in 1956. To improve reception in Springfield, Midwest Television launched a low-power relay on UHF channel 49 in 1967. The relay became full-power WCFN in 1985 and originally remained a simulcast of WCIA. In 2002, WCFN adopted a separate schedule and became an affiliate of UPN. Digital subchannels and cable distribution subsequently allowed WCIA's CBS schedule to remain accessible throughout the market. WCFN changed its call letters to WCIX in 2011. Midwest Television sold controlling interests in its Illinois stations to Nexstar in 1999, and Nexstar acquired the remaining interest in 2001. The change placed WCIA within a larger group of local television stations while preserving its CBS affiliation and Central Illinois identity. A significant distribution change occurred in 2000, when Nexstar announced that WCIA would be removed from AT&T Broadband and other cable systems in the Bloomington-Normal area. The decision was connected to CBS affiliation rules and concerns about protecting the ratings and advertising position of sister station WMBD-TV in the Peoria market. A local campaign, Citizens to Keep WCIA on the Air, opposed the removal but did not reverse it. WCIA remained receivable over the air in parts of the area and continued to reach many households through its principal market distribution. The station upgraded its technical facilities as digital broadcasting developed. Work began in 2006 to reinforce the Seymour tower for a new digital transmission line and antenna. WCIA ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, retaining virtual channel 3 through a digital UHF signal. It later moved its physical digital channel from 48 to 34 in January 2020 as part of the national spectrum repack. WCIA and WCIX developed a shared digital arrangement in which CBS programming appears on WCIA's primary channel and WCIX's second subchannel, while MyNetworkTV appears on WCIX's main channel and WCIA's second subchannel. The arrangement is identified in local ratings as WCIA+. WCIA's local news operation has been a central part of its identity. The station broadcasts from Champaign and maintains a Springfield bureau and sales presence near the state capitol. It introduced the hour-long lifestyle and news program ciLiving.tv in September 2011, moved local newscasts to high definition in October 2012, expanded the evening newscast in 2015, launched the Sunday public-affairs program Capitol Connection later that year, and extended its morning show to five hours in 2016. The station also has a long history of agriculture reporting and sports coverage, including Illinois Fighting Illini broadcasts. Locally produced or syndicated Illini coverage was eventually displaced in large part by the Big Ten Network, although CBS-carried games continued to air on WCIA. Several long-serving journalists became associated with the station. Weathercaster Judy Fraser retired in 2009 after 34 years, and meteorologist Robert Reese served as chief meteorologist until his death from cancer in 2012. Anchor Dave Benton publicly discussed his terminal brain cancer in 2014, stepped down from the main anchor position in 2015, and died later that year. Former WCIA personnel also included Colleen Callahan, John Coleman, Dana Perino, Elaine Quijano, Martin Savidge, and Lori Stokes. WCIA has also faced editorial controversies. In 2005, reporting by The New York Times brought attention to the station's use of Department of Agriculture video news releases without explicit labeling. In 2021, a report concerning a fatal Champaign shooting was criticized for displaying a family-supplied image that appeared to memorialize the person who had shot responding officers. WCIA apologized and acknowledged that the report fell below its standards. The episode led to advertiser withdrawals and management changes, followed by an internal review and public discussion of reforms. The station remains active as a Nexstar-owned CBS affiliate with local broadcast, digital, advertising, and community-service operations.

1. 2020Digital transmission moves to channel 34

   WCIA changes its physical digital channel as part of the United States television spectrum repack.

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2. 2019Tribune Media acquisition closes

   Nexstar completes its acquisition of Tribune Media after regulatory approval, expanding WCIA's sister-station network.

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3. 2012Local news moves to high definition

   WCIA and WCIX begin airing local newscasts in high definition.

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4. 2011WCFN changes call sign to WCIX

   The Springfield-licensed sister station adopts the WCIX call letters.

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5. 2001Nexstar obtains remaining Illinois interest

   Nexstar acquires the remaining interest in the Illinois stations.

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6. 1999Nexstar acquires controlling interest

   Nexstar takes a controlling interest in Midwest Television's Illinois television holdings.

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7. 1985Relay becomes full-power WCFN

   The channel 49 relay is converted into the full-power station WCFN.

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8. 1967Springfield relay launches

   A low-power UHF relay is established on channel 49 to improve WCIA coverage in Springfield.

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9. 1959NBC affiliation ends

   WCIA drops its secondary NBC affiliation after WCHU-TV, now WICD, begins service.

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10. 1953WCIA begins broadcasting

    WCIA signs on from Champaign on November 14 as a primarily CBS-affiliated commercial television station.

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A long-established, community-oriented CBS affiliate and local news provider for Central Illinois, using VHF coverage, digital simulcasts, cable distribution, and regional reporting to serve a large multi-city market.

• Local news broadcastsTelevision news1953

  WCIA produces recurring local news, weather, traffic, and public-service broadcasts from its Champaign newsroom, with reporting resources in Springfield. The operation serves a wide Central Illinois market and has historically emphasized regional government, agriculture, severe weather, crime, education, and community affairs.

• CBS network programmingNetwork television1953

  As a CBS affiliate, WCIA carries the network's general entertainment, news, daytime, sports, and special-event schedule. CBS programming is also simulcast through WCIX's second digital subchannel to improve service in parts of the market where WCIA's direct over-the-air signal is limited.

• ciLiving.tvLifestyle television2011

  Introduced in 2011, ciLiving.tv is an hour-long lifestyle and news program combining local features, interviews, consumer-oriented material, and audience interaction through digital and social-media tools.

• Capitol ConnectionPublic affairs2015

  Capitol Connection is a Sunday public-affairs program focused on Illinois government and state politics. The program grew from WCIA's Springfield reporting presence and has also been distributed by other Nexstar stations in Illinois.

• Digital multicast servicesDigital television2016

  WCIA's digital multiplex has carried additional services including Bounce TV and Grit, while the station has participated in shared transmission arrangements involving WCIX and ATSC 3.0 services.

• 2012Red-ribbon support for Robert Reese

  Central Illinois

  WCIA sold red ribbons during chief meteorologist Robert Reese's illness to support Reese and the American Cancer Society.

  Outcome. The effort was associated with local support for Reese during his cancer treatment.

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• 2000Citizens to Keep WCIA on the Air

  Bloomington-Normal · Central Illinois

  A community group petitioned Nexstar after the company announced that WCIA would be removed from AT&T Broadband and nearby cable systems in the Peoria-area market.

  Outcome. The campaign did not reverse the planned cable-distribution change, although over-the-air reception remained available in parts of the affected region.

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• 2019Nexstar completes Tribune Media acquisitionM&A

  Nexstar announced the acquisition of Tribune Media in 2018 as part of a major expansion of its television-station portfolio.

  What changed. The transaction received FCC approval and closed on September 19, 2019.

  Aftermath. WCIA and WCIX gained additional Nexstar sister stations in nearby markets, including Chicago and St. Louis.

  Announced transaction value. $6.4 billion (2018 announcement; transaction closed 2019)

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• 2011Launch ciLiving.tvStrategy

  WCIA sought to expand local programming beyond conventional newscasts and strengthen engagement with viewers.

  What changed. The station introduced an hour-long afternoon lifestyle and news program using social-media interaction, online polls, and text-message audience participation.

  Aftermath. The program became part of WCIA's local programming portfolio and afternoon schedule.

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• 2000End expanded cable distribution outside the primary marketStrategy

  Nexstar sought to comply with CBS affiliation arrangements that favored one affiliate per market and to protect sister station WMBD-TV's ratings and advertising position in the Peoria market.

  What changed. The company announced that WCIA would be removed from AT&T Broadband and surrounding cable systems in the Bloomington-Normal and Peoria-area region.

  Aftermath. A local petition campaign opposed the change, but it was not reversed. WCIA continued to reach some residents through over-the-air reception.

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• 2021Abigail Metsch social-media controversyControversy

  Reporter Abigail Metsch was terminated after a viewer complaint about an Instagram image referencing her station affiliation escalated into a broader industry and corporate controversy.

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• 2021Champaign shooting report controversyControversy

  WCIA faced strong criticism after a report about the shooting deaths of officer Chris Oberheim and Darion Lafayette displayed a family-provided image that viewers considered an inappropriate memorialization of Lafayette. The station apologized on air and stated that the report failed to meet its standards. Subsequent management changes and a public discussion of editorial reforms followed.

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• 2005Use of government video news releasesControversy

  The New York Times reported that WCIA had aired numerous U.S. Department of Agriculture video releases without clearly identifying them as government-produced material. The station said the segments were used in its agricultural news service.

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• 2018Nexstar announces acquisition of Tribune Media

  Nexstar announced a transaction to acquire Tribune Media, expanding its national station portfolio and giving WCIA additional sister-station relationships after the deal closed.

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• 2012WCIA and WCIX begin broadcasting local news in high definition

  The stations introduced high-definition local newscasts, modernizing their production and presentation systems.

  Product generation
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1. WCIA
2. WCIA official website