WICD
Champaign/Urbana/Danville, Illinois
Branding	ABC NewsChannel 15
Slogan	Coverage You Can Count On
Channels	Analog: 15 (UHF) Digital: 41 (UHF)
Affiliations	ABC (secondary 1953-59, primary since 2005)
Owner	Sinclair Broadcast Group
Founded	December 19, 1953 on channel 24 and channel 33 (moved to channel 15 1967)
Call letters meaning	W Illinois Champaign Danville
Former callsigns	WDAN-TV (1953-59) WCHU-TV (1959-67)
Former affiliations	NBC (1959-2005)
Website	www.wicd15.com

WICD, which brands itself as "ABC NewsChannel 15", is an ABC affiliate located in Champaign, Illinois. It is owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group and broadcasts on channel 15. WICD's transmitter facility is located in Vermilion County, north east of Homer. It is a sister station to WICS in Springfield. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. ... A snowy day in Carle Park west of the Urbana High School. ... United States Illinois Vermilion 17. ... A brand includes a name, logo, slogan, and/or design scheme associated with a product or service. ... NewsChannel (sometimes written as Newschannel or News Channel) is a popular name of local television station newscasts in the United States. ... Look up slogan in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... In broadcasting, a channel is a range of frequencies (or, equivalently, wavelengths) assigned by a government for the operation of a particular broadcast station. ... Analog television (or analogue television) encodes television and transports the picture and sound information as an analog signal, that is, by varying the amplitude and/or frequencies of the broadcast signal. ... This article is about the radio frequency. ... Digital Terrestrial Television (DTTV or DTT) is an implementation of digital technology to provide a greater number of channels and/or better quality of picture and sound using aerial broadcasts to a conventional antenna (or aerial) instead of a satellite dish or cable connection. ... An affiliate is a commercial entity with a relationship with a peer or a larger entity. ... The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) operates television and radio networks in the United States and is also shown on basic cable in Canada. ... The Sinclair Broadcast Group (SBG) NASDAQ: SBGI is the operator of the largest number of local television stations in the United States with a total of 59 stations across the country in 38 primarily small and medium markets, many of which are located in the South and the Midwest. ... is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Call sign can refer to different types of call signs: Airline call sign Aviator call sign Cosmonaut call sign Radio and television call signs Tactical call sign, also known as a tactical designator See also: International Callsign Allocations, Maritime Mobile Service Identity This is a disambiguation page — a navigational... Call sign can refer to different types of call signs: Airline call sign Aviator call sign Cosmonaut call sign Radio and television call signs Tactical call sign, also known as a tactical designator See also: International Callsign Allocations, Maritime Mobile Service Identity This is a disambiguation page — a navigational... An affiliate is a commercial entity with a relationship with a peer or a larger entity. ... The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ... A website (alternatively, Web site or web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos and other digital assets that is hosted on one or several Web server(s), usually accessible via the Internet, cell phone or a LAN. A Web page is a document, typically written in HTML... NewsChannel (sometimes written as Newschannel or News Channel) is a popular name of local television station newscasts in the United States. ... The American Broadcasting Company (ABC) operates television and radio networks in the United States and is also shown on basic cable in Canada. ... Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. ... The Sinclair Broadcast Group (SBG) NASDAQ: SBGI is the operator of the largest number of local television stations in the United States with a total of 59 stations across the country in 38 primarily small and medium markets, many of which are located in the South and the Midwest. ... Vermilion County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Homer is a village located in Champaign County, Illinois. ... WICS, which brands itself as ABC NewsChannel 20, is the ABC affiliate located in Springfield, Illinois. ... : Home of President Abraham Lincoln United States Illinois Sangamon 60. ...

Although WICD identifies as a station in its own right, it is considered a semi-satellite of WICS. WICD clears all of WICS' syndicated programming, but produces its own newscasts and airs separate commercials. It serves the eastern half of the Champaign/Urbana/Springfield/Decatur market while WICS serves the western portion. Nielsen Media Research identifies WICD as "WICS+" in its ratings books. A snowy day in Carle Park west of the Urbana High School. ... The Decatur Transfer House in the background with a newly completed fountain in the foreground. ... Nielsen Media Research (NMR) is a U.S. firm, headquartered in New York City, and operating primarily from Oldsmar, FL, which measures media audiences, including television, radio and newspapers. ...

WICD is also the de facto ABC affiliate in the Terre Haute, Indiana, market, which does not have an ABC station of its own. De facto is a Latin expression that means in fact or in practice. It is commonly used as opposed to de jure (meaning by law) when referring to matters of law or governance or technique (such as standards), that are found in the common experience as created or developed without... Terre Haute (IPA: ) is a city in Vigo County, Indiana near the states western border with Illinois. ...

History

WICD went on the air for the first time on April 25, 1959 as WCHU-TV, an NBC affiliate on channel 33. It was owned by Plains Television Partners and was a low-powered satellite of Springfield's WICS. The WCHU signal traveled about 15 miles from its transmitter atop the Inman Hotel in downtown Champaign. Studios were also located at the Inman Hotel. However, getting a decent signal from Springfield (85 miles west of Champaign) was usually hit-or-miss. Plains Television had to build a microwave tower in northwest Champaign to send the WICS signal to the WCHU studios. With a more reliable signal, the station began a more routine schedule on September 14. Channel 33 began broadcasting in color the next year. is the 115th day of the year (116th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. ... is the 257th day of the year (258th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

In July of 1960, Plains Television Partners bought WDAN-TV in Danville. WDAN had originally debuted on December 19, 1953. Originally, the station was an ABC affiliate broadcasting on channel 24 with a signal which radiated about 25 miles from its transmitter in Danville. WDAN-TV was owned by Northwest Publishing, owner and publisher of the Danville Commercial-News newspaper. Plains Television changed WDAN's call letters to WICD, and made it a full repeater of WCHU. From 1960 to 1967, both WCHU and WICD broadcast some locally originated programs from the WCHU studio in Champaign. However, WICD's transmitter was not capable of broadcasting local programming in color. is the 353rd day of the year (354th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1953 (MCMLIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In June 1966, Plains Television announced that WCHU and WICD would merge into a single full-power broadcasting on channel 15. It would operate under the WICD call letters, but would use WCHU's license and studios at the Inman Hotel in Champaign. The new station would broadcast at a million watts, from the tallest tower in Illinois (at 1,385 feet). The new station was to have gone on the air in January 1967, but an ice storm toppled the tower. It was rebuilt, and the new WICD went on the air in July. However, there are unconfirmed reports of a delay in the final paperwork for the new station, and it may have originally gone on the air as WCHU. The station moved from the Inman Hotel to its current studio facility on Country Fair Drive in 1978. Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1986, WICS was purchased by Guy Gannett Broadcasting (no relation to the much larger Gannett Company), but WICD remained under the ownership of Plains Television. The two stations operated as a "regional network," simulcasting most network and syndicated programming. This arrangement nearly brought down WICD. Guy Gannett finally bought WICD in 1994, and pumped significant resources into the station, particularly its news department. Gannett Company, Inc. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar). ...

Gannett then sold most of its television properties, including WICD and WICS, to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in 1999. Almost immediately after the acquisition by Sinclair was finalized, Sinclair announced the sale of the two stations, plus KGAN in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; to Sunrise Television. However, the FCC did not allow Sunrise to buy WICS/WICD due to Sunrise's ownership structure. Hicks, Muse, Tate & Furst (HMTF), an investment firm controlled by Texas Rangers and Dallas Stars owner Tom Hicks, owned a large block of Sunrise stock. HMTF is majority stockholder of LIN TV, then-owner of WAND in Decatur. The FCC ruled that HMTF held enough stock in Sunrise that an acquisition of WICS/WICD would have resulted in a duopoly between two of the four highest-rated stations in the market--something which is forbidden by FCC rules. Sinclair subsequently withdrew the offer to sell the three stations in 2000. KGAN is a television station based out of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. ... Nickname: Location in the State of Iowa Coordinates: , Country United States State Iowa County Linn County Incorporated 1849 Government  - Mayor Kay Halloran Area  - City  64. ... The son of a Texas radio station owner, Thomas Hicks became interested in leveraged buyouts as a member of First National Banks venture capital group. ... Major league affiliations American League (1961–present) West Division (1972–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 26, 34, 42 Name Texas Rangers (1972–present) Washington Senators (1961-1971) Other nicknames None in common use Ballpark Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (1994–present) a. ... The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. ... Thomas O. Hicks (born 1946 in Port Arthur, Tx), nicknamed Cheddar Tom, is a Dallas businessman. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The giant Galligantua and the wicked old magician transform the dukes daughter into a white hind. ... The Decatur Transfer House in the background with a newly completed fountain in the foreground. ... A true duopoly is a form of oligopoly where only two producers exist in a market. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ...

On September 5, 2005, as part of a larger national deal, WICD and WICS swapped affiliations with WAND and became ABC affiliates. is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Personalities

Current

• Bart Barker - Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter
• Checky Beckford - Reporter/Photographer
• Matt Coldagelli - Morning Anchor/Sports Reporter
• Jennifer Copeland - Anchor at 6 & 10 p.m.
• Jill Noelle - Morning/Midday weathercaster
• Ryann Hubbard - Reporter/Photographer
• Nick Janes - Reporter
• Bob McCaffrey - Reporter
• Melody Mendez - Weekend Anchor/Reporter
• Erin Murphy - Anchor at 5 p.m./Reporter
• Doug Quick - Chief Weathercaster at 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
• Danny Russell - Weekend weathercaster
• Josh Samuels - Sports Anchor
• Sara Vincent - Morning Anchor

Former

• Maira Ansari
• Scott Andresen
• Ryan Baker
• Art Barron
• Angela Bettis
• Natalie Bomke
• Jennifer Broecker
• Keisha Brown
• Emily Carlson
• Stacy Case
• Julie Chang
• Sandra Chapman
• Susan Chapman
• Kelli Cheatham
• Mike Cleff
• Chris Curtis
• Ron Davis
• Paul Donohue
• Elroy Edwards
• Gwen Ellis
• Rob Elgis
• Carol Fisher
• Jeff Friend
• Dave Furgeson
• Tamara Gibbs
• Tiffini Helberg
• Bruce Jakubowski
• Demetria Kaye
• Kim Khazei
• Jack Keefe (former News Director)
• Maureen Kocot
• Dave Malkoff
• Aubrey Mika
• Tom Milbourn
• Andrew Miller
• Bob Miller
• Jennifer Mitchell
• Karen Moe
• Kathy Morris
• Scott Musgrave
• Jim Niedelman
• Kent Ninomiya
• Carlene Orig
• Keith Page (deceased)
• Lauren Petty
• Rich Porter
• Susan Rieke
• Erik Rinderle
• Jerome Ritchey
• Geni Roark
• Josh Rubenstein
• Tiffani Sargent
• Mark Schanowski
• Sally Schulze
• Jay Searles
• Larry Smith
• Amanda Stanzilis
• Niki Surles
• Dan Swaney
• Loren Tate
• Grant Uitti (former News Director)
• Nathalie Voirin
• Mark Welp
• Elizabeth Wooley
• Brian Zents

Ryan Daniel Peter Baker is a fictional character in the Australian soap opera Home and Away, portrayed since mid-2005 by actor Isaac Gorman. ... The subject of this article may not satisfy the notability guideline for Biographies. ... Angela Bettis (born January 9, 1975 in Austin, Texas) is an American actress best known for her lead role in the horror film May, for which she received several Best Actress awards at various film festivals. ... Julie Chang on the WB11 Morning News on WPIX in July of 2006. ... Chris Curtis is a British drummer and singer with the 1960s rock band The Searchers. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Carol Fisher is a fictional character in the Channel 4 drama Shameless, she is played by Marjorie Yates. ... Famous people named Andrew Miller include: Andrew Miller (politician) Andrew Miller (novelist) Andrew Miller (rugby player) This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... This article is about a former Nevada governor. ... Karen Patricia Moe-Thornton (born January 22, 1952) is a former butterfly swimmer from the United States, who won the gold medal in the 200m Butterfly at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Mark Schanowski Mark Schanowski Chicago sports broadcasting veteran Schanowski is primary host for the networks Chicago Bulls studio coverage on Bulls Pre-Game Live as well as Bulls Post Game Live on Comcast SportsNet following all CSN Bulls telecasts. ... Larry Smith (born 1951 in Hudson, Quebec) is a Canadian athlete and businessperson. ...

Current Photogs

Chief Photog: Jack Larson

Morning Photog: Shane Stefanchik

Nightside Photogs: Nathan Thompson, Doug Anderson

Part-time: Jon Nilles

External links

• Home page for WICD
• Query the FCC's TV station database for WICD
• WICD-TV Where Are They Now? Page