WCFN

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WCFN
Image:Wcfn mntv.jpg
Springfield/Decatur/Champaign/Urbana, Illinois
Branding MyCFNTV
Channels Analog: 49 (UHF)

Digital: TBD (likely 49 UHF)
Affiliations MyNetworkTV
CBS (DT2, simulcast of WCIA)
Owner Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc.
(Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.)
First air date July 9, 1985 (originally low-power W49AA 1967-85)
Call letters’ meaning Channel Forty-Nine
Sister station(s) WCIA
Former affiliations CBS (1985-2002, as satellite of WCIA)
UPN (2002-2006)
Transmitter Power 1750 kW (analog)
1000 kW (digital)
Height 190.5 m (analog)
183 m (digital)
Facility ID 42116
Transmitter Coordinates 39°47′27.4″N, 89°30′52.8″W
Website www.illinoishomepage.net

WCFN is the MyNetworkTV affiliate located in Springfield, Illinois. Owned by Nexstar Broadcasting Group, it is the sister station to WCIA, the CBS affiliate for Champaign, Decatur and Springfield. Both stations operate out of WCIA's studios in downtown Champaign.

Contents

[edit] History

WCFN signed on in 1967 as W49AA, a low-power translator of WCIA. When WCIA originally signed on in 1953, it planned to build a tower halfway between Champaign and Decatur, on some of the highest ground in central Illinois. However, the owners of WTVP (now WAND) objected to the location, even though it was obvious that Springfield-Decatur and Champaign-Urbana were going to be a single market. As a result, while WCIA decently covers Decatur, it only provides a "rimshot" signal to Springfield.

WCFN became a full-power satellite of WCIA in 1985 under its current calls, and became a separate UPN affiliate in 2002. This is presumably because WCIA's digital signal will provide better coverage of Springfield. However, WCIA is still available on WCFN's digital subcarrier.

In early 2007, WCFN and the IHSA came to an agreement to carry coverage of IHSA tournaments that are televised throughout the state. The Springfield, Decatur, and Champaign-Urbana market had been without an over-the-air flagship station for these kind of events.

[edit] News programming

WCFN Primetime News at Nine was launched on April 7, 2005 using the news resources WCIA. WCIA/WCFN operates a Springfield bureau located inside the Hilton Hotel with two reporters based in the capital city.

WCIA nightside anchor Dave Benton anchors the WCFN broadcast from WCIA's Champaign headquarters. Primetime News at Nine is targeted specifically at a Springfield audience.

myCFN News at 9 airs at 9:00 p.m. every weeknight. The name was altered in 2006 to reflect the MyNetworkTV affiliation.

[edit] Personalities

  • Dave Benton - News Anchor
  • Erin Maloney - Reporter
  • Robert Reese - Meteorologist
  • Blake Wood - Reporter

[edit] News Themes

[edit] myCFN News at 9

  • "This Is Your News" Gari Communications - Spring 2005-2006
  • "The CBS Enforcer Music Collection" Gari Communications - 2006-present

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Broadcast television in the Champaign-Urbana/Decatur/Springfield market  (Nielsen DMA #84)

WCIA 3 (CBS, WCFN on DT2) - WSIU 8 / WUSI 16 (PBS) - WILL 12 (PBS) - WSEC 14 (PBS) - WICD 15 / WICS 20 (ABC) - WAND 17 (NBC) - WBUI 23 (The CW) - W29BG 29/W34DL 34 (TBN) - WLCF-LP 45 (CTN/FamilyNet) - WBXC 46 (MTV2) - WCFN 49 (MNTV, WCIA on DT2) - WEIU 51 (PBS) - WRSP 55 / WCCU 27 (Fox)

Defunct stations:

WJJY 14 (ABC)
v • d • e
Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc.

Corporate Staff: Perry A. Sook (President & CEO) · Matt Devine (CFO) · Duane A. Lammers (COO) · Timothy Busch · Brian Jones · Shirley E. Green · Susana G. Schuler-Willingham · Richard Stolpe · Paul Greeley · Blake R. Battaglia · Erik Brooks · Jay M. Grossman · Brent Stone · Royce Yudkoff · Geoff Armstrong · Michael Donovan · I. Martin Pompadur
ABC Network Affiliates: KAMC1 · KMID · KODE1 · KQTV · KSVI · WDHN · WJET · WTVO1 · WUTR1
CBS Network Affiliates: KLBK · KLST · KOLR1 · KTAB · WCIA · WMBD · WROC · WTAJ · WYOU1
The CW Network Affiliate: WLYH
Fox Network Affiliates: KARD · KCIT1 · KHMT1 · KFTA1 · KJTL1 · KSFX · WFFT · WFXP1 · WFXV · WFXW1 · WQRF · WTVW · WUHF3 · WYZZ3
MyNetworkTV Affiliates: KJBO1 · KCPN1 · WCFN · WPNY · WTVO1
NBC Network Affiliates: KARK · KAMR · KBTV · KFDX · KNWA · KRBC1 · KSAN1 · KSNF · KTAL · KTVE1 · WBRE · WHAG · WTWO
1Nexstar operates these stations owned by Mission Broadcasting.
2Sale of the station to Mission Broadcasting is awaiting FCC approval. Nexstar will continue to operate the station.
3Nexstar operates these stations owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group.
Annual Revenue: $226.1 million USD (2005) · Employees: Unknown at this time. · Stock Symbol: NASDAQ: NXST · Website: www.nexstarbroadcasting.com