| WRSP: Springfield/Decatur, Illinois WCCU: Urbana/Champaign, Illinois |
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|---|---|
| Branding | Fox 55/27 Illinois NewsChannel Me-TV Illinois (on DT2) |
| Slogan | More Local Coverage |
| Channels | Digital: WRSP: 44 (UHF) WCCU: 26 (UHF) Virtual: WRSP: 55 (PSIP) WCCU: 27 (PSIP) |
| Subchannels | 55.1/27.1 Fox 55.2/27.2 Me-TV |
| Owner | GOCOM Media (GOCOM Media of Illinois, LLC) |
| First air date | WRSP: June 1, 1979 WCCU: February 19, 1986 |
| Call letters' meaning | WRSP: SPringfield WCCU: Central Illinois/Champaign/Urbana |
| Sister station(s) | WBUI |
| Former callsigns | WRSP: WBHW (1979–1982) |
| Former channel number(s) | WRSP: 55 (UHF analog, 1979–2009) WCCU: 27 (UHF analog, 1986–2009) |
| Former affiliations | WRSP: Independent (1979-1986) |
| Transmitter power | WRSP: 750 kW WCCU: 1,000 kW |
| Height | WRSP: 415 m WCCU: 114 m |
| Class | DT |
| Facility ID | WRSP: 62009 WCCU: 69544 |
| Transmitter coordinates | WRSP: WCCU: |
WRSP-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for Central Illinois licensed to Springfield. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 44 (or virtual channel 55.1 via PSIP) from a transmitter in Mechanicsburg. The station can also be seen on Mediacom and Comcast channel 7. There is a high definition feed offered on Mediacom digital channel 707 and Comcast digital channel 910. Owned by GOCOM Media, WRSP is sister to CW affiliate WBUI and the two outlets share studios on Old Rochester Road in Springfield.
The latter also operates an advertising sales office on South Main Street/US 51 in Downtown Decatur. Syndicated programming on this station includes How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men, The King of Queens, and Everybody Loves Raymond among others. WCCU in Urbana operates as a full-time satellite of WRSP. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 26 (or virtual channel 27.1 via PSIP) from a transmitter on US 136 between Penfield and Arstrong. The outlet has an advertising sales office on South Neil Street/US 45 in Champaign.
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On WRSP-DT2/WCCU-DT2, Mediacom digital channel 108, and Comcast digital channel 231 is Me-TV. The network is a sister operation to This TV which can be seen on WBUI-DT2, Mediacom digital channel 115, and Comcast digital channel 232.
| Channels | Name | Video | Aspect | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55.1 27.1 |
WRSP-HD WCCU-HD |
720p | 16:9 | Main WRSP/WCCU programming / FOX |
| 55.2 27.2 |
WRSP-DT2 WCCU-DT2 |
480i | 4:3 | Me-TV |
What is now WRSP signed-on June 1, 1979 as an religious Independent. It aired an analog signal on UHF channel 55 and used the call sign WBHW (standing for We Believe His Word). It was the first new commercial station in the market (not counting satellite stations) since WCIA signed-on in 1953. On November 24, 1982, it changed call letters to WRSP-TV and became the area's first general entertainment Independent.
On February 19, 1986, full-time satellite WCCU signed-on from Urbana with an analog signal on channel 27. Both stations began transmitting digital signals in mid-2000 with programming from Fox in high definition. It eventually introduced a new website based on the "My Fox" owned-and-operated station look licensed from News Corporation Interactive. In mid-2010, the WRSP/WCCU web site was taken over by Broadcast Interactive Media.
On September 11, 2006, a news share agreement was established between the area's ABC affiliates WICS/WICD (both owned by the Sinclair Broadcast Group) and WRSP/WCCU. As a result, a nightly prime time newscast began airing on this station co-produced by WICS/WICD. Known as NewsChannel at 9 on Fox Illinois, it airs for a half-hour (except for an hour on Saturdays) from WICS's studios on East Cook Street in Springfield but features market-wide coverage. From the start, NewsChannel at 9 competed with a weeknight newscast seen on then-UPN affiliate WCFN that was produced by CBS affiliate WCIA.
Unlike the WRSP/WCCU show, however, WCFN's thirty minute broadcast originated from Champaign and was targeted specifically at a Springfield audience. On September 28, 2009, WCIA cancelled the show and launched an hour-long weeknight newscast at 7 on WCFN. On June 26, 2010, NBC affiliate WAND became the first station in Central Illinois to upgrade local newscasts to high definition level. All broadcasts seen on WICS/WICD and WRSP/WCCU remain in pillarboxed 4:3 standard definition and it is unknown if and/or when there will be an upgrade to 16:9 enhanced definition widescreen or full high definition. WICS semi-satellite WICD in Champaign dropped its separate weekend newscasts and began simulcasting those seen on WICS starting March 26, 2011.
Champaign-based reporters and photographers still continue to provide coverage. The change represents the third attempt at a joint market-wide product co-produced by WICS/WICD. At one point in time, there had been a newscast weeknights at 5 originating from Springfield that was simulcasted on both outlets. WICS' weekday morning meteorologist Joe Crain provides CW affiliate WBUI with on-air and online weather forecasts during its airing of The Daily Buzz as well as every hour during the weekday. The forecast segments are taped in advanced and are appropriately titled "C-More Weather".
Anchors
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