WMEU-CD

WMEU-CD/LP
Chicago, Illinois
United States
Branding The U Too
Channels Analog: 48 (UHF)
Digital: 32 (UHF)
WCIU 26.2 (27.2) (UHF)[1]
Subchannels (see article)
Affiliations Independent
Owner Weigel Broadcasting
(Weigel Broadcasting Company)
Founded October 28, 1987
Call letters' meaning Disambiguation of sister stations WWME (Memorable Entertainment) and WCIU (branded as "The U")
Sister station(s) WCIU-TV, WWME-CD, WRME-LP
Former callsigns W54AP (1987–2004)
W48DD (2004–2005)
WFBT-CA (2005–2008)
WMEU-CA (2008–2010)
WCUU-CA (2010)
Transmitter power 4.7 kW (analog)
15 kW (digital)
Facility ID Class A

WMEU-CD, UHF analog channel 48 and virtual channel 48.1 (digital channel 32), is a Class A independent television station located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The station is owned by Weigel Broadcasting, WMEU-CD is sister to fellow Weigel flagship properties, independent station WCIU-TV (channel 26) and Me-TV outlet WWME-CD (channel 23). All three stations share studios located on Halsted Street (between Washington Boulevard and Madison Street) in the Greektown neighborhood, WMEU's transmitter is located atop the Willis Tower in the Chicago Loop.

Even though WMEU operates a digital signal of its own, the low-powered broadcasting radius does not reach certain portions of Chicago proper or the outer suburbs. Therefore, the station can also be seen through a 16:9 standard definition widescreen simulcast on WCIU-TV's second digital subchannel in order to reach the entire market. This signal can be seen on UHF channel 27.2 (or virtual channel 26.2 via PSIP) broadcasting from the Willis Tower transmitter.[1]

The station can also be seen on RCN channel 22, AT&T U-verse channel 48, WOW! digital channel 171 and Comcast Xfinity digital channels 247 and 358.

History

The station began broadcasting on October 28, 1987 as W54AP on UHF channel 54. In the late 1990s, it began serving as an affiliate of the Eternal Word Television Network. In 2004, the station moved to channel 48 and changed its callsign to W48DD. On January 1, 2005, the station's callsign was changed again to WFBT-CA and adopted an ethnic programming format called "FBT" and changed its callsign to WFBT-CA; the FBT format originated on WWME-CA (channel 23), which previously held the WFBT call letters, after that station expanded its slate of classic television shows that it had begun airing several months earlier (including many series that previously aired on WCIU-TV) into a 24-hour format called "Me-TV".

MeToo logo. WMEU's programming from 2008 to 2013.

On March 1, 2008, channel 48 switched its programming to an extension of WWME's Me-TV format as "MeToo", accordingly changing its callsign to WMEU-CA; the station's ethnic programming returned to WCIU as a service called "FBT" on digital subchannel 26.6 (FBT was dropped on December 1, 2010 and was replaced by a temporary simulcast of WCIU-TV). On September 14, 2009, WMEU's MeToo schedule was adjusted to feature only dramatic programs and films to streamline the schedules of both Me-TV stations, while the Me-TV schedule on WWME switched its programming to mainly feature comedic series. WMEU also carried Big East Conference basketball games supplied by ESPN Plus, which allows it to carry some DePaul Blue Demons game telecasts (most of those games have since moved to WCIU-TV's "The U Too" subchannel on 26.2).

On September 22, 2010, WMEU-CA changed its call letters to WCUU-CA, only to revert to the prior WMEU-CA calls on November 5.[2] On January 5, 2011, WCIU launched a general entertainment service called "The U Too" on digital subchannel 26.2, replacing the simulcast of WWME, which moved to WCIU digital subchannel 26.3 on December 15, 2010.[1][3][4] In addition, PSIP channel 48.1 was temporarily discontinued while 23.1 reverted to being the virtual channel number for WWME-CA (23.2 was discontinued at that time, but has since returned as an affiliate of Bounce TV).

On December 15, 2010, WMEU added comedy programming, coinciding with Me-TV's expansion as a nationally-distributed television network (WWME became the flagship station of the national Me-TV service, as well as an owned-and-operated station of the network). As a result, both WWME and WMEU once again maintained identical formats, albeit with different programming as the national Me-TV network seen on WWME focuses on series from the 1950s to the 1970s while WMEU/MeToo continues to offer series from the 1980s to the 2000s on its schedule, in addition to programs from decades prior to that. The WMEU/MeToo simulcast on WCIU's signal moved to that station's 26.4 subchannel with the format change.[5] In addition, This TV moved to WCIU subchannel 26.5.[1]

On April 24, 2012, WMEU-CA filed an application to switch its Class A status from its analog allotment to its digital frequency.[6] On April 30, its digital signal's callsign became WMEU-CD, while the analog channel's calls became WMEU-LP.[7]

In September 2013, WMEU dropped the MeToo format (which moved to WWME analog channel 23 while continuing to air on WCIU digital subchannel 26.4 until it was replaced by Heroes & Icons in 2014). Digital channel 48.1 began running a high-definition feed of "The U Too", which originated as a subchannel-only service on WCIU digital channel 26.2 in 2011 (and remains in 16:9 standard definition widescreen on that channel).

The U Too agreed to carry some games from the first season of the Fall Experimental Football League in October and November 2014.[8]

Digital television

Digital channels

Channel Video Aspect PSIP Short Name Programming
48.1 720p 16:9 U Too Main WMEU-CD programming
48.2 480i Touch TouchVision

In early 2010, WMEU-CA applied for a digital companion channel on channel 46. However, because of possible interference of the digital signal of South Bend, Indiana station WHME-TV on that same channel, WMEU later applied to move to channel 32, which was formerly occupied by the analog signal of WFLD. On June 8, 2010, the station was granted a construction permit for its digital signal.[9] The license to cover for WMEU's digital signal was approved by the Federal Communications Commission on June 13, 2011; the digital signal signed on July 11, under the call sign WMEU-LD.[10] However, since WMEU-LD's signal does not cover the entire Chicago television market, WCIU continues to simulcast WMEU's programming on digital subchannel 26.2.

In addition to its carriage on digital subchannel 48.2,[11] WMEU simulcasts TouchVision in a letterboxed format on its analog channel 48 signal.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 http://www.wciu.com/files/Cable-Channel-Positions-Nov-1st.pdf
  2. ↑ http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=9382&Callsign=WMEU-CA
  3. ↑ WCIU Parent Weigel to Drop Foreign Subchannel, Launch The U Too, Chicago Tribune, October 5, 2010
  4. ↑ WCUU Launches The U Too Subchannel, Broadcasting & Cable, October 5, 2010
  5. ↑ http://www.metvnetwork.com
  6. ↑ http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1496531&Service=DC&Form_id=4&Facility_id=168662
  7. ↑ http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/call_hist.pl?Facility_id=168662
  8. ↑ "FXFL To Be Carried on ESPN3" (Press release). New York: FXFL. PR Newswire. October 1, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2014 – via NBC Right Now.
  9. ↑ http://licensing.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/Auth_Files/1316493.pdf
  10. ↑ http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1426356
  11. ↑ "TouchVision Releases Apps, Comes To Chicago TV". Chicagoland Radio and Media. October 1, 2013. Retrieved October 13, 2013.

External links