simmytbone
12-26-2013, 05:05 AM
Hey guys,
This year, WGN is celebrating 2 milestones:
65 years as a TV Station and 35 years as a Superstation
WGN Television, whose call letters are derived from the Chicago Tribune’s first slogan, “World’s Greatest Newspaper”, hit the airwaves on April 5, 1948 on Channel 9 in Chicago from its studios at Tribune Tower. Colonel Robert McCormick led the Tribune Company into the TV era, believing that “in television, we have embarked upon another of America’s adventures.”
In addition to carrying Chicago Cubs and White Sox baseball games in the 1950s, WGN-TV made its first attempts at producing entertainment series to air on the station while also distributing them to TV stations across the country. Although initially an affiliate of the DuMont and CBS television networks, WGN-TV realized it could better serve the Chicago area audience as an independent station. By 1957, WGN became one of the first local television stations to offer a full schedule of live programs in color. One year later, the station had scored many firsts, including the first televised appearance of President Truman in Chicago as well as mobile coverage of General MacArthur’s visit to the city.
In 1961, WGN-TV began broadcasting from new facilities at 2501 West Bradley Place on Chicago’s northwest side and premiered its own version of “Bozo’s Circus”, which became the most popular and successful locally produced children’s series in the history of television. Also in the 1960s, WGN expanded its “10th Hour News” newscast to a half-hour (the first Chicago TV station to do so), produced programs such as “Garfield Goose and Friends” and “Ray Rayner and His Friends,” sports telecasts that included Chicago Blackhawks hockey and Chicago Bulls basketball, and developed a vast movie library that was featured on a number of showcases such as “Family Classics.” In 1966, the Chicago Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Board of Directors awarded Ward Quaal, then President of WGN Continental Broadcasting Company, the Governors’ Award “for developing the finest independent TV station in the U.S.”
The 1970s introduced “Donahue” to Chicago and the rest of the nation as Phil Donahue moved his groundbreaking daytime talk show from Dayton, Ohio to the WGN-TV Studios. The show’s unique format featured discussions on controversial social issues, celebrity guests, and audience participation. The station also recognized the importance of the farm sector by starting a weekly series for the farm belt, “U.S. Farm Report.” During this time, new technology was changing the TV industry with lighter, more advanced cameras for the news staff as well as advancement in cable TV and satellites. The latter transformed WGN-TV from a regional power to a national Superstation in October 1978.
In 1980, WGN-TV launched the Midwest’s first hour-long newscast in prime time, “The 9 O’clock News”, by expanding its half-hour 10:00 p.m. “Newsnine” newscast to an hour and shifting it to 9:00 p.m. In 1981, Tribune Company formed Tribune Broadcasting Company, indicating the growing importance of broadcasting to the company. In 1983, WGN-TV adopted its promotional identity, “Chicago’s Very Own”, stressing the philosophy of the station and its relationship to its community. Indeed, many at WGN-TV believe that a key factor responsible for the continued success of the station is its close association with the community. In 1984, Bob Bell retired as the lead star of “The Bozo Show” with the program still #1 in its timeslot and was replaced by Joey D’Auria.
In the 1990s, WGN-TV scored big with the 1989 return of the Chicago Bulls as a broadcast partner and the six NBA World Championship seasons with Michael Jordan that followed. 1990 also marked the return of Chicago White Sox baseball to WGN. In 1994, WGN News launched a weekday morning news-hour, which expanded to three hours in 1996. In 1995, WGN-TV became the primetime affiliate of The WB Television Network and the first TV station with its own website, WGNTV.com
Also in 1990, WGN became the first Chicago TV station with a local charitable foundation, WGN-TV Children’s Charities, a fund of the Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation. Since its inception, the charity distributed over $31 million in grants to Chicago area charitable organizations.
WGN-TV ushered in a new millennium in 2000 with a new 29,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art newsroom facility and upgraded digital equipment. In 2004, all Chicago Cubs, White Sox and Bulls home game telecasts on WGN aired in the high definition format on WGN’s Chicago area digital multicast signal, WGN-DT 9.1, making WGN one of the leading HD sports programmers in the country. Also in 2004, “WGN Morning News” expanded to a four-hour newscast. In 2006, WGN-TV became the Chicago affiliate of The CW Television Network. 2008 marked the launch of the half-hour “WGN Evening News” Weekdays @ 5:30, the return of the NHL and Chicago Blackhawks hockey to WGN-TV, and all WGN News and WGN Sports telecasts (home and away games) began airing in HD. Also in 2008, Superstation WGN transitioned to digital and HD, and was renamed WGN America. 2009 marked the completion of full-power U.S. television stations’ transition from analog to digital signals, while “WGN Midday News” and “WGN Evening News” were expanded, and WGN News merged with CLTV (Tribune Broadcasting’s Chicago cable TV news channel).
In 2010, WGN-TV became the first Chicago TV station to offer iPhone users live streams of WGN-TV newscasts, expanded “WGN Morning News” to four-and-a-half-hours, and launched “WGN Saturday Morning News” and “WGN Sunday Morning News.” On December 31, 2010, WGN-DT 9.2 became Chicago’s home of Tribune Broadcasting’s new classic TV network, Antenna TV. In 2011, “WGN Morning News” expanded again to five hours and “WGN Evening News” was renamed “WGN News at Five.” WGN News programs more news than any other Chicago TV station for WGN-TV and cable news channel CLTV in Chicago; Rockford, IL; and South Bend, IN.
WGN-TV has received numerous awards for programming excellence and community service. The station is proud of the many contributions it has made to television, and is recognized as a leader for creativity, innovation, quality programming and integrity in operation.
Becoming a Nationally Superstation
In October 1978, United Video Satellite Group uplinked the signal of Chicago independent station WGN-TV (channel 9) to the Satcom-3 satellite for cable and satellite subscribers throughout the United States turning WGN-TV into one of the first superstations, alongside New York City's WOR-TV (now WWOR-TV) and Atlanta's WTBS (now WPCH-TV) and later SuperStation TBS (now TBS SuperStation).
as WGN-TV gained national exposure, the station became vulnerable in the Chicago area and underestimated the ability of UHF competitor WFLD (channel 32) to acquire top-rated syndicated programs (such as M*A*S*H, Happy Days and All in the Family). As a result, WFLD edged ahead of WGN-TV in the ratings by the end of 1979. WGN-TV continued with its programming format, competing with WFLD and another UHF independent station, WSNS-TV (channel 44).
For about eleven years afterward, the national WGN-TV signal ran the same program schedule as that seen in the Chicago area; the national feed also used the same on-air branding as the Chicago area signal (which was referred to on-air at the time as either "Channel 9" or "WGN Channel 9") until 1997, when it became known as simply "WGN" outside of Chicago (though it retained the varied forms of the WGN logo wordmark until 2008). After United Video launched Prevue Guide in the late 1980s, it utilized WGN's audio subcarrier channel – which was unheard by viewers – to transmit programming schedules in a 2400 bit/s data stream to local cable providers.
In 1989, the Federal Communications Commission passed the Syndication Exclusivity Rules (or "SyndEx") into law – which required cable providers to black out syndicated programs shown on any out-of-market stations carried by the provider, when a television station within a media market obtains the exclusive rights to air that particular program. In response, a separate national feed of WGN-TV was launched on January 1, 1990 to avoid any potential blackouts, save for some sports programming (the feed was similar in structure to the WWOR EMI Service, a superstation feed of Secaucus, New Jersey-based WWOR-TV that launched seven months after WGN-TV achieved superstation status, only with fewer programming blackouts). By the early 1990s, WGN began to increase its national cable coverage when many cable systems began to swap WWOR and its New York City area rival (and WGN-TV sister station) WPIX for the WGN superstation feed.
On May 24, 2008, Superstation WGN changed its name to WGN America (initially, the use of the WGN America name was limited to on-air promos, as the Superstation WGN channel IDs remained in place). The new name and logo went into full-time use on May 26, 2008. The new logo was also the first used by the superstation feed to not incorporate WGN-TV's on-air logo branding in some capacity, and its design featured the eyes of a female (similar in resemblance to The Movie Channel's 1988-1997 logo), used alongside the new slogan "TV You Can't Ignore".
WGN was the place for many television programs
Adventure Shows and Dramas like Trapper John, M.D., Magnum, P.I., Simon & Simon, Knight Rider, Cimarron Strip, Charlie's Angels, The Dukes of Hazzard, The Greatest American Hero, The A-Team, Wiseguy, HUNTER, The Original Hawaii Five-O, Star Trek: TNG, The Incredible Hulk and many others
Sitcoms like One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Good Times, Archie Bunker's Place, The Facts of Life, Silver Spoons, Welcome Back Kotter, WKRP, Cheers, Barney Miller, SOAP, Benson, Night Court, The Andy Griffith Show, Three's Company, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, The Cosby Show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Full House, It's a Living, One Big Family, Charles in Charge, Mama's Family, Love American Style, The Love Boat, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-offs Rhoda, Phyllis and Lou Grant, Blossom, Empty Nest and so many others
It was also the place for Bustin' Loose: The Series Starring Jimmie "J.J." Walker
WGN was the place for Cartoons like Heathcliff, Rocky & Bullwinkle, The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin, Ghostbusters, Transformers, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Jem, BraveStarr, Spiral Zone, M.A.S.K., C.O.P.S., Smurfs, Yogi Bear, Scooby-Doo, The Jetsons, TaleSpin, DuckTales, Chip 'N' Dale Rescue Rangers, Superfriends, Bugs Bunny and Friends (the syndicated version of The Bugs Bunny Show), Porky Pig and Friends (the syndicated version of The Porky Pig Show), Darkwing Duck, The Pink Panther, Jonny Quest, Captain N and the Video Game Masters, The Archies and so many others
WGN was also the place for Kids and Family Programming from the Sunday Afternoon Family Classics to The Ray Rayner Show to The Muppet Show to The Legendary Bozo Show
WGN was also the place for Teen Shows like Saved By the Bell, California Dreams and City Guys
WGN was even the place for Game Shows like The Hollywood Squares w/Peter Marshall, The $50,000 Pyramid wthe late Dick Clark, Know Your Heritage, Fun House w/JD Roth, Triple Threat w/Jim Lange and many others
WGN was even the place for other TV Variety Shows like The Music Machine, FTV and Puttin' on the Hits
WGN was even the place for TV Shows produced by Tribune Entertainment from the likes of Tales From the Darkside, Monsters, Geraldo, At the Movies w/the late Roger Ebert, the late Gene Siskel, Rex Reed, Bill Harris and Former Entertainment Tonight News Anchor Dixie Whatley, Comedy Break w/Mac and Jamie Featuring the All-Girl Band Big Trouble Featuring Soap Star and Country Singer Bobbie Eakes and Cece Worrall and of course, Soul Train w/the late Don Cornelius, Shemar Moore of The Young and the Restless Fame and Dorian Gregory of Charmed Fame
WGN was also the place for Movies from the Weekend Theater to the Morning Movie to the 7 O'Clock Movie to WGN Presents to The Late Movie to the Saturday Night Action Theater to even the Sunday 5 O'Clock Movie
WGN was even the place for News, Weather and Sports from WGN Newscope/Midday News to the Nine O'Clock News to even the Morning News and the 5 O'Clock News from many News Personalities from the likes of Rick Rosenthal, Pat Harvey, Bob Hillman, Larry Roderick, Roseanne Tellez to Longtime Legendary News Anchors like Dina Bair, Allison Payne, Steve Sanders, Legendary Weekend Anchor Robert Jordan, Jackie Bange, Legendary Morning News Anchors Larry Potash and Robin Baumgarten, Legendary Meteorologists Tom Skilling, Jim Ramsey and Paul Konrad and Legendary Sports Anchor Now Sports Director Dan Roan and Longtime Sports Anchor Rich King as well as the Legendary Voice of the Chicago Cubs-The Late Harry Caray, Jr.
WGN also launched the TV Careers of Bob Costas and Bill Weir
WGN also aired INN-The Independent News and later USA Tonight during the 80's with Morton Dean, Brad Holbrook and Marvin Scott
WGN also featured the voices of Floyd Brown and Doug Paul
However, WGN would not be complete w/o THE TRUE voice of WGN-Merri Dee
WGN has been on the air for a longtime and it is still going strong and for the past 30 years, their slogan has always been "Chicago's Very Own"
WGN America is now showing Matlock, In the Heat of the Night, Law & Order: CI, Walker, Texas Ranger, The NEW AFV w/Daisy Fuentes of MTV, John Fugelsang of VH1 and Tom Bergeron of Dancing with the Stars as well as Classic Sitcoms as part of Outta Sight Retro Night hosted by Rick Dees (Casey Kasem was the original host)
and so, here's to 65 years of WGN-TV and here's 35 years of WGN Superstation now known as WGN America
Happy Anniversary WGN, God Bless You and Thanks for always being "Chicago's Very Own"
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and now, here are some Video Clips:
Video Clips from fuzzytvmemories.com
http://www.fuzzymemories.tv/index.php?m=xxwgnxx
WGN-TV News Openings Throughout the years
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGzGIO5eO-Y
WGN-TV Promos, Bumpers and Intros (1980s-2000s)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBJ8ms1z7yQ
WGN-TV 7 O'Clock Movie-The African Queen Opening from 1987
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W_FlQcDZEQ
WGN-TV Sunday 5 O'Clock Movie-The Lost World from 1988
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIvjmrDIamo
WGN-TV Channel 9 Promo: "Welcome Home to Channel 9" Sung by the late Lou Rawls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWqKiLw4rKw
WGN-TV Channel 9 Promo: "Through the Years" 40 Years Anniversary from 1988
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgA9Krsfh30
WGN-TV Channel 9: Chicago Cubs Broadcast Opening from 1986
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVnvHtKRF0g
WGN Barney Miller promo, 1981
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAt-dPJrshc
WGN-TV Promo of SOAP Starring Katherine Helmond & the late Cathryn Damon from 1982
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxSXxfNlxSA
WGN-TV Promo of Alice Starring Linda Lavin from 1983
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knXsGi1pGeM
WGN-TV Promo of Siskel & Ebert At the Movies from 1983
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqPeCJ7E7k0
WGN-TV Promo of The Original WKRP in Cincinnati from 1984
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BUxRtZOutE
WGN August 4, 1984 Promos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKCPRmvbl-g
WGN The Nine O'Clock News (4/9/1993)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0RZlvX4mCw
WGN Nine O'Clock News w/Robert Jordan and Larry Roderick from 1985
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIOnsT5dhbQ
WGN Midday News Opening w/Robert Jordan filling in for Steve Sanders and Jim Ramsey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euyKyXBxrjk
WGN Nine O'Clock News Opening from 1991 w/Rick Rosenthal and Allison Payne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pco1-FmJBA0
More WGN Promos and News Clips from tv.ark.org.uk
http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/International/usa/wgn.html
WGN-TV Promo for Benson Starring Robert Guillaume from 1984
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gVDFlFtq3A
Another Promo of Benson #2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROjsjuXVD2M
Another Promo of Benson Scene from the Pilot Episode
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFvycbp_Dfk
WGN-TV Promo of M.A.S.K.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l8p7xQ8Wt0
WGN-TV Promo of Transformers: Generation 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6vvke2fd4A
WGN-TV Promo of Cheers - Coach and Woody Week
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eUYmPCKcK4
WGN-TV Promo of Bogart Week from 1984
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoZAQC9qd1Y
WGN-TV Promo of Charlie's Angels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYpaLm6n1ZE
WGN-TV Promo of Channel 9 Summertime '88
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39RxXVyBAS0
WGN Comedy Promo from 1989
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0GwL58S_WE
WGN Saturday Night Action Theater Opening w/the voice of WGN Merri Dee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d48gA2ng-0o
WGN Presents Preview w/the voice of WGN Merri Dee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4t7JOVBFgY
WPLG/ABC Sunday Movie Ad Breaks (5/17/87) Part 11, WGN-TV Intershow & WGN Presents Open
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQHiZlshMnA
WGN Tribute to Merri Dee - THE VOICE of WGN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMgtp7p5e_A
WGN Pays Tribute to John Drury
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cZPxFwIHYc
Merri Dee on You and Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9psQJPqL3I
This year, WGN is celebrating 2 milestones:
65 years as a TV Station and 35 years as a Superstation
WGN Television, whose call letters are derived from the Chicago Tribune’s first slogan, “World’s Greatest Newspaper”, hit the airwaves on April 5, 1948 on Channel 9 in Chicago from its studios at Tribune Tower. Colonel Robert McCormick led the Tribune Company into the TV era, believing that “in television, we have embarked upon another of America’s adventures.”
In addition to carrying Chicago Cubs and White Sox baseball games in the 1950s, WGN-TV made its first attempts at producing entertainment series to air on the station while also distributing them to TV stations across the country. Although initially an affiliate of the DuMont and CBS television networks, WGN-TV realized it could better serve the Chicago area audience as an independent station. By 1957, WGN became one of the first local television stations to offer a full schedule of live programs in color. One year later, the station had scored many firsts, including the first televised appearance of President Truman in Chicago as well as mobile coverage of General MacArthur’s visit to the city.
In 1961, WGN-TV began broadcasting from new facilities at 2501 West Bradley Place on Chicago’s northwest side and premiered its own version of “Bozo’s Circus”, which became the most popular and successful locally produced children’s series in the history of television. Also in the 1960s, WGN expanded its “10th Hour News” newscast to a half-hour (the first Chicago TV station to do so), produced programs such as “Garfield Goose and Friends” and “Ray Rayner and His Friends,” sports telecasts that included Chicago Blackhawks hockey and Chicago Bulls basketball, and developed a vast movie library that was featured on a number of showcases such as “Family Classics.” In 1966, the Chicago Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Board of Directors awarded Ward Quaal, then President of WGN Continental Broadcasting Company, the Governors’ Award “for developing the finest independent TV station in the U.S.”
The 1970s introduced “Donahue” to Chicago and the rest of the nation as Phil Donahue moved his groundbreaking daytime talk show from Dayton, Ohio to the WGN-TV Studios. The show’s unique format featured discussions on controversial social issues, celebrity guests, and audience participation. The station also recognized the importance of the farm sector by starting a weekly series for the farm belt, “U.S. Farm Report.” During this time, new technology was changing the TV industry with lighter, more advanced cameras for the news staff as well as advancement in cable TV and satellites. The latter transformed WGN-TV from a regional power to a national Superstation in October 1978.
In 1980, WGN-TV launched the Midwest’s first hour-long newscast in prime time, “The 9 O’clock News”, by expanding its half-hour 10:00 p.m. “Newsnine” newscast to an hour and shifting it to 9:00 p.m. In 1981, Tribune Company formed Tribune Broadcasting Company, indicating the growing importance of broadcasting to the company. In 1983, WGN-TV adopted its promotional identity, “Chicago’s Very Own”, stressing the philosophy of the station and its relationship to its community. Indeed, many at WGN-TV believe that a key factor responsible for the continued success of the station is its close association with the community. In 1984, Bob Bell retired as the lead star of “The Bozo Show” with the program still #1 in its timeslot and was replaced by Joey D’Auria.
In the 1990s, WGN-TV scored big with the 1989 return of the Chicago Bulls as a broadcast partner and the six NBA World Championship seasons with Michael Jordan that followed. 1990 also marked the return of Chicago White Sox baseball to WGN. In 1994, WGN News launched a weekday morning news-hour, which expanded to three hours in 1996. In 1995, WGN-TV became the primetime affiliate of The WB Television Network and the first TV station with its own website, WGNTV.com
Also in 1990, WGN became the first Chicago TV station with a local charitable foundation, WGN-TV Children’s Charities, a fund of the Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation. Since its inception, the charity distributed over $31 million in grants to Chicago area charitable organizations.
WGN-TV ushered in a new millennium in 2000 with a new 29,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art newsroom facility and upgraded digital equipment. In 2004, all Chicago Cubs, White Sox and Bulls home game telecasts on WGN aired in the high definition format on WGN’s Chicago area digital multicast signal, WGN-DT 9.1, making WGN one of the leading HD sports programmers in the country. Also in 2004, “WGN Morning News” expanded to a four-hour newscast. In 2006, WGN-TV became the Chicago affiliate of The CW Television Network. 2008 marked the launch of the half-hour “WGN Evening News” Weekdays @ 5:30, the return of the NHL and Chicago Blackhawks hockey to WGN-TV, and all WGN News and WGN Sports telecasts (home and away games) began airing in HD. Also in 2008, Superstation WGN transitioned to digital and HD, and was renamed WGN America. 2009 marked the completion of full-power U.S. television stations’ transition from analog to digital signals, while “WGN Midday News” and “WGN Evening News” were expanded, and WGN News merged with CLTV (Tribune Broadcasting’s Chicago cable TV news channel).
In 2010, WGN-TV became the first Chicago TV station to offer iPhone users live streams of WGN-TV newscasts, expanded “WGN Morning News” to four-and-a-half-hours, and launched “WGN Saturday Morning News” and “WGN Sunday Morning News.” On December 31, 2010, WGN-DT 9.2 became Chicago’s home of Tribune Broadcasting’s new classic TV network, Antenna TV. In 2011, “WGN Morning News” expanded again to five hours and “WGN Evening News” was renamed “WGN News at Five.” WGN News programs more news than any other Chicago TV station for WGN-TV and cable news channel CLTV in Chicago; Rockford, IL; and South Bend, IN.
WGN-TV has received numerous awards for programming excellence and community service. The station is proud of the many contributions it has made to television, and is recognized as a leader for creativity, innovation, quality programming and integrity in operation.
Becoming a Nationally Superstation
In October 1978, United Video Satellite Group uplinked the signal of Chicago independent station WGN-TV (channel 9) to the Satcom-3 satellite for cable and satellite subscribers throughout the United States turning WGN-TV into one of the first superstations, alongside New York City's WOR-TV (now WWOR-TV) and Atlanta's WTBS (now WPCH-TV) and later SuperStation TBS (now TBS SuperStation).
as WGN-TV gained national exposure, the station became vulnerable in the Chicago area and underestimated the ability of UHF competitor WFLD (channel 32) to acquire top-rated syndicated programs (such as M*A*S*H, Happy Days and All in the Family). As a result, WFLD edged ahead of WGN-TV in the ratings by the end of 1979. WGN-TV continued with its programming format, competing with WFLD and another UHF independent station, WSNS-TV (channel 44).
For about eleven years afterward, the national WGN-TV signal ran the same program schedule as that seen in the Chicago area; the national feed also used the same on-air branding as the Chicago area signal (which was referred to on-air at the time as either "Channel 9" or "WGN Channel 9") until 1997, when it became known as simply "WGN" outside of Chicago (though it retained the varied forms of the WGN logo wordmark until 2008). After United Video launched Prevue Guide in the late 1980s, it utilized WGN's audio subcarrier channel – which was unheard by viewers – to transmit programming schedules in a 2400 bit/s data stream to local cable providers.
In 1989, the Federal Communications Commission passed the Syndication Exclusivity Rules (or "SyndEx") into law – which required cable providers to black out syndicated programs shown on any out-of-market stations carried by the provider, when a television station within a media market obtains the exclusive rights to air that particular program. In response, a separate national feed of WGN-TV was launched on January 1, 1990 to avoid any potential blackouts, save for some sports programming (the feed was similar in structure to the WWOR EMI Service, a superstation feed of Secaucus, New Jersey-based WWOR-TV that launched seven months after WGN-TV achieved superstation status, only with fewer programming blackouts). By the early 1990s, WGN began to increase its national cable coverage when many cable systems began to swap WWOR and its New York City area rival (and WGN-TV sister station) WPIX for the WGN superstation feed.
On May 24, 2008, Superstation WGN changed its name to WGN America (initially, the use of the WGN America name was limited to on-air promos, as the Superstation WGN channel IDs remained in place). The new name and logo went into full-time use on May 26, 2008. The new logo was also the first used by the superstation feed to not incorporate WGN-TV's on-air logo branding in some capacity, and its design featured the eyes of a female (similar in resemblance to The Movie Channel's 1988-1997 logo), used alongside the new slogan "TV You Can't Ignore".
WGN was the place for many television programs
Adventure Shows and Dramas like Trapper John, M.D., Magnum, P.I., Simon & Simon, Knight Rider, Cimarron Strip, Charlie's Angels, The Dukes of Hazzard, The Greatest American Hero, The A-Team, Wiseguy, HUNTER, The Original Hawaii Five-O, Star Trek: TNG, The Incredible Hulk and many others
Sitcoms like One Day at a Time, The Jeffersons, Good Times, Archie Bunker's Place, The Facts of Life, Silver Spoons, Welcome Back Kotter, WKRP, Cheers, Barney Miller, SOAP, Benson, Night Court, The Andy Griffith Show, Three's Company, Happy Days, Laverne & Shirley, The Odd Couple, The Cosby Show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Full House, It's a Living, One Big Family, Charles in Charge, Mama's Family, Love American Style, The Love Boat, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and its spin-offs Rhoda, Phyllis and Lou Grant, Blossom, Empty Nest and so many others
It was also the place for Bustin' Loose: The Series Starring Jimmie "J.J." Walker
WGN was the place for Cartoons like Heathcliff, Rocky & Bullwinkle, The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin, Ghostbusters, Transformers, G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Jem, BraveStarr, Spiral Zone, M.A.S.K., C.O.P.S., Smurfs, Yogi Bear, Scooby-Doo, The Jetsons, TaleSpin, DuckTales, Chip 'N' Dale Rescue Rangers, Superfriends, Bugs Bunny and Friends (the syndicated version of The Bugs Bunny Show), Porky Pig and Friends (the syndicated version of The Porky Pig Show), Darkwing Duck, The Pink Panther, Jonny Quest, Captain N and the Video Game Masters, The Archies and so many others
WGN was also the place for Kids and Family Programming from the Sunday Afternoon Family Classics to The Ray Rayner Show to The Muppet Show to The Legendary Bozo Show
WGN was also the place for Teen Shows like Saved By the Bell, California Dreams and City Guys
WGN was even the place for Game Shows like The Hollywood Squares w/Peter Marshall, The $50,000 Pyramid wthe late Dick Clark, Know Your Heritage, Fun House w/JD Roth, Triple Threat w/Jim Lange and many others
WGN was even the place for other TV Variety Shows like The Music Machine, FTV and Puttin' on the Hits
WGN was even the place for TV Shows produced by Tribune Entertainment from the likes of Tales From the Darkside, Monsters, Geraldo, At the Movies w/the late Roger Ebert, the late Gene Siskel, Rex Reed, Bill Harris and Former Entertainment Tonight News Anchor Dixie Whatley, Comedy Break w/Mac and Jamie Featuring the All-Girl Band Big Trouble Featuring Soap Star and Country Singer Bobbie Eakes and Cece Worrall and of course, Soul Train w/the late Don Cornelius, Shemar Moore of The Young and the Restless Fame and Dorian Gregory of Charmed Fame
WGN was also the place for Movies from the Weekend Theater to the Morning Movie to the 7 O'Clock Movie to WGN Presents to The Late Movie to the Saturday Night Action Theater to even the Sunday 5 O'Clock Movie
WGN was even the place for News, Weather and Sports from WGN Newscope/Midday News to the Nine O'Clock News to even the Morning News and the 5 O'Clock News from many News Personalities from the likes of Rick Rosenthal, Pat Harvey, Bob Hillman, Larry Roderick, Roseanne Tellez to Longtime Legendary News Anchors like Dina Bair, Allison Payne, Steve Sanders, Legendary Weekend Anchor Robert Jordan, Jackie Bange, Legendary Morning News Anchors Larry Potash and Robin Baumgarten, Legendary Meteorologists Tom Skilling, Jim Ramsey and Paul Konrad and Legendary Sports Anchor Now Sports Director Dan Roan and Longtime Sports Anchor Rich King as well as the Legendary Voice of the Chicago Cubs-The Late Harry Caray, Jr.
WGN also launched the TV Careers of Bob Costas and Bill Weir
WGN also aired INN-The Independent News and later USA Tonight during the 80's with Morton Dean, Brad Holbrook and Marvin Scott
WGN also featured the voices of Floyd Brown and Doug Paul
However, WGN would not be complete w/o THE TRUE voice of WGN-Merri Dee
WGN has been on the air for a longtime and it is still going strong and for the past 30 years, their slogan has always been "Chicago's Very Own"
WGN America is now showing Matlock, In the Heat of the Night, Law & Order: CI, Walker, Texas Ranger, The NEW AFV w/Daisy Fuentes of MTV, John Fugelsang of VH1 and Tom Bergeron of Dancing with the Stars as well as Classic Sitcoms as part of Outta Sight Retro Night hosted by Rick Dees (Casey Kasem was the original host)
and so, here's to 65 years of WGN-TV and here's 35 years of WGN Superstation now known as WGN America
Happy Anniversary WGN, God Bless You and Thanks for always being "Chicago's Very Own"
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and now, here are some Video Clips:
Video Clips from fuzzytvmemories.com
http://www.fuzzymemories.tv/index.php?m=xxwgnxx
WGN-TV News Openings Throughout the years
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGzGIO5eO-Y
WGN-TV Promos, Bumpers and Intros (1980s-2000s)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBJ8ms1z7yQ
WGN-TV 7 O'Clock Movie-The African Queen Opening from 1987
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W_FlQcDZEQ
WGN-TV Sunday 5 O'Clock Movie-The Lost World from 1988
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIvjmrDIamo
WGN-TV Channel 9 Promo: "Welcome Home to Channel 9" Sung by the late Lou Rawls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWqKiLw4rKw
WGN-TV Channel 9 Promo: "Through the Years" 40 Years Anniversary from 1988
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgA9Krsfh30
WGN-TV Channel 9: Chicago Cubs Broadcast Opening from 1986
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVnvHtKRF0g
WGN Barney Miller promo, 1981
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAt-dPJrshc
WGN-TV Promo of SOAP Starring Katherine Helmond & the late Cathryn Damon from 1982
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xxSXxfNlxSA
WGN-TV Promo of Alice Starring Linda Lavin from 1983
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knXsGi1pGeM
WGN-TV Promo of Siskel & Ebert At the Movies from 1983
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqPeCJ7E7k0
WGN-TV Promo of The Original WKRP in Cincinnati from 1984
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BUxRtZOutE
WGN August 4, 1984 Promos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKCPRmvbl-g
WGN The Nine O'Clock News (4/9/1993)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0RZlvX4mCw
WGN Nine O'Clock News w/Robert Jordan and Larry Roderick from 1985
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIOnsT5dhbQ
WGN Midday News Opening w/Robert Jordan filling in for Steve Sanders and Jim Ramsey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euyKyXBxrjk
WGN Nine O'Clock News Opening from 1991 w/Rick Rosenthal and Allison Payne
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pco1-FmJBA0
More WGN Promos and News Clips from tv.ark.org.uk
http://www2.tv-ark.org.uk/International/usa/wgn.html
WGN-TV Promo for Benson Starring Robert Guillaume from 1984
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gVDFlFtq3A
Another Promo of Benson #2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROjsjuXVD2M
Another Promo of Benson Scene from the Pilot Episode
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFvycbp_Dfk
WGN-TV Promo of M.A.S.K.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l8p7xQ8Wt0
WGN-TV Promo of Transformers: Generation 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6vvke2fd4A
WGN-TV Promo of Cheers - Coach and Woody Week
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eUYmPCKcK4
WGN-TV Promo of Bogart Week from 1984
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoZAQC9qd1Y
WGN-TV Promo of Charlie's Angels
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYpaLm6n1ZE
WGN-TV Promo of Channel 9 Summertime '88
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39RxXVyBAS0
WGN Comedy Promo from 1989
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0GwL58S_WE
WGN Saturday Night Action Theater Opening w/the voice of WGN Merri Dee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d48gA2ng-0o
WGN Presents Preview w/the voice of WGN Merri Dee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4t7JOVBFgY
WPLG/ABC Sunday Movie Ad Breaks (5/17/87) Part 11, WGN-TV Intershow & WGN Presents Open
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQHiZlshMnA
WGN Tribute to Merri Dee - THE VOICE of WGN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMgtp7p5e_A
WGN Pays Tribute to John Drury
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cZPxFwIHYc
Merri Dee on You and Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9psQJPqL3I