WCIU unveils new look, logo
With Weigel Broadcasting’s WCIU set to become Chicago’s only locally-owned broadcaster once Sinclair’s purchase of Tribune Media is done, the company’s two local stations are putting a fresh coat of paint on the place.
On Monday, WCIU and sister station The U Too (WMEU-CD, channels 26.2 and 48.1) unveiled new on-air logos and a revamped website. The independent’s rebranding effort is the first makeover the stations have received in years.
Steve Bailey, head of local programming and creative at WCIU said: “We are passionate about local television and its future. The U will continue delivering all the programming our viewers love like “2 Broke Girls” and “Seinfeld” while introducing them to new content and a new station attitude that will be edgy, unfiltered and opinionated. The rebranding of The U is just the beginning of an exciting evolution happening here. There’s also more to follow later this summer with the launch of a new live weekday morning show.”
The name of the new morning show, a replacement for the soon-to-be defunct You & Me, is still yet to be determined.
In addition to the shows mentioned above, WCIU also carries Judge Mathis (now the only nationally daily show shot in Chicago), The People’s Court, Mike & Molly, The King Of Queens, How I Met Your Mother, Family Guy, and Bob’s Burgers. The U Too carries The Doctors, Pawn Stars, Cops Reloaded, and Chicago Wolves and Sky games. The U Too is available on Chicago area’s cable and satellite providers but is not available on DirecTV.
The revamp comes on the same day TVNewscheck released its top 30 station group index, with Weigel – owners of stations in Milwaukee and South Bend, ranking 23rd in spot revenue with $97.2 million. With the pending purchase of Tribune, Sinclair would vault into first place with nearly $3 billion. Weigel was also the only Chicago-based broadcaster on the list.
On the air since 1964, WCIU has been airing syndicated programming since 1995 and launched U Too in 2008. The company also runs digital subchannels MeTV and Heroes & Icons, and partners with CBS and Fox for Decades and Movies!, respectively.