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WGN America
CountryUnited States
NetworkThe WB/Kids' WB (1995-1999)
Programming
Language(s)American English
Ownership
OwnerTribune Company

WGN America (formerly known as "Superstation WGN" or "WGN Superstation") is a Chicago-based American superstation for WGN-TV, owned by Tribune Broadcasting Company. WGN America offers its national programming across North America without network programming. It is the only remaining national superstation after TBS became a regular cable channel on October 12007. WGN America is available via satellite to DirecTV and Dish Network in the United States as well as through some smaller Canadian cable companies; most Canadian viewers which previously received the previous Superstation WGN feed now receive the WGN-TV Chicago feed. In the Chicago metropolitan area, WGN America is not available on cable or terrestrial digital but is available to DirecTV and Dish Network viewers.

History

October 1978-1988

In October 1978, United Video uplinked the signal of WGN-TV Channel 9 in Chicago to the Satcom-3 satellite for cable and satellite subscribers nationwide. For over 11 years, the national program schedule was the exact same as Chicago's.

Effects by the "SyndEx" rule

In 1989, a new law known as Syndication Exclusivity Rule, or "SyndEx", was passed. This law means that whenever a local station has the exclusive rights to air a syndicated program in their market, it must be covered up on any out-of-town stations by the local cable company. On January 1, 1990, a separate national feed of WGN-TV was launched to avoid any blackouts, save for some sports programming, similar to WWOR-TV's "WWOR EMI Service", only with fewer blackouts.

WGN America's national feed does not carry the WGN Morning News (it is claimed that the newscast was dropped in 1996 due to "SyndEx" rules on some segments) but does air the Noon and 9 p.m. (Central Time) newscasts, along with the Illinois State Lottery and Mega Millions multi-state lottery drawings. The evening newscast is occasionally pre-empted nationally due to Chicago Bulls basketball games cleared only on WGN-TV Chicago but not on WGN America or if a movie on WGN America runs long.

CW and WB Network programming

Another major programming difference between the national and Chicago area feeds is that WGN America does not carry CW Network programming (which does appear on WGN-TV Chicago), as that network is available in most markets around the country. Superstation WGN did carry programming from the former WB Network nationwide (which Tribune had an ownership interest in) from the network's launch in 1995 until 1999, when local station coverage was deemed sufficient enough by Time Warner and Tribune to discontinue airing The WB on Superstation WGN. Moreover, some markets with Tribune-owned stations do not have WGN America on analog or digital cable.

Sports

WGN America airs all WGN Cubs and White Sox baseball games, as well as a select amount of Bulls basketball games. Due to NBA broadcast rights restrictions, most Bulls games contracted to air on WGN-TV are seen in the Chicago area only; WGN America airs movies and other syndicated programming instead. With former superstation TBS having moved its national broadcasts of the Atlanta Braves to its local Atlanta WPCH-TV feed in 2008, it leaves WGN as the only superstation broadcasting local sports to a national audience.[1]

Change to WGN America

On May 24, 2008, Superstation WGN formally changed its name to WGN America. Initially, its use was limited to promos, as the Superstation WGN idents remained in use. The new name and logo went into fulltime use on the channel on Memorial Day, May 26, 2008. The channel would soon begin a slow change in its programming lineup, starting with a Sunday night "Out of Sight Retro Night" block, featuring older programs such as WKRP in Cincinnati, Newhart and The Honeymooners, some of which aired on WGN prior to the syndex era, or even after the start of syndex on the Chicago signal only. A few shows, such as U.S. Farm Report, were dropped. The transition process for a full rebranding is expected to take 12 to 18 months.[1]. In late July 2008, the network's logo bug dropped the eyes element of the logo, though they remain a part of the general logo in all other uses.

Tribune Chairman/CEO Sam Zell and CEO Randy Michaels have also stated to the media during a nationwide tour of Tribune properties that they would like to lure comedian Jay Leno into the Tribune fold as the host of a new late night program after the end of Leno's run as host of The Tonight Show on NBC in 2009, by launching it on Tribune stations and using WGN America as a linchpin for the show [2].

Shows

Currently airing

Formerly aired

Outta Sight Retro Nights 90's

Monday*Trapper John, M.D. Tuesday*The Odd Couple Wednesday *The Facts of Life Thursday *Hill Street Blues Friday *Webster

WGN in Canada

On January 17, 2007, many cable systems in Canada, as well as Star Choice, switched to the WGN-TV Chicago feed, duplicating CW Network and many syndicated programs already available on other channels. This is a result of Shaw Broadcast Services (the main supplier of the WGN feed in Canada) switching to the local feed. It is believed that the switch was made to avoid fees required to carry Superstation WGN. WGN America continues to be carried on other cable systems in Canada, however Bell ExpressVu has been carrying the WGN-TV Chicago feed for several years.

High Definition

A high definition feed of WGN America is now available on AT&T U-verse, Dish Network, and other systems as it becomes available. Cubs and White Sox baseball, Bulls basketball and most episodes of Corner Gas are in high definition. WGN began broadcasting its news in high definition on July 19, 2008, and those newscasts that are cleared for the national feed will be available in HD for WGN America viewers.

Logos

Note: WGN America used WGN-TV Chicago logos until 1995.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/chi-wed-rosenthal-28may28,0,458215.column
  2. ^ http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/chi-wed-rosenthal-4jun04,0,7170008.column
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