Thursday, June 11, 2009

Chicago TV stations to form "lifeline" for stranded analog viewers

Three Chicago TV stations are partnering up to inform viewers about the digital TV transition, which happens tomorrow.

NBC-owned WMAQ-TV, CW affiliate WGN-TV and Independent WCIU-TV will run news, entertainment, and informational programming on Weigel's WWME-CA - a low-power station not affected by the analog shutoff for now (all full-power stations are scheduled to shut off their analog signals on June 12.)

WWME's lineup of "Me-TV" Classic programming is available on WCIU-TV digital 26.2 and on cable.

WWME will carry WMAQ's news programming in the morning and at 6 p.m. weeknights. Weekend newscasts airing at 6 and 9 a.m. on Saturdays and both weekend days at 5 p.m. WGN's nighttime newscasts will be carried at 9 p.m. every night, except when either WGN or WCIU is carrying a baseball game.

At all other times of the day, WWME will simulcasting WCIU's (26.1) programming. Public service announcements will run on WWME throughout this period.

This arrangement is effective for 30 days.

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