By 1979, the WICS broadcast day began at 6:30 am and sign-off on weeknights followed the Tomorrow show hosted by Tom Snyder, at around 1 am. The dog was Fang, the Wonderdog. June 8, 2019 | 8:03 am EDT by Matthew Cappucci. December 22, 2015 / Scott Jones. Gatton joined WICS in February 2017 and has been a news anchor and reporter since then. Flooring America Eyenet Camera Network. Here was a TV Guide entry for just such a pre-emption. WICS Charity Basketball Team, about 1989 (WICS). She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Meteorology from Iowa State, and in 2006, was awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award from Iowa State University. July 3, 2019 | 6:36 am EDT by Kevin Eck, Sinclairs Springfield, Ill. ABC affiliate WICS and its former meteorologist Joe Crain have released a joint statement, saying they have resolved their differences in a private agreement and will be moving on from their dispute., CNN Business | You can see Robert Wilson in WICS's early history as a cast member of "Pegwill's Circus", 1972 Chuck Acri host of the Acri Creature Feature, picture from Houseofthejitters.com, 1972 Chuck Acri and characters from the Acri Creature Feature, picture from Houseofthejitters.com, 1972 Acri Creature Feature, picture from Houseofthejitters.com, Acri Creature Feature It was felt by the management of the time that WICS would be better served by keeping the late movie and airing the local commercials. When WICS moved from the former Leland Hotel studios, it moved into a large facility located at 2680 East Cook Street in Springfield. Read more about those struggles in "Pictures on the Prairie" available by clicking on the link above. Children's Miracle Network Benefit with WTAX Radio. This probably wasn't met favorably by NBC, but it seems that it didn't stop WICS from doing it. It's unknown why the Balaban's held onto the Champaign property. Dave Heller (who produced the 40th Anniversary of WICS and a number of screengrabs were taken) Radio Broadcasting, Adobe Audition, Broadcast, Feature Articles, Social Media, Storytelling, Radio, Communications Director at Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Communications Director- Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The SangamonLink has posted about historical highlights for Sangamon County including a story about WICS television history, in which it credits me as a source. Please note that the schedule for WICD and WICS were virtually identical. It wasn't purchased by Guy Gannett until 1994. Quotation [19] = " 'FTVLive.com, a prominent television industry website' - Lexington Herald Leader" One of the more "infamous" pre-emptions was that of "Star Trek" which was replaced by airing off-network reruns of "Laramie." The relationship of the two central Illinois NBC affiliates was so intertwined that it would be questionable that either one could continue to be successful without the other. He left his position at NewsChannel 20 at the end of May 2012 to become the full-time Artistic Director at the Hoogland Center for the Arts in Springfield, Illinois. The State Journal-Register | WICS disappeared from the Terre Haute local feed in the fall of 2011 after that city's Fox affiliate, WFXW, rejoined ABC as WAWV-TV. At that time the station's call letters were changed to WHNB-TV. Gus Gordon(weather), Don Hickman, Susan Finzen(anchors), Paul Wappel(sports) (courtesy WICS), Rebroadcast of vintage video showing Don Hickman and staff (courtesy of WICS). It features Elizabeth Wooley, Jerry Lambert, and reporter Catie Sheehan. Although the WRSP/WCCU newscast features market wide coverage, including contributions from WICD reporters based in Champaign, there is a separate weeknight weather segment for WRSP and WCCU that was seen. Springfield IL Deadline-driven Anchor and Reporter for (then) #1 rated 6pm and 10pm newscasts. Urbana Free Library, The CompleteDirectoryto Prime Time Network Shows Us @2023 FTVLive LLC However, WCCU quickly moved its advertising sales operation from its location on South Neil Street/U.S. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 42. The switch ended up being one of the most confusing things to happen to local TV since the advent of cable TV. WICS would add syndicated shows ranging from the videotaped talk shows mentioned above to "Superman," "The Lloyd Thaxton Show," "Bilko," "The Galloping Gourmet," "David Frost," "Hazel," "Dinah Shore," "Girl Talk" and movies on Saturday and Sunday nights and a rather unique Sunday morning movie series. December 6, 2022 | 1:16 pm EST by TVN Staff. CBS Color Mutual of Omaha's the Wild Kingdom would follow at 5 pm, then the NBC national newscast before prime time and Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color. After the 10 pm local newscast, both WICS/WICD would follow, more than likely, with the broadcast of yet another TV movie before sign-off. The switch was to take place on Labor Day of 2005. Mr. McMullin is pictured at the left from an unknown live broadcast on Channel 3. 1976 Fall TV montage of shows broadcast during the week. Quotation [16] = " 'FTVLive.com a website I go too often for the latest news about the TV business (you should, too!)' Senate Republican Caucus, Vice President & Senior Trust Officer at Jacksonville Savings Bank, Communication Manager/Spokesperson at Illinois Department of Transportation, President, Savant Multimedia, Social Media Management/Advertising Firm. Known as NewsChannel at 9 on Fox Illinois, it aired for a half-hour from a modified set at WICS' Springfield studios featuring unique duratrans indicating the Fox-branded show. Sinclair purchased most of Guy Gannett's stations, including WICS and WICD, in 1999. Quotation[8] = "'CNBC wanted a reaction to a story someone had seen on FTVLive' - Vanity Fair "; Off-network shows were syndicated in 30-minute versions and in central Illinois appeared on WMBD-TV, Peoria as well as sister station WCIA in Champaign. Static.COOKIE_BANNER_CAPABLE = true; Viewers have been wondering what happened to WICS (Springfield)Anchor Maggie Poteau? Plains Television sold WICS to Guy Gannett Communications (no relation to the larger Gannett Company), in 1986 but held onto WICD until 1994. The switch was to take place on Labor Day of 2005. Quotation[9] = "'FTVLive.com Scooped Everyone With News' - About.com "; var Q = Quotation.length; WICS, WICD, WCIA, WRSP, WCCU, WAND, WBUI and WCIX are now broadcasting with ATSC 3.0 technology. Although, that wasn't all. 1976 Fall TV montage of shows broadcast during the week. The Tonight Show followed, then Tomorrow would end the broadcast day. Here's a sample segment from "Real People" about an ugly dog contest. WICD's transmitter is near the border between Illinois and Indiana, and WICD was carried on most cable systems on the Illinois side of the Terre Haute market. Local newscasts, produced by WICS, are simulcast on both stations. Professional Background CheckInformation on professionals, their work history and resumes. The 1979 intro to "The Wonderful World of Disney" as broadcast on NBC and WICS. The ad for a WICS Springfield, Ill., morning meteorologist showed up Tuesday on owner Sinclair Broadcast Groups website. [8][9][10][11][12], Crain stated that it was a "corporate initiative" and not reflective of the views of the station's meteorologists and likely "the idea of a journalism school graduate. | KHQA-TV (Quincy, IL) It was an unprecedented moment in history as former President Donald Trump and his legal team navigated the historic second impeachment trial. Hickman was an anchor at the ABC-affiliate from 1972 until his retirement in 2001. SK Exteriors Stormtracker. The two stations operated as a regional network sharing most network and syndicated programming. TV Guide (1954-1959) from the Doug Quick Collection It was owned by Plains Television Partners and was a low-powered full-time satellite of Springfield's WICS. Help me identify people in these pictures, some I know, but others I do not. The Associated Press | At Sinclair, employees are our most valuable asset. WICS News Anchors. He later would be at CNN for over 20 years and at WXIA in Atlanta before moving to a role in public relations and working for the United Way in Atlanta. Fitness, Media Relations, Public Speaking, Public Relations, Crisis Communications, Press Releases, Assistant Director of Public Relations at University of Illinois Springfield. Copyright 2023 NewsCheckMedia LLC, 238 Crosshill Road, Wynnewood, PA 19096 | 610-649-7989, DMA 85 (CHAMPAIGN-SPRINGFIELD-DECATUR, IL), DMA 84 (CHAMPAIGN-SPRINGFIELD-DECATUR, ILL.), DMA 83 (CHAMPAIGN-SPRINGFIELD-DECATUR, IL), DMA 82 (CHAMPAIGN-SPRINGFIELD-DECATUR, IL). In the case of WICS/WICD, it was a late movie. This is a clip of the event. | (from the Doug Quick Collection of TV Guide), The "Real People" Express visits Springfield, IL. A short voice over promo for NBC Saturday Night at the Movies from 1975. Included with the change was a new set at the Springfield studios and updated Sinclair corporate graphics. 2016, WICS News Anchor Team, Stacey Skrysak, John Reger, (YouTube). Flip was WICS weathercaster for the six and ten-PM newscasts from 1973 to 1979. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); // ============================================== Lincoln Library-Springfield Director of the Center for Online Leadership and Strategy (COLS) at University Professional and Director of the UPCEA Center for Online Leadership and Strategy - and - UIS Associate Vice Chancellor of Online Learning. The situation with WICS/WICD wasunique when it came to Saturday Night Live. [2] WCFN's prime time broadcast would be eventually canceled by WCIA on September 28, 2009. Quotation [15] = " 'FTVLive Reported the Story First'- NY Times" During football season, NBC would air the AFC early football game and WICS/WICD would follow with a replay of Capitol Conference, than a local movie insertion.yet another TV movie, usually. It was called the "Laramie" peacockbecause it was first used at the introductionof "Laramie" the first season it was produced/broadcast in color in 1962. Although, that wasn't all. "He was an instant star," recalled Vann, who retired in 2019 after 42 years on television and now lives in Asheville, North Carolina. function showQuotation(){document.write(Quotation[whichQuotation]);} The News-Gazette With the exception of the WCCU newscast, WICD no longer produces Champaign-specific local news. WICS serves the western half of the Central Illinois market while WICD serves the eastern portion. A link to the page for WICS is here, just click on the button above. Cindy Larson and others at WICS The SangamonLink has posted about historical highlights for Sangamon County including a story about WICS television history, in which it credits me as a source. (YouTube). Springfield, Illinois Area Sports Reporter/Anchor WYMT Jun 2016 - Jun 2018 2 years 1 month. Click on the button to see the program schedule from the dates indicated above. This week I began a new career in a new industry. Springfield Area Weather Forecast. In 1983, as part of a publicity stunt, the cast toured the country via a train called the "Real People Express." On December 31, 2012, the Sinclair Broadcast Group closed on the purchase of the non-license assets of GOCOM's three television stations, WRSP/WCCU and sister station WBUI for approximately $25.6 million. WICS Newschannel 20 provides local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, notices of events and items of interest in the community, sports and entertainment programming for Springfield and nearby towns and communities in the Decatur, and Champaign area, including Jacksonville, Taylorville, Lincoln, Petersburg, Pana, Effingham, Shelbyville, Beardstown, Carlinville, Litchfield and Hillsboro. It was decided WICD being in a more liberal university community would air the 1970's version of SNL. President and Former Vice President of Print He was 66. Quotation [14] = " 'FTVLive's Scott Jones one of the Most Important Media Reporters in America'- Mediaite" Quotation [11] = "'Scott Jones, whose FTVLive.com Web site broke the story' - LA Daily News" No corporation is perfect, nor is every policy. There were some TV classics there, such as the acclaimed Brian's Song but most were very forgettable. August 9, 2013 | 8:20 am EDT by TVNewsCheck, NewscastStudio | Farm Report. 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