I had a feeling this was coming. When WGN 9 started airing the controversial LIV Golf Tour, along with ACC Football & Basketball instead of WCIU 26, it only seemed like a matter of time before the CW would return to "Chicago's Very Own". That day is coming.
According to thedesk.net, WGN 9 will replace WCIU 26 as Chicago's CW station starting September 1, coinciding with the expiration of WCIU's deal with the CW Network. Coincidentally, Nexstar Media, WGB's corporate parent now owns a majority stake in the CW. It'll be the first time that CW programming has aired on Channel 9 since 2016.
As for WCIU, it's unclear if the Weigel-owned station will rebrand themselves as The U, which they were branded dating back to 1995.
Here is a link to CW's upcoming return to WGN 9 full time:
So "The U" indeed will be making a comeback on WCIU 26 this fall with the end of its deal with the CW Network in September. "The U", as the article mentioned, is currently located at WCIU 26.2 & WMEU 48.1. One would think they'd refer to them as "The U Too", which is what they were branded before WCIU was branded as CW 26 in 2019. Confused?
"The U" & "The U Too" aired very similar programming & schedules. BOTH Weigel-owned stations had aired off-network reruns as well as syndicated talk shows and occasionally aired sports. However, they weren't CW-produced coverage of the controversial LIV Golf Tour plus ACC Football & Basketball like WGN had aired on weekends since last September.
That last part about a revamped Stadium Network is something to definitely keep an eye on and a possible OTA home for selected Bulls, Blackhawks & White Sox games is very possible in the coming months. Stay tuned.
on May 1, 2024, 11:47 am