YouTube videos are the property of the individual copyright holders and only posted for their historical significance. 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. They might have had a strange talent, demonstrated a stunt, had a peculiar occupation.I think you get the idea. During most of its run in the late 1960s and 70s, it was sponsored by the local Lincoln-Mercury dealership in Springfield, Railsplitters Motors. This week I began a new career in a new industry. window._taboola = window._taboola || []; Scott Baer Click on the button to see the program schedule from the dates indicated above. March 3, 2015 | 10:02 am EST by TVNewsCheck, The State Journal-Register | This was the 1965-66 Season Premiere Video produced for NBC Sales. Meanwhile, WICD in Danville broadcast a signal of about 30 miles from Danville. Randy Miller and his Facebook Photo Collection These broadcasts are known as ABC NewsChannel and feature a common graphics package seen on WICS and WICD. Some of the religious shows included Jimmy Swaggart, Herald of Truth and Faith for Today. Sometime in the 1960s, WICS began a tradition of airing a movie at 9:30 am. Decatur Area Weather Forecast. Crain criticized Sinclair Broadcast Groups initiative to implement mandatory code red days in their affiliates forecasts. Just drop me a note at the form on the Home page. Fred Hickman, an influential sports broadcaster who became one of the early stars of CNN as host of "CNN Sports Tonight," has died. And during Wednesday mornings broadcast, Crain had had enough. It was hosted by Chuck Acri a businessman who also ran a home improvement company in the Quad Cities. When WICS moved from the former Leland Hotel studios, it moved into a large facility located at 2680 East Cook Street in Springfield. On Instagram, Elder wrote that she'd "close. Meanwhile, WICS would struggle with the technical limitations of WCHU and WICD. Price Point | Was The Code Red Meteorologist Right? Unlike the WRSP/WCCU show, WCFN's broadcast originated from WCIA's Champaign facilities but was targeted specifically at a Springfield audience. Weekend newscasts on WICD Champaign, Ill., will originate from Springfield, beginning March 26. It may cost him his job", "Where is Joe Crain? 1988 was the 50th anniversary of Springfield's Mel-O-Cream Donuts and Dave Heller did a report on the local company. _taboola.push({flush: true}); The Springfield State Journal-Register | This is a 2018 clip from Sunrise with Joe Crain and an explanation of the eventual controversial weather warning.. Network screen grabs were from the collection of Bob Lee, Jo Warfield for sharing her recollections. Unfortunately, those local children's shows would end with the abundance of syndicated sitcoms. Quotation[2] = "'The story first broke on FTVLive.com' - AP"; Now Crain is officially out of a job. On June 26, 2010, rival WAND became the first television station in East-Central Illinois to upgrade news production to high definition level. The change represented the second attempt at a joint market-wide product by WICS/WICD. Although identifying as a separate station in its own right, WICD is considered . John Belushi who was with the show from 1975 to 1979, Gilda Radner and Jane Curtin were there from. The dog was Fang, the Wonderdog. It was owned by Plains Television Partners and was a low-powered full-time satellite of Springfield's WICS. There should be one correction, though. Roz Abrams, formerly of CBS News, ABC's Eyewitness News; Christiane Amanpour, CNN; Ernie Anastos (retired), formerly of WNYW, WABC-TV and WCBS-TV; Sade Baderinwa, WABC-TV; Bret Baier, Fox News; Rudi Bakhtiar, formerly at CNN and last seen at Fox News as a correspondent; Dana Bash, CNN; Martin Bashir, MSNBC, formerly ABC's Nightline Along with several other Sinclair properties, WICS/WICD did not participate in the wider implementation of the company's now-defunct, controversial News Central format for their newscasts. Just drop me a note at the, Randy Miller for his picture contributions. In 1964, it moved to its current studios on East Cook Street in East Springfield. 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. Help me identify people in these pictures, some I know, but others I do not. WRSP and WBUI share studios with WICS but WBUI also maintains an advertising sales office on South Main Street/US 51 in downtown Decatur. The time slots would also be occupied by adult fare as well as syndicated shows like, "The Mike Douglas Show," "The John Gary Show" and "The Merv Griffin Show." Meanwhile, WICD in Danville broadcast a signal of about 30 miles from Danville. These paid commercial programs would pop up in March, June, August, and even December. WICS is the ABC affiliate in Springfield, Illinois. The switch ended up being one of the most confusing things to happen to local TV since the advent of cable TV. WICS would air paid religious programs by a professional evangelist, as well as paid info-commercials on behalf of charitable organizations. During the Summer of 1967, the new WICD(channel 15) would go on the air from the tallest (tower)structure in the state of Illinois at the time. That movie run would fill the 9:30 to 11 or 11:15 am time slot. 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. Investigative Reporting, Journalism, Editing, Broadcast Journalism, Writing, Video, Avid, Final Cut Public Information Officer at Illinois State Treasurer's Office. Plains Television Partners held onto WICD making it the final property owned by the company before finally selling to Guy Gannett. November 21, 2011 | 8:25 am EST by TVNewsCheck, News-Gazette.com | Quotation [17] = " 'An insider newsy website' - Hoda Kotb" That left a huge part of the rural areas including Charleston, Tuscola, and other east-centralcommunities without NBC network service from 1959 through 1967. News anchors and reporters like Douglas Kimball would be replaced by Wayne Cox (formerly of WBLN), who would anchor through the 1960s to the 1970s. Open in Who Shared Wrong byline? TV Guide (1954-1959) from the Doug Quick Collection WICS serves the western half of the Central Illinois market while WICD serves the eastern portion. [3], On March 26, 2011, WICD ceased airing its own newscasts on weekends opting to simulcast those from WICS. The station originally had facilities at the Leland Hotel on Capitol Street in Downtown Springfield. He received CableACE awards in 1989 and 1993, and was a New York . News Anchor & Reporter WICS-TV ABC Newschannel 20 2008 - 2013 5 years. CBS Color 45 in Champaign into WICD's studios. June 13, 2019 | 5:43 am EDT by Hank Price, Hank Price: The commitment of local broadcasters and their owners to the communities they serve is legendary. Pictured below are few snapshots from their visit in Springfield, IL supplied by WICS. A link to the page for WICS is here, just click on the button above. The Saturday morning sign-on was at 6:30 am as well with the syndicated U.S. Hickman died of liver cancer in Kissimmee,. It also aired whatever ABC programs WTVP in Decatur (now WAND) had to turn down in order to air CBS shows not cleared by WCIA. (YouTube). Help me identify people in these pictures, some I know, but others I do not. Springfield, Illinois Area Sports Reporter/Anchor WYMT Jun 2016 - Jun 2018 2 years 1 month. Although WICD maintains its own studios on South Country Fair Drive in downtown Champaign, master control and most internal operations are based at WICS' facilities. Fitness, Media Relations, Public Speaking, Public Relations, Crisis Communications, Press Releases, Assistant Director of Public Relations at University of Illinois Springfield. June 11, 2019 | 6:23 am EDT by John O'Connor, Joe Crain, a WICS Springfield, Ill., meterologist since 2004, disappeared from the weather report after ad-libbing June 5 about the Code Red moniker that station owner Sinclair Broadcast Group implemented as a severe-weather alert. WICS News Anchors News anchors and reporters like Douglas Kimball would be replaced by Wayne Cox (formerly of WBLN), who would anchor through the 1960s to the 1970s. Creative Services at WICS during the 60th Anniversary of WICS from which the recreation of the WICS logo (1st in Springfield) was included as the first graphic of this page THE FINAL FAREWELL: This had me laughing so hard this morning, but also tearing up as well, as I say my final farewell to WICS ABC Newschannel 20 & FOX 55/27 Illinois this morning. Don Hickman, who was an anchor at WICS in Springfield for 29 years, died of natural causes Saturday. This probably wasn't met favorably by NBC, but it seems that it didn't stop WICS from doing it. Prior to joining WICS and WRSP, Lemke worked in Omaha at WOWT-TV. On Monday, he might not have a job to return to. It was sponsored by Railsplitters Lincoln-Mercury which would either do live or recorded commercials in the studio with featured vehicles both new and used. 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. That enabled WICS to compete on the level of attracting central Illinois viewers to nearly an equal plain to its major competitor. The station's social media page was flooded with comments from viewers demanding the reinstatement of Joe Crain, pushing the hashtag #IStandWithJoeCrain, while U.S. Decatur Public Library With the exception of the WCCU newscast, WICD no longer produces Champaign-specific local news. Champaign's sister station was allowed to break from the WICS program schedule and it would air "Saturday Night Live" as broadcast on NBC. (see above) The movies included many of Hollywoods classic films from the Warner Brothers and MGM libraries. At one point in time, there had been a newscast weeknights at 5 that was simulcast on both outlets originating from Springfield.[4]. It as done with a panel which included John Barbour, Sarah Percell, Byron Allen, Skip Stephenson, Bill Rafferty, Mark Russell, Fred Willard and even Peter Billingsley(of "Christmas Story"). However, WCCU quickly moved its advertising sales operation from its location on South Neil Street/U.S. Static.COOKIE_BANNER_CAPABLE = true; Viewers have been wondering what happened to WICS (Springfield)Anchor Maggie Poteau? Programming WICS from 1979 to 1986 Twitter | Don Hickman, former WICS Springfield News Channel 20 anchor, recalls his childhood in Tennessee, adolescent years, introduction to broadcasting via radio, switch to television and many of the events he covered during his career: the Civil Rights Movement, the JFK and Martin Luther King Jr. assassinations, and the Vietnam War. J.R. Evans Eight Stations Launch NextGen TV In Champaign/Springfield-Decatur, Code Red Forecaster, WICS Resolve Differences. This is a clip of the event. WICS, WICD, WCIA, WRSP, WCCU, WAND, WBUI and WCIX are now broadcasting with ATSC 3.0 technology. Board of Directors at YMCA, Board of Directors at American Red Cross Illinois Capital Area Chapter, DM at Ace Hardware, District Manager at Ace Hardware Corporation - Oak Brook , IL, District Manager at Ace Hardware Corporation - Oak Brook , IL. Quotation[8] = "'CNBC wanted a reaction to a story someone had seen on FTVLive' - Vanity Fair "; // To add more quotations, continue with the var whichQuotation=Math.round(Math.random()*(Q-1)); June 13, 2019 | 6:58 am EDT by Brian Stelter, One week ago Joe Crain, the morning meteorologist at WICS Springfield, Ill., called out station management for mandating over-the-top Code Red weather alerts. The journalist is popular for anchoring "Dateline" for NBC, and from 1997 to 2011, she was news anchor on the network's "Today" show. Danville Area Weather Forecast. It's unknown why the Balaban's held onto the Champaign property. WCCU's advertising sales operation is also based out of WICD's studios. WICS Improvements/Planning Former Channel 20 anchor Don Hickman dies JOHN REYNOLDS and MATTHEW DIETRICH 0:00 0:35 Don Hickman, whose nearly three decades as news anchor at WICS Channel 20 made him one of. // Copyright 2004 by CodeLifter.com Some shows were pre-empted by reruns of, "The Gallant Men." The trainwould stop in as many of the NBC affiliate home towns as possible amid fans and local media. This was produced to promote the 1975-76 Fall Preview Special. Quotation [18] = " 'FTVLive is the Most Incrediable thing in our Business' - i24News" Hickman was a CNN original one of the first faces seen . June 7, 2019 | 6:43 am EDT by Bernard Schoenburg, Sinclair Broadcast Group said Thursday that International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union Number 51 is no longer representing Sinclair employees at its ABC affiliate WICS Springfield, Ill. (DMA 88). 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. Before 1967, in order to bring WICS and NBC programming across central and east-central Illinois, it took 4 TV signals. The Resignation of President Nixon as covered by NBC, August 8, 1974. By Justin Carter. During the Summer of 2004, it was announced that WAND would become the market's NBC station. As mentioned above, WICS frequently pre-empted prime time programming to insert its own programming. WICS/WICD was to have switched to ABC at the beginning of the 200405 television season, but it was required to remain with NBC for another year, as its affiliation contract with the station did not expire until September 4 of the following year. Press Releases, Media Relations, Strategic Communications, Public Relations, Internal Family Service Consultant at Staab Funeral Home, Financial Planner, Insurance and Investments at Communication Manager at CMS - State of Illinois. It as done with a panel which included John Barbour, Sarah Percell, Byron Allen, Skip Stephenson, Bill Rafferty, Mark Russell, Fred Willard and even Peter Billingsley(of "Christmas Story"). Joe Crain, a WICS Springfield, Ill., meterologist since 2004, disappeared from the weather report after ad-libbing June 5 about the "Code Red" moniker that station owner Sinclair Broadcast Group implemented as a severe-weather alert. The syndicated block was followed by a flip-flop of local news and network news on WICS and sister station WICD. It's been an incredible ride over the past 2+ years here in Springfield, one that I won't soon forget. 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). Professional Background CheckInformation on professionals, their work history and resumes. Local newscasts, produced by WICS, are simulcast on both stations. Hazard, Kentucky . At the time, UHF signals were not strong enough to cover large amounts of territory. The existing hour-long WICS-produced newscast on WRSP, which had been simulcast on WCCU, was refocused to Springfield and became known as Fox News at Nine. December 6, 2022 | 1:16 pm EST by TVN Staff. Local SNL fans objected in a big way..in fact the backlash was huge! This full-powered, full-color facility would replace Channel 33, 24 and 75 in central Illinois and would bring rural viewers from Crawfordsville, Indiana to Decatur, Illinois NBC programming. Groundbreaking sports broadcaster and Springfield native Fred Hickman, best known for anchoring CNN's "Sports Tonight," died Wednesday. I assume that because of the increased head-to-head competition with WCIA in Champaign, management at the time felt it beneficial to move the WICD local newscast to the 5:30 pm slot, while WICS would continue with the 6 pm slot, where it saw wide viewership. Remember Lemke has gone from The Weather Channel to the Chief Met at WICS in Springfield. This popular horror movie feature was produced at WQAD, Channel 8 in Moline, Illinois, and was syndicated to KCRG-TV(Cedar Rapids, Iowa), along with WEEK-TV(Peoria), and across central Illinois on WICS and WICD. Quotation[1] = "'The One-Man Website That Broke the Jay Leno Story' - About.com "; Strong enough to cover large amounts of territory began a tradition of airing a movie at 9:30.. Was with the show from 1975 to 1979, Gilda Radner and Jane Curtin were there from weekends to. 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