Chicago's WCIU-TV celebrates its independence

• The CW, owned by Nexstar, moved to WGN-TV.

What they're saying: "The CW network moving to WGN-TV is not just good for the network, it's good for WCIU too," WCIU boss Neal Sabin tells Axios.

• "In 2024, it's not just harder for independent stations to survive, it's harder now for all television stations to survive. Now we can control our primetime programming like we used to."

Context: The CW provided prime-time programming for the station and a revenue-sharing model to sell advertising around the shows. Now, WCIU is in charge of what it airs (and what it sells) in those slots, which, according to Sabin, will be an assortment of new game shows, classic sitcoms, local programming and sports.

• WCIU has also rebranded itself back to The U.
• "It has never been easy for WCIU," says Sabin. "We are competing with all the other stations for programming. Every show that is on our schedule, I could tell you about the battle, the war stories on what it took to get it."

Zoom out: WCIU, which broadcasts from its West Loop studios, was the first independently owned UHF television station in Chicago history. It began in 1964.

Zoom in: The station will continue to produce a handful of local programs, including Bill Leff and Kevin Fleming's morning show "Toon In With Me" and news magazine "On the Block," which is co-produced with Block Club Chicago.

• And, of course, Chicago legend "Svengoolie."
• It also airs Chicago Sky games and high school sports.
• "We're doing some local production here, but would I like to do more? Yes," says Sabin. "Is it expensive to produce local shows? Yes. But we are finding ways to take risks and experiment."

What's next: Starting next weekend, The U will broadcast high school football playoff games.