Superstation WGN
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WGN America
Launched	1978
Network	The WB/Kids' WB (1995-1999)
Owned by	Tribune Company
Slogan	TV you can't ignore Chicago's Very Own (WGN Newscasts) [1]
Country	United States
Language	American English
Broadcast area	United States Canada
Formerly called	WGN (1978-2001) WGN Superstation (2001-2002) Superstation WGN (2002-2008)
Website	WGN America
Availability
Satellite
DirecTV	307
Dish Network	239
Cable
Verizon Fios	Check local listings for channels (Also in HD)
Available on select cable systems	Check local listings for channels

WGN America (formerly known as "Superstation WGN" or "WGN Superstation") is a Chicago-based American superstation for WGN-TV, owned by Tribune Broadcasting Company. WGN America offers its national programming across North America without network programming. It is the only remaining national superstation after TBS became a regular cable channel on October 1, 2007. WGN America is available via satellite to DirecTV and Dish Network in the United States as well as through some smaller Canadian cable companies; most Canadian viewers which previously received the previous Superstation WGN feed now receive the WGN-TV Chicago feed. In the Chicago metropolitan area, WGN America is not available on cable or terrestrial digital but is available to DirecTV and Dish Network viewers.

History

October 1978-1989

In October 1978, United Video uplinked the signal of WGN-TV Channel 9 in Chicago to the Satcom-3 satellite for cable and satellite subscribers nationwide. For over 11 years, the national program schedule was the exact same as Chicago's.

Effects by the "SyndEx" rule

In 1989, a new law known as Syndication Exclusivity Rule, or "SyndEx", was passed. This law means that whenever a local station has the exclusive rights to air a syndicated program in their market, it must be covered up on any out-of-town stations by the local cable company. On January 1, 1990, a separate national feed of WGN-TV was launched to avoid any blackouts, save for some sports programming, similar to WWOR-TV's "WWOR EMI Service", only with fewer blackouts.

WGN America's national feed does not carry the WGN Morning News (it is claimed that the newscast was dropped in 1996 due to "SyndEx" rules on some segments) but does air the Noon and 9 p.m. (Central Time) newscasts, along with the Illinois State Lottery and Mega Millions multi-state lottery drawings. The evening newscast is occasionally pre-empted nationally due to Chicago Bulls basketball games cleared only on WGN-TV Chicago but not on WGN America or if a movie on WGN America runs long.

CW and WB Network programming

Another major programming difference between the national and Chicago area feeds is that WGN America does not carry CW Network programming (which does appear on WGN-TV Chicago), as that network is available in most markets around the country. Superstation WGN did carry programming from the former WB Network nationwide (which Tribune had an ownership interest in) from the network's launch in 1995 until 1999, when local station coverage was deemed sufficient enough by Time Warner and Tribune to discontinue airing The WB on Superstation WGN. Moreover, some markets with Tribune-owned stations do not have WGN America on analog or digital cable.

Sports

WGN America airs all WGN Cubs and White Sox baseball games, as well as a select amount of Bulls basketball games. Due to NBA broadcast rights restrictions, most Bulls games contracted to air on WGN-TV are seen in the Chicago area only; WGN America airs movies and other syndicated programming instead. With former superstation TBS having moved its national broadcasts of the Atlanta Braves to its local Atlanta WPCH-TV feed in 2008, it leaves WGN as the only superstation broadcasting local sports to a national audience.[1]

Change to WGN America

On May 24, 2008, Superstation WGN formally changed its name to WGN America. Initially, its use was limited to promos, as the Superstation WGN idents remained in use. The new name and logo went into fulltime use on the channel on Memorial Day, May 26, 2008. The channel would soon begin a slow change in its programming lineup, starting with a Sunday night "Out of Sight Retro Night" block, featuring older programs such as WKRP in Cincinnati, Newhart and The Honeymooners, some of which aired on WGN prior to the syndex era, or even after the start of syndex on the Chicago signal only. A few shows, such as U.S. Farm Report, were dropped. The transition process for a full rebranding is expected to take 12 to 18 months.^[2]. In late July 2008, the network's logo bug dropped the eyes element of the logo, though they remain a part of the general logo in all other uses.

Tribune Chairman/CEO Sam Zell and CEO Randy Michaels have also stated to the media during a nationwide tour of Tribune properties that they would like to lure comedian Jay Leno into the Tribune fold as the host of a new late night program after the end of Leno's run as host of The Tonight Show on NBC in 2009, by launching it on Tribune stations and using WGN America as a linchpin for the show ^[3].

Shows

Currently airing

• 24 (2005-present)
• 7th Heaven (returns September 8, 2008)
• Adelante, Chicago
• Amazing Facts
• American Idol Rewind (2007-present)
• America's Funniest Home Videos - Fugelsang/Fuentes & Bergeron eras (2004-present)
• Becker (2005-present)
• Believer's Voice of Victory
• The Beverly Hillbillies (2004-present)
• Bewitched (1978-1988, 2008-present)
• Bozo, Gar and Ray: WGN TV Classics (2005-present)
• The Brady Bunch (coming soon)
• Chappelle's Show (2004-present)
• Coach (returns September 15, 2008)
• Corner Gas
• The Cosby Show (1997-present)
• Da Vinci's Inquest (2005-2009) (leaving May 27, 2009)
• Even Stevens (2006-present)
• Funniest Pets & People
• Happy Days (2000-present) (leaves September 1, 2008) with Paramount TV 1975 w/ 1972 music, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, and 1984
• Homicide: Life on the Street
• The Honeymooners (1982-1994, 2008-2011) (leaving September 11, 2011)
• I Dream of Jeannie (1978-1989, 2008-present)
• I Love Lucy (coming soon)
• Lizzie McGuire (2006-present) (leaves September 1, 2008)
• Matlock (1991-present)
• McDonald's Thanksgiving Parade (2007-present)
• Moesha (2002-present)
• Mork and Mindy (coming September 15, 2008) with Paramount TV 1996 w/ 1978 music, 1979 music, 1980 music, and 1981 music
• The Munsters (1978-1986, 2007, 2008-present)
• Nash Bridges (2003-present)
• Newhart (2008-present)
• NewsRadio (coming October 5, 2008)
• Reno 911! (2007-present)
• Scrubs (2006-present)
• Sister, Sister (2007-present)
• Soul Train (best of) (1978-present)
• The Steve Wilkos Show (2007-present)
• Welcome Back, Kotter (returns September 14, 2009)
• WKRP in Cincinnati (1984-1993, 2008-present)

Formerly aired

• 21 Jump Street (1992-2002)
• The A-Team (1986-1999)
• The Addams Family (1988-1995)
• Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog (1996-1999)
• Airwolf (1990-1996)
• All in the Family (1995-2000)
• Andromeda (TV series) (2004-2007)
• The Andy Griffith Show (1978-1999)
• Animaniacs (2000-2002)
• Banana Splits (1984-1995)
• Barney Miller (2003-2004)
• Batman: The Animated Series (1997-2002)
• BeastMaster (2000-2008)
• The Bob Newhart Show (1978-1993)
• Boy Meets World (1996-2000)
• The Bozo Show (1980-1994)
• The Bozo Super Sunday Show (1994-2001)
• The Brady Bunch (1983-2004)
• Bugs Bunny and Friends
• California Dreams (1998-2000)
• Car 54, Where Are You? (1978-1996)
• Caroline in the City (1997-1999)
• Charles in Charge (1998-2001)
• Charlie's Angels (1987-1992)
• Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers (1991-1996)
• Cooky's Cartoon Club
• C.O.P.S. (1997-2005)
• Da Vinci's City Hall (2006-2008)
• Dennis the Menace (1993-1995)
• The Dick Van Dyke Show (1979-1986)
• The Donna Reed Show (1979-1985)
• Designing Women (1992-1997)
• Diff'rent Strokes (1984-1997)
• DuckTales (1990-1992)
• Earth: Final Conflict
• Empty Nest (1998-2005)
• Eight Is Enough (1987-1996)
• The Facts of Life (1993-2000)
• Family Matters (1997-2001)
• Family Ties (1986-1995) with Paramount TV 1981 (pilot episode), 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988
• Farscape (2004-2008)
• The Flintstones (1979-1994)
• The Flip Wilson Show (1981-1985)
• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1995-2001)
• Full House (1996-2003)
• Fun House (1998-2006)
• G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero (1985-1986, 1997-2004)
• Geraldo
• Get Smart (1989-1997)
• Gilligan's Island (1978-1984)
• Gimme A Break! (1992-1995)
• Gidget (1980-1983)
• Good Times (1980-1987)
• Green Acres (1981-1991)
• Growing Pains (1995-2003)
• Hawaii Five-O (1982-2000)
• Highway To Heaven (1996-1998)
• Hill Street Blues (1991-1993)
• Home Improvement (2005-2007)
• In the Heat of the Night (1993-2003)
• The Jeffersons (1981-1998)
• The Jetsons (1984-1989)
• The Joan Rivers Show
• Joanie Loves Chachi (1992-1995) with Paramount TV 1981 and 1982
• Jonny Quest
• Kids Say the Darndest Things (2001)
• Laverne & Shirley (2003-2005) with Paramount TV 1996 w/o music
• Leave it to Beaver (1983-1986)
• Lou Grant (1986-1998)
• Love American Style (1978-1997) with Paramount TV 1969, 1970, 1971, and 1972
• MacGyver (1989-2003)
• Magilla Gorilla (1982-1994)
• Magnum, P.I. (1995-2007)
• Mama's Family (1993-1997)
• M*A*S*H (1986-1992)
• M.A.S.K. (1985-1986)
• The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (1978-1984)
• The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1985-1993)
• Match Game '98
• Maude (1988-1992)
• Mister Ed (1978-1985)
• Murphy Brown (1999-2004)
• Mutant X (2002-2004)
• My Three Sons (1983-1992)
• The Nanny (2000-2002)
• The New Liar's Club
• The New Yogi Bear Show (1989-1994)
• Night Court (1990-1993)
• NightMan (1997-2002)
• The Odd Couple (1991-1995) with Paramount TV 1989 w/o music
• One Day at a Time (1983-1991)
• The Parent 'Hood (1999-2002)
• The Partridge Family (1980-1986)
• Perfect Strangers (1994-1996)
• Perils of Penelope Pitstop (1982-1993)
• Perry Mason (1988-2001)
• Phyllis (2002-2003)
• Pinky and the Brain (2000-2002)
• Puttin' On the Hits
• Rhoda (1978-1999)
• The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show (1983-1985)
• The Rockford Files (1984-2006)
• Saved by the Bell (1994-1997)
• Sex and the City (2004-2008)
• Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World
• Small Wonder (1990-2001)
• Sonic the Hedgehog (1997-1999)
• Step by Step (1997-2003)
• Street Justice (1996-2005)
• Suddenly Susan (2000-2006)
• Tales from the Darkside (1988-1996)
• TaleSpin
• Taxi (2001-2004) with Paramount TV 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, and 1982
• Three's Company (1994-2000)
• Tiny Toon Adventures (1990-1994 version) (1996-1998)
• Total Recall 2070
• Touched by an Angel (1996-2004)
• Transformers (1984-1987)
• Trapper John, M.D. (1978-1996)
• The Twilight Zone (1979-1981) with Viacom 1971 and 1975
• U.S. Farm Report (2002-2008, possibly prior to this as well)
• The Wacky World of Tex Avery
• The Wayans Bros. (2001-2002)
• What's Happening!! (1984-1986)
• What's Happening Now!! (1986-1987)
• Webster (1996-2002) with Paramount TV 1988
• Wheelie and the Chopper Bunch (1978-1979)
• Who's the Boss? (1993-2001)
• Will & Grace (2001-2006)
• Wings (1999-2003) with Paramount TV 1989, 1992, 1994, 1995, and 1996
• The Wonder Years (1996-1997)
• Yogi Bear (1978-1994)
• Yogi's Gang (1979-1994)
• Yogi's Space Race (1983-1994)

WGN in Canada

On January 17, 2007, many cable systems in Canada, as well as Star Choice, switched to the WGN-TV Chicago feed, duplicating CW Network and many syndicated programs already available on other channels. This is a result of Shaw Broadcast Services (the main supplier of the WGN feed in Canada) switching to the local feed. It is believed that the switch was made to avoid fees required to carry Superstation WGN. WGN America continues to be carried on other cable systems in Canada, however Bell ExpressVu has been carrying the WGN-TV Chicago feed for several years.

High Definition

A high definition feed of WGN America is now available on AT&T U-verse, Dish Network, Verizon Fios, and other systems as it becomes available. Cubs and White Sox baseball, Bulls basketball and most episodes of Corner Gas are in high definition. WGN began broadcasting its news in high definition on July 19, 2008, and those newscasts that are cleared for the national feed will be available in HD for WGN America viewers.

Logos

Note: WGN America used WGN-TV Chicago logos until 1995.

WGN's logo from 1995-2001. This is the second "modern" logo, in blue. the "G" is an inverted "9", which was also used by Superstation WGN.	WGN Superstation logo from 2001 to 2002.	Superstation WGN logo from 2002-2006. This is the "Circle S" logo.	Superstation WGN logo from 2006 to 2008.
WGN America logo from 2008.

Slogans

• It's Great to Be Home (2005-present)
• TV You Can't Ignore (2008-present)

See also

• WGN-TV
• List of DirecTV channels
• List of Dish Network channels

References

External links

• WGN America website