WMBD-TV

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WMBD-TV
Peoria, Illinois
Branding WMBD NewsChannel 31
Slogan Taking Action for You
Channels Analog: 31 (UHF)

Digital: 30 (UHF)

Affiliations CBS
Owner Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc.
(Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc.)
First air date January 1, 1958
Call letters’ meaning World's
Most
Beautiful
Drive
(referring to Peoria's Grandview Drive overlooking the Illinois River)
Sister station(s) WYZZ-TV
Transmitter Power 2040 kW (analog)
800 kW (digital)
Height 195 m (analog)
193 m (digital)
Facility ID 42121
Transmitter Coordinates 40°38′5.7″N, 89°32′19.7″W
Website www.centralillinoisproud.com

WMBD-TV, channel 31, is the CBS affiliate in Peoria, Illinois. It is the first Peoria station to broadcast local color television, the last to broadcast digital television, and the only commercial television station with its studio and offices still in the city itself.

Contents

[edit] Ownership

WMBD-TV has been co-owned with WCIA (TV) in Champaign, Illinois for decades. Along with WCFN in Springfield, Illinois, they are now owned by Nexstar Broadcasting Group. WMBD-TV also operates WYZZ-TV.

[edit] History

WMBD-TV first signed on the air on January 1, 1958. The original owners were Charles Caley and John Fetzer of WMBD, Inc., and it was co-owned with WMBD radio (AM 1470 and 93.3 FM, now WPBG). The stations were sold to Midwest Television Inc. of Champaign, Illinois; owners of WCIA in 1960 for $1.85 million.

In 1999, WMBD-TV was split from its radio sisters when Midwest Television divested its Illinois stations, selling TV stations WMBD-TV, WCFN Springfield, and WCIA Champaign to Nexstar Broadcasting Group and the two Peoria radio stations to Peoria-owned JMP Media LLC (a subsidiary of California-based Triad Broadcasting).


[edit] Logos

[edit] Programming

In addition to sharing news items with WCIA, WMBD-TV has also carried some original WCIA programs:


[edit] Station names

  • "Action News 31" (1960s-1970s)
  • "31 News Alive" (1970s-1980s)
  • "NewsCenter 31" (1980s-90s)
  • "News 31" (early to mid-1990s)
  • "WMBD News" (mid 1990s)
  • "CBS 31 News" (1997 to 2003)
  • "NewsChannel 31 News" (2003-present)

[edit] Slogans

  • "The Best News of All" (Did use CBS' "Get Ready" campaign and montage in 1989) (1980s-1990s)
  • "Your News Authority" (Did use CBS' "The Look of America is CBS" campaign and montage in the early 1990s) (1990s)
  • "Specifically Designed for Busy People (Like You)" (Did use "Wannabe" by the Spice Girls for a montage in 1997) (1990s)
  • "The One and Only" (Did air a montage featuring the news team with the song "You're The One That I Want" from the film Grease) (1990s)
  • "Bottom Line, Better News" (Did use CBS' "Its All Here" montage in 2002 also) (2001-2003)
  • "Making A Difference For You" (2003-2007)
  • "Taking Action For You" (2007-Present)

[edit] Personalities

[edit] Current

  • Stephanie Brown
  • Katie Burcham
  • Catherine Cambra
  • Chuck Collins
  • Rob Coons
  • Brad Harding
  • Megan Johnson
  • Will Koch
  • Bob Larson
  • Bret LaMoine
  • Lisa Miller
  • Kurt Pegler
  • Trisha Skidmore
  • Rachel Stein
  • Josh Stone
  • Steve Trainor

[edit] Former

  • Karen Adams
  • John Alois
  • Diane Barber
  • Orrin Benjamin
  • Julie Broski
  • Cheryl Burton
  • Rene Charles
  • John Coleman
  • Chris Curtis
  • Caitlin Coyner
  • Faith Daniels
  • Jenifer Daniels
  • Liza Danver
  • Donna Davis
  • Annette Eulitt
  • Anne Ferry
  • Nancy Flagg
  • Dave Freeman
  • Yvonne Greer
  • Kate Habecker (later Kenny)
  • Kristyn Hartman
  • Don Hein
  • Wayne Herman
  • Bob Jamieson
  • Jim Jensen
  • Tom Kelly
  • Rollie Keith
  • Kimberly LaBurda
  • Sally Larvick
  • Carol LeBeau
  • Mike McClellan
  • Krystal Morris
  • Paul Moyer
  • Aimee Nuzzo
  • Amy Paul
  • Paige Perich
  • L.P. Phillips
  • Laura Trendle Polus
  • Joe Rex
  • Chuck Rogers
  • Jane Rogers
  • Rachel Ryan
  • Justin Sacher
  • Randy Salerno
  • Martin Savidge
  • Donna Schultze
  • Bob Starr
  • Kari Stewart
  • Howard Sudberry
  • Dan Swaney
  • Lisa Sylvester
  • Darcy Thomas
  • Dorothy Tucker
  • Jay Verner
  • Doc Watson

[edit] External links