WHOI is an independent television station licensed to Peoria, Illinois, with a secondary MyNetworkTV affiliation and sports-oriented programming under Gray Media ownership.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WHOI is a television station serving Peoria and surrounding communities in central Illinois. Broadcasting on channel 19, the station is licensed to Peoria and operates from shared facilities on Springfield Road along Interstate 474 in East Peoria. Its transmitter facilities are also shared with WEEK-TV, the market's NBC, ABC, and CW Plus affiliate. WHOI is owned by Gray Media alongside WEEK-TV and presents itself on air as MyTeam, reflecting a programming mix centered on sports-related content, syndicated MyNetworkTV programming, and local newscasts produced by or associated with WEEK-TV. The station began broadcasting on October 18, 1953, as WTVH, making channel 19 the second-oldest television outlet in the Peoria market. Its early schedule included CBS, ABC, and DuMont programming. WTVH initially operated from Creve Coeur and was technically disadvantaged by the limitations then associated with ultra high frequency broadcasting. It became a primary CBS affiliate in 1954, but the station's network position changed after the Federal Communications Commission reorganized Peoria's television allocations. When WMBD-TV launched on channel 31 in January 1958, it assumed CBS programming, leaving WTVH as a primary ABC station. Channel 19 changed ownership and identity several times. The Peoria Journal-Star publisher acquired a controlling interest in the original licensee in the 1950s, Metropolitan Broadcasting later owned the station, and the Small family acquired it in 1965. The station then became WIRL-TV, linking it to WIRL radio. Forward Communications purchased the outlet in 1971 and changed its call sign to WRAU-TV. During the Forward period, the station generally ranked second in local news, behind WEEK-TV, but a 219-day strike by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers members beginning in December 1982 damaged its news operation, advertiser relationships, and ratings. In 1985, following a change in corporate ownership and a broader station-image overhaul, channel 19 adopted the WHOI call sign. The name was promoted through a campaign presenting the station as the “heart of Illinois.” Subsequent ownership by Adams Communications, Brissette Broadcasting, Benedek Broadcasting, Chelsey Broadcasting, and Barrington Broadcasting brought repeated management and operational changes. WHOI's ratings performance fluctuated, but it generally remained behind WEEK-TV and WMBD-TV in local news. The station also carried selected UPN programming during the network's early years and later became associated with the WB and CW services through the cable-only WBPE outlet and a digital subchannel. WHOI began digital broadcasting in 2003 and completed its analog-to-digital transition in June 2009. In 2009, Barrington entered an operating agreement with Granite Broadcasting, then the owner of WEEK-TV, consolidating many activities between the two stations. In 2016, WEEK-TV acquired WHOI's ABC and CW affiliations. Channel 19 consequently shifted away from its former major-network role and became primarily a digital multicast and independent outlet. In 2025, the WHOI license was transferred to Gray Media in a transaction involving Sinclair Broadcast Group. Under Gray ownership, WHOI was relaunched with its current combination of sports programming, MyNetworkTV content, and newscasts from WEEK-TV.
History
WHOI's history begins with the FCC's postwar reorganization of television channel assignments. In 1951, the commission proposed adding UHF allocations to Peoria, and channel 19 was ultimately selected for the city after local broadcasters argued that Peoria needed another television service. Hilltop Broadcasting Company applied for the channel while its related radio interests were being reorganized, and the station began broadcasting as WTVH-TV on October 18, 1953. The new station initially carried CBS, ABC, and DuMont programs from studios and transmitter facilities in Creve Coeur. The Peoria Journal-Star newspaper company acquired a controlling interest in Hilltop in 1954, while WTVH improved its technical reach through a more powerful transmitter and a taller tower. Nevertheless, channel 19 faced the structural disadvantages that affected UHF stations in markets where VHF service was being considered. A prolonged FCC proceeding examined whether Peoria should retain a VHF channel 8 allocation or use alternative UHF assignments. In 1957, the commission voted to move channel 8 away from Peoria and add UHF channels 25 and 31. WMBD used channel 31 to launch WMBD-TV in January 1958, taking CBS from WTVH and leaving channel 19 with ABC. Ownership changes became a recurring feature of the station's development. Metropolitan Broadcasting acquired WTVH in 1959 and later became Metromedia. In 1965, the station was sold to the Small family's Twelve Ninety Radio Corporation and adopted the WIRL-TV call sign. Forward Communications acquired it in 1971, renamed it WRAU-TV, separated the television news operation from WIRL radio, expanded the Creve Coeur facilities, and installed higher-power transmission equipment. WRAU's local news operation generally ranked second in the market until a labor dispute substantially disrupted the station. Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers struck in December 1982, and the stoppage lasted 219 days. The dispute was accompanied by an advertiser boycott organized by local unions and restrictions on the station's access to some news events. Non-union personnel continued producing newscasts, but the station's ratings weakened considerably and it fell behind WMBD-TV in the late-news competition. Forward was sold to Wesray Capital Corporation in late 1984. During the resulting image and management overhaul, the station dismissed long-serving anchor Clark Smith and adopted the WHOI call sign on March 17, 1985. The new identity was promoted around the idea of the station as the “heart of Illinois.” Wesray later sold the Forward stations to Adams Communications. Adams's heavy debt burden led to a default and restructuring in the early 1990s, after which Paul Brissette acquired the business through Brissette Broadcasting. The Brissette years brought further newsroom changes. WHOI lost the local rights to Jeopardy! to WMBD in 1992, and an experimental news program called Eyewitness Agenda did not succeed in the ratings. Several recognizable personnel left, and a 1994 management shakeup replaced the general manager, news director, general sales manager, and an assignment editor. The station subsequently adopted a more tabloid-oriented news style. WHOI also carried selected UPN programs from the network's 1995 launch until WAOE began serving the market in 1999. Brissette was absorbed into Benedek Broadcasting in 1996. Benedek later entered bankruptcy proceedings after advertising weakness and debt problems. WHOI was separated from most of Benedek's other stations and transferred to Chelsey Broadcasting, an affiliate of Chelsey Capital. Barrington Broadcasting acquired WHOI in 2004 after managing the station for Chelsey. WHOI began digital transmission on channel 40 in August 2003, brought WB programming to the market through the cable-only WBPE service in 1998, and later carried The CW on a digital subchannel after the WB and UPN merger. The station completed its analog shutdown on June 12, 2009, later than most stations in the Peoria market. Its relationship with WEEK-TV deepened after Barrington and Granite Broadcasting agreed in 2009 to consolidate operations. In 2016, WEEK-TV took over WHOI's ABC and CW affiliations, reducing channel 19's role as a conventional network affiliate. WHOI subsequently focused on digital multicast services and independent programming. In 2025, Gray Media received the WHOI license in a transaction involving Sinclair Broadcast Group. Gray relaunched the station as an independent outlet branded MyTeam, with sports programming, MyNetworkTV content, and newscasts supplied by WEEK-TV.
- 2025
Gray Media ownership and MyTeam relaunch
[1]The license transfers to Gray Media and channel 19 returns with sports-oriented programming, MyNetworkTV content, and WEEK newscasts.
- 2016
ABC and CW affiliations move to WEEK-TV
[1]WEEK-TV acquires the affiliations, changing WHOI's role in the local television lineup.
- 2009
Analog service ends
[1]WHOI completes its analog-to-digital transition on June 12.
- 2006
CW service replaces WB branding
[1]Following the WB–UPN merger, WBPE becomes Peoria's CW and is carried as a WHOI digital subchannel.
- 2003
Digital broadcasting begins
[1]WHOI begins transmitting a digital signal on channel 40 on August 1.
- 1998
WB programming reaches the market
[1]The station launches WBPE, a cable-only local outlet of The WB 100+ Station Group.
- 1985
WHOI identity is introduced
[1]The station adopts the WHOI call sign on March 17 as part of a rebranding campaign built around the “heart of Illinois” concept.
- 1982
Long labor strike begins
[1]IBEW members begin a 219-day strike that disrupts the news operation and contributes to a major ratings decline.
- 1971
Forward Communications acquires the station
[1]Forward purchases the outlet and changes its call sign to WRAU-TV on May 1.
- 1965
Call sign changes to WIRL-TV
[1]After acquisition by the Small family's Twelve Ninety Radio Corporation, the station adopts the WIRL-TV identity.
Products and positioning
A Peoria-area independent broadcast station combining local news, sports-focused programming, syndicated entertainment, and digital multicast content, with operational ties to sister station WEEK-TV.
Broadcast television station · 1953
WHOI channel 19
WHOI's principal over-the-air television service for the Peoria, Illinois, market. The channel currently operates as an independent station with a schedule combining sports-related programming, syndicated MyNetworkTV content, and local newscasts associated with sister station WEEK-TV.
Digital and cable television service · 1998
WBPE / Peoria's CW
A secondary service associated with WHOI that brought WB programming to the Peoria–Bloomington market through the WB 100+ Station Group. After the WB and UPN merger, it became Peoria's CW and was distributed as a WHOI digital subchannel.
Television news
Local news programming
WHOI has maintained a local-news presence through successive ownership and affiliation changes. In its current configuration, newscasts are supplied by or produced in connection with WEEK-TV, reflecting the stations' shared facilities and operating relationship.
Marketing campaigns
- 1985The new heart of Illinois
Peoria · Central Illinois
WHOI introduced its current call sign as part of a promotional effort positioning channel 19 as a station closely connected with the geographic and civic identity of central Illinois.
Outcome. The WHOI name became the station's long-term identity, although its news ratings continued to fluctuate in a competitive market.
Brand decisions
2025
Gray Media relaunches WHOIM&ABackground
The WHOI license was included in a transaction involving Gray Media and Sinclair Broadcast Group.
Action taken
Gray Media assumed ownership of the license and relaunched channel 19 as MyTeam with sports-related programming, MyNetworkTV syndication, and WEEK newscasts.
Aftermath
WHOI became part of Gray's Peoria station group alongside WEEK-TV and adopted its current independent-station positioning.
2016
Network affiliations transferred to WEEK-TVStrategyBackground
WHOI and WEEK-TV already had an operating relationship, and the market's network affiliations were reorganized.
Action taken
WEEK-TV acquired the ABC and CW affiliations previously associated with WHOI.
Aftermath
WHOI shifted toward digital multicast and independent programming rather than serving as a major ABC/CW affiliate.
2009
Operational consolidation with WEEK-TVStrategyBackground
Barrington Broadcasting owned WHOI while Granite Broadcasting owned WEEK-TV, creating an opportunity to combine selected station operations.
Action taken
The companies entered an agreement under which the two Peoria stations' operations were consolidated under Granite management.
Aftermath
WHOI and WEEK developed a closer operational relationship that later supported shared facilities and newscast production.
1985
WHOI rebrandStrategyBackground
Following ownership changes and weakening ratings after a prolonged labor dispute, channel 19 underwent a station-image overhaul.
Action taken
The station changed its call sign from WRAU-TV to WHOI and launched a campaign connecting the brand with the “heart of Illinois.”
Aftermath
The new identity endured, while the station continued competing with WEEK-TV and WMBD-TV for local viewers.
1957
Peoria television allocation is reorganizedStrategyBackground
The FCC considered whether Peoria should retain a VHF assignment or rely on UHF channels, amid concerns about coverage and the competitive disadvantages of UHF broadcasting.
Action taken
The FCC moved channel 8 away from Peoria and added UHF channels 25 and 31. WMBD subsequently used channel 31, taking CBS from WTVH.
Aftermath
Channel 19 became a primary ABC station and continued operating as a UHF broadcaster in the reorganized market.
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