WMEU-CD
WMEU-CD is a low-power Class A independent television station serving Chicago, operated by Weigel Broadcasting.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WMEU-CD is a low-power Class A television station broadcasting on channel 48 in Chicago, Illinois. The station is owned and operated by locally based Weigel Broadcasting and forms part of Weigel's Chicago station group alongside WCIU-TV and WWME-CD. Its studios are located on South Halsted Street in the Greektown area, while its transmitter is located at Willis Tower in the Chicago Loop. The station began broadcasting on October 28, 1987, as W54AP on UHF channel 54. It later carried Eternal Word Television Network programming before moving to channel 48 in 2004 and adopting the call sign W48DD. In 2005, it became WFBT-CA and adopted the FBT, or Foreign-language Broadcast Television, format. The format was associated with Weigel's broader effort to provide ethnic and foreign-language programming in the Chicago market. On March 1, 2008, the station was converted to the MeToo format, an extension of Weigel's MeTV classic-television service. It was renamed WMEU-CA and programmed a mixture of older dramatic series, comedy programs, and classic films. Its schedule was subsequently adjusted to distinguish it from WWME's more comedy-oriented MeTV service. The station also carried a movie strand known as Me-Too's Movie Classics and, for a period, simulcast programming through a digital subchannel of WCIU-TV. The station moved toward a broader entertainment and sports identity during the 2010s. In 2013, it dropped the MeToo format and began carrying the high-definition version of The U Too, a general-entertainment service that had originated on WCIU's digital subchannel 26.2. The service combined syndicated entertainment programming with local and regional sports. WMEU's sports portfolio included Chicago Sky WNBA games, Chicago Wolves hockey, selected college basketball, Chicago Public High School League events, and later Illinois High School Association championship coverage. In 2019, following Weigel's agreement to make WCIU-TV the Chicago-area affiliate of The CW, WMEU temporarily assumed the main station's former The U branding. It also became the flagship outlet for the Illinois High School Association network, carrying a weekly game and state championship events in football and boys' and girls' basketball. On August 1, 2024, the branding arrangement was reversed: WCIU reclaimed the U identity while WMEU returned to The U Too branding. The station remains an independent, locally operated outlet whose programming is also distributed through WCIU's digital subchannels to compensate for the limited coverage of its low-power signal.
History
WMEU-CD signed on October 28, 1987, as W54AP, a low-power station operating on UHF channel 54 in Chicago. During its early years it carried a variety of programming, including an affiliation with Eternal Word Television Network in the late 1990s. In 2004, the station moved to UHF channel 48 and became W48DD. On January 1, 2005, the station adopted the WFBT-CA call sign and introduced the FBT, or Foreign-language Broadcast Television, format. The format originated within Weigel Broadcasting's Chicago station portfolio and focused on ethnic and foreign-language programming. When that service was removed from channel 48, some of its programming later returned through a locally programmed digital service on WCIU-TV. The station was relaunched on March 1, 2008, as MeToo, a companion to Weigel's MeTV service on WWME. It changed its call sign to WMEU-CA and initially presented a broad selection of classic television. A weekday movie block, Me-Too's Movie Classics, was introduced later that year, featuring older films, generally from the 1950s through the 1970s. In 2009, Weigel differentiated its two classic-television outlets by emphasizing dramatic series and films on WMEU while making WWME's schedule more comedy-oriented. The schedules were adjusted again in late 2010 as MeTV expanded into a nationally distributed network. The station's call letters briefly changed to WCUU-CA in September 2010 before returning to WMEU-CA in November. During the same period, WMEU programming was available through WCIU digital subchannels, allowing viewers outside the station's limited low-power contour to receive the service. The station's analog and digital call signs were later separated during the transition to digital broadcasting: the digital facility adopted WMEU-CD in April 2012, while the analog facility used WMEU-LP. In September 2013, WMEU discontinued the MeToo format and adopted The U Too, a general-entertainment service that had originated on WCIU's digital channel 26.2. The service combined syndicated programs with sports and other locally relevant content. Sports agreements brought Chicago Sky games, Chicago Wolves hockey, selected DePaul and Big East basketball telecasts, Chicago Public High School League events, and games from the short-lived Fall Experimental Football League. The Wolves and Sky broadcasts were upgraded to high definition for their respective 2014 seasons. WMEU's digital signal was launched after the Federal Communications Commission approved its construction and license applications. Because the station remained low power, its own signal did not cover the entire Chicago market, particularly the outer city and suburbs. Weigel therefore continued to simulcast WMEU programming in high definition on WCIU-TV's second digital subchannel, 26.2. The station also carried a temporary TouchVision simulcast on its analog channel from September 2014 through January 2016. In April 2019, Weigel agreed with CBS Corporation to make WCIU-TV the Chicago-area CW affiliate. When that arrangement took effect on September 1, WCIU adopted the CW 26 identity, while WMEU temporarily took over WCIU's former The U branding. WMEU also became the flagship station of the Illinois High School Association network, carrying a weekly game and state championship events in football and boys' and girls' basketball. The branding arrangement was reversed on August 1, 2024. WCIU reclaimed the U identity, and WMEU returned to The U Too branding. The station's basic role remained that of a low-power independent outlet supported by WCIU distribution and operated as part of Weigel Broadcasting's Chicago group. Its transmitter remains at Willis Tower, and its studios remain on Halsted Street in Greektown.
- 2024
Returns to The U Too
[1]WMEU restores The U Too branding as WCIU reclaims the U identity.
- 2019
Temporarily adopts The U branding
[1]WMEU assumes WCIU's former U identity after WCIU becomes a CW affiliate and becomes the Illinois High School Association network's flagship outlet.
- 2014
Expands local sports coverage
[1]The station adds Chicago Wolves, Chicago Sky, and other regional sports programming, with major team broadcasts moving to high definition.
- 2013
Switches to The U Too
[1]WMEU ends MeToo and begins carrying The U Too general-entertainment service.
- 2012
Adopts the WMEU-CD call sign
[1]The digital facility receives the WMEU-CD designation as the station's Class A status transitions to its digital operation.
- 2011
Digital signal begins operation
[1]WMEU's digital signal signs on, while WCIU continues to distribute its programming through a digital subchannel.
- 2010
Digital transition preparations
[1]The station receives approval to construct a digital facility and briefly uses the WCUU-CA call sign before restoring WMEU-CA.
- 2008
Introduces MeToo
[1]WMEU-CA replaces FBT with MeToo, a companion classic-television service related to MeTV.
- 2005
Launches the FBT format
[1]The station becomes WFBT-CA and adopts an ethnic and foreign-language programming service.
- 2004
Moves to channel 48
[1]The station moves from channel 54 to channel 48 and takes the W48DD call sign.
Products and positioning
A locally operated Chicago independent station combining general entertainment, syndicated programming, regional sports, and digital multicast services. Its WCIU simulcast extends the reach of its low-power over-the-air signal across the wider market.
General-entertainment television service · 2013
The U Too
The U Too is WMEU's general-entertainment identity and programming service. It combines syndicated entertainment content with sports and other programming targeted at the Chicago market. The service originated on WCIU's digital subchannel before becoming the primary identity of WMEU in 2013. WMEU's programming is also distributed through WCIU's digital multicast capacity to extend its reach beyond the station's low-power broadcast contour.
Classic-television service · 2008
MeToo
MeToo was a classic-television format introduced on the station in 2008 as an extension of Weigel Broadcasting's MeTV concept. Its schedule included older dramatic and comedy series as well as a weekday classic-film block. The service was restructured several times to differentiate it from WWME's MeTV schedule and was ultimately removed from WMEU in 2013.
Sports television service · 2019
Illinois High School Association Network
WMEU became the flagship outlet for the Illinois High School Association network in 2019. Its coverage included a featured game each week and championship events in football and in boys' and girls' basketball, giving the station a prominent role in statewide high-school sports distribution.
Brand decisions
2024
Restore The U Too brandingStrategyBackground
WCIU was preparing to end its CW affiliation and return to an independent format.
Action taken
WCIU reclaimed the U branding and WMEU returned to The U Too.
Aftermath
The stations restored their earlier brand distinction without a reported fundamental change to WMEU's ownership or low-power operating structure.
2019
Shift The U branding to WMEUStrategyBackground
WCIU was selected as the Chicago-area CW affiliate, requiring Weigel to reorganize its existing U-branded programming.
Action taken
WCIU adopted the CW 26 identity while WMEU used the former The U branding and became the Illinois High School Association network's flagship.
Aftermath
WMEU carried shifted syndicated programming and expanded its role in regional sports coverage.
2013
Move from MeToo to The U TooStrategyBackground
Weigel sought to use WMEU as a broader entertainment and sports outlet rather than a second classic-television channel.
Action taken
The station discontinued MeToo and adopted The U Too service.
Aftermath
WMEU expanded its sports portfolio, including Chicago Sky and Chicago Wolves broadcasts, while continuing to receive market-wide distribution through WCIU.
2008
Replace FBT with MeTooStrategyBackground
Weigel reorganized the station's programming within its Chicago portfolio and used channel 48 as a companion outlet for its expanding classic-television strategy.
Action taken
WMEU-CA adopted the MeToo identity and replaced the ethnic and foreign-language FBT service.
Aftermath
The station developed a classic-television schedule and later added films before moving to broader entertainment programming.
Sources1 sources
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