WBBM-TV

WBBM-TV, channel 2, is the CBS owned and operated television station in Chicago, Illinois. WBBM-TV's main studios and offices are located in The Loop section of Chicago, as part of the development at Block 37, and its transmitter is atop the Willis Tower.

History
Early History (1940-1953)

WBBM-TV traces its history to 1940 when Balaban and Katz, a subsidiary of Paramount Pictures, signed on experimental station W9XBK, the first all-electronic television facility in Chicago. Balaban and Katz was already well known for owning several movie theaters in the Chicago area. In order to establish the station, the company hired television pioneer William C. "Bill" Eddy away from RCA's experimental station W2XBS in New York City. When World War II began, Eddy used the W9XBK facilities as a prototype school for training Navy electronics technicians. While operating the Navy school, Eddy continued to lead W9XBK and wrote a book that defined commercial television for many years.

On September 6, 1946, the station received a commercial license as WBKB(for Balaban and Katz Broadcasting) on VHF channel 4, becoming the first commercial station located outside the Eastern Time Zone; it was also the sixth commercial TV station in the United States behind WNBT (now WNBC), WCBW (now WCBS-TV), WABD (now WNYW) all in New York City; WRGB in Schenectady, New York; and WPTZ (now KYW-TV) in Philadelphia. WBKB aired some of the earliest CBS programs, including the 1947 debut of Junior Jamboree (later renamed Kukla, Fran and Ollie after it moved to NBC in 1948). Channel 4 originally operated as an independent station, since at the time it was not clear that it would be an affiliate of the CBS television network; eventually, WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee became the first television station west of the Eastern Time Zone to affiliate with a major network. One of the station's early highlights was its telecast of the National Football League's championship game between the Chicago Cardinals and the Philadelphia Eagles on December 28, 1947.

In April 1948, WBKB began sharing the market's CBS affiliation with WGN-TV(channel 9), after that station signed on. In 1949, Balaban and Katz became part of United Paramount Theatres, after Paramount Pictures was forced to divest its chain of movie theaters by order of the United States Supreme Court.

WBKB played an indirect role in the demise of the DuMont Television Network. At the time, Paramount Pictures owned a stake in DuMont; as a result, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) considered DuMont to be a firm that was controlled by the studio. Paramount also owned KTLA in Los Angeles; since DuMont already owned WABD (now WNYW) in New York City, WTTG in Washington, D.C. and WDTV (now sister station KDKA-TV) in Pittsburgh, the FCC's decision meant neither Paramount nor DuMont could acquire any more television stations. Paramount even launched a short-lived programming service, the Paramount Television Network (no relation to today's cable-only Paramount Network), in 1949, with KTLA and WBKB as its flagship stations; however, the service never gelled into a true television network.

 As an CBS owned and operated station (1953-present) 

In February 1953, United Paramount Theaters merged with the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), which already owned WENR-TV (channel 7). As the newly merged entity could not keep both stations since FCC regulations enforced during that time forbade the common ownership of two television stations licensed to the same market, WBKB was sold to CBS for $6.75 million. On February 12, one day after the merger was finalized, the station changed its call letters to WBBM-TV, after WBBM radio (AM 780 and FM 96.3), which CBS had owned since 1929. The WBKB call letters were subsequently assumed by channel 7 (that station would eventually change its callsign to WLS-TV in 1968, and the callsign now resides at a CBS-affiliated station in Alpena, Michigan). While the old WBKB's talent remained with the new WBBM-TV under the radio station's longtime general manager, H. Leslie Atlass, the UPT-era management of the old WBKB moved to channel 7.

As a result of WBBM-TV's purchase by CBS, it picked up all CBS programming previously carried by WGN-TV, after a two-month cancellation clause in channel 9's affiliation contract with CBS; this left channel 9 with the quickly crumbling DuMont as its sole network affiliation.

WBBM-TV's studios at Washington Boulevard and Dearborn Street, across from Daley Plaza.

In accordance with the VHF channel allocation realignments imposed by the FCC in its issuance of the Sixth Report and Order, WBBM-TV relocated to channel 2 on July 5, 1953, in order to eliminate interference with WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee. WTMJ-TV concurrently moved to VHF channel 4—from channel 3—to avoid interference with fellow CBS affiliate WKZO-TV (now WWMT) in Kalamazoo, Michigan (on the other side of Lake Michigan), which itself broadcast on channel 3. The channel 2 allocation was coincidentally freed up at the same time as the state capital of Springfield was forced to let the allocation relocate to St. Louis, where the allocation was assigned to KTVI. The reshuffling also forced Zenith to shut down KS2XBS, an experimental station on channel 2 in Chicago that the company maintained for its pioneering pay-per-view service Phonevision.

In 1956, CBS consolidated its Chicago operations into the former Chicago Arena, a renovated 62,000-square-foot (5,760 m2), three-story building on North McClurg Court in the Streeterville neighborhood; the property was built in 1924 as a horse stable, and had operated as an ice rink and bowling alley prior to CBS' approximately $1.3 million purchase of the building.

That year, an episode of What's My Line? originated from the WBBM studios, airing one day prior to the start of the 1956 Democratic National Convention. Between the late 1940s and early 1970s, Columbia Records housed an office and recording studio in the building. On September 26, 1960, WBBM's McClurg Court studios served as the site of the first televised presidential debate between John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon. WBBM-TV also served as production home to the syndicated programs Donahue (from 1982 to 1985) and Siskel & Ebert (from 1986 to the late 1990s, when production migrated to the studios of WLS-TV on State Street).

In October 1987, Center City Communications—a locally based investor group led by attorney Brenda Minor—filed a challenge to the FCC's renewal of WBBM-TV's station license. However, in asking the agency not to renew the station's license through 1992, Center City never detailed any specific objections to the station's license renewal, although it had been speculated that the challenge may have been related to the then-recent boycott by Operation PUSH surrounding the lack of diversity with the station's staff and allegations that WBBM's hiring practices were not fair towards blacks; Minor (who is African American) later cited that the station did not fulfill obligations to public affairs programming. Center City dropped its challenge three months later in July, after reaching a settlement agreement with CBS in which Center City agreed not to challenge the license renewal of any CBS station for a five-year period, in return for a $187,500 payment by CBS. The challenge sparked calls for the FCC to reform its comparative renewal process, which certain broadcasters claim was used solely for the purpose of "extort[ing]" large cash settlements from stations.

The station was brought back under common ownership with Paramount Pictures when Viacom—which acquired the studio from Gulf and Western in 1994—merged with (the original) CBS Corporation in a $36 billion deal in February 2000. This union was broken up again in December 2005 when Viacom became CBS Corporation and spun off Paramount Pictures and Viacom's cable networks into a separate company that assumed the Viacom name.

In 2003, WBBM signed a lease agreement with Chevy Chase, Maryland-based developer Mills Corporation to build a "media center" for the station in the "Block 37" developments in the Loop business district, with plans to include a street-level studio that would overlook Daley Plaza. WBBM had earlier considered selling the McClurg Court facility with the intent to relocate into a new studio complex in 1998 (with areas on North Fairbanks Court, North Michigan Avenue and West Jackson Street as potential sites for the planned facility); however, the plans were postponed due to transition to high-definition broadcasting.

On September 21, 2008, WBBM-TV moved to new facilities in the "Block 37" studio at the corner of Dearborn and Washington Street, with a 30-by-19-foot (9.1 m × 5.8 m) LED screen that adorns the lower facade of the 17-story building (which some residents complained is "tacky and visually hyperactive"). This move coincided with the upgrade of channel 2's newscasts to high definition, making WBBM the fourth television station in the Chicago market to begin broadcasting their newscasts in the format (field footage converted to the format over a period of years); in early 2006, the WBBM radio stations moved into new studio facilities within Two Prudential Plaza on North Stetson Avenue. The former McClurg Court facility building was demolished over a two-month period from February to April 2009. WBBM-TV moved their news set upstairs to a more traditional studio in September 2017 after an obligation to maintain their main studio in the streetside space for ten years was fulfilled, with CBS eventually removing the LED screen and putting the space up for retail lease in 2019.

WBBM-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 2, on June 12, 2009, the official date in which full-power television stations in the United States transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate. The station's digital signal moved from pre-transition VHF channel 3 to the current, post-transition VHF channel 12. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers continued to display the station's virtual channel as its former VHF analog channel 2.1.

On October 21, 2014, CBS and locally based Weigel Broadcasting announced that they would partner to launch Decades, a digital subchannel network. The network soft launched in the Chicago market on WBBM digital channel 2.2, when that subchannel launched on February 1, 2015, with the network making its formal national debut four months later on May 25. Decades moved to WCIU-DT4 on September 3, 2018, with WBBM-DT2 becoming the home of a second Weigel/CBS concept network known as Start TV, which specializes in airing procedural dramas with women in the lead roles.

On February 2, 2017, CBS agreed to sell CBS Radio to Entercom, currently the fourth-largest radio broadcasting company in the United States. The sale was completed on November 17, 2017, and was conducted using a Reverse Morris Trust so that it was tax-free. While CBS shareholders retain a 72% ownership stake in the combined company, Entercom is the surviving entity, with WBBM radio and its sister stations now separated from WBBM-TV (though WBBM Newsradio maintains a continuing and strong overall partnership with WBBM-TV).

In August 2018, Jeff Harris took up the helm as news director of WBBM-TV. Long-time evening anchor Rob Johnson was let go in March 2019, replaced by Brad Edwards. Edwards joined Irika Sargent in the 5, 6, and 10 p.m. newscasts.

On December 4, 2019, CBS Corporation and Viacom remerged into ViacomCBS.[29] CBSN launched a local version of the service on April 22, 2020 for the station.[30]

Digital Channels
This station’s digital signal is multiplexed: WBBM-TV is currently the only "full-power" television station in Chicago that operates its digital signal on the VHF band (as it had done prior to the June 2009 digital transition). WBBM-TV's rival station, WLS-TV, was the only other station to have operated its full-power digital signal on a VHF allocation until the station moved its digital broadcasts to UHF channel 44, in order to alleviate reception problems, although it retained VHF channel 7 as the allotment for its digital fill-in translator when it launched on October 31, 2009. Some viewers have had trouble picking up VHF signals after the June 12 transition; as a result, WBBM's newscasts were simulcast over WWME-CA (channel 23), which served as a low-power analog nightlight service on its analog signal following the transition.

Syndicated Programming
As of September 2020, syndicated programs broadcast on WBBM-TV include The Drew Barrymore Show, Dr. Phil, Comics Unleashed, Entertainment Tonight and Judge Judy.

Sports Programming

From 1946 to 1951, WBKB telecast Chicago Cubs home games. Cubs owner Philip K. Wrigley believed baseball could benefit from television if a system could be developed that would appeal to housewives as well as their husbands. Wrigley gave the rights to WBKB to air the Cubs for the first two years for free. The first attempt to telecast a Cubs' game, on April 21, 1946, was unsuccessful, due to electrical interference in the State-Lake building where the station's transmitter was located. The July 13, 1946 contest between the Cubs and Brooklyn Dodgers marked Chicago's first successful telecast of a Major League game.

In 1956, when CBS began televising National Football League (NFL) games, WBBM became the primary station for the Chicago Bears, carrying most of the team's regular-season games (as well as preseason games off and on through the years), and until they moved to St. Louis in 1960, they were also the primary station for Chicago Cardinals regular-season games as well; the WBBM-Bears partnership continued until the end of the 1993 season, when the network lost the rights to the National Football Conference (NFC) to Fox with the majority of games being carried since then by that network's Chicago O&O WFLD. Presently, WBBM-TV carries Bears regular season games only during weeks in which the team is scheduled to host an American Football Conference (AFC) opponent at Soldier Field in a Sunday afternoon timeslot. However, beginning in 2014 with the introduction of "cross-flex" scheduling (and with it the end of determining broadcast rights by conference), exceptions exist for certain game telecasts that CBS originally held rights to which are shifted to Fox (such as the 2014 home game against the Buffalo Bills), and NFC vs. NFC games that are conversely shifted from Fox to CBS (such as a 2019 home game against the Minnesota Vikings). Additionally, Super Bowl XLI, where the Bears played against the Indianapolis Colts, was televised on CBS and WBBM.

From 1973 to 1990, The Chicago Bulls were televised on WBBM via NBA on CBS

From 2003 to 2007, WBBM-TV served as the host broadcaster of the Chicago Marathon, which is held annually in October, taking over from NBC owned-and-operated station WMAQ-TV; to accommodate the telecast, some CBS News programs were preempted or delayed. Marathon coverage returned to WMAQ-TV in 2008.

News operation
WBBM-TV broadcasts 30½ hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with 4 hours, 35 minutes each weekday; 3½ hours on Saturdays and 4½ hours on Sundays).

News department history
In the late 1970s, WBBM-TV surged past WMAQ-TV for first place in the Chicago news race. It became one of the most respected local news operations in the country and was considered a bastion of serious journalism. Led by anchors Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobson, weatherman John Coughlin and sports director Johnny Morris, WBBM dominated the news ratings in the late 1970s and early 1980s. At one point, its dominance was so absolute that it called its 10 p.m. newscast simply THE Ten O'Clock News.

In 1975, Chicago jingle composer Dick Marx wrote a theme for WBBM-TV based on an old folk song, "I Love Chicago, Chicago My Home". This theme, known simply as "Channel 2 News", became very popular in Chicago during WBBM-TV's glory days. WBBM-TV has used this theme and several variations on it for all but six years since then. The tune has also been adopted by several other stations across the country, mostly CBS stations. It has become the de facto official local news theme music for CBS's O&Os. From 1994-1997, 2000–2001, 2002–2008, and from 2010-present, WBBM-TV used an updated version called The CBS Enforcer Music Collection by Frank Gari. A synthesized version of the original theme, it was especially written for the station. From 2006 to 2008, WBBM-TV used an updated version of the theme, composed by Frank Gari's son Christian. For its high-definition news debut, WBBM-TV commissioned a new theme composed by In The Groove Music, which has done theme music for sister stations WCCO, WBZ and ATV. On June 21, 2010, with the adoption of a new CBS O&O graphics package, WBBM-TV brought back "CBS Enforcer" with an orchestrated version originally commissioned by sister station WCBS-TV.

Kurtis and Jacobson were first teamed together in 1973 by general manager Robert Wussler and news director Van Gordon Sauter, who introduced a hard-news format and began using the newsroom as the set for all newscasts. Kurtis became known for his "Focus Unit" in-depth reports, Jacobson for his "Perspective" commentaries. Among the others who were known for their work with WBBM-TV in this period were film critic Gene Siskel, police and crime reporter John "Bulldog" Drummond, women and consumer issues reporter Susan Anderson, feature reporter Bob Wallace, investigative reporter Pam Zekman, medical reporter Roger Field, political reporter Mike Flannery and reporter/weekend news anchor Mike Parker. Bob Sirott and Phil Ponce, later hosts of the WTTW program Chicago Tonight, were also reporters for WBBM-TV during this period. Zekman and Parker are still on WBBM-TV, and Drummond also still contributes occasional reports.

In 1982, Kurtis left WBBM-TV to anchor the CBS Morning News in New York and was replaced by Don Craig, formerly of WMAQ-TV. When Kurtis returned three years later, he was teamed with Craig for the hour-long 6 p.m. news, and Harry Porterfield, who had been the co-anchor of that newscast for several years, was demoted to a weekend shift. Porterfield later left for WLS, but the Rev. Jesse Jackson began a boycott of WBBM-TV after Porterfield, who is African-American, was demoted. WBBM-TV later hired African-American news anchorman Lester Holt, later of MSNBC to replace Porterfield. Kurtis left WBBM for the second time in 1996.

In March 1986, WLS-TV, which had been a strong third for many years, overtook WBBM for the lead. In 1990, WBBM hired Bill Applegate, who had taken WLS to first place as news director, as general manager. Applegate took Jacobson off the anchor desk (Jacobson eventually left for WFLD in 1993) and made the newscasts much flashier than they had previously been. The reporting staff during this time was impressive. It included Elizabeth Vargas (now at ABC News), Rob Stafford (now at NBC), Jim Avila (now at ABC), Larry Mendte (most recently a main anchor at CBS-owned KYW-TV in Philadelphia) and Dawn Stensland (now a main anchor at Fox-owned WTXF in Philadelphia). They were on the streets in addition to Jay Levine, Mike Parker and Pam Zekman. It was enough for a rebound to a first-place tie with WLS-TV by 1993. The momentum did not last as Vargas, Aliva, Mendte, Stafford and Stensland all left the station within a short time. By the mid-1990s, WBBM-TV had crashed to last place. For most of the next decade, WLS and WMAQ fought it out for first, while WBBM-TV's once-proud news division often trailed syndicated reruns on WFLD.

The station has gone through several different on-air branding schemes—from its longtime brand of Channel 2 News to 2 News, News 2 Chicago, The News on CBS 2 Chicago (which is still being said out loud in opens, minus "Chicago"), and finally the present CBS 2 News. A good example of this is in 2002, when the station eliminated its year-old computer-intensive graphics and "newsplex" studio in favor of a simpler studio and corresponding graphics set.

In October 2003, Diann Burns, former anchor at WLS-TV and Antonio Mora, (who joined in 2002) news reader from Good Morning America, became WBBM's new main anchor team. In January 2006, WBBM-TV passed WMAQ for second place at 5 p.m. While still far behind WLS, it was WBBM-TV's best finish at 5 p.m. in 13 years. It was still in last place at 10 p.m., but was the only late newscast to gain audience share in the first month of the new year. WBBM-TV also finished second sign-on to sign-off (from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m.), leapfrogging from fourth for its best monthly performance in 23 years. That performance was short-lived, however: in August 2006, WBBM-TV added Rob Johnson as co-anchor of the 5:00 p.m. newscast alongside Burns, while Mora and Burns still co-anchored at 6 and 10. Johnson has previously worked at WLS-TV as weekend anchor since 1998. In May 2007, WBBM-TV slipped to fourth overall (from sign-on to sign-off) behind WLS-TV, CW affiliate WGN-TV and NBC station WMAQ (in descending ratings order), and just barely ahead of Fox station WFLD. And in the July 2007 ratings period, WBBM's reporting of the Amy Jacobson fiasco resulted in the station's newscasts falling further behind in the Nielsen ratings.

WBBM made more anchor changes in 2007, replacing Antonio Mora on the 10 p.m. newscast with Rob Johnson. Mora continued as co-anchor of the 6 p.m. newscast and host of Eye on Chicago. After these changes, the ratings dropped 30%. Mora left WBBM-TV in January 2008 to co-anchor evening newscasts at CBS O&O WFOR-TV (channel 4) in Miami, Florida. Johnson then added the 6 p.m. newscast to his duties.

On March 31, 2008, it was announced that Diann Burns' contract would not be renewed. She, along with medical editor Mary Ann Childers, sports director Mark Malone, and reporters Rafael Romo and Katie McCall would no longer be with the station. Also, when WBBM announced the hiring of Ryan Baker from WMAQ, this fueled the thought that he would replace Mark Malone. On April 2, 2008, WBBM News Director Carol Fowler announced a new set of anchor lineups to take effect on April 14, 2008.

On February 20, 2009, the Chicago Sun-Times reported that WBBM was signing its personalities on contracts that were "as short as possible", and the rumored possibility of discontinuing newscasts altogether due to the current economic crisis.[4]

On April 30, 2009, WBBM-TV laid off at least seven – but fewer than 18 – personnel. Those furloughed included reporter and fill-in anchor Joanie Lum, entertainment reporter and film critic Bill Zwecker, sports reporter and anchor Howard Sudberry, assistant news director Todd Woolman, producer Liz Johnson, news writer and producer Shelly Howell, and camera man Chris Cangilla. Along with the layoffs, WBBM-TV canceled its weekend morning newscasts and the very late night rebroadcasts of its 10 o'clock news (replacing them with infomercials in the process) and restructured its weeknight 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts at that time to use a solo anchor.[5] [6]

Harry Porterfield returned to WBBM-TV with a very warm welcome[citation needed] after 24 years at WLS-Channel 7 on Monday, August 3, 2009, to anchor the 11 a.m. news with Roseanne Tellez, and also to continue "Someone You Should Know", the series he began at WBBM in 1977. On November 13, 2009, as main anchor Rob Johnson was away, Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobson returned to the anchor desk to anchor the 10 p.m. newscast; Jacobson has since remained to continue his trademark "Perspective" commentaries.

At the conclusion of the November 2009 Nielsen Ratings sweeps period, WBBM-TV's 10 p.m. newscast overtook WMAQ-TV for second place, largely due to the low ratings of the latter station's lead-in (The Jay Leno Show). WLS-TV continues to dominate the local newscast ratings in the Chicago market; however, it should be noted[says who?] that WBBM-TV's 10 o'clock newscast was the only late-night newscast in Chicago to see an increase in viewership over the same ratings period the previous year.[7]

For January 2010 ratings period, CBS 2 News at 10 scored a 6.0 points rating, up from 4.3 points year over year.[8]. That was good enough to remain in second place, although WMAQ showed signs of a recovery from its November 2009 swoon. But during the February 2010 Nielsen ratings sweeps period, CBS 2 News at 10 slipped back to third place behind WMAQ due in large part to the latter network's airing of the 2010 Winter Olympics. May 2010 found WBBM-TV's afternoon and evening news programs remaining in third place overall though not quite as distant as it had been in recent years. However, WBBM-TV's early morning show has remained at the very bottom of the ratings, ahead of only WPWR-TV (who airs no news programming at all). In fact, even WCIU-TV's low-rated morning lifestyle show has been drawing more viewers than WBBM-TV's morning show. The July 2010 ratings period found WBBM-TV's 10 p.m. newscast slipping to fourth place among the five late-night newscasts in Chicago (ahead of only WFLD) in large part due to the lack of a co-anchor on most nights.

On March 26, 2010, an unknown number of employees at CBS-owned stations were being paid out of a corporate fund earmarked to write off contracts during the first quarter of 2010. The arrangement allowed stations to enhance their bottom lines immediately by eliminating hefty salaries from their budgets. In most cases, employees were given the option of signing longer contracts for significantly less money or opting for payouts that keep them off the air for the remainder of their existing deals. Anne State's contract was not renewed making her a free agent, along with longtime meteorologist and technology reporter Ed Curran who was relieved of his duties but was still being paid for the remaining 14 months of his contract.[9] On March 29, 2010, it was announced that longtime political editor Mike Flannery would be leaving the station he has called home since 1980 to join rival WFLD-TV.[10]

On July 29, 2010, WBBM announced the reunion of Kurtis and Jacobson on the 6 p.m. broadcast beginning September 1. They also announced the hiring of WCBS morning anchor Kate Sullivan as Johnson's co-anchor at 5 and 10 p.m., effective September 13.[11] Still, these changes have yet to produce much if any improvement in the ratings.

On February 17, 2018, WBBM added a 6:00 p.m. newscast on Saturdays, becoming the first and only station in the Chicago media market to have a 6 p.m. newscast on Saturdays; WLS-TV, WMAQ-TV, and WGN-TV are the three remaining stations in the market to carry syndicated programming and locally produced programming or specials (and occasionally, infomercials) during the 6:00-7:00 p.m. hour on Saturdays.[69] It was only temporary however.[citation needed]

WBBM-TV launched a streaming news service, CBSN Chicago (a localized version of the national CBSN service) on April 21, 2020, as part of a rollout of similar services across the CBS-owned stations.[70] The service was initially planned to launch by the end of March 2020, but was delayed by the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.[71] In June of 2020, WBBM-TV was honored with a Peabody Award for the report "Unwarranted", a 2019 investigation into botched police raids in Chicago and the impact they left on families and their homes.[72]

 The 10 p.m. news experiment 

The most notable of many changes WBBM-TV has made to its news operation occurred in 2000, when it revamped its 10 p.m. newscast by ditching the traditional news format in favor of in-depth "hard news" features, a staple of its glory days. Anchored by Carol Marin, former longtime anchor at WMAQ, the newscast was hailed as a return to quality in-depth journalism in the best CBS tradition at a time when tabloid journalism and "soft news" were becoming the norm in broadcast news. However, plummeting ratings led to the newscast's cancellation in October after being on the air for only nine months.

 The Enforcer 

In 1975, Chicago-based jingle composer Dick Marx wrote a theme music piece for WBBM-TV's newscasts that was based on the song "Chicago" (or "This is my City, Chicago's My Town"), a folk song written by Chicago folk singer Tary Rebenar. The popular theme, known as "Channel 2 News", and several variations on it have been used by WBBM for all but six years since then (with the periods from 1992 to 1994, 1998 to 1999, and 2009 as said exceptions). The tune has also been adopted by several other stations across the country—mostly CBS-owned-and-operated stations and affiliates—and has become the de facto official newscast theme package for CBS's O&Os. From 1994 to 1997, 2000 to 2001, 2002 to 2008 and since 2010, WBBM-TV used an updated and synthesized version of the original theme specially written for the station titled "The CBS Enforcer Music Collection", composed by Frank Gari. From 2006 to 2008, WBBM-TV used an updated version of the theme, composed by Frank's son Christian Gari. Following the station's upgrade to high-definition newscasts, WBBM-TV commissioned a new theme ("Heart of the City") composed by inthegroovemusic. On June 21, 2010, with the adoption of a new standardized graphics package that was rolled out across CBS' O&Os, WBBM-TV brought back "Enforcer" with an orchestrated "New Generation" version originally commissioned by New York City sister station WCBS-TV.

 Ratings 

With the station's aforementioned weaknesses in total day ratings since the mid-1990s, WBBM-TV's newscasts are among the lowest-rated out of the news departments operated by CBS' owned-and-operated stations, generally rating fourth among the market's English language stations behind WLS-TV, WMAQ-TV and (particularly with that station's expansion of news programming since 2008) WGN-TV, but still ahead of perennial last placer WFLD; this is despite the strong lead-in by CBS' prime time lineup, which nationally has placed first among the major broadcast networks for most of the time since the 2005-06 season.

In the May 2015 local Nielsen ratings, WBBM's newscasts placed fourth overall among Chicago's television stations. The 10:00 p.m. newscast saw continued decline in viewership among the market's late newscasts, scoring a 3.5 rating (down .1 from the May 2014 sweeps period) and at a distant third in the timeslot in the coveted demographic of adults ages 25–54, earning a 0.9 (with prime time newscasts factored in, WBBM-TV's 10:00 p.m. newscast placed fourth among the Chicago market's late-evening newscasts, behind WGN-TV's 9:00 p.m. newscast).[73] The distant third-place standing for the 10:00 p.m. newscast among the market's late newscasts was also apparent in the February 2015 local ratings, with the program earning a 4.3 rating (down a share of 0.7 compared to February 2014).[74]

 Controversy 

In 2011, the station drew controversy over an interview with a four-year-old child. The interview was conducted by a freelance video stringer in the aftermath of a drive-by shooting, and when the child was asked if he would stay away from guns, the child replied he will get one in the future because of his aspirations to become a police officer. The portion where the child listed his future career aspirations was not shown during newscasts, which critics say makes the child appear as if he wants to engage in criminal acts in the future.

Station management later apologized for the video, saying they have taken steps to make sure the video will not air in subsequent newscasts, and that management have followed up with employees.

Newscast titles

 * B&K News (1946–1947)
 * Today's World Picture (1947–1949)
 * Pix of the News (1949-1950s)
 * Standard Oil News Roundup/John Harrington News (mid 1950s–1960s)
 * The Big News (1960s–1971)
 * TV-2 Action News (1971)
 * TV-2 News (1971–1975)
 * Channel 2 News (1975–1994)
 * Channel 2: THE 10 O'Clock News (10 p.m.; late 1970s–1980s)
 * 2 News (1994–1997)
 * News 2 Chicago (1997–2000)
 * The News on CBS 2 Chicago (2000–2001 or 02)
 * CBS 2 Chicago (2000-2001)
 * The News On CBS 2 (2002-2005)
 * CBS 2 News (2002–present)

News Packages


 * WBBM Channel 2 News Theme by Dick Marx (1975-1986)
 * WBBM 1986 News Theme by unknown (1986-1988)
 * WBBM 1988 News Theme by unknown (1988-1990)
 * WBBM 1990 News Theme by unknown (1990-1992)
 * WBBM News Theme by Chris Crane (1992-1994)
 * CBS Enforcer by Frank Gari (1994-1997, 2000-2001, 2002-2008, and 2010-present)
 * WBBM News by Non-stop Music (1997-2000)
 * Works For You by Hitplay Productions (2001-2002)
 * Heart of The City by inthegroovemusic (2008-2010)

Station slogans


 * The Best is Right Here on Channel 2/Channel 2 is Easy on the Eyes (1973-1974; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * See The Best....Channel 2 (1974-1975; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * Catch The Brightest Stars on Channel 2 (1975-1976; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * Channel 2, We're The Hot Ones (1976-1977; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * There's Something in Air, on Channel 2 (1977-1978; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * Channel 2, Turn Us On, We'll Turn You On (1978-1979; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * We're Looking Good, on Channel 2 (1979-1980; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * Looking Good Together on Channel 2 (1980-1981; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * Reach for the Stars on Channel 2 (1981-1982; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * Experience in Action (1982)
 * Great Moments on Channel 2 (1982-1983; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * We've Got the Touch, You and Channel 2 (1983–1984; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * You and Channel 2, We've Got the Touch (1984-1985; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * We've Got the Touch on Channel 2 (1985-1986; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * Chicago's #1 News
 * Share the Spirit on Channel 2 (1986-1987; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * Chicago's News Team (1980s–1991)
 * Channel 2 Spirit, oh yes (1987-1988; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * You Can Feel It on Channel 2 (1988-1989; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * Chicago, Get Ready for Channel 2! /Get Ready for Channel 2 (1989-1991; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * The Look of Chicago is Channel 2 (1991-1992; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * This is CBS, on Channel 2 (1992-1994; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * I am Channel 2 People (1994-1995; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * Just Turn to 2 (1995-2008)
 * The Address is CBS 2, Welcome Home (1997-1998; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * The Address is CBS 2 (1999-2000; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * CBS 2 Works for You (2001–2002)
 * The Heart of Chicago (2008–2009)
 * Only CBS 2, Only CBS (2009-present; localized version of CBS ad campaign)
 * Expert More (2017-present)

Current on-air staff
Main article: WBBM-TV news team

Anchors Weather Team
 * Ryan Baker - weekday mornings at 4:30-7AM and 11AM
 * Audrina Bigos - weekdays at 4:30-7AM and 11AM; also an reporter
 * Jim Willams - weekdays at 4pm
 * Marie Saavedra- weekdays at 4pm
 * Brad Edwards - CBS News Chicago Streaming Anchor; also an investigator reporter
 * Joe Donlon- Weeknights at 5, 6, and 10pm
 * Irika Sargent - weeknights at 5, 6, and 10pm
 * Suzanne Le Mignot - weekend mornings at 5-8AM; also an reporter
 * Dana Kozlov- saturdays at 5 and 10pm; sundays at 5:30 and 10pm
 * Albert Ramon (AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist and NWA Seals of Approval) - meteorologist; weeknights at 6, and 10pm
 * Mary Kay Kleist (AMS Certified Broadcast Meteorologist and NWA Seals of Approval) - meteorologist; weekdays at 5
 * Ed Curran - weekend mornings at 5-7AM
 * Robb Ellis - weekends (Saturdays at 5 and 10pm; Sundays at 5:30 and 10pm)
 * Laura Bannon - weekday mornings 4:30-7am and 11am
 * Tammie Souza - fill-in meteorologist

Sports Team Traffic Reporters
 * Marshall Harris - sports director; weeknights at 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
 * Matt Zahn- sports anchor; Saturdays at 5, Sundays at 5:30 and weekends at 10 p.m., also weekday field sports reporter
 * Kris Habermehl - "Chopper 2 HD" mornings
 * Jermont Terry - general assignment reporter
 * Steven Graves - general assignment reporter
 * Chris Tye - general assignment reporter/fill-in anchor
 * Marissa Para - general assignment reporter
 * Tara Molina - general assignment reporter
 * Tim McNicolas - general assignment reporter
 * Mugo Odigwe - general assignment reporter/fill-in anchor
 * Megan Hickey - general assignment reporter
 * Charlie DeMar - general assignment reporter
 * Lauren Victory - general assignment reporter
 * Dorothy Tucker - general assignment reporter
 * Meredith Barack - general assignment reporter
 * Jackie Kostek - general assignment reporter
 * Asal Rezaei - general assignment reporter
 * Shardaa Gray - general assignment reporter
 * Jamaica Ponder - digital multi-skilled journalist
 * Sabrina Franza - general assignment reporter

2 Investigators Chopper 2 HD Contributors
 * Dave Savini - investigative reporter
 * Bart Shore - weekday fill-in photojournalist
 * Skip Hahn - weekday fill-in photojournalist
 * Chris Jones - theater contributor
 * Irv Miller - legal analyst

Notable former on-air staff

 * Jim Acosta - general assignment reporter (2000–2001, now at CNN)
 * Mike Adamle - sports anchor (2001–2004, later at WMAQ-TV, now retired)
 * Tom Alderman - weather forecaster (1976–1977)
 * Susan Anderson - women's issues reporter/anchor (1971–1986 and 1989–1998)
 * Terry Anzur - anchor/reporter (1981–1985)
 * Rich Apuzzo - weather forecaster (mid-1990s)
 * Adele Arakawa - anchor (1989–1993, now at KUSA-TV in Denver)
 * Jim Avila - reporter (1984–1994, now Senior Law and Justice Correspondent for ABC News)
 * Michael Ayala - morning news anchor/reporter (2001–2004, now owner of MIA Media Group)
 * Marissa Bailey - Anchor (2012-2019)
 * Steve Baskerville - longtime meteorologist (1987-2017) (retired)
 * Stephen Bardo - sports anchor/reporter (2003–2006, now at ESPN)
 * Jim Berry - sports anchor/reporter (1994–1996)
 * Varen Black - reporter (part-time) (1996–2000)
 * Katherine Bliss - anchor/reporter (1998–2002)
 * Chris Boden - sports reporter (1998–2003, later at WFLD-TV, now at Comcast SportsNet Chicago)
 * Markina Brown - weather forecaster (2002–2003, now at KTLA in Los Angeles)
 * Diann Burns - anchor (2003–2008, now host of Next TV)
 * Dr. Michael Breen - medical reporter (1995–2002)
 * Cyndy Brucato - reporter (1975–1978, now at KSTP-TV in Minneapolis)
 * Tom Burse, Meteorologist
 * Vic Caroili - voiceover for WBBM-TV (2000-2001)
 * Susan Carlson - anchor/traffic reporter (2003-2013) (later at WMAQ-TV)
 * John Callaway - reporter (1971–1974, later at WTTW-TV, deceased)
 * Gwen Castaldi - reporter (early -1980s)
 * Scott Chapin - voiceover for WBBM-TV (1992-1993)
 * Mary Ann Childers - anchor/medical editor (1994–2008, now Senior Consultant at Res Publica Group)
 * Lauren Cohn - anchor/reporter (1998–2004, later at WFLD-TV)
 * Chuck Coppola - reporter (per diem) (2001)
 * Jodine Costanzo - reporter (1996–1998, now at WPXI-TV in Pittsburgh)
 * John Coughlin - longtime weatherman (1953–1989, deceased)
 * Don Craig - anchor (1982–1987)
 * Ed Curran - meteorologist/technology reporter (2002–2010)
 * Frank Currier - anchor/reporter (1979–1982)
 * Penny Daniels - anchor/reporter (1993–1994)
 * Lisa Dietlin - charity and philanthropy contributor
 * John Davis - weekend anchor/reporter (1982–2003)
 * Steve Deshler - weather anchor (1997–2002)
 * Paul Douglas - meteorologist (1994–1997, most recently at WCCO-TV in Minneapolis)
 * Christine Doyle - (1994–1998) (per diem from 1994–1996)
 * John Drummond - longtime reporter/contributor (1969-1997 and 2000-2014) (semiretired)
 * John Drury - anchor/reporter (1962–1967, later at WLS-TV, deceased)
 * Stacia Dubin - morning news anchor (2000–2004)
 * Jon Duncanson - weekend anchor/reporter (1992–1995, later at WFLD-TV and 2003–2006, now president of Aviana Productions)
 * Jerry Dunphy - sports reporter (1950s, deceased)
 * Bob Faw - reporter (1971–1977, now Washington correspondent at NBC News)
 * Renee Ferguson - reporter (1977–1981, later at WMAQ-TV)
 * Giselle Fernandez - anchor/reporter (1987–1989, later at Access Hollywood)
 * Roger Field - science/technology reporter (1970s-1986)
 * Mike Flannery - political editor (1980–2010, now at WFLD-TV)
 * Fahey Flynn - anchor (1952–1967, deceased)
 * Judie Garcia - reporter (per diem) (2002, later at WGN-TV)
 * Vince Geraslole - reporter/anchor (2001-2020)
 * Chuck Gomez - reporter (1970s-1985)
 * Sylvia Gomez - weekend anchor/reporter (1994–1996, later at WFLD-TV and 2003–2006, now runs Aviana Productions)
 * Lauren Green - reporter (1993–1996, now at Fox News Channel)
 * Megan Glaros - Morning Meteorologist (2010-2020)
 * Holly Gregory - reporter (per diem) (2006, later at WGN-TV)
 * Alita Guillen - weekend anchor/reporter (2002–2007)
 * Terri Hamilton - medical reporter (1993–1995)
 * Yassmen Hassan - weekday morning traffic reporter (2019-2021)
 * Chris Hernandez - reporter (2002–2004, now at KSHB-TV in Kansas City)
 * Burleigh Hines - reporter (1968–2001, deceased)
 * Lester Holt - anchor/reporter (1986–2000, currently anchor on NBC's Nightly News)
 * I.J. Hudson - technology reporter (1982–1985)
 * Peter Hyams - producer/anchor/reporter (1968–1970)
 * Chelsea Irving - reporter (per diem, 2001–2005, 2008; full-time, 2005–2006)
 * Walter Jacobson - longtime anchor/reporter (1975-1991 and 2010-2013)
 * Bob Jamieson - reporter (1968–1970, now at ABC News)
 * Dan Jiggetts - weekday mornings sports reporter (1989–1991) and Monsters and Money in the Morning (2010) now back at WFLD-TV
 * Rob Johnson - main anchor (2006-2019)
 * David Kerley - anchor (1998–2002, now a Washington correspondent for ABC News)
 * Erin Kennedy - Morning Anchor (2014-2020)
 * Lisa Kim - reporter (1995–1996, now at KNTV-TV in San Jose, California)
 * Emery King - reporter (1976–1981, later at WDIV, now at Detroit Medical Center)
 * Rich King - sports anchor (1987–1991, later at WGN-TV; retired)
 * Bill Kurtis - longtime anchor/reporter (1966-1970, 1973-1982, 1985-1996, and 2009-2013)
 * Alissa Krinsky - reporter (1999–2000)
 * Kyung Lah - reporter (2000–2003, now at CNN Newsource in Washington)
 * Janet Langhart - weekend weather forecaster (1960s-1970s)
 * Steven Lattimore- reporter (2000–2003)
 * Jay Levine - anchor/reporter/correspondent (1990-2016)
 * Joan Lovett - anchor/reporter (1993–1999)
 * Sarah Lucero - reporter (1996–1998, now at KENS-TV in San Antonio)
 * Joanie Lum - reporter/fill-in anchor (2003–2009, now at WFLD-TV)
 * Linda MacLennan - anchor/reporter (1987–2003, now runs Linda MacLennan Photography)
 * Mark Malone - sports anchor (2004–2008, now a Color Commentator at Westwood One)
 * Carol Marin - anchor/reporter (1997–2000, later at WMAQ-TV) (retired)
 * Mai Martinez - weekend anchor/reporter (2006-2020)
 * Anita Malichi - reporter (1991–1994)
 * Katie McCall - reporter (2006–2008, now at KTRK-TV in Houston)
 * Jennifer McLogan - reporter (1989–1993, now at WCBS-TV in New York)
 * Corey McPherrin - sports anchor (1991–1995, now at WFLD-TV)
 * Larry Mendte - anchor/reporter (1990–1996, most recently at Access Hollywood and KYW-TV in Philadelphia, now at WGN-TV and WPIX-TV)
 * Nick Michaels - voiceover for WBBM-TV (1994-1997)
 * Judi Moen - reporter and talk-show host (1981–1994)
 * Lionel Moise - Morning anchor (2015-2017)
 * Antonio Mora - anchor/Eye On Chicago host (2002–2008, later at WFOR-TV in Miami)
 * Geoff Morrell - reporter (1996–2000)
 * Jeannie Morris - sports reporter (1975–1988)
 * Johnny Morris - longtime sports anchor (1964–1968 and 1975–1994)
 * Kim Morris - free-lance reporter (1995–1996)
 * Jim Mullen - disability reporter (2003–2008)
 * Carolyn Murray - consumer reporter (2001–2003)
 * Brent Musburger - sports anchor (1968–1975, now a sportscaster for ABC/ESPN)
 * Vi Nguyen (2018-2021), now at WMAQ-TV
 * Mary Nissenson - reporter and substitute news anchor (1987–1988)
 * Mike North - weekday mornings Monsters and Money in the Morning (2010)
 * Mike Parker - longtime anchor/reporter (1980-2016) (deceased)
 * Phil Ponce - reporter (1982–1991, now at WTTW)
 * Harry Porterfield - longtime reporter/anchor (1964-1985 and 2009-2015) (retired)
 * Kathryn Pratt - health and science reporter (1980s)
 * Dave Price - weather anchor (1996–1998, currently on The Early Show on CBS)
 * Hank Price - General Manager (1996–2000)
 * Mike Puccinelli - Reporter/Anchor (2004-2020)
 * John Quinones - reporter (1978–1982, now at ABC News)
 * Bill Ratner - voiceover for WBBM-TV (2004-2010)
 * Robin Robinson - reporter (1984–1987, later at WFLD-TV)
 * Bruce Roberts- Sportscaster extroidenaire. 1970s and early 1980s.
 * Rob Roblin - weekend weather anchor on a per-diem basis (1987, now at WBAL-TV)
 * Ron Rolland - voiceover for WBBM-TV (1983-1989)
 * Rafael Romo - reporter (2004–2008, now Senior Latin American Affairs Editor for CNN)
 * Brian Rooney - reporter (1985–1987, now Western U.S. Correspondent for ABC News)
 * Jeremy Ross - reporter (2014-2021)
 * Jodi Saeland, weather forecaster (July-November 1996)
 * Randy Salerno, Morning News and 11 a.m. Anchor, (2004–2008, deceased)
 * Cynthia Santana - weekend anchor/reporter (2002–2003, now a Producer/Writer/Narrator at Morgan Howard Productions)
 * Warner Saunders - Common Ground host (1972–1982, later at WMAQ-TV, deceased)
 * Mark Schaefer - feature reporter (1987–1990)
 * Janet Shamlian - anchor/reporter (now at NBC News)
 * Steve Shepard - reporter (1970s)
 * Bart Shore - weekday fill-in photojournalist
 * Bob Sirott - lifestyle/entertainment reporter (1980–1985, later at WMAQ-TV, WFLD-TV and WTTW-TV)
 * Gene Siskel - film critic (1974–1999, deceased)
 * Anita Smith - reporter, 1993-1994 (left to join WCIX-TV in Miami (now WFOR-TV); immediately prior had been at WFTV-TV in Orlando)
 * Rob Stafford - reporter (1992–1996, now at WMAQ-TV)
 * Anne State - anchor/reporter (2008–2010) now at WITI-TV in Milwaukee
 * Dawn Stensland - reporter/anchor (1991–1994, wife of Larry Mendte)
 * Howard Sudberry - weekend sports anchor/reporter (1984–2009, now at WGN-TV)
 * Kate Sullivan - anchor (2010-2015)
 * Elaine Tack - reporter (1990–1991)
 * Tony Tantillo - fresh grocer (2005–2009, now at WGN-TV)
 * Jeff Taylor - meteorologist (2006–2007)
 * Roesanne Tellez - morning news anchor (2004-2019) (now at WFLD-TV)
 * Jim Tilmon - afternoon meteorologist (2002–2005) and aviation analyst (2005–2006, 2007, 2008, now deceased)
 * Tracy Townsend - anchor/reporter (2001–2003, now at WBNS-TV in Columbus, Ohio)
 * Mike Tsolinas - meteorologist (1989–1992, later at KTNV-TV, now deceased)
 * Charlie Van Dyke - voiceover for WBBM-TV (1989-1992)
 * Elizabeth Vargas - anchor/reporter (1989–1993, now at ABC News)
 * Carmen Velez - reporter (1998–2000)
 * Harry Volkman - weatherman (1978–1996, later at WFLD-TV, now deceased)
 * Bob Wallace - reporter (1970–1992)
 * Phil Walters - reporter/anchor (1976–1986, deceased)
 * Monty Webb - meteorologist (1998–2002, now at WHAS-TV in Louisville, Kentucky)
 * Jenniffer Weigel - feature and entertainment reporter (1999–2002)
 * Tim Weigel - sports anchor (1995–2001, deceased)
 * Pam Zekman - investigative reporter (1981-2020)
 * Bill Zwecker - entertainment reporter/film critic (2003–2009, now at WFLD-TV)

General managers

 * H. Leslie Atlass (1940–1959)
 * Clark B. George (1960–1965)
 * Edward R. Kenefick (1965–1970)
 * Leon Drew 1970-1972)
 * Robert Wussler (1972–1974)
 * Neil Derrough (1974–1977)
 * David Nelson (1977–1978)
 * Ed Joyce (1978–1980)
 * Peter Lund (1980–1983)
 * Eric Ober (1983–1984)
 * Gary Cummings (1984–1986)
 * Johnathan Rodgers (1986–1990)
 * Bill Applegate (1990–1993)
 * Bob McGann (1993–1996)
 * Hank Price (1996–2000)
 * Walt DeHaven (2000–2002)
 * Joe Ahern (2002–2008)
 * Bruno Cohen (2008–present)

Station trivia

 * WBBM-TV's investigative reporter Pam Zekman, police reporter John Drummond, chief correspondent Jay Levine, and then evening anchor/reporter Lester Holt appeared in the final scenes of the 1993 film The Fugitive, playing themselves. Holt also briefly appeared in the 1998 sequel U.S. Marshals.
 * The first hosts of Access Hollywood were Larry Mendte and Giselle Fernandez, both former reporters at WBBM-TV.