The history of Chicago’s WTTW company dates back to 1955. It was founded by Inland Steel Chairman Edward Ryerson and several community leaders. The company’s main goal was to provide the city with TV content. Learn more at chicago-future.com.
Small steps to recognition
The company’s premiere program was Report to the Teachers, which aired on September 6, 1955. It quickly gained popularity among viewers and became one of the most successful weekly shows. It was broadcast from a studio in the Bankers Building.
By its first anniversary, WTTW had already pioneered TV production, providing remote broadcasts from Orchestra Hall. In addition, it became one of the few production centers in the country that offered people daily interesting programs. Most often, they were broadcast directly from a plane flying over a six-state region.
An important direction of WTTW’s activity was the creation of children’s TV shows. Some of them were Story Time with Miss Bunny, The Storyteller with Val Bettin and Totem Club. The company also founded several festivals dedicated to music, satire and dramatic performances.
In August 1965, WTTW moved to 5400 North St. Louis Avenue. In 1970, the company became a charter member of the new Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and began operating nationally in 1971. During that period, they presented Soundstage, Made in Chicago and Prime Time Chicago.
Over the next decade, the company launched the long-running film showcase Image Union and the TV’s first film review series Sneak Previews. Their filming involved critics Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel.
In 1980, becoming Chicago’s first TV station to use high-definition technology, WTTW premiered Wild Chicago and the documentaries Remembering Chicago. The most significant in that period was the premiere of Chicago by Boat, which was hosted by Geoffrey Baer. The program was dedicated to the history and architecture of the city and its suburbs.
With the beginning of the new millennium, the company launched such long-term projects as Check, Please!, Chicago Stories, Artbeat Chicago, Arts Across Illinois and Candidate Free Time.
Transition to digital broadcasting
Important changes took place in 2002. Then the news program Chicago Tonight began to be broadcast every day for an hour. The company also created a website covering local and national stories. In the same year, the company resumed broadcasting the Soundstage series. In addition, WTTW began transmitting a digital signal.
In 2003, WTTW went all digital. The station launched WTTW Prime, Chicago’s first personalized, localized and independent digital programming stream on 11.2.
Since then, WTTW’s digital platforms have evolved to offer its viewers exclusive content. As part of the Ready to Learn initiative, the company received grants from the U.S. Department of Education to develop children’s transmedia products, including the Emmy Award-winning WordWorld series.
The company today
Today’s WTTW, as a multi-platform public media organization, strives to create interesting and useful content. Thus, the WTTW News digital platform is a local Chicago news site that offers viewers reports and video content on a variety of topics.
It is worth noting that all programs created by this company are aimed at informing and involving the public in various initiatives. WTTW is always innovating its activity and remains committed to its mission of enriching people’s lives, engaging communities and inspiring them to explore.
