WCFC

WCFC (channel 51) is a television station in Chicago, Illinois, affiliated with Horizon Television. It is owned and operated by Horizon Locals. 
== History ==
=== As an independent station (1990–2006) ===
WCFC was launched on June 10, 1990, as an independent station. It was originally owned by the Chicago Media Group (CMG).
WCFC initially aired a mix of syndicated shows, movies, sports, and public affairs. WCFC was known for its local and independent programming, such as WCFC News, a daily newscast that covered Chicago and its suburbs. WCFC also featured some original shows, such as Chicago Live, a variety show that showcased local culture and current affairs.
In 1995, CMG sold WCFC to Paxson Communications, a company that was launching a new family-oriented network called Pax TV. Paxson changed the call letters to WCPX-TV and affiliated the station with Pax TV in 1998. However, Paxson soon faced financial difficulties and decided to sell some of its stations, including WCPX-TV, to other companies.
=== As a WB station (2006–2017) ===
In 2006, WCPX-TV was sold to The WB Television Stations, a subsidiary of Time Warner that owned and operated stations affiliated with The WB Television Network. The WB was a popular network that targeted young audiences with shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Smallville, and Gilmore Girls. The WB also had a strong presence in Chicago, as it was co-owned by the Tribune Company, which owned the Chicago Tribune.
The WB Television Stations rebranded WCPX-TV as WCFC and made it a WB station on September 18, 2006. WCFC aired The WB’s primetime lineup, as well as syndicated shows, movies, and local news. WCFC also adopted The WB’s slogan, “Free to Be”, and its mascot, Michigan J. Frog.
WCFC enjoyed high ratings and recognition as a WB station. It competed with other local stations for the young and urban demographic that The WB catered to. WCFC also benefited from the cross-promotion and synergy with the Tribune Company, which provided news and sports coverage for the station. WCFC also participated in The WB’s community outreach and charity initiatives, such as The WB Gives Back and The WB 100+.
=== As an independent station (2017–2023) ===
In 2017, however, The WB Television Network announced that it would merge with WBTV. As a result, WCFC lost its WB affiliation and became an independent station again. WCFC retained some of its syndicated shows and movies, alongside its newscasts. 
=== As a Horizon station (2023-present) ===
Horizon Television launched in 2020 by a group of private entrepreneurs who believed in having a network dedicated to a Gen-Z and millennial audience with high quality and premium programming. It became the first new network to launch in years in the United States. Horizon Television launched a local O&O Horizon Chicago digital-only station in 2020. The Horizon Local was a popular station, and was the first digital station, among other Horizon digital only stations, to have more viewership than traditional OTA stations. Horizon Chicago featured local news, weather, traffic, sports, and entertainment, as well as some of the national Horizon Television shows. 
In 2022, Horizon, Inc. announced a deal to buy WCFC from its previous owners. The deal was approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the parties involved and was finalized in August 2023. Horizon Chicago officially launched as an OTA station on WCFC on September 1st, 2023. Horizon Chicago continued to air local and original programming, as well as Horizon shows.
As of November, Horizon Chicago is being well received by the viewers and critics, who praised its quality and diversity of programming, its innovation and interactivity, and its respect and support for the local community. Horizon Chicago also achieved high ratings and recognition and became one of the leading stations in the Chicago market.
== Horizon News Chicago ==
=== On-air staffers ===
* Alex Maragos - Anchor; Correspondent
* Jason Knowles - Correspondent
* JC Navarrete - Reporter
* Lexi Sutter - Correspondent
* Tanja Babich - Anchor; Correspondent
* Vi Nguyen - Reporter
== Programming Schedule ==
 	Mon 	Tues 	Wed 	Thurs 	Fri 	Sat	Sun
5 AM 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	TBA	TBA
5:30 AM 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	TBA	TBA
6 AM 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	TBA	TBA
6:30 AM 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	TBA	TBA
7 AM 	Horizon Mornings 	Horizon Mornings 	Horizon Mornings 	Horizon Mornings 	Horizon Mornings 	TBA	TBA
7:30 AM 	Horizon Mornings 	Horizon Mornings 	Horizon Mornings 	Horizon Mornings 	Horizon Mornings 	TBA	TBA
8 AM 	Horizon Mornings 	Horizon Mornings 	Horizon Mornings 	Horizon Mornings 	Horizon Mornings 	TBA	TBA
8:30 AM 	Horizon Mornings 	Horizon Mornings 	Horizon Mornings 	Horizon Mornings 	Horizon Mornings 	TBA	TBA
9 AM 	Horizon Live 	Horizon Live 	Horizon Live 	Horizon Live 	Horizon Live 	TBA	TBA
9:30 AM 	Horizon Live 	Horizon Live 	Horizon Live 	Horizon Live 	Horizon Live 	TBA	TBA
10 AM 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	TBA	TBA
10:30 AM	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	TBA	TBA
11 AM 	Judy Justice 	Judy Justice 	Judy Justice 	Judy Justice 	Judy Justice 	TBA	TBA
11:30 AM	Judy Justice 	Judy Justice 	Judy Justice 	Judy Justice 	Judy Justice 	TBA	TBA
12 PM 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	TBA	TBA
12:30 PM	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	TBA	TBA
1 PM 	Degrassi 	Degrassi 	Degrassi 	Degrassi 	Degrassi 	TBA	TBA
1:30 PM 	Degrassi 	Degrassi 	Degrassi 	Degrassi 	Degrassi 	TBA	TBA
2 PM 	So You See... 	So You See... 	So You See... 	So You See... 	So You See... 	TBA	TBA
2:30 PM 	So You See... 	So You See... 	So You See... 	So You See... 	So You See... 	TBA	TBA
3 PM 	Only Connect 	Only Connect 	Only Connect 	Only Connect 	Only Connect 	TBA	TBA
3:30 PM 	Only Connect 	Only Connect 	Only Connect 	Only Connect 	Only Connect 	TBA	TBA
4 PM 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	TBA	TBA
4:30 PM 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	TBA	TBA
5 PM 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	TBA	TBA
5:30 PM 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	TBA	TBA
6 PM 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	TBA	TBA
6:30 PM 	Horizon News Tonight 	Horizon News Tonight 	Horizon News Tonight 	Horizon News Tonight 	Horizon News Tonight 	TBA	TBA
7 PM 	Horizon News Tonight 	Horizon News Tonight 	Horizon News Tonight 	Horizon News Tonight 	Horizon News Tonight 	TBA	TBA
7:30 PM 	Syndicated programming 	Syndicated programming 	Syndicated programming 	Syndicated programming 	Syndicated programming 	TBA	TBA
8 PM 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	TBA	TBA
8:30 PM 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	TBA	TBA
9 PM 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	TBA	TBA
9:30 PM 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	TBA	TBA
10 PM 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	TBA	TBA
10:30 PM	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	Horizon network programing 	TBA	TBA
11 PM 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	TBA	TBA
11:30 PM	The Problem with Jon Stewart (11:35)	The Problem with Jon Stewart (11:35)	The Problem with Jon Stewart (11:35)	The Problem with Jon Stewart (11:35)	The Problem with Jon Stewart (11:35)	TBA	TBA
12 AM 	The Problem with Jon Stewart (11:35)	The Problem with Jon Stewart (11:35)	The Problem with Jon Stewart (11:35)	The Problem with Jon Stewart (11:35)	The Problem with Jon Stewart (11:35)	TBA	TBA
12:30 AM	Bee Honest with Samantha (12:35) 	Bee Honest with Samantha (12:35) 	Bee Honest with Samantha (12:35) 	Bee Honest with Samantha (12:35) 	Bee Honest with Samantha (12:35) 	TBA	TBA
1 AM 	Bee Honest with Samantha (12:35) 	Bee Honest with Samantha (12:35) 	Bee Honest with Samantha (12:35) 	Bee Honest with Samantha (12:35) 	Bee Honest with Samantha (12:35) 	TBA	TBA
1:30 AM 	Syndicated or paid programming 	Syndicated or paid programming 	Syndicated or paid programming 	Syndicated or paid programming 	Syndicated or paid programming 	TBA	TBA
2 AM 	Syndicated or paid programming 	Syndicated or paid programming 	Syndicated or paid programming 	Syndicated or paid programming 	Syndicated or paid programming 	TBA	TBA
2:30 AM 	Horizon News Overnight 	Horizon News Overnight 	Horizon News Overnight 	Horizon News Overnight 	Horizon News Overnight 	TBA	TBA
3 AM 	Horizon News Overnight 	Horizon News Overnight 	Horizon News Overnight 	Horizon News Overnight 	Horizon News Overnight 	TBA	TBA
3:30 AM 	Horizon News Overnight 	Horizon News Overnight 	Horizon News Overnight 	Horizon News Overnight 	Horizon News Overnight 	TBA	TBA
4 AM 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	TBA	TBA
4:30 AM 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	Horizon News Chicago 	TBA	TBA
== Gallery ==
File:WB51.png|The WB51 logo (2006-2017)
Category:Channel 51
Category:Chicago
Category:Illinois
Category:Television channels and stations established in 1990
Category:Former independent stations
Category:Former WB affiliates
Category:Former WB network affiliates
Category:Horizon Locals (O&O)
Category:Horizon network affiliates
Category:Horizon