WHOI (TV)

{{Short description|Television station in Peoria, Illinois}} {{for|the marine science research facility in Massachusetts|Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox television station | callsign = WHOI | city = Peoria, Illinois | logo = WHOI My Team Channel 19.png | logo_alt = In two irregular quadrangular shapes: a white "my" on a blue background over a larger white "TEAM" on a red background | branding = {{ubl|MyTeam|''25 News'' (newscasts)}} | digital = 24 (UHF) | virtual = 19 | affiliations = {{ubl|'''19.1:''' Independent with MyNetworkTV|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}} | airdate = {{start date|1953|10|18}} | location = Peoria–Bloomington–Normal, Illinois | country = United States | callsign_meaning = The Heart of Illinois | former_callsigns = {{ubl|WTVH-TV (1953–1955)<ref name="hc">{{Cite web|title=FCC History Cards for WHOI|url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=86751}}</ref>|WTVH (1955–1965)|WIRL-TV (1965–1971)|WRAU-TV (1971–1985)}} | former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 19 (UHF, 1953–2009)|'''Digital:''' 40 (UHF, 2003–2009), 19 (UHF, 2009–2020)}} | owner = Gray Media | licensee = Gray Television Licensee, LLC | sister_stations = WEEK-TV | former_affiliations = {{ubl|CBS (1953–1957)|ABC (1953–2016; secondary until 1957)|DuMont (secondary, 1953–1955)|UPN (secondary, 1995–1999)|Comet (2016–2020)|TBD/Roar (2020–2025; now on 19.5)}} | erp = 402 kW | haat = {{convert|211.6|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | facility_id = 6866 | coordinates = {{coord|40|37|46|N|89|32|53|W|type:landmark_scale:2000_region:US-IL_source:NAD83|name=WHOI}} | licensing_authority = FCC }}

'''WHOI''' (channel 19), known as '''MyTeam''', is an independent television station in Peoria, Illinois, United States, which has a secondary affiliation with MyNetworkTV.{{r|myteam}} It is owned by Gray Media alongside WEEK-TV (channel 25), an affiliate of NBC, ABC and The CW Plus. The two stations share studios and transmitter facilities on Springfield Road (along I-474) in East Peoria.

Channel 19 is the second-oldest TV station in Peoria, beginning broadcasting as WTVH on October 18, 1953. Operating from facilities in Creve Coeur, it was a primary affiliate of CBS until the end of 1957, when it shifted to ABC. The station traded hands several times from the 1960s to the 1980s. When it was co-owned with WIRL radio from 1965 to 1971, it was known as WIRL-TV; after its acquisition by Forward Communications, it changed call signs to WRAU-TV. It was the typical second-place finisher in local news ratings behind WEEK-TV until the station was struck for 219 days by members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers from December 1982 to July 1983, thereafter falling into a fight with WMBD-TV for third place.

Relaunched in 1985 as WHOI—as part of a promotional campaign linking it to the "heart of Illinois"—the station went through continued corporate and staff turnover, never rising above second place in the ratings and more frequently sinking to third. WHOI ran the area's cable-only outlet of The WB and later offered a subchannel affiliated with The CW. In 2009, then-owner Barrington Broadcasting entered into a pact with Granite Broadcasting, then-owner of WEEK-TV, to consolidate the two stations' operations under Granite management. In 2016, WEEK-TV acquired the ABC and CW affiliations from WHOI, leaving channel 19 to broadcast digital multicast television networks. In 2025, the WHOI license was transferred to Gray in a trade with Sinclair Broadcast Group, and channel 19 was relaunched with its present mix of sports-related programming, MyNetworkTV syndication, and newscasts from WEEK.

==History== ===Early years=== In March 1951, during a self-imposed freeze on new television applications, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed a table of city-by-city channel assignments that included, for the first time, ultra high frequency (UHF) broadcasting. Three channels were proposed to Peoria: Very high frequency (VHF) channel 8 and UHF channels 37 (reserved for educational use) and 43.<ref name="BC032651">{{cite news|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/51-OCR/1951-03-26-BC-OCR-Page-0062.pdf |work=Broadcasting and Telecasting |title=Revised Proposed TV Channel Allocations |date=March 26, 1951 |access-date=December 16, 2025 |page=58 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> Radio station WMBD, citing that a city the size of Peoria required an additional assignment, petitioned the FCC to add channel 12 there; While this plan was denied, the FCC concluded that an additional channel at Peoria was warranted, and UHF channel 19 was added instead.<ref name=BC041452>{{cite news|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-BC/Broadcasting-Magazine/BC-1952/BC-1952-04-14-Pt-II-TV-Freeze-Lift.pdf |work=Broadcasting and Telecasting |title=Sixth Report and Order: Final television allocations report of the Federal Communications Commission |date=April 14, 1952 |access-date=December 16, 2025|pages=62, 64 |via=World Radio History}}</ref>

After the FCC lifted its multi-year freeze in 1952,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/6-firms-3-channels-peoria-seventh-fcc-television-priority-list/ypvumymdybmbqrvbdbxxnutkqfbceaot_ip-10-166-46-106_1761757127865|page=B-1|work=The Peoria Journal|date=August 11, 1952|title=6 Firms, 3 Channels: Peoria Seventh On FCC Television Priority List}}</ref> two parties applied to the FCC for channel 19 in Peoria: the Hilltop Broadcasting Company, the new owner of WWXL (1590 AM), and WPEO.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/firm-files-bid-tv-channel-19/pepuxinaddvqsnxxbwjzgucmehxwyssr_ip-10-166-46-73_1708567209527|page=B-1|work=The Peoria Journal|date=July 11, 1952|title=Firm Files Bid For TV Channel 19}}</ref> While the hearing was on, WWXL, which Hilltop had acquired out of bankruptcy, began broadcasting under the new call sign WTVH.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/station-wtvh-air-monday/bkskjyrcyubqrhwmcegsfdtzkngsvmag_ip-10-166-46-87_1708567049614|work=The Peoria Journal|page=B-1|title=Station WTVH On Air Monday|date=August 30, 1952}}</ref>

WTVH-TV began broadcasting on October 18, 1953, as Peoria's second television station. It aired programs from CBS, ABC, and the DuMont Television Network. The studio and transmitter were located on Stewart Street in Creve Coeur.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/new-peoria-tv-station-goes-air-today-first-program-afternoon-uhf-channel/eozdtpdylqwxttjsxllmekyoxkoutefl_ip-10-166-46-125_1745200585596|page=B-2|title=New Peoria TV Station Goes On Air Today: First Program This Afternoon; UHF Channel|date=October 18, 1953|work=Sunday Journal-Star|location=Peoria, Illinois}}</ref> A year later, the ''Peoria Journal-Star'' newspaper company, then publisher of the morning ''Star'' and afternoon ''Journal'', acquired a controlling interest in Hilltop and the WTVH stations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/journal-star-seeks-buy-wtvh/ososgpnpzawxbwepjqwwtsmhjuidnlhg_ip-10-166-46-142_1708566956131|page=B-1|title=Journal-Star Seeks To Buy WTVH|date=March 31, 1954|work=The Peoria Journal}}</ref> The AM station was shut down before the end of the year to focus efforts on channel 19.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/wtvh-will-end-radio-broadcasting/zjnbgineurmornivqujrwyvanhxtunmq_ip-10-166-46-105_1708566883070|page=D-1|title=WTVH Will End Radio Broadcasting|date=December 3, 1954|work=The Peoria Journal}}</ref> Even though CBS programs had been on the schedule from the start, WTVH was not a primary CBS affiliate until September 1954.<ref>{{Cite news|title=WTVH-TV Joins CBS-TV|work=Broadcasting|id={{pq|1285703070}}|page=9|date=September 20, 1954}}</ref> Veteran Illinois broadcaster Doug Quick theorized that uncertainty about the availability of a VHF channel in the Peoria area, channel 8, or whether CBS's Peoria radio affiliate, WMBD, would obtain a permit for a Peoria TV station were reasons for CBS's late commitment.<ref name="quick">{{Cite web |title=WTVH-TV, Channel 19, Peoria, IL |url=https://www.dougquick.com/wtvh-peoria-il-1953-present |access-date=November 2, 2025 |website=Doug Quick, Central Illinois' On-Line Broadcast Museum |language=en}}</ref>

In technical terms, WTVH-TV broadcast with less power than WEEK-TV (channel 43) when it launched, with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 25,000 watts. ''The Pantagraph'' reported that reception of channel 19 was poor in the Bloomington–Normal area when it launched.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 2, 1953 |title=WTVH Operates 1 Kilowatt Transmitter: Channel 19 Outlet One Of Two in Peoria |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-wtvh-operates-1-kilowatt/184173906/ |access-date=November 2, 2025 |work=The Pantagraph |pages=17}}</ref> The ERP was increased to 214,000 watts in November 1954 with the installation of a new transmitter.<ref>{{Cite news|page=98|date=November 22, 1954|title=WTVH (TV) Goes to 214 Kw|work=Broadcasting|id={{pq|1285730420}} }}</ref> In 1955, the station purchased a new, {{convert|1000|ft|adj=on}} tower to replace the existing {{convert|240|ft|m|adj=on}} mast at Creve Coeur.<ref>{{Cite news|title=WTVH-TV Buys New Tower|id={{pq|1014911271}}|date=August 29, 1955|work=Broadcasting|page=44}}</ref>

DuMont ceased its existence as a network in 1955;<ref>{{Cite magazine|id={{ProQuest|1014914488}}|title=DuMont Network To Quit In Telecasting 'Spin-Off'|page=64|magazine=Broadcasting|date=August 15, 1955}}</ref> when Peoria's third station, WMBD-TV (channel 31), began broadcasting on January 1, 1958, it became the CBS affiliate.<ref>{{cite news|title=WMBD-TV On Air About January 12|page=B-1|edition=Evening|work=Peoria Journal Star|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/wmbd-tv-air-about-january-12/wdpuhhacaucbimyjdffularuwexvubqu_ip-10-166-46-145_1761757935858|date=July 16, 1957}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|page=B-8|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/channel-31-starting-tomorrow/sjbryvdcqzpohoeunesfyclbueltzrsd_ip-10-166-46-152_1761757977512|title=Channel 31 Starting Tomorrow|date=December 31, 1957|edition=Evening|work=Peoria Journal Star}}</ref> The change resulted in a curtailed broadcast day, as at the time ABC provided less programming than CBS.{{r|quick}} In 1959, Hilltop sold WTVH to the Metropolitan Broadcasting Corporation for $610,000.<ref name="PJS591022">{{Cite news|pages=A-1, [https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/wtvh-bought-big-radio-television-chain/bwkbkwofiqrbmeyptyhanejbghsdtsis_ip-10-166-46-174_1761758187039 A-3]|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/wtvh-purchased-big-eastern-radio-tv-chain/ibydododnuvtomngvkhubckibrwxhvdc_ip-10-166-46-84_1761758148711|work=Peoria Journal Star|edition=Evening|title=WTVH Purchased By Big Eastern Radio-TV Chain|date=October 22, 1959}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=3 Blessings With 2 Rebukes: But FCC okays Metropolitan purchases|date=January 4, 1960|work=Broadcasting|page=40|id={{pq|963322936}}}}</ref> Metropolitan Broadcasting renamed itself Metromedia in 1961.<ref>{{cite news|id={{ProQuest|1285745524}}|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1961/1961-04-03-BC.pdf|work=Broadcasting|date=April 3, 1961|title=It's Metromedia: Metropolitan stockholders vote to change firm name|page=56|via=World Radio History|access-date=August 27, 2022|archive-date=July 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712151915/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1961/1961-04-03-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1965, Metromedia, looking to make room in its portfolio for purchases in larger markets, sold WTVH to the Twelve Ninety Radio Corporation, headed by the Small family and owner of Peoria radio station WIRL (1290 AM).<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/wirl-owners-announce-purchase-station-wtvh-2-million/tmrjmijphefkwjbkgivxgfotnechigyg_ip-10-166-46-84_1761758636249|page=A-15|work=Peoria Journal Star|edition=Evening|date=March 30, 1965|title=WIRL Owners Announce Purchase Of Station WTVH for $2 Million}}</ref> The new ownership changed the call sign to WIRL-TV on September 13.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/wtvh-becomes-wirl-tv-sept-13/onfwbkcwkqocftwqnlgusiikucwxaldc_ip-10-166-46-95_1761758754623|work=Peoria Journal Star|edition=Evening|page=B-10|date=September 2, 1965|title=WTVH Becomes WIRL-TV On Sept. 13}}</ref> The acquisition of channel 19 was WIRL's second effort to expand into television. In June 1956, the FCC granted WIRL a construction permit for VHF channel 8, but it stayed the grant pending a proceeding on whether channel 8 would remain in Peoria.<ref name="Dail560630">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-fcc-awards-channel-8-to/130872425/|date=June 30, 1956|page=7|title=FCC Awards Channel 8 To Peoria|newspaper=The Daily Times|location=Davenport, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 17, 2023|archive-date=September 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927043622/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-fcc-awards-channel-8-to/130872425/|url-status=live}}</ref> The channel allocation was moved to the Quad Cities area in an action reaffirmed by the FCC in 1962.<ref name="Dail620726">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-from-peoria-to-q-c-tv-8/131933088/|date=July 26, 1962|page=21|title=From Peoria To Q-C: TV 8 Action Is Reaffirmed|newspaper=The Daily Times|location=Davenport, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=September 17, 2023|archive-date=September 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927052233/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-from-peoria-to-q-c-tv-8/131933088/|url-status=live}}</ref> The station held a permit for channel 25, which was deleted in 1963,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/fcc-cancels-wirls-permit-channel-25-station/gsoodwvezfipysdwesbonujchwvefqxu_ip-10-166-46-80_1762142304854|title=FCC Cancels WIRL's Permit For Channel 25 TV Station|page=A-14|date=June 13, 1963|work=Peoria Journal Star}}</ref> enabling WEEK-TV to move from channel 43 to 25 the next year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/channel-43-switch-25-okd/vamuvrjgbclxzzbjkmlewcpkjoyoqesy_ip-10-166-46-189_1762142460249|page=A-10|title=Channel 43 Switch to 25 OK'd|work=Peoria Journal Star|date=September 1, 1963}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/channel-43-becomes-25-today-final-switch-boost-quality/dvpsenxndlfadgxdywttmcfqtskezxmo_ip-10-166-46-84_1762147381961|page=A-10|work=Peoria Journal Star|title=Channel 43 Becomes 25 Today; Final Switch to Boost Quality|date=October 16, 1964}}</ref>

Forward Communications Corporation of Wausau, Wisconsin, acquired the station in a sale completed in April 1971<ref>{{cite news|work=Variety|page=44|title=WIRL-TV Goes Forward|date=April 7, 1971|id={{pq|963028506}} }}</ref> and changed the call sign to WRAU-TV the following May 1. The news departments of WIRL radio and the newly renamed channel 19 were separated at this time.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/call-letters-owner-tv-19-changes/mfqxnizxkmyhcoaukoayvfplbaunqkfk_ip-10-166-46-106_1761760230364|page=A-10|work=Peoria Journal Star|title=Call Letters, Owner: TV-19 Changes|date=May 1, 1971}}</ref> To make room for a number of employees that had been working in a downtown Peoria office and the news staff, which had previously worked out of the WIRL radio studios, the Creve Coeur studio was expanded.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/wrau-tv-move-all-operations-cc-studio-after-addition/tdwsvidqkbiijixeuvkmhpfsxppdhfll_ip-10-166-46-152_1761760262350|page=D-8|date=June 16, 1971|title=WRAU-TV To Move All Operations Into CC Studio After Addition|work=Peoria Journal Star}}</ref> A new, higher-power transmitter was purchased to improve the signal.{{r|quick}} Under Forward, WRAU-TV's newscasts generally rated second behind WEEK-TV. This changed beginning in December 1982, when workers from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) struck the station for 219 days—longer than the concurrent strike against Caterpillar Inc. by the United Auto Workers. Local unions organized a boycott of WRAU-TV advertisers, the station was barred from news conferences in the Caterpillar strike, and news ratings fell to a much more distant second, with non-union technicians producing three newscasts a day.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/channel-19s-strike-lingers-ratings-drop/wndbyppgszaujabbgwwhmrbgvlztvbfd_ip-10-166-46-152_1761844482203|title= Channel 19's strike lingers; ratings drop|first=Matt|last=O'Connor|pages=B1, [https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/channel-19s-strike/fspfchlcmancygrurrdxykonwbqtvghe_ip-10-166-46-80_1761844609452 B3]|date=June 28, 1983|work=Peoria Journal Star}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/ibew-strikers-reach-accord-channel-19/mdeyawtrdwutshujkzeczsekbtyyspuh_ip-10-166-46-163_1761844806798|page=A16|title=IBEW strikers reach accord at Channel 19|work=Peoria Journal Star|date=July 14, 1983}}</ref> By 1984, channel 19 had fallen behind WMBD-TV in the 10 p.m. news ratings.<ref name="PJS840711">{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/channel-19-ousts-clark-smith/uwnjdmhvukgesvitlyamnrehpvllwhjl_ip-10-166-46-107_1761844648416|page=B5|work=Peoria Journal Star|title=Channel 19 ousts Clark Smith|first=Jon|last=Morgan|date=July 11, 1984}}</ref>

Forward Communications was sold in late 1984 to Wesray Capital Corporation, which retained the Forward name for its media holdings.<ref name="Waus850103">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102626833/new-forward-owner-expanding-wesray-must/|date=January 3, 1985|page=3|first=Tom|last=Berger|title=New Forward owner expanding: Wesray must sell WSAW or Marshfield paper|newspaper=Wausau Daily Herald|location=Wausau, Wisconsin|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2022|archive-date=May 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527182342/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102626833/new-forward-owner-expanding-wesray/|url-status=live}}</ref> The sale coincided with an overhaul of channel 19's image. Longtime newscaster Clark Smith was fired after 14 years in 1984.{{r|PJS840711}} The station adopted its present call sign of WHOI on March 17, 1985, as part of a promotional campaign billing the station as "the new heart of Illinois".<ref name="Pant841215">{{Cite news |date=December 15, 1984 |title=Channel 19 will be WHOI |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-channel-19-will-be-whoi/132036979/ |access-date=November 2, 2025 |work=The Pantagraph |page=TV-Radio Guide 1}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/no-promotions-war-tv-execs-claims/fdywuysusacsrssihjwprqvygxjhlalx_ip-10-166-46-136_1761759357073|title=No promotions war, TV execs claims|page=D3|first=Bill|last=Knight|work=Peoria Journal Star|date=April 20, 1985}}</ref>

Wesray sold the Forward stations to Adams Communications in 1988,<ref name="Chic871016">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102626897/adams-agrees-to-buy-5-wesray-tv-stations/|date=October 16, 1987|page=3:4|first=Charles|last=Storch|title=Adams agrees to buy 5 Wesray TV stations|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|location=Chicago, Illinois|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2022|archive-date=May 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527083133/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102626897/adams-agrees-to-buy-5-wesray-tv-stations/|url-status=live}}</ref> but the deal left Adams highly leveraged and ill-prepared to confront declines in the value of broadcast properties, prompting it to default on $283 million of debt in 1991.<ref name="Wisc910612">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102626922/ch-15-owner-defaults-on-283-million/|date=June 12, 1991|page=6B|first=Jennifer|last=Riddle|title=Ch. 15 owner defaults on $283 million|newspaper=Wisconsin State Journal|location=Madison, Wisconsin|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2022|archive-date=May 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527182343/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102626922/ch-15-owner-defaults-on-283-million/|url-status=live}}</ref> Brissette Broadcasting was formed the next year when Paul Brissette, who had been the vice president of Adams Communications's television stations division, bought out the business for $257 million.<ref>{{Cite news|id={{ProQuest|1014738693}}|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1992/BC-1992-03-02.pdf|date=March 2, 1992|work=Broadcasting|title=Brissette forms BBC; acquires eight TV's|page=41|access-date=May 27, 2022|archive-date=April 10, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220410034333/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1992/BC-1992-03-02.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Brissette's management period saw a number of issues in the news department. Ratings fell in 1992, when the station lost the rights to telecast the popular game show ''Jeopardy!'' to WMBD and a new news show, ''Eyewitness Agenda'', proved a ratings failure.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/whoi-move-its-news-6-beginning-monday-all-3-local-stations-will-compete-head-head/bjmobyjqzjvyuxgebqzamazoipiccagr_ip-10-166-46-145_1761845493554|page=C3|title=WHOI to move its news to 6: Beginning Monday, all 3 local stations will compete head to head|date=January 19, 1993|work=Peoria Journal Star|first=Bryan|last=Oberle}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/whoi-tv-losing-viewers-abc-affiliate-sees-number-viewers-drop-dramatically-recently/ikecgvxvnyclsgnymkuyisbgjwpaseps_ip-10-166-46-163_1761845414215|first=Bryan|last=Oberle|pages=C12, [https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/oberle/lfiuyrgpwfgvgvcgyfmehyurotomosud_ip-10-166-46-84_1761845459076 C14]|title=WHOI-TV losing viewers: ABC affiliate sees number of viewers drop dramatically recently|date=December 20, 1992|work=Peoria Journal Star}}</ref> Recognized news personalities defected to other local stations, including weathercaster Lee Ranson, who had been with channel 19 for 22 years and was described by Mark Gibson of ''The Pantagraph'' as "the one constant" at the station through its various changes in ownership and management.<ref name="Pant941013">{{Cite news |date=October 13, 1994 |title=Ranson, Barnett combo at Ch. 25 will have impact |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-ranson-barnett-combo-at/184152509/ |access-date=November 2, 2025 |work=The Pantagraph |page=B7|first=Mark|last=Gibson}}</ref> In 1994, Brissette Broadcasting fired the general manager, news director, general sales manager, and an assignment editor in a station shakeup; Greg Brissette, son of company owner Paul, was installed as the interim manager,<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 21, 1994 |title=WHOI newsroom saga continues |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-whoi-newsroom-saga-contin/184113719/ |access-date=November 2, 2025 |work=The Pantagraph |page=B6|first=Mark|last=Gibson}}</ref> and a new tabloid journalism–type news format was implemented.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 13, 1995 |title=WHOI news not meeting viewers' needs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-whoi-news-not-meeting-vie/184113550/ |access-date=November 2, 2025 |work=The Pantagraph |pages=B7|first=Mark|last=Gibson}}</ref> WHOI carried some programming from UPN, including ''Star Trek: Voyager'', from the network's launch in January 1995<ref name="pjs-whoivoyager">{{cite news|title= 'Voyager' transported to WHOI|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/voyager-transported-whoi/usodbkbojyobfqiebgyilzapygbjrdae_ip-10-166-46-69_1761969875794|first=Terry L.|last=Towery|page=C11|access-date=October 31, 2025|work=Peoria Journal Star|date=January 22, 1995}}</ref> until WAOE (channel 59) went on the air in 1999.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Brenda|last=Story|work=Peoria Journal Star|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/voyager-fans-missing-part-new-season/kxukixxgdmrxbsjmfoxhhthnsimljjab_ip-10-166-46-163_1761969840302|date=October 13, 1999|page=B6|title='Voyager' fans missing part of new season}}</ref>

In 1996, as part of a $270 million merger, Brissette was folded into Benedek Broadcasting after the company was unable to expand by adding stations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1996/BC-1996-01-01.pdf|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=January 1, 1996|title=Park's place in TV, newspapers|page=29|first=Elizabeth|last=Rathbun|access-date=May 27, 2022|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108151613/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1996/BC-1996-01-01.pdf|url-status=live|id={{ProQuest|1014763525}}}}</ref> Two years later, WHOI brought The WB network to the Peoria–Bloomington market by launching WBPE, the local cable-only outlet of The WB 100+ Station Group.<ref name="PJS990725">{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/central-illinois-tv-stations-have-changed-times-week-was-first-scene-others-have-made-their-own/bwuanvothdnvhexlrhopbclzyqihxajf_ip-10-166-46-170_1762057993911|work=Peoria Journal Star|page=B3|date=July 25, 1999|title=Central Illinois TV stations have changed with the times: WEEK was first on scene, but others have made their own marks}}</ref> Financial problems later developed at Benedek; the early 2000s recession reduced ad sales and caused the company to miss interest payments on a set of bonds it issued in 1996, prompting a filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McClellan |first=Steve |last2=Trigoboff |first2=Dan |date=April 1, 2002 |title=Benedek couldn't hang on |work=Broadcasting & Cable |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/benedek-couldnt-hang-91986 |access-date=June 19, 2020 |archive-date=June 21, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200621152739/https://www.nexttv.com/news/benedek-couldnt-hang-91986 |url-status=live}}</ref> While most of Benedek's stations were sold to Gray Television, some—including WHOI—went to Chelsey Broadcasting, an affiliate of the Chelsey Capital hedge fund, after Gray determined that not all the stations fit the company's focus at the time on larger markets and CBS affiliates.<ref>{{Cite news|title=WHOI-TV changing hands again — Gray Communications won't purchase Channel 19 after all|first=Steve|last=Tarter|work=Peoria Journal Star|date=October 19, 2002|page=C2|id={{pq|462008508}}}}</ref> On August 1, 2003, WHOI began broadcasting a digital signal on channel 40.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Television & Cable Factbook|chapter=WHOI-DT|page=A-778|date=2006|volume=74|publisher=Warren Communications News}}</ref>

Barrington Broadcasting of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, purchased WHOI and KHQA-TV in Hannibal, Missouri, from Chelsey in 2004. The acquisition was among the first for the company, which had already been managing Chelsey's stations for a year and whose founder, Jim Yager, was the former president of Benedek.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Jordan|last=Sokol|work=Daily Herald|title=Barrington company acquires 3 TV stations|id={{pq|312848161}}|date=January 14, 2004|page=3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Eggerton|first=John |date=January 19, 2004 |title=Yager Is Back, and He's Buying Stations |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/yager-back-and-hes-buying-stations-101834 |access-date=November 2, 2025 |website=Broadcasting & Cable |language=en}}</ref> When The WB merged with UPN to form The CW in 2006, WBPE obtained the affiliation and changed its name to Peoria's CW,<ref>{{cite web |title=Peoria's WB4 joins with UPN to become Peoria's CW! |url=http://www.hoinews.com/news/content.aspx?id=14614 |website=WHOI |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928103421/http://www.hoinews.com/news/content.aspx?id=14614 |archive-date=September 28, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> being broadcast as a digital subchannel of WHOI.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 3, 2006 |title=Appointments: Broadcasting group |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-appointments-broadcastin/184153089/ |access-date=November 2, 2025 |work=The Pantagraph |pages=F2}} "EHOI" is a Nielsen shortcut for "digital subchannel 2 of WHOI".</ref> WHOI was the last major Peoria television station to broadcast an analog signal; most stations in the market switched on the original February 17, 2009, digital television transition date, except for WHOI,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Peoria goes digital|first=Steve|last=Tarter|work=Peoria Journal Star|date=February 18, 2009}}</ref> which completed its switchover on the June 12 final date.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Peoria television stations now all-digital|first=Steve|last=Tarter|work=Peoria Journal Star|date=June 13, 2009}}</ref>

Despite occasional credible efforts, WHOI remained mostly in third place in news ratings in the 1990s and 2000s. By 1999, the market's news race looked like a two-station fight between perennial leader WEEK and a revitalized WMBD; each of their evening newscasts attracted audience shares of 20 percent or more, while WHOI's best-performing newscast mustered a 12-percent share.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/news-ratings-turning-two-channel-race/imykpgzijfmpycmkmelimixjaxpbqbdn_ip-10-166-46-174_1761845589641|first=Anthony|last=Smith|work=Peoria Journal Star|title=News ratings turning into a two-channel race|date=April 4, 1999|page=B3}}</ref> Though channel 19 improved its ratings steadily in the early- and mid-2000s, the 2006 defection of anchor Paul Ferrante to WMBD caused ratings to slide, particularly among women aged 25–54.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/anchors-make-difference/msfgnoalpqimjpcfluzbayaieurssyfk_ip-10-166-46-84_1761845706123|first=Steve|last=Tarter|page=C4|work=Peoria Journal Star|title=Anchors make a difference|date=July 16, 2006}}</ref>

===Common operation with WEEK-TV=== [[File:WEEK East Peoria 20231104 0060.jpg|right|thumb|alt=A two-story studio building with WEEK 25 and Heart of Illinois ABC signage|As part of the 2009 consolidation, WHOI operations moved into the WEEK-TV studios in East Peoria (pictured in 2023).]] On March 2, 2009, it was made public that WEEK-TV would take over the operations of WHOI through joint sales and shared services agreements. It resulted in WHOI closing its longtime studios near its transmitter in Creve Coeur and moving into WEEK-TV's facility on Springfield Road, along I-474, in East Peoria. Sixteen employees were transferred to WEEK-TV, but as many as thirty were laid off immediately.<ref name="pjs-whoiweek">{{cite news|url=http://www.pjstar.com/business/x1959832349/Owners-of-WEEK-TV-taking-over-operations-of-WHOI-TV|title=Owners of WEEK taking over WHOI operations|last=Tarter|first=Steve|date=March 2, 2009|work=Peoria Journal Star|access-date=March 2, 2009}}</ref> The alliance was one of two announced on the same day between Barrington and Granite Broadcasting, owner of WEEK-TV. In the other, in Syracuse, New York, Barrington's WSTM-TV assumed the operations of WTVH.<ref>{{cite news|date=March 2, 2009|title=Granite, Barrington announce joint sales, shared services agreement|work=Broadcast Engineering|id={{pq|204172100}} }}</ref> WEEK and WHOI began airing simulcast weekend newscasts after the change.<ref>{{cite news|title=Eagle-eyed locals spot slip-ups|date=August 30, 2009|first=Steve|last=Tarter|work=Peoria Journal Star}}</ref> Granite then shifted playout operations, as well as weekend weather forecasting, for WEEK-TV, WHOI, and WAOE to a hub facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana.<ref>{{Cite news|date=December 20, 2009|title=On the Air: Change dominates media in 2009|first=Steve|last=Tarter|work=Peoria Journal Star}}</ref> Barrington was acquired by Sinclair Broadcast Group in 2013,<ref name=b&c-saletosinclair>{{cite news|last=Malone|first=Michael|title=Sinclair's Chesapeake TV Acquires Barrington Stations|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/492113-Sinclair_s_Chesapeake_TV_Acquires_Barrington_Stations.php|access-date=March 1, 2013|newspaper=Broadcasting & Cable|date=February 28, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release|url=http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/Barrington%20Closes.pdf |title=Sinclair Broadcast Group Closes on Acquisition of Barrington Stations|date=November 25, 2013 |access-date=November 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203013631/http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/Barrington%20Closes.pdf |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |url-status=dead |website=Sinclair Broadcast Group }}</ref> and Quincy Newspapers acquired WEEK-TV among other stations from Granite in a deal announced in 2014 and completed in 2015.<ref name=tvnc-saletoquincy>{{cite news|title=Quincy Buying Stations From Granite, Malara|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/quincy-buying-stations-from-granite-malara/|access-date=February 11, 2014|newspaper=TVNewsCheck|date=February 11, 2014}}</ref> The Quincy/Granite sale was completed on November 2, 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.whig.com/story/30412956/quincy-newspapers-inc-acquires-four-tv-stations|title=Quincy Newspapers Inc. acquires four TV stations|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107055838/http://www.whig.com/story/30412956/quincy-newspapers-inc-acquires-four-tv-stations |archive-date=November 7, 2015 |work=Quincy Herald-Whig|access-date= November 2, 2015}}</ref>

===Diginet era and MyTeam=== On July 26, 2016, Quincy Media announced that it had acquired WHOI's ABC and CW affiliations from Sinclair and would consolidate them onto subchannels of WEEK beginning August 1, 2016.<ref name="cinewsnow-hoiweek">{{cite web|title=Quincy Media purchases ABC, CW affiliations from Sinclair Broadcast Group|url=http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/local/Quincy-Media-purchases-ABC-CW-affiliations-from-Sinclair-Broadcast-Group-388308022.html|website=CINewsNow.com|publisher=Quincy Media|access-date=July 26, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160727145453/http://www.cinewsnow.com/news/local/Quincy-Media-purchases-ABC-CW-affiliations-from-Sinclair-Broadcast-Group-388308022.html|archive-date=July 27, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> At the same time, Quincy-owned WSJV in South Bend, Indiana, relinquished its Fox affiliation to Sinclair-owned WSBT-TV.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/sinclair-and-quincy-make-affiliation-deal-wsjv-employees-wonder-whats-next/175045|title=Sinclair and Quincy Make Affiliation Deal, WSJV Employees Wonder What's Next|last=Eck|first=Kevin|date=July 26, 2016|work=TVSpy|publisher=Adweek Blog Network|access-date=August 1, 2016}}</ref> The ABC and CW subchannels were simulcast on WHOI for 60 days following the consolidation.<ref name="pjr-weekabccw">{{cite news|last1=Tarter|first1=Steve|title=WEEK-TV to broadcast ABC and CW signals|url=http://www.pjstar.com/news/20160726/new-digital-channels-coming-for-whoi-and-cw|access-date=July 27, 2016|work=Peoria Journal Star|date=July 26, 2016}}</ref>{{efn|The ABC channel was known as Heart of Illinois ABC and continued to offer dedicated newscasts until 2022.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Alex|last=Dalton |title=After 13 years of working side-by-side, marriage of Peoria TV news operations is official |url=https://www.pjstar.com/story/business/2022/07/30/heart-of-illinois-abc-25-news-combine-peoria-tv-operations/65386438007/ |date=July 30, 2022 |access-date=August 6, 2022 |website=Peoria Journal Star |language=en-US}}</ref>}} After the end of the transition period, Comet TV, a diginet owned by Sinclair, moved to WHOI's main 19.1 channel.<ref name="pjstar-20160802">{{cite news|last1=Tarter|first1=Steve|title=Along with new look at WEEK-TV, Quincy Media moving ABC, CW to Channel 25|url=http://www.pjstar.com/news/20160802/along-with-new-look-at-week-tv-quincy-media-moving-abc-cw-to-channel-25|access-date=September 24, 2016|work=Peoria Journal Star|date=August 2, 2016}}</ref> In 2020, the main channel was switched to TBD, another Sinclair-owned diginet, with Comet moved to 19.2.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Sinclair - WHOI Channel Change|publisher=National Cable Television Cooperative|url=https://www.nctconline.org/index.php/members/resources/technical-notices/item/1575-sinclair-whoi-channel-change|access-date=June 15, 2020}}</ref>

Gray Media, which purchased Quincy in 2021,<ref name="graycomplete">{{cite press release|url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/08/02/2273228/0/en/Gray-Television-Closes-Quincy-Acquisition.html|title=Gray Television Closes Quincy Acquisition|first=Hilton|last=Howell Jr.|work=Gray Television|publisher=Globe Newswire|date=August 2, 2021|access-date=August 2, 2021}}</ref> and Sinclair filed with the FCC in 2025 to trade WSJV for WHOI, which resulted in Gray owning both the WEEK-TV and WHOI licenses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/views/public/assignmentDraftCopy?displayType=html&appKey=25076ff395d44be80195d98c438b028e&id=25076ff395d44be80195d98c438b028e&goBack=N|title=#268851 Assignments|date=April 1, 2025|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|website=Licensing and Management System}}</ref> On September 29 of that year, the diginet was moved to 19.5, and WHOI was relaunched as a new independent station known as MyTeam. MyTeam's schedule places an emphasis on sports programming, including local high school and college sports, programming from St. Louis-based sister service Matrix Midwest, as well as the WEEK-produced ''Sports Overtime''. Outside of sports programming, it also carries WEEK-produced half-hour 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. newscasts and syndicated programming (including MyNetworkTV).<ref name=myteam>{{cite web|url=https://www.25newsnow.com/2025/09/19/week-tv-announces-new-channel-more-options-sports-entertainment-local-news/|title=WEEK-TV announces a new channel, more options for sports, entertainment and local news|first=Jason|last=Howell|website=WEEK-TV|date=September 19, 2025|access-date=September 25, 2025}}</ref>

==Notable former on-air staff== * Doug Bell – sportscaster, 1983–1988<ref name="Birm970703">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-staying-on-course/100516495/|date=July 3, 1997|pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-bell/100516470/ B2]|first=Tim|last=Stephens|title=Staying on course: WBMG's Bell aims at national exposure|newspaper=Birmingham Post-Herald|location=Birmingham, Alabama|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 20, 2023|archive-date=December 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231220064305/https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-staying-on-course/100516495/|url-status=live}}</ref> * Faith Daniels – weathercaster, July–November 1981<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/faith-daniels-news-anchor-today-show-worked-peoria-whoi-wmbd/qbwxoylhabfuateafszskkywhgwofvtn_ip-10-166-46-152_1761969192825|title=Faith Daniels news anchor on "Today' show: Worked in Peoria at WHOI, WMBD|first=Bryan|last=Oberle|work=Peoria Journal Star|page=C8|date=May 16, 1990}}</ref> * Lourdes Duarte – reporter<ref>{{Cite news|first=Robert|last=Feder|author-link=Robert Feder|title='Good' again - Fox recycles old title to call attention to new-and-improved morning show|date=August 30, 2007|work=Chicago Sun-Times|page=55}}</ref> * Randy Salerno – anchor and reporter, to 1986<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/doubt-salernos-jump-will-spawn-station-raids/jffiyjpculjmvqnutrxfyzefnrxtocbn_ip-10-166-46-106_1761969131822|first=Bill|last=Knight|title=Doubt Salerno's jump will spawn station raids|work=Peoria Journal Star|date=August 16, 1986|page=D3}}</ref> * Maggie Vespa — reporter<ref name="adweek-2022">{{cite news |last1=Eck |first1=Kevin |title=Portland Reporter Maggie Vespa Leaving KGW in March |url=https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/portland-reporter-maggie-vespa-leaving-kgw-in-march/ |access-date=June 3, 2024 |work=Adweek |date=February 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321074757/https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/portland-reporter-maggie-vespa-leaving-kgw-in-march/ |archive-date=March 21, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=July 15, 2012 |title=Snarls Barkley: Yes, some great names here ... |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-snarls-barkley-yes-some/184172829/ |access-date=November 2, 2025 |work=The Pantagraph |pages=A3, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-flick/184173325/ A4]}}</ref> * Marjorie Vincent – reporter, 1995–1998<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/ex-miss-america-joining-whoi-staff-news-director-didnt-know-o-ftitle-when-vincent-was-contacted/jbknnykpeckdxwzkfmjgsfiptowxklex_ip-10-166-46-80_1761968987302|first=Stephen|last=Witmer|page=C10|work=Peoria Journal Star|title=Ex-Miss America joining WHOI staff: News director didn't know of title when Vincent was contacted|date=February 23, 1995}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|work=The Columbus Dispatch|title=WWHO selected to air Pax prime-time shows|page=7E|date=October 1, 1998|first=Tim|last=Feran}}</ref>

==Subchannels== WHOI's transmitter is co-sited with its studios on Springfield Road (along I-474) in East Peoria.{{r|FCC-LMS-6866}} The station's signal is multiplexed: {| class="wikitable" |+Subchannels of WHOI<ref>{{Cite web|title=Digital TV Market Listing for WHOI|url=https://rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WHOI#station|access-date=May 28, 2025|website=RabbitEars}}</ref> ! scope="col" | Channel ! scope="col" | Res. ! scope="col" | Short name ! scope="col" | Programming |- ! scope="row" | 19.1 | 720p || TEAM || Main WHOI programming |- ! scope="row" | 19.2 | rowspan=2|480i || Charge! || Charge! |- ! scope="row" | 19.3 | Comet || Comet |- ! scope="row" | 19.4 | 1080i || STAD || Stadium |- ! scope="row" | 19.5 | rowspan=2|480i || ROAR || Roar |- ! scope="row" | 19.6 | MeTV || MeTV |}

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Whoi (Tv)}} Category:1953 establishments in Illinois Category:Charge! (TV network) affiliates Category:Comet (TV network) affiliates Category:Gray Media Category:Metromedia Category:MeTV affiliates Category:MyNetworkTV affiliates Category:Roar (TV network) affiliates Category:Television channels and stations established in 1953 HOI (TV)