General Info

In 1952, the Federal Communications Commission lifted a freeze on the number of television channels on the broadcast spectrum. Many of the new channels would be reserved for educational purposes, and Inland Steel chairman Edward Ryerson wanted a non-commercial television channel for Chicago. Ryerson and other civic leaders to lobby for, create and fund Chicago s educational station formed the Chicago Educational Television Association. A public television station was born. WTTW11 s first program was broadcast September 6, 1955. WTTW11 is one of the most-watched public television stations in the country. It serves more than 65% of Illinois population as well as areas of Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan.