About WAND NEWS
Wand News
Welcome to WAND News, Central Illinois' premier source for local news, weather, and sports coverage. Since our first broadcast in 1953, WAND has been committed to delivering comprehensive and reliable news to our community. With five hours of live broadcast and streaming local news each day, we keep you informed on the latest events, issues, and developments. In addition to our local coverage, we provide seven hours of live NBC News programming on weekdays, bringing national and international news right to your screen. Our programming also includes NBC Sports, featuring marquee events such as NBC Sunday Night Football, NASCAR, the PGA Tour, and the Olympics.
Located at 904 Southside Dr. in Decatur, Illinois, our state-of-the-art studios serve a diverse and extensive market that spans 21% of Illinois' land mass, including the farthest reaches like Beaverville in Iroquois County, 134 miles away. WAND-TV is proud to be the only station in the Champaign-Decatur-Springfield market that covers the entire area without relying on a secondary signal. Our robust digital presence ensures you can access WAND News anytime, anywhere through live broadcasting on Channel 17.1, our on-demand news available on the WAND News app and WANDTV.com, and streaming services on Apple TV, Roku, and the Amazon App Store. Additionally, the WAND Weather App provides up-to-the-minute weather forecasts, radar, and storm tracking, keeping you prepared and safe.
Our History
WAND began its journey on August 16, 1953, as WTVP, making history as the first television station in Central Illinois and one of the original 19 ABC affiliates. In 1966, under the ownership of LIN Broadcasting, we changed our call letters to WAND. A significant shift occurred on September 5, 2005, when we transitioned from ABC to NBC, aligning with one of the most respected networks in the industry. Our commitment to excellence continued to grow, and in November 2007, Block Communications, Inc. became the full owner of WAND, integrating us into a distinguished family of stations including WDRB Media (FOX), WBKI (CW) & MY58TV Louisville, and WLIO-TV Lima. This rich history underscores our dedication to providing top-tier news and entertainment to our viewers in Central Illinois.