Report No. MM-845            MASS MEDIA ACTION              August 16, 1994


         FCC GRANTS APPLICATION TO ASSIGN THE LICENSE OF WICD(TV),
          CHAMPAIGN, IL; GRANTS WAIVER TO OPERATE AS A SATELLITE
                        OF WICS-TV, SPRINGFIELD, IL

     The Commission has granted the application to assign the
license of television station WICD(TV), NBC/Channel 15,
Champaign, IL, from Plains Television Partnership to Guy Gannett
Publishing Co.  Gannett is the licensee of WICS-TV, NBC/Channel
20, Springfield, IL.  Because the Grade B contours of stations
WICD(TV) and WICS-TV overlap, Gannett requested and was granted a
waiver to operate WICD(TV) as a satellite of WICS-TV, in
accordance with the satellite exception set forth in Note 5 of
the multiple ownership rule.

     In granting the waiver, the Commission stated that Gannett
has demonstrated that there is no city grade overlap between the
two stations; and that Champaign is an underserved area in
accordance with the Commission's transmission test, since there
is only one other full-service station licensed to the community. 
Finally, the Commission stated that the applicants have made an
economic analysis of WICD(TV)'s market showing the difficulties
which would prevent it from operating the station as a non-
satellite facility.   The Commission noted that the geographic
and competitive features of the Springfield-Champaign-Decatur ADI
make it unlikely that WICD(TV) could continue to survive in the
market if forced to operate as a stand-alone station.

     The Commission concluded that Gannett was qualified and that
a grant of the application would serve the public interest,
convenience, and necessity.

     Action by the Commission August 4, 1994, by Memorandum
Opinion and Order (FCC 94-206).  Chairman Hundt, Commissioners
Quello, Barrett, Ness, and Chong.

                                   -FCC-

     News Media contact: Patricia A. Chew at (202) 418-0500.
     Mass Media Bureau contact: Clay C. Pendarvis at (202) 418-
1630.