In 1961, Father John Banahan, director of the communications center of the Archdiocese of Chicago, headed a group that included the Church Federation, the Chicago Board of Rabbis and craft unions, to challenge the licenses of network owned and operated television stations. The F.C.C. (Federal Communications Commission) held hearings in Chicago. These hearings resulted in a pledge from WBBM-TV, WBKB-TV (WLS-TV) and WNBQ-TV (WMAQ-TV) to produce more local television programming "in the public interest," as outlined in the broadcaster's franchise agreements.

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