William J. McCarter, 81, a broadcasting innovator who led WTTW in Chicago for 27 years and built it to become the most watched public television station in the country, died of cancer Thursday, April 21, according to his family.
Mr. McCarter was recruited to run the Chicago public television station in 1971 by WTTW Chairman Newton Minow, a former FCC chairman.
Setting his goal at boosting viewership, Mr. McCarter promptly expanded WTTW’s broadcast schedule to seven days a week, introducing a wide range of general interest programming.
Under Mr. McCarter, WTTW emerged as a major production center, creating a large number of nationally broadcast series and specials.
Mr. McCarter developed a range of programs, including “Chicago Tonight,” “Sneak Previews,” “The McLaughlin Group,” “Image Union,” “The Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching,” “Wild Chicago,” “Soundstage” and “Illinois Lawmakers.”
Under his watch, WTTW and its WFMT FM radio sibling received 12 George Foster Peabody Awards, 5 DuPont Columbia Journalism Awards, 150 regional Emmy Awards and 5 CINE Golden Eagle Awards.
Mr. McCarter retired in 1998.
“Bill was a mentor and a friend. He played a critical role in making WTTW and WFMT the trusted cultural institutions they are today,” said Dan Schmidt, president and CEO of the stations. “Millions of viewers, their children, their parents and grandchildren continue to benefit from the foundation that he built.”
He started an effort called Candidate Free Time, which provides free, unedited airtime to candidates seeking office. In three minutes, candidates can present their platforms directly to viewers.
In June 1996, Mr. McCarter presented the Candidate Free Time model to the FCC at a nationally televised hearing. He encouraged other public television stations to follow WTTW’s lead and help voters make informed decisions.
Prior to his work in Chicago, Mr. McCarter served as president and CEO of WETA-TV/FM. He also served as president of the Washington-area chapter of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Earlier in his career, he held programming positions at WHYY in Philadelphia, WNET in New York and at the ABC television network. Mr. McCarter often shared anecdotes about getting his start in his native Philadelphia with Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand.”
He graduated from Lafayette College and did graduate work at Temple University, both Pennsylvania schools. He was a decorated officer with the 45th Infantry Division during the Korean War.
Mr. McCarter was preceded in death by his wife, Linda.
He is survived by two daughters, Amy Costello and Juli McCarter; a son, Max; and three grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are pending.
