[6] As recently as the 1990s, it was available on cable as far east as Olean, New York (well out of WICU's broadcast range and in competition with Buffalo NBC affiliate WGRZ).

[7] WICU-TV began broadcasting in Erie on March 15, 1949,[8] as an affiliate of all four networks of the time (NBC, CBS, ABC, and DuMont).

Edward Lamb nearly lost WIKK (renamed WICU [AM] in 1957) and WICU-TV in 1954 due to allegations that he associated with Communists, but was exonerated in 1957.

A decade later, in August 1967, Lamb reorganized his business interests, selling off all non-broadcast holdings as well as WICU radio.

[12][18] From that point until June 1, 2009, WSEE-TV continued to operate from its own studios on Peach Street in Downtown Erie.

WSEE-TV's weeknight show at 11 moved to its CW-affiliated subchannel so it would no longer directly compete with WICU-TV's newscast.

In November 2012, Lilly Broadcasting invested close to a million dollars to build the first HD local news studios with WICU-TV and WSEE-TV.

WICU-TV airs a midday show during the week at 12:30 as opposed to noon in order for WSEE to offer a live newscast in the traditional time slot.

On weekends, the two television stations jointly produce local news at 11 p.m. while WICU-TV only provides an early evening broadcast at 6 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

In cases of breaking news, severe weather, or election coverage the two simulcast newscasts and occasionally include the CW subchannel as well.

On weekday mornings, WSEE-DT2 provides a simulcast of the first hour of 12 News Today at 5 p.m. and WICU-TV's midday show at 12:30 p.m.[citation needed] In September 2015, Lilly Broadcasting announced that WICU-TV and WSEE-TV would no longer produce separate morning and evening newscasts as of October 12; the two stations will instead simulcast newscasts in these time periods under the joint brand Erie News Now.