Ravi Baichwal exits WLS after 20 years at ABC 7 Chicago

Ravi Baichwal has departed WLS in Chicago, Illinois, after 20 years with the ABC-owned station, where he most recently anchored the 5 and 6 p.m. newscasts.

The station confirmed his departure Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, saying Baichwal’s employment ended following the expiration of his contract.

“After 20 years with ABC 7, Ravi Baichwal has moved on following the conclusion of his contract. We wish him well in his next chapter,” a station spokesperson said in a statement.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, WLS opted not to renew Baichwal’s contract. His absence from recent newscasts had prompted questions among viewers about his status at the station.

Baichwal had anchored the station’s early evening newscasts since 2023. WLS has not announced a permanent replacement, although Mark Rivera is expected to fill in temporarily. Cheryl Burton and Judy Hsu remain in their respective anchor positions.

Baichwal joined WLS in 2006 as a reporter and weekend anchor after building his journalism career in Canada.

He began working at the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. in 1996 before moving to CTV, where he hosted the network’s national morning program and reported for “CTV National News.”

During his two decades at WLS, Baichwal covered major local and national stories and received multiple Emmy Awards for his work.

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One of his more unusual on-air experiences occurred in December 2007, when a minivan crashed through the window of the station’s State Street studio during a live 10 p.m. newscast.

The collision was captured on camera as Baichwal reacted to the vehicle entering the studio while he was on the air.

His departure follows recent speculation about his absence from WLS broadcasts. The Chicago Tribune reported that a social media post had circulated concerning an alleged restaurant altercation involving Baichwal in October 2026.

Neither Baichwal nor WLS has publicly addressed the allegation, and the station’s statement did not provide additional details about the circumstances surrounding his departure.