Illinois has an extensive communications system. The state's households with telephones numbered about 93.7% of all households in 2001.
Illinois had 38 major AM and 128 major FM commercial radio stations in 2003, when 31 major television stations served the state. The Chicago area has the 3rd largest number of television households of all metropolitan areas (3,204,710), with cable in 65%.
In 1979, WGN-TV in Chicago became a "superstation," with sports programs, movies, and advertising. Although the three major networks own stations in Chicago, they originate very little programming from the city. However, as a major advertising center, Chicago produces many commercials and industrial films. Most educational broadcasting in Illinois comes from state universities and the Chicago public and Catholic school systems.
A total of 259,713 Internet domain names were registered in the state in the year 2000.