WQOW

WQOW signed-on for the first time on September 22, 1980; the station was originally owned by Liberty Television, which had acquired WXOW two years earlier. For its first decade on-the-air, WXOW had been hampered by an inadequate signal in the northern half of the combined market, and cable viewers watched ABC from the Minneapolis–Saint Paul market (by sign-on, this was KSTP-TV).{{r|Lead800916}} Unlike the area's other stations, WXOW's transmitter is located alongside its studios in La Crescent, Minnesota. As a result, viewers in Eau Claire and the Chippewa Valley could only watch the station on cable.

Its original studios were on Business US 53 (Hastings Way) east of the London Square Mall and then-current interchange with WIS 93 on the southeast side of Eau Claire. Originally, WQOW was a straight simulcast of WXOW, except for identifications and commercials.{{r|Lead800916}} However, since 1982, it has evolved into a more localized station. In 1985, WQOW was acquired by Tak Communications, which would file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy six years later. A group of creditors seized Tak's assets in 1994, and the company's Wisconsin stations were purchased by Shockley Communications in 1995 as part of Tak's liquidation.

Since the new US 53 Bypass was set to be constructed on the site of WQOW's building,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89416401/tv-station-looking-for-a-new-home-wqow/|date=June 17, 2000|page=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89416412/ 3B]|first=Christena T.|last=O'Brien|title=TV station looking for a new home: WQOW getting squeezed out by U.S. 53 bypass|newspaper=Leader-Telegram|location=Eau Claire, Wisconsin|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 23, 2021}} the station moved in January 2001, six months before it was acquired by Quincy Media (then known as Quincy Newspapers). The old building's site is located approximately in the northbound lane of the bypass near the WIS 93 northbound bridge. The new building is on WIS 93 immediately south of I-94 on the south side of Eau Claire.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89416423/wqow-newscasts-venturing-into-digital/|date=January 27, 2001|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89416429/ 2A]|first=Jennifer|last=Schmidt|title=WQOW newscasts venturing into digital world|newspaper=Leader-Telegram|location=Eau Claire, Wisconsin|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 23, 2021}}

WQOW/WXOW began operating a cable-only affiliate of The WB, known as "WBCZ", in 1998.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89416454/tci-cable-adds-wb/|date=September 23, 1998|page=D-8|first=Steve|last=Cahalan|title=TCI Cable adds WB|newspaper=The La Crosse Tribune|location=La Crosse, Wisconsin|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 23, 2021}} It would be replaced with new second digital subchannels (simulcasting The CW) when it launched in the fall of 2006. After The CW Plus national service was upgraded to 720p high definition level in 2012, an HD feed became available on Charter digital channel 610. WQOW began airing solely in digital, effective February 17, 2009, with the analog transmitter operating for sixty additional days broadcasting only local news and information about the digital transition.{{cite web |url=http://www.tomahjournal.com/articles/2009/02/16/news/02analog.txt |title=Tomah Journal - News |website=www.tomahjournal.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220215013/http://www.tomahjournal.com/articles/2009/02/16/news/02analog.txt |archive-date=February 20, 2009}}

In July 2009, Dish Network announced it would add WQOW to its local channel lineup in the Eau Claire area after previously only offering WXOW.{{Cite web |title=DISH Network to begin carrying WQOW |url=http://www.wqow.com/Global/story.asp?S=10731626 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209121331/http://www.wqow.com/Global/story.asp?S=10731626 |archive-date=February 9, 2013 |access-date=November 5, 2022}} WQOW/WXOW launched This TV simulcast on new digital third digital subchannels of the stations in February/March 2010. Following the collapse of WEAU's tower on March 22, 2011, WQOW temporarily discontinued This TV on 18.3 in order to provide space to broadcast WEAU temporarily on its subchannel until a new tower was erected.{{Cite web |url=http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/UPDATE_WEAU_is_back_on_the_air_-_on_183_-_And_Charter_Cable_6.html |title=WEAU: "UPDATE: WEAU is back on the air - on 18.3 - and Charter Cable 6", March 23, 2011. |access-date=March 23, 2011 |archive-date=July 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720015254/http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/UPDATE_WEAU_is_back_on_the_air_-_on_183_-_And_Charter_Cable_6.html |url-status=dead }} This TV returned to WXOW and WQOW after 10 years in August 2021.

In January 2021, Gray Television announced its intent to purchase Quincy Media for $925 million.{{Cite web|url=https://kwwl.com/2021/01/07/quincy-media-inc-considering-sale-of-company/|title = Quincy Media, Inc. Considering sale of company|date = January 7, 2021}} As Gray already owns the market's WEAU, it planned to keep that station and sell both WQOW and WXOW in order to satisfy FCC requirements.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/02/gray-television-quincy-media-for-925-million-in-cash-1234684531/|title=Gray Television Acquires Quincy Media For $925 Million In Cash|first=Jill|last=Goldsmith|work=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|date=February 1, 2021|access-date=February 1, 2021}} On April 29, Gray announced that WQOW and WXOW would be divested to Allen Media Broadcasting.[https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/04/29/2220067/0/en/Gray-Sells-Divestiture-Stations-From-Quincy-Media-Transaction-to-Allen-Media-for-380-Million.html "Gray Sells Divestiture Stations From Quincy Media Transaction to Allen Media for $380 Million,"] press release from GlobeNewswire, April 29, 2021 The sale was completed on August 1;{{Cite web|url=https://graytv.gcs-web.com/node/18526/pdf|title=Gray Television Closes Quincy Acquisition|publisher=Gray Television|date=August 2, 2021|accessdate=August 2, 2021}} on that day, WEAU assumed the CW and MeTV affiliations from WQOW/WXOW.{{Cite web|url=https://www.weau.com/2021/08/02/weau-13-news-is-offering-new-channels-starting-august-2-rescan-required/|title = WEAU 13 News is offering new channels starting August 2; rescan required| date=August 2, 2021 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.northpine.com/blog/2021/08/02/gray-takes-over-cw-metv-affiliations-in-several-markets/|title = Gray Takes over CW, MeTV Affiliations in Several Markets – Upper Midwest Broadcasting|date = August 2, 2021}}

On June 1, 2025, amid financial woes and rising debt, Allen Media Group announced that it would explore "strategic options" for the company, such as a sale of its television stations (including WQOW/WXOW).{{cite news|last=Weprin|first=Alex|date=June 1, 2025|title=Byron Allen Puts His Local TV Stations Up for Sale|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/byron-allen-selling-local-tv-stations-up-1236235004/|access-date=June 1, 2025}}{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Mark K. |date=June 2, 2025 |title=Allen Media Group Retains Moelis To Sell Its TV Stations |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/allen-media-group-retains-moelis-to-sell-its-tv-stations/ |access-date=June 2, 2025 |website=TVNewsCheck |language=en-US}}

WQOW is a part of the Green Bay Packers and WIAA sports networks; the former allows the station to carry Packers preseason games and official team programming, and to brand itself as "Your Official Packers Station" for the Eau Claire market.

With the launch of WQOW, WXOW began to simulcast its newscasts on that station; one of the few splits between La Crosse and Eau Claire at launch was that WQOW produced cut-ins during Good Morning America. In Eau Claire, reporters were stationed to provide coverage into WXOW's regional news, seen in both cities.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89415952/citys-second-television-station-opens/|date=September 16, 1980|pages=4A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89416030/ 13A]|first=Joan|last=Bennett|title=City's second television station opens Sept. 22|newspaper=Leader-Telegram|location=Eau Claire, Wisconsin|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 23, 2021}}

In 1982, WQOW established a separate news operation with local newscasts focusing on Eau Claire and the surrounding area. Since it did not operate an in-house weather department of its own, all segments originated from WXOW's studios in a tape-delayed arrangement. The effort was canceled in March 1990 as a cost-cutting measure; as a result, WQOW once again began simulcasting WXOW's newscasts.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89070134/plug-pulled-on-newscast/|date=March 24, 1990|page=1B|title=Plug pulled on newscast|newspaper=Wisconsin State Journal|location=Madison, Wisconsin|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 23, 2021}}

It would not be until October 14, 1996—after the Shockley purchase—when WQOW would relaunch its own local news operation for a second time.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89416253/flash-local-news-makes-return-to/|date=June 21, 1996|page=1B|first=Rod|last=Stetzer|title=Flash: Local news makes return to WQOW-TV|newspaper=Leader-Telegram|location=Eau Claire, Wisconsin|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 23, 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/89416320/new-local-newscast-has-kinks-to-work-out/|date=October 15, 1996|page=1B|first=Rod|last=Stetzer|title=New local newscast has kinks to work out|newspaper=Leader-Telegram|location=Eau Claire, Wisconsin|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 23, 2021}} Although this incarnation of news production includes a separate weather department from WXOW, meteorologists from that station can fill-in on WQOW (this is the case especially on weekends and for severe weather coverage transitioning between each station's coverage area). In September 2011, WXOW became the second television station in the market to perform an upgrade to high definition newscast production. Included in the change was a new studio and updated graphics package. The news department at WQOW was upgraded to HD level at the same time.

The station's signal is multiplexed:

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.wqow.com/ WQOW]
• [https://m.wqow.com/ WQOW mobile]

{{Eau Claire TV}}

{{Wisconsin TV}}

{{Other Wisconsin Stations}}

{{Minnesota TV}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wqow}}

Category:1980 establishments in Wisconsin

Category:American Broadcasting Company affiliates

Category:Catchy Comedy affiliates

Category:Court TV affiliates

Category:Allen Media Group

Category:Television channels and stations established in 1980

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