WJFW-TV

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WJFW-TV
station_
station_slogan = Your Northwoods News Leader!
station_branding = Newswatch 12
analog = 12 (VHF)
digital = 16 (UHF)
other_chs = 27 W27AU Wausau
affiliations = NBC
founded = October 20, 1966
location = Rhinelander/Wausau, Wisconsin
callsign_meaning = W-Jasper F. Williams (former owner)
former_callsigns = WAEO-TV (1966-86)
owner = Rockfleet Broadcasting
effective_radiated_power = 316 kW (analog)
269 kW (digital)
HAAT = 506 m (analog)
362 m (digital)
facility_id = 49699
coordinates = coord|45|40|3.3|N|89|12|29.4|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.wjfw.com/ WJFW.com]

WJFW-TV, channel 12, is a NBC affiliate serving north central Wisconsin. Its city of license is Rhinelander, Wisconsin. It operates a Harris high powered transmitter in Starks, Wisconsin; and a low-powered translator UHF station on W27AU channel 27 in Wausau, Wisconsin. The station broadcasts a digital signal on Channel 16, which covers Wausau. An Acrodyne Industries high definition transmitter is used for its digital signal. The station is owned by Rockfleet Broadcasting.

WJFW is located more north than other north central Wisconsin stations to protect the signal of WISN-TV in Milwaukee, which also broadcasts on Channel 12; the other two VHF stations in the area, and one UHF station broadcast on channels which are also used by Chicago stations.

History

When the station signed on the air on October 20, 1966, it had the call letters of WAEO-TV, after its founder, United States congressman Alvin E. O'Konski. It also boasted the highest broadcasting tower in the state as well.

On November 17, 1968, a small plane with three passengers aboard crashed into the tower, knocking out both the tower and the station's building. It was off the air until a new tower was erected (in the same location as the original). After its completion, WAEO was back on the air on September 1, 1969.

On June 1, 1979, WAEO was sold to Seaway Communications, a minority-owned company. It marked the first time a VHF commercial television station in the United States was owned and operated by minority interests.

In 1984, Dr. Jasper F. Williams, the founder and CEO of Seaway Communications, was killed in a plane crash. In his memory, the call letters were changed to WJFW in 1986.

Seaway merged with Rockfleet, the station's current owner, in 1998.

News/Station Presentation

Newscast Titles

*"Report to the North" (1966-1973)
*"Television 12 News" (1973-1978)
*"NewsWatch 12" (1978-present)

tation Slogans

*"Where Local News Comes First" (2001-2005)
*"Your Northwoods News Leader!" (2005-present)

External links

* [http://www.wjfw.com WJFW website]
*TVQ|WJFW
*TVQ|W27AU