WQAD-TV

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WQAD-TV
city =
station_
station_slogan = Hey Quad Cities, Have You Seen Us Lately
station_branding = Quad Cities' NewsChannel 8
analog = 8 (VHF)
digital = 38 (UHF)
other_chs =
subchannels = 8.1 ABC
8.2 local weather
8.3 MyNetworkTV
network =
founded =
airdate = August 1, 1963
location = Moline/Rock Island, Illinois/Davenport, Iowa
callsign_meaning = QuAD Cities
former_callsigns =
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Local TV, LLC
licensee = Local TV Illinois License, LLC
sister_stations =
former_affiliations = none
effective_radiated_power = 309 kW (analog)
1000 kW (digital)
HAAT = 308 m (analog)
334 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 73319
coordinates = coord|41|18|44|N|90|22|45|W|type:landmark_scale:2000 (analog)
coord|41|18|44.5|N|90|22|46.2|W|type:landmark_scale:2000 (digital)
homepage = [http://www.wqad.com/ www.wqad.com]

WQAD-TV, known as " (The) Quad Cities' NewsChannel 8," is the ABC affiliate for the Quad Cities television market (the Davenport, Iowa/Moline, Illinois/Rock Island, Illinois DMA). The station is licensed to Moline, with transmitter located in Orion, Illinois. It is owned by Local TV, a subsidiary of the private equity group Oak Hill Capital Partners.

History

WQAD-TV signed on for the first time on August 1, 1963. It was owned by the Moline Television Corporation, a group of 24 local investors. They had actually won the license in 1961, but challenges delayed sign-on for two years. Before WQAD signed on, ABC programming had been split between WOC-TV (now KWQC-TV) and WHBF-TV. From day one, WQAD-TV broadcast ABC network programming in color.

Cowles Communications of Des Moines purchased WQAD in 1978. In 1985, the Cowles family sold off their various media interests, with WQAD going to the New York Times Company.

On May 7, 2007, Local TV, a subsidiary of Oak Hill Capital, officially took over the "Times"' 9 television stations, including WQAD.

The station began news operations from the first day it signed on the air in 1963. At times, it shares news stories with sister station WHO-TV in Des Moines. WQAD also uses WHO's chopper, usually during severe weather or flooding.

WQAD is also an afilliate with the CNN network, and uses a lot of CNN footage on WQAD's news at 6:30 PM.

Station Identifications
* "News Scope 8" - 1966-1975
* "Eyewitness News" - 1975-1978
* "Active 8" - 1978-1994
* "NewsChannel 8" - 1994-2008
* "WQAD NewsChannel 8" - 2007-2008
* "Quad Cities' NewsChannel 8" - 2008-present

WQAD Storm Track 8000 doppler weather channel

The WQAD Storm Track 8000 doppler weather channel is a 24 hour weather service provided by WQAD and is available to television viewers in the Quad Cities and surrounding areas via WQAD's digital channel 8.2 and on Mediacom Cable's analog channel 14. This channel was created in 2001, and featured its Exclusive Live Tripple Doppler, and weather updates every 15 minutes. Since, the station has added the 5, and 14 day outlook, with the latest weather around the region with an "L Bar". As of August 13, 2007, its main competitor is the KWQC 24-7 Weather Channel.

Digital Television

The station's digital channel (UHF 38) is multiplexed:

Analog-to-digital conversion

After the analog television shutdown and digital conversion, which is tentatively scheduled to take place on February 17, 2009 http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf] , WQAD-TV will continue digital broadcasts on its current pre-transition channel number, 38. However, through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers will display WQAD-TV's virtual channel as 8.

Programming History

WQAD-TV's early years are closely linked to the station's prominent anchor/reporter, Jim King. He was the station's main anchorman from the day the station first signed on until 1998, doubling as news director for most of that time. His sign-off at the end of his newscasts was always, "Thank you for inviting us into your home." King took camera and gear to Vietnam for two tours of reporting on local troops. He was long the staple on the anchor desk and was known for his "On The Road" series of reports as well as his longtime role as the emcee of the station's annual Muscular Dystrophy Association telethons from 1971 to 1998. He died on January 2, 1999, of a heart attack while removing snow in front of his home.

WQAD-TV was one of the organizations which founded the Quad City Open golf tournament in 1971. The PGA tournament is now called the John Deere Classic and has been the topic of special broadcasts on the television station for more than 35 years.

WQAD's early days are also remembered for being the local outlet for "Romper Room" and its host Miss Peggy. Quad-Cities baby boomers also fondly remember WQAD's weekly midnight "Chuck Acri Creature Features" - showing early science fiction and monster movies.

On September 4th, 2007, WQAD's 6:00 PM news started a re-broadcast show on WBQD MyTv16 Quad Cities at 9PM.

WQAD was branded in the early 1990s as "Active 8, your 24 hour News Source" and did hourly news cut-ins even during the overnight hours. On January 6, 1992, ABC World News Now was started by the ABC Television Network as an overnight newscast and is still on the air to this day. While the overnight news cut-ins and "24 hour news source" branding are now long gone from WQAD, the station still continues to carry World News Now every weekday morning from upon the conclusion of the previous night's programming until 4:30 am when it picks up America This Morning. WQAD is one of several ABC affiliates nationwide that carry World News Now, an overnight news program which has gained viewership over the years, partly due to the growing number of stations in smaller and mid-sized markets launching 24 hour schedules instead of signing off for the night like they did in olden days.

WQAD has now joined the fray of a midday newscast. "Midday at 11" debuted on September 22nd, 2008. The show is anchored by the morning newsteam. The station had dropped it's midday newscast called "Newsday" in 1996. WQAD is not the only QC station to have a midday news, as KWQC has an hour newscast at Noon. The station is competing against KWQC's "Who Wants To Be a Millionair", and WHBF's "Family Feud".

Ratings

As the third station to go on air in the Quad Cities, and as an affiliate of then-weak ABC, WQAD had a hard time with ratings at first. WQAD finally jumped into 2nd place by beating out WHBF in the late 80's, and has been there ever since. As of February, 2008, WQAD is 2nd place, overall, in all of its newscasts. The station is currently looking for a News Director.

Current Personalities (May 2008)

Anchors

* Matt Hammill News at 5:30&10(Sunday)6&10 (Monday-Thursday)
* Vanessa Van Hyfte News at 5:30&10 (Sunday) 5,6,&10 (Monday-Thursday)
* Julie Sisk "Good Morning Quad Cities" & "Midday at 11"
* Jim Mertens "Good Morning Quad Cities" & " Midday at 11"
* Jason Fechner News 5&6:30,"Afternoon News To Go" (Monday-Friday)
* Kia Carter News at 5,6&10 (Friday), 6&10 Saturday
* Chris Willams News at 6PM (Friday), "8 On Your Side"

Reporters

*Amy Barrilleaux ("8 On Your Side") GMQC reporter
*Brian Boesen ("Total Travel")
*Pam Cunningham
*John David
*Kristy Merganthal
*Chris Minor (Investigations)
*Thom White (Entertainment Reporter)

torm Track 8000

*Neil Kastor - Chief Meteorologist, Fri&Sat Evenings, T-Th 5&6:30PM (AMS Seal Of Approval)
*James Zahara - Morning/Midday Meteorologist (AMS Certified, NWA Seal Of Approval)
*Anthony Peoples - Meteorologist Sunday & Monday Evenings; T-Th, 6&10PM (NWA Seal Of Approval)
*Andy Dorn - Freelance Meteorologist

WQAD Sports

*Mick Moninghoff Sports Director, "Quad Cities Sports Spotlight"
*Matt Randazzo Weekend Sports Anchor/"Weekly Pacetter"
*Scott Doll Good Morning Quad Cities Sports Reporter

Also appearing on WQAD

*Jim Albrecht- "The Quad Cities According To Jim"
*Craig Hignight- Garden Expert, Wednesday on "GMQC"
*Dr. Walter Bradley- "Ask The Doctor" Thursday on "GMQC"
*Phil Kassewitz- Financial Analyst
*John Miller- Financial Advisor
*Porter McNeil- Political Analyst

yndicated programs

Syndicated programs on WQAD-TV's schedule include "Extra", "Judge Judy", "Dr. Phil", "Monk and "The Ellen DeGeneres Show".

tation notes

*WQAD's news currently uses "First News" by composer Frank Gari as a theme.
*"8 On Your Side" reporter Amy Barrilleaux is married to KLJB anchor John Beard
*Neil Kastor also worked as Chief Meteorologist at WHBF-TV in Rock Island for two years, then later made his way to WQAD
*In 1984, WQAD was the first, and only station in the Quad Cities to add a live radar.
*In 2005, WQAD was the first, and only station in the area to get a Satillite Mobile Newsroom
*Almost all the WQAD News team grew up in the Illinois, or have been covering Illinois news for more than 10 years.

References

External links

* [http://www.wqad.com/ WQAD's website]
*TVQ|WQAD
*BIA|WQAD|TV|TV
* [http://www.captainerniesshowboat.com/wqad The Unofficial WQAD Website]