WQOW-TV

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WQOW-TV
city =
station_
station_slogan =
station_branding = News 18
analog = 18 (UHF)
digital = 15 (UHF)
subchannels = 18.1 ABC
18.2 The CW Plus
other_chs =
affiliations = ABC
The CW (DT2)
network =
founded =
airdate = September 1980 [The "Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook" says September 20, while the "Television and Cable Factbook" says September 22.]
location = Eau Claire, Wisconsin
callsign_meaning = W-Q
(sounds like Eau Claire)
OW
(sister station to Madison's WKOW)
former_callsigns =
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Quincy Newspapers, Inc.
licensee = nowrap|WXOW-WQOW Television, Inc.
sister_stations = WAOW - Wausau; WKOW - Madison; WYOW - Eagle River; WXOW - La Crosse
former_affiliations =
effective_radiated_power = 912 kW (analog)
200 kW (digital)
HAAT = 280 m (both)
class =
facility_id = 64550
coordinates = coord|44|47|59.9|N|91|27|56.6|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.wqow.com/ www.wqow.com]
[http://www.wqow.com/CW/ Chippewa Valley CW]

WQOW-TV is an ABC-affiliated television station in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The station broadcasts on channel 18. The station is owned and operated by Quincy Newspapers, Inc., which also owns WXOW-TV. The station's DT2 subcarrier shows programming from The CW Plus, which is also carried on cable channel 15 on the Charter cable systems in the Chippewa Valley. WQOW's transmitter is located in Eau Claire, at the former WEAU tower next to the WEAU studios. [http://www.fybush.com/sites/2006/site-060310.html] The station is not available on the major satellite systems, as the operators opt to carry sister station WXOW, which carries identical network and syndicated programming but its own local newscasts.

News 18 Personalities

Anchors

*Lisa Patrow - Weekdays at 5:00pm
*Jerry Gallagher - Weekdays 6 & 10pm
*Jamie Page - Weekdays 6 & 10pm
*Krista Hostetler - Weekends 6 & 10pm
*Cassy Clark - Weekday Mornings

tormtracker 18 Weather

*Doug Michaels - Chief Meteorologist
*LeAnn Lombardo - Morning Meteorologist
*Nick Grunseth - Weekend Meteorologist

News 18 Sports

*Bob Bradovich - Sports Director, Weeknights
*Bill Port - Weekend Sports Anchor

News 18 Reporters

*Adam Stapel
*Amie Zirngible
*Ben Kroeplin
*Trent Artus

Northland Adventures

*Dave Carlson

Former On-Air Personalities:

Notables

*Hayes Callaghan: EHC Sports Play-By-Play Announcer; WQOW Sports Anchor: early 1980s-1990
*Mary Lahammer: Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) "Almanac" Political Reporter; WQOW Weekend Anchor: 1996-98

Anchors & Reporters

*Laura Littell: early 1980s
*Jim LeTourneau: 1980s
*Mary Beth Larson: 1980s
*Andrew Bohage: late 1980s
*Cami Rapson: early 1990s
*Mike Rindo (News Director): 1996-2001
*Kristin Everett: 1996-early 2000s
*Melissa Wollering: mid-2000s - March 2006 [http://nbc15.madison.com/station/bios/news/2699136.html]
*Rachel Licht (now Rachel Pierce): January 2004 - April 2006 [http://www.wowt.com/station/bios/news/2791611.html]
*Jesica Witte (5 p.m. anchor/assistant news director/news director): 1998-2003
*Karen Kraus (weekend anchor/reporter) : late 1990s-early 2000s
*Janell Witte (morning anchor/reporter): early 2000s
*Kathryn Bracho (morning anchor/weekend anchor/reporter): early 2000s [http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=3096814&nav=menu24_10_7_1]
*Mark Meisenheimer (weekend sports anchor): late 1990s-early 2000s
*Vanessa Brown (reporter): late 1990s-early 2000s
*Jeff Schlesser (reporter): early 2000s
*Eric Kent (weekend sports anchor): early 2000s
*Addie Boland (intern/reporter): late 1990s-early 2000s
*Brooke Allyson (weekend anchor/main evening anchor): 2004-2007
*David Kmiecik (Weekend Sports Anchor): 2004-2007
*Jon Kiemig (Intern/Reporter/Sports): 2003-2007
*Mike "Jocko" Jacques (Weekend Sports Anchor): 2002-2003
*Roy Flynn (Weekend Sports Anchor) 1982-1985

Weather

*Sue Ramsett: late 1980s
*Bob Trihy: 1996 - August 11, 2006 (Chief Meteorologist 1996-2006) [http://www.witn.com/station/bios/weather/22861479.html]
*Megan Salois: (weekend meteorologist) 2002 - April 2006 [http://www.whotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=4816646]
*Tony Barlow: 2006-2007 (Weekend Meteorologist) [http://www.keloland.com/ourpeople/weather/tonybarlow/]

History

WQOW-TV signed on September 1, 1980 as a relay station for sister station WXOW-TV in La Crosse, and airing ABC programming and WXOW newscasts in the Eau Claire area where WXOW's signal is weak. Their building was located on old Highway 53, east of the then-current Highway 53/93 interchange east of London Square Mall on the southeast side of Eau Claire. WQOW started airing local newscasts in 1982, which became known as "Newsource 18." Weather segments originated from WXOW, as WQOW did not have a weather department. Newscasts ceased airing in March 1990, a decision made by then-owners Tak Communications. WQOW aired WXOW's newscasts, as they had from 1980-82.

Local newscasts resumed on WQOW in October 1996 and the station was known as "News 18." Since the new Highway 53 Bypass was set to be constructed on the site of WQOW's building, the station moved in January 2001. The old building's site is located approximately in the northbound lane of the Hwy 53 Bypass near the Highway 93 northbound bridge. The new building is on Highway 93 immediately south of Interstate 94 on the south side of Eau Claire.

External links

* [http://www.wqow.com/ WQOW-TV website]
* [http://www.wqow.com/CW/ Chippewa Valley CW website]
*TVQ|WQOW-TV
*BIA|WQOW|TV|TV

References