WAOW-TV
Encyclopedia
WAOW is the ABC
-affiliated television station
for North Central Wisconsin
's Northern Highland
area licensed to Wausau
. It broadcasts a high definition
digital signal on VHF channel 9 from a transmitter on Rib Mountain
. The station can also be seen on Charter
channel 6 and in high definition on digital channel 609. Owned by Quincy Newspapers
, WAOW has studios on Grand Avenue/US 51
in Wausau. Syndicated
programing on the station includes: Entertainment Tonight
, Ellen
, The Dr. Oz Show
, and Rachael Ray
.
. On WAOW-DT3/WYOW-DT3 is This TV
which can be seen on Charter digital channel 966.
WAOW is Wausau's second television station having signed-on June 12, 1965 owned by the Shockley Communications Corporation
. It served as a satellite station of Madison
's WKOW as part of the Wisconsin Television Network which would later include WXOW in La Crosse
and WQOW in Eau Claire
. This station gradually increased its local programming and content finally severing the electronic umbilical cord with WKOW in the 1980s.
WAOW previously aired Fox
's NFL package
from 1994 until 1999 after the National Football Conference
contract and rights for most Green Bay Packers
games moved from CBS
(locally WSAW-TV
) due to the lack of a local Fox affiliate. When Wittenberg
-licensed WFXS-DT
came on-the-air in December 1999, it became the area's Fox affiliate.
WYOW's first broadcast to viewers in Northern Wisconsin and the Western Upper Peninsula
of Michigan
was on January 4, 1997 under the ownership of Northwoods Educational Television. Shockley operated the station through a local marketing agreement
(LMA) until Shockley successfully purchased it outright in December 1998. WYOW airs WAOW's entire schedule beyond differing promos identifying the station under the "Northwoods 34" branding. On June 25, 2002, WAOW became the first commercial television station in the market
to broadcast in high definition and was joined by WYOW on October 24. WAOW/WYOW converted fully to digital on February 17, 2009 without a nightlight period for WAOW while WYOW converted after a nightlight period.
The two stations carried the Retro Television Network
(RTV) on a third digital subchannel
until March 2009. In the beginning of that month, it was replaced with This TV. In February and March, WAOW aired WFXS's digital signal temporarily on DT3 while that station ironed out problems with activation of its digital transmitter. In early-September 2009, WFXS added RTV to its third digital subchannel. In mid-February 2009, Quincy announced the purchase of Crandon-based WBIJ, a FamilyNet
affiliate, which was sold to Quincy by the widow of the station's founder.
Plans called for the conversion of the station to a second satellite of WAOW to serve the northeastern portion of the market near the Michigan border after completing the station's digital VHF channel 12 transmitter facilities. Quincy has since renamed the station WMOW to conform with the call letters of WAOW and the remainder of Quincy's network of ABC affiliates throughout the state which all carry a "OW" suffix. Quincy put the WMOW on-the-air June 4, 2010. Despite being a WAOW satellite, it carries "North Central Wisconsin CW" on its primary channel and WAOW's ABC HD programming on a second subchannel. This TV is seen on WMOW-DT3.
On June 19, 2011, WAOW began broadcasting its newscasts in high definition. WAOW also redesigned its set and changed its graphics as part of the HD transition.
, WAOW-DT2/WYOW-DT2 airs the nationally syndicated morning show The Daily Buzz
on weekdays from 5 until 8. Unlike most ABC affiliates, WAOW does not air midday news during the week. All news anchors also serve as reporters.
StormTrak 9 Weather Team
Sports
Multimedia journalists
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
-affiliated television station
Television station
A television station is a business, organisation or other such as an amateur television operator that transmits content over terrestrial television. A television transmission can be by analog television signals or, more recently, by digital television. Broadcast television systems standards are...
for North Central Wisconsin
Central Wisconsin
Central Wisconsin refers to a region of Wisconsin that generally coincides with the Wausau-Rhinelander Television Market.-Counties in Central Wisconsin:*Adams County*Clark County*Florence County*Forest County*Langlade County*Lincoln County...
's Northern Highland
Northern Highland
The Northern Highland is a geographical region covering much of the northern territory of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The region stretches from the state border with Minnesota in the west to the Michigan border in the east, and from Douglas and Bayfield Counties in the north to Wood and Portage...
area licensed to Wausau
Wausau, Wisconsin
Wausau is a city in and the county seat of Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. The Wisconsin River divides the city. The city is adjacent to the town of Wausau.According to the 2000 census, Wausau had a population of 38,426 people...
. It broadcasts a high definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
digital signal on VHF channel 9 from a transmitter on Rib Mountain
Rib Mountain
Rib Mountain is a glacially-eroded monadnock in central Wisconsin, located in the Town of Rib Mountain in Marathon County...
. The station can also be seen on Charter
Charter Communications
Charter Communications is an American company providing cable television, high-speed Internet, and telephone services to more than 4.7 million customers in 25 states. By revenues, it is the fourth-largest cable operator in the United States, behind Comcast, Time Warner Cable, and Cox Communications...
channel 6 and in high definition on digital channel 609. Owned by Quincy Newspapers
Quincy Newspapers
Quincy Newspapers, Inc. is a family-owned media company that originated in the newspapers of Quincy, Illinois. The company's history can be traced back to 1835, when the Bounty Land Register was one of only four newspapers in all of Illinois. Over the next century, a number of mergers followed...
, WAOW has studios on Grand Avenue/US 51
U.S. Route 51 in Wisconsin
In the U.S. state of Wisconsin, U.S. Route 51 runs north–south down the central part of the state...
in Wausau. Syndicated
Television syndication
In broadcasting, syndication is the sale of the right to broadcast radio shows and television shows by multiple radio stations and television stations, without going through a broadcast network, though the process of syndication may conjure up structures like those of a network itself, by its very...
programing on the station includes: Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer...
, Ellen
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
, The Dr. Oz Show
The Dr. Oz Show
The Dr. Oz Show is an American syndicated television talk show, hosted by Dr. Mehmet Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon and teaching professor at Columbia University who became famous for his appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show from 2004 until 2009....
, and Rachael Ray
Rachael Ray (TV series)
Rachael Ray, also known as The Rachael Ray Show, is a talk show starring Rachael Ray that debuted in syndication in the United States and Canada on September 18, 2006....
.
Satellites
| Call letters | Channel | City of license City of license A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator.... |
Transmitter location | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WYOW | 28 (PSIP 34) | Eagle River Eagle River, Wisconsin Eagle River is a city in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,443 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Vilas County. The city is known for being a popular "Northwoods" vacation town... |
between Sugar Camp Sugar Camp, Wisconsin Sugar Camp is a town in Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,781 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated community of Sugar Camp is located in the town-Geography:... and Three Lakes Three Lakes, Wisconsin Three Lakes is a town in Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,339 at the 2000 census. The census-designated place of Three Lakes is located in the town.-Geography:... |
sales office on West Pine Street/WIS 17/WIS 70 in Eagle River |
| WMOW | 12 (PSIP 4) | Crandon Crandon, Wisconsin Crandon is a city in Forest County, Wisconsin, United States; it is in the northeastern part of the state, about north of Green Bay. The population was 1,920 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Forest County and is the only incorporated community in the county... |
east of downtown | ABC on second digital subchannel Digital subchannel In broadcasting, digital subchannels are a means to transmit more than one independent program at the same time from the same digital radio or digital television station on the same radio frequency channel. This is done by using data compression techniques to reduce the size of each individual... |
Digital programming
On WAOW-DT2/WYOW-DT2 is the area's CW affiliate. Known on-air as North Central Wisconsin CW, this can also be seen on Charter channel 8 (in Wausau) and channel 5 (in Eagle River). All programming is provided through The CW PlusThe CW Plus
The CW Plus is a group of primarily digital sub-channels, analog, and non-broadcast cable television outlets for the CW Television Network, for markets below the top 99 television media markets in the United States....
. On WAOW-DT3/WYOW-DT3 is This TV
This TV
This TV is a United States general entertainment television network, with a large emphasis in its programming on movies....
which can be seen on Charter digital channel 966.
| Virtual channel Virtual channel In telecommunications, a logical channel number , also known as virtual channel, is a channel designation which differs from that of the actual radio channel on which the signal travels.... (WAOW/WYOW) |
Video | Aspect Aspect ratio The aspect ratio of a shape is the ratio of its longer dimension to its shorter dimension. It may be applied to two characteristic dimensions of a three-dimensional shape, such as the ratio of the longest and shortest axis, or for symmetrical objects that are described by just two measurements,... |
Programming |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.1/34.1 | 720p 720p 720p is the shorthand name for 1280x720, a category of High-definition television video modes having a resolution of 1080 or 720p and a progressive scan... |
16:9 16:9 16:9 is an aspect ratio with a width of 16 units and height of 9. Since 2009, it has become the most common aspect ratio for sold televisions and computer monitors and is also the international standard format of HDTV, Full HD, non-HD digital television and analog widescreen television ... |
main WAOW/WYOW programming (ABC HD) |
| 9.2/34.2 | 480i 480i 480i is the shorthand name for a video mode, namely the US NTSC television system or digital television systems with the same characteristics. The i, which is sometimes uppercase, stands for interlaced, the 480 for a vertical frame resolution of 480 lines containing picture information; while NTSC... |
4:3 | WAOW-DT2/WYOW-DT2 "North Central Wisconsin CW" (SD) |
| 9.3/34.3 | 480i | 4:3 | WAOW-DT3/WYOW-DT3 (This TV) SD |
History
Shockley Communications Corporation
Shockley Communications Corporation is a media outlet that held several television stations in Wisconsin underneath its ownership. The company was reportedly bought-out by Quincy Newspapers in June 2001....
. It served as a satellite station of Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
's WKOW as part of the Wisconsin Television Network which would later include WXOW in La Crosse
La Crosse, Wisconsin
La Crosse is a city in and the county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. The city lies alongside the Mississippi River.The 2011 Census Bureau estimates the city had a population of 52,485...
and WQOW in Eau Claire
Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Eau Claire is a city located in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The population was 65,883 as of the 2010 census, making it the largest municipality in the northwestern portion of the state, and the 9th largest in the state overall. It is the county seat of Eau Claire County,...
. This station gradually increased its local programming and content finally severing the electronic umbilical cord with WKOW in the 1980s.
WAOW previously aired Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
's NFL package
NFL on FOX
NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports...
from 1994 until 1999 after the National Football Conference
National Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
contract and rights for most Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
games moved from CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
(locally WSAW-TV
WSAW-TV
WSAW-TV is a CBS affiliate television station licensed to Wausau, Wisconsin and serving central and north central Wisconsin, United States...
) due to the lack of a local Fox affiliate. When Wittenberg
Wittenberg, Wisconsin
Wittenberg is a village in Shawano County, Wisconsin, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,177 at the 2000 census. The village is located within the Town of Wittenberg.-Geography:Wittenberg is located at ....
-licensed WFXS-DT
WFXS-DT
WFXS-DT is the Fox-affiliated television station for North-Central Wisconsin's Northern Highland licensed to Wittenberg. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 31 from a transmitter northeast of Wausau in unincorporated Marathon County. The station can also be seen on...
came on-the-air in December 1999, it became the area's Fox affiliate.
WYOW's first broadcast to viewers in Northern Wisconsin and the Western Upper Peninsula
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the northern of the two major land masses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan. It is commonly referred to as the Upper Peninsula, the U.P., or Upper Michigan. It is also known as the land "above the Bridge" linking the two peninsulas. The peninsula is bounded...
of Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
was on January 4, 1997 under the ownership of Northwoods Educational Television. Shockley operated the station through a local marketing agreement
Local marketing agreement
In U.S. and Canadian broadcasting, a local marketing agreement is an agreement in which one company agrees to operate a radio or television station owned by another licensee...
(LMA) until Shockley successfully purchased it outright in December 1998. WYOW airs WAOW's entire schedule beyond differing promos identifying the station under the "Northwoods 34" branding. On June 25, 2002, WAOW became the first commercial television station in the market
Media market
A media market, broadcast market, media region, designated market area , Television Market Area , or simply market is a region where the population can receive the same television and radio station offerings, and may also include other types of media including newspapers and Internet content...
to broadcast in high definition and was joined by WYOW on October 24. WAOW/WYOW converted fully to digital on February 17, 2009 without a nightlight period for WAOW while WYOW converted after a nightlight period.
The two stations carried the Retro Television Network
Retro Television Network
The Retro Television Network is a system of television stations that airs classic television shows as well as more recently produced programs...
(RTV) on a third digital subchannel
Digital subchannel
In broadcasting, digital subchannels are a means to transmit more than one independent program at the same time from the same digital radio or digital television station on the same radio frequency channel. This is done by using data compression techniques to reduce the size of each individual...
until March 2009. In the beginning of that month, it was replaced with This TV. In February and March, WAOW aired WFXS's digital signal temporarily on DT3 while that station ironed out problems with activation of its digital transmitter. In early-September 2009, WFXS added RTV to its third digital subchannel. In mid-February 2009, Quincy announced the purchase of Crandon-based WBIJ, a FamilyNet
FamilyNet
FamilyNet is a broadcast television network owned by ComStar Media Fund and based in Atlanta, Georgia. The network was founded in 1979 as the National Christian Network, and took the name FamilyNet in 1988 under the ownership of Jerry Falwell. The channel was acquired by InTouch Ministries in...
affiliate, which was sold to Quincy by the widow of the station's founder.
Plans called for the conversion of the station to a second satellite of WAOW to serve the northeastern portion of the market near the Michigan border after completing the station's digital VHF channel 12 transmitter facilities. Quincy has since renamed the station WMOW to conform with the call letters of WAOW and the remainder of Quincy's network of ABC affiliates throughout the state which all carry a "OW" suffix. Quincy put the WMOW on-the-air June 4, 2010. Despite being a WAOW satellite, it carries "North Central Wisconsin CW" on its primary channel and WAOW's ABC HD programming on a second subchannel. This TV is seen on WMOW-DT3.
On June 19, 2011, WAOW began broadcasting its newscasts in high definition. WAOW also redesigned its set and changed its graphics as part of the HD transition.
Newscasts
In 2000, WAOW and WFXS entered into a new share agreement. This resulted in a half-hour prime time newscast on weeknights known as Fox 55 News at 9. Like all CW Plus stations in the Central Time ZoneCentral Time zone
In North America, the Central Time Zone refers to national time zones which observe standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC , and daylight saving, or summer time by subtracting five hours...
, WAOW-DT2/WYOW-DT2 airs the nationally syndicated morning show The Daily Buzz
The Daily Buzz
The Daily Buzz is a nationally syndicated breakfast television news and infotainment program. The show is produced by Fisher Communications and is owned and distributed by ACME Communications; it is broadcast every weekday morning from studios at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida...
on weekdays from 5 until 8. Unlike most ABC affiliates, WAOW does not air midday news during the week. All news anchors also serve as reporters.
Current on-air staff
Anchors- Melissa Langbehn - weeknights at 5 and 6
- Bryon Graff - weeknights at 6
- Daniel Woodruff - weeknights at 9 and 10
- Alex Haight - weekday mornings
- Cami Mountain - weekday mornings
- Nate Barrett - Saturdays and weekday multimedia journalist
- Bonnie Shelton - Sundays and weekday multimedia journalist
StormTrak 9 Weather Team
- Tony Schumacher (AMSAmerican Meteorological SocietyThe American Meteorological Society promotes the development and dissemination of information and education on the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences and the advancement of their professional applications. Founded in 1919, the American Meteorological Society has a membership...
Seal of Approval) - weeknights - Justin Loew - weekday mornings
- Rob Duns - weekends
Sports
- Jayson Geiser - DirectorSports DirectorA sports director is an individual at a television or radio station who is in charge of the sports department. In local news, the sports director is typically the station's primary sportscaster, and often anchors the primetime newscasts on weekdays. They are in charge of sports programming and...
seen weeknights at 6, 9, and 10, and Pack Attack host - Sean Giggy - weekends and sports reporter
Multimedia journalists
- Courtney Fasano
- Travis Jensen - photojournalist
- Emily Neubauer - multimedia journalist and producer
- Anna Carrera
- Kevin Lu - news and sports multimedia journalist