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{{Short description|Television station in Eau Claire, Wisconsin}}
{{Update|date=October 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = WQOW
| above = {{nowrap|[[Semi-satellite]] of [[WXOW]], [[La Crosse, Wisconsin]]}}
| logo = WQOW Logo.png
| logo_size = 150px
| branding = WQOW 18; ''18 News''
| digital = 25 ([[UHF]])
| virtual = 18
| subchannels = 
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''18.1:''' [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| airdate = {{start date and age|1980|9|22|p=y}}
| location = [[Eau Claire, Wisconsin]]
| country = United States
| callsign_meaning = sister to [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]]'s WKOW
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 18 (UHF, 1980–2009)|'''Digital:''' 15 (UHF, 2009–2018)}}
| owner = [[Allen Media Group]]
| licensee = La Crosse TV License Company, [[LLC]]
| sister_stations = {{ubl|WXOW, [[WAOW]]/[[WMOW]], [[WKOW]], [[WREX]], [[KIMT]]|'''Cable:''' [[Bally Sports Wisconsin]], [[Bally Sports North]]}}
| former_affiliations = [[The CW]] (18.2, 2006−2021)
| erp = 253 [[kW]]
| haat = {{convert|280|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| class = 
| facility_id = 64550
| coordinates = {{coord|44|48|0|N|91|27|57|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|display=inline, title}}
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.wqow.com/}}
}}
'''WQOW''' (channel 18) is a [[television station]] licensed to [[Eau Claire, Wisconsin]], in the United States. It serves the [[Chippewa Valley]] as an affiliate of the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] network and is owned by [[Allen Media Group]]. The station's studios are located on [[WIS 93|Friedeck Road]] in Eau Claire, while its transmitter is located at the [[WEAU]] facilities in nearby [[Altoona, Wisconsin]].

Although identifying as a separate station in its own right, WQOW is considered a [[semi-satellite]] of [[WXOW]].{{by whom|date=October 2025}} It carries most of WXOW's [[syndicated programming]] but airs its own commercials, [[station identification|identifications]], local newscasts, [[severe weather]] cut-ins, and Sunday religious programs. The station also maintains an independent web and [[social media]] presence.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://wxow.titantv.com/ |title=Program Information for WXOW at TitanTV.com |access-date=September 8, 2018 |archive-date=March 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304030932/http://wxow.titantv.com/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>[https://wqow.titantv.com/ Program Information for WQOW at TitanTV.com]{{Dead link|date=April 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> WQOW serves the [[Eau Claire–Chippewa Falls metropolitan area|northern portion]] of the La Crosse and Eau Claire media market, while WXOW covers the [[La Crosse–Onalaska|southern area]]. Although WQOW maintains its own facilities, some functions such as [[master control]] and other [[Broadcast engineering|technical]] operations are handled by WXOW's studio near [[La Crescent, Minnesota]]. The two stations are reported as one for [[Nielsen ratings|ratings]] purposes.{{cn|date=October 2025}} As of October 2025, [[DirecTV]], [[Dish Network]], and most [[vMVPD]] providers carry both WXOW and WQOW.

==History==
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 [[media market|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 television|cable]].

Its original studios were on [[U.S. Route 53#Wisconsin|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, the station moved in January 2001, six months before it was acquired by [[Quincy Media]] (then known as Quincy Newspapers).<ref name="Lead000617">{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Lead010127">{{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/]|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}}</ref>

WQOW/WXOW began operating a [[The WB 100+ Station Group|cable-only]] affiliate of [[The WB]], known as "WBCZ", in 1998.<ref name="LaCr980923">{{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}}</ref> It would be replaced with new second [[digital subchannel]]s (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 Spectrum|Charter]] [[digital cable|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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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 to provide space to broadcast WEAU temporarily on its subchannel until a new tower was erected.<ref>{{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 }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{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}}</ref> 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.<ref name="graybuysquincy">{{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}}</ref> On April 29, Gray announced that WQOW and WXOW would be divested to Allen Media Broadcasting.<ref name=Allen>[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</ref> The sale was completed on August 1; on that day, WEAU assumed the CW and MeTV affiliations from WQOW/WXOW.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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 }}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

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).<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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}}</ref>

==Programming==
WQOW is a part of the [[Green Bay Packers]] and [[Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association|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.

===Newscasts===
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 on WXOW's regional news, seen in both cities.<ref name="Lead800916">{{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}}</ref>

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 forecasting|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.<ref name="Wisc900324">{{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}}</ref>

It would not be until October 14, 1996, after the Shockley purchase, that WQOW would relaunch its own local news operation for a second time.<ref name="Lead960621">{{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}}</ref><ref name="Lead961015">{{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}}</ref> 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, WQOW (and WXOW) became the second television stations in the market to perform an upgrade to high definition newscast production. Included in the change was a new studio and updated graphics package.

==Subchannels==
The station's signal is [[multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of WQOW<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WQOW#station|title=RabbitEars TV Query for WQOW|website=[[RabbitEars]]|accessdate=July 6, 2025}}</ref>
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Programming
|-
! scope = "row" | 18.1 
| rowspan=1| [[720p]] || rowspan=5|[[16:9]] || WQOWABC || [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 18.2 
| rowspan = 2 | [[480i]] || Catchy || [[Catchy Comedy]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 18.3 
|| MeTOONS || [[MeTV Toons]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 18.4 
| 720p || CourtTV || [[Court TV]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 18.5 
| 480i || Crime || [[True Crime Network]]
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.wqow.com/ WQOW]
*[https://m.wqow.com/ WQOW mobile]

{{Eau Claire TV}}
{{Wisconsin TV}}
{{Minnesota TV}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wqow}}
[[Category:1980 establishments in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Allen Media Group]]
[[Category:American Broadcasting Company affiliates]]
[[Category:Catchy Comedy affiliates]]
[[Category:Court TV affiliates]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1980]]
[[Category:Television stations in Wisconsin|QOW]]
[[Category:True Crime Network affiliates]]