View source for WXOW

{{Short description|Television station in La Crosse, Wisconsin}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = WXOW
| logo = WXOW19.png
| logo_size = 150px
| image = News 19 WXOW.jpg
| location = [[La Crosse, Wisconsin]]
| country = United States
| branding = WXOW 19; ''19 News''
| digital = 28 ([[UHF]])
| virtual = 19
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''19.1:''' [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| owner = [[Allen Media Group]]
| licensee = La Crosse TV License Company, [[LLC]]
| airdate = {{start date and age|1970|3|7|p=y}}
| callsign_meaning = "X" for La Crosse, and sister to [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]]'s WKOW
| sister_stations = {{ubl|WQOW, [[WAOW]]/[[WMOW]], [[WKOW]], [[WREX]], [[KIMT]]|'''Cable:''' [[FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin]], [[FanDuel Sports Network North]]}}
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 19 (UHF, 1970–2009)|'''Digital:''' 14 (UHF, 2002–2009), 48 (UHF, 2009–2018)}}
| former_affiliations = [[The CW]] (19.2, 2006−2021)
| erp = 251 [[kW]]
| haat = {{convert|348|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| class = 
| facility_id = 64549
| coordinates = {{coord|43|48|23|N|91|22|3|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|display=inline, title}}
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.wxow.com/}}
}}
'''WXOW''' (channel 19) is a [[television station]] in [[La Crosse, Wisconsin]], United States, affiliated with [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] and owned by [[Allen Media Group]]. The station's studios and transmitter are located on [[Houston County, Minnesota|County Highway 25]] in [[La Crescent, Minnesota]].

[[WQOW]] (channel 18) in [[Eau Claire, Wisconsin|Eau Claire]] operates as a [[semi-satellite]] of WXOW, extending the ABC signal into the [[Chippewa Valley]] of Wisconsin. As such, it [[simulcast]]s most network and [[broadcast syndication|syndicated]] programming as provided through WXOW but airs separate commercial inserts, [[station identification|legal identifications]], local newscasts, [[severe weather]] cut-ins, and Sunday morning [[religious broadcasting|religious programs]], and has its own website.<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=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> WXOW serves the southern half of the La Crosse–Eau Claire [[media market|market]] while WQOW serves the northern portion. The two stations are counted as a single unit for [[Nielsen ratings|ratings]] purposes. Although WQOW maintains its own studios on Friedeck Road in Eau Claire, [[master control]] and some internal operations are based at WXOW's facilities. [[DirecTV]] and [[Dish Network]] as well as most [[vMVPD]]s offer both WXOW and WQOW as of October 2025.

==History==
WXOW signed on on March 7, 1970, as a semi-satellite of [[WKOW-TV]] in [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]], which was owned by Horizon Communications at the time. Before then, ABC programming in the market was relegated to off-hours clearances on [[CBS]] affiliate [[WKBT]] (channel 8) and [[NBC]] affiliate [[WEAU]] (channel 13). Depending on the location, Western Wisconsin viewers could get the full ABC schedule on [[KMSP-TV]] (now a [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] O&O) from the [[Twin Cities]], KAUS-TV (now [[KAAL]]) in [[Austin, Minnesota]], or WKOW.

For its first decade on the air, WXOW's UHF signal was marginal at best in Eau Claire, primarily because its transmitter was located in Minnesota. As a result, [[Chippewa Valley]] viewers only got a decent signal from the station when cable arrived in the market in the mid-1970s. In order to solve this reception problem, WXOW severed the electronic umbilical cord with WKOW and signed on WQOW as a full-time satellite on September 22, 1980, two years after the station was sold to Liberty Television. Tak Communications purchased Liberty Television's Wisconsin-based stations in 1985. In 1991, Tak filed for [[Chapter 11 bankruptcy]]; it would be taken over by a group of creditors less than three years later. This resulted in the sale of Tak's Wisconsin stations to [[Shockley Communications]] in 1995.

WXOW and WQOW began operating a [[The WB 100+ Station Group|cable-only]] affiliate of [[The WB]] in 1998 known as "WBCZ".<ref>[http://www.chippewa.com/articles/2006/01/26/news/news4.txt Chippewa.com]</ref> This was seen through a simulcast on channel 15 on most [[cable systems]] in La Crosse and Eau Claire. In June 2001, [[Quincy Newspapers]] (later Quincy Media) announced that it would acquire Shockley Communications. In September 2002, WXOW became the first La Crosse area television station to broadcast in digital on UHF channel 14.<ref>[http://www.wxow.com/Global/story.asp?S=8348459 Wxow.com]</ref> WXOW and WQOW replaced "WBCZ" with new second [[digital subchannel]]s (simulcasting [[The CW]]) when the new network launched in the fall of 2006.

After [[The CW Plus]] national feed was upgraded to [[720p]] high-definition level in fall 2012, an HD feed became available on [[Charter Spectrum|Charter]] [[digital cable|digital]] channel 610. Up until August 2018, there were two different signals from the same tower at WXOW's studios carrying The CW as a digital [[broadcast relay station#Broadcast translators|translator]] of sister station [[KTTC]] also carried a CW subchannel in high definition.

WXOW began airing solely in digital effective February 17, 2009, with the analog transmitter operating for 60 additional days broadcasting as part of a "[[Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act|nightlight]]" service with local news and information about the digital transition.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tomahjournal.com/articles/2009/02/16/news/02analog.txt |title=Tomahjournal.com |access-date=February 17, 2009 |archive-date=February 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220215013/http://www.tomahjournal.com/articles/2009/02/16/news/02analog.txt |url-status=dead }}</ref> On June 11, 2009, WXOW moved from its initial digital channel assignment to channel 48 at a higher broadcasting power. WXOW and WQOW launched [[This TV]] (simulcast on new third digital subchannels of the stations) in February–March 2010.<ref>[http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=18050794#post18050794 AVSforum.com]</ref><ref>[http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=18313717#post18313717 AVSforum.com]</ref> WXOW had a [[construction permit]] to air a digital fill-in translator covering [[Tomah, Wisconsin]]. Airing on [[UHF]] channel 28, this low-powered signal would have had a transmitter on Echo Road in western [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] [[Monroe County, Wisconsin|Monroe County]]. The permit was canceled on June 6, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 6, 2013 |title=getimportletter_exh.cgi |url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=41540 }}</ref>

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 WXOW and WQOW 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 WXOW and WQOW 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 2;<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> on that day, WEAU assumed the CW and MeTV affiliations from WXOW/WQOW.<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 WXOW/WQOW).<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==
WXOW 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 La Crosse market.

===Newscasts===
With the launch of WQOW, WXOW began to simulcast its newscasts on that station. In 1982, WQOW established a separate news operation with local newscasts focusing on Eau Claire and the surrounding areas. 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 and, as a result, WQOW once again began simulcasting WXOW's newscasts.

In October 1996, WQOW relaunched its local news operation for a second time, which remains to this day. Although this incarnation of news production includes a separate weather department from WXOW, meteorologists from that station can fill-in on WQOW. In September 2011, WXOW became the second television station in the market to perform an upgrade to high definition newscast production. Included in the change was a new studio and updated graphics package. The news department at WQOW was upgraded to HD level at the same time.

==Subchannels==
The station's signal is [[multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of WXOW<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WXOW#station|title=RabbitEars TV Query for WXOW|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" | 19.1 
| rowspan="2"|[[720p]] || rowspan="6"|[[16:9]] || WXOWABC || [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 19.2 
| Catchy || [[Catchy Comedy]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 19.3 
| [[480i]] || MeTOONS || [[MeTV Toons]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 19.4 
| 720p || CourtTV || [[Court TV]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 19.5 
| rowspan="2"|480i || Crime || [[True Crime Network]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 19.6 
| Grio || [[Traffic camera]]s
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311021718/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3652/is_199501/ai_n8725911 Madison group buys WXOW-TV] (1995)

==External links==
*[https://www.wxow.com/ WXOW]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140612102415/http://m.wxow.com/ WXOW mobile]

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wxow}}
[[Category:1970 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 1970]]
[[Category:Television stations in Wisconsin|XOW]]
[[Category:True Crime Network affiliates]]