WXOW-TV

WXOW is the ABC-affiliated television station for La Crosse, Wisconsin. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 48 from a transmitter at its studios on County Highway 25 in La Crescent, Minnesota. Syndicated programming on the station includes: The Doctors and Rachael Ray. WQOW in Eau Claire is asemi-satellite of WXOW. It clears all of this channel's syndicated programming but airs separate newscasts, station identifications, and commercials. WXOW serves the southern half of themarket while WQOW serves the northern. The two stations are counted as a single unit for ratings purposes. DirecTV carries WXOW but not WQOW. As of September 2010 Dish Network offers both WXOW and WQOW to its customers in the La Crosse/Eau Claire Area.

Digital programming
On WXOW-DT2 (CenturyLink channel 5, and Charter and Mediacom channel 15) is the area'sCW affiliate. On WXOW-DT3 as well as Charter and Mediacom digital channel 968 is This TV; it is not offered on CenturyLink's digital systems.

History
WXOW signed on-the-air March 7, 1970 as a semi-satellite of WKOW-TV in Madison. However, unlike the other stations in the La Crosse/Eau Claire market, it was unable to provide a decent signal to Eau Claire due to its transmitter being in Minnesota. In 1980, WXOW severed the electronic umbilical cord with WKOW and signed-on WQOW as a semi-satellite to improve its coverage in the northern part of the area. In 1980-1982 and 1990-1996, WXOW's newscasts were simulcasted on WQOW. From 1982-1990, this station provided all weather segments during WQOW's newscasts as that station did not have a weather department. WXOW still provides the weekend weather segments on WQOW. WXOW and WQOW began operating the cable-only "WBCZ" affiliate of The WB in 1998.[1] This was on channel 15 on most systems in La Crosse and Eau Claire. In September 2002, WXOW became the first La Crosse area television station to broadcast in digital on UHF channel 14.[2]

WXOW and WQOW replaced "WBCZ" with new digital broadcast subchannels WXOW 19.2 and WQOW 18.2 simulcasting The CW when the new network launched in the fall of 2006. WXOW began airing solely in digital, effective February 17, 2009, with the analog WXOW transmitter operating for sixty additional days broadcasting only local news and information about the digital transition.[3] On June 11, 2009, WXOW moved from its initial digital channel assignment to channel 48 at a higher power.

WXOW and WQOW launched This TV simulcasted on new digital third digital subchannels of the stations in February/March 2010.[4] [5]

News team
Anchors


 * Amy DuPont - weekday mornings
 * Dave Solie - weeknights at 5
 * Scott Hackworth - weeknights at 6 and 10
 * Heather Armstrong - weeknights at 6 and 10
 * Dave Carlson - Northland Adventures host

thumb|link=News 19 Storm Vision Meteorologists Sports
 * Dan Breeden - Chief seen weeknights
 * Nick Grunseth (Certified Broadcast Meteorologist) - weekday mornings
 * Alex Kirchner - weekends


 * Scott Emerich - Director seen weeknights at 6 and 10
 * Kenyon Kemnitz - Weekend Sports Anchor/Sports Reporter

Reporters


 * Lindsey Hayes - multimedia journalist
 * Bob Schaper - Capitol Bureau Chief
 * Stacy Brogan - multimedia journalist
 * Brady Headington - photographer
 * Gabe Erickson - multimedia journalist
 * Dustin Luecke - multimedia journalist

Former on-air staff

 * Michael Castner
 * Ron Davis
 * Bill Hoel
 * Dick Hofmann
 * Jeff Lenzen
 * Chuck Nagel
 * Anne Paape
 * Mark Schanowski
 * Chris Stauffer
 * Mike Strehlow
 * Andrew Thut
 * Beth Zurbuchen
 * Jordann Ojanpa

Newscast titles

 * The Wisconsin Report (1970–?)
 * NewSource 19 (1982–1990s)
 * News 19 (199?–present)

Station slogans

 * Where News Comes First (1990s–?)
 * Your Hometown Team (?–?)
 * La Crosse's Own (?–present)