WGEM-DT3

WGEM-DT3 is a digital television subchannel associated with WGEM-TV, channel 10 in Quincy, Illinois. Branded on air as WGEM Fox, it carries programming from the Fox network for the Quincy, Illinois–Hannibal, Missouri–Keokuk, Iowa designated market area. The service broadcasts in 720p high definition on virtual channel 10.3 and operates as a local subchannel rather than as a separately licensed full-power television station. The service originated in 1994, when WGEM placed Fox programming on a cable-only outlet operated through Continental Cablevision. The market did not have a local over-the-air Fox affiliate, and WGEM had previously carried selected Fox programming as a secondary affiliation on its analog main signal from 1990 to 1994. The cable service was initially identified with the fictional call sign CGEM, derived from Continental and WGEM. It was notable as a local cable-based Fox outlet that operated outside the Foxnet system, which distributed Fox programming to markets without a conventional affiliate. WGEM-DT3 moved to the digital subchannel platform of WGEM-TV in 2006. This transition made the Fox service available over the air as well as through cable distribution and allowed it to use the official WGEM-DT3 call sign. The CGEM branding continued for a period after the digital launch and was subsequently replaced by the WGEM Fox identity in 2010. The subchannel became one of the earlier examples of a major-network television station operating a cable-originated affiliate of another major network, a model later seen in broader forms with services such as The WB 100+. WGEM-DT3 has remained the principal local Fox outlet in its coverage area. Cable systems in portions of the market may also carry stations from neighboring markets, including KTVI from St. Louis, but WGEM-DT3 provides the market's locally integrated Fox service. Its programming role is primarily network distribution, with local news and public-affairs content supplied through WGEM-TV's broader news operation rather than through a large independent newsroom dedicated solely to the subchannel. WGEM-TV was founded and historically owned by Quincy Media, the company associated with the Quincy Herald-Whig newspaper. Gray Television announced an agreement in February 2021 to acquire most of Quincy Media's television properties for $925 million in cash, and the transaction closed on August 2, 2021. That deal ended the station group's ownership continuity with Quincy Media dating to WGEM-TV's 1953 launch and placed WGEM-DT3 within Gray Media's television portfolio. The subchannel continues to be identified with WGEM and Fox, although detailed standalone corporate, financial, and executive information for WGEM-DT3 is not generally disclosed separately from WGEM-TV.

WGEM-DT3 developed from WGEM's effort to provide Fox programming to a television market that lacked a local over-the-air Fox station. From 1990 through 1994, Fox programs were carried during off-hours on WGEM-TV's analog signal, whose primary affiliation was NBC. In 1994, WGEM created a separate cable-only service through Continental Cablevision. The outlet used the fictional call letters CGEM, combining the cable operator's initial with the WGEM name. It was unusual because it was a local Fox-affiliated cable channel that did not operate as part of Foxnet, the network's national cable distribution service for markets without standard affiliates. The cable service filled a local programming and distribution gap for viewers in and around Quincy, Illinois, while WGEM-TV continued to operate as the market's principal NBC station. Its existence also represented an early form of network multiplexing: one television organization supplied programming for more than one major network through separate outlets. The arrangement anticipated later cable-based affiliate systems such as The WB 100+ Station Group, which launched in 1998 for markets without conventional WB affiliates. In 2006, the Fox service was transferred to WGEM-TV's third digital subchannel. The move expanded its distribution from cable-only carriage to an over-the-air digital signal and made the official WGEM-DT3 designation applicable. The station retained the CGEM presentation for a time, but adopted the WGEM Fox branding in 2010. It broadcasts Fox programming in 720p high definition on virtual channel 10.3. The subchannel remains the primary local Fox outlet for the Quincy–Hannibal–Keokuk market, although some cable systems in the wider area can also carry an out-of-market Fox station such as KTVI in St. Louis. WGEM-DT3's local programming has generally been integrated with WGEM-TV rather than produced through a fully separate news department. WGEM-TV once produced a weekday 9 p.m. newscast for the cable-only Fox outlet. The program, titled CGEM News at 9, launched in April 2006 and was canceled in March 2007. It was anchored by Jake Miller, with Rich Cain serving as chief meteorologist and Ben Marth as sports director. The broader WGEM operation also produces local public-affairs and community programming that can be distributed across its subchannels. The subchannel's corporate history follows that of WGEM-TV. Quincy Broadcasting Company, a subsidiary of the Herald-Whig newspaper, launched WGEM-TV in 1953, and Quincy Media retained the television property for decades. Gray Television announced in February 2021 that it would acquire most of Quincy Media's television stations in a transaction valued at $925 million in cash. Completion on August 2, 2021, ended WGEM-TV's ownership by Quincy Media and placed WGEM-DT3 under Gray Media. Available reference material does not provide separate financial statements, standalone executive appointments, or a distinct corporate entity for WGEM-DT3.

• 2021

  Ownership transfers to Gray Media

  [1]WGEM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Gray Television completes its acquisition of most Quincy Media television properties, including WGEM-TV and WGEM-DT3.

• 2010

  WGEM Fox branding adopted

  [1]WGEM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The subchannel moves away from the CGEM presentation and uses the WGEM Fox brand.

• 2007

  CGEM News at 9 is canceled

  [1]WGEM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The Fox outlet's weekday 9 p.m. newscast ends after approximately one year.

• 2006

  Fox service becomes WGEM-TV's third digital subchannel

  [1]WGEM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The cable-originated Fox outlet begins broadcasting over the air on WGEM-TV's third digital subchannel and adopts the official WGEM-DT3 call sign.

• 2006

  CGEM News at 9 debuts

  [1]WGEM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WGEM launches a weekday 9 p.m. local newscast for its Fox service.

• 1994

  Cable-only Fox service launches

  [1]WGEM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WGEM establishes the predecessor to WGEM-DT3 through Continental Cablevision under the fictional CGEM identity.

• 1990

  WGEM begins carrying Fox programming secondarily

  [1]WGEM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Fox programming is carried during off-hours on WGEM-TV's analog signal before the market receives a separate cable-based Fox outlet.

Local Fox network affiliate and digital broadcast subchannel serving the Quincy, Illinois–Hannibal, Missouri–Keokuk, Iowa television market.

• Fox-affiliated digital television subchannel · 1994

  WGEM Fox

  WGEM Fox is the consumer-facing identity of WGEM-DT3, the third digital subchannel of WGEM-TV. It distributes Fox network programming to the Quincy, Illinois–Hannibal, Missouri–Keokuk, Iowa market and broadcasts in 720p high definition on virtual channel 10.3. The service originated as a cable-only outlet in 1994 and moved to digital terrestrial broadcasting in 2006.

• Former cable-only television identity · 1994

  CGEM

  CGEM was the fictional call-sign branding used by WGEM's original cable-only Fox service. The name reflected Continental Cablevision and WGEM. Although the service later became WGEM-DT3 and eventually adopted the WGEM Fox presentation, the CGEM identity remained in use for several years after the digital transition.

• Local television newscast · 2006

  CGEM News at 9

  CGEM News at 9 was a weekday 9 p.m. newscast produced for the cable-only Fox outlet. It premiered in April 2006, shortly before or around the service's transition to WGEM-TV's digital subchannel platform, and was canceled in March 2007. The program used WGEM personnel, including anchor Jake Miller, chief meteorologist Rich Cain, and sports director Ben Marth.

• 2021

  Transfer from Quincy Media to Gray MediaM&A

  Background

  Quincy Media agreed to sell most of its television properties after decades of ownership of WGEM-TV and its associated subchannels.

  Action taken

  Gray Television agreed to acquire the properties for $925 million in cash and completed the transaction on August 2, 2021.

  Aftermath

  WGEM-DT3 became part of Gray Media's television group, ending the station's ownership continuity with Quincy Media.

  Cash transaction value. $925 million (Announced February 1, 2021; completed August 2, 2021)

  Source

• 2010

  Replace CGEM branding with WGEM FoxStrategy

  Background

  The digital Fox outlet had retained the CGEM presentation after moving from cable-only distribution to WGEM-TV's digital platform.

  Action taken

  The station adopted WGEM Fox as its on-air brand.

  Aftermath

  The subchannel became more visibly integrated with the WGEM station brand while continuing its Fox affiliation.

  Source

• 2006

  Move Fox programming to digital subchannel 10.3Other

  Background

  The original Fox service was cable-only, limiting its distribution and preventing use of an official broadcast call sign.

  Action taken

  WGEM began carrying the Fox service on WGEM-TV's third digital subchannel, later designated WGEM-DT3.

  Aftermath

  The service gained over-the-air availability and continued as the local Fox affiliate under the WGEM Fox brand.

  Source

• 1994

  Create a cable-only local Fox outletStrategy

  Background

  The Quincy market lacked a local over-the-air Fox affiliate, while WGEM had previously carried Fox programs only during off-hours on its analog signal.

  Action taken

  WGEM established a separate Fox-affiliated cable service through Continental Cablevision using the CGEM identity.

  Aftermath

  The service became the market's locally associated Fox outlet and later formed the basis of WGEM-DT3.

  Source

1. 1WGEM-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WGEM Foxwgem.com