WQRF-TV
WQRF-TV is a Fox-affiliated television station serving Rockford, Illinois, and surrounding communities.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
WQRF-TV is a full-power television station licensed to Rockford, Illinois, and affiliated with the Fox network. Broadcasting on virtual channel 39, it serves the Rockford television market and reaches viewers in parts of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. The station is owned by Nexstar Media Group and operates in close partnership with WTVO, Rockford's ABC and MyNetworkTV affiliate. Although WQRF and WTVO are separately licensed stations, they share facilities and receive operational services through agreements involving Nexstar and Mission Broadcasting. WQRF began broadcasting on November 27, 1978, as Rockford's fourth full-power television outlet. Its original owner was local entrepreneur Marvin Palmquist, whose businesses included a hearing-aid company that served as the station's initial licensee. The station initially operated as an independent broadcaster from downtown Rockford and presented itself as a family-oriented alternative to the market's established major-network stations. Its early programming combined syndicated entertainment with sports and religious programming. The station's first broadcast was an episode of Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.; its schedule also included classic sitcoms, syndicated game shows, entertainment programs, and nationally distributed religious shows. Sports were an important part of WQRF's early identity. As Rockford's only independent station, it carried selected games involving the Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bears preseason football, and Big Ten college sports. These broadcasts helped distinguish the station from the area's network affiliates and provided locally relevant programming at a time when cable systems also imported signals from Chicago, Madison, and Milwaukee. Ownership changed several times during the station's first two decades. Palmquist sold WQRF to Orion Broadcasting in 1984. Orion later sold it to Family Group Broadcasting in 1986, placing it within a group of stations that shared ownership and presentation elements. Family Group subsequently sold WQRF to Petracom Broadcasting, which later transferred the station to Quorum Broadcasting in 1998. Nexstar became involved when it acquired Quorum Broadcasting in 2003. WQRF joined Fox in August 1989. The affiliation gave Rockford a local over-the-air Fox outlet after viewers had previously relied on out-of-market Fox stations carried by cable systems. The station's Fox affiliation became increasingly valuable as Fox expanded its prime-time schedule and obtained additional sports rights, including Big Ten programming. Within several years of joining the network, WQRF had become one of Fox's stronger-performing affiliates according to the station's historical account. The station's local news presence is produced in partnership with WTVO. In March 2006, WTVO launched Fox 39 News at 9, giving WQRF Rockford's first over-the-air 9 p.m. newscast. The program was initially broadcast on weeknights and later expanded to seven nights, with the weekday edition eventually lengthened to one hour. A 6:30 p.m. newscast was introduced in January 2008, although it was later discontinued. In March 2012, WTVO added a weekday morning extension for WQRF, Fox 39 News in the Morning, airing from 7 to 9 a.m. The stations introduced a shared set, graphics package, and music in December 2012, and WQRF began presenting local news in high definition in April 2013. WQRF's facilities are located with WTVO on North Meridian Road in Rockford, where the stations' studios and WQRF's transmitter are based. Mission Broadcasting acquired WTVO from Young Broadcasting in 2004 and entered into a shared-services arrangement with WQRF. Under that structure, WQRF moved into WTVO's facility, while Nexstar supplies certain services to the paired stations. WQRF remains the technically senior station in the arrangement. The station completed the federally mandated transition from analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009, retaining virtual channel 39 while using UHF channel 42 for its post-transition digital signal.
History
WQRF-TV signed on November 27, 1978, as Rockford, Illinois's fourth full-power television station. The station was founded by local entrepreneur Marvin Palmquist and initially operated from studios on Kishwaukee Street in downtown Rockford. Its original licensee was associated with Palmquist's hearing-aid business. WQRF used the former channel 39 allocation that WTVO had occupied before moving to channel 17 in 1967. The station began as an independent broadcaster and marketed itself as a family-oriented alternative to Rockford's established network affiliates. Its early schedule combined classic sitcoms such as Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C., I Love Lucy, The Bob Newhart Show, The Jeffersons, and The Dick Van Dyke Show with syndicated entertainment, game shows, religious programs, and live sports. WQRF's first broadcast was an episode of Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Sports were particularly important because the station was the market's only independent outlet. Its schedule included selected Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bears preseason, and Big Ten events. Palmquist sold WQRF to Orion Broadcasting in 1984. Orion sold the station to Family Group Broadcasting in May 1986. During the Family Group period, WQRF shared ownership and some visual presentation characteristics with several other stations in the company's portfolio. The station later moved its operations to a building on South Main Street, also identified with Illinois Route 2. WQRF joined Fox in August 1989. Before that affiliation, cable viewers in the area could receive Fox programming from stations serving Chicago, Madison, or Milwaukee. The local Fox affiliation gave WQRF a stronger network identity and became more significant as Fox expanded its prime-time schedule and acquired additional sports rights. The station's historical account states that it became one of Fox's highest-rated affiliates within four years of joining the network. Family Group later sold WQRF to Petracom Broadcasting. Petracom sold the station to Quorum Broadcasting in 1998. In late 2003, Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired Quorum, bringing WQRF into the Nexstar portfolio. A further structural change occurred in 2004, when Mission Broadcasting purchased WTVO from Young Broadcasting for $21 million and established a shared-services arrangement involving WQRF. WQRF moved into WTVO's studios on North Meridian Road, while Nexstar provided specified services to the paired stations. WQRF remained the technically senior station in the arrangement. The partnership with WTVO also shaped WQRF's news operation. In March 2006, WTVO began producing Fox 39 News at 9 for WQRF. The program initially aired on weeknights and later expanded to seven nights, with the weekday edition eventually becoming a full hour. In January 2008, WTVO added Fox 39 Evening News at 6:30. That program was subsequently dropped, although the prime-time newscast continued. On March 5, 2012, the stations launched Fox 39 News in the Morning, a two-hour weekday extension airing from 7 to 9 a.m. In December 2012, WQRF and WTVO introduced a new shared set, news music package, and graphics scheme reflecting branding used by other Nexstar and Mission stations. WQRF began broadcasting local news in high definition on April 24, 2013. The station completed its analog-to-digital transition on February 17, 2009, shutting down its analog UHF channel 39 signal while retaining virtual channel 39 on digital UHF channel 42. WQRF continues to operate as a Fox affiliate serving Rockford and its surrounding region.
- 2013
Local news moves to high definition
[1]WQRF begins broadcasting locally produced news content in high definition.
- 2012
Morning news extension launches
[1]Fox 39 News in the Morning begins airing on weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends
[1]WQRF ends analog broadcasting and continues digitally using virtual channel 39 and physical UHF channel 42.
- 2006
Prime-time newscast launches
[1]Fox 39 News at 9 begins as a WTVO-produced local newscast for WQRF.
- 2004
WTVO shared-services arrangement
[1]Mission Broadcasting acquires WTVO and establishes a shared-services relationship involving WQRF.
- 2003
Nexstar acquires Quorum
[1]Nexstar brings WQRF into its station group through the acquisition of Quorum Broadcasting.
- 1998
Sale to Quorum Broadcasting
[1]Petracom Broadcasting sells WQRF to Quorum Broadcasting.
- 1989
Fox affiliation begins
[1]WQRF joins the Fox network in August.
- 1986
Sale to Family Group Broadcasting
[1]Orion sells WQRF to Family Group Broadcasting.
- 1984
Sale to Orion Broadcasting
[1]Founder Marvin Palmquist sells the station to Orion Broadcasting.
Products and positioning
A local Fox affiliate combining network entertainment and sports with locally produced news, weather, and community information for viewers in the Rockford market.
Network television · 1989
Fox network programming
WQRF's principal broadcast offering is Fox network programming, including prime-time entertainment, news-related programming, and sports distributed by Fox. The affiliation began in August 1989 and replaced the station's earlier independent programming model with a network-centered schedule supplemented by local and syndicated content.
Local television news · 2006
Fox 39 News
Fox 39 News is WQRF's local news identity, produced in partnership with WTVO. Its principal program, Fox 39 News at 9, began in 2006 and developed from a weeknight broadcast into a broader prime-time news service. The operation covers local news, weather, and sports for the Rockford market and uses shared personnel and facilities with WTVO.
Morning television news · 2012
Fox 39 News in the Morning
Fox 39 News in the Morning is a weekday morning-news extension designed to provide local news, weather, traffic, and regional information before the main daytime schedule. The two-hour program launched in 2012 and airs from 7 to 9 a.m., offering an alternative to national morning programs available on competing stations.
Television programming · 1978
Syndicated and acquired programming
Before and alongside its Fox affiliation, WQRF has carried syndicated entertainment, classic television series, game shows, religious programs, and other acquired content. Historical examples include classic sitcoms, Entertainment Tonight, Family Feud, The PTL Club, and The 700 Club. The exact current schedule is not specified in the reference material.
Brand decisions
2013
Begin high-definition local newsGeneration changeBackground
WQRF and WTVO had previously used standard-definition local news production.
Action taken
WQRF began broadcasting local news content in high definition on April 24.
Aftermath
The station's local news presentation was brought into the high-definition era after a new shared set and graphics package had been introduced.
2012
Launch Fox 39 News in the MorningProduct launchBackground
The station sought to broaden its local-news schedule and offer viewers a local alternative during the early morning period.
Action taken
WTVO launched a two-hour weekday morning-news extension on WQRF.
Aftermath
WQRF expanded its local news presence to the 7-to-9 a.m. time period.
2006
Launch Fox 39 News at 9Product launchBackground
WQRF lacked a locally produced over-the-air prime-time newscast.
Action taken
WTVO began producing Fox 39 News at 9 for WQRF in March.
Aftermath
The program established WQRF as a local news outlet at 9 p.m. and was later expanded beyond its initial weeknight schedule.
2004
Move into WTVO facilities under shared servicesStrategyBackground
Mission Broadcasting acquired WTVO and arranged for operational cooperation with WQRF, whose owner was Nexstar.
Action taken
WQRF moved its operations into WTVO's North Meridian Road studios, with services provided through a shared-services structure.
Aftermath
The arrangement integrated much of the stations' production and news infrastructure while leaving WQRF as the technically senior station.
WTVO acquisition price. $21 million (2004 acquisition)
1989
Join the Fox networkStrategyBackground
WQRF had operated as an independent station while Fox programming in the broader region was available mainly through cable carriage of out-of-market stations.
Action taken
The station affiliated with Fox in August 1989, making it the local over-the-air outlet for the network in the Rockford market.
Aftermath
The affiliation strengthened WQRF's network identity and became more valuable as Fox expanded its prime-time schedule and sports portfolio.
Sources2 sources
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