WXOW

WXOW is a broadcast television station serving La Crosse, Wisconsin, and the southern portion of the La Crosse–Eau Claire market. Operating on virtual channel 19, the station is affiliated with ABC and is owned by Allen Media Broadcasting, part of Allen Media Group. Its studios and main transmitter are located along County Highway 25 in La Crescent, Minnesota, across the Mississippi River from La Crosse. The station’s coverage area includes communities in western Wisconsin and adjacent southeastern Minnesota. WXOW began broadcasting on March 7, 1970. Before its launch, viewers in the area generally received ABC programming only through occasional clearances on local CBS and NBC affiliates or from distant stations in Minnesota and Madison. WXOW initially operated as a semi-satellite of WKOW-TV in Madison. Its UHF signal was difficult to receive in parts of the Eau Claire region during its first decade, particularly because the transmitter was located outside Wisconsin. Cable expansion improved access, but the station ultimately developed a more durable solution by establishing WQOW in Eau Claire as a full-time satellite in 1980. WXOW and WQOW function as a linked station operation while maintaining distinct local identities. WQOW carries much of the same ABC and syndicated programming supplied by WXOW, but it also produces separate newscasts, commercial breaks, station identifications, severe-weather interruptions, and other programming for the Chippewa Valley. The stations are generally treated as a single unit for audience-measurement purposes, although WQOW has its own Eau Claire studios and website. Master control and certain other operational functions remain based at WXOW’s La Crescent facilities. Local news has been a central part of the WXOW brand. When WQOW launched, its newscasts were initially simulcast from WXOW. WQOW created a separate news operation in 1982, discontinued it in 1990 during a cost-reduction period, and restored an independent Eau Claire-focused newsroom in 1996. WXOW upgraded its news production to high definition in 2011, at the same time that WQOW upgraded its own local news output. The stations also provide weather coverage and severe-weather cut-ins tailored to their respective areas. The station has used its digital facilities to expand beyond the main ABC service. It operated a cable-only WB affiliate called WBCZ beginning in 1998, replacing that service with CW programming on digital subchannels when The CW launched in 2006. WXOW and WQOW also added This TV programming on third digital subchannels in 2010. WXOW completed the transition from analog broadcasting in 2009 and moved to a higher-power digital assignment later that year. It received a permit for a low-power translator in the Tomah area, but that authorization was canceled in 2013. WXOW also participates in regional sports programming, including the Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association networks. Its Packers relationship supports preseason-game and team-programming carriage and has allowed the station to market itself as the La Crosse area’s official Packers station. Ownership changed several times before the current Allen Media Group era. The station passed from its original Horizon Communications relationship through Liberty Television, Tak Communications, Shockley Communications, and Quincy Newspapers, later known as Quincy Media. Gray Television announced a planned acquisition of Quincy Media in 2021, but because Gray already owned WEAU in the same market, regulatory divestiture requirements led to the sale of WXOW and WQOW to Allen Media Broadcasting. That transaction closed on August 2, 2021. In June 2025, Allen Media Group said it was considering strategic options, including possible station sales, amid financial pressure and increased debt; the announcement did not itself establish a change in WXOW’s ownership or operating status.

WXOW signed on March 7, 1970, as a semi-satellite of WKOW-TV in Madison. Its launch gave the La Crosse area a full-time ABC affiliate after ABC programming had previously been carried only during selected periods by CBS affiliate WKBT and NBC affiliate WEAU, or received from stations outside the immediate market. Horizon Communications owned WKOW at the time of WXOW’s launch. The station’s early UHF signal had limited reach in the Eau Claire portion of the market because its transmitter was located in La Crescent, Minnesota. Cable television improved reception during the 1970s, but the ownership group pursued a broader solution. After WXOW was sold to Liberty Television, the station separated from WKOW’s electronic program relationship and launched WQOW in Eau Claire as a full-time satellite on September 22, 1980. WQOW extended ABC service into the Chippewa Valley while remaining operationally linked to WXOW. Tak Communications acquired Liberty’s Wisconsin stations in 1985. Tak later entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in 1991, and its Wisconsin stations were subsequently taken over by creditors. In 1995, the stations were sold to Shockley Communications. During the Shockley period, WXOW and WQOW added a cable-only WB affiliate known as WBCZ in 1998. The service was distributed on cable systems in the La Crosse and Eau Claire areas. Quincy Newspapers announced in 2001 that it would acquire Shockley Communications. The transaction brought WXOW and WQOW into the Quincy corporate group, later known as Quincy Media. WXOW began digital broadcasting in September 2002 on UHF channel 14, becoming the first La Crosse-area station to transmit digitally. The stations replaced WBCZ with CW programming on new digital subchannels after The CW launched in 2006. They later introduced This TV on additional digital subchannels in 2010. WXOW ended regular analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009. Its analog transmitter continued temporarily as a nightlight service carrying local news and digital-transition information. On June 11, 2009, the station moved its digital transmission to channel 48 and increased power. A proposed low-power translator for the Tomah area was never completed; its construction permit was canceled in 2013. The WXOW and WQOW news operations evolved alongside their technical facilities. WQOW initially simulcast WXOW news, then established a separate Eau Claire newsroom in 1982. That operation was discontinued in March 1990 as a cost-control measure, leading to another period of simulcast news. WQOW restored independent local newscasts in October 1996. In September 2011, WXOW and WQOW moved their news production to high definition, accompanied by a new WXOW studio and revised graphics. In January 2021, Gray Television announced plans to purchase Quincy Media for $925 million. Gray already owned WEAU, another station serving the market, so WXOW and WQOW were selected for divestiture. Gray announced on April 29, 2021, that Allen Media Broadcasting would acquire the two stations. The transaction closed on August 2. On the same day, WEAU took over the CW and MeTV affiliations previously associated with WXOW and WQOW. WXOW remains an ABC affiliate and continues to provide local news, weather, syndicated programming, multicast services, and regional sports coverage. Its sports relationships include the Green Bay Packers and the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association. In June 2025, Allen Media Group disclosed that it was examining strategic alternatives, including the possible sale of television stations, because of financial and debt-related pressures. No completed change in WXOW ownership was established by that announcement.

• 2025

  Owner evaluates strategic options

  [1]WXOWen.wikipedia.org

  Allen Media Group announces that it is considering strategic alternatives, potentially including television-station sales.

• 2021

  Allen Media Broadcasting completes acquisition

  [1]WXOWen.wikipedia.org

  WXOW and WQOW are divested by Gray Television and acquired by Allen Media Broadcasting.

• 2011

  Local news production upgrades to HD

  [1]WXOWen.wikipedia.org

  WXOW and WQOW upgrade their news operations to high definition; WXOW also introduces a new studio and graphics package.

• 2009

  Analog transmission ends

  [1]WXOWen.wikipedia.org

  WXOW ends regular analog broadcasting and later moves its digital service to a higher-power channel 48 assignment.

• 2006

  CW multicast service launches

  [1]WXOWen.wikipedia.org

  The former WBCZ service is replaced by CW programming on digital subchannels.

• 2002

  Digital broadcasting begins

  [1]WXOWen.wikipedia.org

  WXOW starts digital transmission on UHF channel 14.

• 1998

  WBCZ cable service begins

  [1]WXOWen.wikipedia.org

  WXOW and WQOW begin carrying a cable-only WB affiliate known as WBCZ.

• 1980

  WQOW launches in Eau Claire

  [1]WXOWen.wikipedia.org

  WQOW begins operating as a full-time satellite, extending the linked stations’ ABC service into the Chippewa Valley.

• 1970

  WXOW begins broadcasting

  [1]WXOWen.wikipedia.org

  WXOW signs on as a La Crosse-area ABC affiliate and semi-satellite of WKOW-TV in Madison.

A locally focused network-affiliated broadcast station combining ABC programming, regional news, weather, sports, and digital multicast services for western Wisconsin and nearby Minnesota communities.

• Network television · 1970

  WXOW ABC service

  The station’s primary service carries ABC network programming for La Crosse and surrounding communities, supplemented by local news, weather, syndicated programs, station promotions, and regional sports content.

• Local television news · 1970

  WXOW local news

  WXOW produces local newscasts and weather coverage focused on La Crosse and the southern part of the wider La Crosse–Eau Claire market. The operation also supplies severe-weather interruptions and supports the linked WQOW service.

• Digital multicast television · 2006

  CW digital subchannel

  WXOW replaced its former cable-only WB service with CW programming on a digital subchannel after The CW launched in 2006. The service expanded the station’s programming portfolio beyond its primary ABC affiliation.

• Digital multicast television · 2010

  This TV digital subchannel

  WXOW added This TV programming on a third digital subchannel during 2010 as part of its multicast expansion.

• Sports broadcasting

  Regional sports programming

  The station participates in Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association sports networks. Its Packers programming includes preseason games and official team content, supporting its positioning as the La Crosse market’s official Packers station.

• 2025

  Owner explores strategic alternativesStrategy

  Background

  Allen Media Group cited financial difficulties and rising debt while discussing possible strategic options for the company.

  Action taken

  The owner said it would explore alternatives that could include selling television stations, including WXOW and WQOW.

  Aftermath

  The announcement did not confirm a transaction or a change in WXOW’s operating status.

  Source

• 2021

  Divestiture to Allen Media BroadcastingM&A

  Background

  Gray Television’s planned acquisition of Quincy Media created a market-overlap issue because Gray already owned WEAU in the La Crosse–Eau Claire market.

  Action taken

  Gray selected WXOW and WQOW for divestiture and announced their sale to Allen Media Broadcasting. The transaction closed on August 2, 2021.

  Aftermath

  WXOW and WQOW became Allen Media Group stations. WEAU assumed the CW and MeTV affiliations previously carried by the two stations.

  Purchase price for Quincy Media. 925 million USD (Announced January 2021)

  Source

1. 1WXOWen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WXOW official websitewxow.com