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KGCW
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KGCW (channel 26) is a television station licensed to Burlington, Iowa, United States, serving as the CW network outlet for the Quad Cities area. It is owned and operated by network majority owner Nexstar Media Group alongside regional CBS affiliate WHBF-TV (channel 4). Nexstar also provides certain services to Fox affiliate KLJB (channel 18) under a shared services agreement (SSA) with Mission Broadcasting. The three stations share studios in the Telco Building on 18th Street in downtown Rock Island, Illinois; KGCW's transmitter is located near Orion, Illinois.

Key Information

Channel 26 began broadcasting as KJMH, a local station for Burlington, in January 1988 and became a Fox affiliate that July. It was owned by local businessman Steve Hoth, who named it for his wife, JoEllen M. Hoth. In May 1994, the station lost access to Fox programming after the network moved to strip KJMH of its affiliation. It then went off the air that November.

Grant Communications acquired the station and returned it to the air on March 1, 1996, rebroadcasting KLJB-TV in Davenport. In January 2001, channel 26 was split from channel 18 to become the affiliate of The WB in the Quad Cities, where it was seen on cable and a subchannel of KLJB, and its transmitter was relocated from Burlington to a site that offered increased coverage of the Quad Cities. The station became affiliated with The CW in 2006 when The WB and UPN merged. Nexstar acquired the Grant stations in 2014, coinciding with the separate purchase of WHBF-TV.

History

[edit]

KJMH: The Hoth years

[edit]

Burlington Broadcast Company, which was owned by local businessman Steve Hoth, obtained a construction permit for a new television station in Burlington in 1984. The station went unbuilt for three years. An intended November 1987 launch was scrapped because of equipment problems.[2] KJMH—named for JoEllen M. Hoth, Steve's wife[3]—began broadcasting on January 5, 1988.[4][5] The station, airing a mix of independent station programming and (for a time) a local newscast,[3] represented a $1 million investment.[6] It broadcast with an effective radiated power of 200,000 watts from a transmitting facility at Roosevelt Avenue and Winegard Drive in Burlington,[7] sufficient only to reach the Burlington area: Mount Pleasant sat on the edge of the contour, and cities such as Keokuk and Muscatine were outside of its signal range.[4]

Even though KJMH affiliated with Fox on July 31, 1988,[8] financial precarity was a major issue in the station's early history. Amid reports that the station's payroll checks were bouncing, the general manager resigned in 1991.[9][7] Two years later, in November 1993, Fox moved to strip KJMH of its affiliation. Hoth hired a Chicago law firm to fight the disaffiliation in court but was unsuccessful, and KJMH ceased airing Fox programming in May 1994.[7] The station then aired programming from home shopping service ValueVision and Channel America, which had historically catered to low-power stations.[10]

In November 1994, Hoth announced the sale of 80 percent of the station to Kelley Broadcasting for $405,000; Kelley, a consortium of investors based in Texas, planned to affiliate KJMH with the forthcoming UPN network. Additionally, it was announced that the station would leave the air for four to six weeks for equipment installation and refurbishing.[11] Channel 26 did not return after the four-week period of silence, and financial questions continued to swirl. In February 1995, the law firm that had been hired to fight KJMH's disaffiliation sued for nonpayment.[7] Hoth would later file bankruptcy for Burlington Broadcasting and a related company in October 1996; the then-former licensee of the station owed more than $444,000 against $38,000 in assets.[12]

Grant Broadcasting ownership

[edit]

The Kelley sale was never filed with the FCC; instead, in March 1995, Grant Broadcasting filed to purchase KJMH from Hoth for $400,000.[13] The station was restored to service on March 1, 1996, as a full-time rebroadcaster of Grant-owned KLJB-TV, the Fox affiliate in Davenport.[14]

Grant Broadcasting intended to eventually air separate programming on the station from the start.[3] KLJB-TV had previously acquired the rights to programming from The WB in the Quad Cities market in September 1999 as a result of Superstation WGN ceasing carriage of WB programming nationally; selected WB shows aired in late night time slots on channel 18.[15] In January 2001, The WB programming moved from a secondary affiliation on KLJB–KJMH to channel 26 alone, which was added to Quad Cities cable systems and changed its call sign to KGWB-TV.[16] Initially, KGWB-TV broadcast its own programming for half of the broadcast day, continuing to air KLJB-TV's programming in other time slots.[3]

While branded as channel 26, the Burlington signal was so far from the Quad Cities that another station was allowed to operate on the channel: low-power WBQD-LP debuted in 2002 as the Quad Cities area's UPN affiliate.[17] KGWB-TV programming was made available over-the-air in the Quad Cities as early as 2003 as a subchannel on KLJB-TV's digital signal.[18] After splitting channel 26's programming, Grant invested in a relocation of the KGWB-TV transmitter facility from Burlington to Seaton, Illinois, midway between Burlington and the Quad Cities, to increase the station's availability in the more populous Quad Cities area.[3]

KGWB-TV became the local affiliate of The CW in 2006, upon the merger of The WB and UPN, under new KGCW-TV call letters.[19][20]

Nexstar ownership

[edit]

Grant Broadcasting announced the sale of its stations for $87.5 million to Nexstar Broadcasting Group in November 2013. It was the second acquisition by Nexstar involving a Quad Cities-market television station in six weeks; in September, Nexstar had announced the acquisition of WHBF-TV in Rock Island, Illinois.[21] The Grant purchase closed in December 2014, along with the acquisition of KLJB by Marshall Broadcasting Group under a deal in which Nexstar continued to provide services via a shared services agreement; Nexstar could own WHBF-TV with KGCW outright but not with KLJB, which was one of the top four-rated stations in the market.[22][23] In May 2015, KGCW's Quad Cities simulcast—still needed to serve some viewers who could not receive a strong signal from Seaton—moved from a subchannel of KLJB to a subchannel of WHBF-TV as a consequence of the ownership change, a move that had been anticipated for months.[24][25] Another effect was that KLJB and KGCW could no longer share syndicated programming.[26]

In 2020, KGCW moved its transmitter to a new tower at Orion, from where other Quad Cities stations are broadcast.[27] This coincided with the repack from the 2016 United States wireless spectrum auction, which moved the station to channel 21.[28] As a result, the WHBF-TV subchannel simulcast was discontinued.[29]

Technical information and subchannels

[edit]
Subchannels provided by KGCW (ATSC 1.0)[30][31]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming ATSC 1.0 host
26.1 720p 16:9 KGCW-DT The CW KLJB
26.2 480i Rewind Rewind TV WHBF-TV
26.3 Laff Laff
26.4 CBS-SD CBS (WHBF-TV) in SD KLJB
  Simulcast of subchannels of another station

ATSC 3.0 lighthouse

[edit]
Subchannels of KGCW (ATSC 3.0)[32]
Channel Short name Programming
4.1 WHBF CBS (WHBF-TV)
6.1 KWQC NBC (KWQC-TV) DRM
18.1 KLJB Fox (KLJB)
26.1 KGCW The CW
  Subchannel broadcast with digital rights management

The station began ATSC 3.0 broadcasting on December 19, 2024.

Analog-to-digital conversion

[edit]

KGCW was the only Quad Cities-market station to cease analog broadcasts on February 17, 2009, the original date on which full-power television stations in the United States were to transition from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate.[33] The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 41, using virtual channel 26.[34]

References

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[edit]
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KGCW

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from Grokipedia
KGCW, 26 (UHF digital channel 21), is a licensed to , . It serves as an affiliate of Television Network for the area, which includes Davenport and Bettendorf in , and Rock Island, , and East Moline in . The station is owned by . Its studios are located at 231 18th Street in , shared with sister stations and . KGCW traces its roots to 1988 as KJMH, initially simulcasting sister station before becoming an and later affiliating with in 2001 (as KGWB-TV). It adopted its current call letters and affiliation in 2006 following the networks' merger. Nexstar acquired the station from Grant Broadcasting in 2014. Branded as the "Quad Cities' ," the station broadcasts 's programming as of 2025, along with syndicated content and local sports coverage including preseason games and events. It operates in the 104th largest designated market area (DMA) in the United States, reaching approximately 304,840 television households (2024–25 estimates).

Station Overview

Licensing and Service Area

KGCW is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to the city of Burlington, Iowa, as a full-power television station broadcasting on virtual channel 26. The station's current call letters, KGCW, were adopted on June 23, 2009, following a series of changes: it operated as KJMH from its sign-on on January 5, 1988, until January 16, 2001; as KGWB-TV from January 16, 2001, to June 30, 2006; and as KGCW-TV from June 30, 2006, to June 23, 2009. The station primarily serves the Quad Cities designated market area (DMA), covering communities including Davenport and Bettendorf in eastern , and Moline, East Moline, and Rock Island in northwestern . KGCW's transmitter facilities are located near Orion, Illinois, after a relocation completed in early 2020 that replaced an older site in Seaton, Illinois, to improve signal coverage across the region. As of the 2024–2025 television season, the Quad Cities ranks as the 104th largest DMA in the United States, with an estimated 304,840 television households. KGCW shares certain operational services with its sister stations WHBF-TV (CBS) and KLJB (Fox) in the market.

Ownership and Studio Facilities

KGCW is owned by Nexstar Media Group, Inc., alongside CBS affiliate WHBF-TV (channel 4) in a duopoly serving the Quad Cities market. Nexstar acquired KGCW from Grant Broadcasting System on December 1, 2014, as part of an $87.5 million purchase of seven stations that closed after FCC approval. This acquisition allowed Nexstar to pair KGCW with its existing ownership of , which it had purchased from Citadel Communications in March 2014 for $88 million as part of a three-station deal. Prior to Nexstar's ownership, Grant Broadcasting System controlled KGCW from 1995 to 2014; Grant had acquired the station license in 1995, relaunched it in 1996 as a rebroadcaster of its Fox affiliate (channel 18), and later converted it to a standalone affiliate in 2001, forming a duopoly with in the process. KGCW shares news production, , and other operational facilities with and affiliate under Nexstar's management. Nexstar directly owns and KGCW, while it provides services to —owned by —through a agreement (SSA) that includes programming, technical operations, and sales support. This arrangement enables consolidated production, with newscasts branded as Local 4 News on and Fox 18 News on , and centralized for efficiency. The shared studios for KGCW, , and are located in the Telco Building at 231 18th Street in downtown , a facility that has housed operations for these stations since the mid-1990s. This location supports the integrated workflow for news gathering, production, and transmission serving the region across and .

History

Launch as KJMH and Early Operations

KJMH signed on the air on January 5, 1988, as an independent television station licensed to , and targeting viewers in the metropolitan area. The station was founded by local businessman Steven S. Hoth through his wholly owned company, Burlington Broadcasting Company, which served as the licensee. With its transmitter located on Winegard Drive in Burlington, KJMH operated at low power during its initial years, limiting its signal reach primarily to the southern portions of the market. In July 1988, KJMH secured an affiliation with the , becoming one of the network's early affiliates and providing its programming to audiences. The station's lineup during this period featured a mix of Fox network content alongside syndicated fare, including cartoons such as , classic sitcom reruns like , and feature films to appeal to family viewers in the region. This affiliation helped KJMH establish a foothold in the competitive market, where it served as a key outlet for Fox's emerging primetime and sports offerings. By May 1994, KJMH lost its Fox affiliation amid broader network realignments in the market, reverting to independent status with a reliance on syndicated programming. Financial difficulties soon mounted, leading the station to cease operations and sign off permanently in November 1994. The license remained silent until its revival under Grant Broadcasting in 1996.

Grant Broadcasting Acquisition and Reprogramming

Following the financial struggles and shutdown of KJMH-TV in 1994 under previous owner Steven S. , Grant Broadcasting System acquired the station's construction permit and assets in 1996. Grant Broadcasting System filed to acquire the silent station's assets for $400,000 in March 1995, with the deal completing in time for relaunch on March 1, 1996. The acquisition aimed to extend the reach of its existing Fox affiliate, KLJB-TV in , into the southern portions of the market. On March 1, 1996, KJMH returned to the air as a full-power station, simulcasting KLJB's programming to better serve rural viewers in southeast . [citing Delaney, Steve (March 4, 1996). "Burlington lands Fox affiliate". The Hawk Eye. p. 1D.] As a , KJMH primarily aired KLJB's network schedule, functioning as a secondary feed that delivered prime-time shows, sports events such as and MLB broadcasts, and occasional movies to areas previously underserved by the signal. This setup allowed Grant Broadcasting to maintain operational efficiencies while investing in infrastructure upgrades, including the construction of dedicated studio facilities in Burlington to support future independent programming. The station's role as a helped stabilize viewership in the region during the mid-1990s transition period for network affiliations. By the late , KJMH had expanded its local operations, including staff additions for regional content production, and its transmitter power was upgraded to 1,000 kW to enhance coverage across the area. In January 2001, following the securing of an affiliation agreement with Television Network, the station adopted the new call letters KGWB-TV, becoming the network's dedicated outlet for the market and shifting toward distinct programming separate from . This change marked the station's evolution from a pure to a standalone affiliate with growing local identity.

Transition to The CW and Nexstar Ownership

In September 2006, the merger of and networks resulted in the launch of Television Network on September 18, with KGWB-TV transitioning to become its affiliate in the market. The station, then owned by Grant Broadcasting, adopted the new KGCW-TV call letters on June 30, 2006, to align with the CW branding. As a CW affiliate, KGCW continued to emphasize youth-oriented programming, including popular series targeted at younger demographics, while maintaining operational ties within Grant Broadcasting's portfolio of stations in the region. On November 6, 2013, Nexstar Broadcasting Group announced its agreement to acquire Grant Broadcasting's seven television stations, including KGCW, for $87.5 million, expanding its presence in multiple markets. The approved the transaction on November 3, 2014, amid ongoing reviews of media ownership rules that facilitated such consolidations by allowing duopolies in markets meeting certain criteria. The sale closed on December 1, 2014, integrating KGCW into Nexstar's growing portfolio and enabling closer coordination with nearby properties like . Following the acquisition, Nexstar enhanced operational efficiencies in the Quad Cities market, including the implementation of shared digital services among its stations and affiliates. By May 2015, KGCW's programming began simulcasting on WHBF-TV's 4.2 subchannel, which had previously carried the feed on KLJB's 18.2 under a shared services agreement, streamlining distribution and content delivery across the duopoly.

Programming and Content

Network Affiliation and Syndicated Shows

KGCW has served as the exclusive affiliate of network for the area since 2006, following the merger of and . As the network's primary outlet, the station broadcasts The CW's prime-time lineup, which as of the fall 2025 schedule includes returning series such as All American and new scripted programs like The Librarians: The Next Chapter, alongside expanded sports coverage. This programming targets a youthful demographic, aligning with The CW's focus on drama, superhero action, and teen-oriented narratives. In addition to network content, KGCW fills its daytime and late-night slots with syndicated programming, featuring sitcom reruns such as , , and . Weekend schedules often include family-friendly movies and game shows like , providing diverse entertainment options outside of prime time. The station also airs seasonal programming from , including live sports events such as NASCAR Xfinity Series races and holiday specials that enhance its year-round appeal. Branded as the "Quad Cities' CW" since its affiliation began, KGCW emphasizes engaging content for younger viewers through these national and syndicated offerings. Brief local news inserts from shared operations with sister station are occasionally integrated into the schedule.

Local News and Original Programming

KGCW does not maintain a standalone news department but relies on shared news operations under the "Our Quad Cities" brand, produced collaboratively by Nexstar Media Group for its Quad Cities stations WHBF (CBS), KLJB (Fox), and KGCW (The CW). This integration, which began at the end of 2015, allows for unified production of local newscasts from studios in Rock Island, Illinois, covering morning, evening, and weekend programming across all three outlets. The shared news team delivers comprehensive coverage of regional events, updates, and , including high school athletics in the area, with dedicated meteorologists and reporters based at the Rock Island facility. Newscasts on KGCW typically include the "Our Quad Cities News at 10 p.m.," airing after CW network prime-time programming, and feature breaking stories, community alerts, and investigative reports relevant to the Davenport–Rock Island–Moline metropolitan area. Weekend editions extend this focus, often highlighting local government, public safety, and environmental issues specific to and communities. In addition to news, KGCW airs original lifestyle and community-focused programming produced under the shared model. "4 The Record" is a weekly lifestyle series exploring local culture, events, health, and entertainment in the Quad Cities, featuring interviews with residents, business leaders, and experts to promote regional vibrancy. The "Remarkable Women" series, an annual initiative, profiles influential women for their achievements and community impact, with segments airing across the stations and culminating in national recognition through Nexstar's program. All such content is distributed across sister stations' schedules without a dedicated KGCW-exclusive production unit, emphasizing cost-efficient, high-quality local journalism.

Technical Specifications

Digital Subchannels and Signal Details

KGCW's primary , 26.1, carries programming from network. The station's FCC facility ID is 7841, and it has operated on virtual channel 26 (UHF) since the full-power in 2009, with its physical channel assigned to 21 following the 2017–2020 broadcast television spectrum reallocation. As of November 2025, following the launch, KGCW's physical channel 21 hosts an signal carrying the main network feeds, including 26.1 (). The legacy ATSC 1.0 simulcasts of additional subchannels—26.2 (), 26.3 (Laff), and 26.4 ( simulcast from )—are now provided on partner stations' signals: 26.2 and 26.3 on (physical channel 46), and 26.1 and 26.4 on (physical channel 48). This arrangement maintains compatibility with legacy ATSC 1.0 receivers while enabling enhanced delivery on KGCW's host signal. The transmitter site is located near Orion, Illinois, at coordinates 41°19′39″N 90°22′46″W, following a relocation in 2020 to improve coverage in the market. It operates with an (ERP) of 1,000 kW and a (HAAT) of 316.4 meters. KGCW's over-the-air signal extends approximately 56 miles from the transmitter, covering about 9,999 square miles and reaching an estimated 938,174 people, which represents roughly 95% of households. This provides robust digital reception across the Davenport–Rock Island–Moline designated market area.

Analog-to-Digital Transition

KGCW ceased its analog broadcasts on UHF channel 26 at noon on February 17, 2009, aligning with the original nationwide deadline for the mandated by the (FCC). This made KGCW the only full-power station in the market to complete the switchover on that date, ahead of the delay granted to most U.S. stations until June 12, 2009. The station's digital signal, operating on UHF channel 41, continued broadcasting with the number 26.1 via PSIP to maintain continuity for viewers. Leading up to the transition, KGCW maintained a of its analog and digital signals from 2006 to 2009, following the launch of its low-power digital broadcast in June 2006. The had initially received from the FCC in July 2003, allowing early testing and limited operations on channel 41. This pre-transition period enabled the station to gradually introduce digital programming while complying with FCC requirements for dual broadcasting to ease viewer preparation. The transition impacted local viewers who relied on over-the-air analog reception, necessitating upgrades such as boxes for older televisions or the purchase of digital-capable sets. The FCC and the promoted a federal coupon program providing up to two $40 subsidies per household for converter boxes, with KGCW and other stations airing announcements to inform residents about eligibility and application processes. An estimated 1.75 million U.S. households remained unprepared as of early 2009, highlighting the challenges in rural areas like the where antenna reception predominates. Following the analog shutdown, KGCW fully transitioned to digital-only operations, enhancing its ability to broadcast network's programming in high definition on its primary channel. This upgrade improved picture and sound quality for viewers with digital tuners, allowing HD delivery of shows like and . In subsequent years, the station expanded its digital capacity to add subchannels for syndicated content.

ATSC 3.0 Implementation and Upgrades

In 2024, KGCW was designated as the lighthouse station for (NextGen TV) deployment in the market, enabling the station to host advanced broadcast signals for multiple local affiliates while supporting features such as 4K ultra-high-definition video, (HDR) imaging, and interactive content delivery. This role allows KGCW to transmit enhanced programming from partner stations, including its own affiliation on virtual channel 26.1, under the FCC's voluntary transition framework for the next-generation standard. The station launched ATSC 3.0 broadcasts on December 10, 2024, following FCC approval of a modification to its license for operations on RF channel 21 from its transmitter site near Orion, Illinois. This implementation involved a frequency shift to ensure compatibility with existing ATSC 1.0 signals, which continue to be to maintain broad accessibility during the transition phase. In preparation, KGCW completed an antenna upgrade in October 2024 at its shared tower facility, a step facilitated by the station's 2020 transmitter relocation to the Orion site, which improved signal coverage across the market. As Nexstar Media Group's owned property, KGCW's upgrades were funded internally to advance the rollout, delivering benefits like superior mobile reception for on-the-go viewing and datacasting capabilities for emergency local alerts and targeted data services. Viewers require ATSC 3.0-compatible tuners or televisions to access these enhancements, with over-the-air antennas sufficient for reception in the area.

References

  1. https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=print_station&facility_id=7841
  2. https://www.nexstar.tv/stations/kgcw/
  3. https://www.ourquadcities.com/contact-us/
  4. https://www.ourquadcities.com/station-history/
  5. https://www.nexttv.com/news/nexstar-acquire-seven-grant-stations-875-million-124490
  6. https://nationalmediaspots.com/DMA-Ranks.pdf
  7. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-407561A1.pdf
  8. https://www.nielsen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Populations_Rankings.pdf
  9. https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/local-news/kgcw-tower-in-orion-assembled-via-helicopter/
  10. https://ustvdb.com/markets/davenport-rock-island-moline/
  11. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/2013-09-16-nexstar-broadcasting-group-and-mission-broadcastin.html
  12. https://www.nexttv.com/news/fcc-approves-nexstar-deal-grant-stations-135305
  13. https://www.nexstar.tv/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Nexstar-2024-Annual-Report.pdf
  14. https://member.quadcitieschamber.com/list/member/whbf-tv-kgcw-tv-1700
  15. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1989-TV-Factbook/TV-Factbook-1989-IOA-OHI.pdf
  16. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1995-TV-Factbook/TV-Factbook-1995-IOA-OHI.pdf
  17. https://www.iaaaprestoration.com/wp-content/uploads/2-ALL-CommunityRelationsPlan-MAY1991.pdf
  18. https://www.stationindex.com/tv/callsign/KGCW
  19. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/25/business/with-focus-on-youth-2-small-tv-networks-unite.html
  20. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/nexstar-acquires-seven-tv-stations-213600019.html
  21. https://iowamedianews.com/2015-archives/
  22. https://www.cwtv.com/schedule/
  23. https://www.nexstar.tv/the-cw-announces-primetime-schedule-2024-2025/
  24. https://www.nexstar.tv/stations/kgcw-d3/
  25. https://www.tvpassport.com/tv-listings/stations/cw-kgcw-quad-cities-ia/4494
  26. https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/local-news/
  27. https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/4-the-record/
  28. https://www.ourquadcities.com/remarkable-women/
  29. https://www.fccinfo.com/CMDProFacLookup.php?tabSearchType=Facility&s=7841
  30. https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=atsc3
  31. https://www.facebook.com/61553076296279/posts/122185819964102543
  32. https://www.facebook.com/quadcitiesonair/posts/1223319499800174/
  33. https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-288530A2.pdf
  34. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-238477A1.pdf
  35. https://www.fcc.gov/general/digital-television
  36. https://northpine.com/2024/10/21/fcc-monitor-quad-cities-nextgen-plan-northern-mn-tba-begins/
  37. https://northpine.com/2024/12/09/fcc-monitor-nextgen-tv-scheduled-for-dec-10-quad-cities-debut/
  38. https://www.ourquadcities.com/news/business/kgcw-upgrades-to-nextgen-tv-antenna/
  39. https://www.watchnextgentv.com/
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