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WKOW (channel 27) is a television station in Madison, Wisconsin, United States, affiliated with ABC and owned by Allen Media Group. The station's studios are located on Tokay Boulevard on Madison's west side, and its transmitter is located on South Pleasant View Road in the city's Junction Ridge neighborhood.

Key Information

WKOW serves as the master hub for Allen Media Group's five-station network of ABC affiliates throughout western and northern Wisconsin.

History

[edit]
WKOW's studios and transmitter on Madison's southwest side.

WKOW-TV (the suffix was dropped from the call sign in 2009) was launched on June 30, 1953, as Madison's first television station.[3] The station was originally aligned with CBS and owned by the Monona Broadcasting Company, led by a group of local area businessmen along with WKOW radio (AM 1070, now WTSO). The WKOW call sign was an acknowledgment to Wisconsin's dairy industry, and featured a smiling bovine (or cow) alongside the emphasized "K-O-W" of the call sign. WKOW-AM-TV shared studios on Tokay Boulevard on Madison's west side beginning in 1953.

WKOW-TV remained with CBS until 1956, when CBS moved to the new WISC-TV. WKOW-TV subsequently joined ABC (who had been with WMTV on a secondary basis), while WKOW radio remained with CBS Radio. From January to August 1958, WKOW was part of the short-lived, Wisconsin-oriented Badger Television Network, alongside Milwaukee's WISN-TV and Green Bay's WFRV-TV.[4] In 1960, Monona Broadcasting sold the station to Midcontinent Broadcasting. Midcontinent Broadcasting sold both WKOW and WAOW in Wausau to Horizon Communications in September 1970.

In 1974, Terry Shockley became manager of WKOW and its fellow sister stations that were part of the Wisconsin Television Network (which included WAOW in Wausau and WXOW in La Crosse). Horizon sold its stations, along with WKOW to Liberty Communications in 1978. Also during the 1970s, Horizon sold the radio stations in accordance with the FCC's "one to market" policy of that era. Despite the separate ownership, the renamed WTSO would remain at Tokay Boulevard alongside WKOW-TV through the 1980s and 1990s until becoming part of Clear Channel/iHeart and being clustered with other stations such as former competitor WIBA. WKOW continued to maintain a weather partnership with WTSO and its sister stations until the fall of 2010.

In January 1985, Liberty Television sold WKOW and its Wausau and La Crosse sister stations to Tak Communications, which would later purchase KITV in Honolulu, Hawaii, and WGRZ-TV in Buffalo, New York. Tak filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the latter half of 1991 and went into receivership when the company's creditors seized its assets in early 1994. As part of Tak Communications' bankruptcy sale, Shockley purchased the four Wisconsin stations in 1995 (WKOW, WAOW, WXOW, and Eau Claire's WQOW) for his newly formed company, Shockley Communications. In June 2001, WKOW and its Wisconsin sister stations were acquired by Quincy Newspapers from Shockley.

On January 7, 2021, Quincy Media announced that it had put itself up for sale.[5] On February 1, Gray Television announced it would purchase Quincy's radio and TV properties for $925 million. As Gray already owns WMTV in the Madison market, and both that station and WKOW rank among the market's top four stations, it agreed that WKOW would be divested in order to satisfy FCC requirements.[6] On April 29, Gray announced that WKOW would be divested to Allen Media Broadcasting. The $380 million deal includes WAOW, WXOW, WQOW, WREX in neighboring Rockford, Illinois, and other Quincy-owned stations where overlaps with Gray occur.[7] The sale was officially completed on August 2, 2021.[1]

On June 1, 2025, amid financial woes and rising debt, Allen Media Group announced that it would explore "strategic options" for the company, such as a sale of its television stations (including WKOW).[8][9]

Digital television

[edit]
Logo for WKOW's MeTV affiliation (c. 2011-2021)

WKOW has been a pioneer of sorts in the world of digital terrestrial television. When the station launched high-definition broadcasts on October 29, 1998 (on digital channel 26), it became at the time the smallest United States television station to launch digital HD broadcasts. WKOW is still regularly used for digital television experiments, including an October 2014 test involving one of the competitors for the ATSC 3.0 standard in 4K resolution, backed by LG and Zenith.[10]

In the late 2000s, WKOW would launch two digital subchannels alongside primary channel 27.1. Subchannel 27.2 was originally affiliated with the Retro Television Network, which was replaced on July 1, 2011, by the similarly-formatted MeTV. Subchannel 27.3 launched in March 2009 with the movie network This TV, which was replaced on September 2, 2015, at 12 noon by MeTV's sister network, Decades.

A caveat in Gray Television's purchase of Quincy Media's stations in 2021 involved WKOW's subchannels: In requiring that Gray spinoff WKOW and other stations to Allen Media Broadcasting, the U.S. Department of Justice deemed as an "excluded asset" the MeTV affiliation that WKOW had carried, meaning that Gray taking over the MeTV affiliation in Madison — as well as MeTV and The CW affiliations in Eau Claire, La Crosse, Wausau — would not adversely affect Allen Media's operations as "viable, independent competitors" in those markets.[11] As a result on August 2, 2021, when Gray's purchase of Quincy Media and Allen Media's purchase of WKOW became final, the MeTV affiliation moved to a subchannel of Gray-owned WMTV.[12]

To fill the void left by MeTV's departure, Decades would be temporarily simulcast on subchannels 27.2 and 27.3 for two weeks until August 19, 2021, when This TV returned to 27.3; the move reunited WKOW with This TV, which Allen Media purchased in late 2020.

Programming

[edit]

Sports programming

[edit]

WKOW serves as the originating station for broadcasts of Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) championship events. WKOW, its Allen Media-owned sister stations in Central and Western Wisconsin, and affiliates in the Milwaukee and Green Bay markets air WIAA boys' and girls' hockey and basketball state championships each March. (The hockey and boys' basketball tournaments are staged in Madison, the girls' basketball tournament in Green Bay.) WKOW is also an affiliate of the Green Bay Packers television network along with its AMG sisters, carrying the team's preseason games and in-season programming. By coincidence as part of AMG's investment in Diamond Sports Group, WKOW is now a half-sister operation of Bally Sports Wisconsin. In 2023, WKOW and its sisters and other affiliates began to also carry the WIAA football championships at Camp Randall Stadium, returning the games to the station for the first time since the mid 1990s.

Subchannel 27.2 has cleared any ABC programming that may be preempted on 27.1 for local sports and breaking news coverage (e.g. coverage of the WIAA state hockey and basketball tournaments carried each March on 27.1).

Until the 2023 (when the rights to Big Ten Conference sports departed ABC and ESPN), WKOW carried Wisconsin Badgers sports originated at the network level.

News operation

[edit]

WKOW presently broadcasts 24+1⁄2 hours of local newscasts each week (with 4+1⁄2 hours each weekday and two hours each on Saturdays and Sundays).

WKOW debuted a news department on the first day of its broadcasting in summer 1953. Local news, weather, and sports were seen in the initial shows. From 1999 to 2011, the station produced, through a news share agreement, the market's first nightly prime time newscast on Sinclair-owned Fox affiliate WMSN-TV (Fox 47 News at 9); the newscast originated from a secondary studio at WKOW, and although it featured WKOW personnel in the broadcasts, WMSN maintained separate weeknight news and sports anchors, as well as using theme music and graphics packages that are found on other Sinclair stations and that are different from that on WKOW's newscasts. (WISC-TV subchannel TVW had aired a prime-time newscast from 2004 to 2011; a third station, WBUW, had its own 9 p.m. newscast from 2003 until 2005.) WISC-TV took over the production of the WMSN newscast at the beginning of 2012.

On October 26, 2010, WKOW became the third station in Madison to upgrade newscasts to high definition, following WISC-TV and WMTV. The WMSN broadcasts, however, were still in 4:3 standard definition, as the station did not have the necessary equipment to air local or syndicated HD programming.

Technical information

[edit]

Subchannels

[edit]

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of WKOW[13]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
27.1 720p 16:9 WKOWABC ABC
27.2 CATCHY Catchy Comedy
27.3 480i MeTOONS MeTV Toons
27.4 720p CourtTV Court TV
27.5 480i CRIME True Crime Network
27.6 WKOW-6 Camera(s)

Analog-to-digital conversion

[edit]

WKOW shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 27, at 1 p.m. on February 17, 2009, the original target date on which full-power television stations in the United States were to transition from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate (which was later pushed back to June 12, 2009). The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 26,[14][15] using virtual channel 27.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

WKOW

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
WKOW (channel 27) is an ABC-affiliated licensed to , , serving South Central with local news, weather, and sports programming. Established as Madison's first , WKOW signed on the air on June 30, 1953, and has been a cornerstone of regional for over 70 years. The station's history traces back to 1947 with the formation of Monona Broadcasting Company, which launched WKOW-TV initially as a affiliate before switching to ABC, reflecting its evolution alongside changes in network alignments and ownership structures. Owned by since 2021, when it acquired WKOW and six other stations from Gray Television for $380 million as part of divestitures related to Gray's acquisition of , the station operates from studios at 5727 Tokay Boulevard in Madison. In June 2025, announced plans to sell WKOW and 27 other stations to address financial obligations, though the station remains under its current ownership as of November 2025. WKOW delivers comprehensive coverage through its flagship program 27 News, including live broadcasts, investigative reporting, and community-focused content on , , , and local events across Dane County and surrounding areas. The station also maintains a strong digital presence via its website, , and platforms, providing interactive radar, email alerts, and video streams to engage viewers in real time.

History

Founding and early operations

WKOW-TV signed on the air for the first time on June 30, 1953, becoming Madison, Wisconsin's inaugural . The station was established by the Monona Broadcasting Company, a group of local businessmen from Monona who had formed the entity in 1947, initially to operate the affiliated radio station WKOW-AM. Broadcasting from a newly constructed 600-foot tower on a farm in rural Dane County, WKOW-TV initially operated on UHF channel 27 and shared studios with its radio counterpart on West Washington Avenue before relocating to a dedicated facility on Tokay Boulevard. From its launch, WKOW-TV held a primary affiliation with the CBS Television Network, providing Madison viewers with network programming alongside local content produced from a modest studio equipped with two live cameras, film projectors, and basic production tools. The station's debut broadcast on July 4, 1953, featured its first live telecast, hosted by station manager Stuart Watson and announcer Jerry Harper, which included Independence Day festivities, a farm report, and initial segments on local news, sports, and weather. Early programming emphasized community-oriented fare, such as live coverage of local events and promotions from Madison businesses, fostering public engagement—viewers even visited the transmission tower site to witness operations firsthand. This affiliation with CBS lasted until June 24, 1956, when the network shifted to the newly launched on VHF channel 3, prompting WKOW-TV to assume the ABC affiliation previously held by . In the late 1950s, WKOW-TV joined the short-lived Badger Television Network in 1958, a regional ABC affiliation serving northern, central, and southern through interconnected stations including in Green Bay and in . This arrangement enhanced access to shared ABC feeds and select regional programming for about a year, bolstering the station's role in delivering consistent network content to underserved areas. Throughout the and into the , WKOW-TV prioritized local service initiatives, such as broadcasting community events, educational segments on and , and public affairs discussions, which helped solidify its position as a vital information hub for southern households during television's formative years in the region.

Ownership changes

In 1960, Monona Broadcasting Company sold WKOW to Midcontinent Broadcasting Company, marking the station's first major transition and introducing centralized from a larger regional broadcaster that emphasized operational efficiencies across its portfolio. Ten years later, in , Midcontinent sold WKOW along with WAOW in Wausau to Horizon Communications Corporation, which focused on expanding ABC affiliations in the Midwest and integrated WKOW into a growing network of stations. Horizon divested WKOW in 1978 to Liberty Communications Inc. for $8 million, a deal that included sister stations WAOW-TV in Wausau and WXOW-TV in La Crosse, allowing to strengthen its presence in Wisconsin's ABC market while bringing fresh investment for facility improvements during the early 1980s. In January 1985, sold the Wisconsin cluster, including WKOW, to Tak Communications Inc., prompting significant staff turnover and management restructuring as Tak aimed to consolidate operations amid industry . Tak Communications filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1991, leading to the sale of its assets; in 1995, Terry Shockley formed Shockley Communications Corporation to acquire WKOW and the other Wisconsin stations (WAOW, WXOW, and WQOW) from Tak's creditors, ushering in local ownership that emphasized community-focused management and operational stability. Shockley divested the group in June 2001 to Quincy Newspapers Inc. (later Quincy Media), which invested in modernizing news production and digital capabilities while retaining the stations' regional footprint. Quincy's ownership ended in 2021 when Gray Television acquired the company for $925 million but divested WKOW and nine other stations to comply with FCC ownership limits; on August 2, 2021, , a subsidiary of , completed the $380 million purchase of the divestiture package, transitioning WKOW to national ownership under with commitments to local programming continuity.

Recent developments

Following the completion of its acquisition by in August 2021 as part of a $380 million deal for 10 stations divested from Gray Television, WKOW was integrated into the company's portfolio of local broadcast outlets, enabling shared operational resources across its growing network of ABC, , , and affiliates. This move positioned WKOW alongside sister stations such as WXOW in , and WAOW in , under centralized management aimed at streamlining content distribution and administrative functions. In January 2025, Allen Media Group announced significant cost-cutting measures across its stations, including plans to eliminate all local meteorologist positions at outlets like WKOW and centralize weather forecasting through a partnership with The Weather Channel, which the company owns. These changes also impacted news staffing, with reports of layoffs affecting reporters and production roles at Wisconsin stations, including WKOW, as part of broader efforts to reduce operational expenses. However, amid public backlash from viewers concerned about the loss of localized weather expertise, Allen Media postponed the implementation, retaining local meteorologists at least temporarily while exploring hybrid models. In June 2025, facing mounting debt, retained investment bank to evaluate strategic options, including the potential sale of 28 local stations across 21 markets, explicitly encompassing WKOW, to alleviate financial pressures. By August 2025, the company completed the sale of 10 stations to Gray Media for $171 million, creating new duopolies in select markets, though WKOW was not included in that transaction. As of November 2025, no sale of WKOW has been finalized, with ongoing discussions and reported bids indicating continued uncertainty for the station's future ownership.

Programming

Network affiliation and syndicated shows

WKOW has served as the primary ABC affiliate for the Madison television market since September 1956, when it switched from its original affiliation. The station launched on June 30, 1953, as Madison's first television outlet and initially carried programming exclusively, aligning with its radio counterpart's network ties. This affiliation change occurred after shifted to the newly launched , leaving WKOW to join ABC and solidify its role in the market. As the ABC affiliate, WKOW broadcasts the network's full schedule, encompassing national news programs like World News Tonight, primetime scripted series and reality competitions, daytime talk and soap operas, and major specials such as ceremonies and holiday events. The station's signal covers south-central , serving as the key provider of ABC content for the Madison designated market area (DMA), which includes Dane County and surrounding regions. In its early years, WKOW occasionally carried secondary affiliations common to the era, including limited DuMont Network programming before that network's dissolution in 1956, though ABC became its exclusive primary tie thereafter. WKOW's syndicated programming complements its network lineup, filling non-ABC slots with a mix of talk shows, game shows, and off-network reruns tailored to daytime and fringe-hour audiences. As of November 2025, the station airs syndicated staples such as the talk show in mornings and afternoons, in evenings, the entertainment newsmagazine in mornings and late night, court shows and Justice for the People with Judge Milian in mornings and afternoons. This selection reflects standard offerings for ABC affiliates in mid-sized markets, emphasizing accessible, high-rated fare without overlapping local productions.

Local original content

WKOW produces a range of in-house lifestyle and community affairs programming designed to engage South Central viewers with local interests and issues. Complementing this is the Our Wisconsin documentary series, an award-winning public affairs initiative produced and hosted by anchor Greg Jeschke since 2010. These hour-long specials air periodically, delving into regional topics such as , racial equity, , and historical milestones, with episodes like "Our Wisconsin: Equity & for All?" (2016) and "The Effect" (2020) drawing on interviews, archival , and on-location reporting to educate and spark . The series has earned recognition for its in-depth exploration of local festivals, , and educational themes, often premiering during community events or awareness months. Historically, WKOW's local original content began with modest live productions upon its debut, including farm-focused segments and community features broadcast from a basic studio setup with two cameras. By the , the station expanded into varied formats captured in archival clips, showcasing talent and regional stories. This foundation evolved through the decades from rudimentary variety-style shows to contemporary talk and service-oriented programs, prioritizing public engagement, local event spotlights, and informative segments amid technological advancements in production.

Sports coverage

WKOW has long provided extensive coverage of professional, collegiate, and high school sports in south-central , emphasizing local and regional teams through its ABC affiliation and original programming. The station airs preseason games, serving as a key outlet for fans in the Madison area with live broadcasts and livestreams available on its website. Similarly, WKOW holds exclusive rights to stream and broadcast (WIAA) state high school championships, including football finals at , with games airing on its main channel and subchannels like (27.2). Prior to the 2023 shift in media rights, which moved significant coverage from ABC and to networks including , , and , WKOW broadcast games and other Big Ten events originating on ABC, providing local viewers access to key matchups like football and . This included integration with ABC's national slate, though post-2023, the station's Big Ten airings diminished as rights fragmented across multiple platforms. Local segments are a staple within WKOW's daily newscasts, featuring highlights, analysis, and interviews from University of Wisconsin athletics, Packers updates, and regional teams like the . In 2025, WKOW expanded its sports team with the appointment of Karl Winter as sports director in August, replacing Karley Marotta who departed for another market; Winter now anchors weeknight sports at 6 and 10 p.m., enhancing coverage of Badgers games and high school events amid ongoing staff transitions. The station maintains close ties to University of athletics through comprehensive reporting on its Badgers section, including football schedules and player features, while partnering indirectly via WIAA events hosted at UW facilities under an eight-year extension announced in February 2025. Dedicated pregame programming, such as special editions for Packers games, complements these efforts, offering previews and expert commentary to engage viewers ahead of major broadcasts.

News operation

Historical development

WKOW's news department launched alongside the station's inaugural broadcast on July 4, 1953, featuring basic evening segments on local news, weather, and sports as part of a mix of CBS films and farm programming. This marked Madison's first local television news coverage, delivered from a modest studio setup with two live cameras and film projectors on a converted farm property. By the mid-1950s, the department had established routine daily news production, as evidenced by extensive archival footage shot for evening broadcasts through the 1970s and into the early 1980s. In the 1980s, the department transitioned to (), improving efficiency and coverage speed. By the 2000s, digital technologies enabled web streaming and mobile reporting. Over this period, operations expanded to include more frequent newscasts, reflecting broader industry trends toward comprehensive local reporting amid growing viewership in South Central Wisconsin. The news team achieved notable recognition for investigative work, earning third place in the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association's best hard news/investigative category in 2022, alongside overall Station of the Year honors. Additional milestones include Regional Awards in 2021 for coverage and documentary work. In early 2025, the department faced significant challenges from corporate-wide staff reductions by owner , including layoffs of meteorologists and reporters, which impacted local coverage depth.

Current format and production

As of November 2025, WKOW produces approximately 31 hours of programming each week, broadcast across multiple time slots on weekdays and weekends. The schedule includes the morning program Wake Up Wisconsin from 4:30 to 7 a.m., News Now at 11 a.m., News Now at 4 p.m., 27 News at 5 p.m., 27 News at 6 p.m., and the flagship 27 News at 10 in the evenings. Weekend broadcasts feature anchored news at 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., with a focus on live reporting from the field to cover breaking events in Madison and south-central . The station's production facilities are located at 5727 Tokay Boulevard in Madison, where news operations emphasize real-time coverage through mobile units for traffic and weather events. All content is produced in-house using advanced digital tools for editing and graphics, with a strong integration of live elements to enhance viewer engagement. Programming is delivered across multiple platforms, including live streaming on wkow.com, dedicated mobile apps for iOS and Android, and active social media channels on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram, allowing for real-time updates and interactive segments. Following staff reductions in January 2025 as part of broader cost-cutting measures by parent company , WKOW's news team has adapted to a leaner while maintaining comprehensive coverage. Weather production, previously handled entirely by a dedicated local team, now incorporates centralized support from The Weather Channel's Atlanta hub for select forecasts, though core meteorology remains localized with on-air meteorologists delivering customized predictions for southern . This hybrid approach was implemented after initial plans for full centralization faced public backlash and were partially reversed. Key personnel in the news operation as of November 2025 include evening anchors Amber Noggle and Brandon Taylor, who lead the 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. broadcasts; daytime anchors Caroline Dade for the 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. shows, and Jake Eichstaedt co-anchoring Wake Up Wisconsin alongside Dana Fulton, who also serves as executive producer and meteorologist. Weekend anchors are Chloe Morrissey and Lucas Kihmm, while reporters such as Caroline Bach, Lauryn Abozeid, and Grace Houdek handle investigative and general assignment stories. The weather team is led by Chief Meteorologist Cameron Hopman for weeknights, with Emma Hietpas on mornings and Tanner Blanke on weekends. News Director Dani Maxwell oversees production, supported by producers like Piersen Maass, ensuring a focus on digital-first storytelling amid the post-layoff adjustments.

Technical information

Digital subchannels

WKOW broadcasts six digital subchannels over its UHF on physical channel 26, utilizing ATSC 1.0 standards to provide a mix of national network programming and local content to viewers in south-central . The subchannels offer diverse options, from the primary ABC affiliation to niche multicast networks focused on , , , and practical local information, catering to varied demographics including families, older adults, and commuters. The subchannel lineup as of 2025 is detailed below:
Virtual ChannelResolutionAspect RatioProgrammingNotes
27.1720p16:9ABCPrimary channel featuring the main ABC network feed, including national news, primetime shows, and local insertions for Madison-area and promotions.
27.2720p16:9Multicast network airing classic sitcoms from the 1950s to 1990s, such as , , and ; schedules emphasize multi-hour blocks of feel-good comedy, targeting adults over 35 seeking nostalgic entertainment. This affiliation began in 2021 following the departure of from the slot, initially via the rebranded Decades network which transitioned to in 2023.
27.3480i16:9 Toons-focused network presenting vintage cartoons like , , and in themed blocks (e.g., mornings for family viewing, afternoons for action series); it appeals to children, parents, and retro fans, with a schedule running 24/7 since its addition to WKOW in June 2024, replacing .
27.4720p16:924-hour coverage of high-profile courtroom trials, legal commentary, and retrospective cases; programming includes live gavel-to-gavel trials during the day and analysis shows at night, aimed at viewers interested in real-time justice and legal drama, added in May 2019.
27.5480i16:9Features true crime documentaries, series recreations, and investigative reports on and criminal cases; daily schedules include blocks like morning docuseries and evening marathons, targeting true crime enthusiasts aged 25-54, originating from the Justice Network affiliation launched alongside in 2019 and rebranded in 2021.
27.6480i16:9Local CamerasContinuous live feeds from multiple cameras monitoring key Madison-area roadways, intersections, and -impacted routes (e.g., East Washington Street and WKOW tower views); no traditional programming schedule, instead providing real-time utility for commuters and travelers, with content evolving from the station's initial addition on 27.2 in July 2011—marking the start of multicasting expansion—to the current integrated lineup by 2025, incorporating more localized practical services amid affiliation shifts.

Signal transmission and conversion

WKOW completed its full-power analog-to-digital transition on February 17, 2009, in compliance with the Federal Communications Commission's nationwide mandate for the end of analog broadcasting. The station's analog signal on UHF channel 27 was discontinued at 1 p.m. that day, while its digital signal continued on physical UHF channel 26, mapping to virtual channel 27.1 to maintain continuity for viewers. The transmitter is situated in Madison's Junction Ridge neighborhood at coordinates 43°3′21″N 89°32′6″W, operating with an effective radiated power of 800 kW and a height above average terrain of 455 m. This configuration supports robust over-the-air delivery using a optimized for the region. WKOW pioneered early efforts, launching high-definition (HD) transmissions on October 29, 1998, as one of the smallest U.S. stations to implement full-power digital terrestrial HDTV at the time. In , the station participated in field testing of the standard, known as Futurecast, during off-air hours to evaluate capabilities for 4K ultra-HD content and enhanced mobile reception within a single 6 MHz channel. The current signal provides comprehensive coverage serving the Madison designated market area, which includes 11 counties and reaches approximately 443,000 television households (as of the 2024–2025 television season) with access to digital over-the-air programming, including multiplexed subchannels. No major transmitter upgrades were reported for 2025, maintaining the established ATSC 1.0 infrastructure for reliable reception.

References

  1. https://www.wkow.com/
  2. https://www.youtube.com/user/WKOWTV27
  3. https://www.wkow.com/news/wake-up-wisconsin/wkow-turns-67-years-young/article_b61d91db-f675-5b09-a190-c3fe5fa9250d.html
  4. https://www.wkow.com/contact/about/wkow-history/article_b072d6bc-0880-5c64-bfe9-d37402f182fb.html
  5. https://www.wkow.com/contact/about/
  6. https://allenmedia.tv/byron-allens-allen-media-will-buy-7-stations-from-gray-tv-for-380-million/
  7. https://www.ibmadison.com/business-report/wkow-parent-company-puts-its-28-tv-stations-up-for-sale/article_c7dd39be-b434-40d8-9d03-39ce0f22a6d5.html
  8. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/27-news-now-wkow/id1582675545
  9. https://www.wisconsinbroadcastingmuseum.org/decades-on-the-air/50-years/wkow-tv-june-30-1953/
  10. https://northpine.com/2022/10/01/broadcast-history-timeline-of-early-tv-in-wisconsin/
  11. https://emke.uwm.edu/entry/television/
  12. https://www.livenewsworld.com/wkow-27-madison-stream-live/
  13. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-BC/Broadcasting-Magazine/BC-1979/BC-1979-02-05.pdf
  14. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/522371612/
  15. https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-M-Street/M-Street-Journal/M-Street-1995-03.pdf
  16. https://www.whig.com/archive/article/about-the-quincy-herald-whig-and-qni/article_c761ebb8-f068-5707-991e-b8ba4a170492.html
  17. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/allen-media-group-completes-380-million-cash-acquisition-of-10-broadcast-television-stations-from-gray-television-301346453.html
  18. https://allenmedia.tv/byron-allen-buys-7-gray-divestiture-tv-stations-for-380m/
  19. https://www.npr.org/2025/01/19/nx-s1-5267507/local-tv-meteorologists-the-weather-channel-layoffs
  20. https://www.wpr.org/news/layoffs-local-tv-news-stations-wisconsin-communities
  21. https://northpine.com/2025/01/23/several-meteorologists-out-amid-allen-media-changes/
  22. https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/allen-media-group-retains-moelis-to-sell-its-tv-stations/
  23. https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/byron-allen-sells-tv-stations-gray-media-171-million-1236482388/
  24. https://tvstations.fandom.com/wiki/WKOW
  25. https://www.ontvtonight.com/guide/listings/channel/69022939/wkow-hdtv.html
  26. https://jdogproductions.com/who-am-i/
  27. https://www.wisconsinacademy.org/contributor/greg-jeschke-0
  28. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LRnjh2E2q4
  29. https://www.facebook.com/27news/posts/watch-it-againour-latest-documentary-our-wisconsin-the-climate-change-effect-wil/10155957638387780/
  30. https://marketshare.tvnewscheck.com/2016/08/11/most-racist-state-wisconsin-says-wkow-documentary/
  31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRUTE0JE_ZE
  32. https://www.wkow.com/sports/packers/
  33. https://www.wkow.com/livestream/wkow-livestream2/watch-live-green-bay-packers-2025-preseason-games/article_3219583d-a318-44b6-9d88-af45c1f5c116.html
  34. https://www.wkow.com/sports/wiaa/
  35. https://www.wkow.com/livestream/wkow-livestream2/how-to-watch-wiaa-state-football-championship-games/article_c15262e0-a071-11ef-a260-f3d3e3a1b15b.html
  36. https://www.wiaawi.org/Sports/Fall/Football/Tournament
  37. https://wolverineswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/college/wolverines/football/2022/08/18/big-ten-media-rights-deal-is-done-here-are-the-new-networks-to-watch-starting-in-2023/79039964007/
  38. https://www.wkow.com/sports/
  39. https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/wkow-tv-names-karl-winter-as-sports-director-for-27-news/article_275aa750-42d5-4db7-bea2-81eb9ecd1e5d.html
  40. https://tvnewscheck.com/journalism/article/karl-winter-joins-wkow-madison-as-sports-director/
  41. https://urbanmilwaukee.com/pressrelease/tmj4-news-names-karley-marotta-as-sports-director/
  42. https://www.wkow.com/sports/badgers/
  43. https://www.wkow.com/sports/wiaa/wiaa-announces-continued-partnership-with-uw-madison-athletics/article_f2ddba3e-f3ba-11ef-b6ab-ef6a9637ba34.html
  44. https://www.facebook.com/27news/videos/packers-pregamewe-have-a-special-edition-of-27-news-tonight-at-6-tune-in-for-our/384204634029878/
  45. https://search.library.wisc.edu/catalog/9911126024102121
  46. https://www.wkow.com/townnews/sport/wkow-wins-station-of-the-year-23-other-wisconsin-broadcasters-association-awards/article_b795d7e4-ce75-11ec-b13b-f3889957cd29.html
  47. https://www.wkow.com/archive/27-news-takes-home-two-regional-murrow-awards/article_ccf1b950-b818-57dc-92de-39177d2744a5.html
  48. https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/allen-media-makes-cuts-at-wisconsin-stations/
  49. https://wausaupilotandreview.com/2024/12/26/december-layoffs-affect-wisconsin-tv-news-stations/
  50. https://www.wkow.com/livestream/
  51. https://www.tvpassport.com/tv-listings/stations/abc-wkow-madison-wi/4950
  52. https://www.wkow.com/news/all/the-weather-channel-to-provide-local-weather-to-allen-media-television-stations-across-the-u/article_579d5d6a-d847-11ef-bc80-6f08fe6daf4d.html
  53. https://www.newscaststudio.com/2025/01/23/allen-media-reverses-decision-will-keep-most-meteorologists-at-local-stations/
  54. https://www.wkow.com/contact/meet-the-team/
  55. https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/wkow-in-madison-fills-two-weekend-anchor-positions/
  56. https://tvnewscheck.com/journalism/article/wkow-promotes-dana-fulton-to-news-anchor-executive-producer/
  57. https://www.wkow.com/contact/management-team/
  58. https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=print_station&facility_id=64545
  59. https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=print_market&mktid=106
  60. https://www.catchycomedy.com/shows
  61. https://www.tvobscurities.com/2023/03/decades-rebranding-catchy-comedy-march-27/
  62. https://www.metvtoons.com/
  63. https://northpine.com/2024/07/01/several-tv-network-launches-swaps-cause-changes/
  64. https://www.wkow.com/news/wkow-adding-two-channels-court-tv-and-justice-network/article_c6d2405c-c620-5ecf-9a17-66834f1540ff.html
  65. https://www.wkow.com/weather/cameras/
  66. https://www.wkow.com/weather/traffic/
  67. https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/guides/dtv-enforcement
  68. https://www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets/maps_current/Madison_WI.pdf
  69. https://comarktv.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/COMARK-Timeline.pdf
  70. https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/wkow-to-demo-lg-next-gen-tv-system/
  71. https://ustvdb.com/markets/madison/
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