WIFR
Encyclopedia
WIFR, virtual channel 23, is the CBS
television
affiliate based in Rockford, Illinois
and licensed
to nearby Freeport
. It broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 41, though it formerly broadcast its analog signal on channel 23, which it continues to use as its virtual digital channel via PSIP. It is currently owned by Gray Television
. WIFR is the only television station in the Rockford market to retain the same network affiliation since it first signed-on.
, switched to ABC full-time, sending CBS to WCEE. It has been with CBS ever since, and is the only station in the market to have never switched affiliations. The call letters were changed to the present WIFR in 1977 and stand for "Wisconsin-Illinois-Freeport-Rockford."
On the morning of July 5, 2003, a severe wind storm swept through Rockford. WIFR's transmitter tower, located behind the studio and office building at 2523 N. Meridian Rd. in Rockford, collapsed. Pieces of the tower fell onto a field behind the station's headquarters. No one was injured or killed. Nearly four months later, a new tower was erected and WIFR's signal was back to full power once again.
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
affiliate based in Rockford, Illinois
Rockford, Illinois
Rockford is a mid-sized city located on both banks of the Rock River in far northern Illinois. Often referred to as "The Forest City", Rockford is the county seat of Winnebago County, Illinois, USA. As reported in the 2010 U.S. census, the city was home to 152,871 people, the third most populated...
and licensed
City of license
A city of license or community of license, in American and Canadian broadcasting, is the community that a radio station or television station is officially licensed to serve by that country's broadcast regulator....
to nearby Freeport
Freeport, Illinois
Freeport is a city in and the county seat of Stephenson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 26,443 at the 2000 census. The mayor of Freeport is George W...
. It broadcasts its digital signal on UHF channel 41, though it formerly broadcast its analog signal on channel 23, which it continues to use as its virtual digital channel via PSIP. It is currently owned by Gray Television
Gray Television
Gray Television, Inc. is a communications company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with administrative offices in Albany, Georgia.Established in 1946 by James H...
. WIFR is the only television station in the Rockford market to retain the same network affiliation since it first signed-on.
History
The station went on the air as WCEE-TV on September 12, 1965. The area's previous CBS affiliate, WREX-TVWREX-TV
WREX, channel 13, is the NBC television affiliate serving the Rockford, Illinois area. It is the market's only full-powered VHF station and is Rockford's second oldest television station. Its studios and transmitter are located at Auburn and Winnebago Roads, west of Rockford and north of...
, switched to ABC full-time, sending CBS to WCEE. It has been with CBS ever since, and is the only station in the market to have never switched affiliations. The call letters were changed to the present WIFR in 1977 and stand for "Wisconsin-Illinois-Freeport-Rockford."
On the morning of July 5, 2003, a severe wind storm swept through Rockford. WIFR's transmitter tower, located behind the studio and office building at 2523 N. Meridian Rd. in Rockford, collapsed. Pieces of the tower fell onto a field behind the station's headquarters. No one was injured or killed. Nearly four months later, a new tower was erected and WIFR's signal was back to full power once again.
Station slogans
- Where News Comes First (1980s-1991)
- People You Can Count On (2003–2008)
- Right Now (2008-2009)
- Rockfords Number One News Source(2010-2011)
Anchors
- Andy Gannon – weekday mornings "23 News This Morning" and noon
- Mike Garrigan – weeknights at 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
- Tina Stein – weeknights at 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
- Whitney Martin – weekend anchor/weekday reporter
23 Storm Team
- Mark Henderson (AMSAmerican Meteorological SocietyThe American Meteorological Society promotes the development and dissemination of information and education on the atmospheric and related oceanic and hydrologic sciences and the advancement of their professional applications. Founded in 1919, the American Meteorological Society has a membership...
Seal of Approval) – Chief Meteorologist; weeknights at 5, 6 and 10 p.m. - Dan Guthrie - Weekend Weather and weekday reporter
- Aaron Wilson – Weather Anchor; weekday mornings "23 News This Morning" and noon
23 Sports Ticket
- Pat Gostele – Sports Director; weeknights at 5, 6 and 10 p.m.
- Zach James – Sports Anchor; Saturdays at 6 and weekends at 10 p.m.
Reporters
- Lauren Kravets – general assignment reporter; also producer
- Meghan Dwyer - crime and legal reporter
- Stephen Johnson - general assignment reporter
- Faran Fronczak - business and economics reporter
- Alex Nowak - general assignment reporter/creative services producer