WREX-TV
Encyclopedia
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 Winnebago
. The station has been owned by Quincy Newspapers
, Inc. of Quincy, Illinois
since 1995.
WREX operates Stateline CW 14, a digital broadcast affiliate of The CW Television Network
via The CW Plus
. Stateline CW is seen on channel 14 on most Rockford area cable systems, as well as on WREX's digital subchannel 13.2. From 2004 until 2007, WREX produced a 9 o'clock newscast on the CW.
WREX's signal reaches as far away as Madison, Milwaukee's southwestern suburbs, and northern suburbs of Chicago
.
and secondarily of ABC
and DuMont
. The station's call letters were selected in honor of Rex N. Caster, the son of the station's founding shareholder and president L.E. Caster. Rex Caster was a First Lieutenant in the United States Army
who was killed in France
during World War II
.
Besides serving its immediate area, WREX attracted viewers early on in its history from parts of the neighboring Madison, Wisconsin
area. In fact, the two areas still share overlapping coverage among their television stations, especially in Rock County, Wisconsin
(technically in the Madison television market). Until Madison's WISC-TV
signed on in 1956, WREX was the only VHF station for both the Rockford and Madison areas.
During the late 1950s, the station was also briefly affiliated with the NTA Film Network
. In 1963, the station was sold to the Gannett Company
; during the mid-1960s, WREX was briefly co-owned with the Rockford Register Star. WREX became a full-time ABC affiliate in 1965, when WCEE-TV
signed on the air. In 1966, WREX became the first television station in Rockford to broadcast in color.
The station was sold in 1969 to the Gilmore Broadcasting Corporation, owner of WEHT
in Evansville, Indiana
. Gilmore served as WREX's longest-standing owner. In 1987, Gilmore sold the station to ML Media Partners, L.P.; under their new ownership, WREX created its own Eyewitness News
format, and finally added the ABC
soap opera All My Children
to its daytime schedule. In August 1995, Quincy Newspapers
purchased WREX and switched network affiliations with WTVO
.
date to June 12, 2009, WREX discontinued its analogue service on the original deadline date of February 17, 2009, at 12:30 PM CT; at 1:26 PM, WREX-DT began transmitting over channel 13.
WREX has a unique partnership with The Rockford Register Star
, the city's daily newspaper. Staff of the newspaper appears on nearly all of WREX's news programs. In return, the newspaper promotes upcoming news stories and programming on Channel 13. WREX also has a partnership with Maverick Media which owns five radio stations in the Rockford market. WREX provides weather reports for the stations and in return the radio stations provide promotion for WREX's programming.
WREX began to air newscasts in high-definition
on December 12, 2010, the second in the Rockford market after WIFR
and the third in the Quincy Newspapers station group after KWWL and WKOW.
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
affiliate serving the 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...
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
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 north of Winnebago
Winnebago, Illinois
Winnebago is a village in Winnebago County, Illinois, United States. It is part of the Rockford, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,101 at the 2010 census, up from 2,958 at the 2000 census.- History :...
. The station has been owned by Quincy Newspapers
Quincy Newspapers
Quincy Newspapers, Inc. is a family-owned media company that originated in the newspapers of Quincy, Illinois. The company's history can be traced back to 1835, when the Bounty Land Register was one of only four newspapers in all of Illinois. Over the next century, a number of mergers followed...
, Inc. of Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, known as Illinois' "Gem City," is a river city along the Mississippi River and the county seat of Adams County. As of the 2010 census the city held a population of 40,633. The city anchors its own micropolitan area and is the economic and regional hub of West-central Illinois, catering a...
since 1995.
WREX operates Stateline CW 14, a digital broadcast affiliate of The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network
The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB...
via The CW Plus
The CW Plus
The CW Plus is a group of primarily digital sub-channels, analog, and non-broadcast cable television outlets for the CW Television Network, for markets below the top 99 television media markets in the United States....
. Stateline CW is seen on channel 14 on most Rockford area cable systems, as well as on WREX's digital subchannel 13.2. From 2004 until 2007, WREX produced a 9 o'clock newscast on the CW.
WREX's signal reaches as far away as Madison, Milwaukee's southwestern suburbs, and northern suburbs of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
History
WREX began operation on October 1, 1953, as an affiliate primarily of CBSCBS
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...
and secondarily of ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
and DuMont
DuMont Television Network
The DuMont Television Network, also known as the DuMont Network, DuMont, Du Mont, or Dumont was one of the world's pioneer commercial television networks, rivalling NBC for the distinction of being first overall. It began operation in the United States in 1946. It was owned by DuMont...
. The station's call letters were selected in honor of Rex N. Caster, the son of the station's founding shareholder and president L.E. Caster. Rex Caster was a First Lieutenant in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
who was killed in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Besides serving its immediate area, WREX attracted viewers early on in its history from parts of the neighboring Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
area. In fact, the two areas still share overlapping coverage among their television stations, especially in Rock County, Wisconsin
Rock County, Wisconsin
-Unincorporated communities:-Further reading:* . Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879.* Brown, William F. , Chicago: Cooper, 1908.* Brown, William F. , Chicago: Cooper, 1908....
(technically in the Madison television market). Until Madison's WISC-TV
WISC-TV
WISC-TV is the CBS affiliate television station for Madison, Wisconsin. The station is the flagship of Madison-based Morgan Murphy Media, and has been affiliated with CBS since its launch on June 24, 1956...
signed on in 1956, WREX was the only VHF station for both the Rockford and Madison areas.
During the late 1950s, the station was also briefly affiliated with the NTA Film Network
NTA Film Network
The NTA Film Network was an early American television network founded by Ely Landau in 1956. The network was not a full-time television network like CBS, NBC, or ABC. Rather, it operated on a part-time basis, broadcasting films and several first-run television programs from major Hollywood studios...
. In 1963, the station was sold to the Gannett Company
Gannett Company
Gannett Company, Inc. is a publicly-traded media holding company headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia, United States, near McLean. It is the largest U.S. newspaper publisher as measured by total daily circulation. Its assets include the national newspaper USA Today and the weekly USA Weekend...
; during the mid-1960s, WREX was briefly co-owned with the Rockford Register Star. WREX became a full-time ABC affiliate in 1965, when WCEE-TV
WIFR
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....
signed on the air. In 1966, WREX became the first television station in Rockford to broadcast in color.
The station was sold in 1969 to the Gilmore Broadcasting Corporation, owner of WEHT
WEHT
WEHT is the ABC-affiliated television station for the Tri-State area of Southwestern Indiana, Northwestern Kentucky and Southeastern Illinois; it is owned by Nexstar Broadcasting Group under a shared services agreement with independent station WTVW...
in Evansville, Indiana
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
. Gilmore served as WREX's longest-standing owner. In 1987, Gilmore sold the station to ML Media Partners, L.P.; under their new ownership, WREX created its own Eyewitness News
Eyewitness News
Eyewitness News is a style of news broadcasting used by local television stations in different markets across the United States. It refers to a particular style of television newscast with an emphasis on visual elements and action video...
format, and finally added the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
soap opera All My Children
All My Children
All My Children is an American television soap opera that aired on ABC from January 5, 1970 to September 23, 2011. Created by Agnes Nixon, All My Children is set in Pine Valley, Pennsylvania, a fictitious suburb of Philadelphia. The show features Susan Lucci as Erica Kane, one of daytime's most...
to its daytime schedule. In August 1995, Quincy Newspapers
Quincy Newspapers
Quincy Newspapers, Inc. is a family-owned media company that originated in the newspapers of Quincy, Illinois. The company's history can be traced back to 1835, when the Bounty Land Register was one of only four newspapers in all of Illinois. Over the next century, a number of mergers followed...
purchased WREX and switched network affiliations with WTVO
WTVO
WTVO is the ABC-affiliated television station for Northern Illinois licensed to Rockford. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 16 from a transmitter at its studios on North Meridian Road/IL 24 in Rockford. The station can also be seen on Comcast channel 4 and in high...
.
Digital television
Even though Congress delayed the mandatory analogue shutoffDTV transition in the United States
The DTV transition in the United States was the switchover from analog to exclusively digital broadcasting of free over-the-air television programming...
date to June 12, 2009, WREX discontinued its analogue service on the original deadline date of February 17, 2009, at 12:30 PM CT; at 1:26 PM, WREX-DT began transmitting over channel 13.
News operation
WREX airs almost 22 hours worth of newscasts a week, with two hours weekday mornings at 5:00; 30 minutes on weekdays at noon, 5, and 6; 35 minutes weekdays at 10; 30 minutes Saturdays at 6 and 10, and 30 minutes Sunday at 10. Minute-and-a-half news/weather updates also air throughout the day weekdays on Stateline CW 14.WREX has a unique partnership with The Rockford Register Star
The Rockford Register Star
The Rockford Register Star is the Rockford, Illinois metropolitan area's primary daily newspaper.The paper began following the merger of two influential Rockford competitors, The Register Republic and The Morning Star...
, the city's daily newspaper. Staff of the newspaper appears on nearly all of WREX's news programs. In return, the newspaper promotes upcoming news stories and programming on Channel 13. WREX also has a partnership with Maverick Media which owns five radio stations in the Rockford market. WREX provides weather reports for the stations and in return the radio stations provide promotion for WREX's programming.
WREX began to air newscasts in high-definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
on December 12, 2010, the second in the Rockford market after WIFR
WIFR
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....
and the third in the Quincy Newspapers station group after KWWL and WKOW.
Newscast Titles
- Action News (1972-1974)
- Newservice 13 (1974-1978)
- Dateline 13 News (1978-1984)
- NewsWatch 13 (1984-1987)
- 13 Eyewitness News (1987-1996)
- 13 News (1996-present)
On-air staff
- Elizabeth Fay — reporter, weekend anchor
- Jeannie Hayes — 13 Cares anchor, CW Update anchor
- Cyndi Kahlbaum — weekend meteorologist
- Rebecca Klopf — reporter
- Dani Maxwell — evening anchor
- Bill Miston — reporter
- Mike Morig — sports director
- Katie Nilsson — evening anchor/reporter
- Michael Peppers — reporter
- Eric Sorensen — chief meteorologist
- Alex Wehrley — morning anchor
- Jude Wilbers — sports reporter, weekend sports anchor
- Eric Wilson — evening anchor
- Aaron Wright — reporter