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m Corrects date of first broadcast to Oct. 24, 1954, from Oct. 23. Confirmed in newspaper accounts.
 
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{{short description|CBS/MyNetworkTV affiliate in Wausau, Wisconsin}}<!-- No idea if this template can be removed or not.. -->
{{short description|CBS/MyNetworkTV affiliate in Wausau, Wisconsin}}<!-- No idea if this template can be removed or not.. -->
{{Multiple issues|
{{Cleanup bare URLs|date=September 2022}}
{{update|date=August 2021}}
{{update|date=August 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox television station
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = WSAW-TV
| callsign = WSAW-TV
| city =
| city =
| logo = [[File:Wsaw 2014.png|150px]]
| logo = [[File:WSAW logo 2012.webp|200px]]
----
----
[[File:WZAW logo.png|150px]]
[[File:WZAW logo.png|150px]]
----
----
[[File:WAOW CW.png|125px]]
[[File:WAOW CW.png|125px]]
| branding = ''NewsChannel 7''<br />My TV Wausau ''(DT2)''<br />[[WZAW-LD|Fox WZAW]] ''(DT3)''<br />Central Wisconsin CW ''(DT4)''
| branding = {{ubl|''NewsChannel 7''|MeTV Wausau (DT2)|[[WZAW-LD|Fox WZAW]] (DT3)|Central Wisconsin CW (DT4)}}
| analog =
| analog =
| digital = 7 ([[very high frequency|VHF]])
| digital = 7 ([[VHF]])
| virtual = 7
| virtual = 7
| subchannels =
| subchannels =
| translators = W21DS-D 21 ([[ultra high frequency|UHF]]) [[Sayner, Wisconsin|Sayner]]/[[Vilas County, Wisconsin|Vilas County, WI]]
| translators = W21DS-D 21 ([[UHF]]) [[Sayner, Wisconsin|Sayner]]/[[Vilas County, WI]]
| affiliations = '''7.1:''' [[CBS]]<br />'''7.4:''' [[MyNetworkTV]]<<br />'''[[WZAW-LD|7.3]]:''' [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]<br />'''7.4:''' [[The CW Plus|CW+]]<br />''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''7.1:''' [[CBS]]|'''7.2:''' [[MyNetworkTV]]/[[MeTV]]|'''[[WZAW-LD|7.3]]:''' [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]|'''7.4:''' [[CW+]]}}
| airdate = {{start date and age|1954|10|23|p=y}}
| airdate = {{start date and age|1954|10|24|p=y}}
| location = [[Wausau, Wisconsin]]
| location = [[Wausau, Wisconsin]]
| country = United States
| country = United States
| former_callsigns = WSAU-TV (1954–1981)
| former_callsigns = WSAU-TV (1954–1981)
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:'''|7 (VHF, 1954–2009)|'''Digital:'''|40 (UHF, until 2009)|'''''Translators:'''<br />57 & 42 W57AR/W42DH Sayner/Vilas County, WI''}}
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 7 (VHF, 1954–2009)|'''Digital:''' 40 (UHF, until 2009)|'''Translators:''' 57 & 42 W57AR/W42DH Sayner/Vilas County, WI}}
| callsign_meaning = phonetically short for "Wausau, Wisconsin"; also similar to original calls
| callsign_meaning = phonetically short for "Wausau, Wisconsin"; also similar to original calls
| owner = [[Gray Television]]
| owner = [[Gray Television]]
| licensee = Gray Television Licensee, [[Limited liability company|LLC]]
| licensee = Gray Television Licensee, [[LLC]]
| former_affiliations = '''All secondary:'''<br />[[DuMont Television Network|DuMont]] (1954–1956)<br />[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] (1954–1965)<br />[[NBC]] (1954–1966)<br />'''DT3:'''<br />[[The Local AccuWeather Channel|AccuWX]]<br />[[Heroes & Icons]]
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|[[DuMont Television Network|DuMont]] (secondary, 1954–1956)|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] (secondary, 1954–1965)|[[NBC]] (secondary, 1954–1966)}}
| erp = 72 [[kilowatt|kW]]
| erp = 72 [[kW]]
| haat = {{convert|373|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| haat = {{convert|373|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 6867
| facility_id = 6867
| class = [[digital terrestrial television|DT]]
| class =
| coordinates = {{nowrap|{{coord|44|55|14.2|N|89|41|28.7|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}}}
| coordinates = {{coord|44|55|14.2|N|89|41|28.7|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority = [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.wsaw.com/}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.wsaw.com/}}
| embed_header = Satellite station
| embed_header = Satellite station
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| callsign = WYOW
| callsign = WYOW
| city = Eagle River, Wisconsin
| city = Eagle River, Wisconsin
| above =
| digital = 28 ([[UHF]])
| logo =
| branding = see WSAW-TV infobox
| sister_stations = see WSAW-TV infobox
| digital = 28 ([[ultra high frequency|UHF]])
| virtual = 34
| virtual = 34
| subchannels =
| subchannels =
| affiliations = '''7.10:''' CBS<br />'''33.10:''' Fox<br />'''34.1:''' CW+
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''7.10:''' CBS|'''33.10:''' Fox|'''34.1:''' CW+}}
| translators =
| translators =
| founded = January 4, 1997
| founded = January 4, 1997
| location = [[Eagle River, Wisconsin|Eagle River]]–[[Rhinelander, Wisconsin]]
| location = [[Eagle River, Wisconsin|Eagle River]]–[[Rhinelander, Wisconsin]]
| country = United States
| callsign_meaning = disambiguation of former parent station WAOW
| callsign_meaning = disambiguation of former parent station WAOW
| former_channel_numbers = '''Analog:''' 34 (UHF, 1997–2009)
| owner = Gray Television
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] (via [[WAOW]], 1997–2021)|Fox ([[Fox NFL|NFL games]], 1997–1999)|CW+ (DT2, 2006−2021)|Fox (DT3, via WFXS-DT, February−March 2009)}}
| licensee = Gray Television Licensee, LLC
| erp = {{ubl|70 [[kW]]|80 kW (application)}}
| former_channel_numbers = '''Analog:'''<br />34 (UHF, 1997–2009)
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|'''Analog/DT1:'''|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] (via [[WAOW]]; 1997–2021)|<u>Secondary:</u>|Fox ([[Fox NFL|NFL games]]; 1997–1999)|'''DT2:'''|CW+ (2006−2021)|'''DT3:'''|RTV (2008–February 2009)|Fox (via WFXS-DT; February−March 2009)|This TV (March 2009−?)|[[Decades (TV network)|Decades]] (until 2021)|'''DT4:'''|[[Court TV]] (until 2021)|'''DT5:'''|[[Justice Network]] (until 2021)}}
| erp = 70 [[kilowatt|kW]]<br />80 kW (application)
| haat = {{convert|163|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| haat = {{convert|163|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 77789
| facility_id = 77789
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}}
}}
}}
}}
'''WSAW-TV''' (channel 7) is a [[television station]] in [[Wausau, Wisconsin]], United States, affiliated with [[CBS]], [[MyNetworkTV]], and [[The CW Plus]]. It is owned by [[Gray Television]] alongside [[low-power broadcasting#Television|low-power]] [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] affiliate [[WZAW-LD]] (channel 33). Both stations share studios on Grand Avenue/[[U.S. Route 51 in Wisconsin|US 51]] in Wausau, while WSAW-TV's transmitter is located on [[Rib Mountain]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=TV Query Results -- Video Division (FCC) USA |url=https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WSAW |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305015154/https%3A%2F%2Ftransition.fcc.gov%2Ffcc-bin%2Ftvq%3Fcall%3DWSAW |archive-date=March 5, 2023 |access-date=March 5, 2023 |website=transition.fcc.gov}}</ref>
'''WSAW-TV''' (channel 7) is a [[television station]] in [[Wausau, Wisconsin]], United States, affiliated with [[CBS]] and [[The CW Plus]]. It is owned by [[Gray Television]] alongside [[low-power broadcasting#Television|low-power]] [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] affiliate [[WZAW-LD]] (channel 33). The two stations share studios on Grand Avenue/[[U.S. Route 51 in Wisconsin|US 51]] in Wausau; WSAW-TV's transmitter is located on [[Rib Mountain]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=TV Query Results -- Video Division (FCC) USA |url=https://transition.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/tvq?call=WSAW |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305015154/https%3A%2F%2Ftransition.fcc.gov%2Ffcc-bin%2Ftvq%3Fcall%3DWSAW |archive-date=March 5, 2023 |access-date=March 5, 2023 |website=transition.fcc.gov}}</ref>


To serve the Northwoods area of Northern Wisconsin, it operates a digital fill-in [[broadcast relay station#Broadcast translators|translator]] in [[Sayner, Wisconsin|Sayner]] ('''W21DS-D''') that also covers [[Eagle River, Wisconsin|Eagle River]]. This station broadcasts on [[ultra high frequency|UHF]] channel 21 (also mapping to [[virtual channel]] 7) from a transmitter on Razorback Road in [[unincorporated area#United States|unincorporated]] [[Vilas County, Wisconsin|Vilas County]] (north of Sayner). The low-power repeater also serves the western portion of [[Michigan]]'s [[Upper Peninsula of Michigan|Upper Peninsula]] although the broadcasting radius is limited to [[Marenisco Township, Michigan|Marenisco]] and [[Watersmeet Township, Michigan|Watersmeet]].
To serve the Northwoods area of Northern Wisconsin, it operates a digital fill-in [[broadcast relay station#Broadcast translators|translator]] in [[Sayner, Wisconsin|Sayner]] ('''W21DS-D''') that also covers [[Eagle River, Wisconsin|Eagle River]]. This station broadcasts on [[UHF]] channel 21 (also mapping to [[virtual channel]] 7) from a transmitter on Razorback Road in [[unincorporated area#United States|unincorporated]] [[Vilas County]] (north of Sayner). The low-power repeater also serves the western portion of [[Michigan]]'s [[Upper Peninsula]] although the broadcasting radius is limited to [[Marenisco]] and [[Watersmeet Township, Michigan|Watersmeet]].


==History==
==History==
The station launched on October 23, 1954, as '''WSAU-TV''', a sister station to [[WSAU (AM)|WSAU radio]] (550 AM) and the original WSAU-FM (95.5, now [[WIFC]]; the current [[WSAU-FM]] is on 99.9 FM). It was originally owned by two groups who merged their applications in hearing: the radio station and the Wisconsin Valley Television Corporation, a consortium of North-Central Wisconsin newspapers that also included the ''Wausau Daily Record-Herald''.<ref name="Waus540329">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102719426/agree-on-merger-of-tv-interests-wsau-sa/|date=March 29, 1954|page=1|title=Agree on Merger of TV Interests, WSAU Sale to Valley Television Corp.|newspaper=Wausau Daily Record-Herald|location=Wausau, Wisconsin|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 28, 2022}}</ref><!-- Mon --> Channel 7 originally operated from the Plumer Mansion, a [[Richardsonian Romanesque|Richardsonian Romanesque-style]] building, that was located on North 5th Street in Wausau and torn down in 1972 one year after the station moved to its current home.<ref>[http://wikimapia.org/9788556/Site-of-the-Plumer-Mansion From Wikimapia: Site of the Plumer Mansion in Wausau, WI]</ref>
The station launched on October 24, 1954, as WSAU-TV, a sister station to [[WSAU (AM)|WSAU radio]] (550 AM) and the original WSAU-FM (95.5, now [[WIFC]]; the current [[WSAU-FM]] is on 99.9 FM). It was originally owned by two groups who merged their applications in hearing: the radio station and the Wisconsin Valley Television Corporation, a consortium of North-Central Wisconsin newspapers that also included the ''Wausau Daily Record-Herald''.<ref name="Waus540329">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102719426/agree-on-merger-of-tv-interests-wsau-sa/|date=March 29, 1954|page=1|title=Agree on Merger of TV Interests, WSAU Sale to Valley Television Corp.|newspaper=Wausau Daily Record-Herald|location=Wausau, Wisconsin|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 28, 2022}}</ref><!-- Mon --> Channel 7 originally operated from the Plumer Mansion, a [[Richardsonian Romanesque|Richardsonian Romanesque-style]] building, that was located on North 5th Street in Wausau and torn down in 1972 one year after the station moved to its current home.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wikimapia.org/9788556/Site-of-the-Plumer-Mansion|title=Site of the Plumer Mansion - Wausau, Wisconsin|website=wikimapia.org}}</ref>


The Plumer Mansion's [[castle]]-like exterior and a [[suit of armor]] displayed in the mansion inspired the station's graphic designer, Sid Kyler, to design a medieval-style [[blackletter]] "7" logo along with an accompanying cartoon mascot, the fully armored knight "Sir Seven".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Behrens |first=Matt |title=The History of NewsChannel 7 |work=WSAW |url=https://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/39682167.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201103432/https://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/39682167.html |archive-date=February 1, 2016}}</ref> The logo and mascot served as representations of the station for several decades. Wisconsin Valley expanded with [[WMTV]] in [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]] and radio station [[WJOK|WKAU]] in [[Kaukauna, Wisconsin|Kaukauna]]. In 1965, Wisconsin Valley purchased its first media holding outside of the state, [[KCAU-TV|KVTV]] in [[Sioux City, Iowa]]; as a consequence of doing business in other states, the firm renamed itself Forward Communications in January 1967.<ref name="Waus670109">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102710726/tv-corporation-has-new-name/|date=January 9, 1967|page=7|title=TV Corporation Has New Name|newspaper=Wausau Daily Herald|location=Wausau, Wisconsin|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 28, 2022}}</ref><!-- Mon -->
The Plumer Mansion's [[castle]]-like exterior and a [[suit of armor]] displayed in the mansion inspired the station's graphic designer, Sid Kyler, to design a medieval-style [[blackletter]] "7" logo along with an accompanying cartoon mascot, the fully armored knight "Sir Seven".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Behrens |first=Matt |title=The History of NewsChannel 7 |work=WSAW |url=https://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/39682167.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201103432/https://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/39682167.html |archive-date=February 1, 2016}}</ref> The logo and mascot served as representations of the station for several decades. Wisconsin Valley expanded with [[WMTV]] in [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]] and radio station [[WJOK|WKAU]] in [[Kaukauna]]. In 1965, Wisconsin Valley purchased its first media holding outside of the state, [[KCAU-TV|KVTV]] in [[Sioux City, Iowa]]; as a consequence of doing business in other states, the firm renamed itself Forward Communications in January 1967.<ref name="Waus670109">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102710726/tv-corporation-has-new-name/|date=January 9, 1967|page=7|title=TV Corporation Has New Name|newspaper=Wausau Daily Herald|location=Wausau, Wisconsin|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 28, 2022}}</ref><!-- Mon -->


Forward sold off WSAU and WIFC radio in 1980; the radio station retained the WSAU call sign, and Forward immediately applied for the call sign WSAW.<ref name="Waus801122">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102719656/fcc-approval-pending-forward-sells-two/|date=November 22, 1980|page=3|title=FCC approval pending: Forward sells two local radio stations|newspaper=Wausau Daily Herald|location=Wausau, Wisconsin|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 28, 2022}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The WSAW-TV call sign became effective on March 8, 1981.<ref name="hc">{{FCC letter|hcards=yes|callsign=WSAW-TV|letterid=86790}}</ref>
Forward sold off WSAU and WIFC radio in 1980. Since the radio station retained the WSAU call sign, Forward immediately applied to change channel 7's call sign to the similar-sounding WSAW-TV.<ref name="Waus801122">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102719656/fcc-approval-pending-forward-sells-two/|date=November 22, 1980|page=3|title=FCC approval pending: Forward sells two local radio stations|newspaper=Wausau Daily Herald|location=Wausau, Wisconsin|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 28, 2022}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The WSAW-TV call sign became effective on March 8, 1981.<ref name="hc">{{FCC letter|hcards=yes|callsign=WSAW-TV|letterid=86790}}</ref>


It has been affiliated with CBS since its beginning although the station did have secondary affiliations with [[DuMont Television Network|DuMont]] (until that network expired in 1956), [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] (until [[WAOW]] signed-on in 1965), and [[NBC]] (until [[WJFW-TV|WAEO]] [now WJFW-TV] launched in 1966). On September 5, 2006, WSAW added MyNetworkTV to a second [[digital subchannel]]. Its broadcasts have been [[Digital television transition in the United States|digital-only]] since before midnight on February 16, 2009, when the analog sign-off featured a "good night" from Sir Seven.{{cn|date=March 2023|reason=Dead link, couldn't find an archive.}} On April 2, 2011, WSAW became the first station in the [[media market|market]] to broadcast local newscast in high definition.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Levin |first=Phil |title=NewsChannel7 Newscasts Now in HD |work=WSAW |url=https://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/NewsChannel7__119226799.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723112103/http://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/NewsChannel7__119226799.html |archive-date=July 23, 2011}}</ref> With the switch to HD came a revamp of their news set and new graphics, along with a return of Sir Seven as the station's mascot in a newly CGI-rendered form.<ref>{{Cite news |last=DesRivieres |first=John |title="Sir 7" is Coming Back to Newschannel 7 |work=WSAW |url=http://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/Sir_7_is_Coming_Back_to_Newschannel_7_119221189.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723112113/http://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/Sir_7_is_Coming_Back_to_Newschannel_7_119221189.html |archive-date=July 23, 2011}}</ref>
It has been affiliated with CBS since its beginning although the station did have secondary affiliations with [[DuMont Television Network|DuMont]] (until that network expired in 1956), [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] (until [[WAOW]] signed-on in 1965), and [[NBC]] (until [[WAEO]] [now WJFW-TV] launched in 1966). On September 5, 2006, WSAW added MyNetworkTV to a second [[digital subchannel]].{{cn|date=July 2024}}


WSAW-TV shut down its analog signal, over [[VHF]] channel 7, at 11:55 pm on February 17, 2009,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wsaw.com/dtv/misc/37840189.html |title=Notification of Analog Signal Termination |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=WSAW |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615135934/http://www.wsaw.com/dtv/misc/37840189.html |archive-date=June 15, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> the original target date on which full-power television stations in the United States were to [[Digital television transition in the United States|transition from analog to digital broadcasts]] under federal mandate (which was later pushed back to June 12, 2009); the station concluded its analog broadcasts with a sign-off message from Sir Seven.<ref>Archived at the [https://web.archive.org/web/20240801003424/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOi6N3R0w1c Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgH2dZ0l-BY | title = WSAW Analog Signoff | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition [[UHF]] channel 40 to its analog era VHF channel 7.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds |access-date=June 26, 2024}}</ref> On April 2, 2011, WSAW became the first station in the [[media market|market]] to broadcast local newscast in high definition.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Levin |first=Phil |title=NewsChannel7 Newscasts Now in HD |work=WSAW |url=https://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/NewsChannel7__119226799.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723112103/http://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/NewsChannel7__119226799.html |archive-date=July 23, 2011}}</ref> With the switch to HD came a revamp of their news set and new graphics, along with a return of Sir Seven as the station's mascot in a newly CGI-rendered form.<ref>{{Cite news |last=DesRivieres |first=John |title="Sir 7" is Coming Back to Newschannel 7 |work=WSAW |url=http://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/Sir_7_is_Coming_Back_to_Newschannel_7_119221189.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723112113/http://www.wsaw.com/home/headlines/Sir_7_is_Coming_Back_to_Newschannel_7_119221189.html |archive-date=July 23, 2011}}</ref>
On July 1, 2015, Gray bought the non-license assets of the market's Fox affiliate [[WFXS-DT]] (channel 55, owned by Davis Television, [[Limited liability company|LLC]]). Due to [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) ownership restrictions, a new low-power station (WZAW-LD channel 33) was established to become the area's Fox affiliate. All of WFXS' program streams including WFXS's existing PSIP channel numbering were then moved to the low-power outlet. Subsequently, WFXS ceased broadcasting after nearly sixteen years on-the-air and its studios on North 3rd Street in Wausau were shut down.<ref name="tvnc-wfxsclosure">{{cite news |date=July 1, 2015 |title=Gray in 4 New Deals, Closes 3 Earlier Ones |work=TVNewsCheck |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/86603/gray-in-4-new-deals-closes-3-earlier-ones |url-status=live |access-date=July 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305021559/https%3A%2F%2Ftvnewscheck.com%2Funcategorized%2Farticle%2Fgray-in-4-new-deals-closes-3-earlier-ones%2F |archive-date=March 5, 2023}}</ref>


On July 1, 2015, Gray bought the non-license assets of the market's Fox affiliate [[WFXS-DT]] (channel 55, owned by Davis Television, [[LLC]]). Due to [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) ownership restrictions, a new low-power station (WZAW-LD, channel 33) was established to become the area's Fox affiliate. All of WFXS's program streams including WFXS's existing virtual channel numbering were then moved to the low-power outlet. Subsequently, WFXS ceased broadcasting after nearly sixteen years on-the-air and its studios on North 3rd Street in Wausau were shut down.<ref name="tvnc-wfxsclosure">{{cite news |date=July 1, 2015 |title=Gray in 4 New Deals, Closes 3 Earlier Ones |work=TVNewsCheck |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/86603/gray-in-4-new-deals-closes-3-earlier-ones |url-status=live |access-date=July 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305021559/https%3A%2F%2Ftvnewscheck.com%2Funcategorized%2Farticle%2Fgray-in-4-new-deals-closes-3-earlier-ones%2F |archive-date=March 5, 2023}}</ref>
In consenting to the interference that would be caused by WZAW operating under [[special temporary authority]] on channel 31 (the same [[RF]] channel as WFXS) rather than its licensed channel 33, Davis Television stated that it would return the WFXS license to the FCC for cancellation following the sale.<ref name=fcc-wfxstoclose>{{cite web|last1=Raff|first1=Robert|title=Interference Consent|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101680064&qnum=5410&copynum=1&exhcnum=2|website=CDBS Public Access|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|access-date=July 3, 2015|format=PDF|date=June 9, 2015}}</ref> In August 2015, WSAW launched a prime time newscast on the Fox outlet known as ''WZAW News at 9''. This half-hour broadcast offers direct competition to [[WAOW]]'s thirty-minute, weeknight-only news airing at the same time on [[WMOW|its]] [[The CW|CW]] [[digital subchannel]] (which aired on WFXS before July 1, 2015).

In consenting to the interference that would be caused by WZAW operating under [[special temporary authority]] on channel 31 (the same RF channel as WFXS) rather than its licensed channel 33, Davis Television stated that it would return the WFXS license to the FCC for cancellation following the sale.<ref name=fcc-wfxstoclose>{{cite web|last1=Raff|first1=Robert|title=Interference Consent|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101680064&qnum=5410&copynum=1&exhcnum=2|website=CDBS Public Access|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|access-date=July 3, 2015|format=PDF|date=June 9, 2015}}</ref> In August 2015, WSAW launched a prime time newscast on the Fox outlet known as ''WZAW News at 9''. This half-hour broadcast offers direct competition to [[WAOW]]'s thirty-minute, weeknight-only news airing at the same time on its [[The CW|CW]] digital subchannel (which aired on WFXS before July 1, 2015).


On October 1, 2015, the station began using its new studio. It was the first upgrade in a decade and took months to finish. The new studio includes two new state-of-the art sets: one each for WSAW and WZAW.<ref>{{cite news |last=Caldwell |first=Sean |date=October 1, 2015 |title=WSAW, WZAW debut new, state-of-the-art Wausau studios |publisher=WSAW-TV |url=https://www.wsaw.com/content/misc/WSAW-WZAW-debut-new-state-of-the-art-Wausau-studios-330335291.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305023821/https://www.wsaw.com/content/misc/WSAW-WZAW-debut-new-state-of-the-art-Wausau-studios-330335291.html |archive-date=March 5, 2023}}</ref> Eventually, the WZAW-LD simulcast on WSAW's third subchannel was upgraded to high definition to provide full-market access to Fox programming in HD.
On October 1, 2015, the station began using its new studio. It was the first upgrade in a decade and took months to finish. The new studio includes two new state-of-the art sets: one each for WSAW and WZAW.<ref>{{cite news |last=Caldwell |first=Sean |date=October 1, 2015 |title=WSAW, WZAW debut new, state-of-the-art Wausau studios |publisher=WSAW-TV |url=https://www.wsaw.com/content/misc/WSAW-WZAW-debut-new-state-of-the-art-Wausau-studios-330335291.html |url-status=live |access-date=March 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305023821/https://www.wsaw.com/content/misc/WSAW-WZAW-debut-new-state-of-the-art-Wausau-studios-330335291.html |archive-date=March 5, 2023}}</ref> Eventually, the WZAW-LD simulcast on WSAW's third subchannel was upgraded to high definition to provide full-market access to Fox programming in HD.


==News operation==
==News operation==
WSAW presently broadcasts 22½ hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with 4½ hours each weekday, and 2 hours each on Saturdays and Sundays).
WSAW presently broadcasts {{frac|22|1|2}} hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with {{frac|4|1|2}} hours each weekday, and two hours each on Saturdays and Sundays).


==Technical information==
==Technical information==
The stations' digital signals are [[multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
The stations' signals are [[multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of WSAW-TV<ref>[http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WSAW#station RabbitEars TV Query for WSAW]</ref><ref>https://www.facebook.com/NewsChannel7/photos/a.434442178659.230075.49134238659/1015057644208660/?type=1&theater {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref><ref>http://wsaw.titantv.com/apg/ttv.aspx</ref>
|+Subchannels of WSAW-TV<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WSAW|title=RabbitEars.Info|website=rabbitears.info}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/NewsChannel7/photos/a.434442178659.230075.49134238659/1015057644208660/?type=1&theater|title=Facebook|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url=http://wsaw.titantv.com/apg/ttv.aspx|title=TitanTV Programming Guide|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012150525/http://wsaw.titantv.com/apg/ttv.aspx|archive-date=October 12, 2017|access-date=September 17, 2023}}</ref>
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
Line 99: Line 91:
|-
|-
! scope = "row" | 7.1
! scope = "row" | 7.1
| [[1080i]] || rowspan=6| [[16:9]] || CBS || Main WSAW-TV programming / [[CBS]]
| [[1080i]] || rowspan=6| [[16:9]] || CBS || [[CBS]]
|-
|-
! scope = "row" | 7.2
! scope = "row" | 7.2
| [[480i]] || MyTV || [[MyNetworkTV]]
| [[480i]] || MeTV+ || [[MyNetworkTV]]/[[MeTV]]
|-
|- style="background-color: #E6FFF7;"
! scope = "row" | [[WZAW-LD|7.3]]
! scope = "row" | [[WZAW-LD|7.3]]
| rowspan=2|[[720p]] || FOX || [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] ([[WZAW-LD]])
| rowspan=2|[[720p]] || style="background-color: #E6FFF7;"|FOX || style="background-color: #E6FFF7;"|[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] ([[WZAW-LD]])
|-
|- style="background-color: #E6FFF7;"
! scope = "row" | 7.4
! scope = "row" | 7.4
| CW || [[The CW Plus|CW+]] (WYOW)
| style="background-color: #E6FFF7;"|CW || style="background-color: #E6FFF7;"|[[CW+]] (WYOW)
|-
|-
! scope = "row" | 7.5
! scope = "row" | 7.5
Line 114: Line 106:
|-
|-
! scope = "row" | 7.6
! scope = "row" | 7.6
| Circle ||[[Circle (TV network)|Circle]]
| Outlaw ||[[Outlaw (TV network)|Outlaw]]
|}
|}
{{legend|#E6FFF7|Simulcast of subchannels of another station}}
{{legend|#E6FFF7|Simulcast of subchannels of another station}}
Line 120: Line 112:
{{further|WAOW#WYOW}}
{{further|WAOW#WYOW}}
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of WYOW<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto2"/>
|+Subchannels of WYOW<ref>[http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WSAW#station RabbitEars TV Query for WSAW]</ref><ref>https://www.facebook.com/NewsChannel7/photos/a.434442178659.230075.49134238659/1015057644208660/?type=1&theater {{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref><ref>http://wsaw.titantv.com/apg/ttv.aspx</ref>
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
Line 126: Line 118:
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Programming
! scope = "col" | Programming
|-
|- style="background-color: #E6FFF7;"
! scope = "row" | 7.10
! scope = "row" | 7.10
| [[1080i]] || rowspan=2| [[16:9]] || WSAW-DT || [[CBS]] (WSAW-TV)
| [[1080i]] || rowspan=3| [[16:9]] || style="background-color: #E6FFF7;"|WSAW-DT || style="background-color: #E6FFF7;"|[[CBS]] (WSAW-TV)
|-
|- style="background-color: #E6FFF7;"
! scope = "row" | [[WZAW-LD|33.10]]
! scope = "row" | [[WZAW-LD|33.10]]
| [[720p]] || Fox || [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] ([[WZAW-LD]])
| rowspan=2|[[720p]] || style="background-color: #E6FFF7;"|Fox || style="background-color: #E6FFF7;"|[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] ([[WZAW-LD]])
|-
|-
! scope = "row" | 34.1
! scope = "row" | 34.1
| 720p || 16:9 || WYOW-DT || Main WYOW programming / [[The CW Plus|The CW]]
| WYOW-DT || [[The CW Plus]]
|}
|}
{{legend|#E6FFF7|Simulcast of subchannels of another station}}
{{legend|#E6FFF7|Simulcast of subchannels of another station}}
Line 144: Line 136:
! Channel
! Channel
! [[effective radiated power|ERP]]
! [[effective radiated power|ERP]]
! [[height above average terrain|HAAT]]
! [[HAAT]]
! [[Facility ID]]
! [[Facility ID]]
! Transmitter coordinates
! Transmitter coordinates
Line 159: Line 151:
==External links==
==External links==
*[https://www.wsaw.com/ Official website]
*[https://www.wsaw.com/ Official website]
*[https://www.yourcwtv.com/partners/wausau/ The CW Central Wisconsin]


{{Wausau TV}}
{{Wausau TV}}
Line 166: Line 159:
{{Gray TV}}
{{Gray TV}}


[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1954]]
[[Category:CBS affiliates]]
[[Category:Television stations in Wausau, Wisconsin|SAW-TV]]
[[Category:CBS network affiliates]]
[[Category:MyNetworkTV affiliates]]
[[Category:MeTV affiliates]]
[[Category:The CW affiliates]]
[[Category:The CW affiliates]]
[[Category:Start TV affiliates]]
[[Category:Gray Television]]
[[Category:Gray Television]]
[[Category:MeTV affiliates]]
[[Category:MyNetworkTV affiliates]]
[[Category:Quest (American TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Quest (American TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Start TV affiliates]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1954]]
[[Category:Television stations in Wausau, Wisconsin|SAW-TV]]

Latest revision as of 04:08, 24 September 2024

WSAW-TV


Channels
Branding
  • NewsChannel 7
  • MeTV Wausau (DT2)
  • Fox WZAW (DT3)
  • Central Wisconsin CW (DT4)
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
October 24, 1954 (70 years ago) (1954-10-24)
Former call signs
WSAU-TV (1954–1981)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 7 (VHF, 1954–2009)
  • Digital: 40 (UHF, until 2009)
  • Translators: 57 & 42 W57AR/W42DH Sayner/Vilas County, WI
  • DuMont (secondary, 1954–1956)
  • ABC (secondary, 1954–1965)
  • NBC (secondary, 1954–1966)
Call sign meaning
phonetically short for "Wausau, Wisconsin"; also similar to original calls
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID6867
ERP72 kW
HAAT373 m (1,224 ft)
Transmitter coordinates44°55′14.2″N 89°41′28.7″W / 44.920611°N 89.691306°W / 44.920611; -89.691306
Translator(s)W21DS-D 21 (UHF) Sayner/Vilas County, WI
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.wsaw.com
Satellite station
WYOW
CityEagle River, Wisconsin
Channels
Programming
Affiliations
  • 7.10: CBS
  • 33.10: Fox
  • 34.1: CW+
History
FoundedJanuary 4, 1997
Former channel number(s)
Analog: 34 (UHF, 1997–2009)
  • ABC (via WAOW, 1997–2021)
  • Fox (NFL games, 1997–1999)
  • CW+ (DT2, 2006−2021)
  • Fox (DT3, via WFXS-DT, February−March 2009)
Call sign meaning
disambiguation of former parent station WAOW
Technical information[2]
Facility ID77789
ERP
  • 70 kW
  • 80 kW (application)
HAAT163 m (535 ft)
Transmitter coordinates45°46′29.9″N 89°14′56.1″W / 45.774972°N 89.248917°W / 45.774972; -89.248917
Links
Public license information

WSAW-TV (channel 7) is a television station in Wausau, Wisconsin, United States, affiliated with CBS and The CW Plus. It is owned by Gray Television alongside low-power Fox affiliate WZAW-LD (channel 33). The two stations share studios on Grand Avenue/US 51 in Wausau; WSAW-TV's transmitter is located on Rib Mountain.[3]

To serve the Northwoods area of Northern Wisconsin, it operates a digital fill-in translator in Sayner (W21DS-D) that also covers Eagle River. This station broadcasts on UHF channel 21 (also mapping to virtual channel 7) from a transmitter on Razorback Road in unincorporated Vilas County (north of Sayner). The low-power repeater also serves the western portion of Michigan's Upper Peninsula although the broadcasting radius is limited to Marenisco and Watersmeet.

History

[edit]

The station launched on October 24, 1954, as WSAU-TV, a sister station to WSAU radio (550 AM) and the original WSAU-FM (95.5, now WIFC; the current WSAU-FM is on 99.9 FM). It was originally owned by two groups who merged their applications in hearing: the radio station and the Wisconsin Valley Television Corporation, a consortium of North-Central Wisconsin newspapers that also included the Wausau Daily Record-Herald.[4] Channel 7 originally operated from the Plumer Mansion, a Richardsonian Romanesque-style building, that was located on North 5th Street in Wausau and torn down in 1972 one year after the station moved to its current home.[5]

The Plumer Mansion's castle-like exterior and a suit of armor displayed in the mansion inspired the station's graphic designer, Sid Kyler, to design a medieval-style blackletter "7" logo along with an accompanying cartoon mascot, the fully armored knight "Sir Seven".[6] The logo and mascot served as representations of the station for several decades. Wisconsin Valley expanded with WMTV in Madison and radio station WKAU in Kaukauna. In 1965, Wisconsin Valley purchased its first media holding outside of the state, KVTV in Sioux City, Iowa; as a consequence of doing business in other states, the firm renamed itself Forward Communications in January 1967.[7]

Forward sold off WSAU and WIFC radio in 1980. Since the radio station retained the WSAU call sign, Forward immediately applied to change channel 7's call sign to the similar-sounding WSAW-TV.[8] The WSAW-TV call sign became effective on March 8, 1981.[9]

It has been affiliated with CBS since its beginning although the station did have secondary affiliations with DuMont (until that network expired in 1956), ABC (until WAOW signed-on in 1965), and NBC (until WAEO [now WJFW-TV] launched in 1966). On September 5, 2006, WSAW added MyNetworkTV to a second digital subchannel.[citation needed]

WSAW-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 7, at 11:55 pm on February 17, 2009,[10] 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 concluded its analog broadcasts with a sign-off message from Sir Seven.[11] The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 40 to its analog era VHF channel 7.[12] On April 2, 2011, WSAW became the first station in the market to broadcast local newscast in high definition.[13] With the switch to HD came a revamp of their news set and new graphics, along with a return of Sir Seven as the station's mascot in a newly CGI-rendered form.[14]

On July 1, 2015, Gray bought the non-license assets of the market's Fox affiliate WFXS-DT (channel 55, owned by Davis Television, LLC). Due to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ownership restrictions, a new low-power station (WZAW-LD, channel 33) was established to become the area's Fox affiliate. All of WFXS's program streams including WFXS's existing virtual channel numbering were then moved to the low-power outlet. Subsequently, WFXS ceased broadcasting after nearly sixteen years on-the-air and its studios on North 3rd Street in Wausau were shut down.[15]

In consenting to the interference that would be caused by WZAW operating under special temporary authority on channel 31 (the same RF channel as WFXS) rather than its licensed channel 33, Davis Television stated that it would return the WFXS license to the FCC for cancellation following the sale.[16] In August 2015, WSAW launched a prime time newscast on the Fox outlet known as WZAW News at 9. This half-hour broadcast offers direct competition to WAOW's thirty-minute, weeknight-only news airing at the same time on its CW digital subchannel (which aired on WFXS before July 1, 2015).

On October 1, 2015, the station began using its new studio. It was the first upgrade in a decade and took months to finish. The new studio includes two new state-of-the art sets: one each for WSAW and WZAW.[17] Eventually, the WZAW-LD simulcast on WSAW's third subchannel was upgraded to high definition to provide full-market access to Fox programming in HD.

News operation

[edit]

WSAW presently broadcasts 22+12 hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with 4+12 hours each weekday, and two hours each on Saturdays and Sundays).

Technical information

[edit]

The stations' signals are multiplexed:

Subchannels of WSAW-TV[18][19][20]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
7.1 1080i 16:9 CBS CBS
7.2 480i MeTV+ MyNetworkTV/MeTV
7.3 720p FOX Fox (WZAW-LD)
7.4 CW CW+ (WYOW)
7.5 480i Quest Quest
7.6 Outlaw Outlaw
  Simulcast of subchannels of another station
Subchannels of WYOW[18][19][20]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
7.10 1080i 16:9 WSAW-DT CBS (WSAW-TV)
33.10 720p Fox Fox (WZAW-LD)
34.1 WYOW-DT The CW Plus
  Simulcast of subchannels of another station

Translators

[edit]
City of license Callsign Channel ERP HAAT Facility ID Transmitter coordinates
Sayner W21DS-D 21 15 kW 138 m (453 ft) 167156 46°01′55.0″N 89°31′49.0″W / 46.031944°N 89.530278°W / 46.031944; -89.530278 (W21DS-D)

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WSAW-TV". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WYOW". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ "TV Query Results -- Video Division (FCC) USA". transition.fcc.gov. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  4. ^ "Agree on Merger of TV Interests, WSAU Sale to Valley Television Corp". Wausau Daily Record-Herald. Wausau, Wisconsin. March 29, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved May 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Site of the Plumer Mansion - Wausau, Wisconsin". wikimapia.org.
  6. ^ Behrens, Matt. "The History of NewsChannel 7". WSAW. Archived from the original on February 1, 2016.
  7. ^ "TV Corporation Has New Name". Wausau Daily Herald. Wausau, Wisconsin. January 9, 1967. p. 7. Retrieved May 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "FCC approval pending: Forward sells two local radio stations". Wausau Daily Herald. Wausau, Wisconsin. November 22, 1980. p. 3. Retrieved May 28, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ FCC History Cards for WSAW-TV
  10. ^ "Notification of Analog Signal Termination". WSAW. Archived from the original on June 15, 2009. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  11. ^ Archived at the Wayback Machine: "WSAW Analog Signoff". YouTube.
  12. ^ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2024.
  13. ^ Levin, Phil. "NewsChannel7 Newscasts Now in HD". WSAW. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011.
  14. ^ DesRivieres, John. ""Sir 7" is Coming Back to Newschannel 7". WSAW. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011.
  15. ^ "Gray in 4 New Deals, Closes 3 Earlier Ones". TVNewsCheck. July 1, 2015. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  16. ^ Raff, Robert (June 9, 2015). "Interference Consent" (PDF). CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved July 3, 2015.
  17. ^ Caldwell, Sean (October 1, 2015). "WSAW, WZAW debut new, state-of-the-art Wausau studios". WSAW-TV. Archived from the original on March 5, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  18. ^ a b "RabbitEars.Info". rabbitears.info.
  19. ^ a b "Facebook". www.facebook.com.
  20. ^ a b "TitanTV Programming Guide". Archived from the original on October 12, 2017. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
[edit]