WIFR
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| WIFR | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Freeport / Rockford, Illinois | |
| Branding | 23 WIFR |
| Slogan | People You Can Count On |
| Channels | 23 (UHF) analog, 41 (UHF) digital |
| Affiliations | CBS |
| Owner | Gray Television Group, Inc. |
| Founded | September 12, 1965 |
| Call letters meaning | We're In Freeport Rockford or Wisconsin / Illinois Freeport / Rockford |
| Former callsigns | WCEE (1965-1970s) |
| Former affiliations | None |
| Transmitter Power | 676 kW/463 m (analog) 50 kW/420 m (digital) |
| Website | www.wifr.com |
WIFR is the CBS television affiliate based in Rockford, Illinois and licensed to nearby Freeport. It broadcasts its analog signal on UHF channel 23, and its digital signal on UHF channel 41. It is currently owned by Gray Television. WIFR is the only station in Rockford to always be affiliated with the same network (CBS).
The station went on the air as WCEE-TV on September 12, 1965, as the CBS station serving the greater Rockford area. The CBS affiliation was previously on WREX-TV Channel 13 on a part-time basis. The call letters were changed to the present WIFR in the 1970s 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.
In July 2006, WIFR newsteam members Bryan Henry and Mark Hendersen, as well as local doctor John Myers, embarked on what has come to be known as the "23 pound challenge"[1]. Under the patient tutelage of personal trainer Todd Cook, the three men are attempting to each lose 23 pounds, while at the same time providing inspiration to viewers in the Rockford/Freeport markets to take control of their health goals. Regular updates on newscasts, as well as blog entries from the participants, keep interested viewers up to date on everyone's progress. As Trainer Todd points out, "People who delay action until all factors are favorable end up doing nothing at all."
[edit] External links
| ABC Network Affiliate: KAKE | KOLO | WBKO | WHSV | WTOK | WVAW | TV3 Winchester (WHSV-DT3) (cable only) |
| CBS Network Affiliates: KBTX | KKTV | KOLN/KGIN | KWTX | KXII | WCAV | WCTV | WIBW | WIFR | WKYT | WRDW | WSAW | WSWG | WTVY | WVLT | WYMT |
| The CW Network Affiliates1: KBTX | KKCO | KWTX | WBKO | WJHG | WKYT | WTOK | WYMT |
| Fox Network Affiliates: KXII1 | WAHU | WBKO1 | WHSV1 | WSYM2| WTOK1 | WTAP1 |
| Independent Television Station1: WOWT |
| MyNetworkTV Affiliates1: KKTV (KKTV-DT2) | KOLN/KGIN | KXII | WAHU | WCTV | WHSV | WIBW | WJHG | WRDW | WSAW | WSAZ | WSWG | WTOK | WTVY | WTAP | WVLT |
| NBC Network Affiliates: KKCO | WEAU | WILX | WITN | WJHG | WMTV | WNDU | WOWT | WSAZ | WTAP |
| 1These stations broadcast these networks on their digital subchannels. |
| 2Gray and Journal Broadcast Group entered into a "news share" agreement. |
| Annual Revenue: $332.1 USD (2006) | Employees: N/A | Stock Symbol: NYSE: GTN | Website: www.graycommunications.com |
