WJFW-TV

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WJFW-TV
Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Branding	Newswatch 12
Slogan	Your Northwoods News Leader!
Channels	12 (VHF) analog, 12.1 (UHF) digital
Translators	27 W27AU Wausau
Affiliations	NBC
Owner	Rockfleet Broadcasting
Founded
Call letters meaning	W-Jasper F. Williams (former owner)
Former callsigns	WAEO-TV (1966-86)
Website	www.wjfw-nbc12.com

WJFW-TV, channel 12, market 134, is a NBC affiliate serving north central Wisconsin. Its city of license is Rhinelander, Wisconsin. Iit operates a Harris high powered transmitter in Starks, Wisconsin; and a low-powered translator UHF station on W27AU channel 27. The station is installing an Acrodyne Industries high definition transmitter on ch. 12.1, which covers the Wausau area. The station is owned by Rockfleet Broadcasting.

[edit] History

When the station signed on the air on October 20, 1966, it had the call letters of WAEO-TV, after its founder, United States congressman Alvin E. O'Konski. It also boasted the highest broadcasting tower in the state as well.

On November 17, 1968, a small plane with three passengers aboard crashed into the tower, knocking out both the tower and the station's building. It was off the air until a new tower was erected (in the same location as the original). After its completion, WAEO was back on the air on September 1, 1969.

On June 1, 1979, WAEO was sold to Seaway Communications, a minority-owned company. It marked the first time a VHF commercial television station in the United States was owned and operated by minority interests.

In 1984, Dr. Jasper F. Williams, the founder and CEO of Seaway Communications, was killed in a plane crash. In his memory, the call letters were changed to WJFW in 1986.

Seaway merged with Rockfleet, the station's current owner, in 1998.

[edit] External links

• WJFW website
• Query the FCC's TV station database for WJFW
• Query the FCC's TV station database for W27AU