KHQA-TV

KHQA-TV is a broadcast television station licensed to Hannibal, Missouri, and serving communities across the Quincy, Illinois–Hannibal, Missouri–Keokuk, Iowa television market. Although its legal city of license is Hannibal, the station has long operated its principal studios in Quincy, across the Mississippi River. Its signal and news operation are oriented toward the broader Tri-State area rather than a single city, giving the brand a regional role in local news, weather, sports, public-affairs coverage, syndicated programming, and network television. The station began broadcasting on September 23, 1953. It was established by Lee Enterprises, a Davenport, Iowa-based newspaper and broadcasting company that also owned the Hannibal Courier-Post and WTAD radio in Quincy. The station's call sign reflected its Hannibal license and its location in the United States' eastern call-sign region. KHQA was initially a primary CBS affiliate and also carried DuMont programming as a secondary affiliation during the network's final years. In the 1960s, it shared a secondary ABC relationship with WGEM-TV, another Quincy-market station. KHQA later carried selected UPN programming during late-night hours from 1995 until 2006. KHQA's ownership changed several times as the American local-television industry consolidated. Lee Enterprises sold the station in 1986 to A. Richard Benedek, whose television assets became associated with Benedek Broadcasting. After Benedek entered bankruptcy proceedings, KHQA was sold to Chelsey Broadcasting rather than to Gray Television, which acquired most of Benedek's other stations. KHQA, together with WHOI in Peoria and WEYI-TV in Michigan, became part of the initial station portfolio of Barrington Broadcasting in 2004. Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired Barrington's stations in a transaction completed in November 2013. The station strengthened its physical presence in the market when it left the Western Catholic Union building in downtown Quincy in 1998 and moved to a purpose-built facility on South 36th Street. Its transmitter is located northeast of Quincy near Cannonball Road and Interstate 172. KHQA also expanded its network service through digital broadcasting. In 2007, it announced that a second digital subchannel would carry ABC programming for the Tri-State area, replacing KTVO as the market's ABC affiliate of record. The ABC service launched on September 30 of that year. The station later upgraded its main digital service from 720p to 1080i. KHQA ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, as part of the federally mandated nationwide transition to digital television. Its digital signal ultimately moved to VHF channel 7, corresponding to its historic analog channel assignment. In 2020, Sinclair announced that the station would undergo a centralized-news transition similar to changes at other Sinclair-owned stations. News management, production, and some anchor functions were shifted toward WICD in Champaign, Illinois, while weather coverage and some reporting remained local. In late 2024, KHQA and KTVO announced a combined news operation named Tri-State Trusted. The operation was designed to cover both the Quincy–Hannibal–Keokuk and Ottumwa–Kirksville markets, with newscasts originating from KTVO's studios while retaining KHQA-produced local material. The new service began with its morning newscast on December 9, 2024. In 2025, Sinclair agreed to sell KHQA and four other television stations to Rincon Broadcasting Group, led by Todd Parkin. The Federal Communications Commission approved the transaction on July 1, and the sale closed on July 9, 2025. KHQA therefore remains an active local station while operating under a new independent broadcast-group owner.

KHQA-TV began broadcasting on September 23, 1953, as a station licensed to Hannibal, Missouri. Its original owner was Lee Enterprises, which also controlled the Hannibal Courier-Post and Quincy radio station WTAD. The station's studios were located in Quincy, Illinois, even though its license was assigned to Hannibal. Early FCC rules shaped the call sign and licensing arrangements: Lee could not use the WTAD-TV calls for a station licensed in another city, so the station adopted KHQA. Channel 7 entered a competitive early television environment. Its DuMont transmitters arrived on July 27, 1953, on the same truck as equipment intended for future competitor WGEM-TV. WGEM-TV nevertheless went on the air first, on September 4. KHQA launched later that month as a primary CBS affiliate, with a secondary DuMont affiliation that lasted until 1956. During the 1960s, the station shared a secondary ABC affiliation with WGEM-TV. From 1995 through 2006, KHQA also carried UPN programming during late-night periods. Lee Enterprises sold the Courier-Post in 1969 but retained its Quincy-area broadcasting interests. In December 1986, it sold KHQA to A. Richard Benedek, whose television holdings later became associated with Benedek Broadcasting. Benedek entered bankruptcy in 2002. Most of the company's stations went to Gray Television, but KHQA was sold to Chelsey Broadcasting. In April 2004, KHQA joined WHOI and WEYI-TV as the first stations owned by the newly formed Barrington Broadcasting. The station moved from its long-time downtown Quincy location in the Western Catholic Union building to a new facility on South 36th Street in early 1998. Its transmission facilities are northeast of Quincy near Cannonball Road and Interstate 172. KHQA expanded its network role during the transition to digital television. In August 2007, it announced that a second digital subchannel would provide ABC programming to the Tri-State market; the service launched on September 30. KHQA's primary digital service was subsequently upgraded from 720p to 1080i. KHQA shut down its analog VHF channel 7 signal on June 12, 2009, the national deadline for full-power television's digital conversion. Its digital signal moved from pre-transition UHF channel 29 to VHF channel 7. The station's news structure changed again after Sinclair acquired Barrington. In February 2020, Sinclair disclosed plans to move news management, production, and anchor functions toward WICD in Champaign, Illinois. Some weather operations and reporting remained local, while other employees were offered the possibility of relocation. On November 7, 2024, KHQA and KTVO announced plans to combine their news departments under the Tri-State Trusted name. The regional operation was intended to cover both the Quincy–Hannibal–Keokuk market and the Ottumwa–Kirksville market. It began with a morning newscast on December 9, 2024, originating from KTVO's studios and incorporating local KHQA material. In March 2025, Sinclair disclosed plans to sell five stations, including KHQA and KTVO, to Rincon Broadcasting Group, led by Todd Parkin. The Federal Communications Commission approved the transaction on July 1, and the sale closed on July 9. KHQA continues to operate as an active CBS and ABC-affiliated television brand serving the regional Tri-State audience.

• 2025

  Rincon Broadcasting acquisition closes

  [1]KHQA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Rincon Broadcasting Group completes its purchase of KHQA from Sinclair after FCC approval.

• 2024

  Tri-State Trusted launches

  [1]KHQA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KHQA and KTVO begin their combined regional news operation on December 9.

• 2020

  News production centralization announced

  [1]KHQA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Sinclair announces that portions of KHQA's news operation will be coordinated through WICD in Champaign.

• 2013

  Sinclair acquisition closes

  [1]KHQA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Sinclair Broadcast Group completes its acquisition of Barrington Broadcasting, including KHQA.

• 2009

  Analog transmission ends

  [1]KHQA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KHQA completes the federally mandated transition from analog broadcasting to digital transmission.

• 2007

  ABC launches on KHQA-DT2

  [1]KHQA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  A second digital subchannel begins carrying ABC programming for the local market.

• 2004

  KHQA joins Barrington Broadcasting

  [1]KHQA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KHQA becomes one of the first three stations in the newly formed Barrington Broadcasting group.

• 1998

  New Quincy facility opens

  [1]KHQA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KHQA moves from the Western Catholic Union building to a new facility on South 36th Street.

• 1986

  Lee Enterprises sells KHQA

  [1]KHQA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KHQA is sold to A. Richard Benedek, beginning a succession of ownership changes.

• 1956

  DuMont affiliation ends

  [1]KHQA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  KHQA's secondary affiliation with the DuMont Television Network ends after the network ceases operations.

• 1953

  KHQA begins broadcasting

  [1]KHQA-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station signs on September 23 as a Hannibal-licensed television station with studios in Quincy.

A regional local-news and network-affiliate television brand serving the Illinois–Missouri–Iowa Tri-State market.

• Network television affiliation · 1953

  KHQA CBS service

  KHQA's primary broadcast service carries CBS network programming alongside local news, weather, sports, public-affairs content, syndicated programs, and locally sold advertising. CBS has been the station's principal network affiliation since its 1953 launch.

• Digital television subchannel · 2007

  KHQA-DT2 ABC service

  The station's second digital subchannel provides ABC programming to the Quincy–Hannibal–Keokuk area. It launched in 2007 and replaced KTVO as the market's ABC affiliate of record.

• Local news service · 1953

  KHQA local news

  KHQA's local-news offering covers communities in western Illinois, northeast Missouri, and southeast Iowa, with reporting, weather, sports, and regional public-affairs material. Since 2024, portions of the service have been coordinated through the Tri-State Trusted operation shared with KTVO.

• 2025

  Transfer ownership to Rincon Broadcasting GroupM&A

  Background

  Sinclair decided to sell five television stations, including KHQA and KTVO, as part of a station-portfolio transaction.

  Action taken

  Rincon Broadcasting Group agreed to acquire KHQA. The FCC approved the transaction on July 1, and the sale closed on July 9.

  Aftermath

  KHQA became part of Rincon Broadcasting Group while continuing to serve its existing regional market.

  Source

• 2024

  Create the Tri-State Trusted news operationStrategy

  Background

  KHQA and KTVO sought to coordinate coverage across their adjacent television markets while retaining market-specific reporting.

  Action taken

  The stations merged their news departments under the Tri-State Trusted name, with broadcasts originating from KTVO and incorporating KHQA local content.

  Aftermath

  The combined operation launched its morning newscast on December 9, 2024.

  Source

• 2020

  Centralize parts of news productionStrategy

  Background

  Sinclair announced a restructuring similar to changes at other stations, involving the consolidation of newsroom management and production functions.

  Action taken

  News management, production, and some anchor functions were moved toward WICD in Champaign, while selected local weather and reporting roles were retained.

  Aftermath

  KHQA continued local broadcasting with a more centralized production model.

  Source

• 2007

  Launch an ABC digital subchannelProduct launch

  Background

  The Quincy market had historically received ABC through a secondary or neighboring-station arrangement, and KTVO had served as the area's ABC affiliate of record.

  Action taken

  KHQA introduced ABC programming on its second digital subchannel, which began service on September 30.

  Aftermath

  The launch expanded KHQA's network portfolio and gave the station a direct ABC service for the Tri-State audience.

  Source

1. 1KHQA-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KHQA-TV official websitekhqa.com