KQEG-CD

KQEG-CD is a low-power, Class A television station licensed to La Crescent, Minnesota, serving the wider La Crosse, Wisconsin–Eau Claire, Wisconsin television market. The station operates on digital channel 23 and primarily rebroadcasts the programming and subchannels of WKBT-DT, the La Crosse CBS affiliate owned by Morgan Murphy Media. Although its city of license is in Minnesota, the station’s operating relationship and studio infrastructure are centered on La Crosse, where WKBT maintains studios on South 6th Street. KQEG-CD’s transmitter is located near Hokah, Minnesota. The station originated in 1994 under White Eagle Partnership, a group associated with Eleanor St. John, Perry St. John, and Richard Wilson. It initially operated as K50DK on channel 50 under a construction permit dated July 15, 1992. The call sign changed to KQEG-LP in February 1996, and the station moved from channel 50 to channel 23 in February 2001. Later that year, its authorization was upgraded from low-power television to Class A status, producing the KQEG-CA call sign. KQEG’s programming history reflects the changing economics and network structure of small-market television. It previously carried UPN programming, with FamilyNet and other services appearing at different times. After the announced 2006 merger of UPN and The WB into The CW, KQEG became briefly notable for ending its UPN affiliation before the new network launched. WKBT subsequently placed UPN programming on a digital subchannel and later affiliated that service with MyNetworkTV. KQEG also carried a rebroadcast of WXOW’s evening newscast for a period in 2006, although that arrangement ended when the station revised its schedule in 2009. In 2009, KQEG-CA and a related Wisconsin construction permit were acquired by Magnum Radio Inc., associated with David R. Magnum. Under Magnum, KQEG added part-time Ion Television programming in 2009, discontinued FamilyNet in 2013, and later continued with part-time AMGTV programming after dropping Ion by 2015. The station also carried locally oriented content, including high-school sports, racing coverage, health and community programs, parades, government meetings, rodeo coverage, and a regional humane-society telethon. Morgan Murphy Media agreed to acquire KQEG and related translator assets in 2021, completing the transaction on November 30 of that year. The acquisition enabled WKBT to use the station’s UHF facilities to address reception limitations associated with its physical VHF channel 8 signal in the La Crosse area. Following the transaction, KQEG became principally a WKBT translator rather than an independently programmed general-entertainment outlet. Its affiliated translator network has included WPDR-LD in Tomah, Wisconsin, and W18FK-D in Elk Mound, Wisconsin. The station’s branding, programming, and technical role are therefore closely integrated with WKBT and Morgan Murphy Media’s regional broadcast operations.

KQEG-CD began with a construction permit dated July 15, 1992, and was launched in 1994 by White Eagle Partnership, associated with Eleanor St. John, Perry St. John, and Richard Wilson. The station initially used the K50DK call sign and broadcast on analog channel 50. On February 5, 1996, it became KQEG-LP. The facility moved to channel 23 in February 2001, and its low-power authorization was converted to Class A status on August 28, 2001, resulting in the KQEG-CA call sign. The station also became connected to a broader network of translators. In 2002, White Eagle Partnership acquired the construction permit for W45CF in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, from Inspiration Television. The permit’s community of license was changed to Elk Mound in 2004. Over time, that facility went through multiple call-sign changes and later became part of the station’s associated digital translator structure. During the 2000s, KQEG operated as a small independent outlet with changing affiliations. It carried UPN as a primary service and FamilyNet on a secondary basis. When UPN and The WB announced plans to combine their programming into The CW in January 2006, KQEG apparently ended its UPN relationship before the new network began. WKBT responded by offering UPN programming through a digital subchannel, which later became affiliated with MyNetworkTV. KQEG also aired a rebroadcast of WXOW’s 6 p.m. newscast at 7 p.m. on weekdays beginning in January 2006, but discontinued that arrangement after a later schedule revision. Magnum Radio Inc. acquired KQEG-CA and the related W45CF permit from White Eagle Partnership on January 19, 2009. The buyer already operated WIBU-LP in Tomah, Wisconsin, which subsequently functioned as a KQEG translator. In May 2009, KQEG revised its schedule to include part-time Ion Television programming. The station later discontinued FamilyNet in 2013, retained a part-time AMGTV relationship, and dropped Ion programming by fall 2015. Its schedule also included syndicated or paid programming and a range of locally produced programs and community events. KQEG’s local programming included high-school sports, Knights of Thunder coverage from La Crosse Fairgrounds Speedway, Seven Rivers Sports, Seven Rivers Racing, Seven Rivers Health, Seven Rivers Spotlight, selected parades, Little Britches Rodeo, La Crosse County government meetings, and a telethon produced with the Coulee Region Humane Society and the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. These programs gave the station a local-service role despite its reliance on outside programming blocks. The station began its transition to digital operation after Magnum received an FCC construction permit for a digital flash cut in September 2009. The digital conversion to channel 23 took place over several weeks beginning in May 2015. A related translator faced technical complications after the 2016 FCC spectrum auction cleared its former UHF 45 placement from the 600 MHz band; equipment delays associated with the COVID-19 period further affected its return to service. In 2021, Magnum filed to sell KQEG and the associated stations to Morgan Murphy Media. The transaction was completed on November 30, 2021. The acquisition enabled WKBT to address reception limitations affecting its physical VHF channel 8 signal in La Crosse by repeating WKBT on a UHF facility. After the sale, the station’s role shifted toward retransmitting WKBT programming and subchannels. The former WBOO call letters were retained by Magnum through a call-sign exchange, while the associated translator became WBDL-LP and later received digital authorization as WPDR-LD. KQEG-CD remains a low-power Class A station licensed to La Crescent, with its transmitter near Hokah and its operational identity closely tied to WKBT and Morgan Murphy Media.

• 2021

  Morgan Murphy Media completes purchase

  [1]KQEG-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Morgan Murphy Media completed the acquisition on November 30, integrating KQEG more closely with WKBT.

• 2015

  Digital flash cut completed

  [1]KQEG-CDen.wikipedia.org

  KQEG carried out its transition from analog channel 23 to digital operation over several weeks beginning in May.

• 2009

  Magnum Radio acquisition and digital authorization

  [1]KQEG-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Magnum Radio acquired KQEG and related assets in January, and the FCC granted a permit for a digital flash cut in September.

• 2006

  UPN affiliation ends during network consolidation

  [1]KQEG-CDen.wikipedia.org

  KQEG ended its UPN affiliation during the transition that led to The CW, while WKBT launched UPN programming on a digital subchannel.

• 2002

  Acquires related Wisconsin construction permit

  [1]KQEG-CDen.wikipedia.org

  White Eagle Partnership purchased the construction permit for W45CF, later associated with KQEG’s translator network.

• 2001

  Moves to channel 23 and receives Class A status

  [1]KQEG-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station moved from channel 50 to channel 23 in February and became a Class A facility on August 28.

• 1996

  Call sign changes to KQEG-LP

  [1]KQEG-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station adopted the KQEG-LP call sign on February 5, 1996.

• 1994

  Station launches as K50DK

  [1]KQEG-CDen.wikipedia.org

  White Eagle Partnership launched the station as K50DK on analog channel 50.

• 1992

  Original construction permit issued

  [1]KQEG-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The original construction permit for the future KQEG facility was dated July 15, 1992.

A regional over-the-air television service whose primary role is to extend WKBT programming into portions of the La Crosse-area market, with a past history of independent, syndicated, network, and locally produced programming.

• Television transmission · 2021

  WKBT-DT retransmission

  KQEG-CD’s principal current function is to retransmit WKBT-DT programming and subchannels. This arrangement extends the La Crosse CBS affiliate’s coverage through a UHF facility and supports reception in areas where WKBT’s physical VHF channel 8 signal may be less effective.

• Local television

  Local community programming

  During its independently programmed period, KQEG produced or carried local sports, community affairs, health, racing, parade, government, rodeo, and charitable programming. Examples included Seven Rivers Sports, Seven Rivers Health, Seven Rivers Spotlight, Knights of Thunder, and a Coulee Region Humane Society telethon.

• Syndicated television · 2013

  AMGTV programming

  KQEG carried selected AMGTV programming blocks after ending its FamilyNet affiliation in 2013 and after discontinuing Ion programming by fall 2015. The schedule also included syndicated home-shopping and other non-local programming.

• 2021

  Sale to Morgan Murphy MediaM&A

  Background

  WKBT faced reception limitations associated with its physical VHF channel 8 signal in La Crosse.

  Action taken

  Morgan Murphy Media acquired KQEG and associated translator assets, completing the transaction on November 30, 2021.

  Aftermath

  KQEG became primarily a WKBT translator, providing a UHF repeat signal and carrying WKBT subchannels.

  Source

• 2009

  Sale to Magnum Radio Inc.M&A

  Background

  White Eagle Partnership owned KQEG and the related Wisconsin construction permit.

  Action taken

  Magnum Radio Inc. acquired the station and related asset on January 19, 2009.

  Aftermath

  The station’s programming was revised to include part-time Ion Television service and a closer relationship with Magnum’s Tomah operation.

  Source

• 2001

  Move to channel 23 and Class A conversionGeneration change

  Background

  The station was operating as a low-power analog outlet under the KQEG-LP call sign.

  Action taken

  It moved from channel 50 to channel 23 and received Class A status, becoming KQEG-CA.

  Aftermath

  The change established the station’s long-term channel and Class A identity.

  Source

1. 1KQEG-CDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KQEG television station websitekqegtv.com