WKOW

WKOW is a television station based in Madison, Wisconsin, broadcasting on virtual channel 27 and affiliated with the ABC network. It is owned by Allen Media Broadcasting, part of Allen Media Group, and operates from studios on Tokay Boulevard on Madison's west side. Its transmitter is located on South Pleasant View Road in Madison's Junction Ridge area. The station serves the Madison television market and contributes to a broader Allen Media Group network of ABC affiliates covering central, western, and northern Wisconsin. The station began broadcasting on June 30, 1953, as Madison's first television station. It was established by Monona Broadcasting Company, a group of local businesspeople associated with WKOW radio. The call sign was designed to evoke Wisconsin's dairy identity, and early station branding used a cow image and visual emphasis on the letters K-O-W. WKOW-TV initially carried CBS programming, but moved to ABC in 1956 after WISC-TV became Madison's primary CBS affiliate. The station retained its ABC affiliation thereafter, making the network relationship one of its defining commercial and programming characteristics. WKOW has had a succession of owners. Midcontinent Broadcasting acquired the station in 1960, and Horizon Communications purchased WKOW-TV and sister station WAOW in 1970. Horizon later sold the stations to Liberty Television in 1978, which in turn sold them to Tak Communications in 1985. Tak's financial collapse led to a receivership and eventual sale of its Wisconsin stations. In 1995, manager Terry Shockley acquired WKOW and related Wisconsin stations through the newly formed Shockley Communications. Quincy Newspapers bought WKOW and its Wisconsin sister stations in 2001. In 2021, Quincy Media agreed to sell its broadcast properties to Gray Television for $925 million. Because Gray already owned Madison station WMTV, regulatory requirements led to WKOW's divestiture. Allen Media Broadcasting acquired WKOW and several other stations affected by the overlap, with the transaction closing on August 2, 2021. The ownership change placed WKOW within a regional group of ABC affiliates that also includes stations such as WAOW, WXOW, and WQOW. WKOW's business is centered on local television news, weather, sports, network programming, syndicated content, digital video, and over-the-air multicast channels. Its news department launched with the station in 1953. The station currently broadcasts more than 24 hours of local newscasts each week and has used digital production and high-definition technology as part of its operating model. From 1999 through 2011, WKOW produced a prime-time newscast for Fox affiliate WMSN-TV under a news-sharing arrangement. The station has also been active in local and regional sports broadcasting. It originates coverage of Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association championship events and carries Green Bay Packers programming as part of the team's television network. WKOW has historically carried Wisconsin Badgers programming distributed through ABC and ESPN, although that relationship changed when Big Ten sports rights moved away from those outlets in 2023. Its digital subchannels have carried services including Retro Television Network, MeTV, Decades, and This TV. In 2021, MeTV moved to Gray-owned WMTV as part of the regulatory and ownership transition, while This TV returned to WKOW after a short interim arrangement. WKOW is also notable for early adoption of digital television. It began high-definition digital broadcasting in October 1998, when it was among the smallest American stations to launch HD service. The station later participated in tests involving emerging broadcast technologies, including a 2014 4K terrestrial television demonstration. In February 2009, WKOW ended analog transmission and continued digital operations using its pre-transition UHF channel while retaining virtual channel 27. In June 2025, Allen Media Group said it was examining strategic alte…

WKOW began broadcasting on June 30, 1953, as Madison's first television station. The station was founded by Monona Broadcasting Company, whose interests also included WKOW radio. Its call sign reflected Wisconsin's dairy culture, and early visual identity incorporated a cow motif and emphasis on the letters K-O-W. WKOW-TV shared Tokay Boulevard facilities with the radio station from its launch. The station initially carried CBS programming. In 1956, after WISC-TV became Madison's principal CBS affiliate, WKOW-TV joined ABC. The station briefly participated in the Badger Television Network from January through August 1958, alongside stations in Milwaukee and Green Bay. Midcontinent Broadcasting purchased WKOW in 1960. The station began color broadcasting on December 24, 1963. Horizon Communications acquired WKOW-TV and WAOW in Wausau in 1970. Because of the Federal Communications Commission's one-to-market ownership rules at the time, Midcontinent retained WKOW radio. Horizon sold its Wisconsin television interests to Liberty Television in 1978, and Liberty sold WKOW and related stations to Tak Communications in January 1985. Tak later expanded its holdings but entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 1991. Its creditors took control of the company in 1994. During the bankruptcy disposition, Terry Shockley purchased four Wisconsin stations in 1995, including WKOW, WAOW, WXOW, and WQOW, through Shockley Communications. Quincy Newspapers acquired WKOW and its Wisconsin sister stations in June 2001. During the Quincy period, WKOW continued to operate as an ABC affiliate, produce local news, distribute digital multicast services, and participate in regional sports coverage. WKOW's news operation dates to the station's first day on air and has traditionally covered local government, weather, public affairs, sports, and regional events. Between 1999 and 2011, WKOW produced WMSN-TV's nightly Fox prime-time newscast through a news-sharing agreement. WKOW upgraded its own local newscasts to high definition on October 26, 2010, becoming the third Madison station to make that transition. The station was an early adopter of digital television. It launched high-definition digital broadcasts on October 29, 1998, using digital channel 26. WKOW later participated in experimental digital broadcasting, including a 2014 test of a proposed ATSC 3.0-related 4K system. Its analog service ended on February 17, 2009, while its digital signal continued on channel 26 with virtual channel 27. WKOW introduced several multicast services. Its second digital channel first carried Retro Television Network and switched to MeTV in 2011. A third channel launched with This TV in 2009 and later carried Decades beginning in 2015. The 2021 ownership restructuring changed this arrangement: MeTV moved to Gray-owned WMTV as an excluded affiliation asset under the regulatory settlement, while Decades was temporarily simulcast and This TV returned to WKOW later that month. In January 2021, Quincy Media announced that it was seeking a buyer. Gray Television agreed to acquire the company for $925 million, but its existing ownership of WMTV created a Madison-market overlap. Gray therefore arranged for WKOW and several other stations to be sold to Allen Media Broadcasting. The transaction closed on August 2, 2021, making WKOW part of Allen Media Group's Wisconsin broadcast cluster. WKOW originates broadcasts of Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association championships and carries Green Bay Packers preseason and related programming. It has also carried Wisconsin Badgers sports through ABC and ESPN, although Big Ten sports rights moved away from those outlets in 2023. In June 2025, Allen Media Group disclosed that it was exploring strategic options, including possible station sales, in response to financial strain and higher debt. WKOW nevertheless remains an operating ABC station serving Madison and nearby Wisconsin communities.

• 2025

  Allen Media Group reviews strategic alternatives

  [1]WKOWen.wikipedia.org

  Allen Media Group announces that it is exploring options for its television business, including potential station sales.

• 2021

  Allen Media Broadcasting acquisition closes

  [1]WKOWen.wikipedia.org

  WKOW changes ownership from Quincy Media to Allen Media Broadcasting on August 2.

• 2010

  Local newscasts move to high definition

  [1]WKOWen.wikipedia.org

  WKOW upgrades its local newscasts to HD on October 26.

• 2009

  Analog transmission ends

  [1]WKOWen.wikipedia.org

  WKOW ends analog broadcasting and continues digital service on channel 26 with virtual channel 27.

• 2001

  Quincy Newspapers acquisition

  [1]WKOWen.wikipedia.org

  Quincy Newspapers acquires WKOW and its Wisconsin sister stations from Shockley Communications.

• 1998

  Early high-definition digital transmission

  [1]WKOWen.wikipedia.org

  WKOW launches digital HD broadcasting on October 29, using digital channel 26.

• 1963

  Color broadcasting launches

  [1]WKOWen.wikipedia.org

  The station begins broadcasting color programming on December 24.

• 1956

  ABC affiliation begins

  [1]WKOWen.wikipedia.org

  WKOW switches from CBS to ABC after WISC-TV becomes Madison's CBS affiliate.

• 1953

  WKOW begins broadcasting

  [1]WKOWen.wikipedia.org

  WKOW-TV signs on June 30 as Madison's first television station, initially affiliated with CBS.

A locally focused ABC television station combining Madison news, weather, sports, network entertainment, and regional public-service coverage with the resources of a multistation Wisconsin broadcast group.

• Local television news · 1953

  WKOW 27 Local News

  WKOW's local news operation provides recurring newscasts, weather, sports, breaking-news reports, and community coverage for Madison and surrounding Wisconsin areas. The department dates to the station's launch in 1953 and currently produces more than 24 hours of local newscasts each week.

• Network television · 1956

  ABC network service

  WKOW carries programming from the ABC network, including entertainment, news, specials, and selected sports. ABC has been the station's primary network affiliation since 1956.

• Digital television · 2009

  Digital multicast channels

  WKOW operates digital subchannels that have carried several national multicast services over time, including Retro Television Network, MeTV, Decades, and This TV. The lineup has changed as ownership, affiliation agreements, and regulatory conditions evolved.

• Sports broadcasting

  WIAA championship broadcasts

  WKOW originates and distributes coverage of Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association championship events, including selected hockey, basketball, and football tournaments. Coverage is shared across Allen Media Group's Wisconsin stations and other participating affiliates.

• 2025

  Strategic review by Allen Media GroupStrategy

  Background

  Allen Media Group cited financial difficulties and rising debt while reviewing the future of its television operations.

  Action taken

  The company announced that it would explore strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of television stations such as WKOW.

  Aftermath

  No completed sale of WKOW is identified in the supplied reference material, and the station remains active.

  Source

• 2021

  Divestiture to Allen Media BroadcastingM&A

  Background

  Gray Television's planned acquisition of Quincy Media created a Madison ownership overlap because Gray already owned WMTV.

  Action taken

  WKOW was separated from the Gray transaction and sold to Allen Media Broadcasting along with other stations affected by market overlaps.

  Aftermath

  The sale closed on August 2, 2021. WKOW joined Allen Media Group's regional ABC affiliate network, while the MeTV affiliation moved to Gray-owned WMTV.

  Gray Television acquisition of Quincy Media. $925 million announced transaction value (Announced February 2021)

  Source

1. 1WKOWen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WKOW official websitewkow.com