WQRF

Station Profile

WQRF, a Fox affiliate, was acquired in late 2003 as part of Nexstar’s acquisition of Quorum Broadcasting. Nexstar improved its revenue share through deployment of sales projects and inventory management. In November of 2004, WQRF began providing non-programming services to WTVO, which is owned by Mission Broadcasting. Following extensive consolidation construction, the stations operate from the existing WTVO facility in Rockford. In March of 2006, WQRF began a nightly (M-F) 9pm newscast, the market’s only prime time news broadcast, and in December of 2006, expanded the program into weekends as well. In March 2012, WQRF launched the markets only local morning news from 7-9am. WQRF’s syndicated programming includes: Two and a Half Men, Family Guy, Everybody Loves Raymond, Seinfeld, Jerry Springer, the Simpsons, and Maury. With the combined operations of WTVO, the ABC affiliate in Rockford, the My Network TV affiliate and WQRF all under one roof, Nexstar is able to take advantage of significant operational efficiencies. WQRF now broadcasts only a digital over the air signal in accordance with the nation’s digital television transition.

Market Profile

Rockford, IL is in the 137th largest DMA in the United States, with a population of approximately 425,653 and 180,910 television households, as reported by Nielsen Media.

Cable/ADS penetration in the market is estimated to be 88% (52% wired, 36% ADS).  The largest employers in this market are Rockford Health System, Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, Swedish American Health System, and Textron, Inc.