WJFW-TV

WJFW-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for North-Central Wisconsin's Northern Highland. Licensed to Rhinelander, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 16 (or virtual channel 12.1 via PSIP) from a transmitter in Starks. Owned by Rockfleet Broadcasting, the station has studios on County Road G (along WIS 17) in Rhinelander.

Since WJFW's transmitter is located further north than the other North-Central Wisconsin stations, it can only be seen in Wausau proper and not other areas in Marathon County to the south and west. Therefore, it operates a low-powered digital fill-in translator in Wausau (W27AU-D). This also airs a high definition signal but is seen on UHF channel 27 (it also maps to virtual channel 12.1 via PSIP) from a transmitter on Mosinee Hill southwest of the I-39/US 51/WIS 29 interchange.

History

The station signed-on October 20, 1966 as WAEO-TV named after its original owner, Congressman Alvin E. O'Konski. Airing an analog signal on VHF channel 12, its original studios were located next to the transmitter tower. This was at the time one of the tallest structures in the world. Before its launch, NBC was seen in the market through a secondary affiliation on CBS outlet WSAU-TV (now WSAW-TV).