WREX

WREX is a full-power television station serving the Rockford, Illinois, media market. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 13 and is affiliated with NBC. Its studios and transmitter are located on Auburn Road west of Rockford. WREX is the market’s only full-power VHF television station and is commonly described as Rockford’s second-oldest television station. The station began broadcasting on October 1, 1953, under the ownership of Greater Rockford Television, a group of local businessmen. Its call letters honored Rex N. Caster, the son of station president L. E. Caster. Rex Caster had served as a United States Army first lieutenant and was killed in France during World War II. At launch, WREX was primarily affiliated with CBS, while also carrying ABC programming in a market where WTVO was the NBC affiliate. It additionally aired programming from the short-lived DuMont Television Network and, for a period in the late 1950s, the NTA Film Network. Because of its VHF signal and geographic position, WREX historically reached viewers beyond the immediate Rockford area, including parts of southern Wisconsin and the neighboring Madison market. Before WISC-TV began broadcasting in Madison in 1956, WREX was the only VHF station available to audiences in both areas. The station’s regional reach has continued to create overlap between the Rockford and Madison television markets, particularly in Rock County, Wisconsin. WREX changed ownership and network affiliations several times. Gannett Company acquired the station in 1963, and WREX was briefly co-owned with the Rockford Morning Star during the mid-1960s. When WCEE-TV launched in 1965, WREX became a full-time ABC affiliate. In 1966, it became the first Rockford television station to broadcast in color. Gannett sold the station to Gilmore Broadcasting Corporation in 1969, and Gilmore later sold it to ML Media Partners, L.P., in 1987. Quincy Newspapers acquired WREX in 1995. That same year, the station exchanged network affiliations with WTVO: WREX took NBC, while WTVO became an ABC affiliate. The change followed a broader affiliation dispute involving Quincy’s South Bend station, WSJV. WREX has remained an NBC affiliate since the 1995 transition. The station has also developed a local news and community-information role. It maintained a partnership with the Rockford Register Star under which newspaper staff appeared on WREX newscasts and the newspaper promoted station coverage. WREX also partnered with Mid-West Family Broadcasting radio stations, supplying weather information in exchange for promotional support. Its newscasts moved to high-definition production on December 12, 2010. WREX expanded its digital multicast offering over time. MeTV was added to digital subchannel 13.3 in 2013, while Court TV and Justice Network were later placed on additional subchannels. The station previously operated Stateline CW through The CW Plus. WREX ended analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009, and moved its post-transition digital operation to VHF channel 13. Quincy Media announced a sale process in 2021. Gray Television agreed to acquire Quincy for $925 million, but regulatory and market-ownership considerations led to WREX being assigned to Allen Media Group in a separate transaction. Allen Media Group subsequently owned the station until Gray Media announced in 2025 that it would reacquire WREX as part of a broader purchase of Allen stations. The reported transaction closed on May 1, 2026, placing WREX alongside Gray-owned Rockford stations WIFR-LD and WSLN. WREX remains a local NBC broadcaster centered on news, weather, syndicated and network programming, digital video, and community coverage for the Rockford region.

WREX began operation on October 1, 1953, as Rockford’s second television station. It was established by Greater Rockford Television, a local ownership group, and initially operated as a primary CBS affiliate. The station also carried ABC programs shared with NBC affiliate WTVO and aired programming from DuMont. Its call sign commemorated Rex N. Caster, the son of station president L. E. Caster, who had been killed while serving in the U.S. Army during World War II. The station’s VHF position gave it unusual regional importance. Rockford and Madison were located between several established television markets whose VHF channels were already assigned. Consequently, WREX attracted viewers in parts of southern Wisconsin as well as northern Illinois. It remained particularly significant in the Madison area until WISC-TV began broadcasting in 1956. WREX briefly carried NTA Film Network programming in the late 1950s, and its DuMont affiliation ended when that network ceased operations in 1956. Gannett Company purchased WREX in 1963. During the middle of that decade, Gannett briefly held the station jointly with the Rockford Morning Star. WREX became a full-time ABC affiliate in 1965 after WCEE-TV signed on, and in 1966 it became the first television station in Rockford to transmit in color. In 1969, Gannett sold WREX to Gilmore Broadcasting Corporation, which also owned WEHT in Evansville, Indiana. Gilmore later sold the station to ML Media Partners, L.P., in 1987. Quincy Newspapers purchased WREX in 1995. On August 14 of that year, WREX and WTVO exchanged affiliations, with WREX taking NBC and WTVO becoming the ABC affiliate. The switch was connected to an ABC response to Quincy’s decision to move WSJV in South Bend from ABC to Fox. WREX has continued as an NBC affiliate since that change. WREX developed a substantial local news operation and entered into a distinctive partnership with the Rockford Register Star. Newspaper journalists appeared on WREX programs, while the newspaper promoted station coverage and forthcoming broadcasts. A separate relationship with Mid-West Family Broadcasting involved WREX supplying weather reports for radio stations and receiving promotional support in return. WREX began broadcasting local newscasts in high definition on December 12, 2010. The station introduced digital multicast services as broadcasting technology developed. It carried Stateline CW through The CW Plus before that service ended on the station. MeTV was added to subchannel 13.3 on April 4, 2013. Additional digital services, including Court TV and Justice Network, were introduced on subchannels 13.4 and 13.5 in 2019. WREX shut down its analog VHF channel 13 signal on February 17, 2009, and ultimately operated its post-transition digital signal on channel 13 after moving from a temporary UHF assignment. In 2021, Quincy Media announced that it was for sale. Gray Television proposed a $925 million acquisition of Quincy, but Gray’s existing ownership of WIFR-LD in the Rockford market led to WREX being divested. Allen Media Group agreed to acquire WREX as part of a larger $380 million station transaction. The arrangement included a long-term provision for WIFR-LD programming to appear on a WREX subchannel, expanding WIFR’s market coverage after its move to low-power operation. Allen Media Group later faced financial pressure and announced in June 2025 that it was considering strategic alternatives, including station sales. In August 2025, Gray Media was reported to have agreed to buy 13 Allen stations, including WREX, for $171 million. The transaction was reported as completed on May 1, 2026. WREX consequently became part of Gray Media’s Rockford holdings alongside WIFR-LD and WSLN. Its continuing role is that of a local NBC station combining network programming with news, weather, advertising, digital services, and regional community coverage.

1. 2026Return to Gray Media ownership

   Gray Media completes its reported acquisition of WREX from Allen Media Group on May 1.

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2. 2021WREX is assigned to Allen Media Group

   During the Quincy Media sale process, WREX is separated from Gray’s Quincy acquisition and included in Allen Media Group’s station transaction.

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3. 2013MeTV multicast launch

   MeTV is added to digital subchannel 13.3.

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4. 2010High-definition newscasts

   WREX begins airing local newscasts in high definition on December 12.

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5. 2009Digital transition

   WREX ends analog broadcasting and transitions its digital operation to VHF channel 13.

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6. 1995Quincy Newspapers acquisition and NBC switch

   Quincy Newspapers purchases WREX, which switches from ABC to NBC in August.

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7. 1987ML Media Partners acquisition

   Gilmore sells WREX to ML Media Partners, L.P.

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8. 1969Gilmore Broadcasting acquisition

   Gannett sells WREX to Gilmore Broadcasting Corporation.

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9. 1966First local color broadcasts

   WREX becomes the first Rockford television station to broadcast in color.

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10. 1965Full-time ABC affiliation

    WREX becomes a full-time ABC affiliate after WCEE-TV begins broadcasting.

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11. 1963Gannett acquisition

    Gannett Company acquires WREX from its original local ownership group.

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12. 1953WREX signs on

    WREX begins broadcasting on October 1 as a primary CBS affiliate with additional ABC and DuMont programming.

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A long-established local television broadcaster positioned around NBC network programming, regional news, weather authority, emergency information, and community service in the Rockford market.

• Local newsTelevision news

  WREX produces local news programming focused on Rockford and surrounding communities. Coverage includes breaking news, public affairs, regional events, investigations, and community information. The station’s news operation is supported by relationships with local media organizations, including the Rockford Register Star.

• 13 Weather AuthorityWeather service

  WREX’s weather offering provides forecasts, severe-weather information, alerts, and broadcast and digital weather updates for the Rockford region. Weather has been a central part of the station’s local-service positioning and its radio partnership activities.

• NBC programmingNetwork television1995

  Since August 1995, WREX has served as Rockford’s NBC affiliate, carrying the network’s scheduled programming along with locally produced news and other station content.

• Digital multicast channelsDigital television2013

  WREX uses digital subchannels to carry additional television services. Its documented multicast history includes Stateline CW, MeTV, Court TV, and Justice Network, although the exact current lineup may change over time.

• 2025Gray Media agreement to reacquire WREXM&A

  Allen Media Group announced that it was exploring strategic options amid financial pressure and rising debt.

  What changed. Gray Media agreed to purchase WREX and 12 other Allen Media Group stations for a reported $171 million.

  Aftermath. The transaction was reported as completed on May 1, 2026, placing WREX in Gray Media’s Rockford station group.

  Reported purchase price for 13 stations. $171 million (2025 agreement; reported completion in 2026)

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• 2021Divestiture during Quincy Media transactionM&A

  Gray Television agreed to acquire Quincy Media but already owned WIFR-LD in the Rockford market, creating ownership considerations.

  What changed. WREX was included in Allen Media Group’s separate acquisition of selected Quincy stations rather than remaining directly with Gray.

  Aftermath. Allen Media Group operated WREX until Gray Media announced and completed a later reacquisition.

  Reported transaction value for Allen Media Group’s selected Quincy station acquisition. $380 million (2021)

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• 2013Launch of MeTV digital subchannelProduct launch

  Digital multicast capacity allowed WREX to add additional programming beyond its primary NBC service.

  What changed. WREX added MeTV to digital subchannel 13.3.

  Aftermath. The station continued expanding its multicast offering with additional specialty networks in later years.

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• 1995Switch from ABC to NBCStrategy

  Quincy Newspapers owned WREX when the Rockford market’s network affiliations were reorganized. WREX and WTVO exchanged affiliations in August 1995.

  What changed. WREX became the NBC affiliate, while WTVO assumed WREX’s former ABC affiliation.

  Aftermath. WREX has remained affiliated with NBC since the switch.

  • WTVO — WTVO became the Rockford market’s ABC affiliate as part of the affiliation exchange.
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• 2025Gray Media announces planned acquisition of WREX

  Gray Media announces an agreement to acquire WREX among 13 stations being sold by Allen Media Group.

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• 2025Allen Media Group plans weather-staff reductions

  Allen Media Group announces plans to reduce local meteorologist and weather-forecaster positions at stations including WREX and use a Weather Channel-produced weather hub.

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• 2021Quincy Media announces sale process

  Quincy Media announces that it is seeking a buyer, beginning the ownership transaction that ultimately moves WREX first to Allen Media Group and later back to Gray Media.

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• 1995WREX and WTVO exchange network affiliations

  WREX becomes Rockford’s NBC affiliate, while WTVO takes the ABC affiliation.

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• 1965WREX becomes a full-time ABC affiliate

  After WCEE-TV begins operating, WREX moves to a full-time ABC affiliation.

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• 1953WREX begins broadcasting as a CBS affiliate

  WREX signs on in Rockford as a primary CBS affiliate, while also carrying selected ABC and DuMont programming.

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1. WREX
2. WREX official website