Media in Rockford, Illinois
This is a listing of the broadcasters and published media targeted at Rockford, Illinois.
Radio
[edit]Start dates are for the frequency/station license, not for callsign or programming that may have moved from license to license.
FM
[edit]| Freq | Call | City | Owner | Start | ERP (W) | Nickname | Format | RDS | HD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88.3 | WFEN | Rockford | Faith Academy | 1991 | 8,500 | The Lighthouse | Christian | Yes | No |
| 89.1 | WNIE | Freeport | Northern Illinois University | 1999 | 6,000 | WNIJ | Public/news/talk | No | No |
| 89.5 | WNIJ | DeKalb | Northern Illinois University | 1954 | 50,000 | WNIJ | Public/news/talk | Yes | Yes |
| 90.5 | WNIU | Rockford | Northern Illinois University | 1991 | 50,000 | WNIU | Classical | Yes | No |
| 91.1 | WILV | Loves Park | Educational Media Foundation | 1988 | 7,000 | K-LOVE | Christian AC | Yes[a&t] | No |
| 91.7 | WZKL | Woodstock | Educational Media Foundation | 2010 | 6,500 | K-LOVE | Christian AC | Yes[a&t] | No |
| 92.1 | WFPS | Freeport | Big Radio | November 1, 1970 | 3,600 | Kickin' Country K92 | Country | Yes | No |
| 92.5 | WCLR | DeKalb | Educational Media Foundation | 1961 | 20,000 | K-Love | Christian contemporary | Yes | No |
| 93.3 | WHJG-LP | Rockford | Pelley Road Christian Fellowship | 2005 | 100 | 93.3 WHJG | Christian | No | No |
| 93.7 | WBGR-FM | Monroe | Big Radio | 1959 | 36,000 | Big FM 93.7 | Oldies/News/Talk | Yes | No |
| 94.5 | W233AD | Rockford | Family Radio | 38 | [t]91.9 WJCH | Christian | No | No | |
| 94.9 | WDKB | DeKalb | Mid-West Family Broadcasting | 1990 | 3,000 | 94.9 WDKB | Hot AC | No | No |
| 95.3 | WRTB | Winnebago | Mid-West Family Broadcasting | 1967 | 1,250 | 95-3 The Bull | Country | Yes | No |
| 95.7 | WSEY | Oregon | NRG Media | 1999 | 3,200 | Sky 95.7 | Adult Contemporary | Yes | No |
| 96.7 | WKGL-FM | Loves Park | Townsquare Media | 1964 | 2,200 | 96.7 The Eagle | Classic Rock | Yes[a&t] | No |
| 97.5 | WZOK | Rockford | Townsquare Media | 1949 | 50,000 | 97ZOK | CHR/Pop | Yes[a&t] | No |
| 98.5 | WXXQ | Freeport | Townsquare Media | 1965 | 11,000 | Q98.5 | Country | Yes[a&t] | No |
| 99.3 | WTPB-LP | Rockford | Third Presbyterian Church of Rockford | 2005 | 47 | Variety | No | No | |
| 99.9 | WJVL | Janesville | Southern Wisconsin Broadcasting | 1947 | 11,000 | 99.9 WJVL | Country | Yes[a&t] | No |
| 100.5 | W263BJ | Loves Park | Mid-West Family Broadcasting | 230 | [t]104.9 WXRX-HD2, 100 FM | Classic Hits | Yes | No | |
| 100.9 | WQFL | Rockford | Educational Media Foundation | 1974 | 2,700 | Air 1 | Contemporary Christian | Yes[a&t] | No |
| 102.3 | WYOT | Rochelle | Rochelle Broadcasting Company | October 5, 1973 | 6,000 | 102.3 The Coyote | Country | Yes[a&t] | No |
| 103.1 | WGFB | Rockton | Mid-West Family Broadcasting | 1963 | 2,400 | B103 | Hot AC | Yes | No |
| 104.9 | WXRX | Belvidere | Mid-West Family Broadcasting | 1971 | 4,000 | 104-9 The X | Mainstream Rock | Yes | 3 |
| 105.7 | W289AB | Rockford | Northern Illinois University | 55 | [t]90.5 WNIU | Classical | Yes | No | |
| 106.3 | WYRB | Genoa | Crawford Broadcasting | 2001 | 3,800 | Power 106 | Rhythmic | Yes[a&t] | Yes |
| 107.3 | WSJY | Fort Atkinson | NRG Media | 1959 | 26,000 | 107-3 WSJY | Adult Contemporary | Yes[a&t] | No |
- ^[a&t] displays artist and title on Radio Data System
- ^[t] FM translator: repeats another station's program
AM
[edit]| Freq | Call | City | Owner | Start | Day Power (W) |
Night Power |
Nickname | Format | Stereo | HD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1330 | WNTA | Rockford | Mid-West Family Broadcasting | 1953 | 1,000 | 91 | Sportsfan Radio | Sports | No | No |
| 1380 | WBEL | South Beloit | Big Radio | 1948 | 5,000 | 5,000 | The Beat | 90's | No | No |
| 1440 | WROK | Rockford | Townsquare Media | 1923 | 5,000 | 270 | News Talk 1440 WROK | News/Talk | No | No |
| 1490 | WGEZ | Beloit | Big Radio | 1948 | 1,000 | 1,000 | Iron Country | Traditional Country | No | No |
| 1520 | WLUV | Loves Park | VCY America | 1963 | 500 | 12.5 | Christian Information Radio | Christian | No | No |
Television
[edit]| Virt. Ch. |
Call | City | Owner | Operator | Start | Digital Ch. |
DTV | Nickname | Programming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13.1 | WREX | Rockford | Allen Media Broadcasting | October 1, 1953 | 13 | 1080i | 13 WREX | NBC | |
| 13.3 | 480i | Rockford's MeTV | MeTV | ||||||
| 13.4 | 480i | Court TV | Court TV | ||||||
| 13.5 | 480i | True Crime Network | True Crime Network | ||||||
| 17.1 | WTVO | Rockford | Mission Broadcasting | Nexstar Media Group | May 3, 1953 | 16 | 720p | WTVO Channel 17 | ABC |
| 17.2 | 720p | MyTV | MyNetworkTV | ||||||
| 17.3 | 480i | Laff | Laff | ||||||
| 17.4 | 480i | Grit | Grit | ||||||
| 23.1 | WIFR-LD | Rockford | Gray Television | September 12, 1965 | 28 | 1080i | 23 WIFR | CBS | |
| 23.2 | 720p | Antenna TV | Antenna TV | ||||||
| 23.3 | 480i | Circle TV | Circle (TV network) | ||||||
| 23.4 | 480i | Ion | Ion Television | ||||||
| 23.5 | 720p | Stateline CW | The CW | ||||||
| 23.10 | WREX | Rockford | Allen Media Broadcasting | October 1, 1953 | 13 | 720p | WREXCBS | Simulcast of WIFR-LD | |
| 23.11 | WFBN-LD | Rockford | Weigel Broadcasting | March 16, 2007 | 35 | 1080i | 23 WIFR | Simulcast of WIFR-LD | |
| 35.1 | 480i | H&I | Heroes & Icons | ||||||
| 35.2 | 480i | Telemundo Wisconsin | Simulcast of WYTU-LD | ||||||
| 39.1 | WQRF | Rockford | Nexstar Media Group | November 27, 1978 | 42 | 720p | Fox 39 | Fox | |
| 39.2 | 480i | Bounce Rockford | Bounce TV | ||||||
| 39.3 | 480i | Court TV Mystery | Court TV Mystery | ||||||
| 39.4 | 480i | Rewind | Rewind TV | ||||||
| 47.1 | WYCH-LD | Rockford | Hispanic Family Christian Network | December 18, 2012 | 47 | 480i | Multilingual | ||
Rockford is one of a few US markets with no PBS station of its own. PBS Wisconsin member station WHA-TV (UHF channel 20, virtual channel 21.1) in neighboring Madison and Chicago-based WTTW serve as the default member stations for the Rockford market via cable and satellite; the former station's over-the-air analog signal was viewable in portions of the Rockford area prior to the 2009 digital television transition.
Print media
[edit]- Chronicles: A Magazine of American Culture - monthly magazine; founded 1977; features executive editor Scott P. Richert's monthly column about Rockford, "The Rockford Files"
- Community Bargain Hunter - weekly classified publication; founded 2006; circulation 16,000[1]
- Northwest Quarterly - quarterly magazine; circulation 176,300[2]
- Rock River Times - weekly newspaper; independently owned since 1987; circulation 2,500[3]
- Rockford Register Star - daily newspaper; founded 1855; circulation 50,000[4]