The FCC has approved an allotment for a new full-power TV station in northern Wisconsin, but it’ll likely be a while before a new station comes on the air – if ever.
The regulator issued a Report and Order on Wednesday formally allotting channel 26 to Eagle River. Such an addition is rare these days because the repacked TV spectrum, now consisting of 35 channels, has little room for new full-power stations in most places.
Eagle River is in the Wausau-Rhinelander market and the request to add the allotment came from Gray TV, which owns CBS/FOX affiliate WSAW (Wausau). Gray had indicated its intention to apply for the channel if it was allotted.
However, Gray’s request came before it reached a deal to buy stations from Quincy Media, including WYOW/34.1 (Eagle River). Filings related to that transaction indicate Gray plans to switch WYOW to become a satellite of WSAW.
Any applications for the new station will be subject to competitive bidding.