Five years after moving to a VHF frequency, CBS affiliate WISC-TV/3.1 (Madison) has signed on two UHF digital replacement translators.
The translators operate on channel 25 from the Madison candelabra tower with 15kW and on channel 22 from a tower near Janesville with 13.8kW. WISC-TV advised viewers to rescan on Aug. 14.
WISC, owned by Morgan Murphy Media, received $48,929,182 during the spectrum auction to relinquish its UHF frequency, moving from UHF channel 50 to VHF channel 11 in early 2020. It upgraded from 10.2kW to 46.9kW later that year.
Citing continued indoor reception problems, WISC applied for digital replacement translators in 2021. The FCC granted the translators in fall of 2022.
With the UHF translators now on the air, the primary RF channel 11 signal also remains active.
WISC is the only station transmitting on VHF in the Madison market.