WAOW-TV (Wausau, WI)

WAOW TV-9 made its debut on May 7, 1965, under the ownership of Mid-Continent Broadcasting Co., based in Madison, Wisconsin. The station's first airtime was sold to Citizens State Bank, now known as Associated Bank of Wausau, during its inaugural program, which featured a baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and the Minnesota Twins. The tower and transmitter for WAOW TV are situated on Rib Hill, the second highest point in Wisconsin, about 10 miles from the station's downtown location. The station broadcasts at a maximum power of 316 kW. In 1972, Liberty Broadcasting Inc. acquired the Wisconsin TV Network, which included WAOW TV. A significant milestone occurred in 1974 when WAOW TV received FCC approval to raise its tower height by 220 feet, resulting in an expanded coverage area.

Local

English

Television

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Ranking

Global

#174480

United States

#34562

Arts and Entertainment/TV Movies and Streaming

#970

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Monthly visitors

Articles

Concerts on the Square debuts their 2025 lineup tonight

3 days ago | waow.com | Brad Miller

WAUSAU, WI — Concerts on the Square is back again! Wausau Events is set to launch the 2025 Concerts on the Square series. This annual event takes place every Wednesday from 6-8 PM on the 400 Block in Downtown Wausau. The first show of the season will take place this evening, and will feature local favorite Rising Phoenix. Attendees can enjoy free live music, food vendors, and community spirit.
WPS peregrine falcons receive names, bands

3 days ago | waow.com | Brad Miller

WESTON, Wis. — The newest peregrine falcon chicks at Wisconsin Public Service's (WPS) Weston Power Plant have been named. This week, WPS placed identification bands on the chicks, celebrating their legacy. The chicks were named Flaps, Lee, and Hercules after legendary peregrine falcons that contributed significantly to the WPS and We Energies peregrine falcon recovery program - some of the program's "founding feathers".
82,000 Wisconsinites add emergency contacts to DMV records in first year

3 days ago | waow.com | Caroline Bach

MADISON (WKOW) — More than 82,000 people in Wisconsin have added emergency contact information to their DMV records in the first year of a program initiated by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). According to a news release, this initiative allows law enforcement to quickly contact family members in emergencies. It was part of the "To Inform Families First" law signed by Gov. Tony Evers in 2023.
Aspirus Wausau Hospital expands emergency department, adds 8 new rooms

3 days ago | waow.com | Brad Hanson

WAUSAU, Wis. (WAOW) -- Aspirus Wausau Hospital has wrapped up the final phase of its emergency department expansion. The new addition opened to patients on June 3. The expansion has increased the department's capacity to 30 treatment spaces. Eight new patient rooms, including enhanced trauma and critical care rooms, were added. The project began in 2022 in response to rising emergency volumes and the need for modernized care spaces.
Friday's Golden Sands Speedway race set to honor late Zach Budleski

3 days ago | waow.com | Brad Hanson

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (WAOW) -- Racers at Golden Sands Speedway in Wisconsin Rapids Friday will have a chance at a big purse, and an even bigger purpose. The race will honor 19-year-old Zach Budleski, who died by suicide this past fall. His parents have worked hard to bring this race to fruition, putting in a lot of time and dedication to make it happen. "It's actually turned into my purpose," said Zach's mom Lisa Walhof.
Hatley house fire leaves two injured, including one with life-threatening injuries

3 days ago | waow.com | Brad Hanson

HATLEY, Wis. (WAOW) -- A house fire in the Village of Hatley led to severe injuries for two women early Tuesday morning. The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office reported the fire started around 12:04 a.m. on June 3, 2025, in the 200 block of Kirkwood Street. Emergency responders were alerted to a possible entrapment situation. A 67-year-old woman informed them that a 57-year-old female was still inside.
115th Fighter Wing says to expect increase in flying activity over Central Wisconsin

4 days ago | waow.com | Brad Hanson

The 115th Fighter Wing based out of Madison said you can expect increased flight activity over central Wisconsin for the next couple of weeks. In a Facebook post, they said the 2025 Sentry North exercise will run until June 15th. F-35's, F-16's and other military aircraft are scheduled to fly each day from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.Aircraft flying above 30,000 feed are authorized by the FAA to operate at supersonic speeds, which may be heard or felt at the ground level.
Wisconsin DMV alerts residents to phishing scam targeting personal information

4 days ago | waow.com | Brad Hanson

MADISON, Wis. (WAOW) -- The Wisconsin Department of Transportation's Division of Motor Vehicles (WisDOT DMV) is alerting residents about a new phishing scam. Scammers are sending texts pretending to be from WisDOT DMV to trick people into sharing personal information. The scam involves messages claiming a "final notice" or an "unpaid traffic violation." These messages mimic official WisDOT content but are not legitimate.
Hodag Dome reopens after two month closure

4 days ago | waow.com | Brad Miller

RHINELANDER, Wis. (WAOW) -- After two long months, the Hodag Dome has finally reopened to the public. The dome was damaged when an ice storm knocked out power at the end of March, and a backup generator failed to start up. This caused the dome to deflate, causing the roof to tear and damaging some features on the interior. But as of June 3, the dome is back open for business.
Rain and thunder return tomorrow

4 days ago | waow.com | Jackson Garlock

After a nice and dry weekend, showers and thunderstorms will be returning on Tuesday. The latest updates show about an inch of rain on the way for the entire area. Thankfully, it doesn't seem like there will be a severe weather outbreak, however severe storms will be possible. Expect the showers and storms to arrive around midday and clear as we head into the overnight hours. Tonight: Partly to mostly cloudy with a stray shower possible after midnight.