{{Short description|Television station in Davenport, Iowa}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox television station | callsign = KWQC-TV | city = Davenport, Iowa | logo = KWQC-TV NBC 6 Davenport, Iowa Logo.svg | logo_size = 250px | logo_alt = A white geometric numeral 6 splits a rectangle between red on the left and blue on the right. On the blue side is the italicized sans serif text K W Q C in white. | branding = KWQC-TV 6 | digital = 17 (UHF) | virtual = 6 | affiliations = {{ubl|'''6.1:''' NBC|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}} | airdate = {{start date|1949|10|31}} | location = {{ubl|Davenport–Bettendorf, Iowa|Moline–Rock Island, Illinois}} | country = United States | callsign_meaning = Contains QC for the Quad Cities, similar to former WOC-TV call sign | former_callsigns = WOC-TV (1949–1986) | former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 5 (VHF, 1949–1953), 6 (VHF, 1953–2009)|'''Digital:''' 56 (UHF, 2003–2009), 36 (UHF, 2009–2020)}} | owner = Gray Media | licensee = Gray Television Licensee, LLC | former_affiliations = ABC (secondary, early 1960s–1963) | erp = 1,000 kW | haat = {{convert|375.1|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} | facility_id = 6885 | coordinates = {{Coord|41|32|48.8|N|90|28|37.8|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}} | licensing_authority = FCC | website = {{URL|https://www.kwqc.com/}} }}
'''KWQC-TV''' (channel 6) is a television station licensed to Davenport, Iowa, United States, serving the Quad Cities area as an affiliate of NBC. Owned by Gray Media, the station maintains studios on Brady Street in downtown Davenport, and its transmitter is located in Bettendorf, Iowa.
The station began broadcasting as WOC-TV on October 31, 1949. A sister venture to WOC radio, WOC-TV was the first television station in the state of Iowa and in the Quad Cities and was an NBC affiliate from its debut, heavy on local programming in its initial years. In 1963, the WOC Broadcast Centre—now KWQC-TV's studio facility—opened in downtown Davenport; the modernist structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. By the 1970s, WOC-TV was established as the news ratings leader in the Quad Cities, a title it has held for most of its history.
The Palmer family, which established WOC broadcasting and the nearby Palmer College of Chiropractic, began restructuring its broadcast holdings in the 1980s. WOC radio was sold to another family member in 1986, at which time WOC-TV became KWQC-TV. Three years later, Palmer opted to take advantage of a favorable tax situation to sell KWQC-TV and buy a larger-market TV station. KWQC was owned by Broad Street Television Corporation from 1989 to 1995, Young Broadcasting from 1995 to 2013, and Media General from 2013 to 2017 until being sold to Gray in 2017.
==History== ===Construction and early years=== On March 12, 1948, the Central Broadcasting Company applied to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for permission to build a new television station on channel 5 in Davenport, Iowa, which it was granted on June 2.<ref name="hc">{{cite web|url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=86582|title=History Cards for KWQC-TV|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref> Central, a company owned by the chiropractor B. J. Palmer, also owned radio station WOC in Davenport and WHO in Des Moines. In preparation for the establishment of a television station, Palmer purchased the former Ryan residence, which was located across the street from Palmer's chiropractic school on Brady Street. To provide television network programming, Palmer proposed the establishment of a series of microwave relays between Chicago and Davenport, then to serve a WHO television station at Des Moines and one owned by fellow NBC affiliate WOW at Omaha, Nebraska.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1948-06-03 |title=Television for Quad-Cities By Spring of 1950 Becomes Probability; Permit Granted |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-television-for-quad-citi/197311859/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=The Democrat and Leader |pages=1}}</ref> Later that year, the FCC imposed a freeze on new TV station grants to sort out possible changes to television broadcast standards.<ref>{{cite news|first=Rufus|last=Crater|pages=22A, 57|work=Broadcasting|id={{ProQuest|1040475180}}|title=Television Freeze: FCC Action Halted Pending Definite Policy|date=October 4, 1948}}</ref> By the time of the freeze, Iowa proper had only been assigned two stations: the new WOC-TV for Davenport and WOI-TV at Iowa State College in Ames. Also assigned in the Quad Cities area was WHBF-TV to go on the air from Rock Island, Illinois.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1949-02-27 |title=Why Iowa Television Progress Is Slow: WOC Expets August Debut |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-why-iowa-televis/145889810/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Des Moines Sunday Register |page=8-A|first=Edward|last=Vaile}}</ref>
{{Quote box | quote = '''WOC-TV, Davenport, Ia.''': This lusty youngster has received a hearty reception in its first five months on the air, thanks to a constructive programming operation. Instead of relying on kinescoped network shows (it's a noninterconnected station), it's been going about the task of originating and producing strictly local stanzas that are drawing an enviable mail pull. | author = ''Variety'' | source = on WOC-TV in May 1950<ref>{{Cite news|page=34|title=Highlights: '49-'50 Showmanagement Review|work=Variety|id={{pq|1285981300}}|date=May 24, 1950}}</ref> | align = right | width = 250px | salign = right }} Construction on the WOC-TV transmitter at Bettendorf, Iowa, was completed by September 1949, and on September 27, the station sent out its first test patterns, which were received as far away as Des Moines and Peoria, Illinois.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1949-09-28 |title=Identifying WOC-TV on Screen in Tests |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-identifying-woc-tv-on-sc/197311982/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=The Daily Times |pages=8}}</ref> Regular programming debuted on October 31, 1949, making WOC-TV the first television station in Iowa.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1949-11-01 |title=WOC-TV in Television Debut Monday Night; Many Reports Of Good Reception in Area |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-woc-tv-in-television-deb/197312077/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Quad-City Times |pages=6}}</ref> WOC-TV operated at the outset for three hours a night and was off the air on Saturdays.<ref name="Disp491018">{{Cite news |date=1949-10-18 |title=WOC Aims To Launch TV Oct. 31: Davenport Station to Be 85th in Country, First in This Part of Midwest |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-woc-aims-to-launch-tv-oct/197312045/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Moline Daily Dispatch |pages=25, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-woc/197312057/ 42]}}</ref> The station was an NBC affiliate, in keeping with WOC radio.{{r|Demo491018}} Originally, there was no direct link for network programs, which were kinescoped—recorded off a monitor onto film—and then shipped to Davenport for air.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1949-10-16 |title=Television Is Changing the Entertainment Habits of Iowans: Keeps Family in the Home |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-television-is-ch/197312017/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Des Moines Sunday Register |page=2-L}}</ref> Local programming originated from studios built in a purpose-built annex to the Ryan house.<ref name="Demo491018">{{Cite news |date=1949-10-18 |title=WOC-TV Begins Programs Oct. 31: Will Give Wide Area Telecasts |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-woc-tv-begins-programs-o/197312131/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=The Democrat and Leader |pages=13, 14}}</ref> With no direct network connection, the station produced a wide range of local shows to fill its airtime, ranging from quiz shows to audience programs as well as telecasts of high school sports and even women's wrestling.<ref name="Dail501230">{{Cite news |date=1950-12-30 |title=Television Makes Rapid Strides In Quad-Cities During Last Year |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-television-makes-rapid-stri/197637818/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=The Daily Dispatch |page=41|first=Lucia|last=Carter}}</ref> Remote broadcasting, however, relied on bulky equipment and was soon dropped.<ref name="Quad841111">{{Cite news |date=1984-11-11 |title=Of Burton's Kate, elections and station anniversaries |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-of-burtons-kate-electi/197313699/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Quad-City Times |page=TV Times 3|first=Ron|last=Lorenzen}}</ref> Series with titles such as ''Musical Moods'', ''Pay or Play'', and ''Pages of Melody'' co-existed with WOC-TV's network presentations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1951-10-06 |title=Looking and Listening |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-looking-and-listening/197637891/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Moline Daily Dispatch |pages=24|first=Lucia|last=Carter}}</ref> WOC-TV also offered local children's programming, beginning with Ken Wagner's ''Comic Cutups'', which went to air less than two weeks after the station's first broadcast; in 1956, Ken became "Cap'n Ken", the first in a line of four such hosts at WOC-TV including Cap'n Vern, Cap'n Don, and Cap'n Ernie (Ernie Mims) that lasted until 1974.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1978-09-10 |title=The Golden Days of Kid Shows |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-the-golden-days-of-kid-s/197663575/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Quad-City Times |pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-kid-show-memories/197663548/ 12D]|first=Clay|last=Thompson}}</ref> The sculptor Isabel Bloom hosted a program that used clay figures to illustrate fairy tales.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2001-05-03 |title=Sculptor Isabel Bloom dies at 93 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-sculptor-isabel-bloom-dies-a/197702526/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=The Gazette |page=6B|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> All commercials were produced live as well.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1984-12-30 |title=Reminiscing about the good old days of live WOC-TV |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-reminiscing-about-the-go/197663888/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Quad-City Times |pages=TV Times 3, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-lorenzen/197663964/ 34]|first=Ron|last=Lorenzen}}</ref>
WHBF-TV began on channel 4 on July 1, 1950, bringing to the area programming from the other networks—CBS, ABC, and DuMont.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1950-06-27 |title=WHBF-TV Will Go on Air July 1: To Use Film System Five Days a Week |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-whbf-tv-will-go-on-air-july/197312206/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Moline Daily Dispatch |pages=23}}</ref> On September 30, both stations began receiving live network programming.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1950-09-30 |title=Thousands of Viewers See Live Television Premiere; Sports Programs Featured |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-thousands-of-viewe/197312284/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=The Rock Island Argus |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-thousands-see-firs/197312294/ 3]}}</ref> WOC-TV went from broadcasting 28 hours a week to {{frac|65|1|2}} hours a week by the end of 1950 with the advent of live network coverage.{{r|Dail501230}} Within 13 months, WOC-TV was profitable and surpassed WOC radio in gross advertising billings.<ref>{{Cite news|pages=23, 34|title=TV B'casters Reap Bonanza; Some Outstrip AM Billings|work=Variety|date=January 24, 1951|id={{pq|1285985641}} }}</ref> The station also used programming from the Paramount Television Network, which delivered all its programs by kinescope instead of live.<ref>{{cite news|title=KTLA Has Private Kine Network; 42 Stations Lined Up for Shows|page=30|work=Variety|id={{pq|1285999729}}|date=November 29, 1950}}</ref> right|thumb|upright=0.7|alt=A two-story brick building with satellite dishes behind it|The 1949 annex to the Ryan house, which remained after Broadcast Centre was opened in 1963 In April 1952, the FCC lifted the freeze after three and a half years with major changes to television allocations, including the addition of ultra high frequency (UHF) channels to the existing 12 in the very high frequency (VHF) band and new station spacing requirements. In doing so, it made a total of 30 changes to the channels of existing stations, including WOC-TV, which would be moved from channel 5 to channel 6.<ref name="BC520415">{{Cite news|date=April 15, 1952|title=Thaw July 1: 617 VHFs, 1436 UHFs in 1291 Markets; Educators Win|work=Broadcasting|pages=23, 67–68|id={{ProQuest|1285696665}} }}</ref> The actual channel change came 20 months later, on November 30, 1953, when power was raised from 25,000 watts to the maximum 100,000 watts.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1953-11-28 |title=WOC Goes on Channel 6 Monday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-woc-goes-on-channel-6-monda/197312327/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=The Daily Dispatch |pages=14}}</ref>
B. J. Palmer died on May 27, 1961.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1961-05-27 |title=Dr. B.J. Palmer, 79, Dies In Florida; Rites Wednesday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-dr-bj-palmer-79-dies-i/197638811/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Moline Daily Dispatch |pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-dr-palmer/197638817/ 3]}}</ref> Later that year, WOC-TV erected a {{convert|979|ft|m|adj=on}} tower at Bettendorf, {{convert|377|ft|m}} taller than the original mast.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1961-09-28 |title=New WOC-TV Tower Now Is in Use |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-new-woc-tv-tower-n/197638100/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=The Rock Island Argus |pages=34}}</ref> The area gained a third station in 1963, when WQAD-TV (channel 8) began at Moline, Illinois, as an ABC affiliate;<ref>{{Cite news |date=1963-08-01 |title=WQAD-TV Initiates Channel 8 Schedule |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-wqad-tv-initiates-channe/131933404/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=The Daily Times |pages=2}}</ref> WOC-TV had aired some ABC programming in the years leading up to channel 8's establishment.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1961-09-02 |title=Clearing the Air: Fall Schedule For WOC-TV |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-clearing-the-air-fall-sche/197660894/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Moline Daily Dispatch |pages=14|first=Carla|last=Reynolds}}</ref>
===Construction of Broadcast Centre and later Palmer years=== {{Infobox NRHP | name = WOC Broadcasting Center | nrhp_type = | image = KWQC studios.jpg | caption = KWQC (WOC) Broadcasting Center in 2006 | location = 805 Brady St.<br>Davenport, Iowa | coordinates = {{coord|41|31|43|N|90|34|25.6|W|display=inline}} | locmapin = Iowa#USA | built = 1963 | architect = | architecture = Modern Movement | added = February 17, 2021 | area = less than one acre | mpsub = | refnum = 100006171<ref name=NPS>{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/subjects/nationalregister/weekly-list-2021-02-19.htm|title=National Register of Historic Places Program: Weekly List|publisher=National Park Service|date=February 19, 2021|access-date=February 20, 2021}}</ref> }} In early 1962, WOC purchased a nearby apartment building and demolished it to make way for a new studio facility at 809 Brady Street, north of the existing studios at 805 Brady. Ground was broken that June,<ref>{{Cite news |date=1962-06-07 |title=Ground Broken for New WOC-TV Studio Building |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-ground-broken-for/197661149/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=The Rock Island Argus |pages=14}}</ref> and WOC Broadcast Centre opened in 1963.<ref name="Disp631119">{{Cite news |date=1963-11-19 |title=WOC Shows New Building |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-woc-shows-new-building/197312406/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Moline Daily Dispatch |pages=6}}</ref> The building, designed by Stewart-Robison-Laffan of Davenport and built by the Priester Construction Company,<ref>{{Cite news |date=1962-06-07 |title=Ceremony Opens Work On New WOC Studios |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-ceremony-opens-work-on-n/197661338/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=The Daily Times |pages=10}}</ref> contained {{convert|68000|m2|ft2}} of space. For television, it featured two studios, the largest of which contained an {{convert|18|ft|m|adj=on}} turntable and could hold an audience of 200. It also contained full studios for WOC radio and a radio and television newsroom.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1963-12-10 |title=Broadcast Centre Marks WOC Progress |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-broadcast-centre-marks-w/184025293/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Times-Democrat |pages=Special 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-times-equipment-is-best-availa/184025310/ 2]}}</ref> Draperies in the building were inspired by those David Palmer had seen at a New York City hotel.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2000-04-07 |title=Golden memories: KWQC celebrates 50 years of TV in the Quad-Cities |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-golden-memories-kwqc-ce/197365141/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Quad-City Times |pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-station-veterans-recall/197365170/ A2]|first=John|last=Willard}}</ref> The Ryan house was demolished, but the 1949 annex was incorporated into the new structure.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1974-10-31 |title=WOC-TV Celebrates 25 Years On The Tube |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-woc-tv-celebrates-25-yea/197365083/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Quad-City Times |page=People 2}}</ref> Though the studio had some color facilities, local color programming did not begin until 1967, when the station purchased color cameras.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1967-03-26 |title=Videovues |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-videovues/197665271/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Times-Democrat |page=TV Digest 2|first=Ron|last=Lorenzen}}</ref> Broadcast Centre (as the WOC Broadcasting Center) was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2021.{{r|NPS}}
===Later Palmer years=== In 1977, David Palmer died, spurring the transfer of Palmer Broadcasting—with the WOC stations and KIIK FM radio in Davenport, the WHO stations in Des Moines, and radio stations in Naples, Florida—to a consortium including the company's president, two Washington lawyers, a Davenport banks, and trusts for David Palmer's daughters.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1978-08-09 |title=FCC Ponders Petition For Palmer Trustees |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-fcc-ponders-petition-for/197638830/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Quad-City Times |pages=3}}</ref> Palmer Broadcasting became Palmer Communications by 1980.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1980-01-30 |title=WHO to build new studios near Tech High |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-who-to-build-new/139000610/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=The Des Moines Register |page=4A|first=Nick|last=Lamberto}}</ref> In 1982, the previous mast at Bettendorf was replaced by a {{convert|1383|ft|m|adj=on}} tower shared by WOC-TV and WHBF-TV to increase their coverage areas.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1982-12-04 |title=WHBF moves to new tower |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/iowa-city-press-citizen-whbf-moves-to-ne/197685511/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Iowa City Press-Citizen |pages=24}}</ref> In addition to improving reception in and around the Quad Cities, a goal was to improve coverage to the west, an area also served by stations in the Cedar Rapids market, where viewers in Cedar, Johnson, and Washington counties in Iowa were dependent on a translator for reception of WOC-TV.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1982-10-03 |title=PBS may air 'Market to Market' nationally |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-pbs-may-air-mar/197638603/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Des Moines Sunday Register |page=11-TV|first=Dave|last=Rhein}} This column incorrectly mentions two towers, which was corrected on October 10, 1982.</ref>
One of David Palmer's daughters, Vickie Miller, and her husband Doug agreed to buy WOC and KIIK radio from Palmer Communications in 1986 under the banner of Signal Hill Communications.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1986-02-19 |title=Palmer selling 2 stations |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-palmer-selling-2-station/197638861/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Quad-City Times |page=8}}</ref> As part of the negotiations, it was decided that WOC-TV would change its call sign.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1986-02-21 |title=WOC-TV to get new name |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-woc-tv-to-get-new-name/197313725/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Quad-City Times |page=3|first=Jim|last=Renkes}}</ref> Because of its location west of the Mississippi River, any new call sign would be a four-letter assignment beginning with K. Station management selected KWQC-TV, containing QC for Quad Cities, which was adopted on December 6, 1986.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1986-11-21 |title=WOC-TV becomes KWQC-TV |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-woc-tv-becomes-kwqc-tv/197668907/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Quad-City Times |page=1|first=Jim|last=Renkes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1986-11-29 |title=WOC becomes KWQC |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-woc-becomes-kwqc/197669145/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=The Gazette |page=TVVision 2}}</ref> After the sale, WOC and KIIK radio remained in the Broadcast Centre until relocating to new studios in late 1987.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1987-12-13 |title=Q-C radio stations stay in tune at new studios |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-q-c-radio-stations-stay/197638888/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Quad-City Times |page=1E|first=John|last=Willard}}</ref>
===Broad Street and Young ownership=== Even though WOC and KIIK radio had been sold, Vickie Miller retained ownership interests in Palmer Communications.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1986-11-09 |title=On a roll: Media deal done, Millers are ready to shake up Q-C |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-on-a-roll-media-deal-do/197638871/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Quad-City Times |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-millers-ready-to-make-ma/197638876/ 3A]|first=John|last=Willard}}</ref> This meant that even though the stations had been sold, the FCC considered them a monopoly for tax purposes. The commission at the time offered tax deferments if part of the monopoly was sold off and reinvested in another media entity, allowing Palmer to put off considerable capital gains taxes. It was also unclear how long Vickie Miller would continue to own Signal Hill Communications. Palmer Communications decided to take advantage of these circumstances to essentially trade KWQC-TV for another station in a larger market. In February 1989, Palmer bought KTVY in Oklahoma City, and two weeks later, KWQC-TV was put up for sale.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1989-03-09 |title=KWQC goes on the block: Palmer Communications will sell Davenport station |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-kwqc-goes-on-the-block/92249889/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Quad-City Times |page=43|first=John|last=Willard}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1989-03-09 |title=Palmer selling TV station in Davenport |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-palmer-selling-t/197313774/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=The Des Moines Register |page=9S|first=David|last=Elbert|first2=William|last2=Ryberg}}</ref> The station was acquired by Broad Street Television Corporation of New Haven, Connecticut, a return to broadcast ownership for Richard Geismar and Fred Walker, who had previously sold a firm to Clear Channel Communications in 1984.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1989-05-26 |title=Connecticut firm tunes in to KWQC |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-connecticut-firm-tunes-i/197313793/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Quad-City Times |page=15|first=John|last=Willard}}</ref> The new owners conducted studies on moving the station's studio to the transmitter site in Bettendorf, citing a lack of parking and outdated facilities at the Broadcast Centre.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1990-08-16 |title=KWQC plans move to Bettendorf site |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-kwqc-plans-move-to-bette/197313818/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Quad-City Times |page=5B|first=John|last=Willard}}</ref>
After Prudential, an equity partner in Broad Street, wished to sell, the firm sold KWQC-TV to Young Broadcasting for $55 million in a deal announced in 1995. By this time, plans to move the studio to Bettendorf had been abandoned.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1995-08-02 |title=KWQC-TV sells for $55 million |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-kwqc-tv-sells-for-55-mi/197313891/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Quad-City Times |page=7A|first=John|last=Willard}}</ref>
===Media General and Gray ownership=== In 2013, Media General acquired Young Broadcasting.<ref name=thr-youngmediageneral>{{cite web|title=TV Companies Media General and New Young Broadcasting to Merge|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tv-companies-media-general-new-564163|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 6, 2013|access-date=June 7, 2013}}</ref><ref name=tvnc-youngmgcomplete>{{cite news|title=Media General, Young Now Officially One|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/71928/media-general-young-now-officially-one|access-date=November 12, 2013|newspaper=TVNewsCheck|date=November 12, 2013}}</ref> Two years later, Media General initially agreed to merge with the Des Moines–based Meredith Corporation before receiving and accepting a higher offer from Nexstar Broadcasting Group in 2016.<ref name=wsj-meredithmg>{{cite news|title=Media General to Buy Meredith Corp. for $2.4 Billion|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/media-general-to-buy-meredith-corp-for-2-4-billion-1441709372|access-date=September 8, 2015|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=September 8, 2015}}</ref><ref name=tvnc-mgnexstar>{{cite web|title=Nexstar-Media General: It's A Done Deal|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/91865/nexstarmedia-general-its-a-done-deal|website=TVNewsCheck|access-date=January 27, 2016}}</ref> Nexstar owned WHBF-TV and, under FCC rules of the time, could not own two of the four highest-rated stations in the same media market. It opted to keep WHBF-TV and sell KWQC-TV and WBAY-TV in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Gray Television for $270 million<ref name=tvnc-graymc>{{cite web|title=Gray Buying Two Nexstar Spinoffs For $270M|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/95259/gray-buying-two-nexstar-spinoffs-for-270m|website=TVNewsCheck|date=June 3, 2016|access-date=June 3, 2016 |last1=Miller |first1=Mark K. }}</ref><ref name=bc-graymediageneral>{{cite news|first=Diana|last=Marszalek|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/gray-buys-nexstar-stations-green-bay-davenport/157035|title=Gray Buys Nexstar Stations in Green Bay, Davenport|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=June 3, 2016|access-date=June 18, 2016}}</ref> in a sale completed on January 17, 2017.<ref name=prnewswire-gray>{{cite web|title=Gray Closes Green Bay, Davenport, and Fairbanks Acquisitions|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gray-closes-green-bay-davenport-and-fairbanks-acquisitions-300392331.html|work=PR Newswire|date=January 17, 2017|access-date=January 26, 2017}}</ref>
==News operation== Local news was on WOC-TV's schedule from the moment it began broadcasting. A 10-minute newscast was among the station's first planned local programs.{{r|Disp491018}} The station had by the 1970s established itself as the Quad Cities news ratings leader, with audience shares in the metro area exceeding 50 percent and slightly less for the full area of dominant influence. Several factors boosted WOC-TV's news standing, including the larger proportion of Iowa news on channel 6 compared to the other two stations in Illinois,<ref>{{Cite news |date=1977-08-31 |title=Channel 8 Guns For 6 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-channel-8-guns-for-6/131934140/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Quad-City Times |page=Tempo 3|first=Michael|last=McGrevey}}</ref> even though stations competed for viewers on both sides of the river.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Robert|last=Rees|title=Mid-American Report: Davenport-Rock Island-The Molines|page=42|work=Variety|date=May 31, 1978|id={{pq|1286088229}} }}</ref> In the early 1980s, WHBF-TV made a creditable ratings effort against WOC-TV, including a narrow lead at 6 p.m. in several ratings surveys. However, WOC rebounded quickly thanks to changes in the news staff and the debut of a 5 p.m. news magazine program, ''5 P.M. Live'',<ref>{{Cite news |date=1984-12-20 |title=WOC-TV recaptures top spot among local stations |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-woc-tv-recaptures-top-sp/197670594/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Quad-City Times |page=15|first=Jim|last=Renkes}}</ref> which launched in 1984 as a replacement for the canceled national newscast franchise ''Newscope''<ref>{{Cite news |date=1984-09-09 |title=TV magazine show slated |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-tv-magazine-show-s/197670695/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=The Rock Island Argus |pages=54}}</ref> and the local version of the syndicated ''PM Magazine''.<ref name="Disp930627">{{Cite news |date=1993-06-27 |title=Talk-info show features Paula Sands |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-talk-info-show-features-pau/197688719/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=The Dispatch |pages=H2}}</ref> The close ratings race turned back into a large lead for WOC, which went from number-one to in second place by 13 to 15 percentage points of the audience.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1984-12-30 |title=Ottumwa's 'local power' TV approach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-ottumwas-local/124319922/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Des Moines Sunday Register |page=3-TV|first=Dave|last=Rhein}}</ref> The popular syndicated game show ''Wheel of Fortune'' also was credited with raising channel 6's evening news ratings.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1988-02-08 |title=How the Rating Sweeps Play in Iowa |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-how-the-rating-swe/132491601/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=The Los Angeles Times |pages=VI:1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-iowa-how-do-the-r/132491656/ 10]|first=Howard|last=Rosenberg|author-link=Howard Rosenberg}}</ref>
The station debuted a morning newscast at 6:30 a.m. in October 1989.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1989-08-21 |title=KWQC adds news for early risers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-kwqc-adds-news-for-early/197313813/ |access-date=2026-05-16 |work=Quad-City Times |page=15|first=Ron|last=Lorenzen}}</ref> ''Quad Cities Today'' progressively expanded with earlier starts: to an hour in 1992,<ref>{{Cite news |date=1992-01-06 |title=Do you remember 'Turn Off TV Day'? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-do-you-remember-turn-of/197690483/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Quad-City Times |page=3B|first=Ron|last=Lorenzen}}</ref> 90 minutes in 1997,<ref>{{Cite news |date=1997-04-07 |title=Kids offer TV look at their job choices |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-kids-offer-tv-look-at-th/197690505/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Quad-City Times |page=3T|first=Ron|last=Lorenzen}}</ref> and two hours in 2002.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2002-07-22 |title=TV teeing up to cover Classic |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-tv-teeing-up-to-cover-cl/197690534/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Quad-City Times |page=B3|first=Ron|last=Lorenzen}}</ref> For its first 16 years on the air, ''Quad Cities Today'' was anchored by Charles King, who retired in 2005.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2005-09-02 |title=KWQC slips newscasters into new slots |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-kwqc-slips-newscasters-i/197691866/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Quad-City Times |pages=A10, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-kwqc/197691854/ A11]|first=David|last=Burke}}</ref> The first weekend morning edition of ''Quad Cities Today'' debuted in 1992<ref>{{Cite news |date=1992-08-03 |title=KLJB manager questions Chase threat |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-kljb-manager-questions-c/197696051/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Quad-City Times |page=2B|first=Ron|last=Lorenzen}}</ref> and was canceled in January 2008 as part of cost-cutting at Young Broadcasting;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://qctimes.com/business/kwqc-tv-lays-off-cancels-saturday-morning-newscasts/article_a4c86581-4f0b-5e6f-ad05-0c798f932847.html|title=KWQC-TV6 lays off 12, cancels Saturday morning newscasts|last=Schorpp|first=Doug|website=The Quad-City Times|date=February 8, 2008 |language=en|access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref> KWQC restored weekend morning news in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://qctimes.com/entertainment/kwqc-adding-weekend-morning-newscasts/article_ac70b2ce-c6e0-5b27-b356-6c1900cd69a9.html|title=KWQC adding weekend morning newscasts|website=The Quad-City Times|date=August 9, 2014 |language=en|access-date=January 10, 2020}}</ref>
In 1993, ''5 P.M. Live'' evolved into ''Paula Sands Live'', named for its host Paula Sands, and expanded to an hour.{{r|Disp930627}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=1993-08-15 |title=Paula Sands show should be profitable |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-paula-sands-show-should-be/197688734/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=The Dispatch |page=H2|first=Alan|last=Sivell}}</ref> After being trialed at an earlier afternoon hour in 1994, when KWQC debuted a more traditional newscast at 5 p.m.,<ref name="Quad940808">{{Cite news |date=1994-08-08 |title=KWQC alters afternoon lineup for news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-kwqc-alters-afternoon-li/167443993/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Quad-City Times |page=2T|first=Ron|last=Lorenzen}}</ref> it returned to the 4:30 p.m. slot in 1995 as a half-hour program,<ref>{{Cite news |date=1995-07-16 |title=Sands' show will be dust in the wind if changes aren't made in its format |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-sands-show-will-be-dust-in/197688857/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=The Dispatch |page=H2|first=Alan|last=Sivell}}</ref> later moving to 3 p.m. as an hour. Sands retired in 2023, and the program was retained under the new title ''Quad Cities Live''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-12-06 |title=‘Quad Cities Live’ to take over for ‘Paula Sands Live’ |url=https://www.kwqc.com/2023/12/06/quad-cities-live-take-over-paula-sands-live/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |website=KWQC |language=en}}</ref>
From December 31, 2012, to December 30, 2015, KWQC-TV produced the 9 p.m. newscast for Davenport Fox affiliate KLJB (channel 18).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.kwqc.com/story/19657751/kwqc-will-produce-kljb-fox-9-oclock-news |title=KWQC Will Produce KLJB Fox 9 O'clock News |website=KWQC-TV |access-date=October 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016142951/http://www.kwqc.com/story/19657751/kwqc-will-produce-kljb-fox-9-oclock-news |archive-date=October 16, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=qct-kljbkwqc>{{cite news|last=Burke|first=David|title=KWQC excited about expanding their reach|url=http://qctimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/columnists/david-burke/kwqc-excited-about-expanding-their-reach/article_9a2a6ffa-09a2-11e2-af41-0019bb2963f4.html|access-date=October 4, 2012|newspaper=Quad-City Times|date=September 29, 2012|archive-date=October 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002035628/http://qctimes.com/news/opinion/editorial/columnists/david-burke/kwqc-excited-about-expanding-their-reach/article_9a2a6ffa-09a2-11e2-af41-0019bb2963f4.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=kwqc-kwqcnewsonkljbend>{{cite news|last1=Nielsen|first1=Brianna|title=KWQC to stop production of Fox 18 News at Nine|url=http://kwqc.com/2015/12/30/kwqc-to-stop-production-of-fox-18-news-at-nine/|access-date=January 2, 2016|work=KWQC-TV|date=December 30, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101115336/http://kwqc.com/2015/12/30/kwqc-to-stop-production-of-fox-18-news-at-nine/|archive-date=January 1, 2016}}</ref> The relationship ended after Nexstar acquired WHBF-TV and began providing services to KLJB from that station; it had been known for months that production of the KLJB newscast would be assumed by WHBF-TV.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/market-eye-clear-winner-along-big-muddy-141724|work=Broadcasting & Cable|date=June 15, 2015|title=Market Eye: Clear Winner Along the Big Muddy|first=Michael|last=Malone|access-date=February 28, 2023|archive-date=May 26, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526060654/https://www.nexttv.com/news/market-eye-clear-winner-along-big-muddy-141724|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Notable former on-air staff== * Rick Benjamin – anchor, 1988–1992<ref>{{Cite news |date=1988-08-01 |title=WQPT primes pump for auction |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-wqpt-primes-pump-for-auc/197699776/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Quad-City Times |page=13|first=Ron|last=Lorenzen}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1991-12-21 |title=Anchor leaves KWQC-TV |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-anchor-leaves-kwqc-tv/197699784/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Quad-City Times |page=5D}}</ref> * Kari Lake – intern, 1992{{r|Quad940808}} * Russ Rhea – anchor/reporter, 1988–1990<ref>{{Cite news |date=1988-02-29 |title=WQPT woos viewers with 'Festival '88' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-wqpt-woos-viewers-with/169492004/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Quad-City Times |page=13|first=Ron|last=Lorenzen}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1990-10-22 |title=TV promoter returns religious radio to Q-C |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-tv-promoter-returns-reli/197699872/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Quad-City Times |page=3B|first=Ron|last=Lorenzen}}</ref>
==Technical information and subchannels== KWQC-TV's transmitter is located in Bettendorf, Iowa.{{r|FCC-LMS-6885}} The station's signal is multiplexed: {| class="wikitable" |+Subchannels of KWQC-TV<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KWQC#station |title=RabbitEars TV Query for KWQC|website=RabbitEars|accessdate=May 13, 2025}}</ref> ! scope = "col" | Channel ! scope = "col" | {{abbrlink|Res.|Display resolution}} ! scope = "col" | Short name ! scope = "col" | Programming |- ! scope = "row" | 6.1 | 1080i || KWQC-TV || NBC |- ! scope = "row" | 6.2 | rowspan=6|480i || ION || Ion Television |- ! scope = "row" | 6.3 | COZI TV || Cozi TV |- ! scope = "row" | 6.4 | H&I || Heroes & Icons |- ! scope = "row" | 6.5 | StartTV || Start TV |- ! scope = "row" | 6.6 | Outlaw || Outlaw |- ! scope = "row" | 6.7 | ION+ || Ion Plus |}
KWQC-TV began airing a digital signal on January 15, 2003,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2003-02-09 |title=We'll all be watching digital TV soon |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-well-all-be-watching-digit/197638761/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=The Dispatch |page=Progress 12|first=Carol|last=Loretz}}</ref> on UHF channel 56.<ref>{{Cite book|chapter=KWQC-DT|page=A-880|title=Television & Cable Factbook|date=2006|publisher=Warren Communications News}}</ref> It ceased analog broadcasts on June 12, 2009, the official digital television transition date,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-03-05 |title=Burris needs 5 years in for federal pension |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-burris-needs-5-years-in/197699426/ |access-date=2026-05-17 |work=Quad-City Times |pages=A2}}</ref> and began digital broadcasting on UHF channel 36, using virtual channel 6.<ref name="Analog to Digital">{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref> KWQC-TV relocated its signal from channel 36 to channel 17 on November 6, 2019, as a result of the 2016 United States wireless spectrum auction. The signal was required to remain at low power until January 17, 2020, to avoid interference to another station repacking from channel 17.<ref name="Repack Table">{{Cite web|url=http://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Transition_Files/Phase_Assignment_Closing_PN.csv|title=FCC TV Spectrum Phase Assignment Table|format=CSV|website=Federal Communications Commission|date=April 13, 2017|access-date=April 17, 2017|archive-date=April 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417160749/http://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Transition_Files/Phase_Assignment_Closing_PN.csv|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-02 |title=TV6 to go to full power on Friday, Jan. 17 |url=https://www.kwqc.com/content/news/TV6-to-undergo-changing-towers-and-signals-562002551.html |access-date=2026-05-17 |website=KWQC |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== * {{ASR|key=600182|number=1035417}}
{{Quad Cities TV}} {{TV Stations Iowa}} {{Illinois TV}} {{Gray TV}} {{Davenport}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kwqc-Tv}} Category:1949 establishments in Iowa Category:Cozi TV affiliates Category:Davenport, Iowa Category:Ion Plus affiliates Category:Gray Media Category:Heroes & Icons affiliates Category:Ion Television affiliates Category:NBC affiliates Category:Start TV affiliates Category:Television channels and stations established in 1949 Category:Television stations in the Quad Cities