WGQF

WGQF is the Fox-affiliated station for Bartlett, IL. It broadcasts on digital and virtual channel 19 and is owned and operated by East Coast Broadcasting Company.

History
The station signed on for the first time on July 7, 1977. It was unique in that it was one of the few public access stations to be available over the air. This was due to the fact that the station couldn't afford any syndicated programming. Instead, WGQF operated from 11:00 A.M. to 11:00 P.M. Monday to Saturday (the only station broadcasting 12 hours a day at the time) leasing to airtime to whoever wanted it. Time was mostly bought up by local advertisers, essentially pioneering paid programming in the area.

WGQF picked up the Fox affiliation for the area upon that networks launch in 1986. Around this time, the station removed its public access-type programming and only operated during the times when Fox offered programmings. This was originally only Saturday and Sunday evenings. WGQF began broadcasting full time in 1993 when Fox began offering a full week's worth of programming. In addition, WGQF established a full news department and added some syndicated fare outside of Fox programming.

Digital Television
WGQF broadcasts in 1080i rather than Fox's native 720p format. The station began broadcasts exclusively in digital, discontinuing analog broadcasting on June 11, 2009

Programming
Syndicated programming on WGQF includes Blue Bloods, Harry's Law, Celebrity Name Game, Family Feud, and Family Guy among others. WGQF also broadcasts a 90-minute music video block at least twice a day.

After joining Fox in 1986, WGQF only broadcast programs on Saturday and Sunday evenings (the only time Fox offered any programming). Prior to this, WGQF only operated for 12 hours a day on every day of the week except Sunday. When Fox wasn't broadcasting programming, the rest of the time was filled with color bars, station ID, local commercials, and local scenery (usually) set to soft rock and easy listening-type music.