Newscasts
In March 2006, WTVO began producing the market's second prime time newscast on WQRF known as Fox 39 News at 9. The broadcast only aired on weeknights unlike the area's original prime time show that was seen every night on cable-only WB affiliate "WBR" (produced by WREX). This distinction made WQRF's news Rockford's first over-the-air newscast at 9. Competition between "WBR" and WQRF was short lived because, in late-2007, the former had its news canceled by WREX for an unknown reason. The time slot is currently used to replay the NBC outlet's weeknight 6 o'clock show on what is now CW affiliate WREX-DT2.
Another addition to local newscasts on WQRF occurred January 14, 2008 when WTVO launched Fox 39 Evening News at 6:30. This broadcast was seen weeknights and aired against the national broadcasts on the area's big three affiliates. Eventually, WQRF expanded Fox 39 News at 9 to a seven night operation and lengthened the weeknight version to a full hour. That station would eventually drop the 6:30 show for an unknown reason. WQRF's weeknight prime time newscast at 9 maintains a separate news anchor but features the same meteorologist and sports anchor as WTVO.
On March 5, 2012, WTVO launched a two-hour long extension of its weekday morning show on WQRF. Known as Fox 39 News in the Morning, this can be seen from 7 until 9 offering a local alternative to the national morning programs seen on the area's big three outlets. WIFR was the first television station in Rockford to upgrade its newscasts to high definition followed by WREX on December 12, 2010. Local news seen on WTVO and WQRF currently remain in pillarboxed 4:3 standard definition and there are no plans to upgrade the two stations to either 16:9 enhanced definition widescreen or even full HD level. Unlike most ABC affiliates, this outlet does not air a midday newscast during the week. WTVO-DT2 offers repeats of local news from the main channel.
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