If you’ve lived in the Chippewa Valley for more than a minute, you know that News 13 Eau Claire Wisconsin isn’t just a channel. It’s the background noise of every local diner and the first thing people pull up when a blizzard starts rolling in from Minnesota.
Honestly, local news is weirdly personal here.
Most folks call it WEAU. Others just know it as "Channel 13." But whatever name you use, this station has survived everything from ownership shakeups to a literal tower collapse that almost knocked them off the map. It’s a survival story that mirrors the city of Eau Claire itself—gritty, a bit stubborn, and deeply rooted in the soil of Western Wisconsin.
The Morning Routine: Hello Wisconsin and Beyond
There is a specific rhythm to the day for anyone tuned into News 13 Eau Claire Wisconsin. It usually starts with Hello Wisconsin. If you’re waking up at 5:00 AM, you’re looking for two things: local headlines and whether or not you need to scrape your windshield.
The station doesn't just stick to the city limits of Eau Claire. They cover a massive footprint—Dunn, Chippewa, Barron, and even down toward La Crosse. This is a tall order. You’re trying to tell a farmer in Menomonie why a property tax hike in downtown Eau Claire matters to them, while also keeping track of the latest developments at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Why the Weather Team Actually Matters
In this part of the country, weather isn't just small talk; it's a survival skill. WEAU was actually the first station in the market to build its own Doppler radar back in 1979. Before that, everyone was basically waiting for delayed data from the National Weather Service.
Today, they brand their coverage as SkyWarn 13. During tornado season, the social media comments on their live streams are a chaotic mix of "thank you for the heads up" and "move the map, you’re covering my house." It's peak Wisconsin.
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The Day the Tower Fell
You can't talk about the history of News 13 Eau Claire Wisconsin without mentioning March 22, 2011. It sounds like the plot of a disaster movie, but it was very real.
The WEAU transmitter tower in Fairchild was a beast. It stood 2,000 feet tall. To put that in perspective, that’s hundreds of feet taller than the Empire State Building. Then, a massive ice storm hit. The sheer weight of the ice, combined with high winds, caused the entire structure to buckle and collapse.
It was a total blackout.
For a while, the station was essentially homeless. They had to scramble to broadcast on digital subchannels from their rivals over at WQOW. It took nearly a year of legal hurdles and construction to get a new tower back up. That year showed just how much the community relied on them, even if they spent half their time complaining about the commercials.
Gray Television and the Business of Local News
Ownership is where things get a little "corporate jargon-y," but it matters for what you see on your screen. WEAU is currently owned by Gray Media (formerly Gray Television).
Gray is a powerhouse. They own stations all over the country, which gives News 13 access to better technology and national resources. However, the downside of big corporate ownership is often a "cookie-cutter" feel. You’ve probably noticed that the graphics and the music sound suspiciously similar to news stations in other states.
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The Competitive Landscape
Eau Claire is a "split" market. You have WEAU (NBC) and WQOW (ABC). For decades, these two have been in a slugfest for viewership. While WEAU has historically been the "legacy" station with the biggest reach, WQOW has carved out a huge niche by focusing heavily on hyper-local community stories.
Recently, the market saw some major shifts. Gray Television actually tried to buy the company that owned WQOW back in 2021. Because of FCC rules about "duopolies" (you can't own two of the biggest stations in one small town), Gray had to sell WQOW to Allen Media Group.
This means the rivalry is still very much alive.
Tragedy and Legacy in the Newsroom
One name still resonates with long-time viewers of News 13 Eau Claire Wisconsin: Cindy Schott.
In 1991, the station was hit with a tragedy that made national headlines. Cindy, a beloved weeknight anchor, died unexpectedly at a young age. It wasn't just a loss for the station; it felt like a death in the family for the thousands of people who watched her every night at 6:00 and 10:00. Her story was eventually featured on Dateline NBC, and it remains one of the most somber chapters in the history of Chippewa Valley broadcasting.
Is the News 13 App Any Good?
If you check the Google Play store or the Apple App Store, the reviews for the WEAU app are... let's say "mixed."
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The biggest gripe? Ads. Tons of them.
Users often complain that they get a push notification for a breaking story, click it, and then have to sit through a 30-second ad only to find out the "breaking news" was just a minor traffic delay on Highway 53. It’s a common frustration with local news apps nationwide as they struggle to find ways to pay the bills in the age of Google and Facebook.
Pro tip: If you want the news without the app bloat, their website is usually a bit cleaner, or you can just follow their individual reporters on social media. They often post updates faster than the main station account.
How to Get Involved or Share a Tip
Local news lives and breathes on "viewer tips." If you see something happening—whether it's a massive fire, a quirky community event, or a pothole the size of a Buick—they want to hear from you.
- The Newsroom Phone: 715-832-3474 is the direct line.
- Email: Most tips go to news@weau.com.
- Social Media: Direct messaging them on Facebook is surprisingly effective, as the digital producers monitor that feed 24/7.
Actionable Steps for Staying Informed
If you're looking to actually get the most out of local media in the Chippewa Valley, don't just rely on one source.
- Diversify your feed: Follow News 13 for the big "breaking" stuff, but check out Volume One for culture and events. They cover the things the TV cameras often miss.
- Sign up for specific alerts: If you only care about weather, turn off the general "news" notifications in the app settings to avoid the fluff.
- Check the subchannels: WEAU also carries The CW Plus and MeTV on their digital subchannels. If you’re a cord-cutter with an antenna, you can get a surprising amount of content for free.
The landscape of news in Eau Claire is changing. We’re seeing more consolidation and more "remote" reporting. But as long as there are snowstorms and high school sports, there’s going to be a need for someone to point a camera at the Chippewa River and tell us what’s going on.