WBUP

Last updated

WBUP
WBUP (2020).svg
WBKP (2019).svg
City Ishpeming, Michigan
Channels
Branding
  • ABC 10
  • CW 5 (DT2)
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
WBKP, WBKB-TV
History
FoundedMarch 6, 2000
First air date
January 2, 2003(21 years ago) (2003-01-02)
Former channel number(s)
Analog: 10 (VHF, 2003–2009)
Call sign meaning
Beautiful Upper Peninsula
Technical information [2]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID 59281
ERP 9 kW
HAAT 235 m (771 ft)
Transmitter coordinates 46°29′26.1″N87°53′36.5″W / 46.490583°N 87.893472°W / 46.490583; -87.893472
Translator(s) WBKP 5.2 Calumet
Links
Public license information
Website abc10up.com

WBUP (channel 10) is a television station licensed to Ishpeming, Michigan, United States, serving as the ABC affiliate for the Central and Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It is owned by Morgan Murphy Media alongside Calumet-licensed CW+ affiliate WBKP (channel 5). The two stations share studios on Ash Street in Ishpeming Township; WBUP's transmitter is located south of Ely Township in unincorporated Marquette County.

Contents

Since WBUP cannot be seen over-the-air in the Keweenaw Peninsula, it is simulcast in high definition on WBKP's second digital subchannel (5.2) from a transmitter on Tolonen Hill near Painesdale of Adams Township.

History

In August 1997, the area's original ABC affiliate WBKP launched repeater station W28BX on channel 28 in Marquette to cover the city proper. Since this low-power over-the-air signal was very weak, it could only be picked up in Marquette and Negaunee. On January 2, 2003, WBKP replaced the low-power repeater with full-time satellite WBUP. This aired a full-powered analog signal on VHF channel 10 and, at this point, WBUP and WBKP took the on-air branding "ABC 5&10".

In January 2004, the Scanlan family (who also owned WGTU/WGTQ in the Northern Lower Peninsula) sold WBUP/WBKP and WBKB-TV in Alpena to Lake Superior Community Broadcasting, a company owned by Stephen Marks of Maryland. In July 2007, the two stations split with WBKP becoming a CW affiliate (as part of The CW Plus national service) while WBUP remained with ABC.

On February 11, 2013, at about 8:35 p.m., WBUP became a victim of broadcast signal intrusion when an unidentified hacker had hijacked the Emergency Alert System network to transmit a false EAS message. This was broadcast during an episode of The Bachelor which simply stated that "dead bodies are rising from their graves and they are attacking the living. Do not attempt to approach these bodies, as they are considered dangerous." [3] It was revealed that a default password for the networks was being used, and a few minutes later, the station sent an official on-screen message apologizing for any confusion. The attack also happened during prime time programming locally on WNMU-TV, KENW in Portales, New Mexico, and KRTV in Great Falls, Montana. The hacker was arrested several days later and sentenced to six months probation.

In September 2023, it was announced that The Marks Group would sell its Michigan broadcasting properties—WBUP, WBKP, WBKB-TV, and radio stations in Houghton and Iron River—to Morgan Murphy Media for $13.375 million. [1] The sale was completed on December 4. [4]

News operation

For its entire existence, WLUC-TV (channel 6) has held the number one spot in local Nielsen ratings by a wide margin. The NBC affiliate has always had a much larger news department than WBUP which has only been offering local newscasts since 2004. An earlier attempt seen on WBKP from July 1997 until March 2002 was abandoned due to low ratings and budget cuts. WBUP currently broadcasts local news weekday mornings at 6:30 in addition to weeknights at 5:30, 6, 10 (on WBKP) and 11. However, unlike most ABC affiliates, it does not offer newscasts in several dayparts (such as a full weekday morning show, weeknights at 5 and weekends).

For most of its history, then-CBS and now-MyNetworkTV affiliate WJMN-TV (channel 3) only provided brief Upper Peninsula-specific news and weather cut-ins that were taped in advance from then-semi-satellite WFRV-TV in Green Bay, Wisconsin. WJMN finally began airing full, live newscasts (seen weeknights at 6 and 11) with a Marquette focus on April 21, 2014.

On January 21, 2022, MeTV affiliate WZMQ launched a CBS affiliation on its DT2 subchannel, complete with its own newscasts. Despite all these attempts bringing competition to the market, WLUC continues its dominance with consistent viewership.

WBUP's current news operation was established in 2004 shortly after acquired WBUP/WBKP. The shows were originally known as UGN News (with "UGN" meaning "Upper Great <Lakes> Network") and had a simulcasting arrangement with WBKB. Likewise, the programs featured regionalized news and weather coverage from the entire Upper and Northern Lower Peninsulas. In 2006, UGN News was re-focused to the Upper Peninsula and only originated from WBUP/WBKP. After becoming a separate station and the primary producer of newscasts, WBUP re-branded its newscasts to ABC 10 News NOW.

In December 2007, it began producing the area's first prime time newscast on WBKP. Known as CW 5 News NOW, this thirty-minute program is seen weeknights at 10. On September 8, 2009, rival WLUC added a half-hour local newscast seen at the same time to its Fox-affiliated second digital subchannel. In September 2012, WBUP began airing its first-ever weekday morning newscast, known as ABC 10 News NOW This Morning, seen at 6:30. To cover the Keweenaw Peninsula, the station also operates an advertising sales office and news bureau on East Montezuma Avenue in Houghton (building shared with WOLV-FM 97.7, WHKB-FM 102.3, and WCCY-AM 1400). Since there is no weather department, all weather segments originate from WBKB's studios in Alpena and are taped in advance.

Technical information

Subchannels

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of WBUP [5]
Channel Res. Aspect Short nameProgramming
10.1 720p 16:9 WBUPABC ABC
10.2 WBUP-CW The CW Plus (WBKP) in HD
  Simulcast of subchannels of another station

Analog-to-digital conversion

WBUP shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 10, on June 12, 2009, and "flash-cut" its digital signal into operation on VHF channel 10. [6] Since it was granted an original construction permit after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) finalized the DTV allotment plan on April 21, 1997, this station did not receive a companion channel for a digital television station. It then began offering a standard definition simulcast of WBKP on a new second digital subchannel in order to expand that station's broadcasting radius.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WAOW</span> ABC affiliate in Wausau, Wisconsin

WAOW is a television station in Wausau, Wisconsin, United States, affiliated with ABC and owned by Allen Media Group. The station's studios are located on Grand Avenue/US 51 in Wausau, and its transmitter is located on Rib Mountain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WKTV</span> NBC/CBS/CW affiliate in Utica, New York

WKTV is a television station in Utica, New York, United States, affiliated with NBC, CBS, and The CW Plus. Owned by Heartland Media, the station has studios on Smith Hill Road in Deerfield, and its transmitter is located in the Eatonville section of Fairfield.

WICU-TV is a television station in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by SJL Broadcasting, which maintains a local marketing agreement (LMA) with Lilly Broadcasting, owner of CBS/CW+ affiliate and company flagship WSEE-TV, for the provision of certain services. The two stations share studios on State Street in downtown Erie; WICU-TV's transmitter is located on Peach Street in Summit Township, Pennsylvania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WPBN-TV</span> NBC affiliate in Traverse City, Michigan

WPBN-TV is a television station licensed to Traverse City, Michigan, United States, serving as the NBC affiliate for the northern Lower and eastern Upper peninsulas of Michigan. It is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, which provides certain services to ABC affiliate WGTU and Sault Ste. Marie–licensed full-time satellite WGTQ under a local marketing agreement (LMA) with Cunningham Broadcasting. However, Sinclair effectively owns WGTU/WGTQ as the majority of Cunningham's stock is owned by the family of deceased group founder Julian Smith. The stations share studios on M-72 just west of Traverse City; WPBN-TV's transmitter is located east of Kalkaska, Michigan. WPBN also operates a low-power digital fill-in translator on UHF channel 22 from a transmitter south of Harrietta in the Manistee National Forest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WFQX-TV</span> Fox/CW affiliate in Cadillac, Michigan

WFQX-TV is a television station licensed to Cadillac, Michigan, United States, serving the northern Lower and eastern Upper peninsulas of Michigan as an affiliate of Fox and The CW Plus. It is owned by Cadillac Telecasting Company, which maintains a shared services agreement (SSA) with 910 Media Group, owner of Cadillac-licensed CBS affiliate WWTV, channel 9, for the provision of certain services. Both stations share studios on Broadcast Way in Cadillac, while WFQX-TV's transmitter is located on 130th Avenue in unincorporated Osceola County, just northeast of Tustin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WJMN-TV</span> TV station in Escanaba, Michigan, US

WJMN-TV is a television station licensed to Escanaba, Michigan, United States, serving the Central and Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan as an affiliate of MyNetworkTV. The station is owned by Nexstar Media Group, and maintains studios off US 41/M-28 on Wright Street in Marquette Township; its transmitter is located in unincorporated northern Delta County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WEEK-TV</span> NBC/ABC/CW affiliate in Peoria, Illinois

WEEK-TV is a television station in Peoria, Illinois, United States, affiliated with NBC, ABC, and The CW Plus. The station is owned by Gray Television, and maintains studios and transmitter facilities on Springfield Road in East Peoria, a section of Groveland Township, Tazewell County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLAJ</span> ABC/CW affiliate in Lansing, Michigan

WLAJ is a television station in Lansing, Michigan, United States, affiliated with ABC and The CW Plus. It is owned by Mission Broadcasting, which maintains a shared services agreement (SSA) with Nexstar Media Group, owner of CBS affiliate WLNS-TV, for the provision of certain services. WLAJ and WLNS-TV share studios on East Saginaw Street in Lansing's Eastside section; through a channel sharing agreement, the stations transmit using WLAJ's spectrum from a tower on Van Atta Road in Okemos, Michigan. There is no separate website for WLAJ; instead, it is integrated with that of sister station WLNS-TV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KDLH</span> CW affiliate in Duluth, Minnesota

KDLH is a television station in Duluth, Minnesota, United States, affiliated with The CW Plus. It is owned by Gray Television alongside Superior, Wisconsin–licensed dual NBC/CBS affiliate KBJR-TV, channel 6. The two stations share studios on South Lake Avenue in Canal Park, downtown Duluth; KDLH's transmitter is located west of downtown in Hilltop Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KBJR-TV</span> NBC/CBS/MyNetworkTV affiliate in Superior, Wisconsin–Duluth, Minnesota

KBJR-TV is a television station licensed to Superior, Wisconsin, United States, serving the Duluth, Minnesota, area as an affiliate of NBC and CBS. It is owned by Gray Television alongside CW+ affiliate KDLH. The two stations share studios on South Lake Avenue in Canal Park, downtown Duluth; KBJR-TV's transmitter is located west of downtown in Hilltop Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLUC-TV</span> NBC affiliate in Marquette, Michigan

WLUC-TV is a television station licensed to Marquette, Michigan, United States, serving the Central and Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan as an affiliate of NBC and Fox. Owned by Gray Television, the station has studios on US 41/M-28 in Negaunee Township, and its transmitter is located on South Helen Lake Road in Republic Township southeast of unincorporated Republic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WETM-TV</span> NBC affiliate in Elmira, New York

WETM-TV is a television station in Elmira, New York, United States, affiliated with NBC and owned by Nexstar Media Group. The station's studios are located on East Water Street in downtown Elmira, and its transmitter is located on Hawley Hill in Big Flats, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBKP</span> CW affiliate in Calumet, Michigan

WBKP is a television station licensed to Calumet, Michigan, United States, serving the Central and Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan as an affiliate of The CW Plus. It is owned by Morgan Murphy Media alongside Ishpeming-licensed ABC affiliate WBUP. The two stations share studios on Ash Street in Ishpeming Township; WBKP's transmitter is located on Tolonen Hill near unincorporated Painesdale in Adams Township.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WZMQ</span> MeTV/CBS affiliate in Marquette, Michigan

WZMQ is a television station licensed to Marquette, Michigan, United States, serving the Central and Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan as a dual affiliate of MeTV and CBS. Owned by Lilly Broadcasting, the station maintains studios on West Washington Street in Marquette, while its transmitter is located in Ishpeming, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KIFI-TV</span> ABC/CBS affiliate in Idaho Falls, Idaho

KIFI-TV is a television station licensed to Idaho Falls, Idaho, United States, serving the Idaho Falls–Pocatello market as an affiliate of ABC, CBS, The CW Plus and Telemundo. It is owned by the News-Press & Gazette Company (NPG), which provides certain services to Dabl/Fox/MyNetworkTV affiliate KIDK under a shared services agreement (SSA) with VistaWest Media, LLC. The two stations share studios on North Yellowstone Highway/US 26 in Idaho Falls; KIFI-TV's transmitter is located on East Butte in unincorporated northern Bingham County along the Idaho National Laboratory border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBKB-TV</span> CBS/NBC/ABC/Fox/MyNetworkTV affiliate in Alpena, Michigan

WBKB-TV is a television station in Alpena, Michigan, United States, affiliated with CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox and MyNetworkTV. Owned by Morgan Murphy Media, the station maintains studios on North Bagley Street in Alpena, and its transmitter is located in unincorporated Alcona County south of Hubbard Lake.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WWCP-TV</span> Fox affiliate in Johnstown, Pennsylvania

WWCP-TV is a television station licensed to Johnstown, Pennsylvania, United States, serving as the Fox affiliate for the Johnstown–Altoona–State College market. It is owned by Cunningham Broadcasting, which provides certain services to Altoona-licensed ABC affiliate WATM-TV under a local marketing agreement (LMA) with Palm Television, L.P. Both stations, in turn, are operated under a time brokerage agreement (TBA) by Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of Johnstown-licensed dual NBC/CW+ affiliate WJAC-TV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KMVT</span> CBS/CW affiliate in Twin Falls, Idaho

KMVT is a television station in Twin Falls, Idaho, United States, affiliated with CBS and The CW Plus. It is owned by Gray Television alongside low-power Fox/MyNetworkTV affiliate KSVT-LD. The two stations share studios on Blue Lakes Boulevard North/US 93 in Twin Falls; KMVT's transmitter is located on Flat Top Butte in unincorporated Jerome County east of Jerome and US 93.

The Marks Group is a Maryland-based operator of radio and television stations in small markets in the United States. Founded by Stephen A. Marks (1950–2022), the company holds 14 radio stations and five television properties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSVT-LD</span> Fox/MyNetworkTV affiliate in Twin Falls, Idaho

KSVT-LD is a low-power television station in Twin Falls, Idaho, United States, affiliated with Fox and MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Gray Television alongside dual CBS/CW+ affiliate KMVT. The two stations share studios on Blue Lakes Boulevard North/US 93 in Twin Falls; KSVT-LD's transmitter is located on Flat Top Butte in unincorporated Jerome County east of Jerome and US 93.

References

  1. 1 2 Venta, Lance (September 14, 2023). "Morgan Murphy Media Acquires Northern Michigan TV/Radio Combo". RadioInsight. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  2. "Facility Technical Data for WBUP". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. "Emergency broadcast system hacked". WLUC-TV. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
  4. "Done Deal: Morgan Murphy Media Completes Purchase Of Marks Media Group Stations". Insideradio.com. December 4, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  5. RabbitEars TV Query for WBUP
  6. "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Retrieved March 24, 2012.