WMKG-CD

Last updated
WMKG-CD
WMKG-CA Logo.png
City Muskegon, Michigan
Channels
Branding"TV 31"
Ownership
OwnerWMKG-TV, LLC
History
Founded1989
First air date
April 1, 1990;33 years ago (1990-04-01)
Former call signs
W40AK (1989-1995)
WMKG-LP (1995-2009)
WMKG-CA (2009-2014)
Former channel number(s)
Analog:
40 (UHF, 1990-2001)
38 (UHF, 2001-2014)
Digital:
49 (UHF, 2014-2020)
Virtual:
38
UATV (until 2006)
The Sportsman Channel (until 2009)
FamilyNet/Pursuit Channel (until 2011)/The Family Channel
Call sign meaning
WMuskegon
(may also be derived from the IATA airport code MKG of nearby Muskegon County Airport)
Technical information
Licensing authority
 FCC
Facility ID 33869
ERP 7 kW
Transmitter coordinates 43°15′6″N86°9′10″W / 43.25167°N 86.15278°W / 43.25167; -86.15278
Links
Public license information
Website http://tv31.com/

WMKG-CD, virtual and UHF digital channel 31, is a low-power television station licensed to Muskegon, Michigan, United States. Its studios are located on Airline Road in Norton Shores, Michigan near the junction of I-96 and US 31. The station is owned by WMKG-TV, LLC.

Contents

History

WMKG-CD was founded by Bud Kelley and his family in 1989 as W40AK. It first went on the air on April 1, 1990, originally broadcasting on channel 40. The call letters were changed to WMKG-LP in 1995. It moved to channel 38 in 2004. In September 2006, Comcast cable dropped the station from its analog channel lineup to allocate more bandwidth for video on demand services. Currently, the station is available on digital cable and broadcasting on 49, but displayed channel 38 through PSIP until that system malfunctioned; it currently uses channel 49 for display of its channels.

The station held the LP calls until October 2009, when it acquired Class A television service status to become WMKG-CA. Despite the station's low-power status, its location near Lake Michigan assures amplification of their signal across the lake into the Milwaukee market within the Port Washington and Sheboygan areas (Milwaukee itself is served by low-power station WTSJ-LD on Channel 38). The station was issued its license for digital operation on October 10, 2014, at which point it changed its call sign to WMKG-CD.

The station has had several minor network affiliations throughout its history, and currently affiliates with The Family Channel; this is a duplicative affiliation within the Grand Rapids market, as WLLA (channel 64) also carries that network over their main subchannel.

According to an MLive.com article dated December 25, 2016, "Channel 49.1 -- channel 397 on cable -- broadcasts family-oriented shows and Muskegon programs including churches and square dancing. Channel 49.2 broadcasts religious music. Channel 49.3 shows movies. Channel 49.4 has a western theme." [1]

Original programming

The station has produced original programming from the start. Programs include "Dial A Bargain", a show where a viewer calls in for gift certificates, and "Muskegon Today", a local program dealing with issues involving the city. Other programs include "Table Talk", "The Doorstop Nation", and "TV BINGO"

For most of its history, the station also had a local newscast airing at 5:30 PM. However, it is no longer on the air.

Station sale after a decade

In October 2007, Kelley Enterprises put the station up for sale, including the license and equipment, citing that the owner is retiring and has plans to move south. As of 2008, the station's license is still in Kelley's name, per FCC records. Late 2009 the station was sold to BAG LLC of New York and the sale was approved by the FCC., [2] but BAG LCC of New York failed to show up to the closing. In 2009 the station was placed back on the market. In December 2016, the station was for sale on Craigslist; the owner was quoted by MLive.com as saying "It's past my retirement time." [1]

Kelley was finally successful in selling the station in June 2017, when he sold it to Steve Kanzer, the principal of VRVC, LLC, a virtual venture capital fund and a western Michigan native residing in Florida with a summer lakeside home in Norton Shores. Kanzer plans to update the station's operations to digital standards, along with using its post-spectrum move to channel 31 to its advantage, rebranding it in connection with U.S. Highway 31, which runs up the Lake Michigan shoreline, including an older style "31" highway shield as its new logo. [3]

Digital channels

The station's digital signal is multiplexed:

Channel Video Aspect Short nameProgramming [4]
38.1TV31-HDBlank
38.2 480i 4:3 AMG AMGTV
38.3CLASSICClassic Shows
38.4WMKG
38.5TV31-5

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WSYT</span> Fox affiliate in Syracuse, New York

WSYT is a television station in Syracuse, New York, United States, affiliated with the Fox network and owned by Imagicomm Communications. The station's studios are located on James Street/NY 290 in Syracuse's Near Northeast section, and its transmitter is located near Maple Grove, a hamlet of Otisco.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KMTR</span> NBC/CW affiliate in Eugene, Oregon

KMTR is a television station in Eugene, Oregon, United States, affiliated with NBC and The CW Plus. It is owned by Roberts Media, LLC, which maintains a shared services agreement (SSA) with Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of CBS affiliate KVAL-TV, for the provision of certain services. Both stations share studios on Blanton Road in Eugene, while KMTR's transmitter is located on Coburg Ridge. KMTR maintained separate facilities on International Court in Springfield, Oregon, until 2020 when the station relocated to KVAL's building; master control and some internal operations for KMTR were based at the KVAL studios.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBKI (TV)</span> CW/MyNetworkTV affiliate in Salem, Indiana

WBKI is a television station licensed to Salem, Indiana, United States, serving the Louisville, Kentucky, area as a dual affiliate of The CW and MyNetworkTV. It is the only full-power Louisville-area station licensed to the Indiana side of the market. WBKI is owned by Block Communications alongside Fox affiliate WDRB. Both stations share studios on West Muhammad Ali Boulevard in downtown Louisville, while WBKI's transmitter is located in rural northeastern Floyd County, Indiana. Despite Salem being WBKI's city of license, the station maintains no physical presence there.

WHTV was a television station licensed to Jackson, Michigan, United States, which served the Lansing area. The station was owned by Venture Technologies Group and had studios on West Saint Joseph Street in downtown Lansing; its transmitter was located on M-52 in Lyndon Township, Washtenaw County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBKI-TV (1983–2017)</span> TV station in Campbellsville, Kentucky

WBKI-TV was a television station licensed to Campbellsville, Kentucky, United States, which served the Louisville area. Last owned by LM Communications, LLC, it was most recently affiliated with The CW. LM Communications maintained a local marketing agreement (LMA) with Block Communications, owner of Fox affiliate WDRB and Salem, Indiana–licensed MyNetworkTV affiliate WMYO, for the provision of certain services. WBKI-TV's transmitter was located in Raywick, Kentucky. In 2014, all of WBKI-TV's operations were consolidated at WDRB and WMYO's shared studio facility on West Muhammad Ali Boulevard in downtown Louisville. Previously, WBKI-TV maintained separate studios at the Wright Tower on Dutchmans Lane in Louisville's Bowman section, while the WDRB/WMYO facilities only housed WBKI-TV's master control and some internal operations.

WTLJ is a religious television station licensed to Muskegon, Michigan, United States, serving West Michigan as an owned-and-operated station of Tri-State Christian Television (TCT). The station's transmitter is located in Allendale Charter Township in Ottawa County, just southwest of Grand Valley State University. Its signal is relayed on translator station WJGP-LD in Kalamazoo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WJRT-TV</span> ABC affiliate in Flint, Michigan

WJRT-TV is a television station licensed to Flint, Michigan, United States, serving as the ABC affiliate for northeastern Michigan. Owned by Allen Media Broadcasting, the station maintains studios on Lapeer Road in Flint, with offices and a second newsroom for the Tri-Cities in Saginaw. Its transmitter is located on Burt Road in Albee Township, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KCSG</span> MeTV station in Cedar City, Utah

KCSG is a television station licensed to Cedar City, Utah, United States, airing programming from the classic television network MeTV. Owned and operated by network parent Weigel Broadcasting, the station maintains studios on West 1600 South Street in St. George, and its transmitter is located on Cedar Mountain, southeast of Cedar City. KCSG has a network of 11 broadcast translators that extend its over-the-air coverage throughout the state. It is also available on DirecTV, Dish Network, Galaxy 19, and cable systems throughout the geographically large Salt Lake City media market.

WBUI is a television station licensed to Decatur, Illinois, United States, serving the Central Illinois region as an affiliate of The CW. It is owned by GOCOM Media, LLC, alongside Springfield-licensed Fox affiliate WRSP-TV, channel 55. GOCOM maintains joint sales and shared services agreements (JSA/SSA) with Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of Springfield-licensed ABC affiliate WICS, channel 20, for the provision of certain services. WBUI, WRSP and WICS share studios on East Cook Street in Springfield's Eastside; WBUI maintains an advertising sales office on South Main Street/US 51 in downtown Decatur and transmitter facilities in Whitmore Township.

WMGM-TV is a television station licensed to Wildwood, New Jersey, United States, affiliated with the True Crime Network. It is owned by TelevisaUnivision alongside Vineland, New Jersey–licensed Univision owned-and-operated station WUVP-DT and Philadelphia-based low-power, Class A UniMás outlet WFPA-CD. The stations share studios on North Delsea Drive in Vineland, while WMGM-TV's transmitter is located along Avalon Boulevard in Swainton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WBME-CD</span> MeTV station in Milwaukee

WBME-CD, virtual channel 41, is a low-power, Class A MeTV owned-and-operated television station licensed to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. Owned by Chicago-based Weigel Broadcasting, it is sister to CBS affiliate WDJT-TV, Racine-licensed independent station WMLW-TV and low-power Telemundo affiliate WYTU-LD. The stations share studios in the Renaissance Center office complex on South 60th Street in West Allis, while WBME-CD's transmitter is located in Milwaukee's Lincoln Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WCMU-TV</span> PBS member station in Mount Pleasant, Michigan

WCMU-TV is a PBS member television station in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, United States, owned by Central Michigan University. The station's studios are located on the CMU campus in Mount Pleasant, and its transmitter is located 3 miles (5 km) west of Barryton, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WLNS-TV</span> CBS affiliate in Lansing, Michigan

WLNS-TV is a television station in Lansing, Michigan, United States, affiliated with CBS. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which provides certain services to dual ABC/CW+ affiliate WLAJ under a shared services agreement (SSA) with Mission Broadcasting. WLNS-TV and WLAJ 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.

WPHY-CD is a low-power, Class A television station in Trenton, New Jersey, United States, which primarily airs paid programming from Revenue Frontier. It is owned by WRNN-TV Associates alongside Princeton, New Jersey–licensed ShopHQ affiliate WMCN-TV and Willow Grove, Pennsylvania–licensed WTVE. WPHY-CD and WTVE share studios on East State Street in Trenton; through a channel sharing agreement, the two stations transmit using WPHY-CD's spectrum from an antenna in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia.

WOCH-CD, virtual channel 41, was a low-power, Class A Charge!-affiliated television station licensed to Chicago, Illinois, United States. The station was owned by NRJ TV, LLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KPXJ</span> CW affiliate in Minden, Louisiana

KPXJ is a television station licensed to Minden, Louisiana, United States, serving the Shreveport area as an affiliate of The CW. The station is owned by locally based KTBS, LLC, alongside ABC affiliate KTBS-TV. Both stations share studios on East Kings Highway on the eastern side of Shreveport, while KPXJ's transmitter is located near St. Johns Baptist Church Road in rural northern Caddo Parish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WVIR-CD</span> WVIR-TV translator in Charlottesville, Virginia

WVIR-CD is a low-power, Class A television station in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It is a translator of dual NBC/CW+ affiliate WVIR-TV which is owned by Gray Television. WVIR-CD's transmitter is located on Carters Mountain south of Charlottesville; its parent station maintains studios on East Market Street in downtown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">WYCI</span> MyNetworkTV affiliate in Saranac Lake, New York

WYCI is a television station licensed to Saranac Lake, New York, United States, serving the Burlington, Vermont–Plattsburgh, New York area as an affiliate of MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Gray Television alongside Burlington-licensed CBS affiliate WCAX-TV. Both stations share studios on Joy Drive in South Burlington, Vermont, while WYCI's transmitter is located on Mount Pisgah north of Saranac Lake, along the Essex–Franklin county line.

WGEN-TV, virtual and VHF digital channel 8, is an Estrella TV owned-and-operated television station licensed to Key West, Florida, United States, and serving the Miami–Fort Lauderdale television market. Owned by Estrella Media, it is a sister station to Miami-licensed low-power station WVFW-LD. WGEN-TV's studios are located on Northwest 75th Street in Miami's Medley neighborhood, and its transmitter is located on Southard Street in Key West. WGEN-TV's signal is relayed through a network of seven low-power translator stations throughout South Florida and the Florida Keys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KARZ-TV</span> MyNetworkTV affiliate in Little Rock, Arkansas

KARZ-TV is a television station in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States, affiliated with MyNetworkTV. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside NBC affiliate KARK-TV ; Nexstar also provides certain services to Fox affiliate KLRT-TV and Pine Bluff–licensed CW affiliate KASN under a local marketing agreement (LMA) with Mission Broadcasting. The stations share studios at the Victory Building on West Capitol Avenue and South Victory Street in downtown Little Rock, while KARZ-TV's transmitter is located at the Shinall Mountain antenna farm, near the city's Chenal Valley neighborhood.

References

  1. 1 2 "Muskegon TV station for sale, owner retiring after 40-plus years in broadcast". MLive. 25 December 2016. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2022-07-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ↑ McGuire, Justine (11 June 2017). "Muskegon TV station bought by Florida investor with local connection". Muskegon Chronicle . Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  4. ↑ "RabbitEars.Info". www.rabbitears.info.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.