WOTV explained

Callsign:WOTV
City:Battle Creek, Michigan
Logo Upright:.85
Logo Alt:The ABC logo, a dark gray disc with white circular letters ABC, at left. To the right, a blue gradient circle with an off-white stroke containing an off-white numeral 4, with the bottom stylized to a point.
Image Alt:The words "West Michigan" on two lines above the CW logo in orange.
Image Upright:.65
Branding:ABC 4 West Michigan; The CW West Michigan (on DT2)
Digital:17 (UHF)
Virtual:41
Owner:Nexstar Media Group
Licensee:Nexstar Media Inc.
Country:United States
Callsign Meaning:Former call letters of WOOD-TV (1972–1992)
Sister Stations:WOOD-TV, WXSP-CD
Former Callsigns:WUHQ-TV (1971–1992)
Former Affiliations:UPN (secondary, 1995–1999)
Erp:325 kW
Haat:327.80NaN0
Facility Id:10212
Coordinates:42.571°N -85.4691°W
Licensing Authority:FCC

WOTV (channel 41) is a television station licensed to Battle Creek, Michigan, United States, serving West Michigan as an affiliate of ABC and The CW. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group alongside Grand Rapids–licensed NBC affiliate WOOD-TV (channel 8) and Class A MyNetworkTV affiliate WXSP-CD (channel 15). The stations share studios on College Avenue Southeast in Grand Rapids, while WOTV's transmitter is located on South Norris Road in Orangeville Township. WOTV brands itself as ABC 4 West Michigan, based on its channel 4 position on most area cable systems.

Channel 41's existence in Battle Creek is owed to the northerly location of the transmitter of Grand Rapids-based WZZM (channel 13), which signed on in 1962 as a late insertion into the market. Because WZZM's transmitter is north of Grand Rapids in Grant, its signal does not reach Battle Creek, Kalamazoo, or other areas in the southern portion of the market. A group of local businessmen known as Channel 41, Inc., won the construction permit for channel 41 in 1970 after a predecessor unsuccessfully tried to sell out to WZZM; WUHQ-TV signed on in 1971 from studios in the former headquarters building of Fort Custer and has been an ABC affiliate since it began, creating a rare split affiliation. The station's attempts at local news programming were low-rated and inconsistent, with many changes in timing and strategy.

After WZZM's owners could not close on an FCC-approved merger with Channel 41, Inc., in 1991, the company brokered the station's air time to channel 8, which began producing Battle Creek–Kalamazoo news inserts for air on the station. When channel 8 reclaimed the WOOD-TV call letters in 1992, WUHQ-TV became WOTV. The news inserts grew into a separate news operation that continued to exist until it was shut down in 2003, two years after WOOD-TV's then-owner, LIN Television, acquired the station outright. Since then, WOTV has offered ABC programming, a separate slate of syndicated programs, and WOOD-TV's local newscasts. Even though it attracts a fraction of the viewers of WZZM, it continues to provide better signal coverage in the market's southern tier.

The battle for ABC in southern West Michigan

In November 1962, West Michigan gained its third very high frequency (VHF) station when WZZM began broadcasting from Grand Rapids on channel 13 as an ABC affiliate.[1] On paper, West Michigan now had full service from all three networks; the market was already served by Grand Rapids-based NBC affiliate WOOD-TV and Kalamazoo-based CBS affiliate WKZO-TV. However, the drop-in of channel 13 to Grand Rapids, proposed in 1959 and accepted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1961, came with a technical condition to maintain proper spacing from other stations on channel 13. WZZM had to build its transmitter north of the city, near Muskegon, to satisfy the requirement for the transmitter to be at least 170miles from competing stations on channel 13.[2] [3] As a result, reception was poor to nonexistent in the market's southern tier. Bill Tompkins of The Battle Creek Enquirer and News wrote that Battle Creek viewers found WZZM "about as elusive as a flying saucer", and reception in Kalamazoo was similarly poor.[4] Since WOOD-TV and WKZO-TV removed ABC programs from their schedule when WZZM came into service, viewers in this area had to depend on the part-time carriage of ABC programs by the stations in the Lansing–Jackson market.[5]

Initially, WZZM's owner, West Michigan Telecasters, sought to remedy the shortfall by building translators in Kalamazoo and Battle Creek. The FCC approved the construction of channel 12 in Kalamazoo in 1964,[6] and the next year, the group applied to activate a similar facility on ultra high frequency (UHF) channel 83 in Battle Creek.[7] That same year, a partnership known as BCU-TV applied for a new full-service station in Battle Creek on channel 65; partners included Mary Jane Morris and James Searer, who had once applied to own and been interim part-owner of WZZM, as well as supermarket executive Frederik Meijer.[8] Channel 41 was substituted for 65 months later as part of changes to the FCC's UHF table of allocations. BCU-TV sought an affiliation with ABC and suggested a studio site near Augusta.[9] The FCC granted BCU-TV a construction permit on September 28, 1967.

An obstacle continued to loom between WZZM and BCU-TV, as the FCC also approved the construction of a Battle Creek translator for WZZM, now on channel 74. This created an issue because both stations proposed to bring ABC programming to the city.[10] West Michigan Telecasters sued BCU-TV in Kent County circuit court, seeking $3 million in damages for infringing on what it alleged was its exclusive right to provide ABC programming to West Michigan.[11] WZZM activated its Battle Creek translator in late January 1968,[12] but after the FCC then rescinded its grant for the Battle Creek translator and the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit refused to stay the ruling, West Michigan Telecasters was forced to shut it down in March on grounds that the translator would be detrimental to the BCU-TV station's proposed operation.[13]

On October 22, 1968, BCU-TV announced that it had agreed to sell the channel 41 permit, with the call sign WWWU-TV,[14] to West Michigan Telecasters to be used as a satellite station of WZZM, as part of a transfer of stock arranged by Morris.[15]

Channel 41, Inc. ownership

Three days later, a group of Kalamazoo and Battle Creek businessmen under the name Channel 41, Inc., announced that it would file for a construction permit of its own to build the station.[16] While Morris began the process to dissolve the BCU-TV partnership, Searer had left to become executive vice president of the new Channel 41, Inc., having moved to sever ties as a result of the decision to sell to West Michigan Telecasters.[17]

The FCC canceled the WWWU-TV construction permit and West Michigan Telecasters's attempt to buy it on September 8, 1969. It then accepted the application of Channel 41, Inc., for filing and gave BCU-TV and other parties 60 days to file. Ten days later, West Michigan Telecasters abandoned its attempt to pursue channel 41 in favor of seeking a relocation of its transmitter to the south.[18] Channel 41, Inc., was the sole applicant for the permit,[19] but the firm's plans continued to depend on whether ABC would grant an affiliation—and, thusly, whether WZZM could move its tower south from Grant to Hudsonville, some 35miles closer to Battle Creek, thereby eliminating the need for another ABC affiliate in southern West Michigan.[20] The FCC denied the tower move in May 1970 to prevent an "adverse impact on UHF development", another victory for backers of the Battle Creek station.[21] Channel 41, Inc., received its construction permit on July 31, 1970.[22] From a list of call sign choices, which the station solicited from viewers,[23] [24] the station selected WUHQ-TV, containing a "U" for UHF and "HQ" for headquarters.[25] At that time, the federal government was turning over surplus land in the Fort Custer Military Reservation to the city of Battle Creek,[26] and the city leased the headquarters building to Channel 41, Inc., with an option to buy;[27] the station made $400,000 in improvements to install its studios and offices in the structure.[28] Meanwhile, negotiations with ABC were not concluded until February 1971 because a to-be-built UHF station in Jackson also sought to be an affiliate.[29]

WUHQ-TV began broadcasting on the afternoon of July 24, 1971; in addition to network programs—obtained through a feed from WZZM-TV—and syndicated shows, there were also several planned local programs, including local news coverage. The station's dependence on WZZM-TV instead of direct network service meant that some ABC programs were not seen on channel 41 because they were not seen in Grand Rapids, but it was far cheaper than the monthly cost of a line from AT&T.[30] WUHQ-TV was placed on channel 4 on the Battle Creek cable system, which dropped WZZM-TV from its lineup at that time; the Grand Rapids station was later restored in 1975,[31] then discontinued in 1986 along with two out-of-market network affiliates.[32]

Local newscasts

As WUHQ-TV, channel 41 had an on-again, off-again local news lineup. At launch, the station announced 5:30 and 11 p.m. newscasts to be anchored by radio newsman Roger Thurgaland. However, citing technical mishaps and a news department management felt was not prepared, the station switched to airing 5-minute news capsules in the late afternoon and prime time hours; it also added the ABC Evening News to its lineup as both ABC affiliates in the region began to air the program.[33] A 6:30 p.m. evening newscast was later established, but it was scrapped in January 1975 because the owners felt it was too costly and could not adequately compete with the many news programs available on stations broadcast by the local cable system.[34] In 1980, the station brought back a longform evening local newscast in the form of the 15-minute 41 Early Report at 5:45 p.m.[35] This was replaced with a newscast at 6 p.m. in 1982, which was in turn canceled in 1983 to focus efforts on the noon newscast and because of poor ratings against its primary competitor, Kalamazoo-based CBS affiliate WKZO-TV.[36]

A year later, in September 1984, channel 41 returned to the early evening news fray with a 5:30 p.m. newscast, scrapping the noon news program.[37] A 6 p.m. newscast was added in January 1986; it was organized as the more traditional show, with the 5:30 p.m. half-hour given over to more features[38] and later renamed as 41 Alive with Trudy Yarnell.[39] The 6 p.m. news was then canceled in January 1987: whereas WOTV (channel 8) was viewed by 28 percent of households, WZZM 27 percent and WWMT 18 percent, the WUHQ-TV news offering was attracting just 2 percent of local viewers at that hour.[40] 41 Alive moved to 5 p.m. before being canceled itself that July, with the local news staff being repurposed as a documentary unit.[41] In January 1987, the station also dropped ABC World News Tonight in favor of reruns of WKRP in Cincinnati, a decision that was not reversed until July 1989.[42]

Without full-length local news, the station focused on cut-ins during Good Morning America, as well as high school football coverage.[43] In February 1991, Diane King, who had joined the station in 1989 to anchor the news cut-ins and be part of the documentary unit,[44] was fatally shot outside her home, having previously told friends that a man had been harassing her.[45] Her husband, Bradford King, was convicted of murder the next year.[46] The murder was profiled on a 2004 episode of Forensic Files.[47]

WZZM merger attempt

In 1990, WZZM owner Northstar Television announced it had entered into a merger agreement with Channel 41, Inc., which would have seen WUHQ-TV and WZZM share almost all programming with the exception of split local news programming. John Lawrence, president of WUHQ, said at the time, "It is now appropriate that ABC service in this market be combined." He and his brother, William J. Lawrence, Jr., were to become minority stockholders in Northstar as part of the proposed agreement.[48] The FCC approved of the merger in June 1991, with Northstar announcing a plan to continue airing separate news coverage on channel 41 at times when WZZM aired news,[49] but a planned August closing was delayed.[50]

Under WOOD-TV management

Northstar's inability to close the merger agreement led Channel 41, Inc., to pursue another method of bolstering the station's operation. On October 31, 1991, it announced that it had entered into an 11-year local marketing agreement with WOTV (channel 8) to consolidate operations and restore some evening news coverage. Of WUHQ-TV's 29 existing employees, 14 were laid off, while four employees were added to produce news inserts for the station's 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts.[51] [52] WUHQ-TV then changed its call sign to WOTV in June 1992 when WOTV became WOOD-TV, reclaiming a call sign it had been forced to change 20 years prior.[53] Under the agreement with Channel 41, Inc., WOTV had its own sales, news, and engineering departments by 2001, while WOOD-TV provided programming support and bookkeeping services.[54]

The news inserts on WOTV grew over time, even as ratings remained low. In 1993, what had been an eight- to ten-minute nightly insert grew to 15 minutes at noon, 6, and 11 p.m., with only weather and sports shared with WOOD-TV.[55] This subsequently evolved into full 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts from Battle Creek by 1995, expanding to weekends in 1996.[56] [57] A local morning news program was also added and extended to an hour in 1999.[58]

In 2001, WOOD-TV owner LIN Television Corporation acquired WOTV outright from Channel 41, Inc., for $2.25 million.[59] It was able to form the duopoly between network affiliates because the station was ranked sixth in the market.[60] The news ratings were equally anemic. In May 2001, Nielsen Media Research figures showed WOOD-TV, WZZM, and WWMT with the top three 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts in West Michigan. WOOD-TV attracted a 25 share—percent of households using TVs—at 6 and 28 percent at 11; WWMT, the primary competitor for Kalamazoo and Battle Creek news, had a 15 share at 6 and 17 at 11. In comparison, WOTV had a 2 share at 6 and a 3 share at 11.

Cancellation of local newscasts

Citing poor ratings and declining market advertising revenues due to the Iraq War, LIN closed the WOTV newsroom on August 21, 2003, and channel 41 began simulcasting four and a half hours a day of newscasts from WOOD-TV. The conversion of WOTV to a Battle Creek/Kalamazoo bureau for WOOD-TV's news operation led to 24 news personnel being laid off, with just four people remaining to provide news coverage to the WOOD-TV newsroom in Grand Rapids alongside 20 sales, engineering, and office staff.[61] [62] [63] The remaining personnel were consolidated to Grand Rapids in 2006, resulting in three further job cuts and the departure of WOTV features reporter Gerry Barnaby.[64] The Fort Custer headquarters building was then donated to a city entity, Battle Creek Unlimited, and later demolished in February 2014.[65]

The 2000s also saw increased coverage overlap between WOTV and WZZM. Satellite television providers Dish Network and DirecTV began offering both stations across the full market in 2002,[66] and WZZM was readded to several Comcast systems in southwest Michigan, including Battle Creek, in 2009.[67] WZZM continued to receive far higher total-day ratings than WOTV in the market; in 2013, channel 13 had an 8.3 percent total-day share compared to channel 41's 1.9 percent. As a result of this ratings imbalance, the station has adopted unusual marketing strategies. In 2012, it rebranded as "WOTV 4 Women" and refocused its talent and local initiatives around the demographic—an unusual case of a station promoting itself specifically to one gender—after having previously branded as "My ABC".[68]

In 2014, LIN was acquired by Media General.[69] Media General was then acquired by Nexstar Broadcasting Group in 2017.[70] [71] [72] When Nexstar then acquired Tribune Media in 2019, Tribune's WXMI, the Fox affiliate in Grand Rapids, was spun out as part of the sale.[73] [74]

A subchannel of WOTV replaced a subchannel of WWMT as the local affiliate of The CW on January 1, 2024.[75]

Technical information

Subchannels

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Channel! scope = "col"
Res.AspectShort nameProgramming
41.1 WOTV ABC
41.2 The CW The CW
41.3 CHARGE Charge!
41.4 RADAR Storm Team 8 Live Doppler Network

WOTV is also broadcast in ATSC 3.0 (NextGen TV) on WXSP-CD and WOLP-CD, which converted to the new format in 2021.[76]

Analog-to-digital conversion

WOTV shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 41, on June 12, 2009, as part of the federally mandated transition from analog to digital television; it continued to broadcast on channel 20, using virtual channel 41.[77] WOTV was then repacked to channel 17 in 2019.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Channel 13 Goes on Air: Festivities Mark Broadcasts Tonight. The Grand Rapids Press. November 1, 1962. February 13, 2023. February 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230213063705/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//tdpkufccbzmhrqeaoziwybxnbjxcxzhm_wma-gateway005_1676241934515. live.
  2. News: Would Move Cadillac TV Channel Here. 13. The Grand Rapids Press. November 6, 1959. February 13, 2023. February 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230213063701/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//ezithpggtziaqfhoiduxzsceofjqrigk_wma-gateway008_1676243741454. live.
  3. News: Channel 13 at Grand Rapids: New TV Station Will Serve Area. 13. July 29, 1961. The Muskegon Chronicle. February 13, 2023. February 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230213063702/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//oqbmwjjuxgpjfiifbrarylzsumtnthsz_wma-gateway015_1676244670679. live.
  4. News: 19. Kalamazoo Gazette. For Better Reception Here: Channel 13 Seeks Boost. December 20, 1963. GenealogyBank.
  5. News: Few Enjoy Channel 13: Time Needed to Adjust Both Sets and Stations. November 14, 1962. 4:4. Bill. Tompkins. The Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Battle Creek, Michigan. Newspapers.com. March 17, 2024.
  6. News: . For the Record. August 17, 1964. 98. Broadcasting. February 13, 2023. January 31, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230131024101/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1964/1964-08-17-BC.pdf. live.
  7. News: Channel 65 TV Sought For City. November 6, 1965. 3. Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Newspapers.com. February 13, 2023. February 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230213064207/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118525872/channel-65-tv-sought-for-city/. live.
  8. News: UHF Station OK'd: Operations to Serve Battle Creek Area. September 29, 1967. 1. Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065113/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118661863/uhf-station-okd-operations-to-serve/. live.
  9. News: Application Pending For New TV Station Here. August 17, 1966. 7. Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065112/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118646243/application-pending-for-new-tv-station/. live.
  10. News: Two Groups Seek Local TV Rights. December 13, 1967. 1, 2. Stan. Kaufman. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065111/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118661984/two-groups-seek-local-tv-rights/. live.
  11. News: Suit Snags UHF Development Here. January 23, 1968. 3. Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230213064226/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118526354/suit-snags-uhf-development-here/. live.
  12. News: Channel 74 Plans To Begin Full Operations Friday. January 24, 1968. 5. Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065111/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48969585/channel-74-plans-to-begin-full/. live.
  13. News: Channel 74 Off Air. March 7, 1968. 1, 2. Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Newspapers.com. February 13, 2023. February 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230213064244/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48969550/channel-74-off-air/. live.
  14. News: Broadcasting. Call Letter Actions. January 8, 1968. . 70. February 15, 2023. January 31, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230131030013/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1968/1968-01-08-BC.pdf. live.
  15. News: Chances for New TV Here Brighten. October 22, 1968. 1. Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215070952/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118526049/chances-for-new-tv-here-brighten/. live.
  16. News: 2 Stations Seek Use of Channel 41. October 25, 1968. 1, 2. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065110/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118662478/2-stations-seek-use-of-channel-41/. live.
  17. News: Permit for UHF station canceled. September 8, 1969. A-12. Jerry. Moskal. Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065055/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/48969626/permit-for-uhf-station-canceled/. live.
  18. News: Another bidder for Channel 41 gives up. September 18, 1969. A-9. Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065105/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118646732/another-bidder-for-channel-41-gives-up/. live.
  19. News: UHF broadcasts by fall of 1970?. November 30, 1969. A-6. Stan. Kaufman. Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065105/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118663061/uhf-broadcasts-by-fall-of-1970/. live.
  20. News: Controversy develops over Channel 13 TV tower. February 15, 1970. A-6. Stan. Kaufman. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215070934/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118663345/controversy-develops-over-channel-13-tv/. live.
  21. News: Tower site change denied by FCC for Channel 13. May 10, 1970. A-6. Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215070937/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118663641/tower-site-change-denied-by-fcc-for/. live.
  22. News: Channel 41 gets building permit: Station here still negotiating with ABC for program rights. July 31, 1970. A-1. Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065059/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118663712/channel-41-gets-building-permit/. live.
  23. News: Wanna name TV station?. August 12, 1970. A-11. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065105/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118663794/wanna-name-tv-station/. live.
  24. News: '41' narrows name choices to five. September 5, 1970. A-3. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065108/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118647076/41-narrows-name-choices-to-five/. live.
  25. News: Channel 41 gets call sign; It's WUHQ, Battle Creek. October 6, 1970. A-3. Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Battle Creek, Michigan. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065111/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118646998/channel-41-gets-call-sign-its-wuhq/. live.
  26. News: Custer purchase nears approval. September 22, 1970. A-6. Ron. Krueger. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065114/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118664289/custer-purchase-nears-approval/. live.
  27. News: TV lease at Custer granted. October 6, 1970. A-3. Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Battle Creek, Michigan. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065116/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118647020/tv-lease-at-custer-granted/. live.
  28. News: Coming in on Channel 41. April 25, 1971. B-8. Jay. Berger. Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065119/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118527150/coming-in-on-channel-41/. live.
  29. News: Channel 41 wins network affiliation. February 12, 1971. B-1. Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Battle Creek, Michigan. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065120/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118647132/channel-41-wins-network-affiliation/. live.
  30. News: Here's how to pick it up: Channel 41 goes on air at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. July 21, 1971. A-1. Jay. Berger. Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Battle Creek, Michigan. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230213064709/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118527193/heres-how-to-pick-it-up-channel-41/. live.
  31. News: WZZM joins cable TV lineup. January 22, 1975. B-1. Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Battle Creek, Michigan. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230213064709/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118527828/wzzm-joins-cable-tv-lineup/. live.
  32. News: Wolverine to drop 3 network affiliates. January 11, 1986. 1A, 2A. Elaine. Kulhanek. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 13, 2023. February 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230213064709/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118528004/wolverine-to-drop-3-network-affiliates/. live.
  33. News: Channel 41 revamps news spots. August 21, 1971. B-5. Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065124/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118665338/channel-41-revamps-news-spots/. live.
  34. News: WUHQ to end evening news show. January 31, 1975. B-1. Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065126/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118665406/wuhq-to-end-evening-news-show/. live.
  35. News: Other Business. September 14, 1980. D-2. Battle Creek Enquirer and News. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065102/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118665513/other-business/. live.
  36. News: Poor ratings kill Channel 41 evening news. August 26, 1983. A-1. Jim. Styer. Ron. Lietzke. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065110/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118665540/poor-ratings-kill-channel-41-evening/. live.
  37. News: Poll led to WUHQ decision to air 5:30 p.m. newscast. September 6, 1984. B-1. Bill. Miller. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065118/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118665649/poll-led-to-wuhq-decision-to-air-530/. live.
  38. News: Expanded newscast. December 24, 1985. 3A. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065122/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118665722/expanded-newscast/. live.
  39. News: Early newscast on 41 features tips, call-ins. September 14, 1986. TV Preview 2. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065142/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118665798/early-newscast-on-41-features-tips/. live.
  40. News: Channel 41 planning cutback in its local, ABC news shows. January 3, 1987. 6A. Trace. Christenson. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065121/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118665823/channel-41-planning-cutback-in-its/. live.
  41. News: WUHQ-TV kills out '41 Alive at 5:00'. July 25, 1987. 5A. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065104/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118665891/wuhq-tv-kills-out-41-alive-at-500/. live.
  42. News: 'World News Tonight' returns to WUHQ-TV. June 26, 1989. 3A. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065105/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118665961/world-news-tonight-returns-to-wuhq-tv/. live.
  43. News: 'All out of time'. August 22, 2003. 1A, 4A. Kelly. Carr. Sarah. Chuby. Dana. Carter. Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065104/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118648325/all-out-of-time/. live.
  44. News: Business Portfolio. March 12, 1989. C-1. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065115/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118666054/business-portfolio/. live.
  45. News: TV anchor slain: Friends report harassment. February 11, 1991. 1A, 2A. Mark. Mayes. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065119/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118666197/tv-anchor-slain-friends-report/. live.
  46. News: 'It just didn't add up': Juror: Bradford King's story and his gun convinced the jury that he killed his wife. December 15, 1992. 1A, 5A. Trace. Christenson. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065122/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118666304/it-just-didnt-add-up-juror/. live.
  47. News: 'Forensic Files' comes to town: Court-TV show taping episode about 1991 murder of news anchor Diane King. January 15, 2004. 3A. Sonya. Bernard-Hollins. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065122/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118667815/forensic-files-comes-to-town/. live.
  48. News: Two ABC affiliates agree to merge. August 7, 1990. 3A. David. Carlton. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 13, 2023. February 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230213064709/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118528166/two-abc-affiliates-agree-to-merge/. live.
  49. News: Stations to expand coverage. June 28, 1991. 4A. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 13, 2023. February 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230213064710/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118528465/stations-to-expand-coverage/. live.
  50. News: Mark and Bill back on the air. October 3, 1991. 1B. Will. Kowalski. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 13, 2023. February 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230213064710/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118528551/mark-and-bill-back-on-the-air/. live.
  51. News: TV news for B.C.: Channel 8 to provide local news for 41. October 31, 1991. 1A. Matt. McCallum. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 13, 2023. February 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230213064711/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118528635/tv-news-for-bc-channel-8-to-provide/. live.
  52. News: Broadcasting. 11-year time brokerage deal for Michigan TV's. Joe. Flint. November 4, 1991. . 32. February 13, 2023. January 31, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230131032725/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1991/BC-1991-11-04.pdf. live.
  53. News: WUHQ-TV changing call letters June 1. May 27, 1992. 3A. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 13, 2023. February 13, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230213064710/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118528712/wuhq-tv-changing-call-letters-june-1/. live.
  54. News: Grand Rapids, Mich.. Eileen. Davis Hudson. Mediaweek. 16–21. ProQuest. . July 30, 2001.
  55. News: 6. WOTV enhancing its local news coverage. Dan. Calabrese. Grand Rapids Business Journal. . ProQuest.
  56. News: News programming to expand on Channel 8. August 20, 1995. 1B, 3B. Jenny. Williston. Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065127/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118666577/news-programming-to-expand-on-channel-8/. live.
  57. News: WOTV expands its coverage to weekends. March 13, 1996. Business Journal 7. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065129/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118666604/wotv-expands-its-coverage-to-weekends/. live.
  58. News: Morning news program extended. October 11, 1999. 2A. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065131/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118667072/morning-news-program-extended/. live.
  59. Web site: BALCT-20011024AAF Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License. October 24, 2001. Federal Communications Commission. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065133/https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=581400&Service=TV&Form_id=314&Facility_id=10212. live.
  60. News: Grand Rapids, Mich.. . Eileen. Davis Hudson. Mediaweek. 14–24. May 26, 2003.
  61. News: WOTV 41 News Closes Doors. Grand Rapids Business Journal. August 21, 2003.
  62. News: WOTV news cut: 24 fired from B.C. TV station. August 22, 2003. 1A, 7A. Jenny. Rode. Battle Creek Enquirer. Battle Creek, Michigan. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065136/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118648356/wotv-news-cut-24-fired-from-bc-tv/. live.
  63. News: Al. Jones. Chris. Meehan. Tough times blamed for news operation's demise. A10. The Grand Rapids Press. August 23, 2003.
  64. News: WOTV/WOOD consolidation nearly completed. December 21, 2006. 2A. Battle Creek Enquirer. Newspapers.com. February 15, 2023. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215065108/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118667581/wotvwood-consolidation-nearly-completed/. live.
  65. Web site: Fort Custer HQ Razed . February 20, 2014 . battlecreekenquirer.com . . https://archive.today/20141019230032/http://archive.battlecreekenquirer.com/article/20140220/NEWS01/302200008/Fort-Custer-HQ-razed . October 19, 2014 . dead.
  66. News: May 26, 2002. Long-sought local channels added to dish services Echostar, DirecTV . Terri. DeBoer. The Grand Rapids Press. B5.
  67. News: WZZM Expands Cable Coverage in SW Michigan. TVNewsCheck. April 14, 2009. September 21, 2013. September 23, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130923084221/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/31215/wzzm-expands-cable-coverage-in-sw-michigan. live.
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  71. News: Nexstar Clinches Deal to Acquire Media General . https://web.archive.org/web/20161009125934/http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/28/business/dealbook/nexstar-clinches-deal-to-acquire-media-general.html?_r=0 . October 9, 2016 . live . January 27, 2016 . The New York Times. January 27, 2016 . Picker . Leslie .
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  73. Web site: Nexstar Selling 19 TVs In 15 Markets For $1.32B. Mark K.. Miller. TVNewsCheck. NewsCheck Media. March 20, 2019. March 20, 2019. March 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190320194359/https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/232391/nexstar-selling-19-tvs-in-15-markets-for-1-32b/. live.
  74. News: Nexstar to Sell Stations to Tegna, Scripps for $1.32 Billion. Nabila. Ahmed. Anousha. Sakoui. Bloomberg News. Bloomberg, L.P.. March 20, 2019. March 20, 2019. April 13, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190413200225/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-20/nexstar-to-sell-19-stations-to-tegna-scripps-for-1-32-billion. live.
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  76. News: NextGen TV Goes Live on Six Grand Rapids TV Stations. Michael. Balderston. May 7, 2021. Broadcasting & Cable. February 15, 2023. January 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220119051332/https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/nextgen-tv-goes-live-on-six-grand-rapid-tv-stations. live.
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