Wikipedia

WJBK

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For broadcast stations that previously used the WJBK call sign, see WJBK (disambiguation)

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WJBK ("FOX2") is the Fox-owned and operated television station in Detroit, Michigan. Its studios and 1003-foot (305.7 m) transmitter are co-located in Southfield, Michigan while its signal covers the Metro Detroit area. WJBK's signal can also be picked up as far away as Flint, Toledo, Adrian, Chelsea, and, with transitory severe interference, London, Ontario.

On cable, WJBK can be seen on Comcast Detroit channel 12, Bright House Livonia channel 2. WJBK also serves as a FOX affiliate for several other Canadian cable markets, including Cogeco Windsor channel 7, and Rogers Ottawa channel 13. In addition, it is one of five local Detroit TV stations seen in Canada on the StarChoice satellite provider.

History

The station debuted on October 24, 1948, as a dual CBS-DuMont affiliate owned by Storer Broadcasting (under George B. Storer) along with WJBK-AM 1500 (now WLQV) and WJBK-FM 93.1 (now WDRQ). WJBK became affiliated solely with CBS in 1955 after the DuMont network went out of business. In a 1985 corporate deal, the station came under the ownership of KKR. It was then sold as part of a group deal to Gillett Communications in 1987, and then sold to SCI. WJBK was sold to New World Communications in 1993 as part of yet another group deal. In 1992, WJBK chose not to air CBS This Morning, in favor of showing local news. While WJBK had a history of showing most CBS programming, it began to pre-empt CBS programming a bit more than usual in 1993, around the time New World Communications bought the station.

In 1994, New World agreed to affiliate its stations, including WJBK, to Fox when that network won the contract to carry the NFC football package, which was originally carried on the station as a CBS affiliate. As a result, WJBK dropped the CBS affiliation and along with the other New World stations took on the Fox affiliation. CBS moved to a weak independent station WGPR (which would be sold to CBS and renamed WWJ-TV). Like most other New World stations, WJBK also did not take Fox's children programming, which remained on the market's former Fox station (and charter UPN affiliate) WKBD (before moving to WADL). As a result of the network change, WJBK's branding switched from 'TV 2' to 'Fox 2 Detroit.' The actual rebranding did not take place until Fall, 1995.

Fox bought out New World Communications in 1997, and WJBK became a Fox owned and operated station. The network brought stronger syndicated shows on WJBK. However, the station continued its practice of not running children's programming from the network (which is no longer shown on weekdays, and is now only seen on Sunday mornings on WMYD).

In 2003, WJBK became the broadcast home of the Detroit Red Wings. The station broadcasts up to ten games a season.

WJBK recently moved its longtime noon newscast to 11:00 AM and now airs reruns of COPS in its noon timeslot.

WJBK's programming over the years included the popular horror show Sir Graves Ghastly and J.P. and the Lions, which featured WJR morning personality J.P. McCarthy and members of the Detroit Lions.

Digital Channels

Digital channels
Channel Programming
2.1 / 58.1 Main WJBK Programming (High Definition)
2.2 / 58.2 Main WJBK Programming (Standard Definition)

Newscasts

File:Fox2helo.jpg
WJBK's helicopter - Sky Fox

After becoming a Fox affiliate station, WJBK maintained a newscast schedule that is very similar to a CBS, ABC, or NBC affiliated station. Upon the network switch, the station moved its late evening news broadcasts from 11 PM to 10 PM. The station is known in the area for its "Problem Solver" investigative unit that was started in 1998.

WJBK's newscasts in the CBS-era were rebroadcasted on WADL under a partnership WJBK had with that station. The station also had an Eyewitness News format that was similar to sister station WHBQ-TV in Memphis, thus calling itself FOX2 Eyewitness News for sometime before shortening to the current FOX2 News.

In late 2005, reports circulated stating that Fox owned and operated stations would be doing an 11:00 p.m. newscast. The test market for this experiment is WTVT in Tampa, Florida. If successful, the plan is to have all Fox owned and operated stations producing news at 11:00 PM. Sister stations KSAZ in Phoenix, WITI in Milwaukee, WDAF in Kansas City and KDFW in Dallas have a 10 PM newscast, which could mean that Fox O&Os in the Central and Mountain Time Zones could have a 10 PM newscast as expected.

WJBK, as well as other Fox O&Os, will be adopting the Fox News Channel look with a rotating FNC-ish logo (displaying time and temperature), a brand new news set, and the "The Most Powerful Name In News" title as is already implemented in Tampa Bay, Los Angeles, Boston and New York. The station will also adopt a completely revamped website under the "myFOXDetroit" name. The MyFoxDetroit website is already up and running. The updated news set (similar to what the other Fox O&O stations will have) is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

The new WJBK logo, shown below and is previewed on myfoxdetroit.com, will also make its debut very soon.

WJBK operates an Aerospatiale AS350BA A-star news helicopter called Sky Fox.

It was announced on December 29, 2006, that WJBK will start simulcasting parts of its FOX 2 News Morning and Good Day Michigan newscasts on WFQX-TV, Northern Michigan's FOX affiliate based in Cadillac. On WFQX, the simulcast will run 6 to 8 AM weekday mornings starting January 8, 2007, and be branded as FOX 2 News Morning on FOX 33. The simulcast will be possible as a result of a new cooperative arrangement offering local advertising opportunities to Northern Michigan businesses. [1]

Weekdays

  • FOX2 News Morning - 5:00-7:00 AM
  • ''Good Day Michigan - 7:00-9:00 AM
  • FOX2 News Live at Noon - 12:00-12:30 PM
  • FOX2 News at 5 PM - 5:00-6:00 PM
  • FOX2 News at 6 PM - 6:00-6:30 PM
  • FOX2 News at 10 PM - 10:00-11:00 PM
  • FOX2 News at 11 PM - 11:00-11:35 PM

Saturday

  • FOX2 News Weekend - 5:00-7:00 and 9:00 to 10:00 AM
  • FOX2 News at 6 p.m. - 6:00-6:30 PM
  • FOX2 News at 11 p.m. - 11:00-11:30 PM

Sunday

  • FOX2 News Weekend - 5:00-7:00 and 9:00-10:00 AM
  • FOX2 News at 6 p.m. - 6:00-6:30 PM
  • FOX2 News at 11 p.m. - 11:00-11:30 PM
  • Sports Extra - 11:30 PM-12:00 AM

Famous shows

The station aired assorted sci-fi and horror movies on Saturday afternoons, hosted by the humorous personality Sir Graves Ghastly, an analog of children's shows running cartoons and hosted by a station employee with a theme or personality.

Staffers

Problem Solvers

Reporters

News

Features

Anchors

Some former personalities

Logo history

References


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