Jump to content

WLAJ: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
more
More updating etc.
Line 5: Line 5:
| city = Lansing, Michigan
| city = Lansing, Michigan
| logo = WLAJ ABC 53 logo 2024.png
| logo = WLAJ ABC 53 logo 2024.png
| logo_alt = A rectangle with a white 53, which divides the rectangle into orange and light blue portions. The ABC network logo in near-black sits on the orange portion. Beneath in white on light blue are the letters W L A J.
| logo_size = 200px
| logo_size = 200px
| image = WLAJ-DT2 2024.svg
| image = WLAJ-DT2 2024.svg
| image_size = 150px
| image_size = 150px
| image_alt = The CW logo, an orange thick logo with the letters C and W connected, in the lower left. Above it, right-aligned, is the word Lansing capitalized in a sans serif, and below it are the words "Digital 53.2" in smaller print. To the right of both, full-height, is a sans-serif numeral 5.
| branding = {{ubl|ABC 53|Lansing CW5 (on DT2)}}
| branding = {{ubl|ABC 53|Lansing CW5 (53.2)}}
| analog =
| analog =
| digital = 14 ([[UHF]]), shared with [[WLNS-TV]]
| digital = 14 ([[UHF]]), shared with [[WLNS-TV]]
Line 26: Line 28:
| callsign_meaning = Lansing and Jackson{{r|JCP900525}}
| callsign_meaning = Lansing and Jackson{{r|JCP900525}}
| sister_stations = WLNS-TV
| sister_stations = WLNS-TV
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 53 (UHF, 1990–2009)|'''Digital:''' 51 (UHF, 2002<ref>{{Cite book|chapter=WLAJ-DT|title=Television & Cable Factbook|publisher=Warren Communications News|page=A-1169|date=2006}}</ref>–2015)<ref name="Analog to Digital">{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref>; 25 (UHF, 2015<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-15-210A1.pdf|title=Report & Order (DA 15-210)|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|date=February 13, 2015}}</ref>–2020)}}
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 53 (UHF, 1990–2009)|'''Digital:''' 51 (UHF, 2004–2015), 25 (UHF, 2015–2020)}}
| former_affiliations =
| former_affiliations =
| erp = 950 [[kW]]
| erp = 950 [[kW]]
| haat = {{convert|289.8|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| haat = {{convert|289.8|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| class =
| facility_id = 36533
| facility_id = 36533
| coordinates = {{coord|42|41|19|N|84|22|35|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| coordinates = {{coord|42|41|19|N|84|22|35|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
Line 36: Line 37:
| website = {{url|www.wlns.com/my-abc-is-wlaj/}}
| website = {{url|www.wlns.com/my-abc-is-wlaj/}}
}}
}}
'''WLAJ''' (channel 53) is a [[television station]] in [[Lansing, Michigan]], United States, affiliated with [[American Broadcasting Company|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]] (channel 6), for the provision of certain services. WLAJ and WLNS-TV share studios on East Saginaw Street in Lansing's [[Lansing, Michigan#Districts|Eastside]] section; through a [[channel sharing agreement]], the stations transmit using WLAJ's spectrum from a tower on Van Atta Road in [[Okemos, Michigan]].
'''WLAJ''' (channel 53) is a [[television station]] in [[Lansing, Michigan]], United States, affiliated with [[American Broadcasting Company|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]] (channel 6), for the provision of certain services. WLAJ and WLNS-TV share studios on East Saginaw Street on Lansing's [[Lansing, Michigan#Districts|Eastside]]; the stations transmit using WLAJ's spectrum from a tower on Van Atta Road in [[Okemos, Michigan]].

WLAJ went on the air in 1990, though the construction permit had been awarded in 1981. The dormant permit was bought by [[Joel Ferguson]], a Lansing developer and politician who had previously started [[WSYM-TV]] (channel 47) in 1982. Though channel 47 was the Lansing area's third station, the ABC network refused to grant it an affiliation to protect existing ABC affiliates in [[Detroit]], [[Flint, Michigan|Flint]], and [[Battle Creek, Michigan|Battle Creek]]. WLAJ won the ABC affiliation in part because its signal pattern was designed to avoid overlap. The station started airing local newscasts shortly after signing on, but the newscasts failed to attract viewers and were discontinued after 17 months. Under the management of [[Granite Broadcasting]] and for most of the ownership of [[Freedom Communications]], WLAJ produced local newscasts featuring more unconventional formats but could not pull viewers from the dominant WLNS-TV and [[WILX-TV]], and the last independent newscast effort was discontinued in September 2009.

[[Sinclair Broadcast Group]] acquired Freedom in 2012 but spun WLAJ off to Shield Media, which in turn entered into the shared services agreement with WLNS-TV. Channel 53 began airing simulcasts of that station's morning and evening newscasts. Mission Broadcasting, a company known for operating stations on behalf of Nexstar, acquired WLAJ from Shield in 2020.


==History==
==History==
The [[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]]–[[Jackson, Michigan|Jackson]] television market was dominated by two major commercial [[VHF]] stations, WJIM-TV (now [[WLNS-TV]]) on channel 6 and [[WILX]] (channel 10), since the latter station began in 1959. In the late 1970s, interest emerged in activating a third local station on a [[UHF]] channel: channel 36, then allocated to Lansing. Three applicants had already filed for the channel by 1979. Benko Broadcasting was owned by two brothers, one of whom was a judge in [[Sanilac County, Michigan|Sanilac County]]; F&S Comm/News, primarily owned by former Lansing city councilman [[Joel Ferguson]] and business partner Sol Steadman; and Kare-Kim Broadcasting Corporation, whose primary stakeholder, Donald Haney, was a television personality in Detroit.<ref name="Lans790818">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-3-groups-vie-for-n/157513674/|date=August 18, 1979|pages=A-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-channel-36-off-gro/157513697/ A-7]|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=3 groups vie for new Lansing TV station|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat -->
The [[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]]–[[Jackson, Michigan|Jackson]] television market was dominated by two major commercial [[VHF]] stations, WJIM-TV (now [[WLNS-TV]]) on channel 6 and [[WILX-TV]] (channel 10), since the latter station began in 1959. In the late 1970s, interest emerged in activating a third local station on a [[UHF]] channel: channel 36, then allocated to Lansing. Three applicants had already filed for the channel by 1979. Benko Broadcasting was owned by two brothers, one of whom was a judge in [[Sanilac County, Michigan|Sanilac County]]; F&S Comm/News, primarily owned by former Lansing city councilman [[Joel Ferguson]] and business partner Sol Steadman; and Kare-Kim Broadcasting Corporation, whose primary stakeholder, Donald Haney, was a television personality in Detroit.<ref name="Lans790818">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-3-groups-vie-for-n/157513674/|date=August 18, 1979|pages=A-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-channel-36-off-gro/157513697/ A-7]|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=3 groups vie for new Lansing TV station|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Sat -->


On August 4, 1980, the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) issued a ruling that complicated the picture for the channel 36 applicants. It changed the channel allocation from 36 to 47 as part of changes in five Michigan and Ohio cities, necessary to conform with a new Canadian table of allocations for UHF channels. This was not a trivial change for the Lansing applicants, as channel 47 was short-spaced with location restrictions. These restrictions, to channel 62 in Detroit, had led the FCC in 1967 to allot channel 36 instead of 47 at Lansing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archives.federalregister.gov/issue_slice/1967/4/19/6137-6142.pdf|title=Television Broadcast Channels; Short-Spaced Assignment, Lansing, Mich.|work=[[Federal Register]]|date=April 19, 1967|page=6142|author=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref> In restoring channel 47 to Lansing, the FCC gave the existing applicants from the channel 36 case the opportunity to keep the short-spaced channel or specify Lansing's other UHF channel, channel 53.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1980-08-06/pdf/FR-1980-08-06.pdf|title=TV Broadcast Stations In Lansing and Saginaw, Mich.; Newark, Sandusky, and Toledo, Ohio; Changes Made in Table of Assignments|work=[[Federal Register]]|date=August 6, 1980|page=6142|author=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref> F&S Comm/News was the only applicant who chose channel 47 and received a construction permit in December 1981.<ref name="Lans811215">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-fcc-oks-new-lansin/157592474/|date=December 15, 1981|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-3rd-tv-station-ok/157592567/ 3A]|title=FCC OKs new Lansing TV station|first=Mike|last=Hughes|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> The firm began broadcasting December 1, 1982, as WFSL, an [[independent station]].<ref name="Lans821202">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-wfsl-opens-old-mov/157592756/|date=December 2, 1982|page=2D|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=WFSL opens old movie blitz|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Thu --> WFSL was sold to [[Journal Media Group|The Journal Company]] at the end of 1984<ref name="Lans841220">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-wfsl-change-is-nea/157592992/|date=December 20, 1984|page=1D|title=WFSL change is near|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Thu --> and changed its call sign to [[WSYM-TV]] on March 11, 1985.<ref name="Lans850311">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-good-afternoon/157472900/|date=March 11, 1985|page=4A|title=Good Afternoon...|type=Advertisement|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Mon -->
On August 4, 1980, the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) issued a ruling that complicated the picture for the channel 36 applicants. It changed the channel allocation from 36 to 47 as part of changes in five Michigan and Ohio cities, necessary to conform with a new Canadian table of allocations for UHF channels. This was not a trivial change for the Lansing applicants, as channel 47 was short-spaced with location restrictions. These restrictions, to channel 62 in Detroit, had led the FCC in 1967 to allot channel 36 instead of 47 at Lansing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archives.federalregister.gov/issue_slice/1967/4/19/6137-6142.pdf|title=Television Broadcast Channels; Short-Spaced Assignment, Lansing, Mich.|work=[[Federal Register]]|date=April 19, 1967|page=6142|author=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref> In restoring channel 47 to Lansing, the FCC gave the existing applicants from the channel 36 case the opportunity to keep the short-spaced channel or specify Lansing's other UHF channel, channel 53.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-1980-08-06/pdf/FR-1980-08-06.pdf|title=TV Broadcast Stations In Lansing and Saginaw, Mich.; Newark, Sandusky, and Toledo, Ohio; Changes Made in Table of Assignments|work=[[Federal Register]]|date=August 6, 1980|page=6142|author=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref> F&S Comm/News was the only applicant who chose channel 47 and received a construction permit in December 1981.<ref name="Lans811215">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-fcc-oks-new-lansin/157592474/|date=December 15, 1981|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-3rd-tv-station-ok/157592567/ 3A]|title=FCC OKs new Lansing TV station|first=Mike|last=Hughes|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> The firm began broadcasting December 1, 1982, as WFSL, an [[independent station]].<ref name="Lans821202">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-wfsl-opens-old-mov/157592756/|date=December 2, 1982|page=2D|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=WFSL opens old movie blitz|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Thu --> WFSL was sold to [[Journal Media Group|The Journal Company]] at the end of 1984<ref name="Lans841220">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-wfsl-change-is-nea/157592992/|date=December 20, 1984|page=1D|title=WFSL change is near|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Thu --> and changed its call sign to [[WSYM-TV]] on March 11, 1985.<ref name="Lans850311">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-good-afternoon/157472900/|date=March 11, 1985|page=4A|title=Good Afternoon...|type=Advertisement|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Mon -->
Line 70: Line 75:
Granite agreed to acquire [[KOFY-TV]] in [[San Francisco]] in late 1997. To fund the purchase, the company opted to sell WWMT and WLAJ to [[Freedom Communications]] for a total of $170 million.{{r|Lans980116}} This transaction encountered a complication when the owner of the WLAJ transmitter site in [[Tompkins Township, Michigan|Tompkins Township]], claiming nonpayment of rent, threatened to evict the station, thereby forcing it off the air, if it were not paid $284,000 or if the station did not spend $2.1 million to buy the property outright.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Scott|last=Davis|page=A-1|title=Snowy reception: WLAJ could be knocked off air over lease dispute|work=Jackson Citizen Patriot|date=August 7, 1998}}</ref> A [[Jackson County, Michigan|Jackson County]] judge ruled that Granite had met the conditions of creditworthiness necessary to force Tompkins to agree to the transaction.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/station-gets-break-judges-ruling-land-lease-means-189-million-wlaj-sale-can-go-through/cdhhzfdptqrkbjgsnnscvzhgbaaxugny_ip-10-166-46-139_1729464597647|page=A3|first=Scott|last=Davis|work=Jackson Citizen Patriot|date=August 18, 1998|title=Station gets a break: Judge's ruling on land lease means $18.9 million WLAJ sale can go through}}</ref>
Granite agreed to acquire [[KOFY-TV]] in [[San Francisco]] in late 1997. To fund the purchase, the company opted to sell WWMT and WLAJ to [[Freedom Communications]] for a total of $170 million.{{r|Lans980116}} This transaction encountered a complication when the owner of the WLAJ transmitter site in [[Tompkins Township, Michigan|Tompkins Township]], claiming nonpayment of rent, threatened to evict the station, thereby forcing it off the air, if it were not paid $284,000 or if the station did not spend $2.1 million to buy the property outright.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Scott|last=Davis|page=A-1|title=Snowy reception: WLAJ could be knocked off air over lease dispute|work=Jackson Citizen Patriot|date=August 7, 1998}}</ref> A [[Jackson County, Michigan|Jackson County]] judge ruled that Granite had met the conditions of creditworthiness necessary to force Tompkins to agree to the transaction.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/station-gets-break-judges-ruling-land-lease-means-189-million-wlaj-sale-can-go-through/cdhhzfdptqrkbjgsnnscvzhgbaaxugny_ip-10-166-46-139_1729464597647|page=A3|first=Scott|last=Davis|work=Jackson Citizen Patriot|date=August 18, 1998|title=Station gets a break: Judge's ruling on land lease means $18.9 million WLAJ sale can go through}}</ref>


The half-hour ''News Now'' format was discontinued in January 2001 in response to continued low ratings. The 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts were reformatted as the ''ABC 53 News Express'', a 10-minute newscast. The remainder of the half-hour was filled with a public affairs and debate program, ''On Point'', also hosted by Parker.<ref name="Lans010118">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-wlaj-newscast-gets/157448413/|date=January 18, 2001|page=1D|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=WLAJ newscast gets a major overhaul|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Thu --> During this time, WLAJ served as the local sales representative for [[The WB 100+ Station Group]], selling the advertisements seen by local WB viewers on cable; it assumed this responsibility from WILX in 2000.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Local market spotlight; Lansing, Mich.|first=Karissa S.|last=Wang|work=Electronic Media|id={{Gale|A68144830}} |date=December 11, 2000|page=16}}</ref> It managed [[WHTV]] (channel 18), the regional [[UPN]] affiliate, under an LMA with [[Venture Technologies Group]];<ref>{{cite news|first=Melanie M.|last=Clarke|work=Broadcasting & Cable|title=Lansing Motors On|date=September 21, 2003|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/lansing-motors-71356}}</ref> WHTV switched service providers to WLNS-TV in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/6017463966 |date=August 19, 2013 |title=In re Application of New Young Broadcasting Holding Co., Inc. |website=Electronic Comment Filing System | publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]] |access-date=November 30, 2018}}</ref> Some station operations moved from Lansing to WWMT in Kalamazoo in 2005.<ref>{{cite news|page=A3|title=It cost less to upgrade as offices|first=Pat|last=Rombyer|work=Jackson Citizen Patriot|date=October 30, 2005}}</ref>
The half-hour ''News Now'' format was discontinued in January 2001 in response to continued low ratings. The 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts were reformatted as the ''ABC 53 News Express'', a 10-minute newscast. The remainder of the half-hour was filled with a public affairs and debate program, ''On Point'', also hosted by Parker.<ref name="Lans010118">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-wlaj-newscast-gets/157448413/|date=January 18, 2001|page=1D|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=WLAJ newscast gets a major overhaul|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Thu --> During this time, WLAJ served as the local sales representative for [[The WB 100+ Station Group]], selling the advertisements seen by local WB viewers on cable; it assumed this responsibility from WILX in 2000.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Local market spotlight; Lansing, Mich.|first=Karissa S.|last=Wang|work=Electronic Media|id={{Gale|A68144830}} |date=December 11, 2000|page=16}}</ref> It also managed [[WHTV]] (channel 18), the regional [[UPN]] affiliate, under an LMA with [[Venture Technologies Group]];<ref>{{cite news|first=Melanie M.|last=Clarke|work=Broadcasting & Cable|title=Lansing Motors On|date=September 21, 2003|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/lansing-motors-71356}}</ref> WHTV switched service providers to WLNS-TV in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/filing/6017463966 |date=August 19, 2013 |title=In re Application of New Young Broadcasting Holding Co., Inc. |website=Electronic Comment Filing System | publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]] |access-date=November 30, 2018}}</ref> Some station operations moved from Lansing to WWMT in Kalamazoo in 2005.<ref>{{cite news|page=A3|title=It cost less to upgrade as offices|first=Pat|last=Rombyer|work=Jackson Citizen Patriot|date=October 30, 2005}}</ref>


In 2007, WLAJ hired Suzanne Wangler, known on air as Suzanne Page, to anchor its newscasts. Wangler had once been a weekend anchor at WILX before working in several positions in and out of TV news in Detroit. After WXYZ aired a report exposing her various legal issues, she resigned in February 2008,<ref name="Lans080219">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-wlaj-news-anchor-s/157448729/|date=February 19, 2008|pages= 1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-tv/157448756/ 4A]|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=WLAJ news anchor Suzanne Page resigns as allegations surface: Former client says her business took|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> hanging herself days later.<ref name="Detr080225">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-disgraced-former-anch/157600747/|date=February 25, 2008|pages=3A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-wangler-trouble-bega/157600758/ 5A]|first=Amber|last=Hunt|title=Disgraced former anchor hangs herself|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|location=Detroit, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Mon --> The station expanded its early-evening news to an hour in October 2008<ref name="Lans081003">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-wlaj-expands-eveni/157449091/|date=October 3, 2008|page=4D|title=WLAJ expands evening newscast to 60 minutes|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Fri --> but reversed course and discontinued all longform local newscasts in September 2009, citing continued low ratings. WWMT continued to provide limited news breaks and weather.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Station dropped news for entertainment-style shows |work=Jackson Citizen Patriot|page=A6|date=November 8, 2009|first=Pat|last=Rombyer}}</ref>
In 2007, WLAJ hired Suzanne Wangler, known on air as Suzanne Page, to anchor its newscasts. Wangler had once been a weekend anchor at WILX before working in several positions in and out of TV news in Detroit. After WXYZ aired a report exposing her various legal issues, she resigned in February 2008,<ref name="Lans080219">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-wlaj-news-anchor-s/157448729/|date=February 19, 2008|pages= 1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-tv/157448756/ 4A]|first=Mike|last=Hughes|title=WLAJ news anchor Suzanne Page resigns as allegations surface: Former client says her business took|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Tue --> hanging herself days later.<ref name="Detr080225">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-disgraced-former-anch/157600747/|date=February 25, 2008|pages=3A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-wangler-trouble-bega/157600758/ 5A]|first=Amber|last=Hunt|title=Disgraced former anchor hangs herself|newspaper=Detroit Free Press|location=Detroit, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Mon --> The station expanded its early-evening news to an hour in October 2008<ref name="Lans081003">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lansing-state-journal-wlaj-expands-eveni/157449091/|date=October 3, 2008|page=4D|title=WLAJ expands evening newscast to 60 minutes|newspaper=Lansing State Journal|location=Lansing, Michigan|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=October 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Fri --> but reversed course and discontinued all longform local newscasts in September 2009, citing continued low ratings. WWMT continued to provide limited news breaks and weather.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Station dropped news for entertainment-style shows |work=Jackson Citizen Patriot|page=A6|date=November 8, 2009|first=Pat|last=Rombyer}}</ref>


===Common operation with WLNS===
===Common operation with WLNS===
Freedom announced on November 2, 2011, that it would bow out of television and sell its stations, including WLAJ, to the [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]].<ref name=ocr-freedomsinclair>{{cite news|last=Milbourn|first=Mary Ann|title=O.C. Register owner sells TV stations|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/sinclair-324997-stations-company.html|access-date=November 2, 2011|newspaper=[[Orange County Register]]|date=November 2, 2011}}</ref> The deal closed on April 2, 2012, but only six months later (on October 11), Sinclair filed to sell WLAJ to Shield Media (owned by White Knight Broadcasting vice president Sheldon Galloway). After the sale's completion, the station then entered into a shared services agreement with Young Broadcasting-owned WLNS.<ref name=tnc>{{cite news |title=Young Piecing Together Triopoly In Lansing |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/article/62846/young-piecing-together-triopoly-in-lansing/ |access-date=August 19, 2019 |work=TVNewsCheck |date=October 15, 2012 |language=en}}</ref> The [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) granted its approval of the license assignment on December 4; the sale was completed on March 1.<ref>[http://licensing.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/pubacc/Auth_Files/1525554.pdf ]{{dead link|date=June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101543781&formid=905&fac_num=36533 |title=CDBS Print |publisher=Licensing.fcc.gov |access-date=June 27, 2018}}</ref> This transaction resulted in Young controlling four of the six largest [[American English|English-language]] network affiliates in Lansing (CBS, ABC, The CW, and MyNetworkTV).<ref name=tnc/> On April 1, 2013, WLAJ's master control moved from WWMT's studios to the WLNS facility in Lansing. Most internal operations moved to WLNS as well. WLAJ also shut down its local advertising sales office and former news studio on South Pennsylvania Avenue. In effect, the move reunited WHTV's intellectual unit with WLAJ since the former station was once housed at the ABC outlet's studios. However, WLNS technically operated WHTV through an already established separate outsourcing arrangement from WLAJ.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wlns.com/story/20533324/wlaj-station-contact-information |title=WLAJ Station Contact Information |website=wlns.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109024549/http://www.wlns.com/story/20533324/wlaj-station-contact-information |archive-date=November 9, 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 30, 2018}}</ref>
Freedom announced on November 2, 2011, that it would bow out of television and sell its stations, including WLAJ, to the [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]].<ref name=ocr-freedomsinclair>{{cite news|last=Milbourn|first=Mary Ann|title=O.C. Register owner sells TV stations|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/sinclair-324997-stations-company.html|access-date=November 2, 2011|newspaper=[[Orange County Register]]|date=November 2, 2011}}</ref> The deal closed on April 2, 2012; on October 11, Sinclair filed to sell WLAJ to Shield Media (owned by White Knight Broadcasting vice president Sheldon Galloway) for $14.4 million.{{r|tnc}} Shield immediately turned over operations to WLNS-TV and its owner, [[Young Broadcasting]]. Shield had previously bought [[WXXA-TV]] in [[Albany, New York]], and outsourced its operations to a Young-owned station there. As WLNS was already managing WHTV, this gave Young operational control of three stations in the Lansing market.<ref name=tnc>{{cite news |title=Young Piecing Together Triopoly In Lansing |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/young-piecing-together-triopoly-in-lansing/ |access-date=August 19, 2019 |work=TVNewsCheck |date=October 15, 2012 |language=en}}</ref> After FCC approval, the sale was completed on March 1, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101543781&formid=905&fac_num=36533 |title=Consummation Notice| website=Consolidated Database System|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|access-date=June 27, 2018}}</ref>


After the sale to Shield was finalized, WLAJ began simulcasting newscasts from WLNS-TV at 6 and 11 p.m. and in mornings over the course of April 2013. WLNS management believed the simulcasts would expose additional viewers to their newscasts by offering ABC programming as a lead-in in addition to CBS programming.<ref>{{Cite news|title=WLAJ will air WLNS newscasts|id={{pq|1321813449}}|first=Mike|last=Hughes|work=Lansing State Journal|date=April 1, 2013}}</ref><ref name="mlive.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/business/jackson-lansing/index.ssf/2013/03/citizen_patriots_media_partner.html |title=Citizen Patriot's media partner WLNS to simulcast news shows on WLAJ ABC 53 starting April 1 |publisher=MLive.com |date=March 28, 2013 |access-date=June 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wlns.com/story/21844014/6-news-to-run-on-abc-station |title=6 News To Run On ABC Station |date=April 1, 2013 |website=wlns.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401174758/https://www.wlns.com/story/21844014/6-news-to-run-on-abc-station |archive-date=April 1, 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 30, 2018}}</ref>
After the sale to Shield was finalized, WLAJ moved its operations into WLNS-TV's studios.{{r|spartan}} It began simulcasting newscasts from WLNS-TV at 6 and 11 p.m. and in mornings over the course of April 2013. WLNS management believed the simulcasts would expose additional viewers to their newscasts by offering ABC programming as a lead-in in addition to CBS programming and by way of WLAJ's better signal at the time in the southern portion of the market.<ref name="Lans130401">{{Cite news|title=WLAJ will air WLNS newscasts|id={{pq|1321813449}}|first=Mike|last=Hughes|work=Lansing State Journal|date=April 1, 2013}}</ref><ref name="mlive.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.mlive.com/business/jackson-lansing/index.ssf/2013/03/citizen_patriots_media_partner.html |title=Citizen Patriot's media partner WLNS to simulcast news shows on WLAJ ABC 53 starting April 1 |publisher=MLive.com |date=March 28, 2013 |access-date=June 27, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wlns.com/story/21844014/6-news-to-run-on-abc-station |title=6 News To Run On ABC Station |date=April 1, 2013 |website=wlns.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401174758/https://www.wlns.com/story/21844014/6-news-to-run-on-abc-station |archive-date=April 1, 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 30, 2018}}</ref> WHTV, whose owner Spartan-TV objected to the WLAJ arrangement amid possible fears it would be pushed out,<ref name="spartan">{{Cite news|first=Doug|last=Halonen|title=Spartan Blows Whistle On Young Lansing SSA|date=August 20, 2013|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/spartan-blows-whistle-on-young-lansing-ssa/|work=TVNewsCheck}}</ref> signed a new agreement with WSYM-TV in July 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jrn.com/fox47news/news/sports/New-Brand-Coming-to-FOX-47-Partner-Station-My18-Launching-this-September-269377541.html |title=New Brand Coming to FOX 47's Partner Station My 18 this September |website=Journal Media Group |access-date=August 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826114406/http://www.jrn.com/fox47news/news/sports/New-Brand-Coming-to-FOX-47-Partner-Station-My18-Launching-this-September-269377541.html |archive-date=August 26, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> During this time, WLNS-TV changed hands twice as part of larger transactions: [[Media General]] merged with Young in November 2013,<ref name=tvnc-youngmgcomplete>{{cite news|title=Media General, Young Now Officially One|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/71928/media-general-young-now-officially-one|access-date=November 12, 2013|newspaper=TVNewsCheck|date=November 12, 2013}}</ref> and [[Nexstar Media Group|Nexstar Broadcasting Group]] acquired Media General in January 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2017/01/nexstar-completes-media-general-acquisition-1201888406/|title=Nexstar Completes $4.6B Acquisition Of Media General|first=David|last=Lieberman|work=Deadline}}</ref>


In 2017, WLNS sold its spectrum in the [[incentive auction]] for $13.6 million<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/2017/04/wlns_wlaj_others_affected_by_f.html|first=Logan T.|last=Hansen|work=MLive|title=WLNS, WLAJ, others affected by FCC auction, public results show|date=April 20, 2017}}</ref> and entered into a channel sharing agreement with WLAJ, which began broadcasting WLNS from its transmitter on June 11, 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wlns.com/news/how-to-re-scan-your-television/|date=May 11, 2018|title=How to re-scan your television|first=Kevin|last=VanderKolk|work=WLNS}}</ref> As a result of the repack to clear the 600 MHz band, the stations moved from channel 25 to channel 14 on January 17, 2020.<ref name="Repack Table">{{Cite web|url=http://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Transition_Files/Phase_Assignment_Closing_PN.csv|title=FCC TV Spectrum Phase Assignment Table|format=CSV|website=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|date=April 13, 2017|access-date=April 17, 2017|archive-date=April 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417160749/http://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Transition_Files/Phase_Assignment_Closing_PN.csv|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wlns.com/news/michigan/today-rescanning-your-television-to-watch-wlns-tv-with-an-antenna/|title=TODAY: Rescanning your television to watch WLNS-TV with an antenna|date=January 17, 2020|work=WLNS}}</ref>
In August 2013, WLAJ returned to branding itself as "ABC 53" using the updated ABC logo. Young Broadcasting merged with Media General on November 12, 2013.<ref name=tvnc-youngmgcomplete>{{cite news|title=Media General, Young Now Officially One|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/71928/media-general-young-now-officially-one|access-date=November 12, 2013|newspaper=TVNewsCheck|date=November 12, 2013}}</ref> As a result of these changes, WHTV announced it would not renew its operational outsourcing agreement with WLNS. In July 2014, WHTV entered into a new local marketing agreement with WSYM (then owned by the [[Journal Broadcast Group]]) and relocated its advertising sales operation to that outlet's studios.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jrn.com/fox47news/news/sports/New-Brand-Coming-to-FOX-47-Partner-Station-My18-Launching-this-September-269377541.html |title=New Brand Coming to FOX 47's Partner Station My 18 this September - FOX 47 News |access-date=August 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826114406/http://www.jrn.com/fox47news/news/sports/New-Brand-Coming-to-FOX-47-Partner-Station-My18-Launching-this-September-269377541.html |archive-date=August 26, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


On August 21, 2020, it was announced that [[Mission Broadcasting]] would acquire WLAJ.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mission Consolidation Continues With Michigan, N.Y. Moves|date=August 21, 2020 |url=http://www.rbr.com/mission-consolidation-continues-with-michigan-n-y-moves/|publisher=Radio & Television Business Report|access-date=September 13, 2020}}</ref><ref name="wlajtomission">{{cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101819974&formid=314&fac_num=36533|title=Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|date=August 20, 2020|access-date=August 22, 2020}}</ref> The acquisition was completed on November 23.<ref>[http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1823593&Service=DT&Form_id=905&Facility_id=36533 "Consummation Notice"], ''CDBS Public Access'', [[Federal Communications Commission]], November 25, 2020, Retrieved November 25, 2020.</ref>
On August 21, 2020, it was announced that [[Mission Broadcasting]] would acquire WLAJ.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mission Consolidation Continues With Michigan, N.Y. Moves|date=August 21, 2020 |url=http://www.rbr.com/mission-consolidation-continues-with-michigan-n-y-moves/|publisher=Radio & Television Business Report|access-date=September 13, 2020}}</ref><ref name="wlajtomission">{{cite web|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101819974&formid=314&fac_num=36533|title=Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|date=August 20, 2020|access-date=August 22, 2020}}</ref> The acquisition was completed on November 23.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1823593&Service=DT&Form_id=905&Facility_id=36533 |title=Consummation Notice|website=Consolidated Database System|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|date=November 25, 20200|access-date=November 25, 2020}}</ref>


==Technical information==
==Technical information==
Line 107: Line 112:
|}
|}
<section end=subs />
<section end=subs />
In 2014, WLAJ began carrying the [[Justice Network]] on a newly created third subchannel.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hughes|first1=Mike|date=December 11, 2017|title=Digi-nets expand Lansing TV viewing options|language=en|work=[[Lansing State Journal]]|publisher=USA Today Network|url=https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/entertainment/television/2017/12/11/digi-nets-expand-lansing-tv-viewing-options/108298950/|access-date=June 27, 2018}}</ref>

WLNS sold its spectrum in the FCC spectrum auction, and reached a channel sharing agreement with WLAJ. On June 11, 2018; WLNS discontinued broadcasting from its transmitter in [[Okemos]] and began broadcasting from WLAJ's transmitter in [[Rives Township, Michigan|Rives Junction]] on channel 25; it continues to appear as [[virtual channel]] 6.<ref>{{cite news|last1=VanderKolk|first1=Kevin|date=June 13, 2018|title=Finding WLNS with your antenna|website=WLNS|url=https://www.wlns.com/news/finding-wlns-with-your-antenna/1236807816|access-date=June 27, 2018}}</ref> This created a situation where the senior partner in an operating agreement transmits on the spectrum of its junior partner. As a consequence of the WLNS channel share, and the need to transmit three high-definition signals (1080i for WLNS, and 720p for WLAJ's two ABC and CW channels), WLAJ dropped Justice Network from its third subchannel. In 2020, the transmitter was moved to the old WLNS transmitter location in Okemos.

=== Analog-to-digital conversion ===
WLAJ shut down its analog signal, over [[UHF]] channel 53, on June 12, 2009, as part of the [[Digital television transition in the United States|federally mandated transition from analog to digital television]].<ref name="Analog to Digital">{{Cite web|title=List of Digital Full-Power Stations|url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf|archive-date=August 29, 2013|access-date=January 20, 2014}}</ref> The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 51, using virtual channel 53. On May 22, 2015, WLAJ relocated its digital signal to UHF channel 25, with the FCC license issued on June 5, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=WLAJ-TV LLC &#124; Federal Communications Commission|date=December 9, 2015 |url=https://www.fcc.gov/document/wlaj-tv-llc-0|access-date=June 27, 2018|publisher=Fcc.gov}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==

Revision as of 19:07, 22 October 2024

WLAJ
CityLansing, Michigan
Channels
Branding
  • ABC 53
  • Lansing CW5 (53.2)
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
OwnerMission Broadcasting, Inc.
OperatorNexstar Media Group via SSA
WLNS-TV
History
FoundedMarch 8, 1982
First air date
October 13, 1990 (34 years ago) (1990-10-13)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 53 (UHF, 1990–2009)
  • Digital: 51 (UHF, 2002[1]–2015)[2]; 25 (UHF, 2015[3]–2020)
Call sign meaning
Lansing and Jackson[4]
Technical information[5]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID36533
ERP950 kW
HAAT289.8 m (951 ft)
Transmitter coordinates42°41′19″N 84°22′35″W / 42.68861°N 84.37639°W / 42.68861; -84.37639
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.wlns.com/my-abc-is-wlaj/

WLAJ (channel 53) 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 (channel 6), for the provision of certain services. WLAJ and WLNS-TV share studios on East Saginaw Street on Lansing's Eastside; the stations transmit using WLAJ's spectrum from a tower on Van Atta Road in Okemos, Michigan.

WLAJ went on the air in 1990, though the construction permit had been awarded in 1981. The dormant permit was bought by Joel Ferguson, a Lansing developer and politician who had previously started WSYM-TV (channel 47) in 1982. Though channel 47 was the Lansing area's third station, the ABC network refused to grant it an affiliation to protect existing ABC affiliates in Detroit, Flint, and Battle Creek. WLAJ won the ABC affiliation in part because its signal pattern was designed to avoid overlap. The station started airing local newscasts shortly after signing on, but the newscasts failed to attract viewers and were discontinued after 17 months. Under the management of Granite Broadcasting and for most of the ownership of Freedom Communications, WLAJ produced local newscasts featuring more unconventional formats but could not pull viewers from the dominant WLNS-TV and WILX-TV, and the last independent newscast effort was discontinued in September 2009.

Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired Freedom in 2012 but spun WLAJ off to Shield Media, which in turn entered into the shared services agreement with WLNS-TV. Channel 53 began airing simulcasts of that station's morning and evening newscasts. Mission Broadcasting, a company known for operating stations on behalf of Nexstar, acquired WLAJ from Shield in 2020.

History

The Lansing–Jackson television market was dominated by two major commercial VHF stations, WJIM-TV (now WLNS-TV) on channel 6 and WILX-TV (channel 10), since the latter station began in 1959. In the late 1970s, interest emerged in activating a third local station on a UHF channel: channel 36, then allocated to Lansing. Three applicants had already filed for the channel by 1979. Benko Broadcasting was owned by two brothers, one of whom was a judge in Sanilac County; F&S Comm/News, primarily owned by former Lansing city councilman Joel Ferguson and business partner Sol Steadman; and Kare-Kim Broadcasting Corporation, whose primary stakeholder, Donald Haney, was a television personality in Detroit.[6]

On August 4, 1980, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a ruling that complicated the picture for the channel 36 applicants. It changed the channel allocation from 36 to 47 as part of changes in five Michigan and Ohio cities, necessary to conform with a new Canadian table of allocations for UHF channels. This was not a trivial change for the Lansing applicants, as channel 47 was short-spaced with location restrictions. These restrictions, to channel 62 in Detroit, had led the FCC in 1967 to allot channel 36 instead of 47 at Lansing.[7] In restoring channel 47 to Lansing, the FCC gave the existing applicants from the channel 36 case the opportunity to keep the short-spaced channel or specify Lansing's other UHF channel, channel 53.[8] F&S Comm/News was the only applicant who chose channel 47 and received a construction permit in December 1981.[9] The firm began broadcasting December 1, 1982, as WFSL, an independent station.[10] WFSL was sold to The Journal Company at the end of 1984[11] and changed its call sign to WSYM-TV on March 11, 1985.[12]

Benko and Kare-Kim opted for channel 53, and the FCC declared a comparative hearing for their applications in May 1981.[13] In lieu of a hearing proceeding, the parties settled: Benko reimbursed Kare-Kim for $29,900 in expenses pursuing its application and came away with the permit in an agreement approved that December.[14] Though Benko Broadcasting proposed in 1983 to build WLAJ as a second independent, owner Robert Benko fretted that competition with channel 47 would drive up prices for programming.[15] Later, Charles McLravy, former owner of Lansing radio station WILS, became a stakeholder in Benko Broadcasting and built a transmitter building and 100 feet (30 m) of tower.[16]

One of the reasons channel 36 had initially attracted interest was that there was no in-market ABC affiliate in Lansing, which was the largest market so unserved.[6] The ABC network was available over-the-air from Flint, Michigan's WJRT, which was the primary source of the ABC network in Lansing, and in other portions of the region by WUHQ from Battle Creek or WXYZ-TV from Detroit.[17] However, cable was often necessary to get a good ABC signal, particularly in Jackson.[18][4] WFSL had pursued the ABC affiliation when it launched, but ABC refused to grant it, principally due to coverage overlap with WJRT and WXYZ-TV—the latter of which ABC then owned.[19] When the construction permit for channel 47 was awarded, the FCC dismissed a protest by WUHQ-TV, which sought to establish translators in Jackson and Lansing.[20]

Construction, early years, and 53 Newsbeat

When I owned WSYM, we had a powerful signal. When I went to buy a station in Las Vegas, I realized I didn't need all that powerful stuff. Once the signal was out of the city, all there was was desert, anyway. So when I designed WLAJ, I cut the signal down to just the areas we are targeting. It will miss Battle Creek entirely.

Joel Ferguson[4]

On March 10, 1989, Benko Broadcasting filed to sell the WLAJ construction permit to Lansing 53, Inc., a company owned by Joel Ferguson.[21] The sale came after McLravy, decided he was not the right person to build the TV station.[16] The reactivation of plans for channel 53 immediately started to unblock the ABC logjam. Neither ABC nor the newer Fox network had an affiliate in the Lansing market, and ABC was seen to be in the driver's seat with a choice of possible affiliates (WSYM or WLAJ).[22]

The FCC granted final approval for the WLAJ sale in March 1990,[18] leaving ABC with the decision between WSYM and WLAJ as its local affiliate.[23] In a bid to court the network, Ferguson redesigned WLAJ's signal pattern to protect WJRT and WUHQ;[18] this was successful, and on May 23, 1990, ABC awarded the Lansing affiliation to WLAJ.[4] To set up Lansing's third TV news department, Ferguson hired former WLNS news director Bruce Cornelius;[24] news anchor Warren Williams, a graduate of Lansing's Sexton High School and former student at Michigan State University, was hired to present channel 53's evening newscasts.[25] Weeknight sports was presented by Mark Wilson, who had been a popular weekend sportscaster at WILX.[26]

From studios in the former Dambro's appliance store on Pennsylvania Avenue,[27] WLAJ began broadcasting on October 13, 1990, with the highlight of its first day on air an ABC College Football telecast featuring Michigan versus Michigan State.[28] Its debut led cable systems to remove another ABC affiliate from their lineups, with some choosing WUHQ and others WJRT.[29][30] On October 29, the station aired its first 53 Newsbeat newscasts.[31]

53 Newsbeat made little impact in the local television ratings. In its first ratings test, the November 1990 Arbitron survey, WLAJ's newscasts attracted less than 1% of the audience compared to 17% for WLNS and 14% for WILX.[32] Williams was fired after less than a year[33] before being rehired to report and host cut-ins during Good Morning America.[34] Less than two months after instituting Saturday newscasts for the first time,[35] WLAJ discontinued 53 Newsbeat on April 3, 1992, and replaced it with simulcast local news from WXYZ-TV in Detroit. Ferguson cited the dismal ratings, cost savings, and WXYZ's superior coverage of news events, including the Michigan state capitol;[36] Dave Hoger of the Jackson Citizen Patriot noted that the newscast never quite rose to the level of its on-air presentation and that viewers had become very accustomed to the news on WLNS or WILX.[37] Wilson was the only holdover, as his contract could not be dropped;[36] he stayed to record a sportscast inserted over the WXYZ newscast at 6:15 p.m.,[38] only to depart weeks later for Detroit's WJBK.[39] Cornelius stayed on to produce editorials before he was dismissed in January 1993.[40] The WXYZ newscasts continued to air until June 1996; after the suspension and departure of star WXYZ anchorman Bill Bonds in 1995, ratings had fallen significantly for the simulcasts.[41]

Ferguson to Granite to Freedom

After Paul Brissette nearly bought half of WLAJ, leading to speculation he would run it in a local marketing agreement (LMA) with WILX (which he was selling at the time),[42] Ferguson instead agreed to contract Granite Broadcasting to manage WLAJ;[43] Granite had entered Michigan the year by buying WWMT in Kalamazoo for $95 million,[44] and that station's general manager assumed responsibility for WLAJ.[43] Granite did not immediately buy WLAJ, valued at $19.4 million, because of the signal overlap between the Lansing and Kalamazoo stations.[45]

Granite identified restoring a newscast as a top priority, promising $3 million in spending on the station including restoring news.[43] ABC 53 News Now debuted on August 25, 1997.[46] The newscast featured several staff transferred from WWMT, including anchor Joe Parker; it utilized a faster pace and dispensed with some traditional conventions, including a desk-based set and in-house weather forecasts.[47][48] In its first ratings survey, the new ABC 53 News Now again failed to attract 1% of the audience. The contrast was increased by the debut weeks later of a 10 p.m. newscast at WSYM, which drew 4% audience share.[49]

Granite agreed to acquire KOFY-TV in San Francisco in late 1997. To fund the purchase, the company opted to sell WWMT and WLAJ to Freedom Communications for a total of $170 million.[45] This transaction encountered a complication when the owner of the WLAJ transmitter site in Tompkins Township, claiming nonpayment of rent, threatened to evict the station, thereby forcing it off the air, if it were not paid $284,000 or if the station did not spend $2.1 million to buy the property outright.[50] A Jackson County judge ruled that Granite had met the conditions of creditworthiness necessary to force Tompkins to agree to the transaction.[51]

The half-hour News Now format was discontinued in January 2001 in response to continued low ratings. The 6 and 11 p.m. newscasts were reformatted as the ABC 53 News Express, a 10-minute newscast. The remainder of the half-hour was filled with a public affairs and debate program, On Point, also hosted by Parker.[52] During this time, WLAJ served as the local sales representative for The WB 100+ Station Group, selling the advertisements seen by local WB viewers on cable; it assumed this responsibility from WILX in 2000.[53] It also managed WHTV (channel 18), the regional UPN affiliate, under an LMA with Venture Technologies Group;[54] WHTV switched service providers to WLNS-TV in 2006.[55] Some station operations moved from Lansing to WWMT in Kalamazoo in 2005.[56]

In 2007, WLAJ hired Suzanne Wangler, known on air as Suzanne Page, to anchor its newscasts. Wangler had once been a weekend anchor at WILX before working in several positions in and out of TV news in Detroit. After WXYZ aired a report exposing her various legal issues, she resigned in February 2008,[57] hanging herself days later.[58] The station expanded its early-evening news to an hour in October 2008[59] but reversed course and discontinued all longform local newscasts in September 2009, citing continued low ratings. WWMT continued to provide limited news breaks and weather.[60]

Common operation with WLNS

Freedom announced on November 2, 2011, that it would bow out of television and sell its stations, including WLAJ, to the Sinclair Broadcast Group.[61] The deal closed on April 2, 2012; on October 11, Sinclair filed to sell WLAJ to Shield Media (owned by White Knight Broadcasting vice president Sheldon Galloway) for $14.4 million.[62] Shield immediately turned over operations to WLNS-TV and its owner, Young Broadcasting. Shield had previously bought WXXA-TV in Albany, New York, and outsourced its operations to a Young-owned station there. As WLNS was already managing WHTV, this gave Young operational control of three stations in the Lansing market.[62] After FCC approval, the sale was completed on March 1, 2013.[63]

After the sale to Shield was finalized, WLAJ moved its operations into WLNS-TV's studios.[64] It began simulcasting newscasts from WLNS-TV at 6 and 11 p.m. and in mornings over the course of April 2013. WLNS management believed the simulcasts would expose additional viewers to their newscasts by offering ABC programming as a lead-in in addition to CBS programming and by way of WLAJ's better signal at the time in the southern portion of the market.[65][66][67] WHTV, whose owner Spartan-TV objected to the WLAJ arrangement amid possible fears it would be pushed out,[64] signed a new agreement with WSYM-TV in July 2014.[68] During this time, WLNS-TV changed hands twice as part of larger transactions: Media General merged with Young in November 2013,[69] and Nexstar Broadcasting Group acquired Media General in January 2017.[70]

In 2017, WLNS sold its spectrum in the incentive auction for $13.6 million[71] and entered into a channel sharing agreement with WLAJ, which began broadcasting WLNS from its transmitter on June 11, 2018.[72] As a result of the repack to clear the 600 MHz band, the stations moved from channel 25 to channel 14 on January 17, 2020.[73][74]

On August 21, 2020, it was announced that Mission Broadcasting would acquire WLAJ.[75][76] The acquisition was completed on November 23.[77]

Technical information

Subchannels

Subchannels of WLAJ and WLNS-TV[78]
License Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
WLAJ 53.1 720p 16:9 WLAJ-DT ABC
53.2 The CW Plus
WLNS-TV 6.1 1080i WLNS-TV CBS


See also

References

  1. ^ "WLAJ-DT". Television & Cable Factbook. Warren Communications News. 2006. p. A-1169.
  2. ^ "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. May 23, 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  3. ^ "Report & Order (DA 15-210)" (PDF). Federal Communications Commission. February 13, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d Hoger, Dave (May 25, 1990). "WLAJ-TV easy as ABC for Jackson". Jackson Citizen Patriot. pp. A-1, A-2.
  5. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WLAJ". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  6. ^ a b Hughes, Mike (August 18, 1979). "3 groups vie for new Lansing TV station". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. pp. A-1, A-7. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Federal Communications Commission (April 19, 1967). "Television Broadcast Channels; Short-Spaced Assignment, Lansing, Mich" (PDF). Federal Register. p. 6142.
  8. ^ Federal Communications Commission (August 6, 1980). "TV Broadcast Stations In Lansing and Saginaw, Mich.; Newark, Sandusky, and Toledo, Ohio; Changes Made in Table of Assignments" (PDF). Federal Register. p. 6142.
  9. ^ Hughes, Mike (December 15, 1981). "FCC OKs new Lansing TV station". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. pp. 1A, 3A. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Hughes, Mike (December 2, 1982). "WFSL opens old movie blitz". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 2D. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "WFSL change is near". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. December 20, 1984. p. 1D. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Good Afternoon..." Lansing State Journal (Advertisement). Lansing, Michigan. March 11, 1985. p. 4A. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Public Notice". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. June 1, 1981. p. C4. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "For the Record: In Contest". Broadcasting. January 11, 1982. p. 94. ProQuest 962756464.
  15. ^ "Yet another TV station?". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. October 6, 1983. p. 1D. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com. This article calls the station WJAL, but the call sign was WLAJ.
  16. ^ a b "Lansing developer turns on the power to launch TV station". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. March 31, 1989. p. 1D. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ "Area TV Fans Get Broad Network Range". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. August 17, 1975. p. Welcome to Lansing 93. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ a b c Hughes, Mike (March 6, 1990). "Lansing's getting a new TV station". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. pp. 1A, 2A. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Hughes, Mike (November 18, 1982). "New TV era ready to open on local tubes". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 1D. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ Spickler, Dan (December 18, 1981). "TV stations lock horns over signal". Jackson Citizen Patriot. pp. A-1, A-2.
  21. ^ "Notice". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. March 28, 1989. p. 4B. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ Hughes, Mike (September 13, 1989). "New ABC, Fox affiliates may shake up local television". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 1D. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Hoger, Dave (March 6, 1990). "ABC-TV affiliate coming to area". Jackson Citizen Patriot. pp. A-1, A-2.
  24. ^ Hughes, Mike (June 13, 1990). "Veteran newsman named chief at WLAJ-TV". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. pp. 1A, 5A. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Chapp, Michael (July 19, 1990). "Sexton grad comes home to anchor WLAJ". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 1A. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ Klein, Steve (October 29, 1990). "Anchor Aweigh: Mark Wilson is back on the air as WLAJ launches first sportscast". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. pp. 1D, 3D. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ Hughes, Mike (August 1, 1990). "Tune in to Lansing's changing TV world". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 4D. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "A station is born". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. October 13, 1990. p. 1D. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  29. ^ Hughes, Mike (October 15, 1990). "New Channel 53 leads the TV shuffle". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 1D. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ Hoger, Dave (October 12, 1990). "A new view: Local ABC affiliate ready to sign on, in time for big game". Jackson Citizen Patriot. p. A-1.
  31. ^ Hughes, Mike (October 30, 1990). "53 Kickoff: Chaos short of perfection". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 1D. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ "Channel 53 buried in its first Arbitron rating". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. December 19, 1990. p. 1D. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ Hoger, Dave (July 23, 1991). "Local ABC TV affiliate Channel 53 fires news anchor Warren Williams". Jackson Citizen Patriot. p. A-3.
  34. ^ "Good morning, Warren". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. September 9, 1991. p. 1D. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ Hoger, Dave (January 23, 1992). "Eight hours of Andy Griffith an effort to flush Super Bowl". Jackson Citizen Patriot. p. D12.
  36. ^ a b Hughes, Mike (March 19, 1992). "WLAJ news staff out; Detroit station moves in". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. pp. 1A, 2A. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ Hoger, Dave (March 22, 1992). "Channel 53 news death no surprise". Jackson Citizen Patriot. p. C-1.
  38. ^ Hughes, Mike (April 2, 1992). "WLAJ news is gone, but sports will carry on". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 1D. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ Klein, Steve (April 18, 1992). "Wilson to leave Ch. 53". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 1C. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ "Channel 53 downsizes its news staff even further". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. January 15, 1993. p. 7D. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  41. ^ Hughes, Mike (June 28, 1996). "WLAJ dumps Detroit news". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 1D. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ Hughes, Mike (May 25, 1996). "Changes brew in ownerships of local TV: Several options looming for revised operations at WILX and". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 5B. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ a b c Evenson, A. J. (October 22, 1996). "WLAJ picks manager: Granite Broadcasting plans to bring back local news to station". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 5B. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  44. ^ Hughes, Mike (September 27, 1996). "Sale of WLAJ just about a done deal". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 5B. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  45. ^ a b Banas, Teri (January 16, 1998). "Granite to sell WLAJ-TV: Ownership change will be local ABC affiliate's second in last two years". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 5B. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  46. ^ "Newscast debuts at 11 p.m. today". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. August 25, 1997. p. 1D. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  47. ^ Hoger, Dave (August 20, 1997). "WLAJ says now is prime for news". Jackson Citizen Patriot. p. A3.
  48. ^ Hughes, Mike (August 22, 1997). "New news is on the horizon". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. pp. 1D, 3D. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  49. ^ Drummond, Dee (December 13, 1997). "Newscasts see first ratings: Fox affiliate happy with numbers; WLAJ officials disappointed". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 1B. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  50. ^ Davis, Scott (August 7, 1998). "Snowy reception: WLAJ could be knocked off air over lease dispute". Jackson Citizen Patriot. p. A-1.
  51. ^ Davis, Scott (August 18, 1998). "Station gets a break: Judge's ruling on land lease means $18.9 million WLAJ sale can go through". Jackson Citizen Patriot. p. A3.
  52. ^ Hughes, Mike (January 18, 2001). "WLAJ newscast gets a major overhaul". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. p. 1D. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  53. ^ Wang, Karissa S. (December 11, 2000). "Local market spotlight; Lansing, Mich". Electronic Media. p. 16. Gale A68144830.
  54. ^ Clarke, Melanie M. (September 21, 2003). "Lansing Motors On". Broadcasting & Cable.
  55. ^ "In re Application of New Young Broadcasting Holding Co., Inc". Electronic Comment Filing System. Federal Communications Commission. August 19, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  56. ^ Rombyer, Pat (October 30, 2005). "It cost less to upgrade as offices". Jackson Citizen Patriot. p. A3.
  57. ^ Hughes, Mike (February 19, 2008). "WLAJ news anchor Suzanne Page resigns as allegations surface: Former client says her business took". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. pp. 1A, 4A. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  58. ^ Hunt, Amber (February 25, 2008). "Disgraced former anchor hangs herself". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan. pp. 3A, 5A. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  59. ^ "WLAJ expands evening newscast to 60 minutes". Lansing State Journal. Lansing, Michigan. October 3, 2008. p. 4D. Retrieved October 22, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  60. ^ Rombyer, Pat (November 8, 2009). "Station dropped news for entertainment-style shows". Jackson Citizen Patriot. p. A6.
  61. ^ Milbourn, Mary Ann (November 2, 2011). "O.C. Register owner sells TV stations". Orange County Register. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  62. ^ a b "Young Piecing Together Triopoly In Lansing". TVNewsCheck. October 15, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  63. ^ "Consummation Notice". Consolidated Database System. Federal Communications Commission. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  64. ^ a b Halonen, Doug (August 20, 2013). "Spartan Blows Whistle On Young Lansing SSA". TVNewsCheck.
  65. ^ Hughes, Mike (April 1, 2013). "WLAJ will air WLNS newscasts". Lansing State Journal. ProQuest 1321813449.
  66. ^ "Citizen Patriot's media partner WLNS to simulcast news shows on WLAJ ABC 53 starting April 1". MLive.com. March 28, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  67. ^ "6 News To Run On ABC Station". wlns.com. April 1, 2013. Archived from the original on April 1, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2018.
  68. ^ "New Brand Coming to FOX 47's Partner Station My 18 this September". Journal Media Group. Archived from the original on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 30, 2014.
  69. ^ "Media General, Young Now Officially One". TVNewsCheck. November 12, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  70. ^ Lieberman, David. "Nexstar Completes $4.6B Acquisition Of Media General". Deadline.
  71. ^ Hansen, Logan T. (April 20, 2017). "WLNS, WLAJ, others affected by FCC auction, public results show". MLive.
  72. ^ VanderKolk, Kevin (May 11, 2018). "How to re-scan your television". WLNS.
  73. ^ "FCC TV Spectrum Phase Assignment Table" (CSV). Federal Communications Commission. April 13, 2017. Archived from the original on April 17, 2017. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  74. ^ "TODAY: Rescanning your television to watch WLNS-TV with an antenna". WLNS. January 17, 2020.
  75. ^ "Mission Consolidation Continues With Michigan, N.Y. Moves". Radio & Television Business Report. August 21, 2020. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  76. ^ "Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License". CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission. August 20, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  77. ^ "Consummation Notice". Consolidated Database System. Federal Communications Commission. November 25, 20200. Retrieved November 25, 2020. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  78. ^ "Digital TV Market Listing for WLAJ". RabbitEars. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=WLAJ&oldid=1252740281"