WADL
WADL is an independently programmed television station serving the Detroit, Michigan, market from Mount Clemens and Clinton Township.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WADL is a full-power television station licensed to Mount Clemens, Michigan, and serving the Detroit metropolitan market on virtual channel 38. The station is locally owned by broadcaster Kevin Adell through Adell Broadcasting, a privately held media company established by his father, Franklin Z. Adell. WADL began broadcasting on May 20, 1989, after Adell Broadcasting had applied for the channel four years earlier. Its early schedule consisted largely of Home Shopping Network material, religious programming, paid programming, classic films, and syndicated music-video content. The station operated for much of its early life as a low-profile independent outlet competing with stronger Detroit stations and with Windsor-based CBET for syndicated programming rights. During the 1990s, WADL experimented with several programming opportunities. It carried CBS programs preempted by WJBK-TV and later obtained Fox children's programming after WKBD-TV stopped carrying the block following its loss of the Fox affiliation. The station also aired syndicated children's shows and, for a period, the daytime serial Passions. In 1994, CBS explored making WADL its Detroit affiliate after WJBK was scheduled to move from CBS to Fox, but negotiations failed. CBS instead acquired WGPR-TV and converted it into WWJ-TV. WADL's profile grew substantially in the late 2000s. In 2007, it repositioned itself as Detroit's Urban Station, targeting the region's African-American audience and expanding its library of syndicated entertainment. Its schedule combined contemporary and classic series with religious programs, infomercials, local public-affairs programming, community discussions, and political debates. The station became known for carrying programs that did not fit easily into the schedules of the market's larger network affiliates. It also maintained relationships that allowed it to air network programming preempted elsewhere, including selected NBC and Fox programs. The station has periodically produced or commissioned local news. A short-lived noon and 9 p.m. newscast launched in 2012 through an arrangement involving the Journal Register Company and the Independent News Network, but ended after several months. WADL subsequently carried brief local news updates and, in 2020, introduced News Now with Kevin Dietz, a longer-form program focused on Michigan and local political affairs. WADL became Detroit's MyNetworkTV affiliate in September 2021, replacing WMYD. In 2023, it briefly announced a primary affiliation with The CW while retaining MyNetworkTV programming later in the evening. That arrangement ended after a dispute involving Nexstar, the proposed sale of WADL to Mission Broadcasting, and the terms of a prospective affiliation and operating agreement. The CW subsequently moved to WMYD. Mission's proposed acquisition was ultimately abandoned in May 2024 after the Federal Communications Commission imposed conditions concerning financing, operating control, revenue sharing, and purchase options. As of the latest supplied information, WADL remains active and locally owned, with independent programming and a secondary MyNetworkTV relationship.
History
Adell Broadcasting applied for the WADL license on September 25, 1985, but the station did not begin broadcasting until May 20, 1989. Franklin Z. Adell, who had previously operated an automotive-parts business, founded the station. His son Kevin Adell joined the company after graduating from Arizona State University in 1988 and later became the station's owner and principal executive. WADL launched as a general-entertainment independent station with a schedule built around Home Shopping Network programming, religious shows, paid programming, classic movies, and the syndicated music-video program Hit Video USA. It gradually added syndicated programming, but its competitive position was weak because WKBD-TV, WXON, CBET in Windsor, and other Detroit-area outlets controlled many of the strongest available shows. In 1992, WADL carried CBS programs preempted by WJBK-TV. Two years later, CBS considered WADL as a possible replacement affiliate after WJBK moved toward Fox, but negotiations failed and CBS ultimately acquired WGPR-TV, relaunching it as WWJ-TV. From 1998 through 2003, WADL carried Fox children's programming and additional syndicated children's series. It also aired Passions after WDIV-TV initially declined the NBC daytime serial. A more important expansion began in 2007, when the station acquired recognizable syndicated titles and adopted the identity Detroit's Urban Station. The relaunch emphasized African-American viewers and Detroit community life, while the schedule continued to include religious and paid programming. WADL added local affairs programs, interviews, debates, and civic features, including programming involving Detroit public officials and community activists. By 2009, its lineup included a broad mixture of classic sitcoms, dramas, reality programs, and newer syndicated series. The station developed occasional programming arrangements with larger networks. In 2013 and 2014, it carried NBC programs that WDIV-TV could not schedule because of local events or other commitments. From 2015, Fox Television Stations used WADL to carry some Fox prime-time programming preempted by WJBK during Detroit Lions preseason coverage. WADL also carried special sports and entertainment programming, including a Stanley Cup Final game in 2013 when WDIV aired Detroit's Target Fireworks show. WADL's local-news initiatives have been intermittent. It rebroadcast WJBK newscasts in the early 1990s, but that arrangement ended when WJBK changed network affiliation. In 2012, WADL introduced locally oriented noon and evening newscasts produced with outside partners; the programs were cancelled after approximately four months. The station then used short news updates and a supplied national news program. In January 2020, it launched News Now with Kevin Dietz, designed as a nightly, discussion-oriented program with longer political and public-affairs segments rather than a conventional rapid-fire local newscast. WADL became the Detroit MyNetworkTV affiliate on September 20, 2021. In 2023, it temporarily carried The CW on a primary basis and moved MyNetworkTV to a later slot. The CW arrangement collapsed in October amid a dispute over affiliation and transitional operating terms connected with the proposed Mission Broadcasting sale. The CW later reached an agreement with WMYD. The Mission transaction, which would have involved Nexstar financing and operating WADL under a shared-services arrangement, faced public-interest objections and FCC scrutiny. Although the FCC approved the application subject to conditions restricting Nexstar's financing, compensation, and purchase rights, Mission filed a non-consummation notice in May 2024. Adell later indicated that another sale effort might be pursued because he had lost interest in the broadcasting business. Technically, WADL's relatively short and easterly transmitter limits its over-the-air reach in western and southwestern parts of the Detroit market and makes reception marginal in Windsor and Essex County. Cable and satellite distribution are therefore important to its effective market coverage. The station ended analog broadcasting on June 12, 2009, and continued digitally on UHF channel 39 while retaining virtual channel 38.
- 2024
Mission acquisition abandoned
[1]The proposed sale to Mission Broadcasting ended after regulatory conditions and a subsequent non-consummation filing.
- 2023
Temporary CW affiliation
[1]WADL briefly carried The CW as its primary network affiliation.
- 2021
MyNetworkTV affiliation begins
[1]WADL replaced WMYD as Detroit's MyNetworkTV affiliate.
- 2014
David Bangura named president
[1]Broadcasting executive David Bangura was appointed station president.
- 2009
Digital transition
[1]WADL ended analog transmission and continued digital broadcasting using virtual channel 38.
- 2007
Urban programming repositioning
[1]The station relaunched as Detroit's Urban Station and expanded its syndicated and community-oriented programming.
- 1998
Fox children's programming begins
[1]WADL began carrying Fox's children's programming block after obtaining the rights from WKBD-TV.
- 1994
CBS affiliation discussions fail
[1]CBS explored WADL as a replacement Detroit affiliate but did not reach an agreement with Adell Broadcasting.
- 1989
WADL begins broadcasting
[1]WADL signed on for the first time on May 20 as an independent station.
- 1985
License application filed
[1]Adell Broadcasting filed an application for the channel 38 license.
Products and positioning
A locally owned Detroit independent television station with a community-oriented identity, a history of urban-market programming, syndicated entertainment, public affairs, and supplemental network affiliations.
Broadcast television station · 1989
WADL Channel 38
WADL's core offering is its full-power terrestrial television service licensed to Mount Clemens and serving the Detroit market. Its programming has historically combined syndicated entertainment, paid and religious material, public affairs, local news features, and selected network programming. Because the transmitter is positioned farther east and lower than those of several major Detroit stations, cable and satellite carriage are important for reaching the full metropolitan audience.
Local news and public affairs · 2020
News Now with Kevin Dietz
Introduced in January 2020, News Now with Kevin Dietz was designed as a nightly program focused on Michigan and local politics. Its format emphasized a small number of longer segments, live interviews, call-ins, and participation by local print journalists rather than competing directly with the conventional evening newscasts of Detroit's network affiliates.
Network television affiliation · 2021
MyNetworkTV programming
WADL became Detroit's MyNetworkTV affiliate in September 2021. The affiliation has been part of the station's broader independent schedule and was temporarily moved to a later evening slot during the station's short-lived CW affiliation in 2023.
Marketing campaigns
- 2007Detroit's Urban Station
Detroit metropolitan area
WADL repositioned its brand around Detroit's African-American and urban communities, pairing recognizable syndicated series with locally focused public-affairs programming and civic content.
Outcome. The repositioning helped establish a clearer community identity and increased the station's visibility in the Detroit market.
Brand decisions
2023
Proposed sale to Mission BroadcastingM&ABackground
Adell Broadcasting announced a proposed $75 million sale to Mission Broadcasting. The contemplated structure would have involved Nexstar financing the transaction and operating WADL through a shared-services agreement.
Action taken
The parties pursued regulatory approval, while public-interest organizations objected to the proposed operating and ownership structure.
Aftermath
The FCC later imposed conditions limiting Nexstar's financing, compensation, and purchase rights. Mission ultimately filed a notice of non-consummation in May 2024.
Reported transaction value. $75 million proposed sale (Announced May 17, 2023; transaction not consummated in May 2024)
2023
Temporary primary CW affiliationStrategyBackground
WADL announced a new primary affiliation while its proposed ownership transition involving Mission Broadcasting and Nexstar remained unresolved.
Action taken
The station began carrying The CW on a primary basis on September 1, with MyNetworkTV scheduled afterward.
Aftermath
WADL dropped The CW on October 30 after a dispute over affiliation and transition terms. The CW subsequently moved to WMYD.
2021
Accept MyNetworkTV affiliationStrategyBackground
WADL sought a stronger network relationship while retaining much of its independent and syndicated programming.
Action taken
The station replaced WMYD as Detroit's MyNetworkTV affiliate beginning September 20, 2021.
Aftermath
MyNetworkTV became part of WADL's prime-time identity before the station briefly shifted its primary affiliation to The CW in 2023.
Recent events
- 2024
Mission Broadcasting abandons proposed WADL acquisition[1]
M&A · Regulation
After the FCC imposed conditions on the proposed Mission acquisition, Mission filed a notice that the transaction would not be consummated.
- 2023
WADL announces proposed sale to Mission Broadcasting[1]
M&A · Regulation
Adell Broadcasting announced a proposed sale to Mission Broadcasting in a transaction reported at $75 million. The proposed operating structure would have involved Nexstar financing and managing the station, prompting objections from public-interest groups.
- 2023
WADL briefly joins The CW[1]
Product launch · Other
WADL announced a primary CW affiliation beginning September 1, while placing MyNetworkTV programming later in the evening.
- 2023
WADL drops The CW after affiliation dispute[1]
Other · M&A
WADL ended its short-lived CW arrangement amid a dispute concerning Nexstar, the proposed Mission transaction, affiliation terms, and the transition to a new operator.
- 2021
WADL becomes Detroit's MyNetworkTV affiliate[1]
Leadership change · Other
WADL was announced as the replacement MyNetworkTV affiliate for the Detroit market, with the affiliation beginning in September 2021.
Sources2 sources
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