WBKB-TV

WBKB-TV is a commercial television station serving Alpena and Alcona counties in northeastern Michigan. Broadcasting on virtual channel 11, the station is notable for operating in one of the smallest Nielsen-designated television markets in the United States and for being the market's only commercial over-the-air television station. Its signal is supplemented by a cable-only CW+ service and by WCML, a public television station associated with WCMU-TV. The station was created to provide over-the-air television service to an area that had long been regarded as a television "white area." Thunder Bay Broadcasting Corporation was organized in Michigan in 1971 by Thomas Scanlan, an Air Force captain with prior experience in live satellite distribution for military audiences. Scanlan assembled a group of investors that included other service members and numerous Alpena-area residents, then sought Federal Communications Commission approval for a channel 11 facility. The application faced competition and regulatory objections related to signal overlap with stations in northern Michigan. After several technical modifications that reduced the proposed coverage overlap, the FCC granted Thunder Bay a construction permit in July 1974. WBKB-TV began broadcasting on September 22, 1975, and initially operated as a CBS affiliate. The station's launch brought the first commercial local television signal to Alpena. In 1982, Scanlan's ownership group sold controlling interest in Thunder Bay to Stephen Marks, whose broadcasting interests later became known as The Marks Group. Under Marks ownership, WBKB developed additional digital services and expanded the number of major network programs available locally. The station's digital expansion began in 2009. Following the nationwide transition to digital television, WBKB moved its digital transmission to channel 11 and launched a second subchannel carrying Fox programming, with MyNetworkTV also associated with the service for a period. A third digital subchannel began carrying ABC in January 2013, restoring an over-the-air ABC service to the Alpena area after a lengthy period in which viewers relied on cable carriage of an out-of-market station or a translator. In January 2022, NBC programming moved onto WBKB's second subchannel. Fox and MyNetworkTV were transferred to a fourth subchannel, giving the station a four-network structure built around CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox services. WBKB has also maintained a local news operation. For a period after the Marks acquisition, its news programming was linked to the Upper Great Lakes Network and was simulcast with stations in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The Alpena operation later concentrated on local evening newscasts, with a small staff handling reporting, filming, editing and production. The station upgraded its news production to high definition in 2019. After Morgan Murphy Media acquired the station, WBKB entered a news partnership with Sinclair Broadcast Group's WPBN-TV and WTOM-TV, marketed as UpNorthLive News. Announced in April 2024 and implemented later that month, the arrangement made WBKB's Alpena operation a bureau for the northern Michigan news service, while WPBN/WTOM assumed much of the weather and newscast infrastructure. WBKB continues to originate local stories and carries partner-produced newscasts on its network subchannels; its Fox service does not carry local news programming. In 2023, The Marks Group agreed to sell WBKB-TV and several other Michigan broadcast properties to Morgan Murphy Media for $13.375 million. The transaction closed on December 4, 2023. Regulatory ownership is held through Morgan Murphy's Queen Bee Media division. WBKB therefore remains an active local television brand while operating within a larger privately held broadcasting group.

WBKB-TV emerged from an effort to bring commercial over-the-air television to Alpena, Michigan, and nearby Alcona County. In the early 1970s, the area was considered one of the last significant television white areas in the eastern United States. Thomas Scanlan, an Air Force captain who had participated in early live satellite distribution of events for American military personnel overseas, formed Thunder Bay Broadcasting Corporation in Michigan in September 1971. The ownership group included Scanlan, fellow service members Thomas Disinger, S. Peter Neumann and Curtis Smith, and dozens of additional investors, many from the Alpena area. Thunder Bay filed its channel 11 construction-permit application with the FCC on September 22, 1971. Its initial proposal called for use of the WHSB-FM tower near Lachine, west of Alpena, and anticipated a launch around 1972, probably with ABC programming. A competing proposal was submitted by North American Broadcasting Company, led by cable operator Bruce Freel. That plan proposed a taller tower and a much broader service area. Freel's financial difficulties in cable and real estate led his group to sell its interest to Scanlan's organization for its out-of-pocket expenses, subject to regulatory approval. The application nevertheless encountered opposition from Northern Entertainment, associated with Traverse City's WGTU. Northern argued that the proposed VHF facility could duplicate existing or planned UHF coverage under the FCC's then-active UHF Impact Policy. Thunder Bay modified its technical proposal more than once, eventually specifying a smaller coverage area from a tower near Barton City. The changes reduced the projected overlap with WGTU to a small percentage. On July 19, 1974, the FCC rejected Northern's objections and granted Thunder Bay permission to proceed. Construction began that September. WBKB-TV signed on September 22, 1975, initially transmitting from facilities on North Bagley Street in Alpena and operating as a CBS affiliate. It was the first of two Alpena-area stations to launch in 1975; WCML, a public television satellite of WCMU-TV, followed later that year. In 1982, Scanlan's group sold controlling interest in Thunder Bay to Stephen Marks of Maryland. The Marks Group subsequently developed a broader Michigan broadcast portfolio, and WBKB's news operation was at one point connected with the Upper Great Lakes Network, producing or simulcasting regional programming with stations in Marquette. The station's service structure changed substantially with digital broadcasting. Following the national digital transition on June 12, 2009, WBKB shifted its digital signal to channel 11 and added a second digital stream carrying Fox and, initially, MyNetworkTV. Fox had previously been available to Alpena viewers primarily through an out-of-market service associated with Cadillac's WFQX-TV and its former translator. On January 14, 2013, WBKB launched a third digital subchannel for ABC, restoring local over-the-air ABC availability after years in which viewers depended on cable carriage of an out-of-market affiliate or a translator service. On January 25, 2022, NBC programming began airing on WBKB 11.2. This gave the Alpena market its first NBC affiliate based in the market, while Fox and MyNetworkTV moved to a newly created fourth digital subchannel. CBS remained on the primary service and ABC continued on its own digital stream. The resulting arrangement made WBKB an unusual small-market operation carrying four major commercial networks through a multiplexed signal. WBKB's local news operation historically relied on a compact staff whose journalists often performed reporting, camera, editing and producing duties themselves. Local evening newscasts were carried on the station's CBS, NBC and ABC services, with scheduling adjustments or delays when network programming overran. The news operation moved to high-definition production in March 2019. After Morgan Murphy Media acquired the station, WBKB announced a partnership with WPBN-TV and WTOM-TV, northern Michigan NBC stations operated by Sinclair Broadcast Group under the UpNorthLive News brand. The partnership was announced on April 4, 2024, and became operational on April 29. WBKB's Alpena staff continued to contribute local reporting as a bureau, while WPBN/WTOM assumed the principal weather role and supplied newscasts that air on WBKB's NBC channel and are also simulcast on its CBS and ABC services. The Fox subchannel remains without local news. In September 2023, Morgan Murphy Media agreed to purchase WBKB-TV, along with WBUP, WBKP and certain Michigan radio stations, from The Marks Group for $13.375 million. The acquisition closed on December 4, 2023. For licensing purposes, WBKB is held by Morgan Murphy's Queen Bee Media division. The station remains an active local broadcaster serving Alpena and Alcona counties.

1. 2024UpNorthLive News partnership begins

   WBKB began operating its local news service in partnership with WPBN-TV and WTOM-TV, retaining Alpena reporting while using shared newscast and weather resources.

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2. 2023Morgan Murphy Media announces acquisition

   Morgan Murphy Media announced an agreement to buy WBKB-TV and other Michigan broadcasting properties from The Marks Group.

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3. 2023Acquisition closes

   The Morgan Murphy Media transaction closed on December 4, with licensing ownership assigned to Queen Bee Media.

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4. 2022NBC launches on WBKB 11.2

   NBC joined the station's local digital lineup, while Fox and MyNetworkTV moved to a fourth subchannel.

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5. 2019Local news operation upgrades to high definition

   WBKB converted its news production to high definition.

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6. 2013ABC returns over the air in Alpena

   WBKB added an ABC digital subchannel, restoring a local over-the-air ABC service to the market.

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7. 2009Digital transition and Fox subchannel launch

   WBKB moved its digital signal to channel 11 after the national transition and launched a digital service carrying Fox programming.

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8. 1982Stephen Marks acquires controlling interest

   Scanlan's group sold control of Thunder Bay Broadcasting Corporation to Stephen Marks.

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9. 1975WBKB-TV signs on

   The station began broadcasting on September 22 as a CBS affiliate.

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10. 1974FCC grants Thunder Bay a construction permit

    After technical changes and objections concerning overlap with WGTU, the FCC granted Thunder Bay authority to build the station on July 19.

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11. 1971Thunder Bay Broadcasting Corporation is formed

    Thomas Scanlan organized Thunder Bay Broadcasting Corporation in Michigan to pursue a commercial television station for Alpena.

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12. 1971Channel 11 application is filed

    Thunder Bay submitted its FCC construction-permit application for a channel 11 facility on September 22.

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A full-service local broadcast outlet for northeastern Michigan, combining four major commercial network affiliations with local news, weather, community information and advertising for the Alpena television market.

• WBKB CBSBroadcast television network affiliate1975

  The station's primary service and original network affiliation. It carries CBS programming along with WBKB's core local identity, advertising and community information for Alpena and Alcona counties.

• WBKB NBC 11.2Digital multicast network affiliate2022

  WBKB's NBC service, launched in January 2022, provides the Alpena market with an in-market NBC affiliate. Partner-produced UpNorthLive News newscasts are carried on this channel, with selected news programming also simulcast elsewhere on the station.

• WBKB ABCDigital multicast network affiliate2013

  A dedicated digital subchannel carrying ABC programming. Added in 2013, it restored local over-the-air ABC availability after the market had relied on out-of-market or cable-distributed services.

• WBKB FoxDigital multicast network affiliate2009

  WBKB's Fox service, initially launched on the second digital subchannel in 2009 and later moved to a fourth subchannel when NBC joined the lineup. The Fox channel does not carry WBKB local news.

• WBKB local newsLocal news service

  Local and regional news coverage focused on Alpena and the surrounding northeastern Michigan market. Since 2024, the operation has functioned in partnership with UpNorthLive News, retaining Alpena reporting while using shared newscast and weather resources from WPBN-TV and WTOM-TV.

• 2024UpNorthLive News news-production partnershipStrategy

  WBKB had experienced difficulty maintaining fully staffed weather and news resources in a small market.

  What changed. WBKB partnered with WPBN-TV and WTOM-TV, using the UpNorthLive News operation for shared newscasts and weather while retaining an Alpena reporting bureau.

  Aftermath. Partner-produced newscasts began airing on WBKB's NBC channel and were also simulcast on its CBS and ABC services; the Fox service remained without local news.

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• 2023Sale to Morgan Murphy MediaM&A

  The Marks Group decided to sell its Michigan broadcasting properties, including WBKB-TV.

  What changed. Morgan Murphy Media agreed to acquire WBKB-TV and related Michigan properties for $13.375 million; the deal closed on December 4.

  Aftermath. WBKB became part of Morgan Murphy Media and is licensed through the group's Queen Bee Media division.

  Transaction value. $13.375 million (Announced September 2023; completed December 4, 2023)

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• 2022Reconfiguration of digital network affiliationsGeneration change

  Before the change, Alpena viewers generally received NBC through an out-of-market cable or satellite service.

  What changed. WBKB placed NBC on channel 11.2 and moved Fox and MyNetworkTV to a new fourth digital subchannel.

  Aftermath. Alpena gained its first in-market NBC affiliate while WBKB continued to provide CBS, ABC and Fox through its other services.

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• 2013Addition of ABC digital serviceProduct launch

  Alpena had lacked a consistently available local over-the-air ABC affiliate since the discontinuation of an earlier translator service.

  What changed. WBKB added ABC programming on a third digital subchannel.

  Aftermath. ABC returned to local over-the-air distribution in the Alpena market.

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• 2009Launch of Fox digital subchannelProduct launch

  The digital television transition created capacity for additional network services in the small Alpena market.

  What changed. WBKB launched a second digital subchannel carrying Fox programming and associated MyNetworkTV content.

  Aftermath. The launch expanded local commercial network availability, although some cable systems continued to carry an out-of-market Fox service.

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• 2024WBKB begins UpNorthLive News partnership

  WBKB partnered with WPBN-TV and WTOM-TV, Sinclair Broadcast Group stations marketed as UpNorthLive News. The arrangement made WBKB's local operation an Alpena bureau and shifted substantial weather and newscast responsibilities to the partner operation.

  Leadership change
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• 2023The Marks Group agrees to sell WBKB-TV to Morgan Murphy Media

  The Marks Group announced the sale of WBKB-TV and other Michigan broadcast properties to Morgan Murphy Media. The transaction was reported at $13.375 million and closed in December.

  M&A
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• 2022NBC joins WBKB's digital lineup

  NBC programming moved to WBKB 11.2, giving Alpena its first in-market NBC affiliate. Fox and MyNetworkTV moved to a new fourth digital subchannel.

  Product generationProduct launch
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• 2013WBKB restores over-the-air ABC service to Alpena

  A third digital subchannel began carrying ABC programming, returning a local over-the-air ABC service to the Alpena area after years of reliance on out-of-market or cable-distributed signals.

  Product launch
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• 2009WBKB-TV launches Fox digital service

  WBKB introduced a second digital subchannel carrying Fox programming, with MyNetworkTV also associated with the service. The launch expanded locally available commercial network programming beyond the station's long-standing CBS service.

  Product launch
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1. WBKB-TV
2. WBKB-TV official website