WBUP
WBUP is an ABC-affiliated television station licensed to Ishpeming, Michigan, serving the central and western Upper Peninsula.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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History
WBUP's immediate predecessor was W28BX, a low-power translator launched by WBKP in August 1997 on channel 28 in Marquette. The translator was intended to improve reception in the city, but its limited signal reached only Marquette and Negaunee effectively. On January 2, 2003, W28BX was replaced by WBUP, a full-time satellite licensed to Ishpeming and broadcasting on analog VHF channel 10. WBUP and WBKP initially operated with a shared ABC identity, using the ABC 5&10 branding. In January 2004, the Scanlan family sold WBUP, WBKP, and WBKB-TV to Lake Superior Community Broadcasting, a company owned by Stephen Marks. The new ownership established a local and regional news operation shortly after the acquisition. The service initially used the UGN News name, with UGN referring to the Upper Great Lakes Network, and its programming was simulcast with WBKB-TV. In 2006, the operation was refocused on the Upper Peninsula and originated from WBUP and WBKP rather than serving the broader combined region. WBUP became the primary local-news outlet as the stations' operations developed and adopted the ABC 10 News Now identity. Weather coverage was supplied through an arrangement with WJMN-TV because WBUP did not maintain its own weather department; WJMN meteorologists appeared in WBUP programming. In December 2007, WBUP began producing a thirty-minute prime-time newscast for WBKP, branded CW 5 News Now and scheduled at 10 p.m. on weeknights. In September 2012, WBUP added its first weekday morning newscast, ABC 10 News Now This Morning, initially airing at 6:30 a.m. The station also opened a Houghton sales office and news bureau to improve service to the Keweenaw Peninsula. The relationship between WBUP and WBKP changed in July 2007 when WBKP became an affiliate of The CW Plus and WBUP continued as the region's ABC station. Although their network identities diverged, the stations retained technical and operational links. WBUP's second digital subchannel carried WBKP's CW service in areas where WBKP's primary signal was useful, while WBKP's corresponding subchannel carried WBUP's ABC feed toward the Keweenaw. This reciprocal arrangement helped compensate for the geographic limitations of each station's over-the-air coverage. WBUP ended analog transmission on June 12, 2009, and moved its digital service to VHF channel 10. It had not been assigned a separate companion digital channel because its original construction authorization was issued after the FCC had finalized the digital television allotment plan. Digital multiplexing subsequently became an important part of the station's distribution strategy, including carriage of related services and expanded simulcasts. On February 11, 2013, at approximately 8:35 p.m., WBUP experienced a broadcast signal intrusion involving the Emergency Alert System. During an episode of The Bachelor, an unauthorized message falsely announced that dead bodies were rising from graves and attacking people. Similar intrusions occurred at other American stations. WBUP later apologized on screen. The incident was associated with a default password on the alerting network, and the person responsible was arrested days later and sentenced to six months of probation. A major ownership transition was announced in September 2023. The Marks Group agreed to sell its Michigan television and radio properties, including WBUP, WBKP, and WBKB-TV, to Morgan Murphy Media. The reported transaction value was $13.375 million, and the sale closed on December 4, 2023. Morgan Murphy Media also provides services to WJMN-TV under joint-sales and shared-services agreements with Sullivan's Landing, LLC, which acquired WJMN in 2024. On September 9, 2024, WBUP's news operation was combined with WJMN's under the My UP News brand. WBUP expanded its morning news schedule from thirty minutes to two hours and continued weekday 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. broadcasts. On September 16, 2024, WJMN began carrying WBUP and WBKP simulcasts on its digital subchannels, giving the related stations additional UHF distribution in the eastern Upper Peninsula and Escanaba. WBUP remains an active ABC affiliate serving a geographically dispersed market through its main signal, digital subchannels, and partner-station distribution.
- 2024
My UP News launches
[1]WBUP merges its news operation with WJMN under the My UP News identity and expands its weekday morning broadcast.
- 2024
WJMN begins WBUP and WBKP simulcasts
[1]WJMN starts carrying WBUP and WBKP on digital subchannels, extending the stations' reach in the Upper Peninsula.
- 2023
Sale to Morgan Murphy Media announced
[1]The Marks Group announces an agreement to sell WBUP and other Michigan broadcast assets to Morgan Murphy Media for $13.375 million.
- 2023
Morgan Murphy Media acquisition closes
[1]The acquisition of WBUP and related Michigan stations is completed on December 4.
- 2013
Emergency Alert System intrusion
[1]A false emergency message interrupts WBUP's broadcast during prime time.
- 2012
Weekday morning news launches
[1]WBUP introduces ABC 10 News Now This Morning, its first weekday morning newscast.
- 2009
Digital conversion
[1]WBUP ends analog broadcasting on June 12 and operates its digital service on VHF channel 10.
- 2007
WBKP becomes a CW Plus affiliate
[1]WBKP leaves the shared ABC identity and joins The CW Plus, while WBUP remains the ABC affiliate.
- 2007
WBUP launches a prime-time newscast for WBKP
[1]WBUP begins producing CW 5 News Now, a weeknight 10 p.m. newscast for WBKP.
- 2006
News coverage refocuses on the Upper Peninsula
[1]UGN News is reorganized around Upper Peninsula coverage and originates from WBUP and WBKP.
Products and positioning
A regional broadcast and local-news service for Michigan's Upper Peninsula, combining ABC network programming with geographically broad news, weather, advertising, and digital-multicast distribution.
Local television news
ABC 10 News Now
WBUP's principal local-news identity after its news operation was separated from the earlier UGN News structure. The service provides regional reporting and weather-oriented coverage for communities in the central and western Upper Peninsula. Weather segments were supplied through cooperation with WJMN-TV because WBUP did not maintain a separate weather department.
Morning television news · 2012
ABC 10 News Now This Morning
WBUP's first weekday morning newscast, introduced in 2012 as a 6:30 a.m. program. The morning service later became part of the expanded news schedule associated with the My UP News operation.
Regional television news · 2024
My UP News
The current shared news identity used by WBUP and WJMN after their news operations were combined in September 2024. The service includes an expanded weekday morning broadcast and weekday 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts, with coverage coordinated across the Upper Peninsula.
Digital broadcast multiplex · 2009
WBUP digital television service
WBUP's digital transmission on VHF channel 10 carries its ABC service and has also supported reciprocal carriage of related WBKP programming. These subchannel arrangements help distribute WBUP and WBKP services beyond the stations' strongest primary-signal areas, including parts of the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Controversies
2013
False Emergency Alert System broadcast
On February 11, 2013, an unidentified hacker hijacked the station's Emergency Alert System feed and transmitted a fabricated warning that dead bodies were rising from graves and attacking people. WBUP apologized on screen after the incident. The intrusion was linked to a default password, and the perpetrator was later arrested and sentenced to six months of probation.
Brand decisions
2024
Merge WBUP and WJMN news operationsStrategyBackground
Morgan Murphy Media became involved in operating WJMN through shared-services and joint-sales agreements after WJMN was acquired by Sullivan's Landing, LLC.
Action taken
WBUP and WJMN combined their news operations under the My UP News brand beginning September 9, 2024.
Aftermath
WBUP expanded its weekday morning newscast from thirty minutes to two hours and continued weekday 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. broadcasts.
2024
Add WBUP and WBKP simulcasts to WJMNOtherBackground
WJMN had been sold to Sullivan's Landing, LLC, which entered into operating agreements with Morgan Murphy Media.
Action taken
On September 16, 2024, WJMN began simulcasting WBUP and WBKP on its first and second digital subchannels while moving existing MyNetworkTV programming to another subchannel.
Aftermath
The arrangement increased UHF distribution of WBUP and WBKP services in the eastern Upper Peninsula and around Escanaba.
2023
Sell WBUP to Morgan Murphy MediaM&ABackground
The Marks Group elected to sell its Michigan broadcasting properties, including WBUP, WBKP, WBKB-TV, and radio stations in Houghton and Iron River.
Action taken
The company agreed to transfer the properties to Morgan Murphy Media for $13.375 million; the transaction closed on December 4, 2023.
Aftermath
WBUP became part of Morgan Murphy Media's Upper Peninsula broadcasting group alongside WBKP, while Morgan Murphy also provided services to WJMN-TV.
Reported transaction value. $13.375 million (Announced September 2023; completed December 4, 2023)
2009
Convert from analog to digital transmissionGeneration changeBackground
The United States television industry was transitioning to digital broadcasting under the FCC's national DTV plan.
Action taken
WBUP shut down its analog VHF channel 10 service on June 12 and flash-cut its digital signal onto VHF channel 10.
Aftermath
Digital multiplexing enabled WBUP to carry related programming, including a simulcast of WBKP, and support broader regional distribution.
2007
Separate WBUP's ABC service from WBKP's network affiliationStrategyBackground
WBUP and WBKP had previously operated under a shared ABC identity, but the stations were serving different distribution and programming needs.
Action taken
WBKP joined The CW Plus while WBUP retained ABC affiliation, with the stations continuing reciprocal digital-subchannel arrangements.
Aftermath
The change established WBUP as the principal ABC outlet and allowed WBKP to operate as a separate CW-branded service while preserving technical cooperation.
Recent events
- 2024
WBUP and WJMN consolidate news operations under My UP News[1]
Leadership change
WBUP merged its news operation with WJMN under the My UP News brand, expanding WBUP's weekday morning newscast and continuing weekday evening broadcasts.
- 2024
WJMN begins carrying WBUP and WBKP simulcasts[1]
Product generation
Following WJMN's sale to Sullivan's Landing, LLC and its shared-services relationship with Morgan Murphy Media, WJMN began carrying WBUP and WBKP on digital subchannels, extending the stations' reach across the Upper Peninsula.
- 2023
The Marks Group agrees to sell WBUP and related Michigan stations[1]
M&A
The Marks Group announced the sale of WBUP, WBKP, WBKB-TV, and associated Michigan radio properties to Morgan Murphy Media for $13.375 million.
- 2023
Morgan Murphy Media completes acquisition of WBUP[1]
M&A · Leadership change
The transaction transferring WBUP and other Michigan broadcasting assets from The Marks Group to Morgan Murphy Media was completed on December 4.
Sources2 sources
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