WJBK
- For broadcast stations that previously used the WJBK call sign, see WJBK (disambiguation)
WJBK | |
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Detroit, Michigan | |
Branding | FOX 2, FOX 2 Detroit |
Slogan | News that Works for You |
Channels | Analog: 2 (VHF) Digital: 58 (UHF), moving to 7 (VHF) in 2009 |
Affiliations | Fox |
Owner | Fox Television Stations Group |
Founded | October 24, 1948 |
Call letters meaning | W Jesus, Be Kind [citation needed] |
Former affiliations | DuMont (1948-1955), CBS (1948-1994) |
Transmitter Power | 100 kW/305 m(analog) 1000 kW/274 m (digital) |
Website | www.myfoxdetroit.com |
WJBK ("FOX2") is the Fox-owned and operated television station in Detroit, Michigan. Its studios and 1003-foot (305.7 m) tower are co-located in Southfield, Michigan while its signal covers the Metro Detroit area. WJBK's signal can also be picked up as far away as Flint, Toledo, Adrian, Chelsea, and, with transitory severe interference, London, Ontario.
On cable, WJBK can be seen on Comcast Detroit channel 12, Bright House Livonia channel 2, and on WOW! channel 2 And channel 202. WJBK also serves as a FOX affiliate for several other Canadian cable markets, including Cogeco Windsor channel 7, and Rogers Ottawa channel 13. In addition, it is one of five local Detroit TV stations seen in Canada on the StarChoice satellite provider.
Contents |
History
The station debuted on October 24, 1948, as a dual CBS-DuMont affiliate owned by Storer Broadcasting (under George B. Storer) along with WJBK-AM 1500 (now WLQV) and WJBK-FM 93.1 (now WDRQ). WJBK became an exclusive CBS affiliate in 1955 after the DuMont network went out of business. In a 1985 corporate deal, the station came under the ownership of KKR. It was then sold as part of a group deal to Gillett Communications in 1987, and then sold to SCI. WJBK was sold to New World Communications in 1993 as part of yet another group deal. In 1992, WJBK chose not to air CBS This Morning, in favor of showing local news. While WJBK had a history of showing most CBS programming, it began to pre-empt CBS programming a bit more than usual in 1993, around the time New World Communications bought the station.
In 1994, New World agreed to affiliate its stations, including WJBK, to Fox when that network won the contract to carry the NFC football package, which was originally carried on the station as a CBS affiliate. As a result, WJBK dropped the CBS affiliation and along with the other New World stations took on the Fox affiliation. CBS moved to a weak independent station WGPR (which would be sold to CBS and renamed WWJ-TV). Like most other New World stations, WJBK also did not take Fox's children's programming, (Fox Kids/FoxBox/4KidsTV) which remained on the market's former Fox station (and charter UPN affiliate) WKBD (before briefly moving to WADL, and ultimately, to WMYD). As a result of the network change, WJBK's branding switched from 'TV 2' to 'Fox 2 Detroit.' The actual rebranding did not take place until Fall 1995.
Fox bought out New World Communications in 1997, and WJBK became a Fox owned and operated station. The network brought stronger syndicated shows on WJBK. However, the station continued its practice of not running children's programming from the network (which is no longer shown on weekdays, and is now only seen on Sunday mornings on WMYD).
In 2003, WJBK became the broadcast home of the Detroit Red Wings. The station broadcasts up to ten games a season.
For the 2007 MLB season, WJBK became the over-the-air TV broadcaster for the Detroit Tigers (WMYD was the broadcaster for the 2006 season). Tigers games are produced by WJBK's sister cable network, FSN Detroit.
Digital Channels
Channel | Programming |
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2.1 / 58.1 | Main WJBK Programming (High Definition) |
2.2 / 58.2 | Main WJBK Programming (Standard Definition) |
Newscasts
After becoming a Fox affiliate station, WJBK maintained a newscast schedule that is very similar to a CBS, ABC, or NBC affiliated station. Upon the network switch, the station moved its late evening news broadcasts from 11 PM to 10 PM. The station is known in the area for its "Problem Solver" investigative unit that was started in 1998. Since the early 1990s, the station has repeated its 11 PM (now 10 PM) newscasts at 2 AM the following morning (four hours later).
WJBK's newscasts in the CBS-era were rebroadcasted on WADL under a partnership WJBK had with that station, and continued until 1998. The station also had an Eyewitness News format that was similar to sister station WHBQ-TV in Memphis, thus calling itself FOX2 Eyewitness News for sometime before shortening to the current FOX2 News.
WJBK operates an Aerospatiale AS350BA A-star news helicopter called Sky Fox.
In 2006, WJBK officially debuted their MyFox website, myfoxdetroit.com (simliar sites have also been adopted by all the other News Corperation owned Fox affiliates).
On January 8, 2007, WJBK started to simulcast parts of its FOX 2 News Morning newscasts on WFQX, Northern Michigan's FOX affiliate based in Cadillac. On WFQX, the simulcast runs 6 to 8 AM weekday mornings and is known as Michigan's FOX News Morning. The simulcast is possible as a result of a new cooperative arrangement offering local advertising opportunities to Northern Michigan businesses. As of February 5, 2007, after the completion of its own 10 PM newscast, WFQX now simulcasts the second half of WJBK's weekday newscast from 10:30 to 11 PM.
On September 24, 2007, WJBK launched its first ever 11pm newscast as a FOX affiliate, using the NewsEdge format originally used by WTVT. On the same day, WJBK redesigned their look to be more in line with other Fox O&O's, with a new set, new graphics, and new music that have also been used on other Fox-owned stations such as sister station KMSP-TV. The new logo, which debuted on the same day, is also similar in design to sister stations KMSP-TV and KDFW. This marks the biggest change to the station's image in ten years.
For many years, WJBK's newscasts have usually rated third in the Detroit market, behind WXYZ and WDIV.
Sportscasts
Currently WJBK televises some Tigers and Red Wings games, which are produced by sister station, FSN Detroit. In March of 2007, WJBK began showing Red Wings games in High Definition.
On Sunday night, WJBK does a sports highlights/discussion show called "Sportsworks". Often there is a round table discussion between the Detroit media and Dan Miller or Woody Woodriffe.
Typical round table media members, include; Drew Sharp from the Detroit Free Press/WXYT, Sean Baligian from the Detroit News/WDFN, Art Regner from WDFN, Pat Caputo from the Oakland Press/WXYT, Bob Wojnowski from the Detroit News/WDFN and Tony Ortiz from WXYT.
Famous shows
The station aired assorted sci-fi and horror movies on Saturday afternoons, hosted by the humorous personality Sir Graves Ghastly, played by actor Lawson J. Deming. Deming, who played Sir Graves on WJBK from 1967 to 1983 and made personal appearances well into the 1990s, died April 24, 2007, just one day after his 94th birthday. [1]
With This Ring was a religious program produced at the studios of WJBK from approximately the early 1970s through the mid-1990s. Hosted by Roman Catholic priest Raymond Schlinkert, the 15-minute weekly show featured lectures and advice about marriage and family life. The program appeared in syndication on numerous U.S. commercial stations, usually shown immediately following the station's sign-on, or before sign-off, on Sundays.
Notable Personalities
Current On-Air Talent
Anchors
- Kerry Birmingham: Sunday 6PM and 10PM Anchor/Investigative Reporter
- Kam Carman: Weekday Morning Anchor
- Murray Feldman (5:30PM Anchor, "Money Savers", "Money Minute" and "Feldman Report" Feature) Reporter
- Monica Gayle: Weekday Evening Anchor
- Alan Lee: Weekday Morning Anchor
- Sherry Margolis: 11AM and 5:30PM Anchor
- Huel Perkins: Weekday Evening Anchor
- Robin Schwartz: Weekend Anchor/Reporter
- Charles Pugh: Weekend Anchor/"Problem Solvers" Investigative Reporter
- Fanchon Stinger: Weekday Morning Anchor/"Problem Solvers" Investigative Reporter
Reporters
- Al Allen: General Assignment Reporter
- Camille Amari: General assignment Reporter
- Taryn Asher: General Assignment Reporter
- Jason Carr: General Assignment Reporter/"Cheap Eats" Feature Reporter
- Deena Centofanti: Health Reporter
- Brad Edwards: General Assignment Reporter
- Andrea Isom: General Assignment Reporter
- Lila Lazarus: Health Reporter
- Scott Lewis: General Assignment Reporter
- Jackie Paige: Traffic Reporter
- Ron Savage: "Michigan's Most Wanted" Crime Reporter
- Simon Shayket: General Assignment Reporter
- Lee Thomas: Entertainment Reporter
- Jay Towers: Feature Reporter
Problem Solvers Unit
- Bill Gallagher: "Problem Solvers" Investigative Reporter
- Amy Lange: "Problem Solvers" Investigative Reporter
- Rob Wolchek: "Problem Solvers" Investigative Reporter
Meteorologists
- Rich Lutherman: Chief Meteorologist
- Ben Bailey: Morning Meteorologist
- Justin Ryan: 11AM Weekday/Weekend Meteorologist
Sports
- Dan Miller: Sports Director
- Woody Woodriffe: Weekend Sports Anchor/Reporter
- Ryan Ermanni: Sports Reporter
- Jennifer Hammond: Sports Reporter
Former On-Air Talent
- - anchor (1983-1991)
- Bill Bonds - commentator, interviewer
- former host of PM Magazine/morning anchor (1980s-1992; died August 15, 1992 of an apparent heart attack in his car en route to his shift)
- Sandra Dickson - anchor/reporter (1974-1983 and 1988-1993)
- Anne Doyle - first female sports reporter in Detroit (1978-1983)
- Beverly Draper - anchor/reporter (1979-1982)
- Lordes Duarte - Reporter (Now at WGN TV)
- - chief meteorologist (1989-2004)
- - weather anchor (1978-1982, now at WWJ-AM)
- Dayna Eubanks - anchor (1988-1992, now at WKRC-TV in Cincinnati)
- Wyatt Everhart - weekend meteorologist (2004-2007)
- Rich Fisher - anchor (1990-1997)
- - reporter
- John Fossen - sports anchor/reporter (1985-1988)
- - meteorologist (1982-1987, now at WDIV-TV)
- Sir Graves Ghastly, played by Lawson J. Deming - horror movie host (1967-1983)
- - anchor (1979-1983 and 1987-1993)
- - reporter
- - anchor/reporter
- - meteorologist (1965-1977), now at WXYZ-TV)
- Jennifer Howe - anchor/reporter (1991-1996, now at WTSP-TV in Tampa)
- Fred Heumann - sports anchor/reporter (1987-1994, now at WLNS-TV in Lansing, MI)
- - reporter/meteorologist (1999-2002, now at KOVR-TV in Sacramento)
- Amy Jacobson - reporter (1994-1996, went to WMAQ-TV in Chicago, resigned following a scandal)
- Monica Jackson - reaffic reporter (1996-1998, now at KVVU in Las Vegas)
- - sports anchor/reporter (1982-1993, now at WTTG in Washington, DC)
- - anchor (1984-1990, currently in the process of moving to WINK-TV in Ft. Myers, FL)
- Don Lark - anchor/reporter (1974-1976)
- Ray Lane - sports anchor
- - reporter (1986-1996)
- - anchor (1953-1959 and 1962-1974)
- - business reporter (deceased)
- - reporter (mid 1990s)
- (meteorologist, now at West Palm Beach's WPBF-TV)
- (1989-1997, now at WGN-TV in Chicago)
- Jack McCarthy - anchor/reporter (1966-19xx)and(198x-199x) Retired in Florida
- Fred McLeod - sports anchor/reporter (1981-1989, now at FSN Ohio)
- Terry Murphy - anchor/reporter (1974-1976)
- John Noel - reporter (1993-1998, now at WNBC-TV in New York)
- Lucy Noland - anchor (1997-2004; now at KHOU-TV in Houston)
- Don Paul - meteorologist (1979-1984, now at WIVB-TV in Buffalo)
- - Detroit's first black anchorwoman (1973-1982, deceased)
- David Rogers - meteorologist (1987-1991. now at WVIR-TV in Charlottesville, VA)
- Jeff Rossen - reporter (1998-2001, now at WABC-TV in New York)
- Ron Sanders - anchor/reporter/PM Magazine co-host (1973-1979, now at WBZ-TV in Boston)
- - anchor (1983-1986, moved to WAFB-TV in Baton Rouge)
- - news reporter/weather anchor (1978-1981), now a radio & television reporter for the AAA Michigan Broadcast News Network
- Brian Smith - morning/noon anchor (2001-2007; now at WPVI-TV in Philadelphia)
- Lee Thornton - anchor (1982)
- Robbie Timmons - anchor/reporter (1975-1981, now at WXYZ-TV)
- Mike Tsolinas - reporter/morning meteorologist (1984-1989, now at KTNV in Las Vegas)
- - investigative reporter
- - morning/noon anchor (1998-2003, now at WDIV-TV)
- - anchor/reporter (1963-1994)
- Mark Wilson - sports anchor/reporter (1992-1997)
- David Wittman - anchor/reporter (early 1980s)
- - sports anchor (1988-1995)
Station Presentation
WJBK's logos have changed greatly over the years, reflecting different themes and styles, as well as different owners and network affiliations.
TV2 CBS From February 24, 1968 edition of TV Guide. |
Circle TV2 Logo From September 9, 1978 issue of TV Guide. |
Black and white version of the circle 2 logo |
WJBK logo from a 1987 Detroit-area TV Guide |
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WJBK logo from 1988 to 1994. Originally a yellow '2', it became silver in 1990. There was a slight variation of this logo from 1994-1995, right before WJBK was branded "Fox 2 Detroit". This was the final logo for WJBK as a CBS affiliate. |
References
- Inside Fox2: Did You Know That (2003, 2004). Fox2Detroit.com.
External links
- Query the FCC's TV station database for WJBK
- Michiguide.com's listing for WJBK
- BIAfn's Media Web Database -- Information on WJBK-TV
- Anne Doyle - Pioneering Women in Sports Journalism
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WJBK 2 (Detroit) WXMI 17 (Grand Rapids) • WMQF 19 (Marquette) • W32CV 32 1 (Ironwood) • WFQX 33 / WFUP 45 (Cadillac / Vanderbilt) • W40AN 40 2 (Escanaba) • WSYM 47 (Lansing) • WSMH 66 (Flint / Saginaw) |
See also: ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, CW, MyNetworkTV and Other stations in Michigan |