A Fox-owned television station serving Detroit, southeastern Michigan, and nearby Canadian and Ohio communities.
Last updated October 30, 2026
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Overview
WJBK is a television station licensed to Detroit, Michigan, and serving the wider Detroit metropolitan market. It operates as a Fox network station under Fox Television Stations, a division of Fox Corporation. The station broadcasts on channel 2 and maintains its studios and transmitter facilities on West Nine Mile Road in Southfield, a Detroit suburb. Its strong VHF signal reaches communities throughout Metro Detroit and extends across the Detroit River into southwestern Ontario, including the Windsor area. WJBK is also distributed by cable systems in southeastern Michigan, southwestern Ontario, and parts of northwestern Ohio. The station began broadcasting on October 24, 1948, as the third television station to sign on in Detroit and one of the earliest in Michigan. It was established by Fort Industry Broadcasting, the Toledo-based company controlled by George B. Storer, which also owned related radio properties in Detroit. WJBK initially carried programming from both CBS and the DuMont Television Network, becoming an exclusive CBS affiliate in 1955. Its early years included locally produced children's programs, talk shows, public-affairs programming, sports coverage, and entertainment productions. The station first operated from Detroit's Masonic Temple before moving in 1956 to a purpose-built facility in the city's New Center district. In 1970, it relocated to its current Southfield broadcast complex, designed in the distinctive mansion style associated with Storer Broadcasting facilities. WJBK changed corporate ownership several times during the 1980s and early 1990s. Storer Communications was acquired by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts in 1985, after which the broadcast assets were sold to Gillett Communications in 1987. Following Gillett's bankruptcy, the television stations were reorganized under SCI Television. New World Communications acquired SCI in 1993, creating the corporate setting for the station's most consequential transformation. In 1994, News Corporation invested in New World Communications after Fox obtained the National Football Conference broadcast rights from CBS. New World agreed to shift the network affiliations of several of its stations, including WJBK. The station ended a 45-year CBS relationship on December 10, 1994, and became Detroit's Fox affiliate the following day. The change brought Fox's NFL programming to WJBK and moved the station from its long-established CBS identity toward the "Fox 2" brand. CBS subsequently acquired WGPR-TV, now WWJ-TV, to establish a replacement Detroit affiliate, while other stations temporarily supplied CBS programming to portions of the market. Fox Television Stations purchased New World's Fox-affiliated stations in 1996, with the transaction completed in January 1997. WJBK consequently became a Fox owned-and-operated station. In 2019, Disney completed its acquisition of most of 21st Century Fox, but WJBK was excluded from that transaction and remained with the Fox assets transferred to the newly created Fox Corporation. Today, WJBK's core business is local television news and community-oriented programming, supplemented by Fox network programming, syndicated shows, sports, weather, traffic, and digital content. Its historical identity combines a long Detroit broadcasting tradition with its modern role as a Fox-owned local news outlet.
History
WJBK-TV began broadcasting on October 24, 1948, as Detroit's third television station and one of Michigan's earliest television outlets. Its original owner was Fort Industry Broadcasting, a company associated with George B. Storer and based in Toledo, Ohio. At launch, the station carried both CBS and DuMont programming. The first program transmitted was a presentation of the children's program Lucky Pup. WJBK also shared its ownership structure with Detroit radio stations bearing the WJBK call letters. The station initially operated from the Detroit Masonic Temple. In 1955, after Windsor's CKLW-TV became a DuMont affiliate, WJBK became an exclusive CBS station. It introduced color broadcasts around 1956 and moved that year to a purpose-built studio complex on Second Avenue in Detroit's New Center area. In 1970, WJBK moved again, this time to a broadcast facility on West Nine Mile Road in Southfield. The building's mansion-like architecture reflected the design style used by Storer for several of its stations. During its CBS period, WJBK developed a broad local programming identity. It produced children's shows such as Milky's Movie Party, Sagebrush Shorty, and Jungle-La, as well as talk, public-affairs, sports, and entertainment programs. Locally recognizable figures included Clarence R. Cummings Jr. as Milky the Clown, Ted Lloyd as Sagebrush Shorty, wildlife presenter Don Hunt, and Lawson J. Deming as Sir Graves Ghastly. The station also produced Ladies' Day with Chuck Bergeson, PM Detroit, Sunday in Detroit, and other interview or community programs. It carried Detroit Tigers games for many years and participated in charitable and public-service telethons. Corporate ownership became more complicated in the 1980s. Kohlberg Kravis Roberts acquired Storer Communications in 1985. The broadcast properties were sold to Gillett Communications in 1987 after other proposed transactions failed. Gillett's financial problems led to a 1992 restructuring under SCI Television, which was acquired by New World Communications in 1993. The station's largest strategic shift occurred in 1994. News Corporation invested in New World after Fox secured the National Football Conference rights from CBS. New World agreed to move many of its stations to Fox, including WJBK. Because WJBK had a strong VHF signal and an established news operation, Fox regarded it as a more valuable Detroit outlet than existing Fox affiliate WKBD-TV. WJBK's CBS affiliation ended after the December 10, 1994 broadcast, and Fox programming began on December 11. The station adopted the Fox 2 identity during 1995. Fox's arrival also brought NFC football, including Detroit Lions games, to the station. CBS initially relied on stations outside the market and weaker UHF outlets while seeking a permanent Detroit replacement. It ultimately acquired WGPR-TV, which became WWJ-TV. Fox bought New World's television stations in 1996, completing the deal in January 1997 and converting WJBK into an owned-and-operated station. In 2019, WJBK remained outside Disney's acquisition of most 21st Century Fox assets and continued under Fox Corporation. Its current role is centered on local news, weather, traffic, sports, Fox network programming, syndicated content, and digital services for viewers in the Detroit region and nearby cross-border communities.
- 2019
Transfers into Fox Corporation
[1]WJBK remains with Fox assets transferred to Fox Corporation after Disney completes its acquisition of most of 21st Century Fox.
- 2014
Begins carrying Xploration Station
[1]WJBK clears the syndicated Xploration Station educational block, marking its first carriage of Fox children's programming.
- 1997
Becomes a Fox owned-and-operated station
[1]Fox completes its acquisition of New World's television stations, bringing WJBK into Fox Television Stations.
- 1995
Adopts the Fox 2 identity
[1]The station changes its primary on-air branding from TV 2 to Fox 2.
- 1994
Switches from CBS to Fox
[1]WJBK ends its 45-year CBS affiliation and becomes Detroit's Fox station on December 11.
- 1970
Relocates to Southfield
[1]WJBK moves its studio and broadcast operations to its present West Nine Mile Road facility in Southfield.
- 1956
Moves to New Center studios and begins color broadcasting
[1]The station moves from the Masonic Temple to a purpose-built Detroit facility and begins broadcasting in color around this period.
- 1955
Becomes an exclusive CBS affiliate
[1]WJBK drops its DuMont affiliation after CKLW-TV takes that network and continues as a CBS-only station.
- 1948
WJBK begins broadcasting
[1]WJBK-TV signs on October 24 as Detroit's third television station, initially carrying CBS and DuMont programming.
Products and positioning
A major-market, locally focused Fox owned-and-operated station emphasizing Detroit news, weather, traffic, sports, community coverage, and regional relevance across southeastern Michigan and southwestern Ontario.
Television broadcasting · 1948
Local news
WJBK's principal offering is locally produced news covering Detroit and southeastern Michigan. Its output includes scheduled newscasts, breaking-news reports, investigative and consumer coverage, interviews, and regional stories. The station also publishes related articles, clips, livestreams, and updates through its digital platforms.
Local information services
Weather and traffic
The station provides weather forecasts, severe-weather information, school or travel-related updates, and traffic reporting for the Detroit area. These services support both broadcast news and digital consumption, particularly during regional weather events and commuting periods.
Network television · 1994
Fox network programming
As a Fox owned-and-operated station, WJBK carries Fox entertainment, sports, news, and special-event programming. Its affiliation has been especially important for nationally distributed NFL coverage and other Fox network productions.
Television production · 1950
Historical local productions
WJBK historically produced a substantial range of Detroit-oriented programs, including children's shows, talk formats, public-affairs programs, sports interviews, horror-movie presentations, religious programming, and charity telethons. Examples include Milky's Movie Party, Ladies' Day, PM Detroit, Sir Graves Ghastly, and With This Ring.
Brand decisions
2019
Remain outside Disney's 21st Century Fox acquisitionM&ABackground
Disney agreed to acquire most of 21st Century Fox, but regulatory and strategic arrangements excluded the Fox network and several related assets.
Action taken
WJBK was transferred with Fox Television Stations and the Fox network into the newly formed Fox Corporation rather than becoming a Disney property.
Aftermath
The station continued operating as a Fox-owned local broadcast outlet under Fox Corporation.
1996
Fox acquires New World's television stationsM&ABackground
New World Communications had become the owner of WJBK after acquiring SCI Television, whose stations were undergoing a broad Fox affiliation realignment.
Action taken
Fox Television Stations agreed to purchase New World's ten Fox-affiliated stations, including WJBK; the transaction closed in January 1997.
Aftermath
WJBK became a Fox owned-and-operated station and was integrated into Fox Television Stations' major-market portfolio.
1994
Change network affiliation from CBS to FoxStrategyBackground
Fox acquired National Football Conference broadcast rights and sought stronger affiliates in major markets. New World Communications agreed to move several stations to Fox, while Fox favored WJBK because of its VHF signal and established local news operation.
Action taken
WJBK ended its CBS affiliation after the December 10 broadcast and began carrying Fox programming on December 11, replacing WKBD as the market's primary Fox outlet.
Aftermath
The switch made WJBK a central Fox outlet in Detroit and forced CBS to develop a replacement arrangement involving several stations before establishing a new affiliate at WGPR-TV, later WWJ-TV.
- CBS — CBS sought alternative Detroit-market distribution, including arrangements with WTOL, WNEM-TV, and WLNS, and later acquired WGPR-TV.
- WKBD-TV — WKBD lost its Fox affiliation and briefly operated as an independent station before joining UPN.
Recent events
Reported
WDIV partnered with local stations and the Michigan Association of Broadcasters for a vaccine town hall[2]
WDIV partnered with local television stations and the Michigan Association of Broadcasters for a televised COVID-19 vaccine town hall scheduled to air on May 29.
Reported
Detroit TV stations partner on COVID-19 town hall[3]
FOX 2, WDIV, and WXYZ partnered to produce a town hall with Governor Gretchen Whitmer about the coronavirus pandemic and Michigan's response.
Sources4 sources
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