WMKG-CD

WMKG-CD is a low-power, Class A television station based in Norton Shores, near Muskegon, Michigan. The station operates on digital channel 31 and is identified over the air by virtual channel 49. It is owned by WMKG-TV, LLC and has historically focused on locally relevant, family-oriented, religious, entertainment, and community programming rather than competing directly with large network affiliates through a conventional full-scale news operation. The station was established by Bud Kelley and his family in 1989 under the informal identity TV Channel 40. It began broadcasting on April 1, 1990, at 5:30 p.m. using the call sign W40AK and transmitting on channel 40. In 1995, the call letters changed to WMKG-LP, linking the station more closely to the Muskegon area. The station later moved to channel 38 in 2004. Its distribution history also included cable carriage changes: Comcast removed it from its analog lineup in 2006 to make room for additional video-on-demand capacity, although the station remained available through digital cable and terrestrial broadcasting. In October 2009, the station obtained Class A status and adopted the call sign WMKG-CA. It received authorization for digital operation on October 10, 2014, and changed its call sign to WMKG-CD. The move into digital broadcasting and a later post-spectrum-transition assignment to channel 31 created an opportunity for the station to emphasize its location along the US 31 corridor. A proposed identity and logo concept used a highway-shield motif to connect the station with the Lake Michigan shoreline route. WMKG-CD has carried several minor network affiliations over its history and has been associated with The Family Channel. That affiliation is also present elsewhere in the Grand Rapids market. The station's multiplexed service has been described as a collection of distinct programming streams: a principal channel featuring family-oriented programs and Muskegon-related content, a religious-music channel, a movie channel, and a western-themed channel. Programming examples have included church-related material, square dancing, and other community-oriented shows. Local production has been an important part of the station's identity. Original programs have included Dial A Bargain, in which viewers could call to obtain gift certificates, and Muskegon Today, a local public-affairs program addressing issues affecting the city. Other identified productions include Table Talk, The Doorstop Nation, and TV BINGO. For much of its history, the station also aired a local news program at 5:30 p.m.; that newscast is no longer broadcast. The station's ownership history has included a prolonged attempted sale. Kelley Enterprises placed the station, its license, and equipment on the market in 2007 as Kelley approached retirement and planned to move south. A proposed 2009 sale to BAG LLC of New York received FCC approval, but the buyer did not appear for the closing, leaving the station unsold. The property was marketed again, including through a 2016 Craigslist listing. In June 2017, Kelley completed a sale to Steve Kanzer, principal of VRVC, LLC. Kanzer described plans to modernize the station's digital operations and use the channel change and US 31 association as part of a refreshed identity. Publicly available reference material does not establish all later ownership or operational changes, so current corporate details should be verified against FCC records.

WMKG-CD originated in 1989 when Bud Kelley and his family established a Muskegon-area television operation known as TV Channel 40. The station began broadcasting on April 1, 1990, at 5:30 p.m. under the call sign W40AK on channel 40. From the beginning, it produced local programming in addition to carrying outside programming, developing an identity centered on community information, family entertainment, religious material, and local participation. In 1995, the station changed its call letters to WMKG-LP. The change connected the station's identity more directly with Muskegon while retaining its low-power classification. In 2004, it moved from channel 40 to channel 38. The station's distribution was affected by cable-system capacity decisions in 2006, when Comcast removed it from its analog lineup to provide additional bandwidth for video-on-demand services. WMKG remained available through digital cable and terrestrial broadcasting, although its channel presentation varied by distribution system. Some digital cable systems carried the signal on channel 49 while displaying a virtual channel associated with its previous channel assignment. The station's status changed in October 2009, when it obtained Class A authorization and adopted the call sign WMKG-CA. Class A status provided a different regulatory standing from a conventional low-power license, while the station continued to operate with a limited local service footprint. Its location near Lake Michigan also gave its signal potential reach across the lake into portions of the Milwaukee television market, including areas around Port Washington and Sheboygan. The station received its digital operating license on October 10, 2014, after which its call sign became WMKG-CD. WMKG-CD has carried a succession of minor network affiliations and has been associated with The Family Channel. The affiliation is not exclusive within the broader Grand Rapids market, where another station also carries the network. The station's digital multiplex has allowed it to offer several distinct streams. Described programming has included family-oriented shows and Muskegon-focused material on the principal service, religious music on another stream, movies on a third, and western-themed programming on a fourth. Churches, square dancing, and other locally relevant material have formed part of its service mix. Local production has remained central to the station's brand. Dial A Bargain used viewer calls and gift certificates as a participatory format. Muskegon Today addressed local issues and civic topics. Additional programs identified in reference material include Table Talk, The Doorstop Nation, and TV BINGO. For much of the station's history, WMKG also carried a local newscast at 5:30 p.m., but that program was later discontinued. Ownership remained with the Kelley family for decades. In October 2007, Kelley Enterprises placed the station on the market, including its license and equipment, because Bud Kelley was nearing retirement and intended to move south. A proposed transaction with BAG LLC of New York received FCC approval in 2009, but the purchaser failed to appear at closing. The station therefore returned to the market. It was again offered for sale in 2016. In June 2017, Kelley successfully sold it to Steve Kanzer, principal of VRVC, LLC. Kanzer planned to modernize the operation for digital broadcasting and use the station's post-spectrum-move channel 31 assignment to support a renewed identity tied to US 31, including a highway-shield-inspired logo. The available reference material does not provide a complete account of later ownership, affiliations, or programming changes.

• 2017

  Sold to Steve Kanzer

  [1]WMKG-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Bud Kelley completed the sale of the station to Steve Kanzer, principal of VRVC, LLC.

• 2014

  Begins digital operation

  [1]WMKG-CDen.wikipedia.org

  A digital operating license was issued on October 10, followed by adoption of the WMKG-CD call sign.

• 2009

  Receives Class A status

  [1]WMKG-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station obtained Class A status and changed its call sign to WMKG-CA.

• 2004

  Moves to channel 38

  [1]WMKG-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station changed its operating channel from 40 to 38.

• 1995

  Call sign changes to WMKG-LP

  [1]WMKG-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station adopted the WMKG-LP call letters.

• 1990

  First broadcast

  [1]WMKG-CDen.wikipedia.org

  The station went on the air on April 1 at 5:30 p.m. as W40AK on channel 40.

• 1989

  Station founded as TV Channel 40

  [1]WMKG-CDen.wikipedia.org

  Bud Kelley and his family established the Muskegon-area television station that became WMKG-CD.

A community-oriented, low-power television station serving Muskegon and western Michigan with family, religious, local-interest, and specialty entertainment programming.

• Local television channel · 1990

  WMKG-CD primary service

  The station's principal service carries family-oriented programming and Muskegon-related material. Its schedule has included community programs, church-related content, and other local-interest productions rather than relying solely on a major national network schedule.

• Digital multicast television · 2014

  WMKG-CD multicast services

  Digital multiplexing has enabled the station to offer additional themed streams. Reference material identifies separate services for religious music, movies, and western-themed programming, although current subchannel lineups require verification.

• Local public-affairs program

  Muskegon Today

  Muskegon Today was an original local program addressing issues involving the city and its community. It represents the station's emphasis on locally produced public-affairs content.

• Viewer-participation program

  Dial A Bargain

  Dial A Bargain used telephone participation and gift certificates as the basis for an interactive local television format.

• 2017

  Plan to reposition the station around digital broadcasting and US 31Strategy

  Background

  Following the sale to Steve Kanzer, the station was expected to update its operations for digital standards and take advantage of its move to channel 31.

  Action taken

  The proposed identity connected the station with the US 31 highway corridor along the Lake Michigan shoreline and contemplated a highway-shield-style logo.

  Aftermath

  The available reference material does not document the full implementation or subsequent performance of the rebranding plan.

  Source

1. 1WMKG-CDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WMKG-CD official websitewmkg.org