WNEM-TV

WNEM-TV, branded primarily as WNEM-TV5, is a commercial television station licensed to Bay City, Michigan, and serving the broader Mid-Michigan television market. The station is affiliated with CBS and operates additional digital services, including a MyNetworkTV-branded service commonly identified as WNEM-TV 5 Plus. Its principal studios are in downtown Saginaw, while its news operation also maintains a bureau in downtown Flint. The station's transmitter is located on Becker Road in the Robin Glen-Indiantown area of Buena Vista Township, east of Saginaw. The station began broadcasting on February 16, 1954, under the ownership of the Northeastern Michigan Corporation. Its call letters reflected that corporate identity. WNEM-TV initially joined NBC and, during its early years, also carried selected programming from ABC and DuMont. Its first main facilities were at Bishop International Airport in Flint, with supplementary operations in Bay City. During the 1960s, the station moved its principal operations to the transmitter area near Indiantown before relocating its primary studios to downtown Saginaw in the 1980s. Ownership changed several times. Gerity Broadcasting, associated with professional violinist James Gerity, acquired the station in 1961. Meredith Corporation announced its purchase in 1968 and completed the transition in 1969, making WNEM-TV an important part of Meredith's local television portfolio. Meredith later expanded the station's local-news infrastructure and digital distribution. WNEM-TV's most important programming change occurred on January 16, 1995, when it exchanged network affiliations with WEYI-TV and became a CBS affiliate. The change formed part of a wider series of affiliation realignments in the United States. At the same time, WNEM-TV carried programming from UPN and The WB in late-night periods. The station subsequently dropped the secondary WB relationship and developed a broader digital-channel strategy, including MyNetworkTV, Cozi TV, and Ion Television services. Local news is central to the station's identity. WNEM-TV produces extensive weekday and weekend newscasts, provides Flint-area reporting through its bureau, and operates a branded weather radar service known as First Warn 5 Pinpoint Doppler Radar. Its programming portfolio also includes CBS network sports, Detroit Lions broadcasts selected by CBS, Michigan Wolverines and Michigan State Spartans coverage when distributed through CBS, selected Detroit-area professional sports, and local events. In 2025, the station announced a 15-game agreement with the Great Lakes Loons, a High-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, with games scheduled for WNEM-TV and WNEM+. Gray Television announced the acquisition of Meredith's local-media stations in 2021. Because Gray already owned nearby WJRT-TV and both stations ranked highly in the market, regulatory and ownership considerations led to the planned divestiture of WJRT-TV. Gray completed its purchase of Meredith's stations on December 1, 2021, after arranging the sale of WJRT-TV to Allen Media Group. WNEM-TV consequently became part of Gray's national local-broadcasting group. The station remains an active CBS affiliate and a major local news and information outlet for Mid-Michigan.

WNEM-TV was established by the Northeastern Michigan Corporation and began broadcasting on February 16, 1954. The call sign was derived from the organization's name. It entered the market as an NBC affiliate serving Bay City, Saginaw, Flint, and surrounding communities. During its first four years, the station also carried some ABC programming jointly with WKNX-TV and broadcast DuMont material until that network ceased operations in 1956. When WJRT-TV launched in 1958, it assumed the local ABC affiliation. The station's early physical presence was divided between Flint and Bay City. Its principal studios were initially located in rented facilities at Bishop International Airport in Flint, while auxiliary facilities operated in Bay City. In the 1960s, WNEM-TV moved its main operations to the transmitter site near Indiantown. The station later considered using a tower associated with WSAM radio in Saginaw, but ultimately developed its long-term studio presence in downtown Saginaw during the 1980s. The former transmitter-site complex subsequently became associated with Delta College's Buena Vista campus, although the broadcast transmitter remained there. Gerity Broadcasting acquired WNEM-TV in 1961. The company's association with professional violinist James Gerity formed part of the station's ownership history before Meredith Corporation entered the picture. Meredith announced the acquisition in 1968 and completed it in 1969. WNEM-TV was then Meredith's only NBC affiliate, a distinction that made it strategically notable within the company's television group. A major transformation came in the mid-1990s. On January 16, 1995, WNEM-TV and WEYI-TV exchanged network affiliations, making WNEM-TV a CBS station. The change was announced in 1994 and was connected to a wider national reshuffling of television affiliations. WNEM-TV also carried UPN and The WB in secondary late-night slots for a period. It relinquished the WB relationship in 1999, while continuing to adapt its schedule as network programming and local-market economics changed. The station temporarily handled CBS daytime programming in an unusual manner after dropping Guiding Light in 1996 because of low ratings; the program later appeared on the station's My5 service before CBS daytime programming was fully restored to the main channel. WNEM-TV expanded beyond its primary channel through digital and cable services. A MyNetworkTV service launched around 2006 and became associated with the My 5 brand and later WNEM-TV 5 Plus. The station added Cozi TV on a third digital subchannel in 2015 and Ion Television on a fourth in 2017. In 2018, the secondary service adopted the WNEM-TV 5 Plus identity. The station also transitioned from analog to digital broadcasting on June 12, 2009, retaining virtual channel 5 while using a digital UHF facility. News and weather became increasingly important to the station's business. WNEM-TV operates a Flint bureau in downtown Flint and maintains its own weather radar service. It has also supplied or shared programming with other stations. Beginning in 2006, WNEM-TV produced a prime-time newscast for Fox affiliate WSMH after Sinclair ended that station's News Central operation. WSMH later replaced the program in 2015 with a newscast produced by WEYI-TV, after which WNEM-TV moved its broadcast to the WNEM-TV 5 Plus service. The station has also provided news content for radio outlets and entered the obituary-listing business in 2009 after local newspapers reduced their publication schedules. In 2021, Gray Television announced a $2.7 billion acquisition of Meredith's local-media stations. Because Gray already owned WJRT-TV in the same market and the two stations were among the market's leading outlets, Gray arranged to sell WJRT-TV to Allen Media Group. Gray completed the Meredith transaction on December 1, 2021, and WNEM-TV became part of Gray's local television portfolio. The active station continues to combine CBS programming, local news, weather, digital subchannels, streaming, advertising, and regional sports coverage. Its sports output includes selected CBS Sports programming, Detroit Lions games, college sports, selected Detroit professional sports, Saginaw Spirit games, and, beginning in 2025, Great Lakes Loons baseball.

• 2025

  Great Lakes Loons broadcasts announced

  [1]WNEM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WNEM-TV announces a 15-game agreement to televise Great Lakes Loons games on WNEM-TV and WNEM+.

• 2021

  Gray Media becomes owner

  [1]WNEM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Gray completes its purchase of Meredith's local stations after the divestiture of WJRT-TV.

• 2018

  Secondary service adopts WNEM-TV 5 Plus branding

  [1]WNEM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station changes the identity of its MyNetworkTV-oriented service to WNEM-TV 5 Plus.

• 2017

  Ion Television is added

  [1]WNEM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station launches a fourth digital subchannel carrying Ion Television.

• 2015

  Cozi TV is added

  [1]WNEM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  A third digital subchannel begins carrying Cozi TV.

• 2009

  Analog broadcasting ends

  [1]WNEM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WNEM-TV ends regular analog transmission as part of the United States digital television transition.

• 2006

  MyNetworkTV service launches

  [1]WNEM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station develops a MyNetworkTV-oriented service that later becomes associated with WNEM-TV 5 Plus.

• 1995

  Network affiliation changes to CBS

  [1]WNEM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WNEM-TV exchanges affiliations with WEYI-TV and becomes a CBS affiliate.

• 1980

  Primary studios move to downtown Saginaw

  [1]WNEM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station establishes its principal studio operation in downtown Saginaw during the 1980s.

• 1969

  Meredith assumes ownership

  [1]WNEM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Meredith Corporation completes its acquisition of WNEM-TV.

• 1961

  Gerity Broadcasting acquires the station

  [1]WNEM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WNEM-TV changes ownership when Gerity Broadcasting purchases the station.

• 1954

  WNEM-TV begins broadcasting

  [1]WNEM-TVen.wikipedia.org

  The station launches on February 16 as an NBC affiliate licensed to Bay City and serving the surrounding Mid-Michigan region.

A locally focused Mid-Michigan CBS affiliate combining network programming with extensive regional news, weather, sports, digital video, and community information services.

• Broadcast television · 1954

  WNEM-TV5

  The station's primary broadcast service, carrying CBS network programming together with locally produced news, weather, public-affairs content, syndicated programming, and selected sports. Its over-the-air signal uses virtual channel 5 and serves Bay City, Saginaw, Flint, and other communities in east central Michigan.

• Digital television and news service · 2006

  WNEM-TV 5 Plus

  WNEM-TV's secondary digital service, historically associated with MyNetworkTV and additional syndicated programming. It also carries locally produced news, including a late-evening broadcast and weekday programming, and has served as an outlet for sports and schedule overflow.

• Weather information

  First Warn 5 Pinpoint Doppler Radar

  A station-operated weather radar service supporting WNEM-TV's meteorological coverage. Radar content is incorporated into broadcast weather reports and made available through the station's digital platforms.

• News broadcasting · 1954

  Local news operation

  WNEM-TV produces extensive local newscasts for its main service and secondary channel, with reporting from Saginaw, Flint, Bay City, and surrounding Mid-Michigan communities. Coverage includes breaking news, investigations, weather, traffic, consumer information, and regional public-interest stories.

• Sports broadcasting

  Regional sports broadcasts

  The station distributes selected CBS Sports events and regional sports programming, including Detroit Lions games, college sports, selected Detroit Tigers and Pistons coverage, Saginaw Spirit games, and Great Lakes Loons baseball under a 2025 agreement.

• 2011

  Criticism over Dale Kildee allegations report

  WNEM-TV broadcast allegations of sexual abuse involving U.S. Representative Dale Kildee. Critics questioned the report's political motivation and journalistic ethics. A station attorney said the report concerned a public official and that the station did not act with actual malice.

  Source

Read more

• 2025

  Great Lakes Loons broadcast agreementProduct launch

  Background

  WNEM-TV expanded its regional sports offering through a relationship with the High-A Great Lakes Loons.

  Action taken

  The station announced a 15-game package to air on WNEM-TV and WNEM+.

  Aftermath

  The agreement broadened the station's local sports inventory and connected its television and secondary digital services.

  Source

• 2021

  Gray acquisition of Meredith local stationsM&A

  Background

  Gray Television announced its purchase of Meredith's local-media stations while already owning WJRT-TV in the same market as WNEM-TV.

  Action taken

  Gray completed the Meredith transaction and retained WNEM-TV after arranging the sale of WJRT-TV to Allen Media Group.

  Aftermath

  WNEM-TV joined Gray's national local-broadcasting group while overlapping ownership in the market was reduced through the divestiture.

  Announced transaction value. $2.7 billion announced acquisition value (May 3, 2021 announcement)

  Source

• 2009

  Obituary-listing service changes from free to paidOther

  Background

  The station introduced obituary listings after regional newspapers reduced publication frequency.

  Action taken

  WNEM-TV initially offered the service without charge and began charging $100 per obituary in September 2009.

  Aftermath

  The service became an unusual example of a local television station filling an information role traditionally associated with newspapers.

  Obituary listing fee. Free → $100 per obituary (September 2009)

  Source

• 2006

  Launch of MyNetworkTV serviceProduct launch

  Background

  The station sought to expand its programming footprint through a secondary service and provide additional entertainment and sports content.

  Action taken

  WNEM-TV introduced a MyNetworkTV-oriented service that was later distributed through a digital subchannel and branded WNEM-TV 5 Plus.

  Aftermath

  The secondary outlet became a platform for MyNetworkTV programming, local news, syndicated content, and selected sports.

  Source

• 1995

  Switch from NBC to CBSStrategy

  Background

  WNEM-TV and WEYI-TV participated in a market-wide network affiliation exchange announced in 1994.

  Action taken

  WNEM-TV adopted CBS as its primary network affiliation on January 16, 1995, while temporarily carrying UPN and WB programming in secondary periods.

  Aftermath

  The CBS affiliation became the station's central programming relationship and remains in place.

  Source

1. 1WNEM-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WNEM-TV official websitewnem.com