- Why was a tower site in far NW Eaton County chosen as opposed to one of the existing TX sites along the Allegan/Barry border?
Scott Fybush’s visit report recorded that the location was intentional to cover both the Lansing & West Michigan DMAs, per Dick Castanie, chief engineer of WZPX:
https://www.fybush.com/site-031127.html
I agree it’ll be interesting to see what becomes of the tower. My recollection from driving past a couple of times is that it has few if any other antennas on it, microwave or cellular.
Cheers! ~~ Statmanmi
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Thank you for your patience!
- M.W.
Thank you for your patience!
- M.W.
The untold story of TV-43
Re: The untold story of TV-43
I do remember when TV-43 aired mostly infomercials before PAX-TV launched Summer of 98. Since I’m not from the area, I don’t know the history very well.
When was 43 allotted to Battle Creek? I know in the early days of UHF, the city had 58 and 64, though only the latter signed on (briefly). I am guessing 58 was changed to 41 in a revision and 64 obviously went to Kalamazoo.
I vividly remember WBSX Ann Arbor airing the Home Shopping Network pretty much 24/7 while owned by Blackstar. Cable companies in SE Oakland, parts of Wayne, and pretty much if not all of Macomb did not carry it due to the analog signal being poor to non existent. The translator on 48 was puny.
When was 43 allotted to Battle Creek? I know in the early days of UHF, the city had 58 and 64, though only the latter signed on (briefly). I am guessing 58 was changed to 41 in a revision and 64 obviously went to Kalamazoo.
I vividly remember WBSX Ann Arbor airing the Home Shopping Network pretty much 24/7 while owned by Blackstar. Cable companies in SE Oakland, parts of Wayne, and pretty much if not all of Macomb did not carry it due to the analog signal being poor to non existent. The translator on 48 was puny.
Re: The untold story of TV-43
I wonder if cell phone companies are also on the Vermontville tower.
I did read somewhere that WZPX was one of the highest-rated PAX stations, due in no small part to their secondary WB affiliation, which was only picked up after WB programming was dropped from WGN Superstation
I did read somewhere that WZPX was one of the highest-rated PAX stations, due in no small part to their secondary WB affiliation, which was only picked up after WB programming was dropped from WGN Superstation
Re: The untold story of TV-43
MW, hang on, I've got a twist for you..
Grand Rapids Baptist College (before the name change to Cornerstone) was approached in the mid 90's to buy the CP and put the station on the air. I was only contract engineering for their WCSG radio station at the time. I had a well respected TV engineer come in with some numbers. The $ 35,000/month for electricity, and a few others items scared them off, properly. Basically, peel off a $ 50 bill every hour and burn it! (not counted actual construction costs) I'm thankful for the decision. Also, many, and I mean many area business folks were approached to buy it and put in the capital to put it on the air.
WZPX had no problems leaving that 1000 foot tower, as they don't own it. They sold it to American Towers. To my knowledge, there are no other renters on the tower. None. Nor would it be practical for any other radio or TV station. The cell folks only need 150-200 feet. This will be another albatross for AT.
It was indeed located in Vermontville to grab GR/Lansing markets.
Been there, got a SS check every month to prove it!
Grand Rapids Baptist College (before the name change to Cornerstone) was approached in the mid 90's to buy the CP and put the station on the air. I was only contract engineering for their WCSG radio station at the time. I had a well respected TV engineer come in with some numbers. The $ 35,000/month for electricity, and a few others items scared them off, properly. Basically, peel off a $ 50 bill every hour and burn it! (not counted actual construction costs) I'm thankful for the decision. Also, many, and I mean many area business folks were approached to buy it and put in the capital to put it on the air.
WZPX had no problems leaving that 1000 foot tower, as they don't own it. They sold it to American Towers. To my knowledge, there are no other renters on the tower. None. Nor would it be practical for any other radio or TV station. The cell folks only need 150-200 feet. This will be another albatross for AT.
It was indeed located in Vermontville to grab GR/Lansing markets.
Been there, got a SS check every month to prove it!
Re: The untold story of TV-43
Kalamazoo Gazette made a big deal about it when WZPX picked up The WB 20 years ago I was always hoping for it to be a full-time WB station. I always called it paid programming network when it was Pax/I Suck Networkftballfan wrote: ↑Mon Oct 21, 2019 8:49 am I wonder if cell phone companies are also on the Vermontville tower.
I did read somewhere that WZPX was one of the highest-rated PAX stations, due in no small part to their secondary WB affiliation, which was only picked up after WB programming was dropped from WGN Superstation
Go Pistons, Let's Go Redwings.
-
smallwonder
- Posts: 112
- Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2007 4:02 pm
- Location: midland mi
Re: The untold story of TV-43
What was weird about 43 was they ran The WB at 6 on a delay and UPN aired at 11. At least, we got to see them, but it wasn't when everyone else did.
turn up the radio! mighty in might!
Re: The untold story of TV-43
Because I have no life, spent some time going through applications and such both through old copies of Broadcasting Magazine and the FCC website and came up with this timeline of TV-43 from inception to 2005:
1980s: There were 4 original applicants for the channel, 2 were tossed from the comparative hearing, leaving two applicants who settled.
June 9, 1988 CP awarded to Margaret Miller of Owendale, MI (who appears to have been/is an egg farmer in Owendale). CP tower site was in Pennfield Charter Township, just north of Battle Creek.
June 28, 1991: Call letters WYYC assigned
September 3, 1991: Call letters WJUE assigned
October 20, 1992: CP sold for $55,467 to Western Michigan Christian Broadcasting, Inc. (William B. Popjes of Grand Rapids)
August 24, 1993: Modification of permit approved to change transmitter location to Vermontville Township in Eaton County.
February 20, 1997: Pro Forma assignment of license to Horizon Broadcasting Corporation (includes same principals in Western Michigan Christian Broadcasting, Inc.) **guessing here that the new corporation was Popjes and Paxson, the latter likely financed construction of the station**
February 28, 1997: Facility is licensed. (May have been operating under a CP prior to this date)
April 28, 1997: Voluntary transfer of control of Horizon Broadcasting Corporation from William B. Popjes to Paxson Communications of Battle Creek-43, Inc.
July 11, 1997: Call letters WILV assigned.
July 30, 1997: Voluntary assignment of license from Horizon Broadcasting Corporation to DP Media License of Battle Creek, Inc.
January 20, 1998: Call letters WZPX assigned.
December 3, 1999: Voluntary assignment of license from DP Media License of Battle Creek, Inc. to Paxson Battle Creek License, Inc.
April 14, 2000: Voluntary transfer of control from Shareholders of DP Media, Inc. to Paxson Communications Corporation.
August 17, 2005: Voluntary transfer of control from Paxon Holdings, Inc. to Paxson Management Corporation.
1980s: There were 4 original applicants for the channel, 2 were tossed from the comparative hearing, leaving two applicants who settled.
June 9, 1988 CP awarded to Margaret Miller of Owendale, MI (who appears to have been/is an egg farmer in Owendale). CP tower site was in Pennfield Charter Township, just north of Battle Creek.
June 28, 1991: Call letters WYYC assigned
September 3, 1991: Call letters WJUE assigned
October 20, 1992: CP sold for $55,467 to Western Michigan Christian Broadcasting, Inc. (William B. Popjes of Grand Rapids)
August 24, 1993: Modification of permit approved to change transmitter location to Vermontville Township in Eaton County.
February 20, 1997: Pro Forma assignment of license to Horizon Broadcasting Corporation (includes same principals in Western Michigan Christian Broadcasting, Inc.) **guessing here that the new corporation was Popjes and Paxson, the latter likely financed construction of the station**
February 28, 1997: Facility is licensed. (May have been operating under a CP prior to this date)
April 28, 1997: Voluntary transfer of control of Horizon Broadcasting Corporation from William B. Popjes to Paxson Communications of Battle Creek-43, Inc.
July 11, 1997: Call letters WILV assigned.
July 30, 1997: Voluntary assignment of license from Horizon Broadcasting Corporation to DP Media License of Battle Creek, Inc.
January 20, 1998: Call letters WZPX assigned.
December 3, 1999: Voluntary assignment of license from DP Media License of Battle Creek, Inc. to Paxson Battle Creek License, Inc.
April 14, 2000: Voluntary transfer of control from Shareholders of DP Media, Inc. to Paxson Communications Corporation.
August 17, 2005: Voluntary transfer of control from Paxon Holdings, Inc. to Paxson Management Corporation.