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WJBK (channel 2) is a television station in Detroit, Michigan, United States. Owned and operated by the Fox network through its Fox Television Stations division, the station maintains studios and transmitter facilities on West 9 Mile Road in the Detroit suburb of Southfield.[4][5]

Key Information

WJBK's over-the-air signal covers all of Metro Detroit, along with Southwestern Ontario, Canada, surrounding the city of Windsor. The station is also carried on most cable systems in southeast Michigan, southwestern Ontario and northwest Ohio.

History

[edit]

CBS affiliate (1948–1994)

[edit]
The WJBK circle 2 logo, used from 1978 to 1983.

WJBK-TV first signed on the air on October 24, 1948.[6] It was the third television station to sign-on in Detroit and Michigan, after WWJ-TV (channel 4, now WDIV-TV) and WXYZ-TV (channel 7)—all of which have signed on in a 14-month timeframe. Despite Detroit being a major television market, it only accommodated three VHF allocations due to being shortspaced between Flint (channel 12) and Saginaw (channel 5) to the north; Lansing (channels 6 and 10) to the west; Toledo (channels 11 and 13) to the south; and Cleveland (channels 3, 5 and 8); Windsor, Ontario (channel 9); and London, Ontario (channel 10) to the east. For this reason, WJBK was assigned the final VHF channel in Detroit.

At sign on, the first program broadcast by WJBK was a presentation of Lucky Pup at 6:15 p.m.. The station was originally an affiliate of both CBS and the DuMont Television Network. It was originally owned by Fort Industry Broadcasting, owned by George B. Storer and then based in nearby Toledo, Ohio. Fort Industry, which would later be renamed Storer Broadcasting, also owned WJBK radio (1500 AM, now WLQV), and 93.1 WJBK-FM (now WUFL). The station originally operated from Detroit's Masonic Temple until 1956, when its operations were moved to a purpose-built studio facility on Second Avenue in Detroit's New Center section, which would be occupied by PBS member station WTVS for nearly 40 years[7] and is now being reconstructed for use as headquarters for the nonprofit Midnight Golf Program.[8] WJBK-TV would eventually become an exclusive CBS affiliate by 1955, when Windsor, Ontario-based CKLW-TV (channel 9, now CBC O&O CBET-DT) became a DuMont affiliate. WJBK first broadcast in color around 1956. In 1970, the station moved to its current broadcast facilities on West Nine Mile Road in Southfield.[9] Like most studio facilities built by Storer during that time, it resembles a Southern antebellum mansion.

The station went through a number of ownership and management changes with its parent companies in the 1980s and 1990s. In 1985, the equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) acquired Storer Communications, Incorporated in a leveraged buyout. Storer spurned offers from Knight-Ridder Newspapers, Tele-Communications, Inc. and Scripps-Howard Broadcasting Co., though Scripps-Howard would successfully acquire cross-town rival ABC owned and operated station WXYZ-TV in 1986 after the ABC-Capital Cities Communications merger was approved by federal regulators. KKR then sold all of the Storer broadcast assets, including WJBK, to Gillett Communications in 1987, after an attempt to sell the stations to Lorimar-Telepictures in 1986 failed. When Gillett went bankrupt in 1992, it reorganized the ownership of its television stations into SCI Television. The following year, in 1993, SCI was acquired by the film and television production company New World Communications.

Switch to Fox station (1994–present)

[edit]
Further information: 1994–1996 United States broadcast television realignment

In May 1994, News Corporation, then-parent of the Fox network, purchased a 20% ownership stake (amounting to a $500 million investment) in WJBK's owner New World Communications. Fox made the investment to comply with their winning bid for the broadcast rights to the NFL's National Football Conference.[10] Fox outbid CBS for the NFL broadcast rights on the condition that it would improve the network's affiliate coverage in the larger television markets. As a result of Fox's investment, New World agreed to switch the network affiliations of most of the company's stations, including WJBK, to Fox.[11] While WKBD-TV (channel 50) had been the Fox affiliate in Detroit since the network debuted on October 9, 1986, and had grown to be one of the network's strongest affiliates, Fox still considered WJBK a far-more desirable affiliation prospect on the strength of its VHF signal and the station's longtime news department.

WJBK became Detroit's new Fox affiliate on December 11, 1994, after the station's affiliation contract with CBS ended, ending its 45-year affiliation with that network. With the switch, regular season games of the Detroit Lions' continued to air on WJBK, although there was a brief three-month interruption in coverage due to CBS losing the NFC rights for the first three months of Fox's NFC telecasts due to WKBD airing them. After losing Fox, WKBD was briefly an independent before joining the newly launched UPN a month later.

CBS found it difficult to find a new home in Detroit. WXYZ and Cleveland sister station WEWS-TV were both heavily wooed to become CBS affiliates, but the E. W. Scripps Company signed an affiliation deal with ABC in June 1994 that renewed the network's affiliations with both stations. WDIV was not an option as that station was in the middle of a long-term affiliation contract with NBC at the time. As a result, CBS was forced to deal with the market's lower-rated UHF outlets, none of which had the kind of signal penetration that WJBK had. As a contingency plan, CBS signed a long-term affiliation deal with WTOL in Toledo, Ohio; which provides city-grade coverage to most of Detroit's southern suburbs and grade B coverage of Detroit itself. It also persuaded Mid-Michigan's longtime NBC affiliate, WNEM-TV, to switch to CBS; WNEM provided stronger coverage of Detroit's outer northern suburbs than did the market's longtime CBS affiliate, WEYI-TV.

With just days to go before WJBK was due to switch to Fox, CBS faced the prospect of having to import WTOL, WNEM, and WLNS on area cable providers until it could find a replacement affiliate. CBS would end up purchasing low-rated UHF independent station WGPR-TV (channel 62, now WWJ-TV) in September 1994. The last CBS network program to air on WJBK was a first-run episode of Walker, Texas Ranger at 10 p.m. Eastern Time on December 10, 1994; channel 2 officially became a Fox affiliate the next day, when the network's programming lineup moved to the station from WKBD; the first Fox network program to air on the station as a full-time affiliate was Fox NFL Sunday at noon that day, which led into that afternoon's NFL doubleheader: an early game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Los Angeles Rams and a mid-afternoon game between the San Francisco 49ers and the San Diego Chargers. Former Fox affiliate WKBD briefly became an independent station before becoming a charter affiliate of UPN in January 1995.

Until channel 62 built a new transmitter in 1999, WTOL served as the default CBS affiliate for most of the southern portion of the market, while WNEM served the northern portion and WLNS served the western portion.

As a result of the network switch, WJBK changed its branding from "TV 2" to "Fox 2" by the fall of 1995 (becoming one of the few New World stations that switched to the network to adhere to the network's branding conventions before Fox's buyout of New World). Fox Television Stations bought New World's ten Fox-affiliated stations, including WJBK, in July 1996;[12] the purchase was finalized on January 22, 1997, with channel 2 becoming a Fox owned-and-operated station as a result.

On December 14, 2017, The Walt Disney Company, owner of WXYZ-TV's affiliated network ABC, announced its intent to buy WJBK's parent company, 21st Century Fox, for $66.1 billion; the sale, which closed on March 20, 2019, excluded WJBK as well as the Fox network, the MyNetworkTV programming service, Fox News, Fox Sports 1, the Big Ten Network and the Fox Television Stations unit, which were all transferred to the newly-formed Fox Corporation.[13][14]

Programming

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WJBK's studios in Southfield, Michigan.

Local productions

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Some of WJBK's early productions included popular children's shows. Milky's Movie Party starring Milky the Clown, played by magician Clarence R. Cummings Jr., was one of the station's first locally produced children's programs from 1950 to 1955. The program featured a mix of cartoons and westerns with Cummings performing magic tricks with other acts in front of a live audience. Cummings would eventually take the Milky character to WXYZ-TV and the former WWJ-TV (now WDIV).[15]

Other original WJBK children's programs included a cowboy-themed show with Sagebrush Shorty, played by ventriloquist Ted Lloyd, with his sidekick dummy Skinny Dugan that aired from 1956 to 1960, featuring a mix of children's activities and various other characters that interacted with Lloyd.[15] That program was followed by another WJBK children's favorite, Jungle-La with wildlife expert "B'wana" Don Hunt, that aired from 1960 to 1963. Hunt with his sidekick chimpanzee Bongo Bailey hosted cartoons and taught viewers about various wildlife. Hunt moved to Africa in 1964 and managed a wildlife preserve in Kenya responsible for saving some species from extinction.[16] After airing first on the former WWJ-TV and CKLW-TV, performer Art Cervi would obtain the Bozo the Clown franchise for Detroit and perform the character at WJBK beginning in 1975. During its run at the station, the program would be syndicated from WJBK to cities including New York City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Wichita, Kansas.[17]

WJBK also produced one of Detroit's first morning talk shows, Ladies' Day with Chuck Bergeson, which aired from 1952 to 1959. The hour-long show included games, contests, and interviews with the biggest stars of the time including Lucille Ball and Red Skelton. Bergeson also hosted other WJBK shows in the 1950s including Your TV Golf Pro and The Name Game.[15] From 1967 to 1983, Sir Graves Ghastly, played by actor Lawson J. Deming, hosted WJBK's assorted sci-fi and horror movies on Saturday afternoons; the humorous character became a popular figure in Detroit television. Deming had originally come to the station as a puppeteer and voice actor for the children's program Woodrow the Woodsman when that show moved from Cleveland's WKYC-TV to WJBK in 1966. In addition to playing the character in Cleveland, he also played Sir Graves on WTOP-TV in Washington, D.C. at the same time.[18]

With This Ring was a nationally syndicated religious program produced at the studios of WJBK from the early 1970s through the mid-1990s. The weekly 15-minute show hosted by Roman Catholic priest Raymond Schlinkert featured lectures and advice about marriage and family life. The program was syndicated to several other U.S. commercial stations, usually shown immediately following the station's sign-on or before sign-off on Sundays.

WJBK would also produce Sunday public affairs/interview shows over the years including Focus Detroit, hosted by reporters Woody Willis and Beverly Payne in 1973;[19] Sunday in Detroit, hosted by news anchor Kathy O'Brien, would air around 1980 and WJBK business reporter and news anchor Murray Feldman also hosted a Sunday business and financial program in the mid-1990s called Moneywise. WJBK produced a local version of the syndicated program PM Magazine from 1978 to the mid-1980s. The show changed titles over the years eventually becoming known as PM Detroit – it also had various hosts included Ronnie Klemmer, Lorrie Kapp, Gary Cubberly and Mattie Majors.[19] The station was also the Detroit home and active participant for comedian Jerry Lewis' annual MDA Labor Day Telethon for several years.

From 1983 to 1986, popular WJR (760 AM) morning radio host J. P. McCarthy hosted an evening interview show with newsmakers and people of interest called JP, as well as a similar program in the early 1990s entitled In Person with J.P. McCarthy. He also previously hosted sports interview show specials through the 1970s.[19] In 1995, former WXYZ-TV news anchor Bill Bonds hosted the 11 p.m. talk/interview show, Bonds Tonight. Bonds eventually would end up anchoring and reporting on WJBK's newscasts.[15]

Past program preemptions and deferrals

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Even though WJBK was one of CBS' stronger affiliates, it would preempt or reschedule some network programs. As the flagship station of Detroit Tigers baseball from the 1950s to the 1970s, it would preempt network programming to televise games. From 1970 until the early 1980s, the station would air its own local morning newscast from 7 to 8 a.m. and then Good Morning, Detroit instead of the CBS Morning News. In 1992, it chose again not to air CBS This Morning in favor of its own local newscast.[20] The station would regularly reschedule CBS' daytime game shows and it would also move the soap opera Guiding Light from its usual network airtime of 3 pm. ET to 10 am, with episodes airing on a one-day delay. WJBK would also preempt the CBS late night schedule with syndicated reruns including Cheers and late night movies until the debut of the Late Show with David Letterman in 1993, when the station cleared the show at 11:35 p.m.

After the affiliation switch, WJBK maintained its existing schedule, with the exception of the expansion of its news programming including the move and conversion of its 11 p.m. newscast to an hour-long broadcast at 10 pm. As Fox offered less network programming, especially during the daytime hours, WJBK would fill its schedule with more syndicated programs and off-network reruns. However, the station, like its fellow former New World stations, never ran the Fox Kids children's programming block. That block would remain on former Fox affiliate WKBD before eventually moving to WADL (channel 38) and then WDWB-TV (channel 20, now WMYD). In 2014, WJBK cleared Steve Rotfeld Productions' Xploration Station block, making it the first time the station has ever cleared Fox children's programming.

Sports programming

[edit]

Detroit Tigers

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From the 1950s to the 1970s, WJBK was a pioneer in Detroit sports broadcasting. In 1949, it was the first television station in Michigan to broadcast live Detroit Tigers baseball and Detroit Lions football games.[9] From 1953 to 1974, WJBK served as the first flagship station of the Tigers Television Network with games broadcast on stations throughout Michigan, northern Indiana, and northwest Ohio.[21] In the 1960s, longtime Tigers broadcaster and former player George Kell hosted the pregame show Tigers Warm Up on the field during batting practice.[22] During the 2007 season, the station aired some regular season Tigers games produced by Fox Sports Detroit. In 2025, the Tigers announced that WJBK would simulcast 10 games from FanDuel Sports Network Detroit (the former Fox Sports Detroit), including the home opener on April 4.[23] WJBK also airs Tigers games nationally through Fox's MLB package (including the Tigers' 2006 and 2012 World Series appearances); WJBK also aired select Tigers games featured on CBS' MLB coverage from 1990 to 1993.

Detroit Pistons

[edit]

WJBK also televised Detroit Pistons games from the time that the team's relocated to Detroit from Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1957, until 1972; the team's games began airing on WKBD-TV the following season. The Pistons would also air on WJBK during nationally televised games on CBS from 1973 to 1990; WJBK televised both of the first two Pistons NBA Finals championships of 1989 and 1990 (game 5 of the latter series was the last NBA game aired on CBS).

Detroit Red Wings

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Detroit Red Wings NHL games, produced again by Fox Sports Detroit, would also be aired on the station from 2003 to 2007. In March 2007, WJBK began broadcasting Red Wings games in high definition. A package of five Red Wings games, all simulcasts from FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, would return to the station in 2025.[24] Previously the Red Wings aired on the station various times between 1956 and 1980 through broadcast rights held by CBS and again from 1995 to 1999 through Fox's contract with the NHL; this included the team's Stanley Cup Finals victories in 1997 and 1998.

Detroit Lions

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WJBK has had a long-standing relationship with the NFL's Detroit Lions (first with CBS, now Fox), having carried most of its games since 1956, when CBS started airing NFL games. Except for the first three months of the 1994 season (before the affiliation switch took effect), it has been the unofficial regular-season "home" station of the Lions ever since, including coverage of the team's Thanksgiving Day home games in odd-numbered years. For the first 15 weeks of the 1994 season, the games aired on lame-duck Fox outlet WKBD. However, regular season home games were subject to the NFL's local television blackout policy. This occurred five times during the Lions' winless season of 2008 when five home games were blacked out due to low ticket sales. However, in 2015, the NFL decided to lift the blackout rules on an experimental basis, meaning that Lions games were shown on Channel 2 regardless of ticket sales; this policy was continued the next season in 2016 as well, and has continued indefinitely as of 2019.

In previous years, WJBK had also televised Lions preseason games as the flagship station of the Detroit Lions Television Network and produced pregame and postgame shows. Those preseason broadcast rights were then held by WWJ-TV and then WXYZ-TV until 2015, when WJBK once again became the official preseason station of the Lions as well.

As a CBS affiliate, WJBK aired the network's coverage of Super Bowl XVI, which was hosted locally at the Pontiac Silverdome.

WJBK's sportscasters have also been team play-by-play announcers through the years with Van Patrick doing Tigers, Lions and Notre Dame Football games. Ray Lane would be paired with Hall of Fame announcer Ernie Harwell on Tigers' radio broadcasts from 1967 to 1972; and current sports director Dan Miller performs radio play by play for the Lions.

News operation

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WJBK currently broadcasts 68½ hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with 11½ hours each weekday and 5½ hours each on Saturdays and Sundays); in regards to the number of hours devoted to news programming, it is the highest local newscast output among all broadcast television stations in the state of Michigan. In addition, WJBK produces a sports highlight program on Sunday nights following the 10 p.m. newscast called Sports Works (which is also the branding of the sports segments seen within its newscasts); the show is hosted by either WJBK sports director Dan Miller or sports anchor/reporter Woody Woodriffe, and typically features a roundtable discussion with members of the Detroit sports media including Sean Baligian, formerly of WDFN (1130 AM); Bob Wojnowski from the Detroit News; Pat Caputo from the Oakland Press and WXYT-FM (97.1) and Tony Ortiz from WXYT-FM.

WJBK operates a fleet of Ford E350 ENG vehicles with microwave transmission and video editing capabilities. The station also has (SNG) mobile satellite uplink capability. For aerial news coverage, WJBK shares a Eurocopter AS350BA A-star news helicopter with WXYZ-TV and WDIV-TV as part of a Local News Service agreement. The aircraft has HD video capability and goes by the call sign "Red Bird" (although WJBK brands the helicopter as "SkyFox"). In 2009, WJBK and WXYZ-TV expanded the LNS agreement to allow the sharing of local news video.

In an effort to cut expenses, WJBK and WXYZ's respective owners, Fox and the E. W. Scripps Company, established an LNS in all markets where both companies own stations. The stations pool newsgathering resources and share video during coverage of general news events.[25] While the news department primarily focuses its local news coverage on southeastern Michigan, it also provides coverage of larger stories in southwestern Ontario, northern Ohio and the rest of Michigan.

TV-2 Eyewitness News

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Through much of the 1960s and 1970s WJBK's TV-2 Eyewitness News dominated the newscast ratings in the Detroit market.[26] This began with news anchor Jac LeGoff and grew when LeGoff was paired with newscaster John Kelly. Other popular longtime Detroit television personalities including Joe Weaver, Jerry Hodak, Van Patrick and Marilyn Turner would also be a part of WJBK's ratings success. The station's ratings would begin to wane in the mid-1970s after then-ABC O&O WXYZ-TV hired away WJBK's and WWJ-TV's top talent, including Kelly and Turner and eventually LeGoff and Hodak.[26] WJBK's newscasts remained competitive in the 1970s with a new stable of talent including anchors Joe Glover, Robbie Timmons, Harry Gallagher, Murray Feldman and Terry Murphy. The station also had correspondents in bureaus at the Detroit City-County Building (Louis Miller), the Michigan state capital in Lansing and Washington, D.C.[19] Nationally syndicated radio host George Noory was even a news producer at WJBK from 1974 to 1978, before becoming a news director at stations in Minneapolis and St. Louis.[27] However, by 1980, the station's news ratings steeply declined with the growing dominance of WXYZ. Also by this time WDIV's new owners, Post-Newsweek Stations, were making aggressive changes to bolster its station's image and ratings from third place. By 1982, management at WJBK replaced most of the staff, which sank the station's news ratings further into third place, from where it would almost never recover.[26]

With new management, WJBK's news department saw a resurgence by 1990 with new staff that included Sherry Margolis, Huel Perkins and the rehiring of former anchor Joe Glover. The station would also hire away news staff and talent away from top rated WXYZ including Rich Fisher, Dayna Eubanks, Catherine Lehan, Jerry Hodak and investigative reporter Vince Wade.[15] The station revised its image with a new logo, graphics, music and news set and began airing Detroit's first 4 p.m. newscast as part of a three-hour evening news block with half-hour newscasts at 4, 5 and 6 pm. At the same time, the station also became Detroit's first television station to launch a weekend morning newscast. Overall, WJBK's news ratings would not improve enough to surpass WXYZ and WDIV, which would continue to go head-to-head for first place. The station would also begin to simulcast its late newscast on WADL, which lasted until 1998. It would also be among the first television stations in the country to air obituaries in 1995 during the Detroit newspaper strike.

Fox 2 News

[edit]
Fox 2 News Remote Van.

When WJBK switched affiliations from CBS to Fox in December 1994, the station adopted a news-intensive format. It has retained a news schedule similar to the one it had in its latter days as a CBS affiliate. The 35-minute 11 p.m. newscast was moved to 10 p.m. and expanded to an hour, and the weekday morning newscast was also expanded. The weekend 6 p.m. newscasts would also be expanded to one hour. WJBK now had a late local newscast in first place as it immediately overtook the hour-long 10 p.m. newscast that WKBD had at the time in the ratings. Eventually, WJBK would drop the 4 p.m. newscast, but the station's profile and ratings for its morning and 10 p.m. newscasts would surge with it out of direct competition from its main competitors WDIV and WXYZ.[26] In 1995, the station would hire news anchor Bill Bonds after his departure from WXYZ-TV. Bonds would fill the 11 p.m. timeslot with a news/interview show, Bonds Tonight.[15]

The newscasts were branded as Fox 2 Eyewitness News until 1997, when Fox took full ownership of the station and rebranded its newscasts as Fox 2 News. By that time, the station would also release its previous WXYZ hires. At the same time, Fox's news management brought on new talent including Dan Miller, Alan Lee and Monica Gayle from Seattle, as well as Rob Wolchek from Fresno, California. By 1998, the station would bolster its image by improving its investigative and consumer advocate unit and branding it as The Problem Solvers. It also adopted a slogan complementary to Detroit's working class heritage, "News That Works for You". On September 24, 2007, WJBK relaunched an 11 p.m. newscast, using the NewsEdge format originally used by Fox Tampa station WTVT. It also changed its logo, graphics and news theme to an image that became standard on the Fox O&O stations. In April 2008, the station became the first Fox-owned station (and the third television station in Detroit) to broadcast its news programming in high definition.

On September 12, 2016, WJBK added an extra half-hour to its 6 p.m. newscast.[28]

Mornings

[edit]

WJBK had a tradition of producing its own morning news shows instead of airing CBS' morning news programs, beginning with a 7:30 a.m. newscast in 1969. The newscast would soon expand to an hour starting at 7 am. It became a mix of news, interviews and features and would be renamed Good Morning, Detroit and eventually moved to 8 am.[19] During its run, Vic Caputo would co-anchor separately with Beverly Payne, Ken Ford and Kathy O'Brien. Payne would be the first African-American female news anchor in Detroit.[15] Good Morning, Detroit eventually became Morning Magazine, hosted by Kathy O'Brien and Gary Cubberly. In 1982, Morning Magazine was discontinued and briefly became Two's Company, also hosted by O'Brien and Cubberly. In 1992, the station preempted CBS' morning news program again when WJBK rehired Jerry Hodak from WXYZ to co-anchor Eyewitness News Morning. Just prior to that, WJBK also debuted Detroit's first weekend morning newscast, which was first anchored by former PM Magazine host Gary Cubberly. Competitor WDIV would follow with its own weekend morning newscast, as did eventually WXYZ. Since then, the station has broadcast more morning news hours than any other Detroit television station. In September 2009, the morning newscast was expanded to 5½ hours, airing from 4:30 to 10 am. In September 2011, Fox 2 News Morning expanded to 6½ hours from 4:30 to 11 am, where it joins the station's hour-long midday newscast at 11 am. WJBK has also had the longest-running midday newscast in the Detroit market, which originated in 1966 in the noon timeslot, before moving to 11 a.m. shortly after the switch to Fox.[29]

On Wednesday, May 6, 2015, WJBK's morning show became the subject of notoriety for a blooper, wherein an anchor hoped the middle day of the week, which is often referred to as "hump day", would have clear skies, and turn out to be a "dry hump day".[30][31] In the fall of 2018, WJBK begin expanding its current morning newscasts to 8 hours with addition of half-hour starting at 4 am. On September 19, 2022, Fox 2 News Morning expanded to noon, with the midday newscast pushed back into the noon hour.

Ratings

[edit]

As of February 2012, WJBK's Fox 2 News Morning has consistently remained the Detroit market's highest-rated local morning newscast (6–7 a.m., 4.5 rating/17 share). After years of faltering at a distant third against WDIV and WXYZ, WJBK began to make gains in its audience growth in other newscasts. While WDIV continued to have the most-watched evening and late newscasts, WJBK's 10 p.m. news (7.5 rating/12 share) remains the highest-rated prime time newscast in Metro Detroit. Its early evening 5 and 5:30 p.m. newscasts (6.0/13) have surpassed WXYZ-TV's longtime dominant 5 p.m. newscast (5.8/13) for second place, while WJBK's 6 p.m. newscast (5.1/10) has become a very close third moving within one rating point to WXYZ's newscast in that timeslot (6.1/12). Since debuting in 2007, WJBK's 11 p.m. newscast Newsedge has been in third place overall (5.0 rating/9 share).[32]

Notable current on-air staff

[edit]
  • Dan Miller – sports director; also SportsWorks host
  • Lee Thomas – entertainment reporter
  • Rob Wolchek – "Problem Solvers" investigative and "Hall of Shame" feature reporter

Notable former on-air staff

[edit]

Technical information

[edit]

Subchannels

[edit]

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of WJBK[37]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
2.1 720p 16:9 WJBK Fox
2.2 480i Movies! Movies!
2.3 4:3 Buzzr Buzzr
2.4 16:9 WEST WEST
2.5 CATCHY Catchy Comedy[38]
2.6 FOX WX Fox Weather
20.3 480i 16:9 WMYD-MS Ion Mystery (WMYD-DT3)
  Broadcast on behalf of another station

Analog-to-digital conversion

[edit]

WJBK began airing its digital high-definition feed, WJBK-DT, on its pre-transition UHF channel 58 starting on October 1, 1998. The station shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 2, on June 12, 2009, per the U.S. Digital Television transition federal mandate. In concurrence, the station's digital signal switched to its assigned post-transition VHF channel 7[5][39] which was until that day occupied by WXYZ-TV's analog signal. WJBK was assigned its post-transition digital signal on May 7, 2007.[citation needed]

As part of the SAFER Act,[40] WJBK kept an analog signal on the air for two additional weeks until June 26 to inform viewers of the digital television transition through a loop of public service announcements from the National Association of Broadcasters.

Digital television receivers continue to display the station's virtual channel as its former VHF analog channel 2. WJBK is the only American television station in the Detroit–Windsor television market that broadcasts its digital signal on the VHF band. Canadian station CBET-DT, broadcasting from McGregor, Ontario, is on VHF channel 9. All other Detroit–Windsor DTV stations are on the UHF band, which includes channels 14 to 36 after the FCC repack.

Out-of-market coverage

[edit]

Canada

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WJBK also serves as a Fox station for other Canadian cable providers, including on Rogers Cable in the Canadian capital of Ottawa, Ontario. It was also one of five Detroit television stations seen in Canada on satellite provider Shaw Direct. As of April 2009, Shaw Broadcast Services (formerly CANCOM) replaced WJBK's signal with Rochester, New York Fox affiliate WUHF.[41] As a CBS affiliate, WJBK was carried on Cable Atlantic (now Rogers Cable) in Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia from 1985 until it affiliated with Fox in 1994. Both provinces are now served by Boston CBS O&O WBZ-TV.

Coverage on cable providers outside the Detroit–Windsor market may be subject to syndex and network blackouts in the United States and simsubbing in Canada.

Newscasts

[edit]

When WJBK became a Fox station, WGKI/WGKU (now WFQX-TV/WFUP), the Fox affiliate in Cadillac, Michigan, stopped simulcasting WKBD's 10 p.m. newscast in favor of WJBK's; this arrangement ended when WGKI began producing its own 10 p.m. newscast in 2000. In January 2007, WFQX began simulcasting WJBK's morning newscast from 6 to 8 a.m. under the title Michigan's Fox News Morning. The simulcasts were made possible with an agreement that offered northern Michigan businesses advertising opportunities during the newscast. WFQX would also air the second half of WJBK's 10 p.m. newscast following its own half-hour 10 p.m. newscast. WFQX would drop WJBK's newscasts altogether in October 2007, after the station was sold and CBS affiliate WWTV began producing WFQX's 10 p.m. and morning newscasts.

See also

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References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

WJBK

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
WJBK, 2 (UHF digital channel 7), is a television station licensed to , , , serving as the network's for the Detroit television market. The station first signed on the air on October 24, 1948, as the third commercial television outlet in Detroit and one of the earliest in the Midwest. Originally operating as a primary affiliate (with secondary DuMont affiliations in its early years), WJBK broadcast from studios in Detroit's New Center neighborhood before relocating to Southfield in 1971. Founded by Storer Broadcasting Company, which also owned the WJBK-AM radio station (now WLQV), the television station quickly established itself as a key player in local broadcasting, carrying programming until a major affiliation switch in December 1994. That year, as part of a broader realignment triggered by 's acquisition of Communications stations, WJBK became a affiliate, displacing to WWJ-TV (channel 62). Ownership transitioned to following the 1996 merger of and , solidifying its status as a network-owned property under . Today, WJBK operates as FOX 2 Detroit, delivering a mix of syndicated network shows, , weather, sports coverage, and investigative reporting focused on . The station's programming emphasizes regional issues, including Metro Detroit traffic, community events, and major league sports like the and Tigers, often through flagship shows such as Good Day Detroit and nightly newscasts. Its digital subchannels expand offerings with networks like Movies!, , and , while the main channel maintains a strong emphasis on for and severe weather alerts. WJBK's transmitter, located in Oakland County, provides coverage across a vast area including parts of , , making it a of cross-border media in the region. Over its 75-plus years, the station has evolved from black-and-white broadcasts to a digital powerhouse, adapting to technological shifts like the 2009 DTV transition while remaining committed to factual, community-driven .

History

Establishment and early operations as a CBS affiliate (1948–1994)

WJBK-TV signed on the air for the first time on October 24, 1948, becoming the third commercial television station in and Detroit's inaugural affiliate, initially sharing programming with the . Owned by Storer Broadcasting Company, the station was established as a sister outlet to the existing WJBK-AM radio station, with the television license acquired in 1947 for $550,000 from local investors and Connell. Broadcasting on VHF channel 2, WJBK quickly established itself as a key player in the local market, offering a mix of network fare, , and entertainment to a growing audience in the metropolitan area. In its early years, WJBK operated from temporary facilities in Detroit's during the late 1940s and early 1950s, focusing on building viewership through live and sports broadcasts. The station expanded its capabilities with the introduction of transmission in the mid-1950s, becoming the first in to equip its facilities for color broadcasting upon moving to a purpose-built studio at Second Avenue and Bethune Street in New Center in 1956. This new 41,000-square-foot facility, designed by architect John L. Volk in a Georgian Revival style, supported enhanced production values and included dedicated spaces for news, variety shows, and educational content. To bolster its informational programming, WJBK hired prominent educators such as Dr. Everett Phelps from 1951 to 1958 and Dr. John Dempsey from 1956 to 1962 as on-air commentators, contributing to segments that emphasized public affairs and community education. Throughout the 1960s, WJBK deepened its role in local journalism and community engagement, notably providing extensive live coverage of the , during which staff like weatherman Jerry Hodak were reassigned to full-time reporting amid the unrest. The station's news team adopted a community-oriented approach under consultants McHugh & , which helped WJBK's newscasts achieve top ratings in the market by emphasizing balanced reporting on civic issues. Technical advancements during this decade included upgrades to transmission infrastructure, enabling broader signal reach across as the station's operations grew to meet rising demand for local content. By the early 1970s, these developments, combined with the impacts of urban changes like the , prompted a relocation to a larger facility in Southfield, marking the end of its primary downtown era as a affiliate.

Affiliation switch to Fox and subsequent developments (1994–present)

In May 1994, Communications, the owner of WJBK, announced a deal with to switch affiliations for several of its stations, including WJBK in , as part of Fox's strategy to bolster its NFL coverage and expand its network footprint following its acquisition of NFC broadcast rights from . The switch took effect on December 11, 1994, ending WJBK's 46-year affiliation with CBS and making it the new affiliate in the Detroit market, with CBS affiliating with (channel 62, formerly independent WGPR-TV). This realignment was driven by Fox's investment in , taking a 20% stake to secure stronger affiliates in key markets like . The affiliation change significantly altered WJBK's programming slate, as the station relinquished CBS's established primetime lineup, including dramas like and , though Detroit Lions NFL games, as NFC contests, continued on WJBK under the new Fox affiliation following Fox's acquisition of NFC rights. In their place, WJBK adopted Fox's emerging primetime schedule, featuring edgier, youth-oriented shows such as , , and , which aimed to attract a younger demographic and boost ratings in the competitive Detroit market. Local programming, including newscasts and public affairs shows, continued but was rescheduled to accommodate the new network feed, with WJBK emphasizing its news department to maintain viewer loyalty amid the transition. Fox Television Stations acquired New World's remaining interest in WJBK and nine other stations in a $2.48 billion stock deal announced in July 1996 and completed on January 22, 1997, transforming WJBK into a owned-and-operated (O&O) station and integrating it into the network's core group. Following the 2019 Disney acquisition of 21st Century 's entertainment assets, WJBK remained under the newly independent 's division, ensuring its continued status as a key O&O in the eighth-largest U.S. . WJBK played a pivotal role in covering major national and local crises as Detroit's Fox affiliate, providing extended live reporting on the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, including reactions from Michigan's first responders and federal buildings. During the , which devastated Detroit's auto industry, the station aired in-depth segments on plant closures, bailouts for and , and unemployment surges, reflecting the city's economic turmoil with on-the-ground reporting from affected communities. In the starting in 2020, WJBK delivered daily updates on case counts, hospital capacities, and Governor Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home orders, while partnering with other Detroit stations for town hall broadcasts to address concerns. Post-2020, WJBK expanded its digital presence through its FOX 2 website and app, offering live streams, on-demand videos, and interactive weather tools to reach cord-cutters and mobile users amid shifting viewing habits. The station enhanced community outreach via initiatives like the "Good News Only" series, highlighting local heroes and positive stories, and collaborations such as the partnership with Woodward Sports Network for multimedia sports content, strengthening ties with 's diverse audiences. In July 2025, was appointed senior vice president and general manager of WJBK, overseeing further enhancements to and digital initiatives.

Ownership and facilities

Ownership history

WJBK-TV signed on the air on October 24, 1948, as a affiliate owned by Storer Broadcasting Company, which had acquired the license through its Fort Industry subsidiary and retained control through much of the station's early decades. The company, founded by George B. Storer, operated WJBK as part of a growing portfolio of radio and television properties in major markets. In 1985, Storer Communications—reorganized from Storer Broadcasting—was taken private in a $2.1 billion led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), amid a bidding war with other media firms including Knight-Ridder and . This transaction transferred ownership of Storer's seven VHF television stations, including WJBK, to SCI Holdings Inc., a KKR affiliate, marking a shift toward financial restructuring in the broadcast industry. By 1987, KKR sold the Storer television assets, including WJBK, to Gillett Communications in a deal valued at over $600 million for a 51% stake in six stations (with KKR retaining a ). The transaction, financed heavily through junk bonds, expanded Gillett's media footprint but contributed to financial strain amid the era's boom. Gillett's subsequent in 1992 led to the reorganization of its broadcast holdings into SCI Television Inc., preserving operational continuity for WJBK under new management. In February 1993, Communications Group Inc., controlled by investor Ronald O. Perelman, acquired a in SCI Television for $100 million in cash and $63 million in assumed debt, integrating WJBK into a portfolio that emphasized production and syndication alongside local broadcasting. This move positioned to leverage WJBK's strong market position in , the nation's fifth-largest TV market at the time. The affiliation switch to in December 1994 stemmed from this ownership era, as negotiated a deal granting access to its VHF stations. Fox Television Stations, a division of News Corporation, purchased New World's ten Fox-affiliated outlets, including WJBK, in a $2.48 billion all-stock transaction announced in July 1996 and completed on January 22, 1997. The acquisition solidified Fox's group in key markets, enhancing its national reach and local news capabilities. Following the March 2019 completion of The Company's $71.3 billion acquisition of Fox's entertainment assets, the Fox broadcast and cable networks—including and WJBK—were divested to the independent in a tax-free spin-off valued at approximately $51.7 billion. WJBK continues as a core asset of under , unaffected by the Disney transaction.

Studios, transmitter, and operations

WJBK's studios are located at 16550 W. Nine Mile Road in , a suburb of , where the station has maintained its primary operations since 1971. The facility encompasses a modern , multiple production studios, control rooms, and support spaces dedicated to content creation and broadcast management. This setup supports the station's role as a key owned-and-operated outlet in the Detroit market. The transmitter is co-located at the Southfield studios, operating from coordinates 42°27′38.3″N 83°12′49.2″W with an (ERP) of 27.2 kW and a (HAAT) of 314 meters, enabling broad coverage across and surrounding areas. WJBK conducts 24/7 broadcasting operations, seamlessly integrating national feeds from the network with through advanced and distribution systems. Field reporting relies on mobile production units equipped for live transmissions, ensuring real-time coverage of and events. The station employs approximately 115 staff members, comprising engineers, production crews, and technical specialists who manage daily workflows from content acquisition to on-air delivery. As part of Fox Corporation's broader environmental commitments, , including WJBK, have implemented sustainability efforts such as upgrades to energy-efficient equipment, high-efficiency LED lighting in production areas, modernized HVAC systems, and energy-saving transmitters to reduce operational carbon emissions.

Programming

Network and syndicated programming

As a Fox owned-and-operated station, WJBK carries the network's primetime lineup, featuring scripted dramas such as 9-1-1 and long-running animated comedies like The Simpsons. The station also broadcasts NFL games, including those from the NFC package. Fox aired Thursday Night Football exclusively from 2018 to 2022 as part of a five-year deal. This programming emphasizes high-profile entertainment and live sports events, aligning with Fox's focus on broad-appeal content. In daytime hours, WJBK fills its schedule with syndicated staples, including courtroom reruns of . These offerings provide a mix of news, advice, and entertainment targeted at diverse audiences, often running from late morning through early afternoon, alongside shows like TMZ Live and Extra. Weekend programming on WJBK includes Fox Sports events such as and additional NFL coverage, alongside the network's block featuring adult-oriented cartoons. The station typically carries the full Fox schedule with few preemptions for local content. Prior to its affiliation switch in December 1994, WJBK as a CBS affiliate emphasized daytime soap operas, including —which was occasionally rescheduled to accommodate syndicated fare—and . The transition to Fox marked a shift from soap-driven serials to reality competitions, procedural dramas, and event programming. WJBK also airs annual Fox network specials, such as celebrations featuring live music and countdowns from or local events, and feeds for national election coverage.

Local productions and preemptions

WJBK has produced a variety of original local programming throughout its , focusing on , , and public affairs content outside of its network obligations. In its early years as a CBS affiliate, the station aired in-house children's programs designed to engage young audiences with interactive formats and local talent. Notable examples included "Junior Jamboree," a featuring songs, games, and skits hosted by local performers. These productions were created entirely in-house at WJBK's facilities, reflecting the station's emphasis on family-oriented content during the and . During the CBS era, also developed public affairs programming to address regional issues, particularly those affecting 's diverse communities. "Focus Detroit" was a prominent Sunday morning interview series that debuted in the , hosted by journalists such as Beverly Payne, Woody Willis, and Joe Weaver, who discussed topics like urban development, civil rights, and local governance with community leaders and experts. The show, produced internally with a modest budget allocated to field reporting and studio discussions, ran for several decades and earned recognition for its in-depth coverage of minority concerns in the city. In the and , WJBK frequently preempted portions of CBS's daytime , including soap operas like , to insert local programming such as expanded talk segments or community segments, a common practice among affiliates seeking to prioritize regional content over network soaps. This approach sometimes led to viewer complaints but allowed the station to fill airtime with Detroit-specific inserts, often produced on a low-cost basis using existing studio resources. By contrast, after switching to in , WJBK adopted a more network-loyal with minimal preemptions, typically limited to occasional extensions of local morning shows into network slots; weekend movies were rarely delayed, though local events like holiday parades could occasionally prompt brief deferrals. Under Fox ownership, 's local productions shifted toward and consumer-focused content, all handled in-house at its Southfield studios with integrated digital production facilities upgraded post-2008 acquisition by . Current offerings include "The Nine," a weekday morning launched in that features celebrity interviews, cooking demos, and tips, airing from 10 a.m. to noon as a lead-in to network programming. Community affairs efforts center on "Fox 2 Problem Solvers," an ongoing investigative segment that tackles consumer issues like scams and service disputes, produced by a dedicated team with an emphasis on viewer-submitted stories. The station also airs occasional holiday specials, such as annual Day parade coverage and charity events, blending live remote broadcasts with pre-recorded segments to highlight local traditions and . These programs underscore WJBK's commitment to accessible, community-driven content while maintaining tight budgets through efficient in-house workflows.

Sports programming

WJBK has served as the primary broadcaster for games in the Detroit market since becoming the Fox affiliate in December 1994, airing all preseason contests and NFC playoff games assigned to the network. As the local outlet, the station carries regular-season Lions matchups when Fox holds national broadcast rights, alongside postseason appearances such as the team's divisional playoff wins in 1991 (pre-affiliation switch, but continued post-1994 pattern) and more recent NFC Championship runs in 2023 and 2024. In addition to game coverage, WJBK produces weekly Lions programming, including the pregame show Lions GameDay LIVE airing Sundays at 11 a.m. and the postgame Lions Live, featuring analysis from former players and coaches. The station expanded its baseball coverage in 2025 through a partnership with Ilitch Sports + Entertainment and Sports Network Detroit, simulcasting 10 Detroit Tigers games on WJBK, marking the first such over-the-air broadcasts since 2007. This includes key matchups like the home opener against the on April 4 at , with production integrating local commentary alongside the regional feed. For hockey, WJBK simulcast five Detroit Red Wings games in 2025, also via Sports Network Detroit, focusing on late-season contests to broaden free access for viewers. Historically, as the CBS affiliate from 1948 to 1994, WJBK broadcast Detroit Pistons playoff games during the team's "Bad Boys" era, including the full series against the and the 1990 Finals against the , where the Pistons secured back-to-back championships. Beyond professional teams, WJBK covers select college and local sports, including the annual Michigan-Ohio State football rivalry game when assigned to Fox's Big Ten package, as seen in the 2024 matchup broadcast live from Columbus. The station also provides highlights and analysis of through its sports segments on SportsWorks and other programs, emphasizing Metro Detroit playoffs. During its CBS years, WJBK deferred syndicated and local programming to accommodate coverage, such as preempting evening shows for live Pistons games in 1989 and 1990. WJBK's sports production utilizes mobile units stationed at for Tigers simulcasts and for Red Wings games, enabling on-site pre- and postgame segments. The station's analyst roster includes veterans like Jennifer Hammond for Lions coverage, joined by guests such as former Lions radio analyst for preseason broadcasts in 2025.

News operations

Evolution of newscasts

WJBK's news operations commenced with the station's on-air debut on , 1948, when it began airing basic news bulletins as part of its initial programming lineup as a affiliate, making it the third television station in the market to offer coverage. In the , the station expanded its news department to produce full-length newscasts under the "" branding, emphasizing on-the-scene reporting and community-focused stories, which propelled WJBK to lead ratings in the area throughout much of the decade and into the . The 1970s and 1980s saw further growth in the news division, with the establishment of dedicated investigative reporting units to tackle local issues in depth, reflecting the era's emphasis on aggressive journalism. Following the affiliation switch to Fox in December 1994, WJBK rebranded its newscasts as "Fox 2 News" in 1995, integrating expanded segments for weather and traffic to align with the network's faster-paced style and appeal to a broader audience. Key milestones in the included the launch of extended late-night programming, approaching 24-hour coverage through simulcasts and fillers, while the brought the introduction of the SkyFOX news helicopter for enhanced live aerial reporting. By 2020, the news department had fully integrated digital streaming, allowing viewers to access live newscasts and on-demand content via the 2 and app, marking a shift to multi-platform delivery. Throughout its history, WJBK's newscasts have transitioned technologically from film-based production in the mid-20th century to in the and digital editing systems by the early 2000s, enabling quicker turnaround and higher-quality broadcasts.

Current news programming and formats

WJBK's news department produces an extensive lineup of local programming under the Fox 2 News brand, emphasizing timely coverage of events. The flagship evening newscasts include dedicated editions at 5:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 10:00 p.m., and 11:00 p.m. on weekdays, delivering in-depth reporting on regional issues, politics, and community stories. The station's morning programming features the extended Fox 2 News Morning block, airing from 4:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on weekdays and incorporating lifestyle and entertainment segments through Good Day Detroit, which focuses on local events, health tips, and viewer engagement. This block transitions into additional news segments like The Nine at 9:00 a.m., blending hard news with lighter features to start the day. Weekend programming includes Fox 2 News Weekend editions on Saturdays and Sundays, typically in morning and evening slots, alongside specials produced in response to major events such as or public safety incidents. The station also airs investigative series, including the long-running Problem Solvers unit led by reporters like Rob Wolchek, which uncovers consumer issues, corruption, and unsolved crimes through in-depth reporting. Fox 2 News employs a fast-paced format characterized by dynamic graphics, multiple camera angles, and visualizations to enhance . Live shots are a key element, often featuring aerial coverage from the station's SkyFOX for monitoring and pursuits, in collaboration with local authorities including the . Content is distributed across multiple platforms beyond broadcast, including the FOX 2 Detroit website for on-demand videos, a dedicated for alerts and streaming, and live feeds on devices like and . Dedicated segments for and are integrated throughout the day, with certified meteorologists providing hourly forecasts using interactive maps and real-time , while traffic reporters deliver updates via live helicopter feeds and ground reports to address commuter needs in the densely populated region.

Ratings and notable achievements

WJBK's news operations have demonstrated consistent competitiveness in the Detroit television market as of the most recent available data in 2022, particularly in morning and late-evening time slots, where it frequently ranks among the top performers against rivals WDIV and WXYZ. In November 2015 Nielsen sweeps, FOX 2 News led the market in several evening newscasts, including the 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. slots, with household ratings surpassing WDIV in key demographics such as adults 25-54. By 2022, the station's 11 p.m. newscast secured second place overall, achieving a 2.4 household rating behind WDIV's 5.3 but ahead of WXYZ's 2.9, underscoring its edge in late-night viewership during periods of stable competition. Detailed Nielsen figures for 2023–2025 are not publicly available, emphasizing ongoing rivalry without a single dominant station across all slots. The station's investigative reporting has garnered significant recognition, with multiple regional Emmy Awards from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Michigan chapter. Reporters such as Rob Wolchek, a longtime investigative at WJBK, have earned over 25 Emmys for series exposing corruption, consumer fraud, and public safety issues, contributing to the team's reputation for in-depth local accountability journalism. Additional Emmy wins include those for Amy Lange's investigative work on and Hilary Golston's daily reports. In the 2025 NATAS ceremony, the station secured honors for investigative reporting ("Getting Away with Murder," Taryn Asher), features ("Hall of Shame," Rob Wolchek), crime/justice ("A Flawed System, A Determined Man," Taryn Asher), and magazine program ("The Weatherboys," featuring meteorologists Derek Kevra and Alan Longstreet). WJBK has also received Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association for exemplary journalism, often through staff contributions to high-impact stories. Amy Lange earned a regional Murrow for her series on homeless veterans, highlighting the station's focus on community vulnerabilities. Similarly, Erica Francis won a Murrow for co-anchoring coverage, while Jessica Dupnack contributed to two regional Murrows for collaborative reporting on the , which illuminated environmental and failures affecting thousands. These awards reflect WJBK's role in fostering community awareness during crises, including extensive local disaster reporting. In the broader competitive landscape, WJBK often outperforms WXYZ in key evening and morning demos while trailing market leader WDIV, maintaining a solid second-place position that bolsters its influence in . This positioning has been evident in sweeps data showing FOX 2's ability to capture significant shares during cycles and major local events.

On-air personnel

WJBK's current news anchors include Roop Raj, who has served as the evening lead anchor since joining the station around 2010, often hosting the political discussion program Let it Rip. Taryn Asher anchors the evening newscasts at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 10 p.m., and The Edge at 11 p.m., having been with 2 Detroit since 2007. Alan Longstreet, the chief , provides forecasts on FOX 2 News Mornings as a board-certified , having joined the team in 2012. Among the station's reporters, Jessica Dupnack covers investigative stories and general assignments during the 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. newscasts, bringing experience from prior roles in Flint. Notable former on-air personnel include , who anchored at WJBK from 1995 to 1999 and was known for his confrontational interviewing style that defined much of his earlier career at other stations. John Kelly served as a reporter and anchorman at WJBK starting in 1965, contributing to the station's top-rated news team alongside colleagues like Jac LeGoff before departing for WXYZ in the early 1970s. Recent transitions in the news team have included retirements such as those of longtime anchors Huel Perkins and Monica Gayle in March 2022, marking the end of their nearly 25-year partnership on the evening newscasts. Post-2020 hires have emphasized digital and multimedia roles, with additions like reporter Bre Teamer in 2024, general assignment reporter Jamie Sherrod in 2024, and Lauren Edwards in 2025 to enhance online coverage and streaming content.

Technical information

Digital subchannels

WJBK transmits its primary affiliation and several digital multicast subchannels over 2 using ATSC 1.0 standards, which allocate the station's 6 MHz bandwidth to support multiple simultaneous streams typically at resolution for subchannels beyond the main feed. The primary subchannel, 2.1, has carried network programming in high definition since the completion of the nationwide on June 12, 2009. Subchannel 2.2 features Movies!, a network dedicated to classic films from the through the , which affiliated with WJBK upon its launch on Fox-owned stations on May 27, 2013. Subchannel 2.3 airs , a 24-hour channel of vintage game shows from the to the , which began broadcasting on WJBK on June 1, 2015, coinciding with the network's national debut. Subchannel 2.4 currently broadcasts West, a western-themed network featuring classic TV series and films such as Gunsmoke and Bonanza, which launched nationally on September 29, 2025, and is carried on WJBK as part of its initial rollout to select markets. Prior to West, this subchannel carried , a classic action and adventure series network, starting in November 2015. WJBK also maintains additional subchannels including 2.5 (, featuring classic sitcoms; rebranded March 27, 2023, from Decades) and 2.6 (, 24/7 weather coverage; launched October 25, 2021), which share the multiplex under ATSC 1.0 parameters. The station additionally hosts subchannel 20.3 () for WPXD-TV on physical slot 7.8. The station has been broadcasting in (NextGen TV) since early deployments in the Detroit market in January 2021, with enhanced features like content encryption activated by January 2025 to protect premium programming.
Virtual ChannelPhysical ChannelAffiliation/NetworkContent FocusLaunch Date on WJBK
2.17.3FoxNetwork and local programmingJune 12, 2009 (HD)
2.27.4Movies!Classic filmsMay 27, 2013
2.37.5BuzzrVintage game showsJune 1, 2015
2.47.6WestWestern series and moviesSeptember 29, 2025
2.57.7Catchy ComedyClassic sitcomsMarch 27, 2023 (rebrand)
2.67.9Fox Weather24/7 weather coverageOctober 25, 2021
20.37.8ION Mystery (hosted for WPXD-TV)Mystery seriesCirca 2017

Analog-to-digital conversion and signal details

WJBK activated its digital television signal, WJBK-DT, on UHF channel 58 on October 1, 1998, becoming one of the early stations in Detroit to broadcast digitally. As part of the nationwide digital television transition mandated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the station conducted pre-transition operations on both analog channel 2 and digital channel 58 until the analog signal ceased operations on June 12, 2009, at 11:59 a.m. EDT. In compliance with the Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness (SAFER) Act, WJBK provided analog nightlight service immediately following the sign-off, broadcasting looped digital transition information, emergency alerts, and severe weather updates for 30 days to assist viewers still reliant on analog equipment. Following the full-power analog shutdown, WJBK relocated its digital signal to VHF channel 7 while retaining 2 via (Program and System Information Protocol) to maintain continuity for viewers and equipment tuned to the legacy channel number. The station's VHF digital transmitter, located at 16550 W 9 Mile Road in , operates with an (ERP) of 27.2 kW and a (HAAT) of 314 meters (1,030 feet), providing coverage across and portions of . This configuration reaches an estimated population of over 5.8 million within its primary contour, encompassing approximately 2.5 million television households in the Detroit designated market area (DMA). Post-transition enhancements included the expansion of high-definition (HD) programming, with WJBK launching HD newscasts on April 22, 2008, ahead of the deadline, and transitioning its full schedule to 720p HD by late 2009. The station complied with FCC spectrum incentive auction requirements in 2017 by retaining its full-power allotment on channel 7, avoiding channel sharing or relinquishment while contributing to the overall repacking process that optimized UHF and VHF band usage nationwide.

Out-of-market coverage

Reception in Canada

WJBK's over-the-air signal reaches Windsor and Essex County in due to the station's transmitter in , located less than 50 km from the international border, allowing reliable reception with appropriate antennas despite its VHF channel 7 broadcast. The station has been carried on major cable providers in the region since the mid-1990s, including systems serving Windsor and systems in surrounding areas such as , providing access to Detroit-focused programming for households. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has authorized WJBK's distribution as a non-Canadian station, with approvals including a 2003 decision permitting Rogers to carry it in markets like , and a 2017 approval for Solutions to add it to eligible lists. NFL games broadcast on WJBK, particularly Detroit Lions home contests, are subject to league blackout restrictions and unavailable in the Toronto market to preserve local rights held by Canadian broadcasters. WJBK's news coverage of cross-border events resonates with Canadian audiences, including annual reports on the Detroit Auto Show, which draws international attention to automotive innovations relevant to Ontario's industry, and updates on Windsor-Detroit Tunnel maintenance and operations affecting daily commuters.

Extended availability and newscast distribution

WJBK extends its over-the-air signal beyond the core designated market area (DMA) through cable and satellite carriage in adjacent regions, including and . In northwest , particularly around Toledo, the station is available on Buckeye Broadband systems, where it serves as a key affiliate option alongside alternatives like WUPW. In , such as the Traverse City area, WJBK reaches viewers via (channels 134 and 154) and (formerly , channels 291 and 292), providing Detroit-centric programming to households outside the primary DMA. and further facilitate this extended access in both regions by including WJBK in their channel packages for border areas, allowing subscribers to receive network content without relying solely on distant signals. The station's newscasts, branded as Fox 2 News, are distributed digitally for broader accessibility beyond traditional cable footprints. Live streams of Fox 2 News programming are available nationwide through the FOX LOCAL app on platforms including , Apple TV, , and , enabling out-of-market viewers to access breaking news, weather, and local coverage from . Additionally, WJBK's news content is simulcast on as part of the "News on Tubi" initiative, which features 24/7 live channels from 17 , expanding reach to streaming audiences in extended markets. A partnership with Amazon distributes select clips and highlights across Fire TV devices, further amplifying WJBK's content to non-traditional viewers. Historically, WJBK's availability grew through satellite expansions targeting rural viewers under the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA) of 2010, ensuring local stations like WJBK reached isolated communities in Michigan and Ohio via providers like Dish Network and DirecTV. Out-of-market viewership contributes significantly to WJBK's audience, particularly during sports broadcasts, with Detroit teams like the Lions drawing fans from across Michigan and Ohio. Preseason Detroit Lions games, for instance, are aired on WJBK through a multi-year partnership with the team and Bally Sports Detroit, attracting regional interest that extends beyond the DMA. WJBK also shares content with statewide networks for emergency alerts, collaborating on public safety announcements distributed via radio and TV affiliates to ensure timely information reaches peripheral areas. Canadian cable systems carry WJBK on select border markets for supplemental U.S. programming.

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  43. https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2024/10/23/j-dilla-vincent-chin-detroit-street-sign/75794751007/
  44. https://radiodiscussions.com/threads/they-preempted-that-for-this.471618/page-4
  45. https://www.fox2detroit.com/shows/mornings
  46. https://www.fox2detroit.com/tag/holidays
  47. https://www.sportsmediawatch.com/tv-schedules/nfl-tv-schedule/detroit-lions/
  48. https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2015/5/21/8637933/lions-tv-partners
  49. https://www.mlb.com/news/tigers-games-available-on-fox-2-detroit-in-2025
  50. https://www.freep.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2025/03/09/detroit-tigers-red-wings-to-air-15-games-on-local-tv-in-2025-full-schedule/82065628007/
  51. https://www.crainsdetroit.com/sports-recreation/fox-2-fanduel-sports-network-simulcast-tigers-games
  52. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8T5t7VFFC0
  53. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDsAxRVLrZ4
  54. https://www.fox2detroit.com/tag/high-school
  55. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cHGv0g6N9E
  56. https://www.fox2detroit.com/sports/detroit-tigers-games-fox-2-spring-summer
  57. https://www.detroitlions.com/news/detroit-lions-preseason-tv-broadcast-crew-welcomes-jason-benetti-and-t-j-lang-to-the-booth
  58. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/entertainment/television/2023/10/20/fox-2-detroit-celebrates-75-years-on-the-airwaves/71241005007/
  59. https://ekimmell2.tripod.com/old3.html/
  60. https://www.fox2detroit.com/75-years-of-fox-2
  61. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FQcjVgBwwQ
  62. https://www.tvpassport.com/tv-listings/stations/fox-wjbk-detroit-mi-hd/2815
  63. https://www.facebook.com/WJBKFox2Detroit/posts/fox-2-news-morning-weekdays-starting-at-4am-detroit/1146960444145858/
  64. https://www.fox2detroit.com/shows/good-day-detroit
  65. https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/investigative-reporter-scott-lewis-was-wjbks-original-problem-solver
  66. https://www.fox2detroit.com/team
  67. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHjuhbZ_wcE
  68. https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/state-police-helicopter-tracks-down-speeding-motorcyclist-who-hit-speeds-over-100-mph-detroit
  69. https://www.fox2detroit.com/live
  70. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fox-local-live-news-weather/id6443995100
  71. https://www.mlive.com/news/detroit/2015/11/see_who_won_the_detroit_tv_new.html
  72. https://www.nexttv.com/news/local-news-close-up-full-speed-ahead-in-motor-city
  73. https://natasmichigan.org/emmy-awards/nominees-winners/
  74. https://www.fox2detroit.com/person/l/amy-lange
  75. https://www.fox2detroit.com/person/g/hilary-golston
  76. https://www.fox2detroit.com/person/f/erica-francis
  77. https://www.fox2detroit.com/person/d/jessica-dupnack
  78. https://mijournalismhalloffame.org/bill-bonds/
  79. https://www.facebook.com/TarynAsherFox2/posts/18-years-at-fox-2-today-it-feels-like-yesterday-i-walked-into-the-newsroom-thank/1342447923909224/
  80. https://www.facebook.com/WJBKFox2Detroit/posts/meet-alan-longstreet-fox-2s-newest-meteorologist-httpbitlywbjjac/354934817855998/
  81. https://www.detroithistorical.org/learn/online-research/encyclopedia-of-detroit/kelly-john
  82. https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/fox-2s-huel-perkins-and-monica-gayle-to-retire-in-march
  83. https://www.boston25news.com/news/fox-television-stations-launches-new-channel-movies/140341364/
  84. https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=print_market&mktid=14
  85. https://westtelevision.com/future-west-stations
  86. https://localwiki.org/detroit/WJBK
  87. https://www.foxnews.com/media/fox-weather-announces-official-launch-date
  88. https://www.nexttv.com/features/detroit-stations-launch-start-over-datacasting-to-boost-nextgen-tv
  89. https://www.atsc.org/news/five-detroit-broadcast-stations-collaborating-to-launch-motown-3-0-test-track-as-nextgen-tv-broadcasts-begin-in-motor-city/
  90. https://localwiki.org/detroit/Television
  91. https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-291375A1.pdf
  92. https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-announces-results-worlds-first-broadcast-incentive-auction-0
  93. https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2003/db2003-579.htm
  94. https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/archive/2017/2017-70.pdf
  95. https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/2025-detroit-auto-show-electric-vehicles-lions-impact
  96. https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/detroit-windsor-tunnel-turns-85-today
  97. https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/work-begins-on-detroit-windsor-tunnel-ceilling-renovations
  98. https://www.buckeyebroadband.com/sites/default/files/2023-02/business_nw_oh_channel_guide.pdf
  99. https://buzzrtv.com/index.php/station_finder
  100. https://www.inmyarea.com/tv/cable/48461/providers
  101. https://corporate.tubitv.com/press/tubi-launches-news-on-tubi-adding-live-streaming-channels-from-17-fox-television-stations-and-more-than-25-partners/
  102. https://www.foxcorporation.com/news/business/2023/fox-television-stations-and-amazon-announce-new-content-distribution-deal/
  103. https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-11-1454A1_Rcd.pdf
  104. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2015/05/21/fox-2-lands-lions-preseason-games/27708807/
  105. https://www.freep.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2025/08/08/detroit-lions-vs-atlanta-falcons-preseason-start-time-tv-jared-goff-playing/85528745007/
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