Archive for August, 2011

Nielsen releases new rankings for DMAs

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Posted 31 Aug 2011 — by Michigan Media
Category Detroit, Flint-Saginaw-Bay City, Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek, Lansing, Marquette, Traverse City-Cadillac

NielsenNielsen released new rankings for local television markets. The Detroit, Lansing and Alpena markets did not change. Grand Rapids, Traverse City and Marquette moved down one spot. Flint moved up one spot in the rankings.

Here is an overview of Michigan DMAs:

2010-11
Rank		  – 2011-12
Rank		 - - Difference – DMA Name – 2011
TV Homes		 – 2012
TV Homes
11 11 Detroit 1,883,840 1,842,650
41 42 -1 Grand Rapids-Kalmzoo-B.Crk 740,230 722,150
69 68 +1 Flint-Saginaw-Bay City 455,840 451,880
115 115 Lansing 253,380 252,890
119 120 -1 Traverse City-Cadillac 242,700 244,050
179 180 -1 Marquette 87,670 85,230
208 208 Alpena 17,040 17,100

 

Read the full list here.

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Mecklenburg fills in for Chan at WXMI

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Posted 30 Aug 2011 — by Michigan Media
Category Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek

Rick Mecklenburg

Rick Mecklenburg, former Chief Meteorologist at WSBT in South Bend, is lending a hand to the weather department at WXMI in Grand Rapids. He is filling in for WXMI Chief Meteorologist Peter Chan, who is recovering from surgery on a torn Achilles tendon. Chan is expected to be out of commission for at least four weeks.

Mecklenburg was Chief Meteorologist at WSBT from 1998 until his abrupt departure from the station in July. In November 2010, he was arrested and charged with two counts of false informing after saying police hit his car and fired shots at him. The St. Joseph County Prosecutor diverted all charges against Mecklenburg as long as he agreed to pay court costs, complete an approved counseling assessment and not commit any criminal offenses for the next year.

According to Mecklenburg, the arrest was caused by a difficult battle with alcohol. “As my friends and family know, I never did drink until I was in my late 30s. At that time, I went through a divorce and turned to alcohol to help ease the pain of not having my children around. It slowly got out of control to the point of my being arrested.”

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WADL adds Antenna TV

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Posted 29 Aug 2011 — by Michigan Media
Category Detroit

Antenna TVWADL in Detroit will launch Antenna TV on its .2 multicast channel on October 1.

Adell Broadcasting’s Independent WADL Detroit is readying a launch of Antenna TV on its dot .2 multicast channel beginning 10/1. Antenna TV will bring additional classic TV programs, including “The Flying Nun,” “The Monkees,” “The Partridge Family,” “All in The Family,” “Maude” and “Soap.”

Kevin Adell, CEO and owner of WADL, who also owns “The Word Network” (the largest African-American religious network in the world), explains: “We have looked at many programming options for our .2, but ‘Antenna TV’ was by far the best fit with its quality classic programming lineup, expansive national distribution with Tribune stations and will have the longevity over fledgling networks.”

Locally, “Antenna TV” will be available on channel 38.2 and channel 295 on Comcast Cable.

TV Business Report

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LaPlante leaves WXMI for job with Kent County

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Posted 16 Aug 2011 — by Michigan Media
Category Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo-Battle Creek

Lisa LaPlanteLisa LaPlante is leaving Tribune-owned WXMI (FOX 17) in Grand Rapids for a position with the Kent County Health Department.

FOX 17 reporter Lisa LaPlante, one of the original members of the WXMI-TV news team, is leaving the station after nearly 13 years.

LaPlante has accepted the position of marketing and communications manager for the Kent County Health Department.

Her final day at FOX 17 is Aug. 31, just weeks after reporter Hailey Frances left the station to take a new position in Arizona.

Leaving the news business is a “gut-wrenching decision,” LaPlante said.

Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk | The Grand Rapids Press

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