WMQF
Encyclopedia
WZMQ is a television station licensed to Marquette, Michigan
and serving the central portion of Michigan's Upper Peninsula
. Broadcasting on UHF digital
channel 19 from a transmitter in Ishpeming, Michigan
, WZMQ is owned by MMMRC, LLC, and has affiliation with Me-TV (on channel 19.1), MyNetworkTV
and This TV
(on channel 19.2 or Charter Cable channel 14) and Antenna TV
(on channel 19.3 or Charter channel 320).
The station launched on February 2, 2003 as Fox
affiliate WMQF. Prior to WMQF's launch, Fox programming was seen in the U.P. on a limited basis—either over-the-air (on WLUC-TV
, which had a limited relationship with Fox in the mid-1990s, or through a translator of Green Bay's
WLUK-TV
) or through Charter Cable systems (which imported either WLUK or Cadillac's
WFQX-TV
). WMQF also had secondary affiliation with UPN
, broadcasting that network's programming during off-network hours. (UPN was previously affiliated with Crystal Falls
Class A station
WUPT-CA
, which folded after losing UPN affiliation to WMQF.) After UPN ended in 2006, WMQF adopted secondary affiliation with MyNetworkTV
.
WMQF was originally owned and operated by Equity Media Holdings. Other than the transmitter, WMQF had no physical presence in the U.P. under Equity's ownership; the company central-casted 100% of WMQF's programming (as it did with its other stations) from its headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas
. In addition to network and syndicated programming, Equity would air on WMQF two programs it produced for its Retro Television Network
at the time, Unreliable Sources and Closing Remarks. Throughout its history (and especially during its early days), trying to pick up WMQF over-the-air was quite challenging due to its relatively weak 500,000-watt
analog signal; when it was picked up, its signal and picture quality could still tend to be sub-par. As a result, most cable providers chose to obtain WMQF's signal directly off the satellite uplink to the transmitter (it was available free-to-air
on the Galaxy 18
satellite system).
On December 8, 2008, Equity Media Holdings filed for bankruptcy and would auction off all its television stations the following April. WMQF would be sold to MMMRC, LLC, a company owned by the principals of De Pere, Wisconsin
-based Smet Construction Services. The sale closed the week of June 23, 2009, when the station's call sign was changed from WMQF to WZMQ. By this time, however, WMQF programming was discontinued as Equity was not able to meet the mandatory digital transition earlier in June 2009 (see Digital Television below). As a result, Fox would move its affiliation from channel 19 to WLUC-DT2
channel 6.2 in August 2009 (the move relegated Universal Sports
from full-time to overnight status on channel 6.2). During the interim, Fox programming was still available on Charter Cable through its importing of WLUK-TV from Green Bay (which continued on Charter Cable throughout WMQF's existence and continues today).
Smet Construction Services would construct new facilities in De Pere, Wisconsin, from which WZMQ programming would originate. The construction was completed on or about October 15, 2009, after which Smet officially launched WZMQ, replacing the "Coming Soon" slides that were broadcast since the summer with programming from This TV
and MyNetworkTV
on channels 19.1 and 19.2 respectively. Antenna TV
would be added to channel 19.2 January 1, 2011, with MyNetworkTV moving to channel 19.1, replacing This TV's 8pm weeknight movie broadcast.
In May 2011, WZMQ picked up the Me-TV subchannel, placing it at 19.1; its other subchannels each were renumbered accordingly, with MyNetworkTV / This TV moving to channel 19.2 and Antenna TV moving to 19.3.
after the Federal Communications Commission
finalized the digital television
allotment plan on April 21, 1997,, WMQF did not receive a companion channel for a digital station. On June 12, 2009, at the end of the conversion period for full-service stations, WMQF was required to turn off its analog signal and turn on its digital signal (an operation called a "flash-cut
"). Since the channel was then owned by Equity Media Holdings, the company told the FCC it would not be able to convert WMQF and most of its stations to digital in time for the transition. After being sold to MMMRC, WZMQ made its flash-cut to digital shortly before the June 2009 transition cutoff, transmitting two subchannels that were at low-power due to some transmitter problems. WZMQ would eventually move to full-power broadcasting and since May 2011 transmits its digital signal in the following manner:
Marquette, Michigan
Marquette is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Marquette County. The population was 21,355 at the 2010 census, making it the most populated city of the Upper Peninsula. Marquette is a major port on Lake Superior, primarily for shipping iron ore and is the home of Northern...
and serving the central portion of Michigan's Upper Peninsula
Upper Peninsula of Michigan
The Upper Peninsula of Michigan is the northern of the two major land masses that make up the U.S. state of Michigan. It is commonly referred to as the Upper Peninsula, the U.P., or Upper Michigan. It is also known as the land "above the Bridge" linking the two peninsulas. The peninsula is bounded...
. Broadcasting on UHF digital
Digital television
Digital television is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV...
channel 19 from a transmitter in Ishpeming, Michigan
Ishpeming, Michigan
Ishpeming is a city in Marquette County in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 6,686 at the 2000 census. This is down from a higher population in the 1950s and 1960s when the economically supportive iron ore mines had a much higher employment level...
, WZMQ is owned by MMMRC, LLC, and has affiliation with Me-TV (on channel 19.1), MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
and This TV
This TV
This TV is a United States general entertainment television network, with a large emphasis in its programming on movies....
(on channel 19.2 or Charter Cable channel 14) and Antenna TV
Antenna TV
Antenna TV is an American digital broadcast television network, primarily featuring classic television series from the 1950s to the 1990s, along with some feature films. It is owned by Tribune Broadcasting, a division of the Chicago-based Tribune Company...
(on channel 19.3 or Charter channel 320).
History
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
affiliate WMQF. Prior to WMQF's launch, Fox programming was seen in the U.P. on a limited basis—either over-the-air (on WLUC-TV
WLUC-TV
WLUC-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for Michigan's Central Upper Peninsula licensed to Marquette. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 35 from a transmitter on South Helen Lake Road southeast of Republic in rural Marquette County. The station can also be seen...
, which had a limited relationship with Fox in the mid-1990s, or through a translator of Green Bay's
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
WLUK-TV
WLUK-TV
WLUK-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for the Fox River Valley area and Northeastern Wisconsin. Licensed to Green Bay, Wisconsin, the station broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11 from a transmitter on Scray's Hill in Ledgeview; the station also broadcasts in...
) or through Charter Cable systems (which imported either WLUK or Cadillac's
Cadillac, Michigan
Cadillac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is the county seat of Wexford County. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,000. The city is situated at the junction of US 131, M-55 and M-115...
WFQX-TV
WFQX-TV
WFQX-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for the northern Lower and eastern Upper Peninsulas of Michigan. Licensed to Cadillac, it broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 32 from a transmitter at studios on 130th Avenue/Dighton Road in Tustin on Grove Hill...
). WMQF also had secondary affiliation with UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
, broadcasting that network's programming during off-network hours. (UPN was previously affiliated with Crystal Falls
Crystal Falls, Michigan
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,791 people, 795 households, and 470 families residing in the city. The population density was 530.6 per square mile . There were 913 housing units at an average density of 270.5 per square mile...
Class A station
Class A television service
The class A television service is a system for regulating some low-power television stations in the United States. Class A stations are denoted by the broadcast callsign suffix "-CA" or "-CD" , although very many analog -CA stations have a digital companion channel that was assigned the -LD...
WUPT-CA
WUPT-CA
WUPT-CA channel 25 was the UPN affiliate in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, licensed in Crystal Falls, Michigan. The station signed off on October 27, 2003, after losing the UPN affiliation to the new, full-powered Fox affiliate, WMQF....
, which folded after losing UPN affiliation to WMQF.) After UPN ended in 2006, WMQF adopted secondary affiliation with MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
.
WMQF was originally owned and operated by Equity Media Holdings. Other than the transmitter, WMQF had no physical presence in the U.P. under Equity's ownership; the company central-casted 100% of WMQF's programming (as it did with its other stations) from its headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
. In addition to network and syndicated programming, Equity would air on WMQF two programs it produced for its Retro Television Network
Retro Television Network
The Retro Television Network is a system of television stations that airs classic television shows as well as more recently produced programs...
at the time, Unreliable Sources and Closing Remarks. Throughout its history (and especially during its early days), trying to pick up WMQF over-the-air was quite challenging due to its relatively weak 500,000-watt
Watt
The watt is a derived unit of power in the International System of Units , named after the Scottish engineer James Watt . The unit, defined as one joule per second, measures the rate of energy conversion.-Definition:...
analog signal; when it was picked up, its signal and picture quality could still tend to be sub-par. As a result, most cable providers chose to obtain WMQF's signal directly off the satellite uplink to the transmitter (it was available free-to-air
Free-to-air
Free-to-air describes television and radio services broadcast in clear form, allowing any person with the appropriate receiving equipment to receive the signal and view or listen to the content without requiring a subscription or one-off fee...
on the Galaxy 18
Galaxy 18
Galaxy 18 is a Space Systems/Loral 1300-series hybrid communications satellite owned by Intelsat and located in geosynchronous orbit at 123° W longitude, serving the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico, and Canada with 24 C-band, and 24 Ku band transponders...
satellite system).
On December 8, 2008, Equity Media Holdings filed for bankruptcy and would auction off all its television stations the following April. WMQF would be sold to MMMRC, LLC, a company owned by the principals of De Pere, Wisconsin
De Pere, Wisconsin
De Pere is a city located in Brown County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 20,559 at the 2000 census. De Pere is a suburb of Green Bay and is part of the Green Bay Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Registered historic places:...
-based Smet Construction Services. The sale closed the week of June 23, 2009, when the station's call sign was changed from WMQF to WZMQ. By this time, however, WMQF programming was discontinued as Equity was not able to meet the mandatory digital transition earlier in June 2009 (see Digital Television below). As a result, Fox would move its affiliation from channel 19 to WLUC-DT2
WLUC-DT2
WLUC-DT2 is the Fox-affiliated television station for Michigan's Central Upper Peninsula. It is a second digital subchannel of NBC affiliate WLUC-TV owned by Barrington Broadcasting...
channel 6.2 in August 2009 (the move relegated Universal Sports
Universal Sports
Universal Sports is an American television network that airs various sports, primarily those contested in the Olympic Games, including swimming, gymnastics, cycling, track and field, figure skating, skiing, bobsledding and triathlon.-Programming:...
from full-time to overnight status on channel 6.2). During the interim, Fox programming was still available on Charter Cable through its importing of WLUK-TV from Green Bay (which continued on Charter Cable throughout WMQF's existence and continues today).
Smet Construction Services would construct new facilities in De Pere, Wisconsin, from which WZMQ programming would originate. The construction was completed on or about October 15, 2009, after which Smet officially launched WZMQ, replacing the "Coming Soon" slides that were broadcast since the summer with programming from This TV
This TV
This TV is a United States general entertainment television network, with a large emphasis in its programming on movies....
and MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
on channels 19.1 and 19.2 respectively. Antenna TV
Antenna TV
Antenna TV is an American digital broadcast television network, primarily featuring classic television series from the 1950s to the 1990s, along with some feature films. It is owned by Tribune Broadcasting, a division of the Chicago-based Tribune Company...
would be added to channel 19.2 January 1, 2011, with MyNetworkTV moving to channel 19.1, replacing This TV's 8pm weeknight movie broadcast.
In May 2011, WZMQ picked up the Me-TV subchannel, placing it at 19.1; its other subchannels each were renumbered accordingly, with MyNetworkTV / This TV moving to channel 19.2 and Antenna TV moving to 19.3.
Digital Television
Because it was granted an original digital construction permitConstruction permit
A construction permit or building permit is a permit required in most jurisdictions for new construction, or adding on to pre-existing structures, and in some cases for major renovations. Generally, the new construction must be inspected during construction and after completion to ensure compliance...
after the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
finalized the digital television
Digital television
Digital television is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV...
allotment plan on April 21, 1997,, WMQF did not receive a companion channel for a digital station. On June 12, 2009, at the end of the conversion period for full-service stations, WMQF was required to turn off its analog signal and turn on its digital signal (an operation called a "flash-cut
Flash-cut
A flash-cut, also called flash-cutover, is an immediate change in a complex system, with no phase-in period.Some telephone area codes were split immediately, rather than being phased in with a permissive dialing period. An example is telephone area code 213, which was split into 213 and 714 all at...
"). Since the channel was then owned by Equity Media Holdings, the company told the FCC it would not be able to convert WMQF and most of its stations to digital in time for the transition. After being sold to MMMRC, WZMQ made its flash-cut to digital shortly before the June 2009 transition cutoff, transmitting two subchannels that were at low-power due to some transmitter problems. WZMQ would eventually move to full-power broadcasting and since May 2011 transmits its digital signal in the following manner:
| Channel | Network |
|---|---|
| 19.1 | Me-TV |
| 19.2 | MyNetworkTV MyNetworkTV MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation... (prime time) This TV This TV This TV is a United States general entertainment television network, with a large emphasis in its programming on movies.... (other hours) |
| 19.3 | Antenna TV Antenna TV Antenna TV is an American digital broadcast television network, primarily featuring classic television series from the 1950s to the 1990s, along with some feature films. It is owned by Tribune Broadcasting, a division of the Chicago-based Tribune Company... |