2005 Broadcast Excellence Awards
Awarded March 2006


A total of 807 entries were received from 22 commercial television stations, 8 public television stations and 44 radio stations. All entries aired between January 1 and December 31, 2005. Judges use consistent criteria for evaluating the entries and reserve the right to not give an award. All judges decisions are final. Thanks to the member stations of the Kansas Association of Broadcasters for judging.



2005 Stations of the Year

Commercial Broadcasting Station of the Year

TV Market 1 - WJBK-TV, Detroit

Radio Market 1 - WJR-AM, Detroit

TV Market 2 - WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids

Radio Market 2 - WOOD-AM, Grand Rapids

TV Market 3 - WWTV/WWUP-TV, Cadillac

Radio Market 3 - WLEN-FM, Adrian

TV Market 4 - WLUC-TV, Marquette

Radio Market 4 - WSJM-AM, Benton Harbor

Public Broadcasting Station of the Year

Public TV-Group 1- WKAR-TV, East Lansing


Public Radio-Group 1- WGVU-AM/FM, Grand Rapids

Public TV-Group 2- WTVS-TV, Detroit

Public Radio-Group 2- WUOM/WFUM/WVGR-FM, Ann Arbor


Winners of the MAB "Station of the Year" are awarded based on the number of points scored by the station: 12 points for each first place award in categories 2 - 13, 13 points for first place in category 1 "Station of the Year Report," 6 points for each merit award in categories 2 - 13, and 7 points for merit award in category 1 "Station of the Year Report." One Station of the Year Award may be presented in each market category for commercial radio and television. A Station of the Year award may be presented to one public broadcasting radio station and one public broadcasting television station.  To be considered for Station of the Year, stations must enter a minimum of five (5) different categories.  If the competetion results in a tie, the station with the best finish in Category 1 (Station of the Year Report) will be declared the winner.  Participation in Category 1 is not optional and stations need to enter Category 1 to be eligible for the Station of the Year award.

Market Categories: Following are the market categories used for the competition...

Radio Markets
Market 1 - Detroit Metro Area
Market 2 - Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Battle Creek, Ann Arbor, Flint, Tri-Cities and Lansing
Market 3 - Traverse City, Cadillac, Jackson, Adrian and Port Huron
Market 4 - Marquette, Escanaba, Alpena and others
Group 1 - Public radio stations with less than $2 million budget
Group 2 - Public radio stations with more than $2 million budget

Television Markets
Market 1- Detroit Metro Area
Market 2 - Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Flint, & Tri-Cities
Market 3 - Traverse City, Cadillac & Lansing
Market 4 - Marquette, Escanaba, Alpena and others
Group 1 - Public television stations with less than $6 million budget
Group 2 - Public television stations with more than $6 million budget

Rules & Categories: Click here for rules, category descriptions and more information
on the MAB Broadcast Excellence Awards.


Winners of the 2005 Broadcast Excellence Awards:

  Market One Television  
Call Letters Place Category Title
WDIV-TV Best Breaking News Story Piquette Market Fire
  Best News Special Remembering Rosa Parks
  Best Feature/Use of Medium "Tommy's Surgery"
  Merit Newscast 11pm Newscast- 11/21/05
WJBK-TV Best Hard News Story Lonnie Bates Investigation
  Best Special Interest Programming Operation Smile
  Best Sports Fox 2 Sports Work 10/02/05
  Best Commercial McDonald's "Thought You'd Like to Know"
  Best Community Involvement Read to Achieve
  Best Marketing Materials and Promos "My Story"
  Best Mini-Documentary or Series "Unpunished Deaths"
  Merit Mini-Documentary or Series "Hall of Shame"
  Merit Feature/Use of Medium "Fudgegate"
  Merit Breaking News Story Highland Park Fires
  Merit Community Involvement Fox 2 Holiday Connection
WXYZ-TV Best Newscast 5 pm Newscast-8/19/05
  Merit Hard News Story Carlita's Car
  Merit News Special Ford Freedom Award-The Songstress and the Stylist
  Merit Special Interest Programming Woodward Dream Cruise
  Merit Marketing Materials and Promos "7 On Your Side" Campaign
No Award Given   Weathercast  
  Market One Radio  
Call Letters Place Category Title
WDTK Merit Commercial The White Witch
WJR-AM Best Mini-Documentary or Series Beginner's Guide to the High Tech World
  Best Feature/Use of Medium Spell It Out
  Best Sports U of M Football/Penn State
  Best News Special Big Four Mackinaw
  Best Special Interest Programming Christmas Sing
  Best Commercial Sexy Pheasant
  Merit Broadcast Personality or Team Mitch Albom
  Merit Newscast WJR News 6pm 3-28-05
  Merit News Special Ask the Governor
  Merit Marketing Materials and Promos Remember 760
WWJ-AM Best Breaking News Story London Bombing
  Best Hard News Story Detroit Mayor Election
  Best Newscast August 10-5am News
  Best Broadcast Personality or Team WWJ Morning Team
  Merit Breaking News Story Rosa Parks
  Merit Hard News Story GM Layoffs
  Merit Mini-Documentary or Series Countdown to Jazzfest
  Merit Feature/Use of Medium FanFest is Shag-a-Delic
  Merit Special Interest Programming Car Chronicles
  Merit Community Involvement Great Stuff Every Day
WXYT-AM Best Community Involvement Big Show for the Big Cure
  Best Marketing Materials and Promos WXYT Website
  Merit Sports "Detroit Red Wings - 1st Shootout"
  Market Two Television  
Call Letters Place Category Title
WJRT-TV Merit Special Interest Programming Holiday Pops with the Flint Symphony Orchestra
  Merit Breaking News Story Owosso Warehouse Fire
  Merit News Special Border Battle
WNEM-TV Best Sports Best of the Buick Open
WOOD-TV Best Special Interest Programming Race in Reality
  Best Breaking News Story US 131 Pile-up
  Best Newscast 24 hr News 8 @ 6pm
  Best News Special Race in Reality
  Merit Hard News Story Medina Manhunt
  Merit Newscast 24 hr News 8 @ 11pm (11-17-05)
WSMH Merit Feature/Use of Medium Wild Boar Hunt
WWMT-TV Best Hard News Story "After the War, Before the Peace"
  Best Feature/Use of Medium Guitar Maker
  Merit Weathercast WWMT-TV "Keith Thompson"
  Merit Mini-Documentary or Series A Quiet Little Town
WXMI-TV Best Commercial Fox 17 Bowling League
  Best Marketing Materials and Promos Basketball Blitz Advance
  Merit Sports Fox 17 Friday Football Blitz
WZZM-TV Best Weathercast Weathercast 12/15/05 - 11pm
  Best Mini-Documentary or Series Young Body, Old Ear
  Best Community Involvement Food for Families
  Merit Commercial Ostman's Floral
  Merit Community Involvement Toys for Tots
  Merit Marketing Materials and Promos Lessens Watched; Lessons Learned
  Market Two Radio  
Call Letters Place Category Title
WBBL-1340 AM Best Sports Lakers Top the Norse
WBCT-FM Merit Community Involvement B93 Roofsit for Kids
WGRD Best Broadcast Personality or Team "Free Beer and Hot Wings Morning Show"
  Best Marketing Materials and Promos Audioslave Soundcheck/Star Wars Geeks
WHMI Best Commercial "Breath Taking" Yax Jewelers
  Merit Mini-Documentary or Series Klan Robe Auction
  Merit Broadcast Personality or Team Marino and The Morning Crew
  Merit Newscast 8 am Newscast 4/29/05
WIOG-FM Best Feature/Use of Medium Children's Miracle Network
  Best Community Involvement Children's Miracle Network
WKQZ Merit Commercial Northern Computers "Trojan Horse"
WKZO Merit Special Interest Programming Fairfield Week in Review
WNWN Best Special Interest Programming Auto Woes
WOOD-AM Best Breaking News Story Summertime Shoot-out
  Best News Special Getting Real with the Governor
  Best Hard News Story The State of Grand Rapids
  Best Newscast 2 pm News
  Merit Breaking News Story Pile up on US 131
  Merit Feature/Use of Medium Welcome Home
  Merit Marketing Materials and Promos Many Sides of Rick and Scott
WSGW Best Mini-Documentary or Series SVSU Technology
WVFN-AM Merit Sports Michigan State-Tennessee Final Four
  Market Three Television  
Call Letters Place Category Title
WILX-TV Best Newscast 6pm Newscast 11-21-05
  Merit Hard News Story Police Chase
WLNS-TV Best Feature/Use of Medium Museum of Failed Products
  Best News Special MSU@150: Highlights in Green and White
  Merit Breaking News Story Apartment Fire
  Merit Feature/Use of Medium Blind Marathon Runner
  Merit Sports Sports Overtime
  Merit Special Interest Programming March to Glory
  Merit Mini-Documentary Inmate Advice
WPBN/WTOM-TV Best Sports Football Frenzy 10/28/05
  Merit Weathercast Holiday Travel
  Merit Marketing Materials and Promos Weather Strikes
  Merit Commercial Swaffers Chrysler
WSYM-TV Merit Community Involvement Meth Baby
WWTV/WWUP-TV Best Breaking News Story Brethren Shots Fired
  Best Hard News Story Policing College
  Best Weathercast A Blistery Mess
  Best News Special Edmund Fitzgerald, Thirty Years A Legend
  Best Community Involvement Operation Bridge Out
  Best Special Interest Programming Edmund Fitzgerald, Thirty Years A Legend
  Best Commercial Diocese of Gaylord Conversation/Daughter
  Best Marketing Materials and Promos Edmund Fitzgerald, Thirty Years A Legend
  Best Mini-Documentary The Cost of War
  Merit Newscast 9 and 10 News @ 6 "Weather Mess"
  Market Three Radio  
Call Letters Place Category Title
WIBM-AM Merit Special Interest Programming The Jamie McKibbin Outdoor Show
WKHM-AM Best Breaking News Story Downtown Fire Scene
  Best Feature/Use of Medium Jethro Bodine Lives
  Best Newscast WKHM 8 o'clock Report
  Best Special Interest Programming Live from MIS
  Merit Breaking News Story Military Base Closures
  Merit Hard News Story Dungy Tragedy
  Merit News Special Election Central 2005
  Merit Broadcast Personality "AM Jackson with Greg O'Connor"
WKHM-FM Best Marketing Materials and Promos Deck the Halls
WLEN-FM Best Hard News Story Request for Adrian City Administrator to resign
  Best Sports Morning Sports Report
  Best News Special Partyline Now - Local Ties - Katrina Victim Speaks
  Best Community Involvement Rally to Ride
  Best Broadcast Personality or Team "Mornings with Lori and Steve"
  Merit Mini-Documentary or Series City Commissioner Candidates
  Merit Feature/Use of Medium A Chat with a Champ
  Merit Newscast Tim Hernandez-June 7th, 2005
  Merit Commercial Dunnies Electronics-Part 1 (Dear Diary)
  Merit Marketing Materials and Promos WLEN is Supercharging Lenawee County
WTCM-AM Best Commercial Bodamer Brothers-New Windows
  Merit Sports T.C. Trojan Football Pregame
  Merit Community Involvement Paper Angels-Christmas 2005
WUFN Best Mini-Documentary or Series Michigan Lottery
  Market Four Television  
Call Letters Place Category Title
WBUP-TV Merit Commercial Portage Lake Golf Course
WLUC-TV Best Breaking News Story Rice Lake Fire
  Best Hard News Story Pasta Sauce
  Best Mini-Documentary or Series Liquored Up
  Best Weathercast Early News Weathercast
  Best Sports Early News Sports Dec. 2nd
  Best Newscast TV 6 Early News - July 22
  Best News Special Our Soldiers Far From Home
  Best Special Interest Programming Football Fever 2005
  Best Marketing Materials and Promos "Marquette Recall" Promotion
  Best Commercial Marquette Community Credit Union
  Best Community Involvement Clean U.P. Campaign
  Merit Mini-Documentary or Series Destination Mississippi
  Merit Marketing Materials and Promos Soldiers Far from Home
WBKB Best Feature/Use of Medium Tree Shopping
  Market Four Radio  
Call Letters Place Category Title
WKJC Merit Mini-Documentary or Series Breast Cancer Awareness Month
  Merit Community Involvement Tawas Sesquicentennial
WKLA Best Mini-Documentary or Series Farm Bureau Week
  Merit News Special 2005 News in Review
WKQS-FM Best Special Interest Programming Drunk Driving Special
  Best Community Involvement Pig 'n Heat promo
  Merit Sports Negaunee Miner Football
WNBY Best Commercial Pappa Reggies
  Best Marketing Materials and Promos Where's the Pepsi
  Merit Special Interest Programming Save Newberry Support Rally
WSCG-FM Best Sports Division 2 Regional Finals
  Merit Commercial Grandma/Larry's Northtown Furniture
WSJM Best Newscast WSJM Morning News 12/28
  Best Breaking News Story February Plane Crash Kills All on Board
  Best News Special 2005- Southwest Michigan Year in Review
  Best Hard News Story Restaurantuer Fights to Stay in U.S.
  Best Feature/Use of Medium From a Galazy Not So Far Away
  Merit Newscast WSJM News Midday 2/4/05
  Merit Breaking News Story Election Fraud Charged in Benton Harbor Recall
  Merit Marketing Materials and Promos Station of the Year Promo
  Merit Hard News Story Jimmy Carter Work Project
  Merit Feature/Use of Medium Cass County Farmers Get Naked for Fundraiser
No Award Given   Broadcast Personality or Team  
  Group One Public Television  
Call Letters Place Category Title
WCMU Merit Special Interest & Cultural Programming Journey from Egypt
WDCQ Best News Special or Documentary Vanishing Voices of World War II
WFUM Best Membership Appeal Tax Credit
  Merit Mini-Documentary or Series Watershed
  Merit Cultural & Performing Arts Matrix
  Merit News or Public Affairs Special Michigan Higher Education
WGVU Best Special Interest & Cultural Programming High Gear 2005
  Best Feature/Use of Medium Petra: A Near East Marvel
  Best Community Involvement Cool Teacher Contest
  Best Marketing Materials and Promos High Gear 2005
  Merit Sports, Outdoor or Recreation GVSU Sports Report
  Merit Marketing Materials and Promos Cool Teacher Contest
  Merit News Special or Documentary Surviving Auschwitz: Children of the Shoah
WKAR Best Hard News & Current Events Story The Granholm Report Card
  Best Mini-Documentary or Series Charter Schools: Here to Stay?
  Best Feature/Use of Medium Sparty!
  Best Cultural & Performing Arts Quizbusters #1707 Grand Ledge v. Linden
  Best News or Public Affairs Special Granholm Report Card
  Best Community Involvement Auction
  Merit Hard News & Current Events Story Charter Schools
WNMU Best Sports, Outdoor or Recreation The U.P. 200: A Community Pulling Together
  Group One Public Radio  
Call Letters Place Category Title
WCMU Best Hard News & Current Events Story Northern Border Security
  Best Mini-Documentary or Series Cultural & Historical Iraq on the Eve of Election
  Merit Hard News & Current Events Story Electrolux Aftermath
  Merit Mini-Documentary or Series Michigan's Economy: Can it be Saved?
WEMU Best Feature/Use of Medium Pinball Art
WGVU Best Community Involvement Postive Influence
  Merit News Special or Public Affairs Program Postive Influences
WUCX Best Membership Appeal Carly's Story
  Best Special Interest & Cultural Programming Vanishing Voices of World War II
  Merit Community Involvement Carly's Story
  Group Two Public Television  
Call Letters Place Category Title
WTVS Best Cultural & Performing Arts Sphinx Competition 8th Annual
  Best Special Interest & Cultural Programming Reading Rainbow Young Writers and Illustrators Contest
  Best News Special or Documentary Expanding Vision/Touching Lives
  Best Marketing Materials and Promos Faces of Scotch
  Best Sports, Outdoor or Recreation Get Up! Get Out!
  Group Two Public Radio  
Call Letters Place Category Title
WDET Best Feature/Use of Medium Danica
  Merit Mini-Documentary or Series People Mover Series
WKAR Best Mini-Documentary or Series Competing for Kids; Schools of Choice
WNMU Merit Special Interest & Cultural Programming Marquette Area Blues Fest 2005
WUOM/WUGR/WFUM Best Hard News & Current Events Story Delphi's Bankruptcy
  Best Newscast Newscast, 9/23/05
  Best News Special or Public Affairs Program Higher Education, Does Michigan have a Future?
  Best Special Interest & Cultural Programming "Stateside" Air Dates 5-20
  Best Marketing Materials and Promos Pedaling for Stories
  Merit Hard News & Current Events Story Detroit Remembers Rosa Parks
  Merit Membership Appeal West Michigan Member Event
  Merit Feature/Use of Medium 826 Michigan

Click here for rules, category descriptions and more information
on the MAB Broadcast Excellence Awards.

Past winners: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004