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According to an application filed April 10, Nexstar Media Group has sold WJMN-TV (Escanaba-Marquette) to Quincy, IL based broadcaster Sullivan’s Landing, LLC.  Sullivan is headed by Ralph Oakley. 

Morgan Murphy Media’s WBKB-TV (Alpena) announced April 4 that it will greatly expand its local news coverage through a partnership with UpNorthLive news from WPBN/WTOM in Traverse City. The hours of local news will expand from the current 7.5 hours of news per week without any weekend coverage to 24.5 hours per week over seven days a week.

The MAB has learned that former WOOD-TV (Grand Rapids) News Director, Dan Spaulding passed away April 7 at age 79.  Spaulding, born and raised in Saginaw, graduated from the University of Michigan, earning BA and MA degrees.  He served as as the “Voice” of the bands, announcing the marching band at the Big House.

The Detroit Red Wings have partnered with Scripps Sports and Bally Sports Detroit to allow fans free access to the final three games of the regular season on WMYD-TV (Detroit).  This opportunity allows over 1.5 million fans in Southeast Michigan to tune in for free as the Red Wings make their final push for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

On March 28, the Detroit Pistons announced that the organization will partner with Scripps Sports to broadcast five of the club’s remaining nine games over-the-air on TV-20 Detroit (WMYD-TV). It will mark the team’s first extended relationship with an over-the-air carrier since the 2007-08 season.

Detroit Television’s NextGen TV development was highlighted this week (4/1) in Broadcasting and Cable. NextGen TV has been on the air in Detroit for more than three years. At this point, not too many people are tuning in, but broadcasters there are using the market as a laboratory, testing features and getting ready for when more viewers are paying attention.