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ALPENA, Mich. -- Marks Media Group is selling its Michigan television and radio properties to Morgan Murphy Media.
Morgan Murphy Media, a family-owned media company based in Madison, Wis., is buying three television stations and five radio stations in northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula.
"For more than 100 years and through four generations, our company has been committed to small-market journalism and community service," said Brian Burns, executive vice president and chief operating officer for MMM. "We are thrilled to carry forward the tremendous legacy built by the Marks family."
The Marks family has been an important part of the Michigan broadcasting landscape since 1983, when Stephen A. Marks purchased controlling interest of Thunder Bay Broadcasting Corporation, doing business as WBKB-TV. It was acquired from a group of local investors from Alpena.
WBKB-TV would become the foundation for The Marks Group which grew to 19 radio and five network television stations spanning small markets in five states. WBKP-TV, Calumet, and WBUP-TV, Ishpeming/Marquette were added to the group in 2003.
"I believe the Morgan Murphy Group will carry on our family legacy in Michigan and build upon our service to the local communities which were so important to Steve," said Mary Marks, who became CEO of The Marks Group after the death of her husband in May 2022. "Still, it was difficult to let WBKB go, because it was Steve's first TV station and he loved it, the employees, and the entire area so much. Broadcasting was his life."
The proposed transaction includes:
-- WBKB-11 in Alpena, with a primary CBS affiliation;
-- WBUP-10 in Ishpeming/Marquette, with a primary ABC affiliation;
-- WBKP-5 in Calumet/Marquette, with a primary CW affiliation;
-- WCCY-AM 1400, WHKB-FM 102.3 and WOLV-FM 97.7 in Houghton;
-- WFER-AM 1230 and WIKB-FM 99.1 in Iron River.
After acquisition, Morgan Murphy Media will operate in eight television markets and four radio clusters serving communities in Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.
The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2023, pending regulatory approval.