WLUC-TV

WLUC-TV is a television station licensed to Marquette, Michigan, and serving communities across the central and western Upper Peninsula. The station operates as an NBC affiliate on its primary channel 6 service and carries Fox programming on WLUC-DT2, commonly branded Fox UP. Its studios are located along U.S. 41/M-28 in Negaunee Township, while its main transmitter is in Republic Township, southeast of the community of Republic. A digital translator, W14EM-D, rebroadcasts the station on virtual channel 6 from the Landmark Inn in Marquette to improve reception in parts of the city. The station began broadcasting on April 28, 1956, as WDMJ-TV, becoming the Upper Peninsula's first television station. It was initially owned by the Daily Mining Journal, alongside WDMJ radio, and operated from the newspaper's downtown Marquette building. The station moved to its Negaunee Township facility in 1959. In 1964, Post Corporation acquired the station and changed its call letters to WLUC-TV, reflecting the station's then-promoted “Lucky 6” identity. WLUC introduced network color programming in 1963 and expanded locally produced color programming later in the decade. WLUC's network affiliations changed repeatedly as stations in the Green Bay and Escanaba markets realigned. It was originally primarily affiliated with CBS while also carrying programming from the other major networks. It dropped NBC programming when WJMN-TV began operating in 1969, later restored NBC as a secondary affiliation in 1983, became primarily ABC with secondary NBC programming in 1992, and returned to an NBC-only position in 1995. These changes made WLUC one of the relatively small number of American stations to have carried programming from all three major commercial networks during its history. The station also carried selected Fox programs in the early 1990s before Fox programming became more firmly associated with WLUK-TV in Green Bay. Ownership moved from Post Corporation to Raycom Media, then to Barrington Broadcasting in 2006 following regulatory divestitures associated with Raycom's acquisition of the Liberty Corporation. Sinclair Broadcast Group acquired Barrington's station group in 2013. Gray Television acquired WLUC from Sinclair in 2016 through a station exchange connected to Gray's acquisition of Schurz Communications assets. Gray later merged with Raycom in 2019, reuniting WLUC with several stations connected to its earlier corporate history. Gray subsequently became known as Gray Media. The station's business combines local news, weather, sports, community information, network entertainment and syndicated programming. Its news operation has historically been the leading local television news service in the market and has maintained a comparatively large reporting staff for the region. Because the station's digital over-the-air footprint is smaller than its former analog coverage, cable and satellite distribution are important to its reach. WLUC also participates in regional sports distribution, including Green Bay Packers preseason and team-produced programming for the Marquette–Escanaba market. A distinctive part of WLUC's cultural history was Suomi Kutsuu, a Finnish-language program that ran for more than five decades. Hosted throughout its run by Carl Pellonpaa, the program presented Finnish culture, music, interviews and travel-related content for the Upper Peninsula's substantial Finnish-American community. Its final episode aired in March 2015. Today WLUC remains an active local broadcast brand, combining NBC service, Fox programming through its second digital stream, local news and regional public-service coverage.

WLUC-TV began service on April 28, 1956, under the call sign WDMJ-TV. Owned by the Daily Mining Journal, it was the first television station in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and initially carried programming from all three major networks, with CBS as its primary affiliation. Its first studios occupied the top floor of the Mining Journal building in downtown Marquette. Rapid growth led to a move in 1959 to the station's Negaunee Township facilities. The station adopted the WLUC-TV call letters in 1964 after its sale to Post Corporation, which also owned WLUK-TV in Green Bay. The new identity was associated with a “Lucky 6” promotional theme. WLUC began carrying network programs in color in 1963 and had equipped its local production operation for color broadcasting by 1969. In 1980, the transmitter was relocated from the area near the Negaunee studios to a site southeast of Republic Township. Network affiliations changed in response to broader realignments involving Green Bay and Escanaba stations. WLUC dropped NBC programming in 1969 when WJMN-TV began broadcasting. After WJMN and WFRV-TV moved from NBC to ABC in 1983, WLUC restored NBC as a secondary affiliation. When WFRV became a CBS station in 1992, WLUC became primarily ABC with NBC as a secondary service. In 1995, following another Green Bay affiliation exchange, WLUC became an NBC-only affiliate. The station also carried some Fox programming during the early 1990s. Raycom Media acquired WLUC through its corporate history, but sold the station to Barrington Broadcasting in 2006 as part of ownership divestitures. Sinclair acquired Barrington's station group in 2013. WLUC was transferred to Gray Television in February 2016 through a station swap associated with Gray's purchase of Schurz Communications assets. Gray's later merger with Raycom in 2019 brought WLUC back into a corporate family that included several of its former sister stations. Digital broadcasting reduced the station's effective over-the-air reach compared with its former analog signal, making cable and satellite carriage important across the large and geographically difficult Upper Peninsula market. WLUC also uses W14EM-D as a translator in Marquette. Its second digital subchannel, WLUC-DT2, began with various multicast services, including The Tube Music Network, NBC Weather Plus and Universal Sports. In 2009 it became a Fox affiliate, later developing the Fox UP identity and local prime-time news programming. The over-the-air feed was upgraded to 720p HD in 2022. WLUC's local identity has also been shaped by long-running community programming. Suomi Kutsuu, a Finnish-language program launched in 1962, covered Finnish culture, music, travel and local heritage. Carl Pellonpaa hosted every episode until the series ended in March 2015 after more than 2,650 weekly broadcasts. The station remains a major local news provider and continues to serve the Upper Peninsula through NBC, Fox, local journalism, weather, sports and community programming.

1. 2022Fox UP receives an over-the-air HD upgrade

   WLUC-DT2 moves from widescreen standard definition to 720p high definition.

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2. 2016Gray acquires WLUC

   Gray completes its acquisition of the station from Sinclair on February 16.

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3. 2015Suomi Kutsuu ends

   The long-running Finnish-language program airs its final episode on March 29.

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4. 2013Sinclair acquires Barrington group

   Sinclair completes its purchase of Barrington's stations, including WLUC.

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5. 2009Fox launches on WLUC-DT2

   The second digital subchannel begins carrying Fox programming on August 17.

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6. 2006Barrington Broadcasting ownership begins

   Barrington completes its acquisition of WLUC from Raycom on August 11.

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7. 1995Returns to sole NBC affiliation

   WLUC becomes an NBC-only affiliate after regional network changes.

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8. 1980Transmitter moves near Republic

   The main transmission facility is relocated southeast of Republic Township.

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9. 1964Call sign changes to WLUC-TV

   Post Corporation acquires the station and introduces the WLUC-TV identity.

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10. 1959Studios move to Negaunee Township

    The station leaves its original downtown Marquette premises for a larger facility.

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11. 1956WDMJ-TV begins broadcasting

    The station signs on April 28 as the first television station in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

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A dominant local news and information broadcaster for Michigan's Upper Peninsula, combining an NBC primary service with Fox programming and strong regional identity.

• WLUC-TV channel 6NBC-affiliated television station1956

  The primary WLUC service carries NBC network programming together with locally produced news, weather, public-affairs and community content for central and western Upper Peninsula viewers. Its terrestrial service is supplemented by cable, satellite and a Marquette translator because of the region's terrain and the smaller coverage footprint of its digital transmitter.

• WLUC-DT2 / Fox UPFox-affiliated digital subchannel2009

  WLUC's second digital stream carries Fox network programming and syndicated content. It began as a multicast service with several network affiliations before becoming the market's Fox outlet in 2009. The subchannel also developed local prime-time news programming and is distributed by local providers alongside its over-the-air service.

• Suomi KutsuuFinnish-language television program1962

  This distinctive local program presented Finnish culture, music, interviews, travel and community discussion. Hosted by Carl Pellonpaa throughout its run, it served the Upper Peninsula's Finnish-American audience for more than five decades and concluded in 2015.

• 2012Green Bay Packers Television Network affiliation

  Marquette–Escanaba market

  WLUC and Fox UP began carrying Packers preseason games, the coach's show and other official team programming after taking over the market relationship from WJMN.

  Outcome. WLUC became the official Packers television outlet for the market.

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• 2008Upper Michigan's Source

  Upper Peninsula of Michigan

  WLUC replaced its long-running “Someplace Special” slogan with “Upper Michigan's Source” and introduced a new TV6 oval logo, strengthening its regional news-and-information positioning.

  Outcome. The identity became a continuing public-facing brand for the station and its website.

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• 2016Transfer ownership from Sinclair to GrayM&A

  Gray's acquisition of Schurz Communications created an ownership overlap in South Bend, requiring an exchange involving WLUC and WSBT-TV.

  What changed. Gray acquired WLUC from Sinclair while Sinclair received WSBT-TV; the transaction closed on February 16.

  Aftermath. WLUC remained part of Gray's regional broadcast portfolio and was later reunited with former Raycom-related stations after Gray's 2019 merger with Raycom.

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• 2009Launch Fox programming on WLUC-DT2Product launch

  The Upper Peninsula's prior Fox outlet had experienced transmission and ownership difficulties, leaving a need for a more reliable local affiliate.

  What changed. WLUC moved Fox programming to its second digital subchannel and developed the Fox UP service.

  Aftermath. The subchannel became the area's principal local Fox service and later added local prime-time news.

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• 19591959 World Series transmission interferenceControversy

  A former employee interfered with the relay equipment at WLUC's original microwave facility, disrupting the video portions of the first three broadcasts of the 1959 World Series while audio remained available. Michigan State Police arrested the former employee after a multi-day investigation, and the incident was attributed to retaliation after his dismissal.

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• 2022WLUC-DT2 upgraded to high definition

  The Fox-affiliated second digital stream was upgraded to 720p high definition over the air.

  Product generation
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• 2016WLUC-TV sale to Gray closes

  The ownership transfer from Sinclair to Gray was completed on February 16, 2016.

  M&A
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• 2015Gray Television agrees to acquire WLUC-TV

  Gray announced an exchange that would transfer WLUC from Sinclair to Gray, with WSBT-TV moving in the opposite direction to address ownership constraints.

  M&A
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• 2012WLUC joins the Green Bay Packers Television Network

  WLUC and Fox UP became the Packers' official television affiliates for the Marquette–Escanaba market.

  Other
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• 2009WLUC-DT2 becomes a Fox affiliate

  WLUC announced that its second digital subchannel would begin carrying Fox programming, replacing the area's previous over-the-air Fox service.

  Product launch
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• 1956WLUC-TV signs on as the Upper Peninsula's first television station

  The station began broadcasting as WDMJ-TV on April 28, bringing television service to the Upper Peninsula.

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1. WLUC-TV
2. WLUC-TV official website