WADL (TV)

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WADL
Image:SmallWADL Logo-1-.JPG
Mount Clemens/Detroit, Michigan
Branding WADL
Slogan 5,000,000 Watt POWERHOUSE -The Most Powerful Station in Michigan
Channels Analog: 38 (UHF)

Digital: 39 (UHF)
Affiliations independent
The Word Network
Owner Adell Broadcasting Corporation
First air date May 20, 1989
Call letters’ meaning ADelL Broadcasting
Former affiliations CBS (alternate, 1992-1994)
Fox Kids (1998-2002)
FoxBox (2002-2003)
Transmitter Power 5000 kW (analog)
1000 kW (digital)
Height 192 m (analog)
170 m (digital)
Facility ID 455
Transmitter Coordinates 42°33′12.2″N, 82°53′14.6″W
Website www.wadldetroit.com

WADL is a full-power, commercially licensed broadcast television station in the Midwestern United States. As an independent television station licensed to the town of Mount Clemens, Michigan, the station serves the entire Detroit metropolitan area. The station also serves most of the Windsor, Ontario area.

Contents

[edit] Technical information

WADL broadcasts on UHF channel 38, operating with an Effective radiated power of 5,000,000 watts and its digital signal on channel 39, also on the UHF dial, operates with an ERP of 1,000 kilowatts -- all as authorized by the Federal Communications Commission. WADL's transmitter which is directionally aligned, is in the vicinity of its studios and offices on Adell Drive near the area of 15 Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue. The transmitter is directional.

The station's signal reaches across Genesee, Lapeer, Linvingston, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, St. Clair, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties in Michigan, and Essex, and Lambton counties in Ontario Canada.

On cable,WADL can be seen on Comcast Detroit channel 4 and Bright House Networks Livonia channel 19. It is not seen on Cogeco Windsor. It is however available on Cogeco Cable in some rural areas of Southwestern Ontario. This is from previous cable companies in the rural Southwestern Ontario areas that were purchased by Cogeco around 2000, and the station has simply remained on their lineups.

[edit] History

WADL began operation in 1989, after having filed for a broadcasting license on September 25, 1985. Its original programming blocks were filled with mostly Home Shopping Network programs, religious shows and other paid programming, classic B&W movies and hourly blocks of the syndicated music video show Hit Video USA. In 1990, it began running several hours of syndicated shows. In addition programs and rebroadcast of newscasts from the cross-town WJBK which was the CBS affiliate at the time and owned by SCI-TV.

WADL is considered "The 5 Million Watt Powerhouse" because it has one of the strongest signals in the area. In 1992, it became closely associated with WJBK and was often referred to as "Detroit's Alternate CBS Station". Up until roughly 1996, the station had also rebroadcasted the 6:00 pm newscast from WJBK when it was the CBS affiliate for Detroit, seen at a later time -- typically at 8:00 pm on the same night. WADL has since stopped this practice shortly after WJBK switched to Fox.

In 1994, WJBK would defect to Fox after that network struck a deal with its then-owner New World Communications. When it did, WADL was the top choice to become the new CBS station. However, Adell made unreasonable demands of CBS that caused the deal to quickly breakdown and talks to abruptly discontinue. With the impending loss of a CBS affiliate in a Top 10 television market, CBS even considered purchasing WXYZ-TV, E.W. Scripps' longtime ABC affiliate, but E.W. Scripps declined, and kept the ABC affiliation for WXYZ-TV. As a result of losing WJBK and with WXYZ and WADL being unreceptive to a CBS affiliation, CBS was sent to make a deal with WGPR-TV (now WWJ-TV). They would eventually purchase that station in 1995.

[edit] Growth stalls

For some reason, the station never grew through the years. Eventually, Home Shopping Network programs disappeared in favor of more infomercials and more religious shows. A vast majority within the broadcast range of the station have never heard of it or ironically mistake the station's call letters for a radio station, a rather serious sign of overwhelming problems with an already negligible ratings and viewership demographic in existence -- this according to Nielsen Media Research. What kept the station on the air was the fact that it spent no money on any syndicated shows or newscasts. Any entertainment shows on the station were straight barter and most programming airing on the station came from businesses and organizations that paid to be on the station.

WADL also had the image of being a "hand-me-down" station to those that have heard of the station, airing shows that the rest of the Detroit market stations either don't have room for, or don't want. In more basic terms, the station was subjected to pick up a few barter "leftover" programs from the other Detroit area stations while the competition took in better programs -- almost similar to a NBA or NFL draft.

[edit] Picking children and NBC shows

On August 31, 1998, WADL would pick up Fox Kids (later FoxBox and now today's 4KidsTV) on the weekdays and weekends, with programs such as Jumanji. The programming was inherited from cross-town UPN affiliate WKBD. As Fox Kids ended its weekday airings on FOX in 2002, WADL continued running the revamped Fox Box until the fall of 2003, when Fox's 4Kids TV Saturday Morning lineup moved to another cross-town station, then WB affiliate WDWB (now MyNetworkTV affiliate WMYD). During this time, WADL was the only other station besides WKBD and WMYD to continuously air children's programming (until October 2007). The station aired three cartoons produced by DiC Entertainment, all designed to meet federal E/I requirements:

As of now, only one station in Detroit airs children's programs every Monday through Friday, WTVS Channel 56 as part of the PBS Kids lineups. No station in Michigan airs cartoons in syndication as of October 2007, other than Family Guy, The Simpsons and South Park.

WADL at one point also broadcast the NBC daytime soap opera "Passions" though not a mainstream or top-rated soap with a limited run, it featured Rhonda Ross (daughter of Detroit Legend and entertainment icons, Diana Ross and Berry Gordy from Detroit) from its premiere in 1999 until 2002, when downtown station WDIV added Passions to its schedule.

[edit] Breakthrough

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By 2007, WADL had begun to acquire popular syndicated shows, such as The Nanny, Mad About You, The Jeffersons and Good Times, though keeping many informericals and religious programs as well, but eliminated what little animated shows it had left.

WADL has had significant struggles with acquiring prime network programming and breaking away from the identity as a "Infomercial" station. It has, through a very slow process, refined the image of the station. At present the direction of programming has more to do with a community focus. This is apparently a road that other networks have not taken. The jury is still out as to whether or not a community's support will impact on Nielson ratings, but the community at large appears to respond to the station.

President Lewis Gibbs made Detroit History by becoming the only African-American president of a network in a top ten market.

Through the years the independent station has continued to upgrade and grow in programming which ultimately has dramatically increased their loyal viewer base again this makes the station a community outlet as opposed to a national network.

WADL has in the past had out-of-market programming. At this time the station is building by adding "In the Heat of the Night" and most recently "Chappelle's Show" to its lineup, as well as popular syndicated shows stated above, along with The Daily Buzz (which aired on WKBD 50 until being replaced with Judge Judy).

The station has shown growth in the metropolitan Detroit marketplace. At the inception the primary focus was for the station to be the true voice of Detroits urban community at large. Through the years WADL has continued to make marked strides towards the fulfillment of that goal. WADL has made history by being the first and only television station in Michigan to have a weekly feature with the Mayor of Detroit, Kwame M. Kilpatrick. The fact that WADL is an independent broadcaster has had challenges; however, the station continues to grow.

WADL is growing and programming is changing to be Detroit's "Urban Station" that is involved in community and family events. The station has a loyal following. It is unknown as to the ratings of the station in traditional sense, but It is often used as a medium to get information to metropolitan Detroiters.

Adell Broadcasting (owners of WADL) will be bringing in more popular programs this fall including taking over from WKBD TV as the Detroit affiliate for the syndicated morning show "The Daily Buzz" on a tape delay basis starting at 7:00 AM. The television line-up for 2008 includes "The Fresh Prince" Pimp My Ride" "Cribs". In addition the station airs locally produce urban skit comedy show " Switch Play TV" (which has recievd a national following).

WADL and The Word Network were founded by Frank and his son Kevin Adell.

[edit] Coverage

Station Cogeco Comcast Charter Cable WOW! Bright House
Windsor
Essex County		 Detroit Flint Port Huron Brooklyn, MI Metro Detroit
SE MI		 Metro Detroit
SE MI		 Metro Detroit
SE MI
WADL - 4 - 10 - - 22 19
The WORD Network - 294 294 - - - 379 -

WADL is not known to be available on any cable system outside the Detroit market.

[edit] External links


v • d • e
Broadcast television in the Detroit / Windsor market (Nielsen DMA #11)

American stations
WJBK 2 (Fox) • WDIV 4 (NBC, NBC WX+ on DT2, .2 Net Coming Mid-08) • WXYZ 7 (ABC, RTN on DT2, WX on DT3) • WDWO 18 / WHDA-LP 27 (TCT / COR) • WMYD 20 (MNTV, 4KidsTV, WCSN on DT2) • WUDT 23 (UNI) • WLPC 26 (FN) • WFUM 28 (PBS) • WPXD 31 / W48AV 48 (ION) • W33BY 33 / W68CH 68 (Ind) • WADL 38 (Ind / JTV, Word on DT2) • WKBD 50 (The CW) • WTVS 56 (PBS, Kids on DT2, Create on DT3) • WWJ 62 (CBS) • W66BV 66 (TBN) • W67AJ 67 / WLNS 6 (CBS)

Canadian stations
CBET 9 (CBC) • CHWI 16 / 60 (A-Channel) • CIII 22 / 29 (Global) • CICO 32 / 59 (TVO) • CBLN 34 / 64 (CBC) • CFTV 34 (Ind) • CKCO 42 (CTV) • CBLFT 48 / 68 (SRC) • CBEFT 54 (SRC)

Local Cable Television Channels
US: Michigan Channel (PBS, U of M) • WOLV (U of M Student TV) • FSN Detroit
Canada: Leafs TV • Sportsnet Ontario • TFO • TVCogeco Windsor (Windsor & Leamington) • TVCogeco (Chatham & Sarnia)

Defunct television stations
Comcast Local • PASS Sports • WJMY 20 • WPAG 20 (DuMont/Ind)

Significantly Viewed Out-of-Market Broadcast Stations
Reception may vary by geographical location; some stations may be available only on cable
Toledo: WTOL 11 (CBS) • WTVG 13 (ABC / News / AW) • WNWO 24 (NBC / RTN / WX+) • WGTE 30 (PBS) • WUPW 36 (Fox) • WLMB 40 (Ind)
Mid-Michigan: WNEM 5 (CBS / MNTV) • WJRT 12 (ABC) • WEYI 25 (NBC) • WSMH 66 (Fox)
Lansing: WILX 10 (NBC) • WKAR 23 (PBS) • WSYM 47 (Fox) • WLAJ 53 (ABC)
Cleveland: WKYC 3 (NBC) • WEWS 5 (ABC) • WJW 8 (Fox) • WOIO 19 (CBS) • WUAB 43 (MNTV) • WBNX 55 (The CW) • WQHS 61 (UNI)
London: CFPL 10 (A-Channel)
v • d • e
Other Television Stations in the state of Michigan
DMA 11: Detroit
WDWO-CA 18 / 1 W27CJ 27 (TCT) • WUDT-CA 23 (UNI) • WLPC-LP 26 (FN) • 1 WPXD 31 /
W48AV 48 (ION) • W33BY 33 (IND) • 1 WADL 38 (IND / JTV / WORD) • W66BV 66 (TBN)
DMA 39: Grand Rapids - Battle Creek - Kalamazoo
WUHQ-LP 29 (Retro Jams) • WUHO-LP 36 (IND) • 1 WMKG-LP 38 (FN) • WZPX 43 (ION) •
1 WTLJ 54 (TCT) • WLLA 64 (FN)
DMA 66: Flint - Saginaw - Bay City - Midland
WHNE-LP 32 (A1) • W42DI 42 (3ABN) • WAQP 49 (TCT) • WXON-LP 54 / W09CK 9 (IND)
DMA 87: South Bend - Elkhart
DMA 112: Lansing - Jackson
W27CN 27 (TCT)
DMA 113: Traverse City - Cadillac - Sault Ste. Marie
DMA 178: Marquette - Escanaba
DMA 208: Alpena
W18BT 18 (TBN)
1 These stations are licensed outside of the core cities.
See Also: CBS, The CW, Fox, MyNetworkTV, NBC, PBS and Other stations in Michigan