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WZZM-TV is a television station affiliated with the ABC network, broadcasting on channel 13 in the Grand Rapids, Michigan metropolitan area. The station officially went on the air on November 1, 1962, at 6:30 p.m. Ironically enough, the station went off the air just twenty minutes later, due to transmitter tube failure, and went back on ten minutes later.
History
The station certainly had humble beginnings; its first broadcasts were from a banquet room-turned studio at the Pantlind Hotel (now the Amway Grand Hotel). Live broadcasts included This Morning with Bud Lindeman, Shirley's Show and an evening news program, though the station's most notable show in many minds is The Bozo Show, which was broadcast for more than 30 years. The news program improved in 1971 with the addition of the first weather radar in the West Michigan area, upgraded in 1974 to a computerized color version.
In August of 1971, a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art studio was opened in Walker, with Congressman Gerald Ford, a Grand Rapids native, presiding over the ceremony. In the years following, WZZM became a formidable force in the Grand Rapids viewing community, gathering high ratings and a reputation as one of the top news programs in the West Michigan area.
In the 1990's, WZZM made an array of changes with the new millenium looming. New news vehicles were purchased, a new tape format (Beta SP) was introduced to digitize all media, a new radar receiver and new weather cameras were added across the state, and a new set was built, coinciding with WZZM's introduction of a new logo. In 2003, WZZM first started broadcasting in High Definition.
Weatherball
The original weatherball was perched on top of the Michigan National Bank building in downtown Grand Rapids. The colors it displayed were representative of the coming weather pattern. A poem was written about the weatherball's colors:
- Weatherball red, warmer weather ahead.
- Weatherball blue, cooler weather in view.
- Weatherball green, no change foreseen.
- Colors blinking bright, rain or snow in sight.
However, due to questions about its stability, it was removed in 1987, after 20 years of existence. WZZM located the weatherball, which had resided in a Kalamazoo junkyard since its removal, and purchased it in 1999. In 2002, plans were announced to refurbish the stainless steel ball, and add new neon lights. The weatherball was perched on a 100-foot monopole, and was lit on May 7, 2003. It is visible from both Interstate 96 and U.S. Highway 131, the two major freeways in the area.
Major personalities
- Kim Covington is the co-anchor of the 5:30pm news, having held that spot since 1998
- Juliet Dragos is the co-anchor of the 6:00pm and 11:00pm news. First joining WZZM in 1991, she often goes to different locations to broadcast major stories. She has traveled to New York City, Hollywood, and most notably to Bosnia in the wake of their civil war.
- George Lessens is the chief meterologist for WZZM. He first joined the station in 1980.
- Lee Van Ameyde is the co-anchor for the 5:30pm, 6:00pm, and 11:00pm newscasts. He first joined WZZM in 1977
- Henry Wofford is Sports Director, and often anchors the 11:00pm sports telecast.
Ownership
The station was founded by an investment group who called themselves West Michigan Telecasters. Over the years, the station was bought and sold numerous times:
- Sold in 1978 to Wometco Interprises.
- Sold in 1985 to Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts and Company.
- Sold in 1986 to Price Communications.
- Sold in 1989 to Northstar Television.
- Sold in 1995 to Argyle, Inc.
- Sold in 1997 to Gannett.
Gannett is the current owner of WZZM, as well as numerous other television stations.
Awards
Over the years, WZZM has received numerous awards for journalistic excellence. Some of these include:
- United Press International's Michigan News Station of the Year, 1980-1985.
- Michigan Association of Broadcasters' Best Newscast and Best Coverage of Spot News awards, 1998
- Michigan Association of Broadcasters' Station of the Year award, 2002.
- Michigan Television News Photographers Association' Station of the Year award, 2002.
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