WOOD-TV

WOOD-TV is a television station affiliated with the NBC network, broadcasting on channel 8 in the Grand Rapids, Michigan metropolitan area. The station officially went on the air on August 15, 1949.

History

In 1949, the station first debuted as WLAV-TV on channel 7. In 1951, the station was sold, and in the change of ownership, the call letters were changed to WOOD-TV. In 1953, the station moved to channel 8, where it has broadcast for over 50 years, and increased its power nearly fourfold. In 1955, the station moved to its current residence in downtown Grand Rapids. In 1972, the station changed its call letters to WOTV . In an area first, the station purchased electronic news equipment in 1975. 5 years later, the station became the first to broadcast live news from outside the studio. In 1992, the station reclaimed its call letters, donating the WOTV name to WUHQ (channel 41). Later, WOOD's parent company purchased WOTV .

Ownership

The station was founded by a man named Leonard Versluis. Over the years, the station was bought and sold three times:

• Sold in 1951 to Grandwood Broadcasting.
• Sold in 1957 to Time Inc..
• Sold in 1983 to LIN Broadcasting.

LIN Broadcasting is the current owner of WOOD, as well as two other Grand Rapids stations, WOTV and WXSP , and numerous television stations across the United States.

Major personalities

• Jack Doles is Sports Director, and often anchors the 11:00pm sports telecast.
• Suzanne Geha is the co-anchor of the 6:00pm and 11:00pm news.
• Craig James is the chief meterologist for WOOD.
• Tom Van Howe is the co-anchor for the 6:00pm, and 11:00pm newscasts.

External links

• WOOD homepage
• About WOOD