WSYM-TV

Infobox_Broadcast
call_letters = WSYM-TV
city =
station_
station_slogan = Live Local News First
station_branding = Fox 47
Fox 47 News
analog = 47 (UHF)
digital = 38 (UHF)
other_chs =
affiliations = Fox
network =
founded =
airdate = December 1, 1982
location = Lansing / Jackson, Michigan
callsign_meaning = We Say Yes
to Michigan
former_callsigns = WFSL-TV (1982-1985)
former_channel_numbers =
owner = Journal Communications
licensee =
sister_stations =
former_affiliations = Independent (1982-1986)
effective_radiated_power = 1,350 kW (analog)
933 kW (digital)
HAAT = 305 m (analog)
281 m (digital)
class =
facility_id = 74094
coordinates = coord|42|28|1.1|N|84|39|8.3|W|type:landmark_scale:2000
homepage = [http://www.fox47news.com/ www.fox47news.com]

WSYM-TV, channel 47, is the Fox-affiliated television station in Lansing, Michigan. Its transmitter is located 5 miles south of Eaton Rapids in Eaton County along M-99. Owned by the Journal Broadcast Group, it has studios on West Saint Joseph Street in downtown Lansing. Syndicated programming on WSYM includes: "Judge Judy", "The People's Court", "The Simpsons", "Seinfeld", and "Family Guy."

History

The station began operations on December 1, 1982 with the call sign WFSL-TV. It was owned by F&S Development Company of Lansing under the name F&S Comm / News Inc. As an independent station, WFSL primarily aired syndicated programming. For a time, the station also aired the ABC game show "Family Feud" (simulcasted from WXYZ-TV in Detroit), in hopes of eventually landing a full-time ABC affiliation. However, ABC chose to affiliate with WLAJ instead. The station was sold to WTMJ-TV Inc. of Milwaukee (predecessor to the Journal Broadcast Group) in 1985 and its call letters were changed to the current WSYM-TV. The station affiliated with Fox in 1990.

News operation

In its early days of operation, the station produced three live news updates throughout the day. This included one in the morning, another during the afternoon, and late at night. Those updates ranged from five to ten minutes in length. Under pressure from Fox to start a full newscast or face disaffiliation, WSYM launched a news operation in September 1997. It produced newscasts at 5:30 and 10 P.M. as well as a Sunday night sports replay show. Due to financial reasons, the station began to outsource the production of its newscasts to NBC affiliate WILX-TV in 2004. Its former studio is still used as an interview site for the Fox News Channel. In June of 2006, WSYM unveiled their new logo, along with a new graphics scheme created by Renderon Broadcast Design. This new logo is already in use on WILX / WSYM news vehicles, promotional ads, the station's logo bug, and their redesigned website. On March 3, 2008, Jason Colthorp replaced David Andrews as the 11 P.M. anchor on WILX leaving Beth Shayne to anchor solo on WSYM at 5:30 and 10. A.J. took over as the main anchor after Beth Shayne left.

News team

"Fox 47 News at 5:30"
"(Weeknights 5:30 to 6 P.M.)"

Anchor:A.J. Hilton

Weather:Chris Gervat

"Fox 47 News at 10" "(10 to 11 P.M.)"
"Weeknights"Anchor:

A.J. Hilton

Weather:Chris Gervat

Sports:Tim Staudt

"Weekends"

Anchor: Lauren Evans

Weather:Nicholas Ferreri

Sports:Jeremy Sampson

Audio Op.Jarrod Stoddard

"WSYM features additional news personnel from WILX. See that article for a complete listing."

Detroit Lions coverage

WSYM is an affiliate of The Detroit Lions Television Network, which airs pre-season games as well as the weekly syndicated show "The Ford Lions Report" during the regular season.

External links

* [http://www.wsym.com/ WSYM-TV/DT "Fox 47"]
* [http://www.wilx.com/ WILX-TV/DT]
*TVQ|WSYM-TV