WMNN-LD (channel 26) is a low-power television station licensed to Lake City, Michigan, United States, serving the Cadillac–Traverse City area as the flagship of the 24/7 headline news service NewsNet. It is owned and operatedbyBridge Media Networks alongside dual MyNetworkTV/Cozi TV affiliate WXII-LD (channel 12). The two stations share studios on West 13th Street in Cadillac; WMNN-LD's transmitter is located off M-55 east of the city.
The station logo from the station owner's website
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| City | Lake City, Michigan |
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| WXII-LD | |
| History | |
| Founded | December 13, 2010[1] |
First air date | February 27, 2011 (13 years ago) (2011-02-27)[1] |
Former channel number(s) | Digital: 14 (UHF, 2011–2016) |
Call sign meaning | Michigan News Network |
| Technical information[2] | |
Licensing authority | FCC |
| Facility ID | 184267 |
| ERP | 15 kW |
| HAAT | 171.3 m (562 ft) |
| Transmitter coordinates | 44°14′26.8″N 85°18′59.8″W / 44.240778°N 85.316611°W / 44.240778; -85.316611 |
| Translator(s) | WXII-LD 30.2 (UHF) Cedar |
| Links | |
Public license information | LMS |
| Website | michigan |
WMNN's primary channel features a newswheel format, similar to what CNN Headline News initially used. The primary channel's format helped form the basis of NewsNet.
On weekdays, the station's rolling news programming is divided into five separate titles: NewsNet Mornings (morning news), Midday Edition (early and mid afternoon news), Continuing Coverage (late afternoon news), Evening Edition (early evening and prime time news), and Nightside Edition (overnight news). Meanwhile, weekend news coverage is branded as Weekend Edition.
In May 2016, the station reformatted, getting rid of pre-recorded anchors. The news wheel now features an eight-minute segment of news updated twice every day.
On December 9, 2019, coinciding with the new look of the national NewsNet service and a new studio, MI News 26 was rebranded as NewsNet Northern Michigan.
On September 14, 2021, an uninterrupted national feed of the NewsNet service, absent of any locally produced content, was added to the second subchannel of co-owned WXII-LD, coinciding with the launch of that station's digital operations. Programming on WXII-LD2 is very similar to WMNN-LD1, except that it airs the national feed of NewsNet instead of the locally produced NewsNet Northern Michigan feed.[3]
On January 13, 2022, Freelancer Television Broadcasting's portfolio, including NewsNet, WMNN-LD, and WXII-LD, were sold to investor Manoj Bhargava, with Eric Wotila retaining 10% ownership in the new company Bridge News, LLC.[4] Under the terms of the deal, Bridge News would operate the stations via a time brokerage agreement with Freelancer Television Broadcasting.[5] The sale was consummated on March 24.
NewsNet Northern Michigan does not offer regular live programming. The station does conduct live broadcasts, most notably during election nights, and commercial-free coverage of the Cherry-T Ball DropinTraverse CityonNew Year's Eve.
During severe weather, the station broadcasts live cut-ins if necessary. Pre-taped weather segments sometimes alert viewers to monitor the news ticker at the bottom of the screen or to check the station's website for information.
WMNN-LD became an alternate affiliate of The CW on February 25, 2023, when it began carrying the network's coverage of LIV Golf[6] due to WFQX-TV owner Cadillac Telecasting Company's refusal to air the Saudi-owned tour on its second digital subchannel which carries The CW Plus.[citation needed]
Originally "26 TV Classics", "TV 26" features classic TV shows like Bonanza, The Lone Ranger, Jack Benny, classic cartoons and more.[7] On March 9, 2015, WMNN became an Antenna TV affiliate.[8]
Cinema 26 featured a selection of "classic movies" and independent films. From August 23, 2011, to January 1, 2012, Cinema 26 was replaced by Universal Sports.[9] This subchannel reverted to Cinema 26 on January 1, 2012, when Universal Sports became a cable and satellite-only channel. Cinema 26 was replaced again, this time by Laff on January 4, 2016.
The station's signal is multiplexed:
| Channel | Res. | Aspect | Short name | Programming |
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| 26.1 | 720p | 16:9 | NN | NewsNet |
| 26.2 | SNH | Sports News Highlights | ||
| 26.3 | COZI | MyNetworkTV / Cozi TV (WXII-LD) | ||
| 26.4 | 480i | ION | Ion Television | |
| 26.5 | CTV | Court TV | ||
| 26.6 | ANT | Antenna TV | ||
| 26.7 | Buzzr | Buzzr |