Morgan Murphy Media’s WBKB-TV (Alpena) announced April 4 that it will greatly expand its local news coverage through a partnership with UpNorthLive news from WPBN/WTOM in Traverse City. The hours of local news will expand from the current 7.5 hours of news per week without any weekend coverage to 24.5 hours per week over seven days a week.

Through the unique partnership, WBKB becomes part of the UpNorthLive news network and all newscasts produced by WPBN/WTOM will be provided to the Alpena market. At the same time, nearly every newscast will include segments anchored and produced by journalists in Alpena and on-screen graphics will continuously provide news headlines and weather information customized for the Alpena viewers.

The newscast schedule is outlined here:

• Monday – Friday: 4:30 to 7 a.m.
• Monday – Friday: 5 to 6 p.m.
• Monday – Friday: 6 to 6:30 p.m.
• Monday – Friday: 11 to 11:35 p.m.
• Saturday – Sunday: 6 to 6:30 p.m.
• Saturday – Sunday: 11 to 11:35 p.m.

The new newscasts and program schedule are expected to be available by the end of April.

WBKB-TV was acquired by Morgan Murphy in September, 2023 as part of its acquisition of the Marks Group's Michigan broadcast properties from the estate of for MAB Board and Foundation Chairman Stephen A. Marks.  Marks passed away unexpectedly in May of 2022.