An Article From Another Blog About On-Camera Meteorologist Gary Bazner, Who, At Times; Had Worked At WOOD-TV In Grand Rapids, Michigan; And At Independent And FOX-Affiliated WKBD-TV In Detroit, Michigan.

WOOD-AM and TV, along with WXYZ-AM-FM-TV; were owned by the King-Trendle Corporation. WOOD-AM and TV were purchased alongside WXYZ-AM and the Construction Permits for WXYZ-FM and TV when Edward Noble, Leonard Goldenson, and ABC had purchased King-Trendle. Immediately after purchasing King-Trendle, ABC had sold the WOOD Stations in Grand Rapids; while retaining the WXYZ Stations in Detroit, alongside their Radio and Television Stations in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and in San Francisco.

Even after WKBD-TV had affiliated with Rupert Murdoch’s startup Television Network, WKBD-TV had continued to operate mostly as an Independent Television Station; as the FOX Television Network did not yet have a full day’s worth of Programming.

WKBD-TV would have to drop it’s FOX affiliation when, during Rupert Murdoch’s quest and ambition to grow his startup Television Network, installing provisions that would allow it to rival the Big Three Television Networks (CBS, NBC, and ABC); wresting the NFL AFC Television Rights away from my friend Neal Pilson at CBS Sports for the first time since 1953, and not only wanting better positions on the Television dial; but also wanting to affiliate with reputable Television Stations with well-established histories; the ex-Storer Television Stations, by this time under the ownership of Ron Perlman and his firm New World Communications (including WJBK-TV in Detroit) were offered a payment worth a pretty Penny if Perlman were to switch his Television Stations from being affiliated with the incumbent, reputable Networks to his startup FOX Television Network.

Sadly, Gary Bazner would pass away from a Heart Attack in February, 1996.

# 15 – The Baz