Muskegon TV station for sale, owner retiring after 40-plus years in broadcast

MUSKEGON, MI -- Muskegon's local television station is for sale for a discounted price.

Fenton "Bud" Kelley first put his television stations up for sale during 2007 on eBay for a minimum bid of $700,000. The price was recently dropped to $225,000 with a $100,000 down payment.

Kelley Enterprises broadcasts on channels 49.1, 49.2, 49.3 and 49.4.

Channel 49.1 -- channel 397 on cable -- broadcasts family-oriented shows and Muskegon programs including churches and square dancing. Channel 49.2 broadcasts religious music. Channel 49.3 shows movies. Channel 49.4 has a western theme.

"It's past my retirement time," Kelley told MLive.

He runs the digital stations with his wife, Michelle Kelley, and son, Channu Kelley. Channu also works for Fox 17 as a master controller, and will soon move to Indiana to work for Fox 59.

The station comes with a 3-year-old 1500-watt digital transmitter, commercial property, some studio equipment and some accounts, Bud said in an email. The taxable value of the property at 4237 Airline Road alone is $96,000.

Bud has been in the broadcast business since at least 1969 when he was the chief engineer for Muskegon's first local channel, WMKG channel 54, according to past Muskegon Chronicle stories. The station broadcast through 1971, showing news, high school sports, bingo and lively talk shows.

WMKG was revived by Bud in 1990, according to past reports. During his tenure the station has been known for local news, high school sports, hunting and fishing programs, bingo, car shows, parades and more.

"I thought it was the time for it," Bud told MLive, explaining why he re-opened the station. "I just thought Muskegon should have a TV station, and broadcasting has always been my thing."

In 2009, BAG LLC of New York was poised to buy the station, but the deal fell through and its been for sale ever since, Bud said. It was initially relisted on eBay, but now is on Craigslist.

Over the years, there's been a lot of inquiries, but nothing serious, Bud said. That could be due to high start-up costs, but overhead costs are low over time and the time commitment can be minimal.

"Owning a TV station isn't really a job," he said. "I only work a few hours a week."

Running the station could be time consuming, but Kelley Enterprises no longer sells advertising and doesn't do as many local programs -- both are things that a new owner could pursue, Bud said.

The station is "holding its own," right now with national and local accounts that provide revenue, he said.

On whether a local station is still needed, Bud said, "I think there's a market for it, definitely."

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