| Michigan pioneered in radio broadcasting when WWJ (then 8MK)
in Detroit first went on the air May 20, 1920. Only 300 people listened, using homemade
receivers. Today, almost every Michiganian listens to radio broadcasts from the state's
382 stations [year: 1998].
Television came to Michigan in 1947 on WWJ-TV, Detroit. In 1998, the state
boasted 47
television stations and 28 cable systems.
Note: On the Air! was a special exhibit that appeared at
the Michigan Historical Museum in Lansing in 1998 - 1999. Information
presented in this online version of On the Air! dates from that time,
unless otherwise noted. |
Local radio and television stations allow us to experience
our unique heritage and circumstances with news, music and entertainment. We sit in a
traffic jam and hear a local radio announcer explain what caused it. We switch on a local
TV station and find out what weather we will face that day.
Yet radio and television also allow us to share experiences far removed from our daily
lives. |
