WXYZ-TV To Expand With New Studio In Heart Of Downtown Detroit

DETROIT, Aug. 28, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sixty-six years after WXYZ-TV Channel 7 flickered to life on TV sets across Southeast Michigan from its first Woodward Avenue studio in Detroit, the station is expanding its operations with a new, highly visible studio in the heart of downtown. The glass-enclosed, outward-facing studio will be located inside the ground-floor lobby of Chase Tower, 611 Woodward Ave., which is owned and managed by Bedrock Real Estate Services.

When the new WXYZ street-side studio opens this fall, with stunning views of Woodward Avenue and Campus Martius Park, it will be the home of 7 Action News at Noon with Joanne Purtan. The studio will also quickly become a familiar sight in other WXYZ Channel 7 and TV20 Detroit programming, as well as both stations' digital platforms.

"With the station's increased visibility in the heart of Detroit and live daily broadcasts, WXYZ's new studio will be one of the most interesting and lively street-level additions to downtown," said Jim Ketai, co-founder and managing partner of Bedrock Real Estate Services, which acquired Chase Tower in April 2011. Bedrock subsequently renovated the building and it now serves as the primary offices for nearly 2,500 Quicken Loans mortgage operations team members. JPMorgan Chase Bank is also a signature tenant of the building.  WXYZ's Detroit presence is yet another exciting enhancement for the 12,000+ Rock Ventures family of companies team members now working downtown.

"This is a historic step in our mission to be the best station in Detroit and the best station for Detroit," said WXYZ-TV Vice President and General Manager Ed Fernandez. "This studio will give 7 Action News viewers an exciting front-row seat to the city's incredible rebirth and allow us to connect in meaningful new ways with people making a difference and guiding Detroit's transformation." WXYZ's first TV broadcast took place on October 9, 1948 from its studios inside the Maccabees Building located in Midtown Detroit. The ABC network affiliate's main studios will remain in Southfield, Michigan.

"WXYZ has always led the way in metro Detroit and the TV industry," said WXYZ Station Manager Mike Murri.  "This studio is an exciting new chapter in our growing news programming. Located in the epicenter of downtown, this studio will give us tremendous access to the people that live and work in the City and to the region's newsmakers," he said.

The design of the new WXYZ downtown studio will honor the mid-century modern architecture of the Chase Tower. The building was designed by the Detroit-based architecture firm, Albert Kahn Associates, and opened in 1959. The 524,000 square foot, 14-story building occupies a full city block at the foot of Campus Martius Park.  

About WXYZ-TV 
WXYZ is owned by the E.W. Scripps Company.  The E.W. Scripps Company (www.scripps.com) serves audiences and businesses through a growing portfolio of television, print and digital media brands. Scripps owns 21 local television stations as well as daily newspapers in 13 markets across the United States. It also runs an expanding collection of local and national digital journalism and information businesses including online multi-source video news provider Newsy. Scripps also produces television programming, runs an award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and serves as the long-time steward of one of the nation's largest, most successful and longest-running educational programs, Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1879, Scripps is focused on the stories of tomorrow.

About Bedrock Real Estate Services
Detroit-based Bedrock Real Estate Services is a full-service real estate firm specializing in purchasing, leasing, financing, developing and managing of commercial space. Since its founding in 2011, Bedrock has recruited more than 120 tenants to Detroit's Central Business District into both office and retail spaces. In addition, Bedrock and its affiliates have invested more than $1.3 billion in downtown Detroit real estate, and now own, control or manage more than 60 properties totaling more than nine million square feet. For more information, visit www.bedrockmgt.com.

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SOURCE WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit; Bedrock Real Estate Services