MARQUETTE, Mich. (WZMQ) — WZMQ 19, the Michigan Upper Peninsula’s CBS and MeTV station, is pleased to announce veteran sports broadcaster Mike Ludlum is joining the 19 News team.
Ludlum’s career includes more than 35 years as a television anchor, sports reporter and sports director in Marquette. From 2007 until 2022, he served as president of the Upper Peninsula Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. Ludlum graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in telecommunications.
He started his career in Marquette in 1987 and is highly regarded as the U.P.’s sports authority through his many years of covering local sports.
Ludlum joins WZMQ 19, which earned a Best Newscast award in 2023 from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. He joins another well-known broadcaster, Sarah Blakely, on the 19 News anchor desk effective immediately.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have a sports journalist of Mike’s caliber joining our team,” said Trent Bailey, news director for WZMQ 19. “No one knows more about local sports, and his addition represents a new phase of our growth.”
WZMQ 19 has also added another local broadcast veteran to the station’s sales team.
Mark Nebel has 25 years of experience, starting his career as an account executive at WLUC in Marquette. He was later promoted to sales manager before becoming a sales manager for The Eagle radio group. He later accepted positions as general sales manager and subsequently station manager for Marquette station WJMN-TV. He also has held management and sales positions with stations in Hawaii and Wisconsin.
“Mark is a professional who will put clients first with his tremendous local business knowledge and experience,” said John Christianson, chief operating officer for Lilly Broadcasting, which operates the station. “WZMQ is fortunate to have him on our team.”
