WKYC’s coverage area extends from Ashtabula in the east to Sandusky in the west, and from Hinckley in the south to Leamington, Ontario, in the north.
Recently, I discovered that WKYC’s broadcast signal even reaches parts of Canada, including Windsor, London, and the charming town of Leamington, Ontario.
Curious about whether our Canadian neighbors across the lake tune in to watch our programs, I embarked on a mission to attract new viewers for WKYC.
Now, to be clear, Leamington is only about 60 miles away from Cleveland as the crow flies. But, thanks to a lovely body of water called Lake Erie and a distinct lack of bridges, my “short” trip turned into a three-hour international voyage. But after some scenic detours, I finally made it to Leamington, Ontario.
The plan was simple: hit the local nightlife, figure out if Leamington’s ready for WKYC, and maybe convince a few people to tune in. First stop? Eddie’s Sports Bar. And let me tell you, this place was impressively busy for a Monday night. I asked local resident Eddie Andray if this was the norm, and he assured me it was. Apparently, Leamingtonites love good entertainment, no matter where it’s from.
So on that note, I asked Eddie if he’d ever watched WKYC, and as it turns out, he has …. on occasion.
“Well, sometimes, if the antenna switches a certain way, I can get it … if the wind’s right.” Yes, folks, apparently the right wind gust is key to getting Channel 3 in Leamington. So, if you’ve ever wondered how Cleveland’s broadcast signal travels across the lake, well, it does … on a breeze.
I asked if Eddie would be open to giving WKYC a shot on a regular basis. His answer? “If it’s on TV and there’s good content, I’m there to watch it.” Now, that’s what I like to hear. But what kind of content was he looking for? “More hockey,” Eddie said. It’s Canada, after all.
But here’s the thing — I wasn’t just there for the good vibes and hockey talk. I was also there to find people who might have a real connection to Cleveland. Enter Markus Youssef, a rare breed of Canadian: a Cleveland Cavaliers fan. And not just a fan, but a believer.
“They call it ‘Believeland’ for a reason,” Markus said, proudly repping a Cavs jersey. I had to respect that. He’s got the heart of a true Cavs fan. Because let’s face it: being a Cavs fan in Canada? That’s dedication.
Next, I chatted up Eddie’s Sports Bar owner, Edmund Madieros, to see if we could work out some screen time. The guy has a quite a few TVs hanging around, so I thought, “Why not just slip WKYC on for an hour a day?”
When I asked Edmund if he felt any kinship with Cleveland, he said, “I’ve got a few cousins in Cleveland.” I took that as a positive sign. Then I made my pitch: “How about putting WKYC on one of these screens for a bit?”
Without hesitation, Edmund said, “100%. I would.” So, just like that, I secured a verbal agreement to get WKYC on the air in Leamington. You know, for a town that doesn’t technically “get” us, they were pretty open to the idea.
By the end of the night, I’d made some new Canadian friends, shared some laughs, and even managed to get four bar patrons to commit to watching WKYC. You know what? I trust Canadians—they say they’ll watch, and I believe them.
But don’t get me wrong: This is just the beginning. Tomorrow? I’m bringing WKYC to Leamington whether they like it or not. You better believe I’m going to keep this mission going until Channel 3 is the talk of the town.
And hey, when in Canada, right? I wrapped up the night with some delicious circular bacon (it’s a thing, trust me), and I’ll call that a successful day.
This is Mike Polk, crossing borders and spreading WKYC love for 3 News.
