x
x
The Zanesville DMA covers Muskingum, Guernsey, Perry, and surrounding Appalachian Ohio counties where advanced manufacturing, health care, energy production, and small business corridors meet along Interstate 70. WHIZ Media Group, regional bureaus from Columbus, and public broadcasters deliver hyperlocal news on flooding, infrastructure, and workforce training while sharing statehouse updates. Streaming adoption continues to climb as younger households combine antenna reception with smart-TV apps, giving marketers hybrid opportunities across linear and digital channels.
Marquee Broadcasting operates WHIZ-TV (NBC) alongside WHIZ-DT2 (FOX) and WHIZ-DT3 (MyNetworkTV), integrating television, radio, and digital newsrooms from downtown Zanesville. Columbus-based networks WBNS, WCMH, and WSYX feed additional coverage into the DMA, while WOUB Public Media extends public-service reporting from Ohio University. The FCC's small-market ownership waivers support WHIZ's combined TV-radio cluster, and the Ohio Association of Broadcasters coordinates EAS testing for Muskingum and Guernsey counties.
Local governments rely on cooperative agreements with WHIZ, Spectrum News 1 Ohio, and Appalachian News Network stringers to amplify transportation, broadband, and opioid response initiatives. Partnerships with Muskingum University, Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority, and regional hospitals keep community calendars, workforce scholarships, and health advisories prominent across platforms.
Spectrum, AT&T, and SmartBill Rural Broadband expand fiber along the I-70 corridor and river valleys, enabling livestreamed council meetings, remote learning, and smart manufacturing pilots. WHIZ leverages OTT apps, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV channels to replay evening newscasts, while Facebook Live and YouTube carry high school sports, church services, and community forums.
Advertisers pair first-party email lists, loyalty apps, and geotargeted social campaigns with radio remotes and sponsored podcasts. Analytics dashboards connect broadcast schedules to downtown foot traffic, industrial park hiring, and tourism visits to the Y-Bridge, Dillon Lake, and The Wilds safari park.
Residents monitor WHIZ and Spectrum News for flash-flood warnings, winter storm closings, and Ohio River navigation updates, often alongside NOAA Weather Radio.
Utility providers and county emergency managers sponsor these alerts, aligning messages around road safety, outage restoration, and public works projects.
High school football, Muskingum University athletics, and festivals such as the Y-Bridge Arts Festival drive live streaming and social engagement across platforms.
Nonprofits and tourism bureaus leverage these audiences with sponsorships, QR codes, and geofenced offers promoting downtown dining, craft trails, and cultural venues.
| Indicator | Latest Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| DMA rank | 205 (2023-2024 season) | https://www.stationindex.com/tv/markets/Zanesville |
| Estimated TV households | ~34,000 homes | https://www.stationindex.com/tv/markets/Zanesville |
| Muskingum County population | 86,410 residents (2023 estimate) | https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/muskingumcountyohio/PST045223 |
| Median household income | $60,097 (2018-2022 ACS) | https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/muskingumcountyohio/PST045223 |
| Manufacturing employment share | 18% of regional workforce (Ohio Southeast) | https://ohiose.com/regional-data/ |
WHIZ maintains trust with daily school lunch menus, church bulletins, and recovery resources for industries transitioning from coal to advanced manufacturing.
Public media partnerships amplify civic education, broadband literacy, and health services through multiplatform explainers and translation into American Sign Language.
Local banks, healthcare systems, and skills-training programs mix linear schedules with addressable OTT to reach multi-generational households.
ROI tracking leverages inbound call analytics, coupon codes, and visitor counts at downtown events, tying creative to workforce pipelines and tourism growth.
