ALPENA — Morgan Murphy Media, a family-owned media company, is buying three TV stations and five radio stations in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula from the Marks Media Group, including local Alpena station WBKB-11, Marks Media announced in a news release on Thursday.

The proposed transaction also includes TV stations in Ishpeming/Marquette and Calumet/Marquette and radio stations in Houghton and Iron River.

The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2023 pending regulatory approval.

The Marks family has been an important part of the Michigan broadcasting landscape since 1983 when Stephen A. Marks purchased controlling interest of Thunder Bay Broadcasting Corporation, doing business as WBKB-TV.

It was acquired from a group of local investors from Alpena, Michigan. WBKB would become the foundation for The Marks Group which grew to 19 radio and five network television stations spanning small markets in five states