Its signal transmits to the Metro Detroit area and the southeast lower Michigan counties. It also covers neighboring Windsor, Ontario and Toledo. WXYZ has the strongest signal outside of Metro Detroit, (compared to the other VHF Detroit television stations) near Flint and Lapeer. Its signal can be reached with a good antenna in these areas. WXYZ includes Lapeer County in its service area, even though the station can be viewed in Flint. From its sign-on in 1948 until 1986, WXYZ-TV was owned and operated by ABC and was one of their strongest O&Os.