Complex sentence: WWTV/WWUP has long been the highest-rated television station in the market, especially in news, always well ahead of longtime distant runner up NBC affiliate WPBN-TV/WTOM-TV.
Split into simpler sentences: WWTV/WWUP has long been the highest-rated television station in the market, especially in news. However, always well ahead of longtime distant runner up NBC affiliate WPBN-TV/WTOM-TV.