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WOIO (channel 19) is a television station licensed to Shaker Heights, Ohio, United States, serving the Cleveland area as an affiliate of CBS. It is owned by Gray Media alongside MyNetworkTV affiliate WUAB (channel 43), Telemundo affiliate WTCL-LD (channel 6) and independent station WOHZ-CD (channel 22); WTCL and WOHZ also serve as translators for WOIO. All four stations have studios on the ground floor of the Reserve Square building in Downtown Cleveland. WOIO shares full-power spectrum with WUAB via a channel sharing agreement; both stations have transmitter facilities in suburban Parma.

Key Information

Established in 1985, WOIO's entry into the Cleveland market was the culmination of multiple failed attempts to sign on a station on channel 19 over the course of 34 years, four different construction permits and multiple contested bids. Owned initially by a consortium controlled by Hubert B. Payne, the first Black executive at a Cleveland television station, WOIO was sold to Malrite Communications, one of the partners in the consortium, in 1986 for a capital infusion. With studios at Shaker Square, WOIO operated with a minimum of local output but boasted a unique "nineteen" identity and irreverent on-air persona, along with a lineup of long-established reruns that appealed to a younger audience. A charter affiliate of Fox and the over-the-air home of Cleveland Cavaliers basketball and Cleveland Browns preseason games, WOIO thrived in competition against the market's established independent WUAB despite ongoing perceptions of being a "video jukebox". When WJW-TV owner New World Communications agreed to affiliate their station group with Fox in 1994, WOIO became the market's CBS affiliate, replacing WJW. Prior to the switch, Malrite took over WUAB via a local marketing agreement and used WUAB's news operation to develop local newscasts for WOIO, which launched on February 1995.

Despite lofty expectations by station management, WOIO's newscasts—rebranded several times and with frequent on- and off-air turnover—remained mired in last place in nearly every timeslot into the 2000s. The station was purchased by Raycom Media in 1998, and veteran executive Bill Applegate was named as WOIO-WUAB's general manager in 2001. Under Applegate, WOIO's news department was relaunched as 19 Action News, featuring a populist-leaning tabloid style with multiple controversial on-air talent hires and rating stunts. While 19 Action News proved successful in some timeslots, Applegate's immediate successors dropped the tabloid motif in 2015 in favor of the more traditional Cleveland 19 News. Following Gray Television's merger with Raycom, WOIO revived some elements of Action News while repositioning their news department for non-linear over-the-top and mobile streaming. In recent years, Gray has added WTCL, expanding WOIO's newscasts to a Spanish-language audience, and Rock Entertainment Sports Network, a joint venture between Gray and Rock Entertainment Group.

Previous applicants for channel 19 in Cleveland

[edit]

While WOIO's first broadcast occurred 40 years ago, on May 19, 1985, channel 19 in Cleveland was one of several ultra high frequency (UHF) allotments created by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 1952 following a complex realignment of future channel allocations, a process that took nearly five years. The combined Cleveland–Akron–Canton market already had three very high frequency (VHF) stations: WNBK, WEWS-TV and WXEL,[4] as well as future UHF outlet WAKR-TV in Akron.[5] Prior to the 1952 allotment table's release, the FCC designated channel 19 as Cleveland's lone UHF allotment, which WGAR, WERE, WHK and WJW—all radio stations that unsuccessfully filed for a VHF license—jointly protested against.[6]

WHK, which held an unbuilt permit for WHK-TV from 1953 to 1960, planned to have studios at the WHK Auditorium, now the Agora Theatre.

WHK owner United Broadcasting Company (the autonomous broadcast arm of the Forest City Publishing Company, parent of The Plain Dealer and the Cleveland News)[7] applied with the FCC to construct a station on channel 19 on May 29, 1951, that would transmit in all-color; station president Harry K. Carpenter called the application a "new era" for WHK,[6] the first commercially licensed radio station in Ohio.[8] WJW also filed a bid for channel 19 but withdrew after determining it would not be economically feasible; WJW owner William O'Neill remarked, "I think I'd rather stay in the radio business and make a little money than go bankrupt with radio and TV".[9] A construction permit was awarded to WHK on December 3, 1953, six months after WERE owner Cleveland Broadcasting was awarded a permit for a station on channel 65.[4] WHK management aimed to sign on WHK-TV from their Euclid Ave. facilities, converted from a movie theater with the intent of housing a TV station, by August 1954.[8] The proposed WHK-TV remained a permit, however, and when WHK and WHK-FM (100.7) were sold to Dumont Broadcasting in 1958,[10] a deadline extension request for WHK-TV necessitated a hearing for the transaction by the FCC.[11] Ultimately unbuilt, the permits for WHK-TV and WERE-TV were two of seven unbuilt UHFs in Ohio, and two of 54 nationwide, that the FCC cancelled on February 19, 1960.[12]

Following the failure of the WHK permit, The Plain Dealer itself filed for an application on July 17, 1962, spurred by passage of the All-Channel Receiver Act,[13] but withdrew their bid by that September, with publisher Thomas V. H. Vail citing the economic uncertainty of UHF.[14] Community Telecasters of Cleveland Inc., led by attorney Charles W. Steadman,[15] was the next to file on April 19, 1963, and was soon being joined by another attempt from Cleveland Broadcasting and WERE.[16] Cleveland Broadcasting was awarded the permit on November 12, 1964, with president Ray T. Miller teasing the idea of their station as the flagship of a 40-station regional UHF network,[17] and WERE host Bill Gordon was considered for a nighly talk show.[15] Construction was delayed after Community Telecasters appealed the permit,[15] which Cleveland Broadcasting eventually gave up[16] in part due to Miller's 1966 death[18] and the eventual sale of the company itself.[19] Community Telecasters was award a permit of their own on May 22, 1968,[20] dismissing a competing bid from WIXY-WDOK owner Westchester Corp.[21] While the permit was assigned the call sign WCTF-TV, the construction process stalled with no indication of any potential sign-on date; by comparison, Kaiser Broadcasting signed on WKBF-TV[22] and United Artists signed on WUAB[23] within months of their respective permits being granted. Moreover, both stations were well-financed with existing program inventories whereas Community Telecasters was a local group with limited funds.[21]

refer to caption
Joseph T. Zingale

Joseph T. Zingale, a former partner in Westchester Corp.,[16] offered to purchase the channel 19 permit on August 23, 1972, for $300,000 (equivalent to $2.26 million in 2024).[24] Zingale was an investor in several syndicates tied to his cousin Nick Mileti, including the Cleveland Indians,[25] the Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Crusaders, but Zingale said, "...that doesn't necessarily mean anything."[24] He also held ownership stakes in the Richfield Coliseum[26] and WWWE-WWWM parent Ohio Communications, both through Mileti,[27] held a 2.36 percent stake in Westchester's successor, Globetrotter Communications[28] and owned the World TeamTennis franchise Cleveland Nets.[29][30] United Artists protested the sale, citing these varied ownership interests in multiple professional sports teams, four radio stations and a television station as "a dangerous concentration of power", which Zingale called "a delaying tactic".[31] Retrospectively, Zingale later disclosed he intended on channel 19 being "a sports-oriented station".[32] The FCC rejected United Artists' claims and approved the transfer on October 26, 1973, with Zingale planning to launch the station under the WZIN-TV calls[29] "in about a year".[28] Zingale rescinded the purchase in February 1974 due to a price dispute.[33]

United Artists then offered to purchase the existing WCTF-TV permit for $250,000 (equivalent to $1.46 million in 2024) and concurrently applied to change WUAB's dial position from channel 43 to 19, both on January 7, 1975; WUAB manager Jack Moffitt claimed channel 19 would allow for upgraded reception in neighboring places like Lorain, Ohio, WUAB's city of license.[34] By April, United Artists purchased WKBF-TV's non-license assets from Kaiser, which shut down that station after years of mounting financial losses.[35][36] Zingale, however, renewed his intentions to secure the permit[37] and filed a protest against the permit sale.[33] An FCC review board refused to extend WCTF-TV's permit deadline in April 1976, effectively taking it away.[38] Community Telecasters then appealed to the United States Court of Appeals in Washington,[16] which upheld the decision in May 1978.[39]

History

[edit]

Application and construction

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It became obvious to me that I was not going to be vice president of sales for NBC. So I decided that if I wanted professional advancement, I would have to have my own property.

Hubert B. Payne, former WKYC sales manager and founder of WOIO[40]

The failure to get the WCTF-TV permit built resulted in another bidding process. Cleveland Television Corp. (CTC) filed the initial bid on November 18, 1977; CTC was led by Augustus L. Harper of the Greater Cleveland Growth Organization, along with Aben E. Johnson Jr. and Clifford Beresh, president and sales manager for WXON in Detroit.[41] Zingale told the Plain Dealer four days later, "at the appropriate time, Zingale Broadcasting Co. will file for and aggressively seek Channel 19."[16] WUAB, now owned by Gaylord Broadcasting, also filed a bid, which if granted would result in their existing channel 43 license being returned to the FCC.[39] A third applicant, Channel 19 Inc. was a joint venture of three broadcast groups: Diamond Broadcasting, led by Hubert B. Payne and William Derrick; Malrite Communications executives Milton Maltz, Carl Hirsch and John Wilson; and Metroplex Communications, headed by Norman Wain and Robert Weiss.[32] Malrite purchased WHK and WMMS in 1971,[42] Wain and Weiss had previously been partners with Zingale in Westchester Corp., while Hubert B. Payne was the sales manager for WKYC-TV, the first African-American executive for a local network affiliate.[40]

refer to caption
Hubert B. Payne

All three groups submitted their bids prior to the FCC's deadline of July 6, 1978, but Zingale ultimately declined to file a bid. Citing changes to his personal life and changing conditions in the Cleveland market, Zingale said, "I wish my ex-partners (Wain and Weiss) luck—they'll need it."[32] The structure of the bid had Malrite's Maltz, Hirsch and Wilson directly owning preferred non-voting stock and supplying one-third of the capital equity; voting interest was evenly split between Metroplex and Diamond under an FCC waiver for broadcasters that provided substantial financing for a minority-controlled station.[43] Channel 19 Inc.'s application requested the city of license be assigned to Shaker Heights, a suburb of Cleveland, while Gaylord and CTC requested the station be licensed to Cleveland.[32] An administrative law judge recommended the permit be given to Channel 19 Inc. over CTC on April 12, 1982.[44] The FCC's legal review board upheld the judge's decision on October 15, noting Channel 19 Inc. planned to put all common stock owners in management unlike CTC.[45] After a further round of appeals by CTC, the FCC unanimously awarded the permit and license to Channel 19 Inc. in May 1983.[46] Even as the group still needed to secure a transmitter tower and studios, the station planned to bear the WOIO call sign, standing for "Ohio".[2] Along with Payne becoming the first Black to own and manage a Cleveland television station, it was also the first television station owned by people who were either lifelong residents of the region or, in Payne's words, "adopted the city as their home".[46]

Despite Payne's initial hope of signing on WOIO by February 1984,[46] construction took longer than expected. The Shaker Square shopping center became the group's choice for a studio facility in what became an $11 million investment (equivalent to $34.7 million in 2024) eased by securing $8 million in industrial revenue bonds from Cuyahoga County. During the approval process for the bond, commissioners Tim Hagan and Vincent Campanella raised concerns about the local television market already being crowded, with Campanella citing the challenges WCLQ-TV (channel 61) was now facing.[47] (WCLQ-TV signed on March 3, 1981, initially as a hybrid ad-supported independent and local outlet for subscription television service Preview,[48] but the failure of Preview in 1983 forced WCLQ-TV to operate as a full-time independent.[49]) Industry executives also cited the recent failure of WKBS-TV in Philadelphia as a warning sign for new independent stations.[50] Including all technical aspects and costs to purchase programming, total start-up costs were projected to run higher than $20 million (equivalent to $60.5 million in 2024).[40] Even with estimates that WOIO could lose between $6–8 million in the first year, Payne vowed to turn a profit in a year.[50] After what amounted to 34 years of multiple failed attempts to build a station on channel 19, WOIO finally took to the air at 7:55 a.m. on May 19, 1985, with an on-air message by Payne and Lakewood native Pat McCormick serving as an "opening day" continuity host;[51] engineers tested the signal hours earlier with an overnight transmission of Dr. Strangelove.[52]

Signing on as an independent

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People say to us, 'Who wants all those old shows?' The answer is: everyone. We're giving them memories. Warm memories.

Dennis Thatcher, WOIO general manager, on the station's programming philosophy[50]

WOIO signed on as the third independent in the Cleveland market, behind WUAB and WCLQ-TV.[53] To distinguish themselves from both stations, WOIO opted to purchase reruns to longer-established series like I Love Lucy, Happy Days, The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Little House on the Prairie instead of more recent off-network fare[54] and have the lineup consist solely of reruns and movies, a choice aided by the FCC no longer requiring a minimum of locally produced programming.[50] By contrast, WCLQ-TV purchased reruns to multiple recent programs in expensive contracts,[55] including Dallas (which was removed from the schedule after several months)[56] while WUAB purchased rights to Webster, which it dropped after several years but continued to pay for through 1990.[57] WOIO also boasted a technical advancement: it signed on as the first full-time stereo television station in Cleveland, with Malrite's Cincinnati station WXIX-TV converting to all-stereo several weeks later.[58] The station's on-air appearance and script "nineteen" logo were created by Television By Design,[59] an Atlanta–based graphics agency who did similar work for Superstation WTBS.[50][60] Promos and station identifications were handled by a rotation of announcers including WMMS's Jeff Kinzbach and WMJI's John Webster.[61]

This curved storefront at the Shaker Square shopping center in Shaker Heights served as WOIO's first studio home.

The May 1985 sweeps period saw WOIO immediately making an impact in the market with 6 percent of total viewers, compared to 5 percent for WCLQ-TV and 9 percent for market leader WUAB.[62] This performance was even more shocking as WOIO signed on with only 10 days remaining in the sweeps period,[54] and despite heavy investment into promotions by WCLQ-TV that even included using Ernest P. Worrell (Jim Varney) in promotional spots and billboards.[63] Akron Beacon Journal critic Mark Dawidziak lauded WOIO for having a "clean and sharp" on-air look that suggested care, consideration and significant investment.[54] WBNX-TV, owned by the ministry of televangelist Ernest Angley, came online on December 1, 1985, but positioned itself on family-oriented and religious fare, along with less-expensive older reruns and movies.[62] WOIO's ratings performance continued into the fall of 1985 and spring of 1986, frequently matching or besting WCLQ-TV.[64]

The additional competition had a negative overall effect on ratings and revenue. Despite WOIO's initial ratings success, the station was forced to charge for commercials at rates comparable to basic cable,[65] while the costs for purchasing programming were concurrently driven up for all four stations substantially.[66] WOIO's late entry had also forced them to pay double or triple what WUAB and WCLQ-TV paid for comparable programs.[50] Driven into a financial crunch, Malrite offered to acquire WOIO outright in June 1986—in effect, purchasing the 51 percent controlling stock held by Diamond and Metroplex[67]—as a capital infusion.[68] The deal was legally permissible as the FCC allowed such transactions if it involved a UHF television station in need of financial assistance.[69] Malrite's takeover of WOIO was approved in late November 1986.[67] WCLQ-TV's ownership, itself badly overextended and continuing to lose money with limited chance for profitability, put the station up for sale in January 1986,[70] with HSN parent company Silver King Broadcasting purchasing it in August.[71] A series of lawsuits filed by television production companies[72][73] drove the outgoing ownership into bankruptcy by years end[74] with the HSN sale being approved by a bankruptcy court.[75] While WCLQ-TV's ownership publicly objected to Malrite's purchase of WOIO,[68] a legal challenge filed against it was rendered moot due to the Silver King sale.[69] Payne continued to be a major stockholder in both WOIO and Malrite until divesting his shares in 1989.[76][77]

Affiliating with Fox

[edit]

WOIO became a charter affiliate of the Fox Broadcasting Company upon the network's October 9, 1986, launch. While the network was originally limited solely to The Late Show, both Payne and station manager Dennis Thatcher saw the risk (giving up nearly two-thirds of commercial time during the 11 p.m. hour and three-fourths of commercial time on weekends) as worth taking; Thatcher commented, "you give up a lot to get their programming, but we feel like pioneers... it's a long-haul proposition."[78] Fox had previously been mentioned as a potential buyer for WCLQ-TV,[64] while WUAB owner Gaylord Broadcasting declined to affiliate any of their stations with Fox.[78] WCLQ-TV's demise allowed WOIO to pick up the broadcast rights to Cleveland State Vikings college basketball in late 1986.[74] WOIO carried Cleveland Force MISL indoor soccer from 1986 until the team folded in 1988.[79][80] In 1988, WOIO added Cleveland Cavaliers telecasts, taking over for WUAB.[81] The Cleveland Browns-produced weekly show Browns Insider[82] and Browns NFL preseason games followed in 1989 and 1990, respectively.[83]

WOIO's original logo, used from 1985 until 1995.

Due to Fox's five-year strategy of primetime expansion from 1989 to 1994, WOIO de facto operated as a quasi-independent, programming movies and first-run syndicated shows on nights Fox did not program,[84] leading the Beacon Journal's Bob Dyer to call the station "an odd bird".[85] The station set up a fan club in 1988 for their children's programming, which was folded into the Fox Children's Network upon its 1990 launch.[86] Fox Children's supplanted much of WOIO's syndicated kids fare, programming in the early morning, afternoons and on Saturday mornings.[87][88] Still, the station was perceived as being little more than a "video jukebox" run out of Shaker Square. While admitting that was the case, Thatcher defended WOIO's success in establishing a strong identity and personality that targeted viewers under the age of 35.[85] The station did feature some locally produced public affairs programming, including a weekly talk show hosted by area attorney Larry Elder.[89] Along with WMMS talent began presenting day-long marathons of shows on WOIO, evening host Ric "Rocco" Bennett hosted Buzzard B-Movies on Saturday afternoons.[61]

Fox's success on Thursday nights—led largely by The Simpsons—enabled WOIO to post its highest ratings to date on October 15, 1992, beating WUAB and WKYC outright, and besting WJW-TV and WEWS-TV in several timeslots. WOIO also began matching WUAB in the prime-time "local access" 7 p.m. hour, a time period WUAB traditionally thrived in.[90] WOIO signed a five-year affiliation contract with Fox in October 1993, leading WUAB to align with the United Paramount Network (UPN)[91] nearly a year in advance of their 1995 launch.[92] Fox's successful $1.5 billion bid for NFC broadcast rights in December 1993 (equivalent to $3.27 billion in 2024)[93] prompted WOIO to consider establishing a news department in the spring of 1994.[94] Even with WUAB's established success having 10 p.m. news, one unnamed news director remarked, "they don't have to get ratings, they just have to exist."[85]

Standard & Poor's put $115 million of junk bonds held by Malrite for downgrading in 1992, leaving the company unable to service their growing debt.[95] As a result, Malrite divested their entire radio station unit to Roy E. Disney's Shamrock Broadcasting for $300 million (equivalent to $653 million in 2024) in March 1993.[96] Before that deal was arranged, Maltz and Malrite banker Shearson Lehman Brothers invited other broadcast groups to a possible purchase of WOIO; in August 1992, Sinclair Broadcast Group was rumored to acquire the station for approximately $30 million (equivalent to $67.2 million in 2024).[97] WHK and WMMS were subsequently spun off by Shamrock to now-former Malrite executive Carl Hirsch's OmniAmerica group.[98]

Linking up with CBS

[edit]
Main article: 1994–1996 United States broadcast television realignment

On May 23, 1994, WJW-TV owner New World Communications signed a group-wide affiliation contract with Fox; calling for stations either owned by New World—or in the process of being acquired by the chain—to switch affiliations to Fox after their existing contracts ended.[99] The news caught CBS president of affiliation relations Tony Malara off guard as such an arrangement was without precedent.[100] Moreover, WJW-TV had been aligned with CBS for 40 years.[101] WOIO not only had their affiliation with Fox recently extended through 1998,[91] their interest in local news was heightened after Malrite encountered success launching a newscast on WXIX-TV, and had the support of Fox president Lucie Salhany. Due to the aftereffects of the early 1990s recession, Fox lessened the priority level for their affiliates to have free-standing news services.[94]

CBS initially courted Scripps-Howard, owner of WEWS-TV and WXYZ-TV in Detroit (another market impacted by the deal)[102] but Scripps-Howard signed an extensive contract of their own between ABC and the majority of their stations.[103] The network next approached WUAB, but details emerged of a possible local marketing agreement (LMA) between WOIO and WUAB, with Malrite assuming operational control of WUAB from owner Cannell Communications; talks between the two owners had been underway for several months.[104]

In what industry observers regarded as a surprise, CBS signed up WOIO as their replacement for WJW-TV, with network executives impressed by Malrite president Milton Maltz's presentation and WOIO's prior loyalty towards Fox.[105] WOIO also committed to carrying Late Show with David Letterman live at 11:30 p.m.—a factor Malara considered "a very big deal", as WJW-TV delayed it until midnight after the New World-produced Valley of the Dolls.[106] The deal came with risks: WOIO had cultivated a strong, youth-oriented identity that needed to be reconciled with CBS's older-skewing programming, while CBS News president Eric Ober noted WOIO's absence of local news resulted in a temporary "news deficit".[107] As part of the affiliation agreement, CBS agreed to provide cash compensation to WOIO for carrying its programming[108] and contributed 50% to a $1 million marketing campaign.[100]

Malrite's LMA with WUAB took effect on effect on August 18, 1994, 16 days before WOIO's affiliation switch to CBS.[109] Operations for both stations were consolidated at Reserve Square in Downtown Cleveland, a process finalized by February 1995, when WOIO's local newscasts launched.[110] WOIO joined CBS on September 3, 1994,[101] with a significant amount of WOIO's syndicated programming moved to WUAB,[109] while WBNX-TV secured the Fox Children's affiliation after WJW-TV declined to pick it up.[111]

Raycom ownership

[edit]
At top, "HOMETEAM" in bold serif lettering with a yellow bar separating a blue box underneath with white "19" text inside.
"Hometeam 19" logo, 1999–2001.
At top, "CLEVELAND'S" in bold serif; to the left, the CBS eye logo in black; to the right, a red square with a white "19" in a sans serif.
WOIO primary "CBS 19" logo, 2002–2015.

Montgomery, Alabama–based Raycom Media purchased Malrite Communications on April 6, 1998, for an undisclosed price; the deal also included the LMA with WUAB.[112] The sale was finalized six months later on September 17.[113] Under Raycom ownership, WOIO and WUAB began identifying as "Hometeam 19" and "Hometeam 43" for both newscasts and entertainment programming.[114] Raycom acquired WUAB outright on March 11, 2000, after the FCC relaxed rules allowing common ownership of two commercially licensed television stations in the same market.[115]

In January 2001, Raycom hired controversial broadcast executive Bill Applegate as general manager for WOIO and WUAB, transferring from WMC-TV, Raycom's Memphis station.[116] By 2002, WOIO and WUAB dropped the "Hometeam" branding, with the former becoming "Cleveland's CBS 19" while WUAB became "43 The Block";[117] newscasts seen on both stations were relaunched and reformatted as 19 Action News.[118] WUAB remained a UPN affiliate until the network's 2006 closure, signing up with MyNetworkTV shortly thereafter.[119] After Applegate's 2014 retirement, WOIO was renamed "Cleveland 19" on August 24, 2015, as part of a large-scale revamp at both stations and their news operation. WUAB similarly rebranded as "CLE 43".[120]

Sale to Gray Television

[edit]

On June 25, 2018, Raycom agreed to merge their station group, including WOIO and WUAB, with Atlanta–based Gray Television in a cash-and-stock merger transaction valued at $3.6 billion (equivalent to $4.51 billion in 2024).[121] The sale was completed on January 2, 2019.[122] During the sale process, WUAB became the market's CW affiliate on July 16, 2018,[123][124] with WUAB's existing MyNetworkTV affiliation moved to a WOIO subchannel.[125]

Gray Television purchased low-power station WLFM-LD (channel 6) on July 29, 2021, for $1.65 million.[126] Several days after the sale was approved by the FCC,[127] Gray announced WLFM-LD would be relaunched as Telemundo affiliate WTCL on January 1, 2022, with evening newscasts in Spanish produced by WOIO.[128] Cleveland had been the largest market in the United States without a Telemundo affiliate.[129] (Since its 2001 purchase by the network, Univision-owned WQHS-DT has only carried remotely-produced news briefs.[130]) As early as 2018, WOIO had produced a daily Spanish-language newscast, Al Día, for their website, social media and OTT services, but this was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic; WOIO retained both reporters for Al Día and planned to hire two additional bilingual reporters.[131]

On July 18, 2022, Gray filed a conditional use certificate request with Independence, Ohio, for construction of a two-story studio facility on land overlooking the I-77–I-480 interchange in a proposal titled "Project VO SOT"; WOIO-WUAB-WTCL's current 10-year lease at Reserve Square runs through 2027.[132] Independence City Council approved the request on August 9, 2022,[133] but Gray abandoned the project two years later after failing to get regulatory approval to construct a studio transmitter link tower next to the proposed facility.[134]

Programming

[edit]

Newscasts

[edit]

Formation and early struggles

[edit]

From its launch until becoming a CBS affiliate, WOIO had no local news presence. Station founder Hubert B. Payne felt the notion of immediately competing with WKYC, WEWS, WJW-TV and cable news to be "folly on my part".[59] By 1992, Akron Beacon Journal critic Bob Dyer wrote the station had "a gaping hole at its center: no newscast"; in Dyer's analysis, general manager Dennis Thatcher expressed an interest in local news, noting some advertisers—under the impression viewers did not see WOIO as a "real" station—refused to deal with them.[85] Malrite's successful launch of a news service on their Cincinnati station, WXIX-TV, led WOIO management in March 1994 to consider "tiptoe(ing) into local news this fall".[94] As Malrite had been in negotiations with Cannell Communications about a WUAB LMA when the Fox-New World alliance emerged,[104] when WOIO signed with CBS, speculation began about Malrite using WUAB's news department to produce 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts for WOIO.[106] Thatcher hired former WJW-TV news director Phyllis Quail to oversee the transition process and committed to having local news bulletins during CBS This Morning.[107] The station originally intended to air the CBS Evening News on delay at 7 p.m. with sitcom reruns as a lead-in[107] but ended up running it live at 6:30 p.m.[100]

WOIO kept a low profile assembling its air talent following the affiliation switch, though the station did hire WJW-TV anchor Denise Dufala,[135] WMAQ-TV anchor Emmett Miller, and former Miss America 1989 winner Gretchen Carlson as lead anchors,[136] and WUAB's Jeff Phelps was reassigned as WOIO's lead sportscaster.[110] WUAB's existing team of Jack Marschall, Romona Robinson and Gib Shanley remained exclusive to that station, but reporters and meteorological talent were shared between the two stations.[137][138] What became known as 19 News launched on February 5, 1995, from a combined facility at Reserve Square under the Cleveland Television News banner; WUAB's newscasts came from a traditional set, but WOIO's newscasts originated from the newsroom with anchors walking to reporters in a style heavily inspired by CITY-TV's CityPulse.[110]

I'm sure someone could shove my nose into a ratings book, rattle off statistics as baffling as DNA evidence and try to explain that Channel 19 really is doing well. But the company still is expending a lot of energy, time and money to achieve what Channel 23 does in a far more Spartan way. And Malrite Communications, which operates Channel 19 and Channel 43, may be killing Channel 43's newscast as well. Now who's crazy?

R. D. Heldenfels, Akron Beacon Journal[139]

Despite the initial heavy promotion, 19 News struggled to attract viewership, partly due to past impressions of WOIO having been "a second-tier independent" and existing perception of it being "a junior news station".[140] By September 1995, WOIO's 6 p.m. news ranked in last place—tied with WAKC-TV's Akron-centered newscast—while the 11 p.m. news placed third, ahead of WAKC-TV but still significantly behind WKYC and WEWS. Moreover, WJW-TV's 10 p.m. newscast was tied with WUAB and attracted more total viewers than WOIO at 11 pm.[139] After WAKC-TV's news department was abruptly shut down in February 1996, low-power WAOH-LP (channel 29) and Cleveland simulcast W35AX started carrying WOIO and WUAB's newscasts on an hour delay.[141]

Refer to caption.
Gretchen Carlson

WOIO rebranded as CBS 19 News in April 1996 in a move Plain Dealer critic Tom Feran regarded as the station "(having) to recover from success" after years of a strong association with Fox. Newly appointed news director Kimberly Godwin-Webb refocused the newscasts to have faster pacing, tighter editing, and consumer-driven segments and de-emphasized what was internally called a "Lazy Susan" anchor desk.[140] Emmitt Miller was demoted from lead anchor to reporter,[142] while Gretchen Carlson took his place as Denise Dufala's co-anchor, the first instance of a two-woman weeknight anchor team in the market.[143] Godwin-Webb likened the station revamping to one CBS was itself undertaking, while general manager Tom Griesdorn noted, "this is not six weeks and out... we're in this for the long run. We're going to be a contender."[140] A surprising addition took place when veteran WJW-TV investigative reporter Tom Meyer joined the station in August 1996, signing a seven-year contract.[144]

The station added both a morning and noon newscast by December 1996; the morning newscast took advantage of a revamped format for CBS This Morning allowing affiliates to produce longer local segments within the national program.[145] WOIO's morning, noon and 6 p.m. newscasts also were simulcast over radio stations WELW in Willoughby and WRKG in Lorain, both beginning in May 1997.[146] The morning news further expanded to a 5:30 a.m. start in October 1997, coupled with an additional 11:30 a.m. newscast on WUAB.[147] Still, viewer loyalty towards well-established competition continued to plague WOIO, with the 6 p.m. news remaining stuck in last place, even ranking behind Roseanne reruns on WUAB and American Journal on WBNX-TV.[148] Carlson was replaced by veteran reporter Kevin Coakley, but noting the heavy competition in the timeslot, Tom Feran mused in his column that WOIO could find possible success moving Seinfeld and Frasier reruns to the 6 p.m. hour, running the CBS Evening News at 7 p.m. and have local news at 7:30 p.m. instead.[149] At the same time, WJW beat WUAB at 10 p.m. by a 2–1 margin during the spring 1998 sweeps period, attributed to the weakness of UPN fare as a lead-in for WUAB along with WOIO's newscasts assuming top priority.[150]

When the channels began their joint operation in 1995, their newscasts looked destined to challenge (the competition) for ratings supremacy, and management wasn't shy about predicting it. ... Channel 19 finished fourth in the ratings that year and still makes camp there six years later. In that same time, anchorwoman Denise Dufala has sat beside four co-anchors, and the meteorologist's face has changed as rapidly as the seasons.

Thomas Francis, Cleveland Scene, 2001[116]

Raycom's takeover of WOIO and WUAB led to news director Kimberly Godwin-Webb leaving in September 1998,[151] followed by general manager Tom Griesdorn in March 1999.[152] WUAB's 11:30 a.m. newscast was cancelled in December 1998 due to continued low ratings.[153] Kevin Coakley was dismissed in September 1999 and replaced with Jack Marschall, who also retained his existing 10 p.m. duties at WUAB.[154] In early 2000, all newscasts were re-branded as Hometeam 19 News and Hometeam 43 News,[114] based on WUAB's existing "Cleveland's Home Team" slogan.[147] News director Tony Ballew described the two stations as now being "one store with a couple of shelves" instead of the two different entities that had previously been marketed.[154] Behind-the-scenes personnel unionized in 2000 after substantial layoffs (20 staffers from a workforce of 120) and being paid thousands of dollars less than market rate, nearly half as much as competing stations. Raycom and the union struggled to reach a collective bargaining agreement, with Raycom management disclosing during negotiations it overpaid for WOIO and WUAB and was struggling to make a profit.[116]

19 Action News

[edit]
A WOIO electronic news-gathering van (with former 19 Action News signage) in Downtown Cleveland.

In February 2001, Bill Applegate—who had a reputation as a successful, if controversial, executive at WLS-TV, WBBM-TV, KCBS-TV and WABC-TV during the 1980s and 1990s[116][155]—became WOIO's general manager.[156] Applegate initiated a total overhaul of WOIO and WUAB's newscasts, with the "Hometeam" branding excised outright amid multiple staff departures.[157] David Wittman was hired in January 2002 for a role "not yet been determined" but would "play a major role",[158] fueling speculation of WOIO adopting a tabloid format emphasizing crime and sensationalism[159] but the station asserted would not be akin to "National Enquirer Tonight".[157] As May 2002 began, Wittman took Marschall's place as lead anchor,[160][161] and all newscasts were relaunched as Action News, featuring a tabloid style.[162] By 2003, the newscast titling was amended to 19 Action News on both stations.[163] News production also increased: a 5 p.m. newscast was added,[160] followed by a 4 p.m. newscast in June 2004.[164]

Applegate's managerial style at WOIO was as aggressive as the format itself. Twice-weekly editorials were instituted, with Applegate frequently critiquing local politicians and groups,[165] years after the practice had fallen out of favor throughout the industry.[166] Chicago media critic Robert Feder retrospectively described him as "bold, brash and wickedly brilliant... willing to try almost anything to draw a crowd".[155] While in Los Angeles—a market dominated by tabloid journalism—Applegate found ratings success at KCBS-TV with saturation coverage of the Lyle and Erik Menendez trial, the 1994 Northridge earthquake and the O. J. Simpson murder case, the latter with Harvey Levin as a dedicated reporter.[116] Applegate viewed 19 Action News as "populist, blue-collar, advocacy", explaining, "your obligation is to tell the truth... I don't think we have an obligation to be objective. We have to tell the truth."[166]

I'm an opportunist at a ratings-challenged station. Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody has issues. She's coming here with a clean slate.

Leesa Dillon Faust, WOIO news director, on hiring Sharon Reed in 2002 after her firing from WCAU in Philadelphia[167]

Sharon Reed came to WOIO from WCAU in Philadelphia, but her arrival came amid controversy, having previously dated actor Robert De Niro and engaging in an e-mail flame war with WCAU reporter Alicia Taylor, the latter leading to her dismissal from that station.[168][169] WOIO hired Youngstown anchor Catherine Bosley in 2005, shortly after her dismissal from WKBN-TV when pictures of her participation in a wet T-shirt contest surfaced online, prompting accusations of the station "cashing in" on her notoriety.[170] Sportscaster Chuck Galeti was hired after a 2003 car accident, incarceration and substance abuse rehab, with the station being credited for saving him from "possible career oblivion".[171] WTAM personality Mike Trivisonno began hosting a daily segment with Reed during the 5 p.m. newscast in 2006, with news director Dan Salamone noting Trivisonno was "somebody who was born to be in a 19 Action News format".[172] Veteran investigative reporter Carl Monday joined WOIO in 2007 from WKYC,[173] where a 2006 report on a man committing indecent behavior at a library unintentionally went viral and was parodied by The Daily Show and Deadspin.[174] Tom Meyer, who worked alongside Monday at WJW, left for WKYC shortly thereafter.[175]

(Their) tabloid 'slash-and-burn' style of news reporting is nothing new. It's a classic textbook case of 'Last Place News 101' and an act of desperation. They are in last place because the people of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio have standards—intelligence and integrity. They will not allow themselves to be subjected to WOIO's low-brow, irresponsible acts of self-promotion. Nobody is making any changes in format because of what WOIO is doing.

Kevin Salyer, WJW vice-president of programming[176]

The ratings performance for 19 Action News ultimately produced mixed results. The 11 p.m. newscast became a priority for WOIO management, with news director Stephen Doerr stating, "we can only win one battle at a time."[177] One 2003 ratings stunt had WOIO airing retrospective pieces on WEWS-TV legends Dorothy Fuldheim, Nev Chandler and Don Webster, prompting that station to accuse WOIO of appropriation.[178] In the February 2004 sweeps, WOIO overtook WEWS-TV to place second at 11 p.m. behind WKYC,[179] although critics noted the showing was possibly influenced by CBS's strong primetime lineup, as all other dayparts—including WUAB's 10 p.m. newscast—remained in last place. Still, comparisons were drawn with that of WSVN in Miami, which found similar success employing a tabloid format. Doerr boasted, "Cleveland is a market that was ready to be awakened ... love it or hate it, it's not to be missed."[176]

Former entertainment reporter Chris Van Vliet at the 84th Academy Awards.

Reed's participation in Spencer Tunick's large-scale nude photo shoot in downtown Cleveland was profiled by the station during the November 2004 sweeps, proving both a ratings and internet success, with WOIO's website attracting over one million pageviews over a 24-hour period and WOIO earning its highest ratings ever at 11 p.m.[180] None of the station's staffers knew about the story until the week prior, with many newsroom and anchor talent reportedly furious at Applegate, Doerr and Reed; Plain Dealer columnist Connie Schultz assailed management for taking advantage of Reed, "... a beautiful, smart, highly educated black woman in a profession that would never have hired her 30 years ago."[181] WOIO continued placing second at 11 p.m. for several years, and tied WJW for second place at noon by 2006.[182] By 2008, the noon newscast placed second outright, although the 11 p.m. fell back to third place and other newscasts remained largely unchanged.[183]

It's hard to look at the decline in news audience and not think they're bored by the product. Maybe we should put a little vigor back in the news—have something to say instead of being so damned objective all the time.

Bill Applegate, WOIO general manager[165]

The early 2010s saw WOIO, along with other stations in the market, adapting to changing viewer demands and economic challenges brought on by the 2008 Great Recession.[184] Romona Robinson—who left WUAB in 1997 to join WKYC[185]—joined WOIO in January 2012,[186] arriving as Sharon Reed's contract was not renewed and amid multiple on-air Cleveland talent leaving one station for another or leaving the business altogether.[184] Robinson's hiring came as WOIO drew national attention for depicting the 2012 federal corruption trial of multiple Cuyahoga County officials, including Jimmy Dimora, via puppetry as cameras were prohibited.[187] "The Puppet's Court" segments, with a talking squirrel puppet recapping explicit testimony and the "circus like atmosphere", found coverage in Gawker and Slate.[188] WOIO management assured that Robinson's more traditional style fit with the tone of 19 Action News, with Applegate praising Robinson's years of community involvement and dynamic personality.[186] Robinson saw herself joining the station "...to help reshape the culture and content of the place where my career began"[189] and her on-air persona proved to be a match with the format.[185]

WOIO began shifting towards a more traditional newscast style, although elements of the tabloid format remained, along with WOIO's ability to attain attention-grabbing headlines. During a December 2013 press conference with Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and CEO Joe Banner regarding head coach Rob Chudzinski's dismissal, reporter Dan DeRoos read aloud several posts from the station's Facebook page questioning the firing, then asked, "How do you convince Browns fans that the Three Stooges aren't running this organization?"[190] Applegate announced his retirement on February 11, 2014, effective that April. In a memo to staff, Applegate said his tenure at WOIO-WUAB was "personally rewarding and the highlight of my career"[118] but his departure came after a sales department staffer sued Raycom and Applegate over "creating a sexually hostile work environment".[191][155]

Post–Action News

[edit]

Dominic Mancuso—Applegate's successor as general manager[192]—and news director Fred D'Ambrosi—who joined the station in March 2015[193]—started to overhaul the news department entirely. Former WKYC anchor Mark Nolan, who left that station in 2012 to join WMJI, was hired as Robinson's new co-anchor, replacing David Wittman.[194] Nolan's hiring portended a rebranding to Cleveland 19 News, eschewing the tabloid format and controversy surrounding the Action News name,[120] although Mancuso continued to deliver on-air editorials.[195] Plain Dealer writer Marc Bona poked fun at the on-air appearance changing from a red-and-black color scheme to a blue-and-gold look, saying, "hopefully we won't soon be seeing the scholastic-looking block M on crawlers touting MORE NEWS ... we haven't heard back from the station about whether WOIO will open a bureau in Ann Arbor."[196]

Mancuso left the stations in August 2016,[195] with Erik Schrader replacing him as general manager.[197] Denise Dufala, long seen as the "hometown individual" at WOIO dating back to the news department's creation,[148] retired at the end of 2016, concluding a 30-year career.[198] Several high-profile departures occurred after Raycom announced its merger into Gray Television, including Romona Robinson[189] and Carl Monday.[199]

The digital audience really doesn't have the loyalties that the television audience has. In the digital space, where it's just all about the content, if you can do better content than your competitors, you're going to get traction.

Brian Sinclair, WOIO assistant news director[200]

After the takeover by Gray, WOIO rebranded as 19 News, returning to a visual style evocative of Action News and slogan of "First. Fair. Everywhere." While the new brand and slogan was a direct nod to Action News, Schrader noted, "we have to stand out. Action News was an effective brand for its time, but time moved on and we had to move on, too. And tastes will change. As much as I like this brand, it probably will eventually change."[201] Newscast production was increased on WOIO and WUAB, with WOIO adding news at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. in 2019 and 2020, respectively. WOIO has placed an emphasis on over-the-top (OTT) and mobile streaming,[202] with news director Ian Rubin (who replaced D'Ambrosi in 2018[203]) and assistant news director Brian Sinclair recognizing increased audience demand for more local content and different, non-linear options to access it.[200][204] Rubin also saw WTCL-LD's 2022 launch, coupled with a WOIO-led Spanish-language newscast, as a way for the stations to be more inclusive and diverse in news gathering.[131]

WOIO also produced Cribbs in the CLE: Josh and Maria Live, a daily lifestyle talk show hosted by former Cleveland Brown Josh Cribbs and wife Maria Cribbs, from September 2019 to September 2023;[205][206] the program was cancelled after WOIO debuted InvestigateTV, a newsmagazine internally syndicated throughout the Gray Television group.[207]

Sports programming

[edit]

WOIO was the over-the-air broadcast home for the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1988 to 1994. Assuming the role from WUAB, Joe Tait—the team's longtime radio voice and president of broadcast operations[208]—announced the WOIO telecasts with former Cavalier Jim Chones as color commentator.[81] Veteran Canton sportscaster Jim Johnson was Tait's designated radio backup.[209] CBS sportscaster Greg Gumbel took over for Tait in the 1992–93 season,[210] with Denny Schreiner replacing him the following year. After WOIO joined CBS in 1994, the Cavaliers rights were transferred back to WUAB.[211][212]

The station's association with the Cleveland Browns began in 1989 when the team began producing a weekly magazine for the station, Browns Insider, hosted by veteran sportscaster Jim Mueller.[82] WOIO secured the local simulcast rights to ESPN Sunday Night Football's Browns–Oilers telecast on December 23, 1989, which was up to that point was the highest-profile broadcast in station history.[213] The Browns signed a multi-year contract with WOIO for preseason games beginning with the 1990 season[83] and lasting through the original team's relocation to Baltimore in 1995.[214]

Browns preseason games returned to WOIO in 2005 via a three-year deal; this also included team-produced NFL draft coverage, training camp reports and a weekly coach's show. Taking over for WKYC—which had carried Browns preseason games since the team's 1999 reactivation—the deal was seen as complementary to WOIO's CBS affiliation and, with it, the network's AFC rights.[215] After WOIO's newscasts covered the drowning of then-team owner Randy Lerner's six-year-old niece, which included a 9-1-1 recording from Lerner's sister Nancy Fisher, the team voided the contract on July 18, 2006; while WOIO was within legal bounds to air the tape (public record under existing Ohio law), the Browns considered it an invasion of the family's privacy.[216] WOIO filed a breach of contract lawsuit against the team,[217] which signed a replacement contract with WKYC several days later.[218]

Notable on-air staff

[edit]

Current staff

[edit]

Former staff

[edit]

Technical information

[edit]
WOIO-WUAB's former transmitter tower (center) at the West Creek Reservation in Parma.[223]

Subchannels

[edit]

WOIO and WUAB share a channel[1] and are broadcast from transmitter facilities in Parma.[3]

Subchannels of WOIO and WUAB[125]
License Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
WOIO 19.1 1080i 16:9 WOIO-DT CBS
19.2 480i MeTV MeTV
19.3 DEFY Defy
19.4 365BLK 365BLK
WUAB 43.1 720p WUAB-DT Independent with MyNetworkTV
43.2 480i Outlaw Outlaw
43.3 Oxygen Oxygen

Translators

[edit]

WOIO (and, since 2018, WUAB) has operated a digital fill-in translator in Akron on UHF channel 18 since August 12, 2011, to serve that section of the Cleveland–Akron–Canton market.[224] In the immediate Cleveland area, WTCL-LD (channel 6) provides secondary transmissions of WOIO's main program stream on the UHF band, mapped to 19.10.[225] Canton-licensed WOHZ-CD (channel 22) and Akron-licensed W28FG-D are repeaters for WTCL-LD and WOIO in the southern part of the market, also on the UHF band, using the same 19.10 channel numbers.[226]

Translators of WOIO
Call sign City of license Channel ERP HAAT Facility ID Transmitter coordinates
WOHZ-CD Canton 20 15 kW 252.9 m (830 ft) 41892 40°53′24″N 81°16′11″W / 40.89000°N 81.26972°W / 40.89000; -81.26972 (WOHZ-CD)
WTCL-LD Cleveland 20 15 kW 306.8 m (1,007 ft) 6699 41°22′45″N 81°43′11″W / 41.37917°N 81.71972°W / 41.37917; -81.71972 (WTCL-LD)
W28FG-D Akron 28 15 kW 245.4 m (805 ft) 184642 41°3′52.7″N 81°34′58.3″W / 41.064639°N 81.582861°W / 41.064639; -81.582861 (W28FG-D)
WOIO (DRT) Akron 18 15 kW 256.9 m (843 ft) 39746 41°3′52.7″N 81°34′58.3″W / 41.064639°N 81.582861°W / 41.064639; -81.582861 (WOIO (DRT))
Map
  • Grade A signal contours for WOIO and associated translators, repeaters and simulcasts.
    •   WOIO 19.1 Shaker Heights
    •   WOIO (DRT) 19.1 Akron
    •   WTCL-LD 19.10 Cleveland
    •   WOHZ-CD 19.10 Canton
    •   W28FG-D 19.10 Akron

Analog-to-digital conversion

[edit]

WOIO ended regular programming on its analog signal, over UHF channel 19, on June 12, 2009, as part of the federally mandated transition from analog to digital television. The station's digital signal continued to broadcast on its pre-transition VHF channel 10.[227][228] This frequency occasionally creates co-channel interference with CFPL-DT (channel 10) in London, Ontario, during temperature inversion and tropo skip events.

Since January 8, 2018, at 2:01 a.m., WOIO has operated in a channel sharing arrangement with WUAB.[229][1] This occurred after WUAB sold their over-the-air spectrum in the FCC's spectrum reallocation auction on February 17, 2017,[230] for an undisclosed amount.[231] WUAB was the only station owned by Raycom to participate in the spectrum auction.[230]

Both stations moved to WUAB's former tower in Parma in July 2024 with the installation of a new antenna as part of a larger signal upgrade.[232]

References

[edit]
[edit]
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WOIO

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from Grokipedia
WOIO, virtual channel 19, is a CBS-affiliated commercial television station licensed to Shaker Heights, Ohio, United States, serving the Cleveland–Akron–Canton designated market area. The station first signed on the air on May 19, 1985, initially operating as an independent station before becoming a charter affiliate of the Fox Broadcasting Company in 1986 and switching to CBS on September 3, 1994, as part of a affiliation swap with Fox O&O WJW-TV. WOIO is owned by Gray Television as part of a duopoly with and CW affiliate WUAB (channel 43); the stations share studio facilities on the ground floor of the Reserve Square complex at 1717 East 12th Street in , with a transmitter sited at the West Creek Reservation in . The station brands its news programming as Cleveland 19 News, emphasizing local coverage of breaking news, severe weather, investigative reports, and sports in .

Pre-Launch Development

Previous Applications for Channel 19

The (FCC) allocated UHF channel 19 to as part of its 1952 Sixth Report and Order establishing the Table of Television Allotments, designating it as the market's initial ultra-high-frequency channel amid limited VHF availability. Early applications followed, with Publishing Company receiving a construction permit in the mid-1950s, though the newspaper ultimately did not build the facility due to economic challenges facing UHF startups at the time. Radio broadcasters also pursued the channel, as United Broadcasting Company (owner of AM station WERE) secured a permit in June 1953, followed by a December 3, 1953, grant to WHK Broadcasting Company for proposed station WHK-TV; both efforts stalled amid high construction costs and poor UHF reception with contemporary television sets, leading to permit relinquishments without on-air operations. Subsequent attempts in the yielded similar outcomes. On May 22, 1968, the FCC awarded a construction permit to Community Telecasters of , Inc., assigning the callsign WCTF-TV for a proposed , but financial and technical hurdles prevented progress, resulting in permit deletion around 1971. The channel remained unused for nearly two decades, reflecting broader difficulties in launching viable UHF stations in markets dominated by established VHF outlets. By the early 1980s, renewed interest prompted comparative hearings among applicants, including Cleveland Television Corporation and Channel 19, Inc. (the eventual licensee for WOIO). An FCC granted the construction permit to Channel 19, Inc., in April 1982 following evidentiary proceedings that evaluated factors such as financial qualifications, technical proposals, and programming commitments; Cleveland Television Corporation challenged the decision, alleging violations of multiple ownership rules, but the U.S. of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upheld the FCC's award in 1984, confirming no contravention of regulations given the cross-ownership interests involved. These prior applications highlighted persistent barriers like capital requirements and signal issues that delayed channel 19's activation until Channel 19, Inc., successfully navigated the process.

Construction and Licensing Process

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) initiated a comparative hearing process in the late 1970s for the channel 19 construction permit in the Cleveland area after revoking a prior permit held by Community Telecasters of Cleveland, Inc. Applicants included Channel 19, Inc.—a partnership of Malrite Communications Group, Diamond Broadcasting Company, and Metroplex Communications, Inc.—along with Cleveland Television Corporation and Gaylord Broadcasting Company of Ohio, the owner of channel 43 station WUAB. On May 12, 1983, the FCC unanimously granted the construction permit and license to Channel 19, Inc., citing its superior proposal for , diversification of media ownership, and commitment to serving the Shaker Heights community as the designated . The decision followed multiple rounds of evidentiary hearings and appeals, including challenges from Cleveland Television Corporation alleging procedural errors, which the FCC rejected for lacking merit. Hubert B. Payne, an attorney and principal in the partnership, led Channel 19, Inc. as president and general manager. Post-grant, Channel 19, Inc. secured financing exceeding $10 million for facility development, including studios in a renovated storefront at the Shaker Square shopping center in Shaker Heights and a transmitter site in . Construction delays arose from equipment procurement and tower erection amid regulatory requirements for UHF signal propagation in the market, extending the timeline beyond initial projections. The station selected the WOIO , derived from "Ohio," and completed build-out to meet FCC deadlines, enabling test transmissions and full sign-on as an later in 1987.

Historical Operations

Independent Station Launch (1987–1994)

WOIO signed on the air as an independent television station on May 19, 1985, becoming the first full-power UHF commercial broadcaster on channel 19 to successfully launch in the Cleveland market after prior efforts had faltered. Initially owned by a consortium that included Diamond Broadcasting and Metroplex Communications, with Hubert B. Payne serving as a principal executive—the first African American in such a role at a Cleveland TV station—the station targeted underserved viewers with a lineup dominated by feature films, classic movies, and syndicated reruns of popular sitcoms. In early 1986, Malrite Communications Group acquired a 51 percent controlling stake in WOIO, infusing capital to stabilize operations and expand programming capabilities amid competition from established independents like (channel 43). This period saw the station emphasize off-network fare, content, and occasional sports broadcasts, while building studios in . WOIO affiliated with the newly launched as a station effective with the network's October 9, 1986, debut, though full integration of Fox's limited primetime schedule—initially four nights per week—occurred progressively into 1987. Despite this, the station maintained an independent-style format, filling the remaining schedule with syndicated series such as , game shows, talk programs, and weekend movie marathons, which helped grow its audience in the fragmented UHF landscape. Local efforts included minimal news capsules and community affairs segments, reflecting resource constraints typical of startup UHF outlets. By the late and early , WOIO's hybrid model—combining emerging network content with robust syndication—positioned it as a key player for younger demographics and sports fans, occasionally securing rights to games before shifting focus ahead of major affiliation realignments in 1994. The station's transmitter, located in , ensured coverage across , supporting ratings growth through and promotional strategies.

Fox Affiliation Era (1994–1997)

In early 1994, WOIO continued its role as Cleveland's affiliate, a position it had held since , airing the network's primetime lineup that had expanded to include series such as , , and , alongside syndicated programming, movies, and children's shows like in mornings. The station supplemented Fox's offerings—which remained limited compared to established networks until Fox's primetime buildup from 1989 onward—with independent content, operating in a quasi-independent manner due to the upstart network's initial focus on late-night and weekend slots. The period was dominated by the fallout from Fox's May 1994 affiliation agreement with New World Communications, owner of CBS affiliate WJW-TV (channel 8), which prompted WJW's switch to Fox and left CBS seeking a replacement in . On July 8, 1994, CBS announced it had signed WOIO as its new affiliate, effective late summer, citing the station's strong UHF signal and market coverage despite lacking a operation at the time. The actual switch occurred on September 3, 1994, ending WOIO's Fox tenure after eight years and transferring Fox programming, including the newly acquired NFC package for NFL Sunday afternoon games (which debuted that fall), to WJW. From September 1994 onward, the 1994–1997 timeframe for WOIO shifted to affiliation, with the station committing to develop programming to support the network's stronger of evening , primetime dramas, and like coverage from the AFC. This transition marked the conclusion of WOIO's , which had positioned the station as an alternative voice in a market dominated by VHF incumbents but ultimately yielded to competitive realignments favoring established networks.

CBS Affiliation Transition (1997–Present)

In July 1994, as part of the nationwide broadcast television affiliation realignment spurred by Communications' agreement to affiliate its stations with , Cleveland's longtime affiliate WJW-TV announced its switch to effective September 3, 1994. subsequently signed an affiliation agreement with WOIO-TV on July 8, 1994, designating it as the network's new Cleveland outlet starting August 29, 1994, with full programming transition by early September. This move displaced WOIO from its prior role as a charter affiliate, which it had held since October 9, 1986, leaving without a VHF option in the market and relegating the network to the UHF band for the first time in . WOIO's selection over other potential UHF candidates, such as , reflected CBS's emphasis on the station's commitment to establish a operation, which it lacked as a Fox affiliate focused primarily on syndicated fare and movies. Concurrently, WOIO owner Malrite Communications Group entered a with on August 18, 1994, consolidating operations and enabling resource sharing for news development, including the launch of WOIO's first newscasts shortly after the affiliation change. The switch integrated full primetime, daytime, and sports programming, such as games, into WOIO's schedule, supplemented by retained syndication like and Wheel of Fortune. Early challenges included adapting to CBS's stronger news-oriented identity, with WOIO investing in studio upgrades and talent hires to compete against established rivals WKYC-TV and WEWS-TV. By 1997, WOIO had stabilized its CBS affiliation amid network-wide shifts, expanding morning news to a 6:00 a.m. slot and leveraging duopoly synergies with for extended coverage. The station maintained the affiliation through subsequent ownership changes, including Raycom Media's 1996 acquisition of Malrite assets, without interruption. In the digital era, WOIO continued as Cleveland's exclusive outlet, adding subchannels for 's syndication feeds and local content while upholding FCC requirements for network carriage. As of 2025, it remains Northeast Ohio's affiliate under Gray Television, broadcasting from studios in and transmitting from with translators extending coverage to rural areas.

Raycom Media Ownership (1996–2019)

Raycom Media entered the Cleveland television market in 1996 by assuming operational control of (channel 43) through a with its owner, Productions, allowing coordinated programming and sales with despite lacking direct ownership of the affiliate at the time. On April 6, 1998, Raycom announced its acquisition of Malrite Communications Group, WOIO's parent company, for an undisclosed sum, marking the company's full entry into ownership of the station; the deal, which also encompassed Malrite's existing with , received antitrust clearance via early termination under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act on June 24, 1998, and closed later that year. In March 2000, following approval of relaxed duopoly rules, Raycom completed its purchase of outright, formalizing a duopoly with WOIO that enabled shared resources, studios, and news operations between the CBS and then-UPN (later ) affiliates. During Raycom's tenure, WOIO invested in news expansion and technical upgrades, including a 2008 transition to high-definition newscasts as the first Raycom station to do so, utilizing GY-HD250 cameras for its eight hours of daily local programming. The station's news format evolved in 2015, rebranding from the tabloid-style "19 " to the more traditional " 19 News" to broaden appeal and stabilize ratings amid shifting viewer habits. Raycom's ownership concluded with the June 25, 2018, announcement of its $3.65 billion merger with Gray Television, which included WOIO and among 146 stations; the transaction, scrutinized for market overlap, received FCC approval after divestitures elsewhere and closed on January 2, 2019, integrating the Cleveland properties into Gray's portfolio.

Gray Television Era and Post-2019 Developments

Gray Television acquired WOIO and its duopoly partner WUAB from Raycom Media as part of a $3.65 billion merger completed on January 2, 2019. The transaction expanded Gray's portfolio to 142 stations across 92 markets, with WOIO continuing as the CBS affiliate for the Cleveland market while sharing studios and operations with WUAB at the South Shore Corporate Center in Sheffield Lake, Ohio. Under Gray's ownership, WOIO retained its focus on network programming, syndicated content, and local news under the "Cleveland 19 News" banner, emphasizing expanded digital and non-linear distribution following the merger. In the years following the acquisition, Gray explored facility upgrades and relocations for its Cleveland properties, purchasing a 3.2-acre site in , for $2.8 million in 2022 to potentially develop new studios and offices. However, by 2023, the company reconsidered a full move from amid ongoing urban development discussions, opting to maintain operations at existing facilities while investing in engineering assessments for future enhancements. Programming developments under Gray included announcements in December 2023 of lineup adjustments for both WOIO and effective in 2024, aimed at incorporating more local content and syndicated shows. In 2024, Gray secured rights for to air five regular-season games over-the-air, marking an expansion of local sports coverage within the duopoly while WOIO focused on network sports telecasts. By 2025, operational shifts intensified with rebranding as "Cleveland's 43" and transitioning from affiliation to on September 1, introducing new syndicated programming such as reruns of popular series and launching a 9 p.m. newscast produced in conjunction with WOIO's news team. This change enhanced the duopoly's offerings, with WOIO continuing to anchor morning, evening, and late-night broadcasts, including investigative reporting and weather coverage via its Weather team. No major disruptions to WOIO's core affiliation or signal occurred through October 2025, with Gray prioritizing audience growth through integrated digital platforms and community-focused content.

Programming and Broadcast Content

Network and Syndicated Programming

WOIO began broadcasting as an on May 19, 1985, filling its schedule primarily with syndicated feature films and off-network reruns to attract viewers in the market. This approach continued until the station affiliated with the , initially carrying select Fox programs starting in 1987 alongside expanded syndicated content, including and first-run syndication during the network's early years of limited primetime offerings. On August 29, 1994, WOIO transitioned to a affiliation following 's agreement with the station amid the broader realignment triggered by Communications' deal with , which shifted WJW-TV (channel 8) to and displaced from that outlet. As a affiliate, WOIO adopted the network's full schedule, encompassing primetime scripted series (such as dramas and comedies airing from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. ET on weekdays), daytime soap operas until their phase-out in the , morning news programs like , and public affairs shows including and CBS Sunday Morning. The station also broadcasts events, notably games (AFC package from 1998 onward) and coverage of major tournaments like the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament. Syndicated programming on WOIO has historically supplemented network content in off-peak slots, such as mornings, early evenings, and late nights. During the independent and eras, reliance on syndication was heavier, featuring reruns of popular series and movies to build audience share. Under ownership, syndicated staples have included game shows like Jeopardy! in the 7:00 p.m. ET slot preceding primetime, alongside court shows and talk programs in daytime and access periods, though specific titles have rotated with market trends and clearance decisions. For instance, fall 2018 adjustments introduced new syndicated talk elements alongside experiments. Much of WOIO's non-network syndication shifted to sister station in later years, particularly after 2019, allowing WOIO to prioritize feeds and .

Local News Operations

WOIO established its local news department in February 1995 with the launch of evening newscasts produced from a shared facility at Reserve Square in under the Cleveland Television News banner, in partnership with sister station . This initiative marked the station's initial foray into regular amid its transition from independent to Fox affiliate status. In May 2002, WOIO expanded its late-evening coverage by debuting 19 Action News at 11, which within three years overtook long-established competitors to rank near the top of 's late news ratings. The format emphasized fast-paced reporting, investigative segments, and community-focused stories, aligning with the station's affiliation secured in September 1997. Under ownership from 1996 to 2019, the news operation grew, rebranding newscasts as CBS 19 News in 1996 before adopting the 19 identity more broadly. In August 2015, amid a broader station rebranding, WOIO unified its identity as "Cleveland 19" and committed to enhanced local journalism, including new morning and midday programs to address viewer demand for comprehensive coverage. Following Gray Television's 2019 acquisition of Raycom, WOIO's news team revived select elements while integrating digital tools like an OTT desk for streaming content, bolstering its position in and severe weather via the Weather unit. The department now produces multiple daily newscasts across WOIO and , including a market-first 9 p.m. edition on that launched on August 25, 2025, drawing on shared resources from the duopoly's downtown studios. This expansion reflects ongoing investments in staff, technology, and multi-platform delivery to serve northeast Ohio's 2.1 million television households.

Sports Coverage

WOIO's sports coverage centers on local professional, collegiate, and prep athletics through its dedicated Cleveland 19 Sports team, delivering reports integrated into weekday newscasts. The department emphasizes Northeast Ohio's major league franchises, providing game highlights, analysis, and interviews for the NFL's , NBA's , and MLB's . High school sports form a key component, with extensive Friday night football coverage under the "Friday Football Frenzy" banner, featuring scores, standout plays, and regional game recaps from dozens of contests each week. The team also streams select high school events and produces on-location reports for championships and . As a owned-and-operated affiliate since 1997, WOIO broadcasts network-distributed sports such as regular-season games (typically 8-10 per season for the Browns when not flexed nationally), NCAA March Madness , and Masters coverage. Local sports specials include co-broadcasts of awards like the Sports Awards alongside sister station and regional partners. Sports segments air routinely at 6:20 PM and 11:20 PM within evening news blocks.

Notable On-Air Personnel

Gretchen Carlson served as an anchor and reporter for WOIO and its sister station WUAB during the 1990s, gaining early experience in local broadcasting before transitioning to national roles. She departed WOIO in 1998 to co-anchor CBS's The Saturday Early Show and later hosted programs on Fox News, highlighting her progression from Cleveland's UHF airwaves to major network prominence. Investigative reporter Carl Monday joined WOIO in 2007, bringing a career exceeding five decades in marked by in-depth reporting on issues. His work has included high-profile investigations aired regularly on the station, contributing to its reputation for accountability . Sharon Reed anchored evening newscasts at WOIO until her contract non-renewal in 2011, after which she moved to KNOV in . Reed's tenure drew attention for her on-air presence and subsequent public profile, including legal threats over personal rumors. Among current personnel, Shannon Smith anchors morning editions as an Emmy-nominated journalist, focusing on and human interest stories since joining in 2020. Michelle Nicks, a reporter since March 2020, has earned recognition as Best Reporter from the for her coverage originating from Youngstown markets.

Technical and Broadcast Details

Digital Subchannels

WOIO's digital subchannel lineup consists of four services multiplexed on its 19, transmitted over physical VHF channel 10. The main channel, 19.1, carries network programming in high definition under the "Cleveland 19" branding. Subchannel 19.2 airs , a nationally syndicated network featuring classic television series from the mid-20th century, including sitcoms, dramas, and westerns, in standard definition. On September 1, 2021, WOIO added Defy TV to 19.3, broadcasting unscripted reality, adventure, and content in ; the affiliation expanded under Free TV Networks in July 2025 to include refreshed programming partnerships. Subchannel 19.4 carries The365 (styled as 365BLK), a digital network offering , entertainment, and faith-based programming targeted at audiences, in standard definition.
Virtual ChannelAffiliation/ProgrammingVideo ResolutionAudio Format
19.1 ("Cleveland 19")5.1 surround
19.2
19.3Defy TV
19.4The365
Prior to these configurations, WOIO utilized subchannel 19.2 for local weather programming, with initially on 19.3 before lineup adjustments under Gray Television ownership.

Signal Translators and Coverage

WOIO's primary broadcast signal originates from a transmitter tower in , providing over-the-air coverage throughout the Cleveland–Akron–Canton designated market area (DMA), which spans including Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, Lorain, Lake, Geauga, Portage, and Ashtabula counties. The station operates on VHF digital channel 10 with subchannels including 10.1 for programming, reaching an estimated population of over 2 million households in the region via patterns optimized for urban and suburban reception. ![WOIO-WUAB Parma, Ohio transmitter mast][float-right] To extend reliable reception into the Akron portion of the market, where terrain and distance from the can cause signal , WOIO shares a digital fill-in translator with sister station on UHF channel 18, specifically targeting Summit County viewers. This low-power rebroadcasts WOIO's full signal and has required periodic maintenance, including permanent repairs completed on August 23, 2023, which necessitated a channel rescan for affected antenna users. No additional translators are licensed or operated by the station. Signal improvements were implemented in 2024 with the helicopter-assisted installation of a new main antenna at the site on June 6, boosting and coverage clarity for WOIO, , and low-power sister across the DMA; activation occurred by late July 2024. These enhancements addressed prior VHF propagation challenges in fringe areas, ensuring stronger digital service compliant with FCC post-repack standards.

Analog-to-Digital Transition

WOIO ceased analog transmissions on UHF channel 19 on June 12, 2009, aligning with the national full-power analog shutdown mandated by the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005. The station's pre-existing digital signal on VHF channel 10 persisted post-transition, delivering 1080i high-definition programming mapped to virtual channel 19.1. This VHF allocation, assigned by the FCC in the late 1990s, supported both interim and final digital facilities with an effective radiated power of 3.5 kW from the Parma, Ohio, transmitter site. Station announcements indicated a slightly expedited completion, with analog shutdown at 10:00 a.m. on June 11, 2009, transitioning immediately to full-power digital operations alongside sister station . The move eliminated of analog and digital signals, reallocating the analog for other uses while enabling multicasting capabilities on subchannels. Viewers without digital tuners required converter boxes to maintain over-the-air access, with federal coupon programs subsidizing up to two units per household. Post-transition challenges arose for some Northeast Ohio households, as WOIO's VHF digital signal proved harder to receive than its prior UHF analog, particularly for indoor antennas not optimized for lower frequencies. FCC consumer hotlines and local assistance centers addressed complaints, noting VHF's greater susceptibility to interference compared to UHF in urban settings like Cleveland. By late 2009, over 90% of affected markets reported resolution through rescan instructions and equipment upgrades.

Ownership Structure and Facilities

Corporate Ownership History

WOIO signed on the air on May 19, 1985, licensed to Channel 19, Inc., a that included Diamond Broadcasting and Metroplex Communications, with Hubert B. Payne, a former sales manager at WKYC-TV, as president and . In early 1986, Malrite Communications Group acquired a 51% in WOIO from the original principals, gaining majority ownership that it retained for over a decade. Malrite sold WOIO to in September 1998 as part of broader divestitures following regulatory changes. , which also operated under a , integrated WOIO into its portfolio of 40 stations at the time. Raycom agreed to merge with Gray Television on June 25, 2018, in a $3.65 billion transaction that transferred ownership of WOIO and its duopoly partner to Gray, with the deal closing on January 2, 2019. Gray Television has owned the station since, operating it as part of a cluster serving 113 markets.

Studio and Transmitter Facilities

WOIO maintains its primary studio facilities at 1717 East 12th Street in the Reserve Square building in , , sharing the space with sister stations (channel 43) and (channel 6). These ground-floor studios support news production for the combined "19 News" operation, which airs across WOIO and . In September 2020, the facilities underwent a significant , introducing a new studio environment with a large main set featuring an anchor island, color-changing desk accents, and expansive video walls for enhanced broadcast capabilities. Plans announced in 2022 to relocate the studios to a suburban site in , were ultimately shelved by owner Gray Television amid broader reconsideration of downtown exits. The station's transmitter facilities are located in the Parma tower farm in suburban Parma, Ohio, approximately 10 miles southwest of downtown Cleveland, where WOIO shares infrastructure with WUAB under a channel-sharing agreement utilizing WOIO's full-power spectrum on VHF digital channel 10. This site, part of a cluster along Broadview Road, features a 1,148-foot tower erected in the mid-1980s to support WOIO's initial UHF analog operations on channel 19. In June 2024, WOIO upgraded its broadcasting equipment with a new 60-foot-tall antenna weighing 4,000 pounds and measuring 4 feet in diameter, which was airlifted to the tower summit by helicopter on June 6 following delivery to nearby Padua High School. The upgrade improves signal reliability and supports digital subchannel multiplexing for WOIO's CBS affiliation and additional programming.

Controversies and Criticisms

In January 2014, former advertising sales employee Kevin Flanigan II filed a in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court against WOIO, its then-parent company Raycom Media Inc., general manager William Applegate, and another station executive, alleging a sexually in the station's advertising department. The complaint claimed that management condoned sexual favors, explicit sales tactics, and drug and alcohol use during client entertainment events, including incidents such as a manager exposing himself at a station "" party and encouraging inappropriate behavior to secure ad deals. Flanigan further alleged retaliation after he reported the conduct to supervisors, resulting in , reduced work assignments, and lost commissions estimated at approximately $300,000. WOIO general manager William Applegate denied the allegations, stating the station would vigorously defend itself in court. The suit highlighted internal investigations by managers into similar complaints but asserted no meaningful corrective action was taken. No public record of a , settlement, or dismissal has been widely reported, and the case appears to have concluded without further publicized developments.

Journalistic Practices and Reporting Issues

WOIO's news operation, relaunched as 19 Action News in the mid-2000s under ownership, adopted a tabloid-style format emphasizing aggressive, attention-grabbing reporting with hyperbolic language, rapid-fire delivery, and a focus on crime, accidents, and sensational local stories to differentiate from established competitors. This approach included elements like on-scene helicopter coverage and confrontational investigative segments led by reporters such as Carl Monday, which boosted ratings but prioritized visual spectacle and immediacy over in-depth analysis. Critics, including local media observers, argued that the format's "wild and woolly" presentation often sacrificed journalistic substance for entertainment value, fostering a perception of superficiality in coverage. The station's practices during this period drew specific rebuke for amplifying minor incidents into major events and employing provocative on-air personas, which some viewed as appealing to base instincts rather than informing the public rigorously. For instance, the format's emphasis on "action" branding was seen by detractors as a calculated bid for in a competitive landscape, where WOIO lacked network news heritage, leading to accusations of prioritizing viewer retention through shock over balanced reporting. Despite these critiques, the style yielded measurable success in audience growth, with no documented FCC fines or formal sanctions for ethical lapses in reporting accuracy during this era. In August 2015, following Meredith Corporation's acquisition of the station, WOIO rebranded its newscasts as Cleveland 19 News, explicitly moving away from the 19 moniker to adopt a more conventional structure with reduced and greater emphasis on substantive . Station executives cited alignment with network standards and evolving community expectations as drivers for the shift, which involved hiring additional producers and meteorologists while retaining core investigative capabilities. This transition addressed prior criticisms by toning down stylistic excesses, though vestiges of aggressive pursuit persisted in segments like those from long-time investigator Carl Monday. Under current owner Gray Television, WOIO's reporting has been evaluated by independent fact-checkers as generally factual with minimal bias, focusing on local breaking news, weather, and investigations without the overt of its earlier iteration. Occasional complaints from activist groups allege selective coverage excluding certain perspectives, such as underrepresentation of Black organizers in stories, but these remain unsubstantiated by regulatory findings and reflect partisan viewpoints rather than systemic flaws. Overall, the station maintains public inspection files compliant with FCC requirements, with no major recent controversies tied to reporting .

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