ONN
An Ohio statewide radio news and sports service distributed through a network of affiliate stations.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
ONN, also known as the Ohio News Network or ONN Radio, is a statewide radio news service serving Ohio. The service provides recurring news and sports reports to a broad group of affiliate radio stations, with programming produced in association with WBNS-FM in Columbus. Its output is designed for local stations that need statewide coverage, including headline reports, weather, politics, business, public affairs, and sports. The ONN name originated with a cable television news channel launched in 1996. The television operation was built as an Ohio-focused news network and was distributed to more than 1.8 million households in the state at its peak. Its programming combined regularly scheduled newscasts with weather, business, health, environmental, political, and sports coverage. The channel also carried public-affairs and lifestyle programs, including Capital Square, Ohio Means Business, Discover Ohio, The Brain Game, Ohio and Company, and Chef Tami. ONN worked with television news organizations across Ohio, using partner reporting from outlets in Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo, Youngstown, Steubenville, and Lima. Sports was an important part of the television service. ONN carried Columbus Crew Major League Soccer matches from 2005 through 2011, along with Ohio high-school athletic events and programming associated with Ohio State, Cincinnati, and Miami University athletics. It also experimented with early Internet Protocol delivery of live sports video, including Miami RedHawks hockey coverage during the 2006–07 school year. Changing viewing habits and the economics of statewide cable news led to the closure of the television channel. ONN announced in July 2012 that the television operation would end on August 31, 2012. The final broadcast included a retrospective on the network's history. The radio service continued after the television shutdown and became the enduring form of the ONN brand. ONN Radio supplies statewide newscasts and sportscasts to nearly 90 affiliate stations during the day. Its programming is anchored by personnel associated with WBNS-FM and is distributed through Radio Sound Network. Seasonal long-form programs have included High School Football Tonight and College Football Today, hosted by WBNS-FM's Skip Mosic. The broader distribution operation has also been associated with play-by-play programming from regional sports networks such as the Columbus Blue Jackets Radio Network, the Ohio State Sports Network, and the Cleveland Cavaliers Radio Network. The brand's role is therefore that of a business-to-business broadcast service rather than a consumer product brand. ONN aggregates and distributes Ohio-oriented reporting and sports content, allowing affiliate stations to supplement their own local programming with statewide material. It has received regional and national recognition, including Ohio Associated Press awards and an Emmy for station excellence in local programming. ONN's television history remains significant to the brand, but its continuing identity is primarily tied to statewide radio news and sports distribution.
History
ONN began in 1996 as the Ohio News Network, an Ohio-focused cable television news channel. The service was created to provide statewide news coverage through a dedicated network rather than relying solely on the local newscasts of individual stations. Its programming included scheduled morning, daytime, evening, and prime-time news, as well as recurring weather updates, political coverage, business reports, health features, environmental reporting, and election information. The network used the slogan "Ohio's Channel" and maintained studios and offices alongside sister station WBNS-TV in Columbus. A central feature of the television operation was its cooperation with news organizations across the state. Partners included WBNS in Columbus, WKBN in Youngstown, WEWS in Cleveland, WHIO in Dayton, WKRC in Cincinnati, WTOV in Steubenville and Wheeling, WTVG in Toledo, and WLIO in Lima. Through these relationships, ONN could combine statewide reporting with material from major Ohio media markets. It also rebroadcast selected local newscasts from partner stations, giving viewers access to coverage from several parts of the state. ONN developed a wider programming identity beyond straight news. Capital Square, a political discussion program covering Ohio and Washington, D.C., became one of its longest-running public-affairs offerings. Ohio Means Business, produced with Ohio State University, profiled Ohio companies and business figures. Discover Ohio focused on travel and destinations within the state, while The Brain Game used a high-school quiz-bowl format. Other programs included Ohio and Company and Chef Tami. These shows helped position ONN as a statewide information and community-affairs network rather than only a rolling news channel. Sports coverage was another major component. ONN aired Columbus Crew matches from 2005 to 2011 and carried events associated with the Ohio High School Athletic Association, including hockey, football, and basketball. It also presented programming about the Ohio State Buckeyes, Cincinnati Bearcats, and Miami RedHawks. During the 2006–07 school year, the network was an early broadcaster of live sports video delivered through Internet Protocol, using Miami RedHawks hockey as an example of emerging digital distribution. ONN's sports output included both live and tape-delayed material. The network received industry recognition during its television era. In 2008 it received an Emmy for station excellence in local programming. In 2009 it won nine awards in the Ohio Associated Press contest, including honors for its sports operation, regularly scheduled sports coverage, and anchor Mike Kallmeyer. These awards reflected the network's emphasis on Ohio-specific reporting and sports production. By 2012, however, changes in consumer behavior and the media environment had weakened the case for a statewide cable news channel. ONN announced on July 25 that its television service would end on August 31. The final broadcast was a farewell program reviewing the network's history. The closure did not end the ONN name: ONN Radio remained in operation as a statewide radio news and sports service. ONN Radio is distributed to almost 90 affiliate stations across Ohio. It supplies regular statewide newscasts and sportscasts during the day, with production anchored by staff associated with WBNS-FM in Columbus. The radio operation also offers seasonal long-form programs, including High School Football Tonight and College Football Today. Distribution is handled through Radio Sound Network, which also distributes other regional sports and play-by-play programming. As a result, the current ONN brand is principally a syndication and affiliate-service operation, providing Ohio-focused content to local radio stations rather than operating as the former statewide cable television network.
- 2012
Television channel closes
[1]The ONN cable television operation shuts down on August 31, while ONN Radio continues.
- 2011
Columbus Crew television agreement ends
[1]ONN's run of Columbus Crew match broadcasts ends after the 2011 season.
- 2009
Ohio Associated Press awards
[1]ONN receives nine Ohio Associated Press awards, including honors for sports and anchoring.
- 2008
Emmy recognition
[1]ONN receives an Emmy for station excellence in local programming.
- 2006
Early Internet Protocol sports delivery
[1]ONN delivers live Miami RedHawks hockey video through Internet Protocol distribution during the 2006–07 school year.
- 2005
Columbus Crew coverage begins
[1]ONN starts televising Columbus Crew Major League Soccer matches.
- 1996
Ohio News Network launches
[1]The ONN brand begins as an Ohio-focused cable television news channel.
Products and positioning
A statewide Ohio news and sports service for affiliate radio stations, emphasizing locally relevant reporting, recurring newscasts, and regional sports coverage.
Radio news service
ONN Radio statewide newscasts
Recurring Ohio news reports distributed to affiliate radio stations during the day. The service aggregates statewide stories and provides stations with coverage that complements their locally produced programming.
Radio sports service
ONN Radio sportscasts
Statewide sports reports and related programming supplied to affiliates. Coverage reflects Ohio's professional, collegiate, and high-school sports interests.
Seasonal sports program
High School Football Tonight
A seasonal long-form radio program focused on Ohio high-school football, distributed as part of ONN Radio's sports offering.
Seasonal sports program
College Football Today
A seasonal college-football program associated with ONN Radio and hosted by WBNS-FM's Skip Mosic.
Cable news channel · 1996
ONN cable television news channel
The original television expression of the ONN brand, offering Ohio news, weather, public affairs, lifestyle programming, and sports coverage. It operated from 1996 until August 31, 2012.
Brand decisions
2012
Close the television network while retaining radio distributionStrategyBackground
The cable television operation faced changing consumer viewing habits and announced that it would cease broadcasting.
Action taken
ONN ended its television service on August 31, 2012, while continuing ONN Radio's statewide news and sports distribution.
Aftermath
The ONN brand continued primarily as an affiliate radio service rather than a statewide cable television channel.
Recent events
- 2012
ONN television service announces closure[1]
Other
ONN announced that its Ohio cable television news channel would cease operations on August 31, 2012, citing changes in consumer viewing habits. The radio service continued.
- 2009
ONN receives Ohio Associated Press awards[1]
Other
ONN received nine awards in the Ohio Associated Press contest, including recognition for its sports operation, regularly scheduled sports coverage, and anchor Mike Kallmeyer.
- 2008
ONN receives Emmy recognition for local programming[1]
Other
The station received an Emmy for station excellence in local programming, with station managers Tom Griesdorn and Jason Pheister identified in connection with the recognition.
- 2005
ONN televises Columbus Crew matches[1]
Other
ONN began carrying Columbus Crew Major League Soccer matches, continuing the arrangement through the 2011 season before the club moved its television deal to Fox Sports Ohio.
Sources4 sources
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