WCPO-TV
WCPO-TV is an ABC-affiliated television station serving the Cincinnati, Ohio, metropolitan area.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WCPO-TV, branded as WCPO 9, is a commercial television station serving Cincinnati, Ohio, and the surrounding portions of Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 9 and is affiliated with ABC. It is the flagship television property of the locally based E. W. Scripps Company, which created and has owned the station since its launch, making WCPO one of the most enduring examples of continuous local ownership among major American television stations. WCPO began broadcasting on July 26, 1949, originally using VHF channel 7. It was Cincinnati's third television station and one of the first stations built and launched by Scripps, following the company's stations in Cleveland and Memphis. Its call letters were associated with Scripps-owned WCPO radio stations and The Cincinnati Post. A nationwide channel reallocation ordered by the Federal Communications Commission moved the station to channel 9 in March 1953. WCPO initially carried ABC programming, with a secondary DuMont affiliation, but exchanged network affiliations with WKRC-TV in 1961 and became a CBS affiliate. The station developed a particularly strong local-news identity. It established a dedicated news department in 1959, when Al Schottelkotte became its first news director and principal anchor. Under his leadership, WCPO quickly became Cincinnati's leading local-news operation and retained a dominant position for many years. The station has continued to emphasize investigative journalism, severe-weather coverage, consumer reporting, live breaking news, and locally produced newscasts. Its I-Team investigative unit, created in 1988, has received Peabody, Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University, Sigma Delta Chi, and other national awards. WCPO became internationally visible within the United States during a newsroom hostage crisis on October 15, 1980. An armed man entered the station, held employees hostage, and gave a videotaped interview to reporter Elaine Green. The newsroom continued providing special coverage from outside the building while police negotiated with the gunman. The crisis ended after the hostages were released and the gunman died by suicide. Green later received a Peabody Award for her handling of the event. In the 1990s, Scripps reached a broad affiliation agreement with ABC. After the existing contractual arrangements expired, WCPO returned to ABC on June 3, 1996, reversing the 1961 exchange with WKRC-TV. The transition was supported by a viewer hotline and a new station presentation. WCPO had been one of CBS's strongest affiliates, but its return to ABC made the station the network's Cincinnati outlet while WKRC moved back to CBS. The station relocated from its longtime Central Avenue facility to a purpose-built complex in Cincinnati's Mount Adams neighborhood in 2004. Its broadcast operations subsequently adopted high-definition newscasts, expanded weather technology, standardized Scripps graphics, and digital distribution. WCPO operates a dedicated weather radar system under brands including 9 First Warning Doppler, VIPIR 9, and TrueView. It has also used aircraft and drone technology for traffic, severe weather, construction, and breaking-news coverage. WCPO produces local television newscasts, weather and traffic reports, investigative programs, consumer features, sports coverage, and digital journalism. In 2023 it began airing The Debrief, a nightly program originating from Scripps News and carried on the station's schedule and Scripps News subchannel. The station remains a major Cincinnati news and information brand, competing primarily with WKRC-TV and WLWT while distributing content through broadcast, web, mobile, social, and connected-TV channels.
History
WCPO-TV signed on at noon on July 26, 1949, as Cincinnati's third television station. It was established by the E. W. Scripps Company, which also owned local newspapers and radio stations. The call sign reflected the company's Cincinnati Post and radio properties. The station initially transmitted on VHF channel 7 and carried ABC programming, with a secondary relationship to the DuMont network. Following the FCC's Sixth Report and Order, Cincinnati's VHF assignments were reorganized. WCPO moved to channel 9 on March 10, 1953, and received a substantial increase in transmitting power. Its original facilities were on Symmes Street in Walnut Hills, alongside the radio operation. In 1967 the television station moved to a larger downtown facility on Central Avenue. WCPO's most important early institutional development was the creation of a dedicated news department in 1959. Al Schottelkotte became the first news director and anchor and helped build a highly influential local-news operation. Within a year, WCPO had become the Cincinnati market's leading local-news station. The station's programming philosophy emphasized local relevance, direct reporting, weather, public-affairs coverage, and stories affecting the region. This approach was strong enough that the station sometimes gave limited priority to national network news in favor of its own local presentation. In 1961, WCPO and WKRC-TV exchanged network affiliations. WCPO became a CBS affiliate, while WKRC took ABC. The arrangement lasted roughly 35 years. During that period WCPO expanded its news, consumer, weather, and investigative capabilities. Its newsroom became the site of a major hostage crisis on October 15, 1980, when an armed man forced his way into the station and detained employees. Reporter Elaine Green interviewed him during the incident, while the station's news staff continued broadcasting from outside. The hostages were released and the standoff ended when the gunman died by suicide. Green's conduct during the crisis was later recognized with a Peabody Award. WCPO established its I-Team investigative unit in 1988. The unit produced reporting on alleged fraudulent business practices, public-sector management, construction, and other matters of local importance. Its work received major journalism honors, including Peabody, duPont, and Sigma Delta Chi awards. The station also developed prominent weather capabilities, especially after severe storms affected the Cincinnati area. It deployed branded radar and three-dimensional weather visualization tools and operated radar infrastructure designed to improve local warning coverage. The station became part of the wider affiliation realignment of the 1990s through a Scripps-ABC agreement. WCPO remained with CBS until June 3, 1996, when it returned to ABC and WKRC-TV resumed its CBS affiliation. The switch restored the network pairing that had existed before 1961. WCPO used new branding, graphics, and viewer assistance during the transition. Despite the change, it retained a strong local-news position. WCPO moved into a new Mount Adams facility on May 15, 2004. The station later upgraded its newscasts and field production to high definition, expanded its weather presentation, and introduced successive Scripps graphics packages. It used helicopters for aerial traffic and breaking-news coverage at different times, but later moved toward drone-based imagery. In 2016 it introduced Sky 9, a 4K camera drone; the station allowed its helicopter lease to expire in 2020. Scripps' Cincinnati newspaper relationship ended when The Cincinnati Post ceased print publication at the end of 2007, although WCPO remained under Scripps ownership. In 2023 the station added The Debrief, a nightly Scripps News program, reflecting the company's strategy of connecting national streaming and cable-style news output with local broadcast stations. WCPO remains an active ABC affiliate and a major Cincinnati television-news brand.
- 2023
The Debrief launches
[1]WCPO begins carrying the nightly Scripps News program The Debrief.
- 2016
Sky 9 drone introduced
[1]WCPO adds a 4K aerial drone for news and weather coverage.
- 2007
Local news becomes high definition
[1]The station begins producing local newscasts in high definition.
- 2004
Mount Adams studios open
[1]WCPO relocates to a new facility near the Elsinore Arch.
- 1996
Returns to ABC
[1]WCPO resumes ABC affiliation on June 3 after the expiration of its CBS arrangement.
- 1988
I-Team created
[1]WCPO forms its investigative unit following major investigative reporting.
- 1961
Switches from ABC to CBS
[1]WCPO exchanges affiliations with WKRC-TV and begins a long CBS era.
- 1959
Dedicated news department established
[1]Al Schottelkotte becomes the station's first news director and anchor.
- 1953
Reassigned to channel 9
[1]The station moves to channel 9 under the FCC's nationwide VHF channel reallocation.
- 1949
Station signs on
[1]WCPO-TV begins broadcasting as Cincinnati's third television station, initially on VHF channel 7.
Products and positioning
A locally rooted, news-led ABC station positioned around dependable Cincinnati journalism, investigative reporting, severe-weather information, consumer advocacy, and rapid coverage of regional events.
Local television news · 1959
WCPO 9 News
WCPO's principal local-news service includes weekday and weekend newscasts, breaking-news coverage, regional reporting, local politics, public safety, sports, and community stories. The operation produces approximately 43 hours of locally originated newscasts each week according to the referenced station description. It competes most directly with WKRC-TV and WLWT for Cincinnati news audiences.
Weather service · 2003
9 First Warning Weather
WCPO's weather operation uses branded radar and visualization systems including 9 First Warning Doppler, VIPIR 9, and TrueView. Its coverage combines local radar resources with National Weather Service data to provide severe-weather warnings, forecasts, street-level visualization, and regional storm tracking across the Cincinnati market.
Investigative journalism · 1988
I-Team
The I-Team is WCPO's investigative reporting unit. It was created in 1988 and has examined public administration, business practices, construction, and other issues affecting the region. The unit has received multiple national journalism awards, including Peabody, duPont, and Sigma Delta Chi recognition.
National and local news program · 2023
The Debrief
The Debrief is a nightly news program originating from Scripps News. WCPO began airing it in 2023 as part of Scripps' effort to place national-news programming on local station schedules and increase the visibility of its national news network.
Marketing campaigns
- 1996ABC affiliation transition
Cincinnati · Northern Kentucky · Southeastern Indiana
WCPO used new graphics, on-air presentation, and a toll-free hotline to help viewers understand its return to ABC.
Outcome. WCPO became Cincinnati's ABC affiliate on June 3, 1996.
- 19959 Stands for News
Cincinnati
WCPO introduced the 9 Stands for News branding while it was still contractually affiliated with CBS and preparing to return to ABC.
Outcome. The campaign strengthened the station's local-news identity ahead of the 1996 network transition.
Brand decisions
2023
Integrate Scripps News programmingStrategyBackground
Scripps sought to increase the exposure of its national Scripps News network through its local broadcast affiliates.
Action taken
WCPO added the nightly Scripps News program The Debrief to its schedule and subchannel distribution.
Aftermath
The station expanded its relationship with Scripps' national news operation while retaining its local-news focus.
2009
Petition to move digital transmission to UHFOtherBackground
After the digital television transition, some viewers experienced reception problems with the station's VHF digital signal.
Action taken
WCPO sought FCC approval to move its digital operation from channel 10 to UHF channel 22.
Aftermath
The FCC approved the change, and WCPO completed the flash-cut to channel 22 in December 2010 with increased power.
1996
Return to ABC affiliationStrategyBackground
Scripps entered a wider affiliation agreement with ABC, and WCPO's existing CBS arrangement continued until the relevant contracts expired.
Action taken
WCPO resumed ABC programming on June 3, while WKRC-TV returned to CBS.
Aftermath
The switch restored the pre-1961 network alignment and WCPO retained a strong local-news position.
1961
Exchange network affiliation with WKRC-TVStrategyBackground
A local affiliation arrangement led WCPO and WKRC-TV to exchange ABC and CBS affiliations.
Action taken
WCPO became a CBS affiliate while WKRC-TV took ABC programming.
Aftermath
WCPO remained with CBS for approximately three decades before returning to ABC in 1996.
Recent events
WCPO 9 introduces refreshed visual identity[4]
Reported:
WCPO 9 introduced a new look, including a new logo, station graphics, refreshed branding, and a change to its primary color to blue. The station also dropped “on your side” from its logo and marketing messages.
WCPO 9 announces “Home” image campaign[4]
Reported:
WCPO 9 announced that it would debut its new image campaign, “Home.” The campaign spot was available to preview.
WCPO partnered with the News Literacy Project on a student news story[5]
Reported:
The News Literacy Project partnered with WCPO and its parent company, E.W. Scripps, and WCPO journalists worked with students at Hughes STEM High School to produce a news story.
Sources5 sources
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