WLIO
A Lima, Ohio television station broadcasting NBC and Fox programming and producing local news under the Your Hometown Stations banner.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WLIO is a full-power television station serving Lima and surrounding communities in northwestern and west-central Ohio. The station broadcasts NBC programming on its primary service and Fox programming on a secondary digital channel. Its local news operation is presented as part of Your Hometown Stations, a group that also includes WOHL-CD and associated low-power outlets carrying ABC, CBS, and other programming in the Lima market. The station began broadcasting on April 18, 1953, as WLOK-TV on ultra-high-frequency channel 73. It was established by WLOK, Inc., which also owned WLOK radio. In its earliest months, the station carried a mixture of local productions and programming from NBC, CBS, and DuMont. Network shows were initially delivered through kinescopes and film, with NBC programming later connected to the station through a microwave relay. Its early local schedule included children's programs, a Little League broadcast from the studio grounds, and locally produced entertainment and public-affairs programs. Following the 1954 acquisition of the WLOK stations by the company behind WIMA-AM and WIMA-FM, WLOK-TV moved to channel 35 and adopted the WIMA-TV call sign in April 1955. The station continued to operate as a major network affiliate and became a central source of local television news and advertising in the Lima area. It eventually ceased carrying CBS programming, while maintaining a strong local presence through news, sports, talk, children's, and community-oriented productions. The Ric Bratton Show, launched in 1969, became one of the longest-running programs associated with the station's WIMA-TV era. The radio and television operations were separated in 1971. As a result, channel 35 changed its call sign from WIMA-TV to WLIO-TV on September 1, 1971. Lima Communications Corporation acquired the television station in 1972, and ownership interests later moved to Blade Communications, associated with Block Communications, in 1982. During the 1970s through the 1990s, WLIO maintained a relatively stable management structure and benefited from its position as Lima's principal major-network television outlet. Its digital signal on VHF channel 8 began operating in 2002. The station's competitive position changed during the 1990s and 2000s as low-power outlets added Fox, ABC, and CBS services to the market. WLIO's owner ultimately acquired the stations associated with those affiliations. In 2009, the resulting realignment placed NBC and Fox on WLIO, while WOHL-CD became the market's ABC and CBS outlet. WLIO moved to virtual channel 8, shut down its former analog channel 35 service, and became the full-power home for NBC and Fox programming. News production from the related stations was subsequently consolidated at WLIO's Rice Avenue facilities. WLIO remains primarily a local broadcast and news brand rather than a national consumer brand. Its core offering consists of scheduled network television, local newscasts, weather, sports, community reporting, advertising inventory, and digital content. Gray Media announced an agreement to acquire Block Communications' television stations in 2025. The transaction, including WLIO and its related Lima outlets, received regulatory approval and closed in 2026 according to the station's referenced historical account.
History
WLIO traces its history to WLOK, Inc., the owner of Lima radio stations WLOK and WLOK-FM. After the Federal Communications Commission ended its postwar freeze on new television applications, WLOK filed for a UHF television authorization in June 1952. The FCC granted the permit in November of that year, and WLOK-TV began broadcasting on April 18, 1953, on channel 73. The station was built at the radio operation's Rice and Woodlawn Avenue site and was among the early UHF stations in the country. At launch, WLOK-TV carried locally produced shows along with programs from NBC, CBS, and DuMont. Network material initially arrived through film and kinescope distribution. NBC later arranged a connection to the Bell System coaxial network, and the station began receiving live network programming through a microwave relay. Its early local schedule included children's programming, a Little League broadcast from a field at the studio site, and locally produced entertainment such as Easter's Parade and Blue Flame Theater. Ownership changed after the death of principal shareholder Lloyd Pixley in 1954. Northwestern Ohio Broadcasting Company, the owner of WIMA-AM and WIMA-FM, acquired the WLOK stations under a transaction approved by the FCC in December 1954. Because of ownership restrictions involving AM radio stations in the same market, WLOK radio was discontinued. The television station remained in operation and was moved to channel 35 in April 1955, adopting the WIMA-TV call sign. The station carried selected ABC programs in addition to its other network relationships, although it was no longer a CBS affiliate by 1962. In 1971, the WIMA radio and television operations were separated. The television station changed its call sign to WLIO-TV on September 1, 1971. Lima Communications Corporation acquired the station in 1972 for $1.5 million, and the ownership stake associated with Midwestern Broadcasting later passed to Blade Communications, also known as Block Communications, in 1982. WLIO retained a strong position in the Lima market for much of this period. General manager Jim Dages led the station from 1976 until his death in 1995, while George Dunster served as news director from 1973 through 1999. The station's local programming included the long-running Ric Bratton Show, which began in 1969. Competition intensified from the 1990s onward. WOHL-LP, a low-power outlet that had originated as an independent station, became a Fox affiliate and later added CBS and ABC services through related low-power stations. By 2007, WOHL had surpassed WLIO in prime-time viewing, creating a significant competitive shift. Fox's interest in moving its affiliation to the full-power WLIO led to litigation in 2008, when Metro Video Productions alleged that Block Communications had improperly interfered with WOHL's Fox relationship. The dispute was resolved through Block's agreement to acquire WOHL and its related stations, including WLMO-LP, WLQP-LP, and WFND-LP. The transaction was completed in early 2009, and station operations were progressively consolidated at WLIO's Rice Avenue studios. The digital transition brought a major realignment: WLIO adopted virtual channel 8, carrying NBC on 8.1 and Fox on 8.2, while WOHL-CD used channel 35 for ABC and CBS. WLIO's former analog channel 35 transmission ended on June 12, 2009. The resulting group operated under the Your Hometown Stations banner, with a shared local news operation whose broadcasts were distributed among the NBC, Fox, ABC, and CBS services. The station's current news operation produces local newscasts for the group, including weekday morning and midday programs, evening broadcasts, and weekend news. WLIO's NBC and Fox services carry different portions of the schedule, while related stations carry other newscasts. Gray Media announced in 2025 that it would acquire Block's television stations for $80 million. The referenced account reports FCC approval and closing in May 2026, placing WLIO within Gray Media's broadcast portfolio.
- 2026
Gray Media ownership begins
[1]The referenced account reports completion of Gray Media's acquisition of WLIO and related Block television stations.
- 2009
Network and channel realignment
[1]WLIO becomes the market's NBC and Fox outlet on virtual channel 8, while WOHL-CD carries ABC and CBS.
- 2002
Digital signal launches
[1]WLIO begins digital broadcasting on VHF channel 8.
- 1972
Lima Communications takes control
[1]Lima Communications Corporation completes its acquisition of the television station.
- 1971
WLIO call sign adopted
[1]Following the separation of the radio and television operations, the television station becomes WLIO-TV.
- 1955
WIMA-TV identity begins
[1]The station moves from channel 73 to channel 35 and changes its call sign to WIMA-TV.
- 1953
WLOK-TV signs on
[1]The station begins broadcasting on April 18 as one of the early UHF television outlets in the United States.
- 1952
FCC grants WLOK-TV construction authorization
[1]The FCC authorizes WLOK-TV to operate on UHF channel 73 in Lima.
Products and positioning
A locally focused, multi-network television station serving the Lima market through the Your Hometown Stations group.
Television network affiliate · 2009
WLIO NBC service
WLIO's primary digital service carries NBC network programming alongside locally produced news, weather, sports, public-affairs material, syndicated programming, and station promotions for the Lima market.
Television network affiliate · 2009
WLIO Fox service
WLIO's secondary digital service carries Fox programming. The affiliation moved to the full-power WLIO platform during the 2009 market realignment, giving Fox broader technical coverage than its earlier low-power outlet.
Local television news
Your Hometown Stations local news
The shared news operation produces Lima-area newscasts, including weekday morning and midday programs, evening broadcasts, and weekend news. Content is distributed across WLIO and the related ABC and CBS services under the Your Hometown Stations brand.
Local talk and entertainment program · 1969
The Ric Bratton Show
A locally produced talk program associated with the station's WIMA-TV era. It debuted in 1969 and became one of the longest-running programs originating from the station before ending during Ric Bratton's 2002 departure.
Brand decisions
2025
Sell Block's television portfolio to Gray MediaM&ABackground
Block Communications elected to sell its broadcast television stations, including WLIO and the related Lima outlets.
Action taken
Gray Media announced an agreement to acquire the portfolio, including WLIO, WOHL-CD, WAMS-LD, and WPNM-LD.
Aftermath
The referenced account reports that regulatory approval and closing occurred in May 2026, transferring WLIO to Gray Media.
Transaction value. $80 million (Announced August 1, 2025)
2009
Reassign network services to digital channel 8Generation changeBackground
The acquisition of the Lima low-power stations and the transition to digital broadcasting created an opportunity to reorganize the market's network affiliations.
Action taken
WLIO moved its major channel identity to 8, placed NBC on 8.1 and Fox on 8.2, and ended its analog channel 35 service. WOHL-CD took ABC and CBS on channel 35.
Aftermath
The Your Hometown Stations group became a shared operating platform for the Lima market's NBC, Fox, ABC, and CBS services.
2008
Acquire WOHL and related low-power stationsM&ABackground
Fox was considering moving its Lima affiliation from WOHL to the full-power WLIO. Metro Video Productions sued Block Communications, alleging interference with its Fox relationship.
Action taken
Block agreed to acquire WOHL, WLMO-LP, WLQP-LP, and WFND-LP through a subsidiary. The transaction also resolved the pending dispute.
Aftermath
The stations were consolidated at WLIO's Rice Avenue facilities, and the market's four major network affiliations were placed under related ownership.
Purchase price. $2.4 million (2008 agreement)
Recent events
- 2026
Gray Media completes acquisition of WLIO[1]
M&A
The referenced historical account states that the FCC approved the transaction on May 6, 2026, and that Gray Media completed the acquisition the same day.
- 2025
Gray Media announces acquisition of Block television stations[1]
M&A
Gray Media announces an $80 million transaction to acquire Block Communications' broadcast television stations, including WLIO and related Lima outlets.
- 2009
WLIO becomes the Lima market's NBC and Fox outlet[1]
Product generation
WLIO changes its major channel identity to 8, places NBC on its primary service and Fox on a secondary service, while WOHL-CD takes ABC and CBS.
- 2008
Block acquires Lima low-power television stations[1]
M&A · Lawsuit
Block Communications agrees to acquire WOHL and related stations carrying Fox, ABC, and CBS services, ending litigation with Metro Video Productions.
- 2002
WLIO launches digital service on VHF channel 8[1]
Product launch
The station begins operating a digital signal on VHF channel 8, anticipating the later change in its virtual channel identity.
- 1971
Station separates from WIMA radio and adopts WLIO identity[1]
Other
The radio and television operations are split, requiring channel 35 to discontinue the WIMA-TV call sign and become WLIO-TV.
- 1955
WLOK-TV moves to channel 35 and becomes WIMA-TV[1]
Other
After the WLOK stations are acquired by the owners of WIMA radio, the television station changes call sign and moves to channel 35.
- 1953
WLIO begins broadcasting as WLOK-TV[1]
Other
The station signs on as WLOK-TV on UHF channel 73, becoming one of the early UHF television stations in the United States.
Sources2 sources
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