WLWT

WLWT is a television station serving Cincinnati, Ohio, and nearby communities in Northern Kentucky and southeastern Indiana. It broadcasts on virtual channel 5 and is affiliated with NBC. The station is owned by Hearst Television, the broadcasting subsidiary of Hearst Corporation, and operates from studios in Cincinnati's Mount Auburn neighborhood. Its transmitter is also located in Mount Auburn, on Chickasaw Street. WLWT traces its origins to Crosley Broadcasting Corporation, which also owned the influential Cincinnati radio station WLW. Experimental television transmissions began in 1946 under the call sign W8XCT. Commercial service followed on February 9, 1948, when the station began broadcasting on VHF channel 4. It was Cincinnati's first television station and the second in Ohio. After the Federal Communications Commission reorganized VHF allocations in the early 1950s, the station moved to channel 5, the position it retains today. During its early years, WLWT carried programs from all four major television networks, but it became a primary NBC affiliate in 1949. Under Crosley and later Avco ownership, WLWT served as the flagship of a group of connected stations that included outlets in Dayton and Indianapolis. The group was sometimes promoted as the WLW Network, and WLWT produced programming that was distributed regionally. Its locally originated programs included The Ruth Lyons 50-50 Club, later associated with Bob Braun, as well as The Paul Dixon Show and Midwestern Hayride. This production tradition helped establish WLWT as one of the most prominent local television operations in the Midwest. WLWT was an early technology and programming leader. It began color broadcasting in 1957 and later promoted itself as the first station in the United States to broadcast an entire schedule in color. Cincinnati was consequently marketed as “Colortown U.S.A.” During the 1970s, the slogan “5, The Originator” emphasized the station's role in creating local entertainment and news programming rather than simply relaying network content. Avco exited broadcasting during the 1970s, and Multimedia, Inc. acquired WLWT in March 1976. Gannett announced an acquisition of Multimedia in 1995, but regulatory and cross-ownership constraints required WLWT to be divested. The station was transferred to Argyle Television Holdings II in 1997 and became part of Hearst-Argyle Television after Argyle merged with Hearst's broadcasting unit later that year. Hearst-Argyle was subsequently renamed Hearst Television. WLWT has remained with Hearst since that transition. The station moved from the historic Crosley Square facility to its current Mount Auburn studios in 1999. The change reflected a shift away from large-scale local entertainment production toward a news-centered operating model. WLWT continues to provide a substantial schedule of locally produced newscasts, weather coverage, public-affairs content, syndicated programming, and NBC network programming. It has also maintained a strong relationship with Cincinnati sports, particularly the Bengals and Reds, although the extent of those rights has changed over time. WLWT's core brand proposition is local relevance: a combination of NBC network programming, Cincinnati-focused journalism, severe-weather information, traffic updates, and coverage of regional sports and civic events. Its digital presence extends the station's television output through the WLWT.com website and associated streaming and mobile products. The station remains active as a local broadcast outlet under Hearst Television ownership.

WLWT began as a project of Crosley Broadcasting Corporation, the broadcasting arm associated with Cincinnati radio powerhouse WLW. Experimental television transmissions started in 1946 under the call sign W8XCT. On February 9, 1948, the station commenced commercial broadcasting on VHF channel 4, becoming Cincinnati's first television station and Ohio's second. Its original facilities were located in Crosley Square, a converted Elks lodge in downtown Cincinnati that also housed WLW radio operations. The station initially carried programming from NBC, ABC, CBS, and DuMont. In 1949, after competing Cincinnati stations signed on, WLWT became a primary NBC affiliate. Federal channel reallocations following the FCC's 1952 Sixth Report and Order moved the station from channel 4 to channel 5. The new channel assignment became a central part of its identity and remains the basis of its “News 5” branding. Crosley developed WLWT as the flagship of a regional television operation. Sister stations in Dayton and Indianapolis, together with WLWT, shared certain programs and were promoted as the WLW Network. Much of the group's most notable locally produced programming originated in Cincinnati. The Ruth Lyons 50-50 Club became a major regional attraction and was later hosted by Bob Braun. Other productions included The Paul Dixon Show and Midwestern Hayride. WLWT's output gave it a reputation as an originating station rather than a simple network relay. Technology was an important part of the station's early identity. WLWT began color broadcasts in 1957 and later claimed a national first for operating an entirely color schedule. The resulting promotional campaign presented Cincinnati as “Colortown U.S.A.” The station's 1970s slogan, “5, The Originator,” similarly celebrated its history of producing local programs. WLWT also developed a durable role in local sports. It carried Cincinnati Reds games from 1947 through 1995 and broadcast Cincinnati Bengals games under Crosley and Avco rights arrangements, as well as through NBC's national football contracts. The ownership structure changed in the 1970s. Avco Broadcasting, the successor to Crosley's broadcasting division, began selling its stations as Avco withdrew from the industry. Multimedia, Inc. purchased WLWT in March 1976. Multimedia later became the subject of a Gannett acquisition announced in 1995. Gannett's existing newspaper interests and other regulatory considerations required a restructuring of the proposed station portfolio. WLWT was ultimately exchanged to Argyle Television Holdings II in 1997. Argyle merged with Hearst's television operation in August 1997, creating Hearst-Argyle Television. Hearst had previously owned WDTN in Dayton, a former Crosley WLW Network station, but overlapping-market rules prevented continued common ownership of both stations. WDTN was later divested. The Hearst-Argyle transaction placed WLWT alongside major Hearst stations such as WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh and WBAL-TV in Baltimore. Hearst-Argyle eventually adopted the name Hearst Television, under which WLWT continues to operate. In June 1999, WLWT moved its studios from Crosley Square to a Mount Auburn facility that had previously served as the headquarters of Taft Broadcasting, an earlier owner of Cincinnati station WKRC-TV. The relocation reflected the station's transition from large live-entertainment productions to a more newsroom-oriented operation. Crosley Square remained an important part of Cincinnati broadcasting history, while the Mount Auburn site became the working center for WLWT's television and digital news services. WLWT has retained its NBC affiliation throughout its history, making it the only Cincinnati television station that has never changed network affiliation. It has occasionally carried non-NBC programming under temporary or secondary arrangements, including limited UPN programming in 1998, but NBC has remained its principal network relationship. The station's schedule includes NBC entertainment, news, sports, and educational programming, with some weekend programs shifted to accommodate local newscasts. The station's news operation has become its principal public-facing product. WLWT produces extensive weekday and weekend local newscasts, supplemented by weather, traffic, investigative, and digital reporting. It also maintains a continuing relationship with regional sports. Bengals games remain available when scheduled by NBC's Sunday Night Football package or through ESPN-related arrangements, while Reds rights have varied according to league, team, and regional sports-network contracts. In 2007, WLWT and WLW radio renewed a news-and-weather relationship that briefly extended WLWT updates to XM's WLW channel; that arrangement ended in 2008, and the broader partnership concluded in 2010. WLWT remains an active Cincinnati broadcast brand under Hearst Television ownership.

1. 2024Returns to Reds Opening Day coverage

   WLWT airs the Cincinnati Reds' Opening Day game in a simulcast with the regional sports network.

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2. 2012Cable carriage dispute is resolved

   WLWT is temporarily removed from Time Warner Cable systems during a Hearst carriage dispute and is restored after a new agreement.

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3. 1999Moves to Mount Auburn studios

   WLWT relocates its operations from Crosley Square to its current Mount Auburn facility.

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4. 1997Joins Argyle and then Hearst-Argyle

   WLWT is transferred to Argyle Television Holdings II and becomes part of Hearst-Argyle Television after the companies combine.

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5. 1976Multimedia acquires WLWT

   Avco sells WLWT to Multimedia, Inc. as Avco withdraws from television broadcasting.

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6. 1957Color broadcasting begins

   WLWT becomes the first Cincinnati station to broadcast in color.

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7. 1952Moves to channel 5

   A nationwide VHF channel reallocation moves WLWT from channel 4 to channel 5.

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8. 1949Becomes a primary NBC affiliate

   WLWT adopts NBC as its primary network affiliation after initially carrying programming from several networks.

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9. 1948Commercial broadcasting launches

   WLWT begins commercial television service on February 9 on VHF channel 4, becoming Cincinnati's first television station.

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10. 1946Experimental television transmissions begin

    Crosley Broadcasting begins experimental broadcasts in Cincinnati under the call sign W8XCT.

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A Cincinnati-focused NBC affiliate positioned around local news, weather, public service, and regional sports coverage, supported by the resources and national programming of Hearst Television and NBC.

• WLWT News 5Local television news

  WLWT's primary local-news operation, covering Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and southeastern Indiana. The service includes regularly scheduled morning, midday, evening, and late newscasts, along with breaking-news, investigative, public-affairs, and community reporting.

• WLWT WeatherBroadcast weather service

  A local weather-information service integrated into WLWT's television newscasts and digital platforms. It focuses on forecasts, severe-weather warnings, radar information, school and travel impacts, and other conditions relevant to the Cincinnati region.

• NBC programmingNetwork television programming1949

  WLWT carries most of NBC's entertainment, news, sports, and educational schedule. Some Saturday programming has historically been delayed or shifted to accommodate locally produced newscasts.

• WLWT.comDigital news platform

  The station's online news and information platform, extending local reporting, weather, video, traffic information, and live or on-demand coverage beyond the broadcast schedule.

• Local sports coverageSports broadcasting1947

  WLWT has historically carried Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals content. Reds coverage ran for many years through 1995 and returned for a 2024 Opening Day simulcast. Bengals coverage continues when games are included in NBC's national schedule or relevant ESPN arrangements.

• 19705, The Originator

  Cincinnati · Regional Midwest audience

  This slogan emphasized WLWT's role in originating local entertainment, news, and sports programming rather than merely transmitting network content.

  Outcome. It reflected the station's established regional-production reputation during the period when its Crosley and Avco connections remained influential.

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• 1962Colortown U.S.A.

  Cincinnati

  WLWT promoted Cincinnati as “Colortown U.S.A.” after becoming an early color-broadcasting leader and presenting an all-color schedule.

  Outcome. The campaign became part of WLWT's historical identity and reinforced its image as a technology and production innovator.

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• 2012Resolution of Time Warner Cable carriage disputeOther

  Hearst Television and Time Warner Cable disagreed over carriage terms for WLWT.

  What changed. Time Warner Cable temporarily replaced WLWT with WTWO before reaching a new carriage agreement with Hearst.

  Aftermath. WLWT returned to the affected cable systems on July 19, 2012.

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• 2007News and weather partnership with WLW radioStrategy

  WLWT and WLW had once shared ownership and news resources, but later operated under separate owners.

  What changed. WLWT began supplying news and weather material to WLW radio, including distribution through an XM Satellite Radio channel.

  Aftermath. The XM component ended in 2008, and the broader WLW-WLWT partnership ended on March 31, 2010.

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• 1999Relocation to Mount AuburnStrategy

  Crosley Square was designed around large live-entertainment productions, while WLWT had shifted toward a newsroom-centered operating model.

  What changed. The station moved its studios to a Mount Auburn building formerly associated with Taft Broadcasting.

  Aftermath. The relocation consolidated WLWT's modern news and broadcast operations in its current facility.

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• 1997Transfer to Argyle and combination with Hearst broadcastingM&A

  Gannett's acquisition of Multimedia created ownership and cross-ownership constraints affecting WLWT.

  What changed. WLWT was exchanged to Argyle Television Holdings II and subsequently became part of Hearst-Argyle Television.

  Aftermath. The station entered the Hearst television portfolio and later became part of Hearst Television, its current parent.

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• 1976Sale from Avco to MultimediaM&A

  Avco decided to leave the broadcasting business and began selling its television and radio properties.

  What changed. WLWT was sold to Multimedia, Inc. in March 1976.

  Aftermath. The sale ended the station's direct ownership by the Crosley-Avco broadcasting group and separated it from several former WLW Network stations.

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• 2026WLWT becomes an official weather provider for the Cincinnati Reds

  WLWT was identified as the Reds' official weather provider, extending the station's long-running connection with Cincinnati baseball through weather information and related coverage.

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• 2024WLWT renews local relationship with Cincinnati Reds for Opening Day coverage

  WLWT returned to Reds television coverage for the team's Opening Day game in a simulcast with Bally Sports Ohio, later known as FanDuel Sports Network Ohio.

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• 2012Hearst Television and Time Warner Cable resolve carriage dispute involving WLWT

  A dispute between Hearst Television and Time Warner Cable temporarily removed WLWT from the cable system. Time Warner Cable substituted WTWO, a Nexstar-owned station from Terre Haute, Indiana, before the companies reached a carriage agreement and restored WLWT.

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1. WLWT
2. WLWT official website