WOIO

WOIO is a commercial television station licensed to Shaker Heights, Ohio, and serving the Cleveland metropolitan area and the wider Northeast Ohio market. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 19 and is affiliated with CBS. It is owned by Gray Media and operates alongside sister station WUAB, an independent station affiliated with MyNetworkTV, as well as low-power stations WTCL-LD and WOHZ-CD. The stations share facilities in the Reserve Square building in downtown Cleveland, while their transmission facilities are located in suburban Parma. WOIO and WUAB also operate under a channel-sharing arrangement. The station's history began long before its eventual launch. Channel 19 was assigned to Cleveland during the Federal Communications Commission's 1952 reallocation of television channels, but successive applicants failed to construct a station. Earlier efforts included applications from WHK, Cleveland Broadcasting, Community Telecasters of Cleveland, and other groups. Construction permits were repeatedly delayed by financial limitations, ownership disputes, appeals, and uncertainty about the economics of UHF broadcasting. The process lasted more than three decades and involved several permits that were ultimately cancelled or withdrawn. The successful application came from Channel 19 Inc., a consortium associated with Diamond Broadcasting, Malrite Communications, and Metroplex Communications. Hubert B. Payne, a prominent Cleveland broadcaster and a leading member of the group, became the first Black executive to own and manage a Cleveland television station. The FCC selected the consortium's proposal in 1983, and the station adopted the WOIO call sign, commonly understood as an abbreviation for Ohio. Significant construction and programming investment followed, including studios at Shaker Square and a transmitter serving the Cleveland area. WOIO began broadcasting on May 19, 1985, as an independent station. Its original schedule emphasized inexpensive, established syndicated reruns and movies, including classic sitcoms and dramas. The station promoted a distinctive “nineteen” identity and an irreverent on-air style intended to separate it from the older independent station WUAB. It also carried sports programming, including Cleveland Cavaliers basketball and Cleveland Browns preseason games. Although its early programming strategy attracted a younger audience, WOIO was often characterized by competitors and critics as a largely automated “video jukebox,” with limited original local programming. A major transformation occurred in 1994, when WJW-TV became a Fox affiliate as part of New World Communications' affiliation agreement with Fox. CBS selected WOIO to replace WJW as its Cleveland affiliate. The affiliation change took effect in 1994, and WOIO subsequently developed a local news operation using resources connected to WUAB. Its first substantial local newscasts launched in February 1995. The news department struggled for much of the 1990s and early 2000s, experiencing repeated branding changes, personnel turnover, and low ratings. Raycom Media acquired WOIO in 1998. In 2001, general manager Bill Applegate oversaw a major relaunch of the news operation as 19 Action News. The format used a highly promotional, populist, and sometimes tabloid-oriented presentation, including attention-grabbing stories, controversial personalities, and ratings-oriented stunts. The approach improved performance in some time periods but also generated criticism concerning tone and sensationalism. Beginning in 2015, later management moved the operation toward a more conventional presentation under the Cleveland 19 News identity. Gray Television acquired Raycom Media in 2019, bringing WOIO into the Gray corporate portfolio. Under Gray, the station has retained its CBS affiliation while expanding its digital, mobile, streaming, and over-the-top distribution. Its related station operations have also broadened their service to Spanish-speaki…

WOIO's channel assignment originated in the FCC's 1952 restructuring of television allocations, when channel 19 was designated for Cleveland as a UHF outlet. Numerous groups sought the license over the following decades, but the market's economic conditions, the high cost of UHF construction, ownership disputes, and prolonged FCC proceedings prevented an operating station from emerging. An early WHK-TV permit was never built and was cancelled in 1960. Later permits associated with Cleveland Broadcasting and Community Telecasters also expired or were defeated after appeals. A new application process began in the late 1970s. Channel 19 Inc., a partnership involving Diamond Broadcasting, Malrite Communications, and Metroplex Communications, competed against Cleveland Television Corporation and WUAB owner Gaylord Broadcasting. The FCC ultimately favored Channel 19 Inc., in part because its ownership structure offered a stronger role for common-stock owners in station management. The group received the permit in 1983 and selected the WOIO call letters. Hubert B. Payne, who had been a senior Cleveland television sales executive, was a central figure in the successful application and became the first Black executive to own and manage a Cleveland television station. Construction required a major investment in studios, transmission facilities, technical equipment, and syndicated programming. WOIO's studios were established at Shaker Square, and the station began service on May 19, 1985. It launched as an independent with a schedule built around older, familiar reruns and films rather than expensive recent syndicated programs. This approach helped control costs and supported a deliberately distinctive brand aimed at younger viewers. WOIO also secured important local sports rights, including Cleveland Cavaliers basketball and Browns preseason football. The station's competitive position changed dramatically during the 1994 affiliation realignment. WJW-TV moved from CBS to Fox, allowing WOIO to take over the CBS affiliation. Because WOIO had only limited experience producing local news, it relied on a news operation associated with WUAB and began its own newscasts in February 1995. The department endured low ratings, repeated rebranding, and frequent personnel changes for years. Raycom Media purchased WOIO in 1998. In 2001, manager Bill Applegate led a relaunch as 19 Action News. The format emphasized urgency, conflict, crime, consumer reporting, and a strongly promotional visual style. It challenged Cleveland's established news brands and achieved better results in selected time periods, although its tone attracted criticism and became a defining feature of the station's public image. In 2015, subsequent leadership moved toward the Cleveland 19 News brand and a more conventional local-news model. Gray Television's acquisition of Raycom Media placed WOIO within Gray's national station group. The station has since developed a broader digital and streaming presence while retaining its CBS network role. Its wider Cleveland operation includes WUAB, WTCL-LD, and WOHZ-CD. WTCL's Spanish-language Telemundo service and WOIO's translator relationships have expanded the group's reach, while partnerships involving Gray and Rock Entertainment Group have connected the operation with regional sports programming. WOIO remains an active CBS affiliate serving Northeast Ohio.

1. 2019Gray Television becomes owner

   Gray's merger with Raycom places WOIO in Gray's portfolio.

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2. 2015Cleveland 19 News identity introduced

   The station shifts toward a more conventional news presentation.

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3. 200119 Action News launches

   The news department adopts an aggressive tabloid-style identity under Bill Applegate.

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4. 1998Raycom Media acquisition

   Raycom Media acquires the station.

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5. 1995Local newscasts launch

   WOIO begins producing local news in February.

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6. 1994WOIO joins CBS

   The station becomes Cleveland's CBS affiliate after WJW moves to Fox.

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7. 1985WOIO begins broadcasting

   WOIO signs on May 19 as an independent station licensed to Shaker Heights.

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8. 1983Channel 19 Inc. receives the construction permit

   After years of competing applications and appeals, the FCC awards the permit to the consortium that would launch WOIO.

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9. 1952Channel 19 is assigned to Cleveland

   The FCC's nationwide channel-allocation changes establish channel 19 as a Cleveland UHF assignment.

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A locally focused Cleveland CBS affiliate with a history of distinctive, aggressive news branding and an increasing emphasis on digital, mobile, and streaming distribution.

• Cleveland 19 NewsLocal television news2015

  WOIO's principal local-news service, covering Cleveland and Northeast Ohio through scheduled broadcasts, breaking-news updates, weather, traffic, investigative reports, and consumer journalism. The brand replaced the strongest elements of the earlier 19 Action News identity while preserving the station's channel-19 recognition. It is distributed through broadcast television and the station's digital and streaming channels.

• CBS programmingNetwork television1994

  WOIO carries CBS network entertainment, news, sports, and special programming for the Cleveland market. The affiliation began during the major 1994 Cleveland network realignment, when WJW moved to Fox and WOIO assumed the CBS relationship.

• WOIO local sports coverageSports broadcasting1985

  Sports has been part of WOIO's identity since its independent-station period. The station carried Cleveland Cavaliers basketball and Cleveland Browns preseason games and continues to provide local sports news and selected sports-related programming through its broadcast and digital operations.

• Cleveland19.comDigital news platform

  The station's website extends WOIO's local-news, weather, traffic, video, and consumer-information services beyond the linear broadcast schedule. It is part of the station's broader mobile, streaming, and over-the-top distribution strategy.

• 200119 Action News

  Cleveland · Northeast Ohio

  WOIO relaunched its news operation with a highly promotional, populist, and tabloid-influenced format built around urgency, controversy, and strong on-air personalities.

  Outcome. The format improved ratings in some time periods but also drew criticism for its sensational tone.

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• 1985The Nineteen identity

  Cleveland · Northeast Ohio

  At launch, WOIO used a distinctive channel-19 identity and irreverent presentation to distinguish itself from established independent competitor WUAB.

  Outcome. The identity helped the new station establish a recognizable presence despite limited original programming.

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• 2015Move toward the Cleveland 19 News brandStrategy

  Later station management sought to reduce reliance on the most provocative elements of the Action News presentation.

  What changed. WOIO adopted a more traditional Cleveland 19 News positioning while retaining local-news competition and channel-19 brand recognition.

  Aftermath. The station's news identity became more conventional while continuing to serve as the local CBS news operation.

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• 2001Adopt the 19 Action News formatStrategy

  WOIO's newscasts had remained near the bottom of Cleveland ratings for much of the preceding period.

  What changed. Under Bill Applegate, management relaunched the news operation with a more aggressive tabloid style, promotional branding, and attention-grabbing coverage.

  Aftermath. The format produced gains in selected time slots but became controversial and was later moderated under the Cleveland 19 News identity.

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• 1994Accept the CBS affiliationStrategy

  WJW's move from CBS to Fox created a major network-affiliation opening in Cleveland.

  What changed. WOIO replaced WJW as the market's CBS affiliate and shifted from an independent-station model toward a network-led operation.

  Aftermath. The affiliation gave WOIO a stronger network position but also increased pressure to build a credible and competitive local-news department.

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• 1985Launch with a low-cost classic-rerun scheduleStrategy

  As a new independent station entering a crowded Cleveland market, WOIO faced substantial startup costs and competition from established outlets.

  What changed. The station emphasized older syndicated series and movies rather than expensive recent off-network programming, while also developing a distinctive irreverent channel-19 identity.

  Aftermath. The strategy controlled programming costs and helped WOIO target younger viewers, although the station was often viewed as having little original output.

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• 2019Gray Television acquires Raycom Media

  The completion of Gray Television's merger with Raycom Media transferred WOIO into Gray's ownership.

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• 2015News branding shifts toward Cleveland 19 News

  Station management moved away from the strongest tabloid elements of the Action News identity and adopted a more traditional Cleveland 19 News presentation.

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• 2001News operation relaunched as 19 Action News

  Under general manager Bill Applegate, WOIO introduced a more aggressive and tabloid-influenced local-news format branded 19 Action News.

  Campaign
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• 1998Raycom Media acquires WOIO

  WOIO became part of Raycom Media's station portfolio.

  M&A
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• 1995WOIO launches a local news operation

  The station introduced local newscasts in February using resources developed through its relationship with WUAB.

  Product launch
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• 1994WOIO becomes Cleveland's CBS affiliate

  WOIO replaced WJW as the Cleveland market's CBS affiliate after WJW moved to Fox as part of New World's group affiliation agreement.

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• 1985WOIO signs on as a Cleveland independent station

  WOIO began broadcasting on May 19 as Cleveland's third independent television station after decades of unsuccessful attempts to build a channel 19 outlet.

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1. WOIO