WTOL
WTOL is a CBS-affiliated television station serving Toledo, Ohio, and nearby parts of Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WTOL is television station channel 11 in Toledo, Ohio, and a long-running CBS affiliate. The station began broadcasting on December 5, 1958, with CBS as its primary affiliation and NBC as a secondary affiliation. It shared NBC programming with WSPD-TV, now WTVG, until 1969, when the arrival of WDHO-TV, now WNWO-TV, allowed WTOL to become exclusively affiliated with CBS. WTOL has retained CBS as its primary network throughout its history, making it the only Toledo station that has not changed its principal network affiliation. The station was initially associated with the family of Frazier Reams, a former area prosecutor and congressman, which also owned WTOL radio properties. Filmways acquired the television station in 1962. In 1965, ownership passed to the Broadcasting Company of the South, a subsidiary of Liberty Life Insurance Company. That broadcasting operation later became Cosmos Broadcasting Corporation and subsequently came directly under the Liberty Corporation. Liberty sold its insurance business in 2003, leaving WTOL within the company’s broadcasting portfolio. From the mid-1970s through 2003, the station commonly branded itself as “Toledo 11” or “Toledo Eleven.” WTOL also gained unusual importance outside its normal local market during the 1990s. In 1994, Canadian cable and satellite distributor Cancom selected WTOL to replace Detroit station WJBK in its American network lineup. The decision followed WJBK’s impending move from CBS to Fox and a period in which Detroit’s replacement CBS service was not yet reliably available. WTOL therefore served as a de facto CBS source for portions of southern Michigan and other Canadian distribution areas until 1999. Raycom Media announced its acquisition of Liberty in 2005. Because Raycom already owned Toledo ABC affiliate WNWO-TV, regulatory ownership limits required it to retain WTOL, the higher-rated property, and divest WNWO. In 2012, WTOL became operationally linked with Fox affiliate WUPW after American Spirit Media acquired WUPW and entered into a shared-services arrangement with WTOL. The stations consolidated much of their staff and operations at WTOL’s downtown Toledo facilities and launched the Toledo News Now digital identity, while retaining separate management and sales structures. WTOL completed the transition to digital-only broadcasting on June 12, 2009. Its digital service includes multicast programming; in January 2012, the station replaced News 11 Now on its second digital subchannel with MeTV. WTOL’s primary studios are on North Summit Street in downtown Toledo, while its transmitter is located on Cedar Point Road in Oregon, Ohio. Raycom’s 2019 merger with Gray Television created a regulatory conflict because Gray also owned WTVG, another highly rated Toledo station. Gray therefore arranged to sell WTOL and the WUPW service arrangement to Tegna. Tegna’s acquisition was completed on January 2, 2019. Nexstar Media Group subsequently acquired Tegna in a transaction announced in 2025 and completed in 2026, placing WTOL within Nexstar’s broader television-station portfolio. WTOL’s core business is locally produced television news, weather, sports, public-service coverage, CBS network programming, syndicated content, digital publishing, and advertising. As of September 2023, it produced approximately 45 hours of local news each week for its own channel and more than 18 hours weekly for WUPW. Its shared-services relationship with WUPW also supports joint severe-weather coverage, particularly during tornado warnings. The station has emphasized local forecasting and received WeatheRate certification in 2011 for forecast accuracy in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.
History
WTOL began broadcasting in Toledo on December 5, 1958. It launched as a CBS affiliate with a secondary NBC affiliation, sharing NBC programming with WSPD-TV. When WDHO-TV began carrying ABC in 1969, WTOL became a full-time CBS affiliate. This arrangement established the station’s enduring identity as Toledo’s CBS outlet. The station’s original ownership was connected to Frazier Reams and his family, who also controlled WTOL radio interests. Filmways bought WTOL in 1962. Three years later, the Broadcasting Company of the South, associated with Liberty Life Insurance Company, acquired the station. The broadcasting unit became Cosmos Broadcasting, and later operated under the Liberty Corporation. During the late twentieth century, WTOL used the “Toledo 11” brand extensively. WTOL’s signal and network role extended beyond the immediate Toledo market in the 1990s. In December 1994, Cancom selected the station for distribution to Canadian cable and satellite viewers after Detroit CBS affiliate WJBK prepared to move to Fox. Because Detroit’s replacement CBS station was not yet dependable throughout the region, WTOL became an important CBS source for southern Michigan, including much of Monroe County and portions of Wayne and Washtenaw counties. Cancom carried WTOL until 1999. Raycom Media acquired Liberty in 2005. Raycom already owned WNWO-TV in Toledo, but federal ownership restrictions prevented it from retaining both stations. Raycom kept WTOL and sold WNWO to Barrington Broadcasting. WTOL later developed a close operating relationship with WUPW. American Spirit Media acquired WUPW in 2012 and arranged for WTOL to provide shared services. WUPW’s operational staff moved into WTOL’s facilities, and the two stations introduced the Toledo News Now news brand while keeping separate management and sales operations. The station converted to digital-only broadcasting in 2009. In 2012, its second digital channel switched from News 11 Now to MeTV. WTOL’s present technical operation uses studios in downtown Toledo and a transmitter in Oregon, Ohio. When Gray Television acquired Raycom in 2019, Gray’s existing ownership of WTVG created an ownership-rule issue because both WTVG and WTOL were among Toledo’s leading stations. Gray sold WTOL to Tegna, with the WUPW relationship included in the transaction. Tegna completed the purchase on January 2, 2019. Nexstar later acquired Tegna, with the transaction announced in 2025 and completed in 2026. WTOL’s news operation remains central to its brand. The station produces extensive weekday, weekend, weather, sports, and community programming, and also supplies local news for WUPW. Its severe-weather operation can be simulcast on WUPW during tornado warnings. Personnel changes have included the departure of longtime evening anchor Chrys Peterson in 2014, the succession of Emilie Voss, Voss’s departure in 2017, Jerry Anderson’s retirement in 2018, and subsequent shifts involving Andrew Kinsey, Tim Miller, Dan Cummins, and Jordan Strack.
- 2026
Nexstar ownership begins
[1]Nexstar completes its acquisition of Tegna, bringing WTOL into the Nexstar group.
- 2019
Tegna ownership begins
[1]Tegna completes its purchase of WTOL from Raycom-related ownership.
- 2012
WUPW shared-services arrangement
[1]WTOL begins providing operational and news services for WUPW.
- 2009
Digital-only broadcasting
[1]WTOL completes the U.S. digital television transition.
- 2005
Raycom acquires Liberty
[1]Raycom Media takes control of WTOL through its acquisition of Liberty Corporation.
- 1994
WTOL joins Cancom’s U.S. network lineup
[1]WTOL replaces Detroit’s WJBK for Canadian cable and satellite distribution.
- 1969
WTOL becomes an exclusive CBS affiliate
[1]The station drops its secondary NBC role after a new Toledo ABC outlet launches.
- 1965
Liberty-linked ownership begins
[1]The Broadcasting Company of the South, associated with Liberty Life Insurance, purchases WTOL.
- 1962
Filmways acquisition
[1]Filmways acquires the Toledo television station.
- 1958
WTOL begins broadcasting
[1]WTOL signs on in Toledo as a CBS affiliate with a secondary NBC affiliation.
Products and positioning
A locally focused CBS affiliate emphasizing Toledo-area news, weather, severe-weather preparedness, sports, and community coverage.
Local television news · 1958
WTOL local news
WTOL’s principal offering is locally produced news covering Toledo and surrounding communities. Programming includes morning, midday, evening, and late-night broadcasts, with reporting on government, public safety, education, business, health, and community affairs. The station also produces local news programming for WUPW under the shared-services arrangement.
Weather broadcasting
WTOL First Alert Weather
WTOL provides daily forecasts, live severe-weather reporting, radar information, warnings, and preparedness coverage for Northwest Ohio and nearby Southeast Michigan. Its weather operation supports extended coverage during tornado warnings and can be simulcast on WUPW.
Network television · 1958
CBS programming
WTOL carries CBS network programming and has maintained CBS as its primary affiliation since signing on, apart from its original period carrying NBC programming secondarily.
Multicast television · 2012
MeTV digital subchannel
WTOL’s second digital subchannel carries MeTV programming. MeTV replaced the station’s News 11 Now service in January 2012.
Marketing campaigns
- 2019Student exam encouragement video
Toledo area
WTOL published a social-media video in which anchors used deliberately exaggerated slang to encourage local high-school students preparing for exams. The video was intended as a youthful, informal outreach effort and attracted substantial online circulation after its removal.
Outcome. The video generated mixed commentary, was removed from the station’s account, and continued circulating through copies on social platforms.
Brand decisions
2025
Nexstar announces Tegna acquisitionM&ABackground
Nexstar announced an agreement to acquire Tegna and its television properties.
Action taken
Nexstar pursued and subsequently completed the Tegna acquisition, including WTOL.
Aftermath
The transaction was reported as completed in March 2026, making Nexstar the station’s parent group.
2018
Sell WTOL to Tegna to resolve ownership overlapM&ABackground
Gray Television’s planned acquisition of Raycom would have left Gray owning both WTOL and WTVG, two highly rated Toledo stations subject to FCC ownership restrictions.
Action taken
Gray arranged to sell WTOL, including the WUPW shared-services relationship, to Tegna.
Aftermath
Tegna completed the acquisition on January 2, 2019, while Gray retained WTVG.
Announced purchase price. 105000000 (2018)
2012
Create shared services with WUPWStrategyBackground
American Spirit Media purchased WUPW and sought an operating relationship with Raycom-owned WTOL.
Action taken
WTOL assumed substantial operational and news-support functions for WUPW, with staff working from WTOL facilities and a joint Toledo News Now digital identity.
Aftermath
The stations continued with separate management and sales departments while sharing facilities, news resources, and severe-weather coverage.
WUPW acquisition price. 22000000 (2012)
1994
Accept Cancom distribution roleStrategyBackground
Cancom needed a replacement for Detroit CBS affiliate WJBK, which was preparing to change networks. WTOL was the closest large CBS station suitable for distribution.
Action taken
WTOL joined Cancom’s American network lineup and became a practical CBS source for portions of southern Michigan and Canadian distribution markets.
Aftermath
WTOL remained in the lineup until 1999 and temporarily served viewers who could not reliably receive Detroit’s replacement CBS station.
Recent events
- 2026
Nexstar completes acquisition of Tegna[1]
M&A
Nexstar’s acquisition of Tegna placed WTOL within Nexstar’s television-station group.
- 2019
Tegna completes WTOL acquisition[1]
M&A
Tegna completed its acquisition of WTOL after Gray Television’s merger with Raycom created an ownership overlap in Toledo.
- 2019
WTOL student-exam video attracts viral attention[1]
Campaign · Other
A station video featuring anchors using exaggerated youth slang to encourage local students drew mixed reactions, was removed, and circulated through copies on social media.
- 2018
Tegna agrees to acquire WTOL from Raycom[1]
M&A
Tegna agreed to purchase WTOL and KWES-TV for a reported transaction value of $105 million, subject to regulatory approval.
- 2012
WTOL replaces News 11 Now with MeTV[1]
Product launch
The station changed its second digital-subchannel programming from News 11 Now to MeTV.
- 2012
WTOL enters shared-services arrangement with WUPW[1]
M&A
After WUPW’s acquisition by American Spirit Media, WTOL began providing operational and news-support services from its Toledo facilities.
- 2009
WTOL completes digital television transition[1]
Product generation
WTOL ended analog broadcasting and continued as a digital television station on June 12, 2009.
Sources2 sources
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