View source for WOIO

{{Short description|Television station in Shaker Heights, Ohio}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = WOIO
| logo = WOIO 19 Logo 2019.svg
| logo_upright = .6
| logo_alt = A red square with "19" in white text.
| image = MeTV Cleveland logo.png
| image_upright = .6
| location = [[Shaker Heights]]–[[Cleveland]], Ohio
| country = United States
| city = Shaker Heights, Ohio
| branding = {{ubl|19 WOIO; ''19 News''|MeTV Cleveland (19.2)}}
| digital = 10 ([[VHF]]), shared with [[WUAB]]{{r|WUABWOIOshare}}
| virtual = 19
| translators = ''see {{section link||Translators}}''
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''19.1:''' [[CBS]]|'''19.2:''' [[MeTV]]/[[MyNetworkTV|MyTV]]|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| owner = [[Gray Media]]
| licensee = Gray Television Licensee, [[LLC]]
| airdate = {{start date and age|1985|5|19|p=y|br=y}}
| callsign_meaning = "Ohio"{{r|NewsJo19830610p38}}
| sister_stations = WUAB, [[WTCL-LD]], [[WOHZ-CD]]
| former_channel_numbers = '''Analog:''' 19 ([[UHF]], 1985–2009)
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|[[Independent station|Independent]] (1985–1986)|[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] (1986–1994)}}
| erp = 30 kW
| haat = {{convert|333|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 39746
| coordinates = {{Coord|41|22|45|N|81|43|11|W|type:landmark_region:US-OH}}
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.cleveland19.com/}}
}}
'''WOIO''' (channel 19) is a [[television station]] licensed to [[Shaker Heights, Ohio]], United States, serving the [[Cleveland]] area as an affiliate of [[CBS]]. It is owned by [[Gray Media]] alongside [[The CW|CW]] affiliate [[WUAB]] (channel 43), [[Telemundo]] affiliate [[WTCL-LD]] (channel 6) and [[independent station]] [[WOHZ-CD]] (channel 22); WTCL and WOHZ also serve as relays for WOIO. All four stations have studios on the ground floor of the [[Reserve Square]] building in [[Downtown Cleveland]]. WOIO shares full-power spectrum with WUAB via a [[channel sharing agreement]]<ref name="WUABWOIOshare">{{unbulleted list citebundle|{{Cite web |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/draftCopy.html?displayType=html&appKey=25076f915eaa0135015f0c98d9373059&id=25076f915eaa0135015f0c98d9373059&goBack=N |title=Modification of a Licensed Facility for DTV Application |access-date=October 22, 2022 |website=Licensing and Management System |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |archive-date=October 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022213509/https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/draftCopy.html?displayType=html&appKey=25076f915eaa0135015f0c98d9373059&id=25076f915eaa0135015f0c98d9373059&goBack=N |url-status=live }}|{{Cite web |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/draftCopy.html?displayType=html&appKey=25076f916097f7ff0160dc8293883b7b&id=25076f916097f7ff0160dc8293883b7b&goBack=N |title=License To Cover for DTV Application |access-date=October 22, 2022 |website=Licensing and Management System |publisher=Federal Communications Commission |archive-date=October 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022213509/https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/draftCopy.html?displayType=html&appKey=25076f916097f7ff0160dc8293883b7b&id=25076f916097f7ff0160dc8293883b7b&goBack=N |url-status=live }}}}</ref> and both stations have transmitter facilities in suburban [[Parma, Ohio|Parma]].

Established in 1985, WOIO's entry into the Cleveland market was the culmination of multiple failed attempts to sign on a station on channel&nbsp;19 over the course of 34 years, four different construction permits and multiple contested bids. Owned initially by a consortium controlled by Hubert B. Payne, the first Black executive at a Cleveland television station, WOIO was sold to [[Malrite Communications]], one of the partners in the consortium, in 1986 for a [[Financial capital|capital]] infusion. With studios at [[Buckeye–Shaker|Shaker Square]], WOIO operated with a minimum of local output but boasted a unique "nineteen" identity and irreverent on-air persona, along with a program inventory of long-established reruns that appealed to a younger audience. A charter affiliate of the [[Fox Broadcasting Company]] and the over-the-air home of [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] basketball and [[Cleveland Browns]] preseason games, WOIO thrived in competition against the market's established independent WUAB despite ongoing perceptions of being a "video jukebox". The [[1994–1996 United States broadcast television realignment|1994 affiliation pact]] between [[WJW-TV]] owner [[New World Communications]] and Fox resulted in WOIO becoming the market's new CBS affiliate. Prior to the change, Malrite took over WUAB via a [[local marketing agreement]] and used their existing news operation to develop local newscasts for WOIO, which launched on February 1995.

Despite lofty expectations by station management, WOIO's newscasts—rebranded several times and with frequent on- and off-air turnover—remained mired in last place in nearly every timeslot into the 2000s. The station was purchased by [[Raycom Media]] in 1998, and veteran executive Bill Applegate was named as WOIO-WUAB's general manager in 2001. Under Applegate, WOIO's news department was relaunched as ''19 [[Action News]]'', featuring a [[populist]]-leaning [[Tabloid journalism|tabloid]] style with multiple controversial on-air talent hires and rating stunts. While ''19 Action News'' proved successful in some timeslots, Applegate's immediate successors dropped the tabloid motif in 2015 in favor of the more traditional ''Cleveland 19 News''. Following Gray Television's merger with Raycom, WOIO has revived some of the elements of ''Action News'' while repositioning the station's news department for non-linear [[Over-the-top media service|over-the-top]] and [[mobile streaming]]. In recent years, Gray has added both WTCL, expanding WOIO's news department for a Spanish-language audience, and [[Rock Entertainment Sports Network]], a joint venture between Gray and [[Rock Entertainment Group]].

== Previous applicants for channel 19 in Cleveland ==
While WOIO's first broadcast occurred {{Years or months ago|1985|05}}, on May 19, 1985, channel&nbsp;19 in Cleveland was one of several [[ultra high frequency]] (UHF) allotments created by the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) in 1952 following a complex realignment of future channel allocations, [[FCC#Freeze of 1948|a process that took nearly five years]]. The combined Cleveland–[[Akron]]–[[Canton, Ohio|Canton]] market already had three [[very high frequency]] (VHF) stations: [[WKYC|WNBK]], [[WEWS-TV]] and [[WJW (TV)|WXEL]],<ref name="AkronB19531204p 2">{{Cite news |date=December 4, 1953 |title=WHK To Have TV Station |page=36 |newspaper=[[Akron Beacon Journal]] |agency=Associated Press |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110153692/whk-to-have-tv-station/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926014210/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110153692/whk-to-have-tv-station/ |archive-date=September 26, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> as well as future UHF outlet [[WAKR-TV]] in Akron.<ref name="WAKR Day One">{{Cite news |last=Cullison |first=Art |date=July 20, 1953 |title=Excellent Reception Highlights WAKR-TV |pages=1–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66187757/excellent-reception-highlights-wakr-tv/ 2] |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66187676/excellent-reception-highlights-wakr-tv/ |url-status=live |access-date=December 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121204917/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/66187676/excellent-reception-highlights-wakr-tv/ |archive-date=January 21, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Prior to the 1952 allotment table's release, the FCC designated channel&nbsp;19 as Cleveland's lone UHF allotment, which [[WHKW|WGAR]], [[WJMO|WERE]], [[WHK (AM)|WHK]] and [[WKNR|WJW]]—all radio stations that unsuccessfully filed for a VHF license—jointly protested against.<ref name="CPD19510530p36">{{cite news |last=Condon |first=George E. |date=May 30, 1951 |title=WHK Applies For Color TV Permit: Asks Channel 19; Carpenter Hails New Era |page=36 |newspaper=[[The Plain Dealer]] |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//zpdkchbwiarguhlyzkszqdchfbmagqos_wma-gateway016_1666818676886 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027120640/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//zpdkchbwiarguhlyzkszqdchfbmagqos_wma-gateway016_1666818676886 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Agora - Cleveland, OH (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=1.29|[[WHK (AM)|WHK]], which held an unbuilt permit for WHK-TV from 1953 to 1960, planned to have studios at the WHK Auditorium, now the [[Agora Theatre]].|left]]
WHK owner United Broadcasting Company (the autonomous broadcast arm of the Forest City Publishing Company, parent of ''[[The Plain Dealer]]'' and the ''[[Cleveland News]]'')<ref name="Shaw">{{cite book |last=Shaw |first=Archer H. |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.58361 |title=The Plain Dealer: One Hundred Years in Cleveland |publisher=[[Alfred A. Knopf]]; reissued [[Nabu Press]], 2011 |year=1942 |isbn=978-1179978260 |edition=1st |location=New York, New York |pages=383–384 |quote=These stations are not operated in co-operation with the ''Plain Dealer''. They are not used to promote the interests of the paper. Probably few radio listeners are aware of the ownership of these particular stations. This fact, if it is a fact, accords perfectly with the wishes of the ''Plain Dealer''.}}</ref> applied with the FCC to construct a station on channel&nbsp;19 on May 29, 1951, that would transmit in all-[[Color television|color]]; station president Harry K. Carpenter called the application a "new era" for WHK,{{r|CPD19510530p36}} the first commercially licensed radio station in Ohio.<ref name="CPD19531204p1">{{cite news |last=Condon |first=George E. |date=December 4, 1953 |title=Fifth TV Station Here to Be Erected by WHK |pages=1, [https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//hbrkydtsqifpmxfbifrausstkkmssucu_wma-gateway013_1666818447183 38] |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//zcycvwkshomtltdlcdssjspkjgquxydw_wma-gateway019_1666818325705 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=November 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128064306/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//zcycvwkshomtltdlcdssjspkjgquxydw_wma-gateway019_1666818325705 |url-status=live }}</ref> WJW also filed a bid for channel&nbsp;19 but withdrew after determining it would not be economically feasible; WJW owner William O'Neill remarked, "I think I'd rather stay in the radio business and make a little money than go bankrupt with radio and TV;"<ref name="CPD19530930p32">{{cite news |last=Condon |first=George E. |date=September 30, 1953 |title=WJW Drops TV Channel Bid; OK for WHK Expected |page=32 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//yuutpbzdquhmultmjxrqvhqowgyeoscw_wma-gateway019_1666818704485 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027035012/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//yuutpbzdquhmultmjxrqvhqowgyeoscw_wma-gateway019_1666818704485 |url-status=live }}</ref> WJW's interest in the channel 19 license became moot the following year when WXEL parent [[Storer Communications]] purchased WJW and rebranded the TV station under the WJW-TV call sign. A [[construction permit]] was awarded to WHK on December 3, 1953, six months after WERE owner Cleveland Broadcasting was awarded a permit for a station on channel&nbsp;65.{{r|AkronB19531204p 2}} WHK management aimed to sign on WHK-TV from their [[Agora Theatre and Ballroom|Euclid Ave. facilities]], converted from a movie theater with the intent of housing a TV station, by August 1954.{{r|CPD19531204p1}} The proposed WHK-TV remained a permit, however, and when WHK and [[WMMS|WHK-FM]] (100.7) were sold to [[Metromedia|Dumont Broadcasting]] in 1958,<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=February 10, 1958 |title=Closed circuit |id={{ProQuest|1285754426}} |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1958/1958-02-10-BC.pdf |url-status=live |magazine=Broadcasting |volume=54 |issue=6 |page=5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127033325/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1958/1958-02-10-BC.pdf |archive-date=January 27, 2022 |access-date=September 5, 2022 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> a deadline extension request for WHK-TV necessitated a hearing for the transaction by the FCC.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=April 21, 1958 |title=Changing Hands |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1958/1958-04-21-BC.pdf |url-status=live |magazine=Broadcasting |volume=54 |issue=16 |page=58 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108155436/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1958/1958-04-21-BC.pdf |id={{ProQuest|1401225504}} |archive-date=November 8, 2021 |access-date=September 5, 2022 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> Ultimately unbuilt, the permits for WHK-TV and WERE-TV were two of seven unbuilt UHFs in Ohio, and two of 54 nationwide, that the FCC cancelled on February 19, 1960.<ref name="Newark19600220p25">{{Cite news |date=February 20, 1960 |title=FCC Acting To Cancel Permits To TV Stations |page=25 |newspaper=The Newark Advocate |agency=Associated Press |location=Newark, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110183125/fcc-acting-to-cancel-permits-to-tv/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220926014212/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110183125/fcc-acting-to-cancel-permits-to-tv/ |archive-date=September 26, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
[[File:Former Cleveland Mayor argues against proposed rail wage cut. Washington, D.C., Oct. 17. Roy T. Miller, former Mayor of Cleveland, today argues against the proposed rail wage cut for the LCCN2016874162 (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=0.56|[[Ray T. Miller]]|alt=refer to caption]]
Following the failure of the WHK permit, ''The Plain Dealer'' itself filed for an application on July 17, 1962, spurred by passage of the [[All-Channel Receiver Act]],<ref name="CPD19620718p14">{{cite news |date=July 18, 1962 |title=UHF Television License Sought by Plain Dealer |page=14 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//tbilnvvhzvdkfeyddvlacspdpybnmcrf_wma-gateway012_1666818888502 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027020453/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//tbilnvvhzvdkfeyddvlacspdpybnmcrf_wma-gateway012_1666818888502 |url-status=live }}</ref> but withdrew their bid by that September, with publisher Thomas V. H. Vail citing the economic uncertainty of UHF.<ref name="CPD19620905p12">{{cite news |date=September 5, 1962 |title=PD Withdraws TV Channel Application |page=12 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//gogomoyturckcoxuauxhahzdfxhiewvj_wma-gateway017_1666818957896 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027102114/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//gogomoyturckcoxuauxhahzdfxhiewvj_wma-gateway017_1666818957896 |url-status=live }}</ref> Community Telecasters of Cleveland Inc., led by attorney Charles W. Steadman,<ref name="CPD19641118p40">{{cite news |last=Beam |first=Alvin |date=November 18, 1964 |title=Ch. 19...When? Bill Gordon to Get 'Apartment 19'..IF.. |page=40 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//leeuyysxrqhpgsztmhcsepdbgssymehg_wma-gateway010_1666819202440 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027053538/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//leeuyysxrqhpgsztmhcsepdbgssymehg_wma-gateway010_1666819202440 |url-status=live }}</ref> was the next to file on April 19, 1963, and was soon being joined by another attempt from Cleveland Broadcasting and WERE.<ref name="CPD19771122p4C">{{cite news |last=Hart |first=Raymond P. |date=November 22, 1977 |title='To be or not to be,' that's the question at Channel 19 |page=4C |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//xdwinhwtlievzqaiuhrcmrmmkhpukzqj_wma-gateway013_1666820028022 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027014946/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//xdwinhwtlievzqaiuhrcmrmmkhpukzqj_wma-gateway013_1666820028022 |url-status=live }}</ref> Cleveland Broadcasting was awarded the permit on November 12, 1964, with president [[Ray T. Miller]] teasing the idea of their station as the flagship of a 40-station regional UHF network,<ref name="CPD19641114p20">{{cite news |date=November 14, 1964 |title=Miller Sketches Plans: 40-Station Network UHF Hope for City |page=20 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//ucpefcijkalpktexzqhjotuugpvuojtg_wma-gateway003_1666819133254 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027014943/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//ucpefcijkalpktexzqhjotuugpvuojtg_wma-gateway003_1666819133254 |url-status=live }}</ref> and WERE host Bill Gordon was considered for a nighly talk show.{{r|CPD19641118p40}} Construction was delayed after Community Telecasters appealed the permit,{{r|CPD19641118p40}} which Cleveland Broadcasting eventually gave up{{r|CPD19771122p4C}} in part due to Miller's 1966 death<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 14, 1966 |title=Ray T. Miller Sr. Is Dead at 73 |pages=1, [https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/ray-t-miller-sr-democratic-warrior-dead/uxqipjxpzstewrfypfgzqtyiavwbbkap_wma-gateway009_1686292256267 8] |work=The Plain Dealer |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings/ray-t-miller-sr-dead-73/xrosqzguhtorhsybbaqppigvrqstjehv_wma-gateway003_1686292205714}}</ref> and the eventual sale of the company itself.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=May 27, 1968 |title=Closed Circuit: Group transfer |id={{ProQuest|1014519700}} |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1968/1968-05-27-BC.pdf |url-status=live |magazine=Broadcasting |page=5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120235124/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1968/1968-05-27-BC.pdf |archive-date=January 20, 2022 |access-date=December 18, 2019 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> Community Telecasters was award a permit of their own on May 22, 1968,<ref name="AkronB19681128p 51">{{Cite news |date=November 28, 1968 |title=New TV Station |page=B1 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |agency=Associated Press |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112068647/new-tv-station/ |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026203519/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112068647/new-tv-station/ |url-status=live }}</ref> dismissing a competing bid from [[WCCR (AM)|WIXY]]-[[WDOK]] owner Westchester Corp.{{r|CPD19690723a}} While the permit was assigned the [[call sign]] WCTF-TV, the construction process stalled with no indication of any potential sign-on date; by comparison, [[Kaiser Broadcasting]] signed on [[WKBF-TV]]<ref name="CPD19680120p12">{{cite news |date=January 20, 1968 |title=Channel 61 Is on Air Today |page=12 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//tjegprzrusyfxvmfgqhiumrmwcdmgzox_wma-gateway008_1662872083680 |url-status=live |access-date=September 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923220626/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//tjegprzrusyfxvmfgqhiumrmwcdmgzox_wma-gateway008_1662872083680 |archive-date=September 23, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank}}</ref> and [[United Artists]] signed on [[WUAB]]<ref name="AkronB19680913p 43">{{Cite news |last=Shippy |first=Dick |date=September 13, 1968 |title=WUAB (43) Joins The TV Family |page=D3 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110317467/wuab-43-joins-the-tv-family/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927223333/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110317467/wuab-43-joins-the-tv-family/ |archive-date=September 27, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> within months of their respective permits being granted. Moreover, both stations were well-financed with existing program inventories whereas Community Telecasters was a local group with limited funds.<ref name="CPD19690723a">{{cite news |last=Burkhardt |first=Karl R. |date=July 23, 1969 |title=Channel 19 Is Having Problems Getting on Air |page=19A |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//emvjrqnjkitouirtvqvooprupsjclbbj_wma-gateway008_1664310973134 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027023444/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//emvjrqnjkitouirtvqvooprupsjclbbj_wma-gateway008_1664310973134 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Joseph T. Zingale.jpg|thumb|upright=0.62|Joseph T. Zingale|alt=refer to caption]]
Joseph T. Zingale, a former partner in Westchester Corp.,{{r|CPD19771122p4C}} offered to purchase the channel&nbsp;19 permit on August 23, 1972, for $300,000 (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|300000|1972}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}).<ref name="CPD19720824p11D">{{cite news |last=Hart |first=Raymond P. |date=August 24, 1972 |title=Sale of Permit Brings Hope of Channel 19 on Air in '73 |page=11D |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//wdybgdcprgoopsqbokxiyzwkkmsgjhoc_wma-gateway016_1666819332170 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=November 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128050248/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//wdybgdcprgoopsqbokxiyzwkkmsgjhoc_wma-gateway016_1666819332170 |url-status=live }}</ref> Zingale was an investor in several syndicates tied to his cousin [[Nick Mileti]], including the [[Cleveland Indians]],<ref name="AkronB19720306p 23">{{Cite news |last=Patterson |first=Jack |date=March 6, 1972 |title=Tribe Sold: Mileti's Purchase For $9 Million Leaves Many Questions |page=B3 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112066567/tribe-sold-miletis-purchase-for-9/ |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026203520/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112066567/tribe-sold-miletis-purchase-for-9/ |url-status=live }}</ref> the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] and [[Cleveland Crusaders]], but Zingale said, "...that doesn't necessarily mean anything."{{r|CPD19720824p11D}} He also held ownership stakes in the [[Richfield Coliseum]]<ref name="AkronB19750906p 19">{{Cite news |last=Lally |first=Charles |date=September 6, 1975 |title=Mileti stake cut: Coliseum stock shifts revealed |page=B1 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112066761/mileti-stake-cut-coliseum-stock-shifts/ |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026203518/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112066761/mileti-stake-cut-coliseum-stock-shifts/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[WTAM|WWWE]]-[[WMJI|WWWM]] parent Ohio Communications, both through Mileti,<ref name="AkronB19771023p 43">{{Cite news |last=Ocker |first=Sheldon |author-link=Sheldon Ocker |date=October 23, 1977 |title=Cavaliers report profit of $96,569 |page=D3 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112066646/cavaliers-report-profit-of-96569/ |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026203520/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112066646/cavaliers-report-profit-of-96569/ |url-status=live }}</ref> held a 2.36&nbsp;percent stake in Westchester's successor, [[Globetrotters Communications|Globetrotter Communications]]<ref name="CPD19731027p15A">{{cite news |last=Hart |first=Raymond P. |date=October 27, 1973 |title=Dialing Around |page=15A |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//nthholupdqevjektovoreemrhdlezyup_wma-gateway011_1666819688333 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027020439/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//nthholupdqevjektovoreemrhdlezyup_wma-gateway011_1666819688333 |url-status=live }}</ref> and owned the [[World TeamTennis]] franchise [[Cleveland Nets]].<ref name="CPD19730726p1F">{{cite news |last=Passan |first=Rich |date=July 26, 1973 |title=Cleveland Bounces Into Team Tennis, Gets 13th Pick in Draft |pages=1F, [https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//oocaqtjkbctgfpmddqzbcfzjajcooyoc_wma-gateway020_1666819556090 3F] |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//ztbghigkezicwnuqigyspizomfeypbaq_wma-gateway012_1666819491131 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027115120/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//ztbghigkezicwnuqigyspizomfeypbaq_wma-gateway012_1666819491131 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="AkronB19770506p 26">{{Cite news |last=Melody |first=Tom |date=May 6, 1977 |title=Nets a good show, but... |page=B6 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112066710/nets-a-good-show-but/ |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026203519/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112066710/nets-a-good-show-but/ |url-status=live }}</ref> United Artists protested the sale, citing these varied ownership interests in multiple professional sports teams, four radio stations and a television station as "a dangerous concentration of power", which Zingale called "a delaying tactic".<ref name="CPD19730118p6E">{{cite news |last=Hart |first=Raymond P. |date=January 18, 1973 |title=Channel 43 Petitions FCC: TV Bid of Mileti's Kin Protested |page=6E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//stirsyccquktavezhyzraxnhvlkezaar_wma-gateway007_1666819607958 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027102110/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//stirsyccquktavezhyzraxnhvlkezaar_wma-gateway007_1666819607958 |url-status=live }}</ref> Retrospectively, Zingale later disclosed he intended on channel&nbsp;19 being "a sports-oriented station".{{r|CPD19780712p4E}} The FCC rejected United Artists' claims and approved the transfer on October 26, 1973, with Zingale planning to launch the station under the WZIN-TV calls{{r|CPD19730726p1F}} "in about a year".{{r|CPD19731027p15A}} Zingale rescinded the purchase in February 1974 due to a price dispute.{{r|CPD19760516pF7}}

United Artists then offered to purchase the existing WCTF-TV permit for $250,000 (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|250000|1975}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}) and concurrently applied to change WUAB's dial position from channel&nbsp;43 to 19, both on January 7, 1975; WUAB manager Jack Moffitt claimed channel&nbsp;19 would allow for upgraded reception in neighboring places like [[Lorain, Ohio]], WUAB's [[city of license]].<ref name="CPD19750108p4D">{{cite news |last=Hart |first=Raymond P. |date=January 8, 1975 |title=WUAB to ask for Channel 19 |pages=4D–[https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//niuipktvuevprhetavazdxekjomgkdzs_wma-gateway015_1666819792554 5D] |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//vptioybehugxozdckkkmnympaoiipuop_wma-gateway010_1666819734334 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027113633/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//vptioybehugxozdckkkmnympaoiipuop_wma-gateway010_1666819734334 |url-status=live }}</ref> By April, United Artists purchased WKBF-TV's non-license assets from Kaiser, which shut down that station after years of mounting financial losses.<ref name="CPD19750409p1A">{{cite news |last=Hart |first=Raymond P. |title=Channel 61 to go off air |pages=1A, [https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//zlonygvdwsuurqambrnrivzdpcuuglvp_wma-gateway013_1662872241580 6A] |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//ayeztagsgmppleuwxkafcgsbxoktuazk_wma-gateway014_1662872204979 |url-status=live |access-date=September 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923220632/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//ayeztagsgmppleuwxkafcgsbxoktuazk_wma-gateway014_1662872204979 |archive-date=September 23, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank}}</ref><ref name="WUABonlyU">{{Cite magazine |date=April 14, 1975 |title=Kaiser to quit Cleveland, leaving UA with only U |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1975/1975-04-14-BC.pdf |url-status=live |magazine=Broadcasting |volume=88 |issue=15 |page=52 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926010710/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1975/1975-04-14-BC.pdf |archive-date=September 26, 2021 |access-date=October 1, 2022 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> Zingale, however, renewed his intentions to secure the permit<ref name="CPD19750306p2E">{{cite news |date=March 6, 1975 |title=Zingale again interested in Channel 19 |pages=2E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//bwotcrdznleeubwxecjxsuloacnteyla_wma-gateway003_1666819850988 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027105122/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//bwotcrdznleeubwxecjxsuloacnteyla_wma-gateway003_1666819850988 |url-status=live }}</ref> and filed a protest against the permit sale.<ref name="CPD19760516pF7">{{cite news |last=Hart |first=Raymond P. |date=May 16, 1976 |title=Fifth TV Station Could Be Successful |page=FIVE-7 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=http://www.avsforum.com/photopost/data/2223201/5/56/56f5674d_CleveTV51676.jpeg |url-status=live |access-date=March 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004222831/https://www.avsforum.com/d1/photopost/data/2223201/5/56/56f5674d_CleveTV51676.jpeg |archive-date=October 4, 2022}}</ref> An FCC review board refused to extend WCTF-TV's permit deadline in April 1976, effectively taking it away.<ref name="CPD19760428p4B">{{cite news |last=Hart |first=Raymond P. |date=April 28, 1976 |title=Channel 19 pattern is holding a while |page=4B |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//tokvyvpddbddrnrxhtlrabwkrxbnzlpc_wma-gateway014_1666819924146 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027090552/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//tokvyvpddbddrnrxhtlrabwkrxbnzlpc_wma-gateway014_1666819924146 |url-status=live }}</ref> Community Telecasters then appealed to the [[United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit|United States Court of Appeals in Washington]],{{r|CPD19771122p4C}} which upheld the decision in May 1978.<ref name="CPD19780511p11E">{{cite news |last=Hart |first=Raymond P. |date=May 11, 1978 |title='To be or not to be' is TV-19's question |pages=11E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//mlckgiitwdgnuufwttpnwhpeahuqsfvt_wma-gateway013_1666820091419 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027095102/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//mlckgiitwdgnuufwttpnwhpeahuqsfvt_wma-gateway013_1666820091419 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== History ==

=== Application and construction ===
{{Quote box
| quote = It became obvious to me that I was not going to be vice president of sales for NBC. So I decided that if I wanted professional advancement, I would have to have my own property.
| author = Hubert B. Payne
| source = former WKYC sales manager and founder of WOIO{{r|CPD19831213p1D}}
| width = 250px
}}
The failure to get the WCTF-TV permit built resulted in another bidding process. Cleveland Television Corp. (CTC) filed the initial bid on November 18, 1977; CTC was led by Augustus L. Harper of the Greater Cleveland Growth Organization, along with Aben E. Johnson Jr. and Clifford Beresh, president and sales manager for [[WMYD|WXON]] in [[Detroit]].<ref>{{cite magazine |date=December 5, 1977 |title=For the Record |id={{ProQuest|1016895204}} |magazine=Broadcasting |volume=93 |issue=23 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1977/BC-1977-12-05.pdf |access-date=July 17, 2018 |page=59 |via=World Radio History |archive-date=September 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920193551/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1977/BC-1977-12-05.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Zingale told the ''Plain Dealer'' four days later, "at the appropriate time, Zingale Broadcasting Co. will file for and aggressively seek Channel 19."{{r|CPD19771122p4C}} WUAB, now owned by [[Ryman Hospitality Properties|Gaylord Broadcasting]], also filed a bid, which if granted would result in their existing channel&nbsp;43 license being returned to the FCC.{{r|CPD19780511p11E}} A third applicant, Channel 19 Inc. was a [[joint venture]] of three broadcast groups: Diamond Broadcasting, led by Hubert B. Payne and William Derrick; [[Malrite Communications]] executives Milton Maltz, Carl Hirsch and John Wilson; and Metroplex Communications, headed by Norman Wain and Robert Weiss.<ref name="CPD19780712p4E">{{cite news |last=Hart |first=Raymond P. |date=July 12, 1978 |title=Is there a Channel 19 in our TV future? |page=4E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//ovoylhvsnjfkdcumcsmrvlqcebpvslsy_wma-gateway010_1666820133718 |access-date=October 27, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027075101/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//ovoylhvsnjfkdcumcsmrvlqcebpvslsy_wma-gateway010_1666820133718 |url-status=live }}</ref> Malrite purchased WHK and WMMS in 1971,<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=December 6, 1971 |id={{ProQuest|1016864352}} |title=Metromedia trims its radio holdings: Malrite of Ohio plans to pay $3.5 million for Cleveland AM-FM |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1971/1971-12-06-BC.pdf |magazine=Broadcasting |volume=81 |issue=23 |page=38 |access-date=October 27, 2022 |via=World Radio History |archive-date=November 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221128050131/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1971/1971-12-06-BC.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Wain and Weiss had previously been partners with Zingale in Westchester Corp., while Hubert B. Payne was the sales manager for WKYC-TV, the first African-American executive for a local network affiliate.<ref name="CPD19831213p1D">{{cite news |last=Hicks |first=Jonathan P. |date=December 13, 1983 |title=New TV station ready for action |pages=1D, [https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//fdsefdjnjaanexesrqdxnoanoozkardh_wma-gateway014_1666820673181 8D] |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//mcmkjvyudaudqdwununbwwqyrjjdirrk_wma-gateway001_1666820754693 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027143650/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//mcmkjvyudaudqdwununbwwqyrjjdirrk_wma-gateway001_1666820754693 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Hubert B. Payne.jpg|thumb|Hubert B. Payne|alt=refer to caption|upright=0.61]]
All three groups submitted their bids prior to the FCC's deadline of July 6, 1978, but Zingale ultimately declined to file a bid. Citing changes to his personal life and changing conditions in the Cleveland market, Zingale said, "I wish my ex-partners (Wain and Weiss) luck—they'll need it."{{r|CPD19780712p4E}} The structure of the bid had Malrite's Maltz, Hirsch and Wilson directly owning [[Preferred stock|preferred]] [[non-voting stock]] and supplying one-third of the capital [[Equity (finance)|equity]]; [[voting interest]] was evenly split between Metroplex and Diamond under an FCC waiver for broadcasters that provided substantial financing for a minority-controlled station.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 14, 1980 |title=NTIA, minorities sit down to talk |id={{ProQuest|962732358}} |volume=98 |page=46 |periodical=Broadcasting |issue=2 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1980/BC%201980%2001%2014.pdf |access-date=July 17, 2018 |via=World Radio History |archive-date=October 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008191744/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1980/BC%201980%2001%2014.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Channel 19 Inc.'s application requested the city of license be assigned to [[Shaker Heights]], a suburb of Cleveland, while Gaylord and CTC requested the station be licensed to Cleveland.{{r|CPD19780712p4E}} An [[administrative law judge]] recommended the permit be given to Channel 19 Inc. over CTC on April 12, 1982.<ref name="CPD19820413p5C">{{cite news |date=April 13, 1982 |title=Group here gets rights to Channel 19 |page=5C |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//vzhhxpgfgyepwxkgugdnlksugkyodxut_wma-gateway006_1666820424274 |access-date=October 27, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028044251/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//vzhhxpgfgyepwxkgugdnlksugkyodxut_wma-gateway006_1666820424274 |url-status=live }}</ref> The FCC's legal review board upheld the judge's decision on October 15, noting Channel 19 Inc. planned to put all common stock owners in management unlike CTC.<ref name="CPD19821016p18A">{{cite news |date=October 16, 1982 |title=Channel 19 wins appeal on permit for new station |page=18A |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//ukgkrpbxulwpmvobgcadlwhijwztcued_wma-gateway004_1666820459035 |access-date=October 27, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028044247/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//ukgkrpbxulwpmvobgcadlwhijwztcued_wma-gateway004_1666820459035 |url-status=live }}</ref> After a further round of appeals by CTC, the FCC unanimously awarded the permit and license to Channel 19 Inc. in May 1983.<ref name="CPD19830524p5C">{{cite news |last=Hickey |first=William |date=May 24, 1983 |title=Channel 19 to go on the air in February, at last |page=5C |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//kztpwbefignzpyoxnyofqxlxlegcfhbv_wma-gateway015_1666820547914 |access-date=October 27, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028042745/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//kztpwbefignzpyoxnyofqxlxlegcfhbv_wma-gateway015_1666820547914 |url-status=live }}</ref> Even as the group still needed to secure a transmitter tower and studios, the station planned to bear the WOIO call sign, standing for "Ohio".<ref name="NewsJo19830610p38">{{Cite news |last=Barrett |first=Bill |date=June 10, 1983 |title=Letters WOIO sought |page=2 |newspaper=News-Journal TV & Cable |location=Mansfield, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111203539/letters-woio-sought/ |access-date=October 28, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028030813/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111203539/letters-woio-sought/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Along with Payne becoming the first Black to own and manage a Cleveland television station, it was also the first television station owned by people who were either lifelong residents of the region or, in Payne's words, "adopted the city as their home".{{r|CPD19830524p5C}}

Despite Payne's initial hope of signing on WOIO by February 1984,{{r|CPD19830524p5C}} construction took longer than expected. The [[Buckeye–Shaker|Shaker Square]] shopping center became the group's choice for a studio facility in what became an $11 million investment (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|11000000|1983}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}) eased by securing $8 million in [[industrial revenue bond]]s from [[Cuyahoga County]]. During the approval process for the bond, commissioners [[Tim Hagan]] and Vincent Campanella raised concerns about the local television market already being crowded, with Campanella citing the challenges [[WCLQ-TV]] (channel&nbsp;61) was now facing.<ref name="CPD19831012p21A">{{cite news |last=Rutti |first=Ronald |date=October 12, 1983 |title=Commissioners hold up Channel 19 bond request |page=21A |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//vrcihftqydqabyeaswbfhaysgdhclydh_wma-gateway016_1666820577524 |access-date=October 27, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028032315/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//vrcihftqydqabyeaswbfhaysgdhclydh_wma-gateway016_1666820577524 |url-status=live }}</ref> (WCLQ-TV signed on March 3, 1981, initially as a hybrid ad-supported [[Independent station|independent]] and local outlet for [[subscription television]] service [[Preview (subscription service)|Preview]],<ref name="Var810304">{{Cite news |last=Markey |first=Sanford |date=March 4, 1981 |title=Cleve Indie TVer Bows With 'Deer Hunter' In STV Lease |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |id={{ProQuest|1438303884}} |via=ProQuest}}</ref> but the failure of Preview in 1983 forced WCLQ-TV to operate as a full-time independent.<ref name="CPD19830512p9F">{{Cite news |date=May 12, 1983 |title=Preview bows out as viewers decline |page=9F |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//sbsqxvwuchmnhstaypfmstgcshfzlkfs_wma-gateway005_1662873590996 |url-status=live |access-date=September 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916032123/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//sbsqxvwuchmnhstaypfmstgcshfzlkfs_wma-gateway005_1662873590996 |archive-date=September 16, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank}}</ref>) Industry executives also cited the recent failure of [[WKBS-TV (Philadelphia)|WKBS-TV]] in [[Philadelphia]] as a warning sign for new independent stations.{{r|CPD19850421p10P}} Including all technical aspects and costs to purchase programming, total start-up costs were projected to run higher than $20 million (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|20000000|1984}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}).{{r|CPD19831213p1D}} Even with estimates that WOIO could lose between $6–8 million in the first year, Payne vowed to turn a profit in a year.{{r|CPD19850421p10P}} After what amounted to 34 years of multiple failed attempts to build a station on channel&nbsp;19, WOIO finally took to the air at 7:55&nbsp;a.m. on May 19, 1985, with an on-air message by Payne and [[Lakewood, Ohio|Lakewood]] native [[Pat McCormick (actor)|Pat McCormick]] serving as an "opening day" [[Continuity (broadcasting)|continuity host]];<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7ZFE94vI74 |title=WOIO Ch. 19 Cleveland - First Day - May, 1985! |date=February 25, 2013 |type=YouTube |publisher=videoholic1980sA (Ray Glasser) |access-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028030814/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7ZFE94vI74 |url-status=live }}</ref> engineers tested the signal hours earlier with an overnight transmission of ''[[Dr. Strangelove]]''.<ref name="CPD19850520p6D">{{cite news |date=May 20, 1985 |title=Channel 19 on the air |page=6D |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//rncfgbvdulxvtrgkynhgjptvaowfkwjb_wma-gateway014_1666820905646 |access-date=October 27, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028033821/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//rncfgbvdulxvtrgkynhgjptvaowfkwjb_wma-gateway014_1666820905646 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Signing on as an independent ===
{{Quote box
| quote = People say to us, 'Who wants all those old shows?' The answer is: everyone. We're giving them memories. Warm memories.
| author = Dennis Thatcher
| source = WOIO general manager, on the station's programming philosophy{{r|CPD19850421p10P}}
| width = 275px
}}
WOIO signed on as the third independent in the Cleveland market, behind WUAB and WCLQ-TV.<ref name="CPD19840505p5C">{{Cite news |last=Frolik |first=Joe |date=May 5, 1984 |title=TV time finally drawing closer for delayed WOIO |page=5C |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//syitfbzheyfesbumgpyoqxmfearmmudc_wma-gateway004_1662873912310 |url-status=live |access-date=September 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916033731/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//syitfbzheyfesbumgpyoqxmfearmmudc_wma-gateway004_1662873912310 |archive-date=September 16, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank}}</ref> In order to distinguish themselves from both stations, WOIO opted to purchase reruns to longer-established series like ''[[I Love Lucy]]'', ''[[Happy Days]]'', ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]'' and ''[[Little House on the Prairie (TV series)|Little House on the Prairie]]'' instead of more recent off-network fare<ref name="AkronB19850705p 14">{{Cite news |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=July 5, 1985 |title=How Ch. 19, the new kid on the block, started so fast |page=B6 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111885576/how-ch-19-the-new-kid-on-the-block/ |access-date=October 24, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024203124/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111885576/how-ch-19-the-new-kid-on-the-block/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and have the lineup consist ''solely'' of reruns and movies, a choice aided by the FCC no longer requiring a minimum of locally produced programming.{{r|CPD19850421p10P}} By contrast, WCLQ-TV purchased reruns to multiple recent programs in expensive contracts,<ref name="AkronB19860821p 4022">{{Cite news |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=August 21, 1986 |title=24-hour shop-at-home cable service buys Channel 61 |page=C10 |work=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109483651/24-hour-shop-at-home-cable-service-buys/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916005053/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109483651/24-hour-shop-at-home-cable-service-buys/ |archive-date=September 16, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> including ''[[Dallas (TV series)|Dallas]]'' (which was removed from the schedule after several months)<ref name="AkronB19850526p 109">{{Cite news |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=May 26, 1985 |title=Dear Mark: Widower 'Andy Taylor' remarried |page=26 |work=Akron Beacon Journal Channels |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109633724/dear-mark-widower-andy-taylor/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919050325/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109633724/dear-mark-widower-andy-taylor/ |archive-date=September 19, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> while WUAB purchased rights to ''[[Webster (TV series)|Webster]]'', which it dropped after several years but continued to pay for through 1990.<ref name="CPD19901223a">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=December 23, 1990 |title=Channel 43 set to mount a charge |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F173D9D4C68474B68 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006020655/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/173D9D4C68474B68&f=basic |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> WOIO also boasted a technical advancement: it signed on as the first full-time [[stereo]] television station in Cleveland, with Malrite's [[Cincinnati]] station [[WXIX-TV]] converting to all-stereo several weeks later.<ref name="LimaNe19850810p19">{{Cite news |last=Melvin |first=Chuck |date=August 10, 1985 |title=Two voices better than one, proponents of stereo TV say |page=B9 |newspaper=The Lima News |agency=Associated Press |location=Lima, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111339192/two-voices-better-than-one-proponents/ |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026203518/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111339192/two-voices-better-than-one-proponents/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The station's on-air appearance and script "nineteen" logo were created by Television By Design,<ref name="CallPost19860123p10">{{Cite news |last=Ferrell |first=Jo Ann |date=January 23, 1986 |title=Television is an inexact science |page=10 |work=The Call and Post |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://newspaperarchive.com/entertainment-clipping-jan-23-1986-3536199/ |access-date=October 29, 2022 |via=NewspaperArchive |archive-date=October 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221030025324/https://newspaperarchive.com/entertainment-clipping-jan-23-1986-3536199/ |url-status=live }}</ref> an Atlanta–based graphics agency who did similar work for [[Superstation WTBS]].<ref name="CPD19850421p10P">{{cite news |last=Riccardi |first=Maria |date=April 21, 1985 |title=Channel 19 near starting gate |page=10P |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//tgbjwqzmevgzutskghptqqjgnzxtghgv_wma-gateway017_1666820848888 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank |archive-date=October 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027053535/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//tgbjwqzmevgzutskghptqqjgnzxtghgv_wma-gateway017_1666820848888 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCSC2nGIbSk |title=john christopher burns 1990 demo |date=January 4, 2009 |type=YouTube |publisher=jcbD {{!}} john christopher burns design |time=1:05 |access-date=October 26, 2022 |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110034139/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCSC2nGIbSk |url-status=live }}</ref> Promos and [[station identification]]s were handled by a rotation of announcers including WMMS's Jeff Kinzbach and [[WMJI]]'s John Webster.<ref name="Olszewski2003">{{Cite book |last=Olszewski |first=Mike |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jlozhlCZFGIC |title=Radio Daze: Stories from the Front in Cleveland's FM Air Wars |publisher=Kent State University Press |year=2003 |isbn=9780873387736 |location=Kent, Ohio |pages=301, 330, 373 |access-date=August 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161209111044/https://books.google.com/books?id=jlozhlCZFGIC |archive-date=December 9, 2016 |url-status=live |via=Google Books}}</ref>
[[File:Shaker_and_Van_Aken_(2).jpg|thumb|upright=1.36|This curved storefront at the [[Shaker Square]] shopping center in [[Shaker Heights]] served as WOIO's first studio home.]]
The May 1985 [[Nielsen ratings|sweeps period]] saw WOIO immediately making an impact in the market with 6&nbsp;percent of total viewers, compared to 5&nbsp;percent for WCLQ-TV and 9&nbsp;percent for market leader WUAB.<ref name="CPD19850710p11D">{{Cite news |date=July 10, 1985 |title=Angley's TV station will join the crowd |page=11D |work=The Plain Dealer |agency=Associated Press |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//wagosribwrdtuyjvntbysiuzoywdimbe_wma-gateway018_1662875136098 |url-status=live |access-date=September 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916022111/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//wagosribwrdtuyjvntbysiuzoywdimbe_wma-gateway018_1662875136098 |archive-date=September 16, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank}}</ref> This performance was even more shocking as WOIO signed on with only 10 days remaining in the sweeps period,{{r|AkronB19850705p 14}} and despite heavy investment into promotions by WCLQ-TV that even included using [[Ernest P. Worrell]] ([[Jim Varney]]) in promotional spots and [[billboard]]s.<ref name="CPD19840901p3E">{{Cite news |last=Riccardi |first=Maria |date=September 1, 1984 |title=UHF duel to be fought with powerful promos |page=3E |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//ubyjpmzshqqeqzgugexaybouadoiziik_wma-gateway002_1662874095621 |url-status=live |access-date=September 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916052134/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//ubyjpmzshqqeqzgugexaybouadoiziik_wma-gateway002_1662874095621 |archive-date=September 16, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank}}</ref> ''[[Akron Beacon Journal]]'' critic Mark Dawidziak lauded WOIO for having a "clean and sharp" on-air look that suggested care, consideration and significant investment.{{r|AkronB19850705p 14}} [[WBNX-TV]], owned by the ministry of [[televangelist]] [[Ernest Angley]], came online on December 1, 1985, but positioned itself on family-oriented and religious fare, along with less-expensive older reruns and movies.{{r|CPD19850710p11D}} WOIO's ratings performance continued into the fall of 1985 and spring of 1986, frequently matching or besting WCLQ-TV.{{r|AkronB19860129p 59}}

The additional competition had a negative overall effect on ratings and revenue. Despite WOIO's initial ratings success, the station was forced to charge for commercials at rates comparable to basic cable,<ref name="PQ198565972">{{Cite magazine |last=Datzman |first=Cynthia |date=September 1, 1986 |title=WCLQ's Loss May Spell Gain for Its Independent Competitors |magazine=Crain's Cleveland Business |location=Cleveland, Ohio |volume=7 |issue=35 |page=3 |id={{ProQuest|198565972}} |via=ProQuest}}</ref> while the costs for purchasing programming were concurrently driven up for all four stations substantially.<ref name="AkronB19870222p 25">{{Cite news |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=February 22, 1987 |title=TV's 'indy boom' sputters with a short circuit |pages=C1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109484726/tvs-indy-boom-hits-short-circuit/ C2] |work=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109484482/tvs-indy-boom-sputters-with-a-short/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916005043/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109484482/tvs-indy-boom-sputters-with-a-short/ |archive-date=September 16, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> WOIO's late entry had also forced them to pay double or triple what WUAB and WCLQ-TV paid for comparable programs.{{r|CPD19850421p10P}} Driven into a financial crunch, Malrite offered to acquire WOIO outright in June 1986—in effect, purchasing the 51&nbsp;percent controlling stock held by Diamond and Metroplex{{r|ShakerHghtsOK}}—as a [[Financial capital|capital]] infusion.<ref name="CPD19860722p6C">{{Cite news |last=Chatman |first=Angela D. |date=July 22, 1986 |title=WCLQ owners ask FCC to deny Malrite bid |page=6C |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//jdusdgbaanqepcxdbmelecztxgkypuee_wma-gateway011_1662874407412 |url-status=live |access-date=September 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916042121/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//jdusdgbaanqepcxdbmelecztxgkypuee_wma-gateway011_1662874407412 |archive-date=September 16, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank}}</ref> The deal was legally permissible as the FCC allowed such transactions if it involved a UHF television station in need of financial assistance.<ref name="CPD19860822p15B">{{Cite news |last=Chatman |first=Angela D. |date=August 22, 1986 |title=WCLQ stops fighting Channel 19 sale |page=15B |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//votylnntdkjhidemxexpbbuthyzsbdvo_wma-gateway011_1662874437407 |url-status=live |access-date=September 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919050327/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//votylnntdkjhidemxexpbbuthyzsbdvo_wma-gateway011_1662874437407 |archive-date=September 19, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank}}</ref> Malrite's takeover of WOIO was approved in late November 1986.<ref name="ShakerHghtsOK">{{cite magazine |date=December 1, 1986 |title=BottomLine: Shaker Heights OK |id={{ProQuest|1014740346}} |volume=111 |page=106 |magazine=Broadcasting |issue=12 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1986/BC-1986-12-01.pdf |access-date=July 17, 2018 |via=World Radio History |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308031620/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1986/BC-1986-12-01.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> WCLQ-TV's ownership, itself badly overextended and continuing to lose money with limited chance for profitability, put the station up for sale in January 1986,<ref name="CPD19860123p11D">{{Cite news |last=Riccardi |first=Maria |date=January 23, 1986 |title=Future dim, Channel 61 sale looms |page=11D |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//xohhlwuvevgergqpvvcdvskqyjibvhhj_wma-gateway012_1662874309492 |url-status=live |access-date=September 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916010555/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//xohhlwuvevgergqpvvcdvskqyjibvhhj_wma-gateway012_1662874309492 |archive-date=September 16, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank}}</ref> with [[HSN]] parent company [[Silver King Broadcasting]] purchasing it in August.<ref name="CPD19860821p1A">{{Cite news |last=Frolik |first=Joe |date=August 21, 1986 |title=Channel 61 sold to at-home shopping network |pages=1A, [https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//axrsdvlnskxqwnjktfifcbsamalmfkko_wma-gateway003_1662874583278 14A] |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//xgyugbzsfijndptuxzcrkafjytuundzm_wma-gateway014_1662874460894 |url-status=live |access-date=September 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919050327/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//xgyugbzsfijndptuxzcrkafjytuundzm_wma-gateway014_1662874460894 |archive-date=September 19, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank}}</ref> A series of lawsuits filed by television production companies<ref name="PQ198562525">{{Cite magazine |last=Datzman |first=Cynthia |date=October 20, 1986 |title=2 Syndicators Shopping to Quash Sale of WCLQ |magazine=Crain's Cleveland Business |location=Cleveland, Ohio |volume=7 |issue=42 |page=1 |id={{ProQuest|198562525}} |via=ProQuest}}</ref><ref name="CPD19861025p6B">{{Cite news |last=Chatman |first=Angela D. |date=October 25, 1986 |title=Creditors force TV 61 bankruptcy |page=6B |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//ihfwhzmktdjzluumnukjoadspxdjvmno_wma-gateway008_1662874654347 |url-status=live |access-date=September 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220919050328/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//ihfwhzmktdjzluumnukjoadspxdjvmno_wma-gateway008_1662874654347 |archive-date=September 19, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank}}</ref> drove the outgoing ownership into bankruptcy by years end{{r|NewsJo19861120p30}} with the HSN sale being approved by a bankruptcy court.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 7, 1987 |title=Bankruptcy Court Approves Sale Of Cleveland Outlet To HSN Unit |page=59 |work=Variety |id={{ProQuest|1286150984}} |via=ProQuest}}</ref> While WCLQ-TV's ownership publicly objected to Malrite's purchase of WOIO,{{r|CPD19860722p6C}} a legal challenge filed against it was rendered [[Mootness|moot]] due to the Silver King sale.{{r|CPD19860822p15B}} Payne continued to be a major stockholder in both WOIO and Malrite until divesting his shares in 1989.<ref name="CPD19900725a">{{cite news |last=Henderson |first=Karen |date=July 25, 1990 |title=6 indicted in scheme to launder money |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F173EA957692B0830 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 27, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110034117/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/173EA957692B0830&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="CPD19900804a">{{cite news |last=Henderson |first=Karen |date=August 4, 1990 |title=Money laundering denied |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F173D9D6B8146D7E0 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 27, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110034117/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/173D9D6B8146D7E0&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Affiliating with Fox ===
WOIO became a charter affiliate of the [[Fox Broadcasting Company]] upon the network's October 9, 1986, launch. While the network was originally limited solely to ''[[The Late Show (1986 talk show)|The Late Show]]'', both Payne and station manager Dennis Thatcher saw the risk (giving up nearly two-thirds of commercial time during the 11&nbsp;p.m. hour and three-fourths of commercial time on weekends) as worth taking; Thatcher commented, "you give up a lot to get their programming, but we feel like pioneers... it's a long-haul proposition."<ref name="CPD19860607p5C">{{Cite news |last=Frolik |first=Joe |date=June 7, 1986 |title=Channel 19's manager backs takeover |page=5C |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//kihwmuihzkdkxvirsqxigtsxdatarbrw_wma-gateway002_1662874350916 |url-status=live |access-date=September 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916033631/https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//kihwmuihzkdkxvirsqxigtsxdatarbrw_wma-gateway002_1662874350916 |archive-date=September 16, 2022 |via=GenealogyBank}}</ref> Fox had previously been mentioned as a potential buyer for WCLQ-TV,<ref name="AkronB19860129p 59">{{Cite news |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=January 29, 1986 |title=Ch. 61's potential purchaser lining up a 4th network? |page=B10 |work=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109479777/ch-61s-potential-purchaser-lining-up/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916005057/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109479777/ch-61s-potential-purchaser-lining-up/ |archive-date=September 16, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> while WUAB owner Gaylord Broadcasting declined to affiliate any of their stations with Fox.{{r|CPD19860607p5C}} WCLQ-TV's demise allowed WOIO to pick up the broadcast rights to [[Cleveland State Vikings]] college basketball in late 1986.<ref name="NewsJo19861120p30">{{Cite news |last=Glasier |first=David S. |date=November 20, 1986 |title=License transfer due: Channel 61 revamp begins taking shape |page=2D |work=News-Journal |location=Mansfield, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109484082/license-transfer-due-channel-61-revamp/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916005043/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109484082/license-transfer-due-channel-61-revamp/ |archive-date=September 16, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> WOIO carried [[Cleveland Force (1978–1988)|Cleveland Force]] [[Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992)|MISL]] indoor soccer from 1986 until the team folded in 1988.<ref name="AkronB19870920p 65">{{Cite news |last=Shippy |first=Dick |date=September 20, 1987 |title=American soccer takes another step |page=E15 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83484895/american-soccer-takes-another-step/ |access-date=October 25, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=August 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815152038/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83484895/american-soccer-takes-another-step/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="AkronB19880529p 58">{{Cite news |last=Shippy |first=Dick |date=May 29, 1988 |title=Several Force players could double their glory |page=E10 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111959567/several-force-players-could-double/ |access-date=October 25, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025031849/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111959567/several-force-players-could-double/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1988, WOIO added Cleveland Cavaliers telecasts, taking over for WUAB.{{r|AkronB19881001p 2}} The [[Cleveland Browns]]-produced weekly show ''Browns Insider''{{r|AkronB19891108p 42}} and Browns NFL preseason games followed in 1989 and 1990, respectively.{{r|AkronB19900510p 80}}[[file:WOIO original logo.png|thumb|WOIO's original logo, used from 1985 until 1995.]]Due to Fox's five-year strategy of primetime expansion from 1989 to 1994, WOIO ''de facto'' operated as a quasi-independent, programming movies and first-run syndicated shows on nights Fox did not program,<ref name="AkronB19930912p 221">{{Cite news |last=Dyer |first=Bob |date=September 12, 1993 |title=Plenty of new syndicated shows joining old favorites this season |pages=47–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102829556/plenty-of-new-syndicated-shows-joining-o/ 48] |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal Channels |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102829534/plenty-of-new-syndicated-shows-joining/ |access-date=October 25, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025031846/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102829534/plenty-of-new-syndicated-shows-joining/ |url-status=live }}</ref> leading the ''Beacon Journal''{{'s}} Bob Dyer to call the station "an odd bird".{{r|AkronB19920216p 33}} The station set up a fan club in 1988 for their children's programming, which was folded into the [[Fox Children's Network]] upon its 1990 launch.<ref name="CPD19900213a">{{cite news |last=Freeh |first=John |date=February 13, 1990 |title=Television stations woo kids for their loyalty, buying power |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F173D9D2372831378 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006020655/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/173D9D2372831378&f=basic |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> Fox Children's supplanted much of WOIO's syndicated kids fare, programming in the early morning, afternoons and on Saturday mornings.<ref name="AkronB19910901p 149">{{Cite news |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=September 1, 1991 |title=It's time for cartoon wars |page=3 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal Channels |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111957911/its-time-for-cartoon-wars/ |access-date=October 25, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025031848/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111957911/its-time-for-cartoon-wars/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="AkronB19930414p 47">{{Cite news |date=April 14, 1993 |title=Fox Children's Network adding five series |page=D17 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111957698/fox-childrens-network-adding-five/ |access-date=October 25, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025031847/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111957698/fox-childrens-network-adding-five/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Still, the station was perceived as being little more than a "video jukebox" run out of Shaker Square. While admitting that was the case, Thatcher defended WOIO's success in establishing a strong identity and personality that targeted viewers under the age of 35.{{r|AkronB19920216p 33}} The station did feature some locally produced [[Public affairs (broadcasting)|public affairs]] programming, including a weekly talk show hosted by area attorney [[Larry Elder]].<ref name="CPD20001002p5D">{{Cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=October 2, 2000 |title=Larry Elder's new show puts morality on trial |page=5D |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F80DBEB0E13CA4F |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=November 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203042541/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F80DBEB0E13CA4F&f=basic |archive-date=February 3, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> Along with WMMS talent began presenting day-long marathons of shows on WOIO, evening host Ric "Rocco" Bennett hosted ''Buzzard B-Movies'' on Saturday afternoons.{{r|Olszewski2003}}

Fox's success on Thursday nights—led largely by ''[[The Simpsons]]''—enabled WOIO to post its highest ratings to date on October 15, 1992, beating WUAB and WKYC outright, and besting WJW-TV and WEWS-TV in several timeslots. WOIO also began matching WUAB in the [[Prime Time Access Rule|prime-time "local access"]] 7&nbsp;p.m. hour, a time period WUAB traditionally thrived in.<ref name="AkronB19921018p 38">{{Cite news |last=Dyer |first=Bob |date=October 18, 1992 |title=Local TV news teams go far and away for special reports |page=D2 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45078097/local-tv-news-teams-go-far-and-away-for/ |access-date=October 25, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=August 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210817175901/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45078097/local-tv-news-teams-go-far-and-away-for/ |url-status=live }}</ref> WOIO signed a five-year affiliation contract with Fox in October 1993, leading WUAB to align with the United Paramount Network ([[UPN]])<ref name="AkronB19931031p 52">{{Cite news |last=Dyer |first=Bob |date=October 31, 1993 |title=Judd Hambrick's hair comes to a head |page=E2 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111956452/judd-hambricks-hair-comes-to-a-head/ |access-date=October 25, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025031847/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111956452/judd-hambricks-hair-comes-to-a-head/ |url-status=live }}</ref> nearly a year in advance of their 1995 launch.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Flint |first=Joe |date=November 15, 1993 |title=WB backs off after Paramount successes |id={{ProQuest|225338913}} |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1993/BC-1993-11-15.pdf |url-status=live |magazine=Broadcasting & Cable |volume=123 |issue=46 |page=10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308032912/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1993/BC-1993-11-15.pdf |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |access-date=July 14, 2018 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> Fox's successful $1.5&nbsp;billion bid for [[National Football Conference|NFC]] broadcast rights in December 1993 (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|1500000000|1993}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}})<ref name="AkronB19931219p 41">{{Cite news |date=December 19, 1993 |title=After losing NFC rights, CBS scrambling for AFC |page=D3 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111956606/after-losing-nfc-rights-cbs-scrambling/ |access-date=October 25, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025031853/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111956606/after-losing-nfc-rights-cbs-scrambling/ |url-status=live }}</ref> prompted WOIO to consider establishing a news department in the spring of 1994.{{r|CPD19940304p4E}} Even with WUAB's established success having 10&nbsp;p.m. news, one unnamed news director remarked, "they don't have to get ratings, they just have to exist."{{r|AkronB19920216p 33}}

[[Standard & Poor's]] put $115&nbsp;million of [[junk bonds]] held by Malrite for downgrading in 1992, leaving the company unable to service their growing debt.<ref name="CPD19920122p1H">{{cite news |last=Yerak |first=Rebecca |date=January 22, 1992 |title=Malrite group modifying bank agreements |page=1H |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F8038461B2F3D03 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905183239/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F8038461B2F3D03&f=basic |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> As a result, Malrite divested their entire radio station unit to [[Roy E. Disney]]'s [[Shamrock Broadcasting]] for $300&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|300000000|1993}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}) in March 1993.<ref name="CPD19930506p12E">{{cite news |last=Santiago |first=Roberto |date=March 4, 1993 |title=WMJI's Gorman reveals magic ratings formula |page=12E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F80735D833BF98B |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905183240/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F80735D833BF98B&f=basic |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> Before that deal was arranged, Maltz and Malrite banker [[Lehman Brothers|Shearson Lehman Brothers]] invited other broadcast groups to a possible purchase of WOIO; in August 1992, [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]] was rumored to acquire the station for approximately $30&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|30000000|1992}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}).<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=August 10, 1992 |title=In Brief |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1992/BC-1992-08-10.pdf |id={{ProQuest|1285748613}} |magazine=Broadcasting |volume=122 |issue=33 |page=64 |access-date=October 31, 2022 |via=World Radio History |archive-date=November 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108151457/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1992/BC-1992-08-10.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> WHK and WMMS were subsequently spun off by Shamrock to now-former Malrite executive Carl Hirsch's OmniAmerica group.<ref name="CPD19931104p20D">{{cite news |last=Santiago |first=Roberto |date=November 4, 1993 |title=WMJI owner cracks world of duopoly radio ownership |page=20D |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F807877A3CF7C4A |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220905183240/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F807877A3CF7C4A&f=basic |archive-date=September 5, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

=== Linking up with CBS ===
{{Main|1994–1996 United States broadcast television realignment}}
[[File:Woiostudios.jpg|thumb|upright=1.38|right|WOIO and WUAB's studio facility at [[Reserve Square]] in Downtown Cleveland, in use since 1995.]]
On May 23, 1994, [[WJW-TV]] owner [[New World Communications]] signed a group-wide affiliation contract with Fox; calling for stations either owned by New World—or in the process of being acquired by the chain—to switch affiliations to Fox after their existing contracts ended.<ref name="nytbusinessdigest2">{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Bill |date=May 24, 1994 |title=FOX WILL SIGN UP 12 NEW STATIONS; TAKES 8 FROM CBS |newspaper=The New York Times |location=New York City |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/24/us/fox-will-sign-up-12-new-stations-takes-8-from-cbs.html?pagewanted=4 |url-status=live |access-date=October 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625021414/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/24/us/fox-will-sign-up-12-new-stations-takes-8-from-cbs.html?pagewanted=4 |archive-date=June 25, 2017}}</ref> The news caught CBS president of affiliation relations Tony Malara off guard as such an arrangement was without precedent.{{r|CPD19940923p7E}} Moreover, WJW-TV had been aligned with CBS for 40 years.<ref name="CPD19940902p1A">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=September 2, 1994 |title=Touch that dial! TV turnabout begins tomorrow on Channels 8, 19, 43 |page=1A |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F3413A60C43494E |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 21, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110034117/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F3413A60C43494E&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> WOIO not only had their affiliation with Fox recently extended through 1998,{{r|AkronB19931031p 52}} their interest in local news was heightened after Malrite encountered success launching a newscast on WXIX-TV, and had the support of Fox president [[Lucie Salhany]]. Due to the aftereffects of the [[Early 1990s recession in the United States|early 1990s recession]], Fox lessened the priority level for their affiliates to have free-standing news services.{{r|CPD19940304p4E}}

CBS initially courted [[Scripps-Howard]], owner of WEWS-TV and [[WXYZ-TV]] in Detroit (another market impacted by the deal)<ref>{{cite magazine |last=McClellan |first=Steve |date=June 6, 1994 |title=Counterstrike: CBS targets Scripps |id={{ProQuest|225338688}} |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1994/BC-1994-06-06.pdf |url-status=live |magazine=Broadcasting & Cable |volume=124 |issue=23 |pages=6, 8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108151238/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1994/BC-1994-06-06.pdf |archive-date=November 8, 2021 |access-date=October 5, 2022 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> but Scripps-Howard signed an extensive contract of their own between ABC and the majority of their stations.<ref name="nyt-abcpreemptscbs">{{cite magazine |last=Foisie |first=Geoffrey |date=June 20, 1994 |title=TV affiliations in play: NBC may be a bidder for WSMV(TV) Nashville |id={{ProQuest|1505567044}} |volume=124 |page=7 |magazine=Broadcasting & Cable |issue=24 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1994/BC-1994-06-13.pdf |access-date=February 13, 2013 |via=World Radio History |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308040231/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1994/BC-1994-06-13.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The network next approached WUAB, but details emerged of a possible [[local marketing agreement]] (LMA) between WOIO and WUAB, with Malrite assuming operational control of WUAB from owner [[Stephen J. Cannell|Cannell Communications]]; talks between the two owners had been underway for several months.<ref name="CPD19940624p1B">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=June 24, 1994 |title=Channels 19 and 43 seek joint operation |page=1B |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F807D20050FD8C9 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 5, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

In what industry observers regarded as a surprise, CBS signed up WOIO as their replacement for WJW-TV, with network executives impressed by Malrite president Milton Maltz's presentation and WOIO's prior loyalty towards Fox.<ref name="CPD19940630p1A2">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=June 30, 1994 |title=Channel 19 likely to be CBS choice |page=1A |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F807D27A9E464EE |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006020656/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F807D27A9E464EE&f=basic |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> WOIO also committed to carrying ''[[Late Show with David Letterman]]'' live at 11:30&nbsp;p.m.—a factor Malara considered "a very big deal", as WJW-TV delayed it until midnight after the New World-produced ''[[Valley of the Dolls (TV series)|Valley of the Dolls]]''.<ref name="CPD19940708p1A">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=July 8, 1994 |title=CBS plans to join Channel 19 by Aug. 29 |page=1A |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F807D316A1C8DD3 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006020656/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F807D316A1C8DD3&f=basic |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> The deal came with risks: WOIO had cultivated a strong, youth-oriented identity that needed to be reconciled with CBS's older-skewing programming, while CBS News president [[Eric Ober]] noted WOIO's absence of local news resulted in a temporary "news deficit".{{r|CPD19940721p5F}} As part of the affiliation agreement, CBS agreed to provide cash compensation to WOIO for carrying its programming<ref name="CPD19940711p7E">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=July 11, 1994 |title=TV shakeout no simple swap |page=7E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F807D356B27E8B3 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 23, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110034117/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F807D356B27E8B3&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> and contributed 50% to a $1&nbsp;million marketing campaign.{{r|CPD19940923p7E}}

Malrite's LMA with WUAB took effect on effect on August 18, 1994, {{Age in years and days|1994|08|18|1994|09|03}} before WOIO's affiliation switch to CBS.<ref name="CPD19940820p1E">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=August 20, 1994 |title=WOIO fires 8 at TV-43 in takeover |page=1E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F807D774E46BD4F |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006020657/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F807D774E46BD4F&f=basic |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> Operations for both stations were consolidated at [[Reserve Square]] in [[Downtown Cleveland]], a process finalized by February 1995, when WOIO's local newscasts launched.{{r|CPD19950205p1J}} WOIO joined CBS on September 3, 1994,{{r|CPD19940902p1A}} with a significant amount of WOIO's syndicated programming moved to WUAB,{{r|CPD19940820p1E}} while WBNX-TV secured the Fox Children's affiliation after WJW-TV declined to pick it up.<ref name="CPD19940902p6E">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=September 2, 1994 |title=Channel 55 to air Fox children's shows |page=6E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F3413A60A260572 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 21, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110034118/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F3413A60A260572&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Raycom ownership ===
{{Multiple image
| direction         = vertical
| image1            = WOIO Hometeam.png
| image2            = WOIO logo.png
| align             = right
| width             = 135
| caption2          = WOIO primary "CBS 19" logo, 2002–2015.
| caption1          = "Hometeam 19" logo, 1999–2001.
| alt1              = At top, "HOMETEAM" in bold serif lettering with a yellow bar separating a blue box underneath with white "19" text inside.
| alt2              = At top, "CLEVELAND'S" in bold serif; to the left, the CBS eye logo in black; to the right, a red square with a white "19" in a sans serif.
}}
[[Montgomery, Alabama]]–based [[Raycom Media]] purchased Malrite Communications on April 6, 1998, for an undisclosed price; the deal also included the LMA with WUAB.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Brown |first=Sara |date=April 8, 1998 |title=Raycom adds stations from Malrite |id={{ProQuest|225364704}} |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1998/BC-1998-04-08.pdf |url-status=live |magazine=Broadcasting & Cable |volume=128 |issue=15 |page=44 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308024257/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1998/BC-1998-04-08.pdf |archive-date=March 8, 2021 |access-date=July 17, 2018 |via=World Radio History}}</ref> The sale was finalized six months later on September 17.<ref>{{cite news |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |date=April 7, 1998 |title=Raycom inks Malrite deal |website=Variety |url=https://variety.com/1998/biz/news/raycom-inks-malrite-deal-1117469531/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004185408/https://variety.com/1998/biz/news/raycom-inks-malrite-deal-1117469531/ |archive-date=October 4, 2022}}</ref> Under Raycom ownership, WOIO and WUAB began identifying as "Hometeam 19" and "Hometeam 43" for both newscasts and entertainment programming.<ref name="CPD20000321p1E">{{cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Clint |date=March 21, 2000 |title=Lights, Camera, Attitude: Jack Marschall delivers the news with guy-next-door affability |page=1E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F80DB19C2A18D1F |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 6, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> Raycom acquired WUAB outright on March 11, 2000, after the FCC relaxed rules allowing [[Duopoly (broadcasting)|common ownership]] of two commercially licensed television stations in the same market.<ref name="CPD20000311p6E">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=March 11, 2000 |title=Raycom finalizes WUAB purchase |page=6E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F80DB0FA50709E4 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007041337/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F80DB0FA50709E4&f=basic |archive-date=October 7, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

In January 2001, Raycom hired controversial broadcast executive Bill Applegate as [[general manager]] for WOIO and WUAB, transferring from [[WMC-TV]], Raycom's [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] station.{{r|CleSceneAppleg2001}} By 2002, WOIO and WUAB dropped the "Hometeam" branding, with the former becoming "Cleveland's CBS 19" while WUAB became "43 The Block";<ref name="CPD20020227pE5">{{cite news |last=Lubinger |first=Bill |date=February 27, 2002 |title=Four new faces hit airwaves on Channel 43 |page=E5 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F12FC88A91471D360 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007041338/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/12FC88A91471D360&f=basic |archive-date=October 7, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> newscasts seen on both stations were relaunched and reformatted as ''19 Action News''.<ref name="AkronB20140212p B001">{{Cite news |last=Heldenfels |first=Rich |date=February 12, 2014 |title=TV anchor Swoboda announces WKYC exit |pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111882860/tv-anchor-swoboda-announces-wkyc-exit/ B3] |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111882686/tv-anchor-swoboda-announces-wkyc-exit/ |access-date=October 24, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024005148/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111882686/tv-anchor-swoboda-announces-wkyc-exit/ |url-status=live }}</ref> WUAB remained a UPN affiliate until the network's 2006 closure, signing up with [[MyNetworkTV]] shortly thereafter.<ref>{{cite news |last=Romano |first=Allison |date=March 10, 2006 |title=The Distribution Derby |periodical=Broadcasting & Cable |url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/distribution-derby-79200 |url-status=live |access-date=July 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004185409/https://www.nexttv.com/news/distribution-derby-79200 |archive-date=October 4, 2022}}</ref> After Applegate's 2014 retirement, WOIO was renamed "Cleveland 19" on August 24, 2015, as part of a large-scale revamp at both stations and their news operation. WUAB similarly rebranded as "CLE 43".<ref name="CPD20150819a">{{cite news |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=August 19, 2015 |title=Channel 19 dropping Action News format, taking its news operation in a new direction |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=http://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/index.ssf/2015/08/channel_19_taking_its_news_operation_in_a_new_direction.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004185409/https://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/2015/08/channel_19_taking_its_news_operation_in_a_new_direction.html |archive-date=October 4, 2022}}</ref>

=== Sale to Gray Television ===
On June 25, 2018, Raycom agreed to merge their station group, including WOIO and WUAB, with [[Atlanta]]–based [[Gray Television]] in a cash-and-stock merger transaction valued at $3.6&nbsp;billion (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|3600000000|2018}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}).<ref>{{unbulleted list citebundle|{{cite news |date=June 25, 2018 |title=Gray Television to buy Raycom Media, the owner of Cleveland's WOIO-TV, in $3.65 billion deal |agency=Bloomberg News |url=http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20180625/news01/166306/gray-television-buy-raycom-media-owner-clevelands-woio-tv-365-billion |access-date=July 16, 2018 |work=Crain's Cleveland Business |location=Cleveland, Ohio |archive-date=July 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716194605/http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20180625/news01/166306/gray-television-buy-raycom-media-owner-clevelands-woio-tv-365-billion |url-status=live }}|{{cite web |last=Eggerton |first=John |date=June 25, 2018 |title=Gray Buying Raycom for $3.6B |url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/gray-buying-raycom-for-3-6b |periodical=Broadcasting & Cable |access-date=October 2, 2022 |archive-date=August 10, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810183153/https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/gray-buying-raycom-for-3-6b |url-status=live }}|{{cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=June 25, 2018 |title=Gray Acquiring Raycom For $3.65B, Forming No. 3 Local TV Group |url=https://deadline.com/2018/06/grey-acquiring-raycom-for-3-65-billion-forming-no-3-local-tv-group-1202416667/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Media Corporation |access-date=October 2, 2022 |archive-date=August 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826073827/https://deadline.com/2018/06/grey-acquiring-raycom-for-3-65-billion-forming-no-3-local-tv-group-1202416667/ |url-status=live }}}}</ref> The sale was completed on January 2, 2019.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 2, 2019 |title=Gray Closes On $3.6 Billion Raycom Merger |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/227754/gray-closes-3-6-billion-raycom-merger/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103060110/https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/227754/gray-closes-3-6-billion-raycom-merger/ |archive-date=January 3, 2019 |access-date=January 3, 2019 |work=TVNewsCheck |publisher=NewsCheckMedia}}</ref> During the sale process, WUAB became the market's [[The CW|CW]] affiliate on July 16, 2018,<ref name="pd-wuabcw">{{cite news |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=July 11, 2018 |title=WUAB Channel 43 is the new home for the CW |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/index.ssf/2018/07/wuab_channel_43_is_the_new_home_for_the_cw.html |url-status=live |access-date=October 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004185410/https://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/2018/07/wuab_channel_43_is_the_new_home_for_the_cw.html |archive-date=October 4, 2022}}</ref><ref name="tvnc-wuabcw">{{unbulleted list citebundle|{{cite web |last=Miller |first=Mark K. |date=July 11, 2018 |title=WUAB To Be Cleveland's New CW Affiliate |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/article/top-news/wuab-clevelands-new-cw-affiliate/ |website=TVNewsCheck |publisher=NewsCheck Media |access-date=October 2, 2022 |archive-date=October 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004185411/https://tvnewscheck.com/programming/article/wuab-clevelands-new-cw-affiliate/ |url-status=live }}|{{cite news |last=Siegel |first=Stephanie Tsoflias |date=July 11, 2018 |title=WUAB Adds CW Affiliation |website=TVSpy |publisher=Beringer Capital |url=https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/wuab-no-longer-a-mynetworktv-affiliate/205830 |access-date=October 2, 2022 |archive-date=October 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004185912/https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/wuab-no-longer-a-mynetworktv-affiliate/205830/ |url-status=live }}}}</ref> with WUAB's existing MyNetworkTV affiliation moved to a WOIO subchannel.<ref name="RabbitEarsWOIO">{{unbulleted list citebundle|{{cite web |title=Digital TV Market Listing for WOIO |url=https://rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WOIO |access-date=March 25, 2019 |website=[[RabbitEars]] |archive-date=March 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316152604/https://rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WOIO |url-status=live }}|{{cite web |title=Digital TV Market Listing for WUAB |url=https://rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WUAB |access-date=July 31, 2018 |website=[[RabbitEars]] |archive-date=October 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004185920/https://rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WUAB |url-status=live }}}}</ref>

Gray Television purchased low-power station [[WLFM-LD]] (channel&nbsp;6) on July 29, 2021, for $1.65 million.<ref name="RBR-WLFM">{{Cite web |last=Jacobson |first=Adam |date=July 29, 2021 |title=Gray Gains a Cleveland LPTV Property |url=https://www.rbr.com/gray-gains-a-cleveland-lptv-property/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013215849/https://www.rbr.com/gray-gains-a-cleveland-lptv-property/ |archive-date=October 13, 2022 |access-date=October 13, 2022 |website=Radio & Television Business Report |language=en-US}}</ref> Several days after the sale was approved by the FCC,<ref name="wlfmtogray">{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2021 |title=Assignments |url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/views/public/assignmentDraftCopy?displayType=html&appKey=25076f9179edc3d1017a1b2f01b55374&id=25076f9179edc3d1017a1b2f01b55374&goBack=N |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013215849/https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/views/public/assignmentDraftCopy?displayType=html&appKey=25076f9179edc3d1017a1b2f01b55374&id=25076f9179edc3d1017a1b2f01b55374&goBack=N |archive-date=October 13, 2022 |accessdate=July 30, 2021 |work=Licensing and Management System |publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}}</ref> Gray announced WLFM-LD would be relaunched as [[Telemundo]] affiliate WTCL on January 1, 2022, with evening newscasts in Spanish produced by WOIO.<ref name="wlfmtelemundo">{{cite web |date=September 22, 2021 |title=WOIO-TV will launch new Telemundo station in Cleveland |url=https://www.cleveland19.com/2021/09/22/woio-tv-will-launch-new-telemundo-station-cleveland/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922205902/https://www.cleveland19.com/2021/09/22/woio-tv-will-launch-new-telemundo-station-cleveland/ |archive-date=September 22, 2021 |accessdate=September 22, 2021 |website=Cleveland19.com |location=Cleveland, Ohio}}</ref> Cleveland had been the largest market in the United States without a Telemundo affiliate.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 22, 2021 |title=WOIO-TV To Launch Cleveland Telemundo Station |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/top-news/programming/article/woio-tv-to-launch-cleveland-telemundo-station/ |access-date=September 23, 2021 |website=TV News Check |archive-date=September 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210922190933/https://tvnewscheck.com/top-news/programming/article/woio-tv-to-launch-cleveland-telemundo-station/ |url-status=live }}</ref> (Since its 2001 purchase by the network, [[Univision]]-owned [[WQHS-DT]] has only carried remotely-produced news briefs.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Palmer |first=Kim |date=February 20, 2022 |title=Telemundo Cleveland rolls out Spanish-language station |work=Crain's Cleveland Business |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.crainscleveland.com/media/telemundo-cleveland-rolls-out-spanish-language-station |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=September 16, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220916042553/https://www.crainscleveland.com/media/telemundo-cleveland-rolls-out-spanish-language-station |archive-date=September 16, 2022}}</ref>) As early as 2018, WOIO had produced a daily Spanish-language newscast, ''Al Día'', for their website, social media and [[Over-the-top media service|OTT]] services, but this was suspended due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Ohio|COVID-19 pandemic]]; WOIO retained both reporters for ''Al Día'' and planned to hire two additional [[bilingual]] reporters.<ref name="WTCLCronkiteLab">{{Cite web |last=Barron |first=Alicia |date=October 14, 2021 |title=Building a Telemundo affiliate from scratch |url=https://cronkitenewslab.com/broadcast/2021/10/14/building-cleveland-telemundo-affiliate-from-scratch/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014212659/https://cronkitenewslab.com/broadcast/2021/10/14/building-cleveland-telemundo-affiliate-from-scratch/ |archive-date=October 14, 2022 |access-date=October 14, 2022 |website=Cronkite News Lab |language=en-US}}</ref>

On July 18, 2022, Gray filed a conditional use certificate request with [[Independence, Ohio]], for construction of a two-story studio facility on land overlooking the [[Interstate 77 in Ohio|I-77]]–[[Interstate 480 (Ohio)|I-480]] interchange in a proposal titled "Project [[Voice-over|VO]] [[Sound on tape|SOT]]"; WOIO-WUAB-WTCL's current 10-year lease at Reserve Square runs through 2027.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bullard |first=Stan |date=July 21, 2022 |title=Downtown TV station group may move to the suburbs |url=https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/downtown-tv-station-may-move-suburbs |access-date=November 5, 2022 |website=Crain's Cleveland Business |location=Cleveland, Ohio |language=en |url-access=subscription |archive-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729061326/https://www.crainscleveland.com/real-estate/downtown-tv-station-may-move-suburbs |url-status=live }}</ref> Independence City Council approved the request on August 9, 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Worrell |first=Chris M. |date=August 15, 2022 |title=Gray Television clears hurdle in potential move to Independence |url=https://www.cleveland.com/community/2022/08/gray-television-which-owns-woio-19-and-wuab-43-clears-hurdle-in-potential-move-to-independence.html |access-date=November 5, 2022 |website=Parma Sun Post |location=Parma, Ohio |language=en |via=Cleveland.com |archive-date=November 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105054817/https://www.cleveland.com/community/2022/08/gray-television-which-owns-woio-19-and-wuab-43-clears-hurdle-in-potential-move-to-independence.html |url-status=live }}</ref> but Gray abandoned the project two years later after failing to get regulatory approval to construct a [[studio transmitter link]] tower next to the proposed facility.<ref name="i124">{{cite web |last=Prendergast |first=Ken |date=October 18, 2024 |title=Gray Media and AmTrust Reconsider Downtown Cleveland Office Locations |url=https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/development/articles/gray-media-and-amtrust-reconsider-downtown-cleveland-office-locations |access-date=October 31, 2024 |website=Cleveland Magazine}}</ref>

== Programming ==
=== Newscasts ===
==== Formation and early struggles ====
From its inception until assuming the CBS affiliation, WOIO had no local news presence. Station founder Hubert B. Payne felt the notion of immediately competing with WKYC, WEWS, WJW-TV and cable news to be "folly on my part".{{r|CallPost19860123p10}} By 1992, ''[[Akron Beacon Journal]]'' critic Bob Dyer referred to the station as "...&nbsp;with a gaping hole at its center: no newscast." General manager Dennis Thatcher expressed a desire to start a local news service, noting some advertisers—under the impression viewers did not see WOIO as a "real" station—refused to deal with them.<ref name="AkronB19920216p 33">{{Cite news |last=Dyer |first=Bob |date=February 16, 1992 |title=News wars might get new player: Shaker Square's WOIO hopes to add newscast to its lineup |pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111215832/news-wars-might-get-new-player-shaker/ D4] |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111215804/news-wars-might-get-new-player-shaker/ |access-date=October 19, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221020053830/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111215804/news-wars-might-get-new-player-shaker/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Malrite's successful launch of a news service on their Cincinnati station, [[WXIX-TV]], led WOIO management in March 1994 to consider "...&nbsp;tiptoe(ing) into local news this fall."<ref name="CPD19940304p4E">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=March 4, 1994 |title=News at 10 looks like coming thing |page=4E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F807C82C6F02EDC |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 20, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110034118/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F807C82C6F02EDC&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> As Malrite had been in negotiations with Cannell Communications about a WUAB LMA when the Fox-New World alliance emerged,{{r|CPD19940624p1B}} when WOIO signed with CBS, speculation began about Malrite using WUAB's news department to produce 6&nbsp;p.m. and 11&nbsp;p.m. newscasts for WOIO.{{r|CPD19940708p1A}} Thatcher hired former WJW-TV news director Phyllis Quail to oversee the transition process and committed to having local news bulletins during ''[[CBS This Morning]]''.<ref name="CPD19940721p5F">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=July 21, 1994 |title=WOIO will jump into local news scene |page=5F |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F807D48C0B55898 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 20, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110034118/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F807D48C0B55898&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> The station originally intended to air the ''[[CBS Evening News]]'' on delay at 7&nbsp;p.m. with sitcom reruns as a lead-in{{r|CPD19940721p5F}} but ended up running it live at 6:30 p.m.<ref name="CPD19940923p7E">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=September 23, 1994 |title=CBS enjoying ties with WOIO |page=7E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F807D9E77570B8C |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 20, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110034119/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F807D9E77570B8C&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref>

WOIO kept a low profile assembling its air talent following the affiliation switch, though the station did hire WJW-TV anchor Denise Dufala,<ref name="CPD19941028p7E">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=October 28, 1994 |title=Area newscasting veterans getting Channel 19 feelers |page=7E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F807DCE49591B37 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 20, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110034119/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F807DCE49591B37&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> [[WMAQ-TV]] anchor Emmett Miller, and former [[Miss America 1989]] winner [[Gretchen Carlson]] as lead anchors,<ref name="CPD19941209p7E">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=December 9, 1994 |title=WOIO, WUAB hire ex-Miss America |page=7E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F807E0BC2B1A8E2 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 20, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110034135/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F807E0BC2B1A8E2&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> and WUAB's [[Jeff Phelps]] was reassigned as WOIO's lead sportscaster.{{r|CPD19950205p1J}} WUAB's existing team of Jack Marschall, [[Romona Robinson]] and [[Gib Shanley]] remained exclusive to that station, but reporters and meteorological talent were shared between the two stations.<ref name="CPD19950222p6E">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=February 22, 1995 |title=Marschall gets new pact at 19, 43 |page=6E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F80841AD50D6833 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006172033/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F80841AD50D6833&f=basic |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref><ref name="CPD19961220p11B">{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Roger |date=December 20, 1996 |title=Channel 43 sports anchor Gib Shanley leaving station |page=11B |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F808DA11C3CAE65 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 6, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006172033/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F808DA11C3CAE65&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> What became known as ''19 News'' launched on February 5, 1995, from a combined facility at Reserve Square under the ''Cleveland Television News'' banner; WUAB's newscasts came from a traditional set, but WOIO's newscasts originated from the newsroom with anchors walking to reporters in a style heavily inspired by [[CITY-TV]]'s ''[[CityPulse]]''.<ref name="CPD19950205p1J">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=February 5, 1995 |title='19 News' debuts: Station promises 'most exciting' broadcast in city |page=1J |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F341526129202DD |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006172033/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F341526129202DD&f=basic |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

{{Quote box
| quote = I'm sure someone could shove my nose into a ratings book, rattle off statistics as baffling as DNA evidence and try to explain that Channel 19 really is doing well. But the company still is expending a lot of energy, time and money to achieve what [[WVPX-TV|Channel 23]] does in a far more Spartan way. And Malrite Communications, which operates Channel 19 and Channel 43, may be killing Channel 43's newscast as well. Now who's crazy?
| author = R. D. Heldenfels
| source = ''Akron Beacon Journal''{{r|WAKC Your News}}
| width = 300px
}}

Despite the initial heavy promotion, ''19 News'' struggled to attract viewership, partly due to past impressions of WOIO having been "a second-tier independent" and existing perception of it being "a junior news station".<ref name="CPD19960418p7E">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=April 18, 1996 |title=WOIO hopes changes foster a new identity |page=7E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F808CB00B18ABD9 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 20, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110034120/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F808CB00B18ABD9&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> By September 1995, WOIO's 6&nbsp;p.m. news ranked in last place—tied with [[WAKC-TV]]'s Akron-centered newscast—while the 11&nbsp;p.m. news placed third, ahead of WAKC-TV but still significantly behind WKYC and WEWS. Moreover, WJW-TV's 10&nbsp;p.m. newscast was tied with WUAB and attracted more total viewers than WOIO at 11&nbsp;p.m.<ref name="WAKC Your News">{{Cite news |last=Heldenfels |first=R. D. |date=September 21, 1995 |title=WAKC adding an hour of 'news you can use' |pages=C11, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44800240/wakc-adding-an-hour-of-news-you-can/ C13] |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44799504/wakc-adding-an-hour-of-news-you-can/ |url-status=live |access-date=December 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121205147/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44799504/wakc-adding-an-hour-of-news-you-can/ |archive-date=January 21, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> After WAKC-TV's news department was abruptly shut down in February 1996, low-power WAOH-LP (channel&nbsp;29) and [[WOCV-CD|Cleveland simulcast W35AX]] started carrying WOIO and WUAB's newscasts on an hour delay.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Heldenfels |first=R. D. |date=March 2, 1996 |title=Channel 29 tries to fill Akron's local news slot after WAKC-TV drops news, WAOH makes deal to rebroadcast programs from Cleveland stations |page=C1 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0EE7D610E20EE574 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=February 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204011638/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0EE7D610E20EE574&f=basic |archive-date=February 4, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>
[[File:Gretchen carlson cropped retouched.jpg|alt=Refer to caption.|thumb|upright=0.67|[[Gretchen Carlson]]|left]]
WOIO rebranded as ''CBS 19 News'' in April 1996 in a move ''Plain Dealer'' critic Tom Feran regarded as the station "(having) to recover from success" after years of a strong association with Fox. Newly appointed news director [[Kimberly Godwin|Kimberly Godwin-Webb]] refocused the newscasts to have faster pacing, tighter editing, and consumer-driven segments and de-emphasized what was internally called a "[[Lazy Susan]]" anchor desk.{{r|CPD19960418p7E}} Emmitt Miller was demoted from lead anchor to reporter,<ref name="CPD19960717p6E">{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Roger |date=July 17, 1996 |title=Emmett Miller quits Channel 19 |page=6E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F808D05C7B961B0 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 20, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110034119/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F808D05C7B961B0&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> while Gretchen Carlson took his place as Denise Dufala's co-anchor, the first instance of a two-woman weeknight anchor team in the market.<ref name="CPD19961013p1J">{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Roger |date=October 13, 1996 |title=A lesson in teamwork: WOIO anchorwomen work hard at shattering stereotypes and presenting daily newscasts |page=7E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F808D5DE00C5002 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 20, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110034119/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F808D5DE00C5002&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> Godwin-Webb likened the station revamping to one CBS was itself undertaking, while general manager Tom Griesdorn noted, "this is not six weeks and out... we're in this for the long run. We're going to be a contender."{{r|CPD19960418p7E}} A surprising addition took place when veteran WJW-TV investigative reporter Tom Meyer joined the station in August 1996, signing a seven-year contract.<ref name="CPD19960828p7E">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=August 28, 1996 |title=Meyer leaves TV-8 for 19 and 43 |page=7E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F808D303B14542F |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 20, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110034120/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F808D303B14542F&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref>

The station added both a morning and noon newscast by December 1996; the morning newscast took advantage of a revamped format for ''CBS This Morning'' allowing affiliates to produce longer local segments within the national program.<ref name="CPD19961031p5E">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=October 31, 1996 |title=WOIO news to expand on Dec. 2 |page=5E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F808D6E4DFEBF52 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 20, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110034121/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F808D6E4DFEBF52&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> WOIO's morning, noon and 6&nbsp;p.m. newscasts also were simulcast over radio stations [[WELW]] in [[Willoughby, Ohio|Willoughby]] and [[WDLW|WRKG]] in Lorain, both beginning in May 1997.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 30, 1997 |title=WOIO newscasts going out on radio |page=4F |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F80C6B0402F7B92 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=March 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902021526/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F80C6B0402F7B92&f=basic |archive-date=September 2, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> The morning news further expanded to a 5:30&nbsp;a.m. start in October 1997, coupled with an additional 11:30&nbsp;a.m. newscast on WUAB.<ref name="CPD19971016p7E">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=October 16, 1997 |title=Deja vu: More news, more Feagler |page=7E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F80CCE7A8B9389E |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006172034/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F80CCE7A8B9389E&f=basic |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> Still, viewer loyalty towards well-established competition continued to plague WOIO, with the 6&nbsp;p.m. news remaining stuck in last place, even ranking behind ''[[Roseanne]]'' reruns on WUAB and ''[[American Journal]]'' on WBNX-TV.<ref name="CPD19971202p5B">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=December 2, 1997 |title=WOIO to replace Carlson with a new anchorman |page=5B |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F80CE239CCA9BB1 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006172033/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F80CE239CCA9BB1&f=basic |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> Carlson was replaced by veteran reporter Kevin Coakley, but noting the heavy competition in the timeslot, Tom Feran mused in his column that WOIO could find possible success moving ''[[Seinfeld]]'' and ''[[Frasier]]'' reruns to the 6&nbsp;p.m. hour, running the ''CBS Evening News'' at 7&nbsp;p.m. and have local news at 7:30&nbsp;p.m. instead.<ref name="CPD19971203p5F">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=December 3, 1997 |title=TV-19 pairs Coakley with Dufala |page=5F |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F80CE264005E2EF |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 20, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035120/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F80CE264005E2EF&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> At the same time, WJW beat WUAB at 10&nbsp;p.m. by a 2–1 margin during the spring 1998 [[Nielsen ratings|sweeps period]], attributed to the weakness of [[UPN]] fare as a lead-in for WUAB along with WOIO's newscasts assuming top priority.<ref name="CPD19980325p2G">{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Roger |date=March 25, 1998 |title=WUAB doing little to help its nightly news |page=2G |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F80CFB41DE1F271 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006172035/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F80CFB41DE1F271&f=basic |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

{{Quote box
| quote = When the channels began their joint operation in 1995, their newscasts looked destined to challenge (the competition) for ratings supremacy, and management wasn't shy about predicting it. ... Channel 19 finished fourth in the ratings that year and still makes camp there six years later. In that same time, anchorwoman Denise Dufala has sat beside four co-anchors, and the meteorologist's face has changed as rapidly as the seasons.
| author = Thomas Francis
| source = ''[[Cleveland Scene]]'', 2001{{r|CleSceneAppleg2001}}
| width = 300px
}}

Raycom's takeover of WOIO and WUAB led to news director Kimberly Godwin-Webb leaving in September 1998,<ref name="CPD19980923p2E">{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Roger |date=September 23, 1998 |title=Investigative team at TV-5 disbanded |page=2E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F80D08E2C8C65D4 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 20, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035121/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F80D08E2C8C65D4&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> followed by general manager Tom Griesdorn in March 1999.<ref name="CPD19990318p3E">{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Roger |date=March 18, 1999 |title=WOIO-WUAB general manager resigns for post in Columbus |page=3E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F80D2AD6E394BA6 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 20, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035121/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F80D2AD6E394BA6&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> WUAB's 11:30&nbsp;a.m. newscast was cancelled in December 1998 due to continued low ratings.<ref name="CPD19981222p4E">{{cite news |last=Brown |first=Roger |date=December 22, 1998 |title=Poor ratings sink Channel 43 midday newscast |page=4E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F80D0F0C6CF966B |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006172035/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F80D0F0C6CF966B&f=basic |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> Kevin Coakley was dismissed in September 1999 and replaced with Jack Marschall, who also retained his existing 10&nbsp;p.m. duties at WUAB.<ref name="CPD19991005p3E">{{cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=October 5, 1999 |title=Jack Marschall to anchor WOIO and WUAB news |page=3E |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F80D7E79E70BB49 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 6, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006172033/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F80D7E79E70BB49&f=basic |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> In early 2000, all newscasts were re-branded as ''Hometeam 19 News'' and ''Hometeam 43 News'',{{r|CPD20000321p1E}} based on WUAB's existing "Cleveland's Home Team" slogan.{{r|CPD19971016p7E}} News director Tony Ballew described the two stations as now being "one store with a couple of shelves" instead of the two different entities that had previously been marketed.{{r|CPD19991005p3E}} Behind-the-scenes personnel [[unionized]] in 2000 after substantial layoffs (20 staffers from a workforce of 120) and being paid thousands of dollars less than [[market rate]], nearly half as much as competing stations. Raycom and the union struggled to reach a [[Collective bargaining|collective bargaining agreement]], with Raycom management disclosing during negotiations it overpaid for WOIO and WUAB and was struggling to make a profit.<ref name="CleSceneAppleg2001">{{Cite web |last=Francis |first=Thomas |date=March 1, 2001 |title=Satan or Savior? |url=https://www.clevescene.com/news/satan-or-savior-1476345 |access-date=October 25, 2022 |website=Cleveland Scene |location=Cleveland, Ohio |language=en |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025163335/https://www.clevescene.com/news/satan-or-savior-1476345 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== ''19 Action News'' ====
[[File:WOIO CBS 19 Cleveland (1375308680).jpg|thumb|upright=1.59|A WOIO [[electronic news-gathering]] van (with former ''19 Action News'' signage) in Downtown Cleveland.]]
In February 2001, Bill Applegate—who had a reputation as a successful, if controversial, executive at [[WLS-TV]], [[WBBM-TV]], [[KCBS-TV]] and [[WABC-TV]] during the 1980s and 1990s{{r|CleSceneAppleg2001}}<ref name="FederApplegate">{{Cite web |last=Feder |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Feder |date=February 12, 2014 |title=Bill Applegate: Never shy, but now he's retiring |url=https://www.robertfeder.com/2014/02/12/never-shy-but-now-hes-retiring/ |access-date=October 21, 2022 |website=RobertFeder.com |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021191918/https://www.robertfeder.com/2014/02/12/never-shy-but-now-hes-retiring/ |url-status=live }}</ref>—became WOIO's general manager.<ref name="AkronB20010201p 19">{{Cite news |last=Heldenfels |first=R. D. |date=February 1, 2001 |title=Sweeps cut crazy swath |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110855894/sweeps-cut-crazy-swath/ B1], B3 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110855911/sweeps-cut-crazy-swath-p2/ |access-date=October 21, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021191917/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110855911/sweeps-cut-crazy-swath-p2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Applegate initiated a total overhaul of WOIO and WUAB's newscasts, with the "Hometeam" branding excised outright amid multiple staff departures.<ref name="CPD20020111pE1">{{cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Clint |date=January 11, 2002 |title=Change in the air for Channel 19 news operation |page=E1 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F2B29E28F5B568A |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 21, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=September 2, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220902021555/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news%2F0F2B29E28F5B568A&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> David Wittman was hired in January 2002 for a role "not yet been determined" but would "play a major role",<ref name="AkronB20020123p B009">{{Cite news |last=Heldenfels |first=R. D. |date=January 23, 2002 |title=Musical anchor chairs at Ch. 5 |page=B9 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111732100/musical-anchor-chairs-at-ch-5/ |access-date=October 21, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021191923/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111732100/musical-anchor-chairs-at-ch-5/ |url-status=live }}</ref> fueling speculation of WOIO adopting a [[Tabloid journalism|tabloid]] format emphasizing crime and [[sensationalism]]<ref name="AkronB20020125p B007">{{Cite news |last=Heldenfels |first=R. D. |date=January 25, 2002 |title=More area TV comings, goings |page=B7 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111731071/more-area-tv-comings-goings/ |access-date=October 21, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021191922/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111731071/more-area-tv-comings-goings/ |url-status=live }}</ref> but the station asserted would not be akin to "''[[National Enquirer]] Tonight''".{{r|CPD20020111pE1}} As May 2002 began, Wittman took Marschall's place as lead anchor,<ref name="CPD20020126pE9">{{cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Clint |date=January 26, 2002 |title=Jack Marschall changing shifts at Channel 19/43 |page=E9 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F2B29ED81DC3574 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 21, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035122/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F2B29ED81DC3574&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="AkronB20020501p B009">{{Cite news |last=Heldenfels |first=R. D. |date=May 1, 2002 |title=Horror director Craven on Encore |page=B9 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111731896/horror-director-craven-on-encore/ |access-date=October 21, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021191923/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111731896/horror-director-craven-on-encore/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and all newscasts were relaunched as ''[[Action News]]'', featuring a tabloid style.<ref name="CPD20020427pE9">{{cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Clint |date=April 27, 2002 |title=Channel 19 springs into Action |page=E9 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F33C21024DA2FCA |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006021200/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F33C21024DA2FCA&f=basic |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> By 2003, the newscast titling was amended to ''19 Action News'' on both stations.<ref name="CPD20031205pE7">{{cite news |last=Washington |first=Julie |date=December 5, 2003 |title=TV-3 rivals TV-8 in latest ratings |page=E7 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0FF459437285916C |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006021159/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0FF459437285916C&f=basic |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> News production also increased: a 5&nbsp;p.m. newscast was added,{{r|CPD20020126pE9}} followed by a 4&nbsp;p.m. newscast in June 2004.<ref name="CPD20020526pE1">{{cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Clint |date=May 26, 2002 |title=WOIO 19 prepares for news at 4 p.m. |page=E1 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F102D5ABD0E917461 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 21, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035126/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/102D5ABD0E917461&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Quote box
| quote = I'm an opportunist at a ratings-challenged station. Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody has issues. She's coming here with a clean slate.
| author = Leesa Dillon Faust
| source = WOIO news director, on hiring Sharon Reed in 2002 after her firing from WCAU in Philadelphia<ref>{{Cite web |last=Trigoboff |first=Dan |date=May 13, 2002 |title=Station Break |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/station-break-92463 |access-date=October 23, 2022 |website=Broadcasting & Cable |language=en |archive-date=October 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023072214/https://www.nexttv.com/news/station-break-92463 |url-status=live }}</ref>
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Applegate's managerial style at WOIO was as aggressive as the format itself. Twice-weekly [[editorial]]s were instituted, with Applegate frequently critiquing local politicians and groups,<ref name="BC20091003">{{Cite web |last=Malone |first=Michael |date=October 3, 2009 |title=Cover Story: Red Stations, Blue Stations |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/cover-story-red-stations-blue-stations-41941 |access-date=October 25, 2022 |website=Broadcasting & Cable |language=en |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025163334/https://www.nexttv.com/news/cover-story-red-stations-blue-stations-41941 |url-status=live }}</ref> years after the practice had fallen out of favor throughout the industry.<ref name="CPD20070902pJ1">{{cite news |last=Lubinger |first=Bill |date=September 2, 2007 |title=In your face: Channel 19's aggressive style starts with the general manager |page=J1 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F11B8348125E8A2B8 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 23, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035126/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/11B8348125E8A2B8&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> Chicago media critic [[Robert Feder]] retrospectively described him as "bold, brash and wickedly brilliant... willing to try almost anything to draw a crowd".{{r|FederApplegate}} While in Los Angeles—a market dominated by tabloid journalism—Applegate found ratings success at KCBS-TV with saturation coverage of the [[Lyle and Erik Menendez]] trial, the [[1994 Northridge earthquake]] and the [[O. J. Simpson murder case]], the latter with [[Harvey Levin]] as a dedicated reporter.{{r|CleSceneAppleg2001}} Applegate viewed ''19 Action News'' as "[[populist]], blue-collar, [[Advocacy journalism|advocacy]]", explaining, "your obligation is to tell the truth... I don't think we have an obligation to be objective. We have to tell the truth."{{r|CPD20070902pJ1}}

Sharon Reed came to WOIO from [[WCAU]] in [[Philadelphia]], but her arrival came amid controversy, having previously dated actor [[Robert De Niro]] and engaging in an e-mail [[Flaming (Internet)|flame war]] with WCAU reporter Alicia Taylor, the latter leading to her dismissal from that station.<ref name="AkronB20020508p B005">{{Cite news |last=Heldenfels |first=R. D. |date=May 8, 2002 |title=Drew not the draw of old |page=B5 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111733748/drew-not-the-draw-of-old/ |access-date=October 21, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021191918/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111733748/drew-not-the-draw-of-old/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="CPD20020523pF9">{{cite news |last=O'Connor |first=Clint |date=May 23, 2002 |title=Philly controversy has weighed down new WOIO anchor |page=F9 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F3B8DE2B500D10E |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 21, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035126/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F3B8DE2B500D10E&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> WOIO hired [[Youngstown]] anchor Catherine Bosley in 2005, shortly after her dismissal from [[WKBN-TV]] when pictures of her participation in a [[wet T-shirt contest]] surfaced online, prompting accusations of the station "cashing in" on her notoriety.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://businessjournaldaily.com/bosley-joins-woio-tv-keeps-y103-morning-show-2005-5-2|title=WOIO brings in Bosley - Business Journal Daily.com|website=businessjournaldaily.com|access-date=March 25, 2019|archive-date=January 9, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109191921/http://businessjournaldaily.com/bosley-joins-woio-tv-keeps-y103-morning-show-2005-5-2|url-status=live}}</ref> Sportscaster Chuck Galeti was hired after a 2003 car accident, incarceration and substance abuse rehab, with the station being credited for saving him from "possible career oblivion".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bona |first=Marc |date=August 31, 2009 |title=Chuck Galeti, sportscaster, leaves Channel 19 |url=https://www.cleveland.com/tv/2009/08/chuck_galeti_sportscaster_leav.html |access-date=October 21, 2022 |website=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |language=en |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021191917/https://www.cleveland.com/tv/2009/08/chuck_galeti_sportscaster_leav.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[WTAM]] personality [[Mike Trivisonno]] began hosting a daily segment with Reed during the 5&nbsp;p.m. newscast in 2006, with news director Dan Salamone noting Trivisonno was "somebody who was born to be in a ''19 Action News'' format".<ref name="CPD20060930pE5">{{cite news |last=Washington |first=Julie |date=September 30, 2006 |title=Channel 19 forms a new team |page=E5 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1147D07BB8BA9540 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 15, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> Veteran investigative reporter [[Carl Monday]] joined WOIO in 2007 from WKYC,<ref name="CPD20070210pE1">{{cite news |last=Washington |first=Julie E. |date=February 10, 2007 |title=Contract issues led Monday away from Channel 3 |page=E1 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1173AA0F73270C08 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 24, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035127/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/1173AA0F73270C08&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> where a 2006 report on a man committing indecent behavior at a [[library]] unintentionally went [[Viral video|viral]] and was parodied by ''[[The Daily Show]]'' and ''[[Deadspin]]''.<ref name="CPD20070203pE9">{{unbulleted list citebundle|{{cite news |last=Washington |first=Julie E. |date=February 3, 2007 |title=Investigator Monday jumps to Channel 19 |page=E9 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1172044F3093F190 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 24, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035129/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/1172044F3093F190&f=basic |url-status=live }}|{{Cite web |last=Thompson |first=Lynne |date=April 23, 2008 |title=Caught on Tape |url=https://clevelandmagazine.com/entertainment/film-tv/articles/caught-on-tape |access-date=October 24, 2022 |website=Cleveland Magazine |location=Cleveland, Ohio |language=en |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024221341/https://clevelandmagazine.com/entertainment/film-tv/articles/caught-on-tape |url-status=live }}|{{Cite web |last=Leitch |first=Will |author-link=Will Leitch |date=May 25, 2006 |title=The Most Brilliant Thing You'll See All Day |url=https://deadspin.com/the-most-brilliant-thing-youll-see-all-day-176349 |access-date=October 24, 2022 |website=Deadspin |language=en |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024221340/https://deadspin.com/the-most-brilliant-thing-youll-see-all-day-176349 |url-status=live }}}}</ref> Tom Meyer, who worked alongside Monday at WJW, left for WKYC shortly thereafter.<ref name="CPD20070602pE1">{{cite news |last=Washington |first=Julie E. |date=June 2, 2007 |title=WKYC hires Tom Meyer from WOIO |page=E1 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F119CD91ABA7A8908 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 24, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035127/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/119CD91ABA7A8908&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Quote box
| quote = (Their) tabloid 'slash-and-burn' style of news reporting is nothing new. It's a classic textbook case of 'Last Place News 101' and an act of desperation. They are in last place because the people of Cleveland and Northeast Ohio have standards—intelligence and integrity. They will not allow themselves to be subjected to WOIO's low-brow, irresponsible acts of self-promotion. Nobody is making any changes in format because of what WOIO is doing.
| author = Kevin Salyer
| source = WJW vice-president of programming{{r|CPD20040321pA1}}
| width = 325px
}}

The ratings performance for ''19 Action News'' ultimately produced mixed results. The 11&nbsp;p.m. newscast became a priority for WOIO management, with news director Stephen Doerr stating, "we can only win one battle at a time."<ref name="CPD20040312pE5">{{cite news |last=Washington |first=Julie E. |date=March 12, 2004 |title=Channel 3 news moves to forefront in February ratings |page=E5 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1014A63473D7295C |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 23, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035128/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/1014A63473D7295C&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> One 2003 ratings stunt had WOIO airing retrospective pieces on WEWS-TV legends [[Dorothy Fuldheim]], [[Nev Chandler]] and [[Don Webster (media personality)|Don Webster]], prompting that station to accuse WOIO of [[Appropriation (art)|appropriation]].<ref name="CPD20031212pE1">{{cite news |last=Washington |first=Julie E. |date=December 12, 2003 |title=FILM AT 11! TV news leaves no stone unturned for sensational sweeps stunts |page=E1 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0FF6A77293F07DCF |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 25, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035128/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0FF6A77293F07DCF&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> In the February 2004 sweeps, WOIO overtook WEWS-TV to place second at 11&nbsp;p.m. behind WKYC,<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 17, 2004 |title=The Year in LeBron |url=https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/articles/the-year-in-lebron |access-date=October 25, 2022 |website=Cleveland Magazine |location=Cleveland, Ohio |language=en |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025163335/https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/articles/the-year-in-lebron |url-status=live }}</ref> although critics noted the showing was possibly influenced by CBS's strong primetime lineup, as all other dayparts—including WUAB's 10&nbsp;p.m. newscast—remained in last place. Still, comparisons were drawn with that of [[WSVN]] in [[Miami]], which found similar success employing a tabloid format. Doerr boasted, "Cleveland is a market that was ready to be awakened&nbsp;... love it or hate it, it's not to be missed."<ref name="CPD20040321pA1">{{cite news |last1=Mark |first1=Dawidziak |last2=Washington |first2=Julie E. |date=March 21, 2004 |title=TV's shock news: Channel 19 could set style for other stations |page=A1 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1017F17DCFDC4CA3 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 23, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035128/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/1017F17DCFDC4CA3&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Cvvoscars_(cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=1.05|Former entertainment reporter [[Chris Van Vliet]] at the [[84th Academy Awards]].|left]]
Reed's participation in [[Spencer Tunick]]'s large-scale [[Nude photography|nude photo shoot]] in downtown Cleveland was profiled by the station during the November 2004 sweeps, proving both a ratings and internet success, with WOIO's website attracting over one million [[pageview]]s over a 24-hour period and WOIO earning its highest ratings ever at&nbsp;11 p.m.<ref name="Reed">{{cite news |date=November 18, 2004 |title=Cleveland Anchor Appears Nude In Newscast |work=San Francisco Chronicle |agency=Associated Press |location=San Francisco, California |url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Cleveland-Anchor-Appears-Nude-In-Newscast-2635279.php |access-date=November 8, 2012 |archive-date=January 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104213236/http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Cleveland-Anchor-Appears-Nude-In-Newscast-2635279.php |url-status=live }}</ref> None of the station's staffers knew about the story until the week prior, with many newsroom and anchor talent reportedly furious at Applegate, Doerr and Reed; ''Plain Dealer'' columnist [[Connie Schultz]] assailed management for taking advantage of Reed, "...&nbsp;a beautiful, smart, highly educated black woman in a profession that would never have hired her 30 years ago."<ref name="CPD20041122pD1">{{cite news |last=Schultz |first=Connie |author-link=Connie Schultz |date=November 22, 2004 |title=A ploy for ratings stripped of pretense |page=D1 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1068B1A35DCCBA94 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 23, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035129/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/1068B1A35DCCBA94&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> WOIO continued placing second at 11&nbsp;p.m. for several years, and tied WJW for second place at noon by 2006.<ref name="CPD20060330pF3">{{cite news |last=Washington |first=Julie E. |date=March 30, 2006 |title=Olympics keep WKYC in ratings lead |page=F3 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F110B2ED114F14460 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 23, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035129/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/110B2ED114F14460&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2008, the noon newscast placed second outright, although the 11&nbsp;p.m. fell back to third place and other newscasts remained largely unchanged.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Washington |first=Julie E. |date=March 27, 2008 |title=Winners, losers surface in latest ratings period for Cleveland-area TV stations |url=https://www.cleveland.com/tv/2008/03/winners_losers_surface_in_late.html |access-date=October 23, 2022 |website=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |language=en |archive-date=October 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023164412/https://www.cleveland.com/tv/2008/03/winners_losers_surface_in_late.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{Quote box
| quote = It's hard to look at the decline in news audience and not think they're bored by the product. Maybe we should put a little vigor back in the news—have something to say instead of being so damned objective all the time.
| author = Bill Applegate
| source = WOIO general manager{{r|BC20091003}}
| width = 275px
}}

The early 2010s saw WOIO, along with other stations in the market, adapting to changing viewer demands and economic challenges brought on by the [[Great Recession in the United States|2008 Great Recession]].<ref name="CPD20120220a">{{cite news |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=February 20, 2012 |title=From Romona Robinson to Russ Mitchell: Musical anchor chairs reflecting changing times for local TV news industry |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F13D094CB22A42DE8 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 23, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035629/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/13D094CB22A42DE8&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> Romona Robinson—who left WUAB in 1997 to join WKYC<ref name="CPD20120204pE4">{{cite news |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=February 4, 2012 |title=Robinson feels back at home at Channel 19 |page=E4 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F13CBF6EFAC1EC108 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 23, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035630/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/13CBF6EFAC1EC108&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref>—joined WOIO in January 2012,<ref name="CPD20120124a">{{cite news |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=January 24, 2012 |title=Romona Robinson moving to Channel 19 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F13C7FF59E2DE50B8 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 23, 2022 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035633/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/13C7FF59E2DE50B8&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref> arriving as Sharon Reed's contract was not renewed and amid multiple on-air Cleveland talent leaving one station for another or leaving the business altogether.{{r|CPD20120220a}} Robinson's hiring came as WOIO drew national attention for depicting the 2012 federal corruption trial of multiple [[Cuyahoga County]] officials, including [[Jimmy Dimora]], via [[puppetry]] as cameras were prohibited.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sheeran |first=Thomas J. |date=January 20, 2012 |title=Talking squirrel puppet reports from trial - US news - Crime & courts |url=http://www.nbcnews.com/id/46070227 |access-date=November 8, 2012 |website=NBC News |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035630/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna46070227 |url-status=dead }}</ref> "The Puppet's Court" segments, with a talking squirrel puppet recapping explicit testimony and the "circus like atmosphere", found coverage in ''[[Gawker]]'' and ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]''.<ref name="Puppets">{{unbulleted list citebundle|{{cite web |last=Weisberg |first=Jacob |date=February 8, 2012 |title=The Puppet's Court: Local News Channel Recreates a Trial With Puppets |url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/02/08/the_puppet_s_court_local_news_channel_recreates_a_trial_with_puppets.html |access-date=November 8, 2012 |publisher=Slate.com |archive-date=October 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016181608/http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2012/02/08/the_puppet_s_court_local_news_channel_recreates_a_trial_with_puppets.html |url-status=live }}|{{cite web |date=January 20, 2012 |title=Local News Covers Corruption Trial With Puppets |url=http://gawker.com/5877849/local-news-covers-corruption-trial-with-puppets |access-date=November 8, 2012 |website=Gawker.com |archive-date=August 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120810102813/http://gawker.com/5877849/local-news-covers-corruption-trial-with-puppets |url-status=live }}}}</ref> WOIO management assured that Robinson's more traditional style fit with the tone of ''19 Action News'', with Applegate praising Robinson's years of community involvement and dynamic personality.{{r|CPD20120124a}} Robinson saw herself joining the station "...to help reshape the culture and content of the place where my career began"{{r|CPD20181004a}} and her on-air persona proved to be a match with the format.{{r|CPD20120204pE4}}

WOIO began shifting towards a more traditional newscast style, although elements of the tabloid format remained, along with WOIO's ability to attain attention-grabbing headlines. During a December 2013 press conference with Browns owner [[Jimmy Haslam]] and [[CEO]] [[Joe Banner]] regarding head coach [[Rob Chudzinski]]'s dismissal, reporter Dan DeRoos read aloud several posts from the station's [[Facebook]] page questioning the firing, then asked, "How do you convince Browns fans that [[the Three Stooges]] aren't running this organization?"<ref>{{unbulleted list citebundle|{{Cite news |last=Schwab |first=Frank |date=December 30, 2013 |title=Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has stunned reaction when asked about team being run by 'Three Stooges' |work=Yahoo! Sports |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/cleveland-browns-owner-jimmy-haslam-stunned-reaction-asked-202109972--nfl.html |url-status=dead |access-date=December 30, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316050556/http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/cleveland-browns-owner-jimmy-haslam-stunned-reaction-asked-202109972--nfl.html |archive-date=March 16, 2016 }}|{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_mRefbHy1M |title=Reporter asks if the Browns are being run by the 3 Stooges |date=December 30, 2013 |type=YouTube |publisher=fistsop |access-date=March 25, 2019 |archive-date=November 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120052522/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_mRefbHy1M |url-status=live }}}}</ref> Applegate announced his retirement on February 11, 2014, effective that April. In a memo to staff, Applegate said his tenure at WOIO-WUAB was "personally rewarding and the highlight of my career"{{r|AkronB20140212p B001}} but his departure came after a sales department staffer sued Raycom and Applegate over "creating a sexually hostile work environment".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dissell |first=Rachel |date=January 13, 2014 |title=Lawsuit against WOIO Channel 19 alleges sexually hostile work environment in advertising department |url=https://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/2014/01/lawsuit_against_woio_channel_1.html |access-date=October 25, 2022 |website=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |language=en |archive-date=October 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221024092359/https://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/2014/01/lawsuit_against_woio_channel_1.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{r|FederApplegate}}

==== Post–''Action News'' ====
Dominic Mancuso—Applegate's successor as general manager<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knox |first=Merrill |date=May 12, 2014 |title=Dominic Mancuso Named GM at WOIO-WUAB |url=https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/dominic-mancuso-named-gm-at-woio-wuab/121811/ |access-date=October 25, 2022 |website=TVSpy |publisher=AdWeek.com |language=en-US |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025185300/https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/dominic-mancuso-named-gm-at-woio-wuab/121811/ |url-status=live }}</ref>—and news director Fred D'Ambrosi—who joined the station in March 2015<ref name="AkronB20150313p B004">{{Cite news |last=Heldenfels |first=Rich |date=March 13, 2015 |title=Fiendish fertilizer of Akron smells like demon of Dacron |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111991785/fiendish-fertilizer-of-akron-smells/ B1], B4 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111991868/fiendish-fertilizer-of-akron-smells/ |access-date=October 25, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025185257/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111991868/fiendish-fertilizer-of-akron-smells/ |url-status=live }}</ref>—started to overhaul the news department entirely. Former WKYC anchor Mark Nolan, who left that station in 2012 to join [[WMJI]], was hired as Robinson's new co-anchor, replacing David Wittman.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=August 14, 2015 |title=Mark Nolan heading to Channel 19 as anchor on 4 and 6 p.m. newscasts |url=https://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/2015/08/mark_nolan_heading_to_channel_19_as_anchor_on_4_and_6_pm_newscasts.html |access-date=October 25, 2022 |website=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |language=en |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025185258/https://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/2015/08/mark_nolan_heading_to_channel_19_as_anchor_on_4_and_6_pm_newscasts.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Nolan's hiring portended a rebranding to ''Cleveland 19 News'', eschewing the tabloid format and controversy surrounding the ''Action News'' name,{{r|CPD20150819a}} although Mancuso continued to deliver on-air editorials.<ref name="CPD20160820a">{{Cite web |date=August 20, 2016 |title=Channel 19 general manager Dominic Mancuso stepping down |url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2016/08/channel_19_general_manager_ste.html |access-date=October 25, 2022 |website=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |language=en |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025185303/https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2016/08/channel_19_general_manager_ste.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Plain Dealer'' writer Marc Bona poked fun at the on-air appearance changing from a red-and-black color scheme to a blue-and-gold look, saying, "hopefully we won't soon be seeing the [[Michigan Wolverines|scholastic-looking block M]] on [[Lower third|crawlers]] touting MORE NEWS&nbsp;... we haven't heard back from the station about whether WOIO will open a [[News bureau|bureau]] in [[Ann Arbor]]."<ref>{{cite news |last=Bona |first=Marc |date=August 24, 2015 |title=Another change at WOIO Channel 19: New colors |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F157707C94C383068 |url-access=subscription |access-date=August 24, 2015 |via=NewsBank |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035731/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/157707C94C383068&f=basic |url-status=live }}</ref>

Mancuso left the stations in August 2016,{{r|CPD20160820a}} with Erik Schrader replacing him as general manager.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=October 25, 2016 |title=Erik Schrader settling in as new general manager at Channel 19 and Channel 43 |url=https://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/2016/10/erik_schrader_settling_in_as_new_general_manager_at_channel_19_and_channel_43.html |access-date=October 25, 2022 |website=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |language=en |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025185301/https://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/2016/10/erik_schrader_settling_in_as_new_general_manager_at_channel_19_and_channel_43.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Denise Dufala, long seen as the "hometown individual" at WOIO dating back to the news department's creation,{{r|CPD19971202p5B}} retired at the end of 2016, concluding a 30-year career.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Norman |first=Michael |date=December 16, 2016 |title=Longtime Cleveland TV personality Denise Dufala leaving Channel 19 |url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2016/12/longtime_cleveland_tv_personal.html |access-date=October 23, 2022 |website=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |language=en |archive-date=October 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023072210/https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2016/12/longtime_cleveland_tv_personal.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Several high-profile departures occurred after Raycom announced its merger into Gray Television, including Romona Robinson<ref name="CPD20181004a">{{Cite web |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=October 4, 2018 |title=Romona Robinson leaving WOIO Channel 19 |url=https://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/2018/10/romona_robinson_leaving_woio_channel_19.html |access-date=October 22, 2022 |website=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |language=en |archive-date=October 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022020112/https://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/2018/10/romona_robinson_leaving_woio_channel_19.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and Carl Monday.<ref name="CPD20181116pA14">{{cite news|date=November 16, 2018|title=Carl Monday exiting Channel 19 news|url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F16FBA5AB05A03F20|page=A14|newspaper=The Plain Dealer|location=Cleveland, Ohio|access-date=October 6, 2022|url-access=subscription|via=NewsBank|archive-date=October 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006172033/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/16FBA5AB05A03F20&f=basic|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Quote box
| quote = The digital audience really doesn't have the loyalties that the television audience has. In the digital space, where it's just all about the content, if you can do better content than your competitors, you're going to get traction.
| author = Brian Sinclair
| source = WOIO assistant news director{{r|CronkBreakWOIO}}
| width = 300px
}}

After the takeover by Gray, WOIO rebranded as ''19 News'', returning to a visual style evocative of ''Action News'' and slogan of "First. Fair. Everywhere." While the new brand and slogan was a direct nod to ''Action News'', Schrader noted, "we have to stand out. ''Action News'' was an effective brand for its time, but time moved on and we had to move on, too. And tastes will change. As much as I like this brand, it probably will eventually change."<ref name="CPD20190420TV">{{cite news |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=April 20, 2019 |title=Searching for brand identity at local TV stations |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F172ECC242EA53538 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006021159/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/172ECC242EA53538&f=basic |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> Newscast production was increased on WOIO and WUAB, with WOIO adding news at 9&nbsp;a.m. and 3&nbsp;p.m. in 2019 and 2020, respectively. WOIO has placed an emphasis on [[Over-the-top media service|over-the-top]] (OTT) and [[mobile streaming]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Malone |first=Michael |date=June 14, 2021 |title=Cleveland Is Rocking and Rolling |url=https://www.nexttv.com/features/cleveland-is-rocking-and-rolling |access-date=October 22, 2022 |website=Broadcasting & Cable |language=en |archive-date=October 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022020118/https://www.nexttv.com/features/cleveland-is-rocking-and-rolling |url-status=live }}</ref> with news director Ian Rubin (who replaced D'Ambrosi in 2018<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=February 28, 2018 |title=Ian Rubin named news director at WOIO and WUAB |url=https://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/2018/02/ian_rubin_named_news_director_at_woio_channel_19_and_wuab_channel_43.html |access-date=October 25, 2022 |website=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |language=en |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025185259/https://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/2018/02/ian_rubin_named_news_director_at_woio_channel_19_and_wuab_channel_43.html |url-status=live }}</ref>) and assistant news director Brian Sinclair recognizing increased audience demand for more local content and different, non-linear options to access it.<ref name="CronkBreakWOIO">{{Cite web |last=Barron |first=Alicia |date=February 27, 2020 |title=Breaking news — at the push of a button |url=https://cronkitenewslab.com/broadcast/2020/02/27/breaking-news-at-the-push-of-a-button/ |access-date=November 5, 2022 |website=Cronkite News Lab |language=en-US |archive-date=November 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105054758/https://cronkitenewslab.com/broadcast/2020/02/27/breaking-news-at-the-push-of-a-button/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rich |first=Adam |date=March 1, 2022 |title=Local television newscasts become more popular as other media sinks in ratings |url=https://woub.org/2022/03/01/local-television-newscasts-become-more-popular-as-other-media-sinks-in-ratings/ |access-date=October 22, 2022 |website=WOUB Public Media |location=Athens, Ohio |language=en-US |archive-date=October 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022020119/https://woub.org/2022/03/01/local-television-newscasts-become-more-popular-as-other-media-sinks-in-ratings/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Rubin also saw WTCL-LD's 2022 launch, coupled with a WOIO-led Spanish-language newscast, as a way for the stations to be more inclusive and diverse in news gathering.{{r|WTCLCronkiteLab}}

WOIO also produced ''Cribbs in the CLE: Josh and Maria Live'', a daily lifestyle talk show hosted by former Cleveland Brown [[Josh Cribbs]] and wife Maria Cribbs, from September 2019 to September 2023;<ref name="SceneCribbs">{{Cite web |last=Allard |first=Sam |date=June 13, 2019 |title=Josh and Maria Cribbs to Host New Cleveland Talk Show on Channel 19 |url=https://www.clevescene.com/news/josh-and-maria-cribbs-to-host-new-cleveland-talk-show-on-channel-19-30694237 |access-date=October 5, 2022 |website=Cleveland Scene |language=en |location=Cleveland, Ohio}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Brill |first=Jason |date=September 5, 2019 |title=Cribbs In The CLE Displays The Couple's Dynamic Relationship |url=https://clevelandmagazine.com/entertainment/film-tv/articles/cribbs-in-the-cle-displays-the-couple%27s-dynamic-relationship |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006021157/https://clevelandmagazine.com/entertainment/film-tv/articles/cribbs-in-the-cle-displays-the-couple%27s-dynamic-relationship |archive-date=October 6, 2022 |access-date=June 29, 2022 |website=Cleveland Magazine |language=en |location=Cleveland, Ohio}}</ref> the program was cancelled after WOIO debuted ''InvestigateTV'', a newsmagazine internally syndicated throughout the Gray Television group.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2023 |title=News magazine program InvestigateTV+ debuts this fall |url=https://www.cleveland19.com/2023/07/21/news-magazine-program-investigatetv-debuts-this-fall/ |access-date=December 1, 2023 |website=WOIO |language=en}}</ref>

=== Sports programming ===
WOIO was the over-the-air broadcast home for the [[Cleveland Cavaliers]] from 1988 to 1994. Assuming the role from WUAB, [[Joe Tait]]—the team's longtime radio voice and president of broadcast operations<ref name="AkronB19871216p 25">{{Cite news |last=Pluto |first=Terry |author-link=Terry Pluto |date=December 16, 1987 |title=Tait to tackle Cavs' radio |page=B5 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110846050/tait-to-tackle-cavs-radio/ |access-date=October 7, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007013241/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110846050/tait-to-tackle-cavs-radio/ |url-status=live }}</ref>—announced the WOIO telecasts with former Cavalier [[Jim Chones]] as [[color commentator]].<ref name="AkronB19881001p 2">{{Cite news |last=Pluto |first=Terry |author-link=Terry Pluto |date=October 1, 1988 |title=Tait has made changes in Cavs' radio and TV setups |page=C2 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/44365134/tait-has-made-changes-in-cavs-radio/ |access-date=October 21, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Veteran Canton sportscaster Jim Johnson was Tait's designated radio backup.<ref name="AkronB19890812p 212">{{Cite news |last=Pluto |first=Terry |author-link=Terry Pluto |date=August 12, 1989 |title=Canton broadcaster gets Cavs radio post |page=C1 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111719168/canton-broadcaster-gets-cavs-radio-post/ |access-date=October 21, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021184933/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111719168/canton-broadcaster-gets-cavs-radio-post/ |url-status=live }}</ref> CBS sportscaster [[Greg Gumbel]] took over for Tait in the 1992–93 season,<ref name="AkronB19921103p 46">{{Cite news |last=Pluto |first=Terry |author-link=Terry Pluto |date=November 3, 1992 |title=Gund: Gateway move is on schedule |page=8 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal: Cavs/NBA '92–93 |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111723533/gund-gateway-move-is-on-schedule/ |access-date=October 21, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021191916/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111723533/gund-gateway-move-is-on-schedule/ |url-status=live }}</ref> with Denny Schreiner replacing him the following year. After WOIO joined CBS in 1994, the Cavaliers rights were transferred back to WUAB.<ref name="AkronB19940917p 41">{{Cite news |date=September 17, 1994 |title=Cavs moving to Channel 43 |page=C3 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111720094/cavs-moving-to-channel-43/ |access-date=October 21, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021184935/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111720094/cavs-moving-to-channel-43/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="CPD19940917p2D">{{cite news |last=Manoloff |first=Dennis |date=September 17, 1994 |title=Buckner joins Cavs as analyst |page=2D |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F807D97E13192F8 |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 5, 2022 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

The station's association with the [[Cleveland Browns]] began in 1989 when the team began producing a weekly magazine for the station, ''Browns Insider'', hosted by veteran sportscaster [[Jim Mueller]].<ref name="AkronB19891108p 42">{{Cite news |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=November 8, 1989 |title='Browns Insider' steps into huddle |page=D6 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111723874/browns-insider-steps-into-huddle/ |access-date=October 21, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021191924/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111723874/browns-insider-steps-into-huddle/ |url-status=live }}</ref> WOIO secured the local simulcast rights to ''[[ESPN Sunday Night Football]]''{{'s}} Browns–[[Tennessee Titans|Oilers]] telecast on December 23, 1989, which was up to that point was the highest-profile broadcast in station history.<ref name="AkronB19891222p 43">{{Cite news |date=December 22, 1989 |title=Browns–Oilers contest is windfall for Ch. 19 |page=C1 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111723693/brownsoilers-contest-is-windfall-for/ |access-date=October 21, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021191921/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111723693/brownsoilers-contest-is-windfall-for/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Browns signed a multi-year contract with WOIO for preseason games beginning with [[1990 Cleveland Browns season|the 1990 season]]<ref name="AkronB19900510p 80">{{Cite news |last=Meyer |first=Ed |date=May 10, 1990 |title=Browns' exhibitions on WOIO |page=C6 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111725769/browns-exhibitions-on-woio/ |access-date=October 21, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021191924/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111725769/browns-exhibitions-on-woio/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and lasting through [[Cleveland Browns relocation controversy|the original team's relocation to Baltimore]] in 1995.<ref name="AkronB19950819p 53">{{Cite news |last=Hubbuch |first=Bart |date=August 19, 1995 |title=Browns Gameday; Tonight's NFL exhibition game: Cleveland Browns at Atlanta Falcons |page=D7 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111724263/browns-gameday-tonights-nfl/ |access-date=October 21, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021191926/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111724263/browns-gameday-tonights-nfl/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Browns preseason games returned to WOIO in 2005 via a three-year deal; this also included team-produced [[NFL Draft]] coverage, training camp reports and a weekly coach's show. Taking over for WKYC—which had carried Browns preseason games since the team's 1999 reactivation—the deal was seen as complementary to WOIO's CBS affiliation and, with it, [[NFL on CBS|the network's AFC rights]].<ref name="AkronB20050406p E007">{{Cite news |last=Heldenfels |first=R. D. |date=April 6, 2005 |title=WOIO expands Browns coverage |page=E7 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109920142/woio-expands-browns-coverage/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921203242/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109920142/woio-expands-browns-coverage/ |archive-date=September 21, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> After WOIO's newscasts covered the [[drowning]] of then-team owner [[Randy Lerner]]'s six-year-old niece, which included a [[9-1-1]] recording from Lerner's sister Nancy Fisher, the team voided the contract on July 18, 2006; while WOIO was within legal bounds to air the tape (public record under existing Ohio law), the Browns considered it an invasion of the family's privacy.<ref name="Newark20060805p19">{{unbulleted list citebundle|{{Cite news |last=Purpura |first=Dave |date=August 5, 2006 |title=Browns playing remote control games |pages=1C–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109920746/browns-playing-remote-control-games-p2/ 2C] |newspaper=The Newark Advocate |location=Newark, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109920716/browns-playing-remote-control-games/ |access-date=September 21, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=September 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921203248/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109920716/browns-playing-remote-control-games/ |url-status=live }}}}</ref> WOIO filed a [[breach of contract]] lawsuit against the team,<ref name="CB, 19 cut ties">{{cite web |last=NFL.com wire reports |date=July 25, 2006 |title=TV station sues Browns over contract |url=http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/CLE/9571466 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715075058/http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/CLE/9571466 |archive-date=July 15, 2007 |access-date=August 17, 2014 |website=NFL.com - Cleveland Browns Team News}}</ref> which signed a replacement contract with WKYC several days later.<ref name="Tribun20060804p10">{{Cite news |date=August 4, 2006 |title=Browns partner with WKYC for preseason games |page=2B |newspaper=The Tribune |agency=Associated Press |location=Coshocton, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109920450/browns-partner-with-wkyc-for-preseason/ |url-status=live |access-date=September 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220921203243/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/109920450/browns-partner-with-wkyc-for-preseason/ |archive-date=September 21, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

=== Notable on-air staff ===
==== Current staff ====
* [[Harry Boomer]], senior reporter and host of ''43 Focus''<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Crowder |first1=Rhonda |last2=Andrews |first2=R. T. |date=December 24, 2021 |title=Harry Boomer celebrates 50 years in broadcasting |url=https://therealdealpress.com/2.0/index.php/community/979-harry-boomer-celebrates-50-years-in-broadcasting |access-date=October 6, 2022 |website=The Real Deal Press |location=Cleveland, Ohio |language=en-gb |archive-date=December 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211226205115/https://therealdealpress.com/2.0/index.php/community/979-harry-boomer-celebrates-50-years-in-broadcasting |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Former staff ====
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Kimberly Godwin]], news director{{r|CPD19960717p6E}}<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 14, 2021 |title=Kimberly Godwin makes network history as next president of ABC News |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/kimberly-godwin-makes-network-history-president-abc-news/story?id=77075637 |access-date=October 21, 2022 |website=ABC News |language=en |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021045255/https://abcnews.go.com/Business/kimberly-godwin-makes-network-history-president-abc-news/story?id=77075637 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Bob Golic]], co-host of ''Tailgate 19''<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 22, 2008 |title=The Best and Worst of Cleveland Sports MediaTV; The L-Train Takin' Off |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/71978-the-best-and-worst-of-cleveland-sports-mediatv-the-l-train-takin-off |access-date=October 6, 2022 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en |archive-date=March 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317021549/http://bleacherreport.com/articles/71978-the-best-and-worst-of-cleveland-sports-mediatv-the-l-train-takin-off |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Chris Van Vliet]], entertainment reporter<ref>{{unbulleted list citebundle|{{cite news |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=April 20, 2010 |title='Inside Edition' reveals Cleveland's hottest bachelors |url=http://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/index.ssf/2010/04/inside_edition_reveals_clevelands_hottest_bachelors.html |accessdate=November 10, 2011 |website=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607032329/http://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/index.ssf/2010/04/inside_edition_reveals_clevelands_hottest_bachelors.html |url-status=live }}|{{Cite web |url=http://chrisvanvliet.tv/a-big-thank-you/ |title=Van Vliet to Miami |work=Chris Van Vliet.tv |access-date=October 2, 2022 |archive-date=December 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141206195545/http://chrisvanvliet.tv/a-big-thank-you/ |url-status=dead }}}}</ref>
{{colend}}

== Technical information ==
[[File:WOIO-WUAB Parma, Ohio transmitter mast.jpg|thumb|upright=0.79|WOIO-WUAB's former transmitter tower (center) at the West Creek Reservation in Parma.<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Brien |first=Erin |date=April 27, 2022 |title=Metroparks Trail Challenge: Center Park loop and rubies in the sky at the West Creek Reservation |url=https://www.freshwatercleveland.com/street-level/TrailChallenge3042722.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022214508/https://www.freshwatercleveland.com/street-level/TrailChallenge3042722.aspx |archive-date=October 22, 2022 |access-date=October 22, 2022 |website=FreshWater Cleveland |language=en}}</ref>]]
=== Subchannels ===
<section begin=subs />
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of WOIO and WUAB{{r|RabbitEarsWOIO}}
! scope = "col" | License
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Programming
|-
! rowspan = "4" scope = "row" style="border-right: 4px solid #d4130b;" | WOIO 
! scope = "row" | 19.1
| [[1080i]] || rowspan=7 | [[16:9]] || WOIO-DT || [[CBS]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 19.2
| rowspan=3 | [[480i]] || MeTV || [[MeTV]] / [[MyNetworkTV]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 19.3
| DEFY || [[Defy (TV network)|Defy]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 19.4
| 365BLK || [[The365|365BLK]]
|-
! rowspan = "3" scope = "row" style="border-right: 4px solid #ff4500;" | WUAB
! scope = "row" | 43.1
| [[720p]] || WUAB-DT || [[The CW]] / [[Rock Entertainment Sports Network|RESN]] → [[MyNetworkTV]] / RESN (eff. 9/1/2025)
|-
! scope = "row" | 43.2
| rowspan="2" | 480i || Outlaw|| [[Outlaw (TV network)|Outlaw]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 43.3
| Oxygen || [[Oxygen (TV channel)|Oxygen]]
|}
<section end=subs />

=== Translators ===
WOIO (and, since 2018, WUAB) has operated a digital fill-in [[Broadcast relay station#Broadcast translators|translator]] in Akron on [[UHF]] channel 18 since August 12, 2011, to serve that section of the Cleveland–Akron–Canton market.<ref>{{cite web |author=FCC Internet Services Staff |title=Application for authority to construct or make changes in a low power TV, TV translator or TV booster station: BDRTCDT - 20100119AED |url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1353939&Service=LD&Form_id=346&Facility_id=39746 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303165842/http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/prefill_and_display.pl?Application_id=1353939&Service=LD&Form_id=346&Facility_id=39746 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |access-date=November 8, 2012 |website=licensing.fcc.gov}}</ref> In the immediate Cleveland area, [[WTCL-LD]] (channel 6) provides secondary transmissions of WOIO's main program stream on the UHF band, mapped to 19.10.<ref>{{cite web |title=Digital TV Market Listing for WTCL |url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WTCL |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223001817/https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WTCL |archive-date=December 23, 2021 |access-date=October 9, 2022 |website=[[RabbitEars]]}}</ref> Canton-licensed [[WOHZ-CD]] (channel 22) and Akron-licensed W28FG-D are [[repeater]]s for WTCL-LD and WOIO in the southern part of the market, also on the UHF band, utilizing the same 19.10 channel numbers.<ref>{{cite web |title=RabbitEars TV Query for WOHZ-CD |url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WOHZ-CD |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010034523/https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WOHZ-CD |archive-date=October 10, 2022 |access-date=May 4, 2021 |website=[[RabbitEars]]}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Translators of WOIO
! scope = "col" | Call sign
! scope = "col" | City of license
! scope = "col" | Channel
! scope = "col" | [[effective radiated power|ERP]]
! scope = "col" | [[HAAT]]
! scope = "col" | [[Facility ID]]
! scope = "col" | Transmitter coordinates
|-
! scope = "row" | {{FCC-LMS-Facility|41892|3=WOHZ-CD}}
| [[Canton, Ohio|Canton]] || 34 || 15&nbsp;kW || {{convert|252.9|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} || 41892 || {{coord|40|53|24|N|81|16|11|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=WOHZ-CD}}
|-
! scope = "row" | {{FCC-LMS-Facility|6699|3=WTCL-LD}}
| [[Cleveland]] || 20 || 15&nbsp;kW || {{convert|306.8|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} || 6699 || {{coord|41|22|45|N|81|43|11|W|region:US-OH_type:landmark_source:FCC|name=WTCL-LD}}
|-
! scope = "row" | {{FCC-LMS-Facility|184642|3=W28FG-D}}
| [[Akron, Ohio|Akron]] || 28 || 15&nbsp;kW || {{convert|564.2|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} || 184642 || {{coord|41|3|52.7|N|81|34|58.3|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=W28FG-D}}
|-
! scope = "row" | {{FCC-LMS-Facility|39746|3=WOIO (DRT)}}
| Akron || 18 || 15&nbsp;kW || {{convert|575.7|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} || 39746 || {{coord|41|3|52.7|N|81|34|58.3|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=WOIO (DRT)}}
|}

{{Maplink|frame=yes|frame-width=600|frame-align=left|frame-height=450|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/WOIO}}|text={{ubl|Grade A signal contours for WOIO and associated translators, repeaters and simulcasts.|{{legend-col |{{legend|#d4130b|WOIO 19.1 Shaker Heights}} |{{legend|#ff4500|WOIO (DRT) 19.1 Akron}} |{{legend|#243746|WTCL-LD 19.10 Cleveland}} |{{legend|#0000ff|WOHZ-CD 19.10 Canton}} |{{legend|#2E7734|W28FG-D 19.10 Akron}} }}}}}}{{clear}}

=== Analog-to-digital conversion ===
WOIO ended regular programming on its analog signal, over UHF channel 19, on June 12, 2009, as part of the [[Digital television transition in the United States|federally mandated transition from analog to digital television]]. The station's digital signal continued to broadcast on its pre-transition [[VHF]] channel 10.<ref>{{cite web |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=March 24, 2012}}</ref><ref name="AkronB20090609p A001">{{Cite news |last=Heldenfels |first=Rich |date=June 9, 2009 |title=Stay tuned for fallout of digital TV deadline |pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111726551/stay-tuned-for-fallout-of-digital-tv/ A6] |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |location=Akron, Ohio |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111726524/stay-tuned-for-fallout-of-digital-tv/ |access-date=October 21, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com |archive-date=October 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221021191921/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/111726524/stay-tuned-for-fallout-of-digital-tv/ |url-status=live }}</ref> This frequency occasionally creates [[co-channel interference]] with [[CFPL-DT]] (channel 10) in [[London, Ontario]], during [[temperature inversion]] and [[tropospheric propagation|tropo skip]] events.

Since January 8, 2018, at 2:01&nbsp;a.m., WOIO has operated in a [[channel sharing]] arrangement with WUAB.<ref>{{cite news |title=Attention WUAB CLE 43/Bounce TV Viewers |url=http://www.cleveland19.com/story/35180056/cleveland-19-news-for-roku |url-status=live |access-date=December 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209100225/http://www.cleveland19.com/story/35180056/cleveland-19-news-for-roku |archive-date=December 9, 2017}}</ref>{{r|WUABWOIOshare}} This occurred after WUAB sold their over-the-air spectrum in the FCC's [[2016 United States wireless spectrum auction|spectrum reallocation auction]] on February 17, 2017,<ref name="WUABSpectrum">{{unbulleted list citebundle|{{Cite web |last=Eggerton |first=John |date=February 17, 2017 |title=Raycom Gives Up WUAB Spectrum |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/raycom-gives-wuab-spectrum-163439 |access-date=October 4, 2022 |website=Broadcasting & Cable |language=en |archive-date=April 12, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412164807/https://www.nexttv.com/news/raycom-gives-wuab-spectrum-163439 |url-status=live }}|{{Cite web |last=Eck |first=Kevin |date=February 17, 2017 |title=Raycom Issues Statement about Sole Station Sold in Spectrum Auction |url=https://adweek.it/3dSPC8e |access-date=October 4, 2022 |website=TV Spy |publisher=AdWeek.com |language=en-US |archive-date=October 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004222834/https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/raycom-issues-statement-about-sole-station-sold-in-spectrum-auction/186046/ |url-status=live }}}}</ref> for an undisclosed amount.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dawidziak |first=Mark |date=February 16, 2017 |title=Channel 43 will remain on the air; only its transmitter was sold |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |url=https://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/2017/02/channel_43_will_remain_on_the_air_only_its_transmitter_was_sold.html |url-status=live |access-date=September 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021190259/https://www.cleveland.com/tv-blog/2017/02/channel_43_will_remain_on_the_air_only_its_transmitter_was_sold.html |archive-date=October 21, 2021}}</ref> WUAB was the only station owned by Raycom to participate in the spectrum auction.{{r|WUABSpectrum}}

Both stations moved to WUAB's former tower in Parma in July 2024 with the installation of a new antenna as part of a larger signal upgrade.<ref name="g293">{{cite web |last=Bingel |first=Julia |date=June 6, 2024 |title=Helicopter installs WOIO-TV's giant new antenna in Parma |url=https://www.cleveland19.com/2024/06/06/helicopter-install-woio-tvs-giant-new-antenna-parma/ |access-date=August 28, 2024 |website=WOIO 19 News}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|https://www.cleveland19.com/}}
* {{Commons category-inline|WOIO}}

{{Cleveland TV}}
{{CBS Ohio}}
{{MNTV Ohio}}
{{Gray TV}}
[[Category:1985 establishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:CBS affiliates]]
[[Category:Defy (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Gray Media]]
[[Category:MeTV affiliates]]
[[Category:MyNetworkTV affiliates]]
[[Category:Shaker Heights, Ohio]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1985]]
[[Category:Television stations in Cleveland|OIO]]