WLWT

WLWT. It is a television station licensed to Cincinnati, Ohio, and serves as the market's primary outlet for the NBC television network. Owned by Hearst Television, the station broadcasts from studios located in the Mount Auburn neighborhood and transmits its signal from a tower in the Queensgate area. WLWT holds the distinction of being the first television station in Ohio and one of the earliest in the nation, pioneering color broadcasting and local news programming in the Midwestern United States.

History

The station's origins trace back to the experimental station W8XCT, licensed to the Crosley Broadcasting Corporation in 1939. It officially signed on the air on February 9, 1948, as a primary NBC affiliate, a relationship it maintained until 1961. During its early years, it also carried programming from ABC and the DuMont Television Network. In a major shift, the station switched its primary affiliation to CBS in 1961 following a complex network realignment involving WCPO-TV and WKRC-TV. This period coincided with ownership changes, as Crosley was acquired by Avco in 1965, forming Avco Broadcasting. The station was purchased by Hearst in 1978. After 35 years with CBS, WLWT rejoined NBC in 1996 as part of a larger affiliation swap orchestrated by the network's then-owner, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, which also affected WCPO-TV and WKRC-TV.

Programming

As an NBC affiliate, WLWT carries the network's full lineup of programming, including morning show Today, nightly newscast NBC Nightly News, and a slate of primetime series, late-night shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and sports coverage such as Sunday Night Football. The station produces a significant amount of local programming, most notably its long-running midday talk and information show, which has aired under various titles for decades. WLWT also broadcasts syndicated programming, which has historically included popular series like Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!. The station was a technological pioneer, becoming the first in Cincinnati to broadcast all of its local newscasts in high definition.

News operation

WLWT operates one of the most extensive local news departments in the Cincinnati market, producing over 30 hours of news programming each week. Its newscasts consistently compete for ratings leadership against rivals WCPO-TV, WKRC-TV, and WXIX-TV. The station has invested heavily in weather coverage, maintaining the branded "Storm Team" and utilizing advanced radar technology. Its commitment to investigative journalism has been recognized with numerous awards, including regional Emmy Awards and honors from the Ohio Associated Press. WLWT was also an early adopter of digital newsgathering and maintains a robust online and mobile news presence.

Technical information

The station broadcasts on virtual channel 5, mapping to UHF physical channel 35 under the ATSC 3.0 standard. Its transmitter is located at the WCET tower site in the Queensgate section of Cincinnati. WLWT's signal covers a large portion of the Tri-State area, reaching into southeastern Indiana and northern Kentucky. The station is multiplexed with several subchannels, including a feed of Cozi TV and a local weather radar channel. WLWT was a leader in the transition to digital television, completing its switch in 2009.

Notable alumni

Many prominent broadcast journalists and personalities began their careers or spent significant time at WLWT. This includes Nick Clooney, a renowned anchor and father of actor George Clooney; Jerry Springer, who was a political commentator and anchor before hosting The Jerry Springer Show; and Al Schottelkotte, a legendary news anchor who dominated the market for decades. Other notable figures include sportscaster Andy Furman and meteorologist Tim Hedrick, who became well-known faces in the region. The station also served as an early career stop for network journalists like Catherine Crier of Court TV and CNN.