WKRC-TV first signed on the air on April 4, 1949, originally operating as a CBS affiliate on VHF channel 11; it is Cincinnati's second-oldest television station, but the first to receive an FCC license. The station was owned by the Ohio-based Taft family, who were active in both politics and media. The Tafts published The Cincinnati Times-Star, and also owned WKRC radio (550 AM and 101.9 FM, now WKRQ) under their broadcasting subsidiary, Radio Cincinnati. In 1958, the Tafts sold the Times-Star to the locally based rival E. W. Scripps, owner of The Cincinnati Post and WCPO-AM-FM-TV.
1952–1961[]
1961–1969[]
1961–1966[]
In 1961, the station became an ABC affiliate, switching networks with WCPO-TV. This came after that network's founder Leonard Goldenson persuaded Taft president Hulbert Taft Jr., a longtime friend, to switch several of the company's stations to ABC. During the late 1950s, the station was also briefly affiliated with the NTA Film Network. WKRC's nickname in the 1960s was "Tall 12", a reference to the station's transmitter tower which was the tallest in Cincinnati at the time.
1966–1969[]
WKRC-TV ID from 1966
1969–1974[]
1974–1979[]
SVG NEEDED
1979–1987[]
WKRC Station ID (1982-1985)
Logo shown during sign-off
WKRC Station ID (1985-1986)
WKRC Station ID (1986-1987)
Eyewitness 12 News open (1979-1982)
Eyewitness 12 News Tonight open (1982-1985)
Eyewitness 12 News Open (1985-1986)
Eyewitness 12 News open (1986-1987)
1987–1992[]
In 1987, Taft was dissolved in a hostile takeover of its board and all of its stations (except sister station WTVN-TV in Columbus and WGHP-TV in High Point, North Carolina) were absorbed into Great American Broadcasting. In 1993, Great American Broadcasting became Citicasters shortly before filing for bankruptcy.
On June 3, 1996, WKRC's contract ended, and WKRC rejoined CBS while WCPO-TV rejoined ABC.
In September 1996, WKRC was acquired by Jacor after most of Citicasters' other television stations were sold to New World Communications, which had become involved in an affiliation deal with Fox that was announced in May 1994. The Jacor deal reunited channel 12 with its AM sister, which had been bought by Jacor in 1993 during Great American Broadcasting's bankruptcy reorganization. Jacor merged with Clear Channel Communications in 1998.
WKRC Station ID (1992-1994)
Home Improvement and Grace Under Fire promo.
Beatles ad.
Lois & Clark/The Beatles promo.
Indecent Proposal/Lois and Clark ad.
The Third Town.
Anne Tyler's Saint Maybe promo.
Calm at Sunset promo.
2004-2009[]
During this time, the 12 was italicized.
2004–2005 (primary) / 2005-2009 (secondary)[]
Although owned by Clear Channel at the time, the station changed its branding to "Local 12" in 2004. This was inspired by the "Local Mandate", a station brand standardization adopted by Post-Newsweek Stations for its own television stations.
In 2009, the numerical "12" logo was modified to remove the serif from the "1", making it resemble the logo used since 1990 by Phoenix NBC affiliate KPNX.
1Owned by Tennessee Broadcasting and operated by Sinclair under an outsourcing agreement. 2Nominally owned by Cunningham Broadcasting and operated by Sinclair under an LMA. However, trusts belonging to members of Sinclair's founding Smith family control almost all of Cunningham's stock. 3Operated by Nexstar Media Group under an LMA. 4Owned by Second Generation of Iowa, Ltd. and operated by Sinclair under a LMA. 5Owned by Manhan Media and managed by Sinclair. 6Owned by Howard Stirk Holdings, operated by Sinclair under an LMA. 7Owned by Mercury Broadcasting Company and operated by Sinclair. 8Owned by Deerfield Media and operated by Sinclair under an LMA. 9Owned by Roberts Media, but operated by Sinclair. 10Owned by Mitts Telecasting and operated by Sinclair. 11Owned by GOCOM Media and operated by Sinclair. 12Owned by Waitt Broadcasting, but operated by Sinclair under an SSA. 13Owned by Granite Broadcasting Corporation and operated by Sinclair through a JSA and SSA. 14Owned by New Age Media and operated by Sinclair under an MSA. 15Owned by MPS Media, but operated by New Age Media under an LMA. 16Owned by Diamond Sports Group, a joint venture of Sinclair and Entertainment Studios. 17Co-owned with Yankee Global Enterprises, The Blackstone Group, Amazon, RedBird Capital and Mubadala Investment Company. 18Co-owned with Chicago Cubs. 19Owned by Sinclair and operated by Jukin Media. 20Owned by Palm Television, L.P. and operated by Cunningham Broadcasting under an LMA.
Notes Stations are arranged alphabetically by state and territory, and based on the station's city of license or Designated Market Area. +Station carries CW programming on a digital subchannel, via The CW Plus. +1Local CW Plus affiliate operates as cable-only channel.