What do the numbers 3, 5, and 8 have in common?
What started as 1 in 1947 and became 7 by 1985?
If you answered “Cleveland television” you’re on the right track.
Did you know that at one time Channel 3 was Channel 4, and Channel 8 was Channel 9?
Before cable, satellite, and streaming, television programs came “over the air” via broadcasted signals, similar to today’s wi-fi. Over-the-air signals still exist today by government mandate.
Let’s start with Channel 5, the oldest TV station in Cleveland, signing on December 17, 1947. The call letters W-E-W-S stand for “Edward Willis Scripps”, the parent company’s founder. The station has maintained its Channel 5 allocation to this day. Originally a CBS network affiliate with secondary affiliations with the ABC and DuMont networks, it became a primary ABC affiliate when CBS moved to WJW in 1955 (the DuMont network having ceased operations by this time).
Channel 3 signed on October 31, 1948, as WNBK, originally allocated to Channel 4. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reallocated channels in 1952 to avoid interference with TV stations in other cities, and Channel 4 became Channel 3. Originally an NBC network affiliate, a station trade was made with Westinghouse Electric Corporation and on February 13, 1956, WNBK, now known as KYW, became a Westinghouse affiliate for the next nine years. An FCC investigation eventually ordered the trade reversed, and, on June 19, 1965, Channel 3 again became an NBC affiliate with call letters WKYC.
Next up is WJW, originally known as WXEL, on the air December 19, 1949, and found on Channel 9. The aforementioned FCC reallocation switched them to Channel 8. WXEL was founded by the Empire Coil Company, manufacturer of radio coils and transformers. Network affiliation was primarily with DuMont and secondary affiliation with ABC. In 1955 WXEL was sold to Storer Broadcasting. Founder George Storer was on the board at CBS so no surprise that CBS affiliation went to WXEL. In 1956 call letters were changed to W-J-W to compliment their AM and FM radio stations. With the sale of WJW-AM radio to another owner the TV station had to change their call letters, so WJW-TV became WJKW. On September 16, 1985, WJW-TV reacquired it W-J-W moniker when WJW-AM changed its call letters. On September 3, 1994, WJW became the Fox network affiliate.
Thanks to a law passed in 1962 that all new televisions be manufactured with UHF tuners by 1964 it would become possible to tune in stations on the UHF band (14-83). UHF converters could be purchased for TVs having only VHF tuners (2-13). And UHF channels did come to Cleveland.
WVIZ, Channel 25, signed on February 7, 1965, as Cleveland’s first educational television station, bringing non-commercial television to the Cleveland market. WVIZ was committed to bringing instructional programming as well as children’s programs, arts, and local history. It is affiliated with PBS, Public Broadcasting Service.
January 19,1968, saw the sign-on of WKBF-TV, Channel 61, owned and operated by Kaiser Broadcasting. Kaiser focused on local programming and reruns of popular shows including Star Trek and the Three Stooges. WKBF acquired talent from other stations including Bill Gordon, Linn “Barnaby” Sheldon, Nev Chandler, and John Herrington. They even had their own version of the popular WJW character Ghoulardi, known as “The Ghoul”, hosted by Ron Sweed. The lack of network affiliation and poor ratings from what programming was available, and competition from other UHF stations, resulted in the demise of WKBF, signing off for the last time April 8, 1975. Channel 61 now operates as Spanish language station WQHS.
WUAB-TV, Channel 43, signed on September 14, 1968, owned by United Artists Broadcasting. Better programing, ties to sports events broadcasts, and news programing gave WUAB the upper hand over WKBF Channel 61. Today, WUAB is affiliated with the CW Network.
WOIO, Channel 19, is a late-comer to the Cleveland market, signing on May 19, 1985. The programming angle at the time was older TV shows and movies that people remembered and enjoyed. On October 9, 1986, WOIO joined the Fox network. And, of course, the famous network swap where on September 3, 1994, WJW became a Fox affiliate and WOIO joined CBS.
Cleveland broadcasting has had a rich and varied history, and no one better to tell that history than Mike Olszewski, longtime Cleveland broadcasting personality. Mike is an award-winning radio/TV journalist. He is the curator and archivist for the Ohio Broadcast Archive and Museum; and instructor in media and communications at Cleveland State, Kent State, University of Akron, and Notre Dame College. Mike has authored several books on Cleveland broadcasting in collaboration with his wife Janice.
Who told you to “schmile” at everybody? Who said you can’t fool Mom? Who’s program opened with Robert Farnon’s “The Clear Fountain”? And what did Ray Stawiarski, J. Clayton Conroy, Ron Penfound, and Linn Sheldon have in common?
Mike will be answering these questions and others in a two-part program Tuesday, July 11, at the Macedonia Community Room, Macedonia City Hall, 9691 Valley View Road, Macedonia, from 7:00pm until 10:00pm. Admission is $5.00. Mike will be speaking about his two books: From Captain Penny to Superhost, recounting children’s programing in Northeast Ohio; and Smoky, Sweaty, Rowdy, and Loud, about Cleveland’s legendary rock and roll landmarks. Mike will have rare photographs and artifacts on display. He’ll also have his books available for purchase. A question-and-answer period will follow his talk.
Mike Olszewski is presented through the courtesy of the Longwood Manor Historical Society.
