Editing WOIO (section)

=== 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>