Editing WOIO (section)

=== 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>