WXIX-TV
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WXIX-TV ,"FOX19", is the FOX affiliate serving Cincinnati, Ohio, and is licensed to Newport, Kentucky. It broadcasts its analog signal on UHF channel 19 and its digital signal on channel 29. Its transmitter is located in Cincinnati. WXIX is currently owned by Raycom Media.
The station offers first-run syndicated programming and sports from FOX, news, talk shows, reality TV, court shows, off-network sitcoms, and dramas. It also offers about 29 hours of local news programming a week.
The station's digital channel is multiplexed:
| Channel | Programming |
|---|---|
| 29.1 / 19.1 | Main WXIX programming |
| 29.2 / 19.2 | The Tube Music Network |
History
The station began operation on August 1, 1968 as WNOP-TV, owned by James Lang and partners. It was the first new commercial station in the market since 1949, and the second UHF station in the area (behind PBS member WCET). Channel 19 was sold to US Communications in 1970 and its callsign was changed to WSCO. Metromedia purchased the station in 1971 and changed the calls to WXIX-TV, named after the Roman numerals for "19".
Metromedia's deep pockets helped WXIX develop as a strong-performing general entertainment independent station, airing cartoons, off-network sitcoms, first-run talk shows, dramas, movies and talk shows. After nearly a decade on air, it finally received competition in 1980 with the launch of WBTI (channel 64, now WSTR-TV), which ran general entertainment and religious programing before 6 p.m., and subscription TV at night. However, that competition was short-lived, ending when WBTI became a full-time subscription station by 1982. The over-air subscription TV pheonomeon occurred in larger markets in the U.S. where cable had yet to penetrate city centers before the late 1980s.
Malrite Broadcasting bought channel 19 in 1983. It remained the leading independent station in the market, even after WBTI returned to full-time general entertainment programming in 1986. By that time, WXIX became a charter affiliate of the FOX network. The station changed its on-air branding from "19xix" to "FOX19" in 1996.
The station launched a 10 p.m. newscast in 1993 and a morning newscast in 1997. It also aired a newscast at 11:30 a.m. during the late 1990s. WXIX partners with UPN-affiliate WBQC-TV to air channel 19's evening newscast during the UC Bearcats basketball season.
In 1998 all Malrite's TV stations, including WXIX, were acquired by Raycom Media, which still owns WXIX today.
Trivia
WXIX and sister stations WTNZ in Knoxville, Tennessee and WFLX in West Palm Beach, Florida are the only three Raycom-owned stations to use the true "Fox" logo on its branded logos. WXIX and WFLX also have their Fox logos "tilted" in their own box.
As one of Ohio's two founding Fox affiliates, WXIX is the state's longest-serving Fox affiliate due to the other founding Fox station in Ohio--and sister station--WOIO in Cleveland trading networks with WJW.
While WXIX-TV was running test transmissions before its inaugural broadcast, the station intermittantly aired "mini-shows" featuring The Larry Smith Puppets promoting the sale of UHF converters which can be used with pre-1964 television sets which were only equipped to receive VHF signals at the time. Larry Smith and his puppets (a witch named "Battie Hattie from Cincinnati" and her dog "Snarfy" among other characters) later hosted a daytime children's program in the weekday afternoons for several years. Afterward,"The Cool Ghoul" played by the late Dick Van Hoeneknown for his weekend late night sci-fi/monster movie program "Scream-In" also hosted a weekday children's show in the afternoons.
Though WXIX-TV is licensed to Newport,Kentucky,both the studios and its transmitter reside in Cincinnati,Ohio.
Newscasts
- Fox19 Morning News at 4:30 (4:30–5 AM), Fox19 Morning News at Five (5–6 AM), Fox19 Morning News at Six (6–7 AM), Fox19 Morning News (7–9 AM)
- Sheila Gray, Rob Williams, Dan Carroll, Paul Horton (weather) Bruce Davis (traffic)
- Ten O'Clock News (10–11 PM Monday–Thursday)
- Jack Atherton, Tricia Macke, Brian Giesenschlag (sports), Betsy Ross (sports)
- Ten O'Clock News (10–10:45 PM Friday, 10–10:30 PM Saturday and Sunday)
- Regina Russo (on leave), Valerie Abati (weather), Brian Giesenschlag (sports), Betsy Ross (sports)
Fox19's weather department is in a state of transition due to the firing of Rich Apuzzo.