WBQC-LD

WBQC-LD is a low-power television station serving Cincinnati, Ohio, and surrounding communities. The station broadcasts on digital channel 25 and is affiliated with Telemundo, providing Spanish-language network programming to the Cincinnati market. It is owned by Gray Media and operates alongside Gray's Cincinnati Fox affiliate, WXIX-TV, and weather-focused station WZCD-LD. The stations share facilities at 19 Broadcast Plaza in the Queensgate neighborhood west of downtown Cincinnati, while WBQC-LD's transmitter is located on Symmes Street in Mount Auburn. The station was established by Elliott Block, who left employment with the City of Cincinnati in 1989 to build a video-production and equipment-rental business. He launched the station on September 29, 1990, under the call sign W25AI. Initially branded TV 25, it served a relatively small area from a transmitter on Dollar Bill's Saloon in Corryville. Its early schedule combined older films, discontinued television series, infomercials, programming from the Star Television Network, and music videos supplied by Hit Video USA. A power increase in 1993 expanded coverage across the Interstate 275 loop and helped the station gain recognition in local television listings. Channel 25 became a WB affiliate in September 1995 and adopted the WBQC-LP call sign, commonly interpreted as WB Queen City. After losing that affiliation during a broader network realignment in 1997, the station operated independently for a period, carrying selected NBC programs that WLWT-TV did not schedule, as well as sports and syndicated programming. WBQC later became a UPN affiliate in September 1998. Its history during the UPN period was closely tied to the challenge of obtaining distribution on cable and satellite systems. The station argued that its local relevance warranted carriage even though federal must-carry rules did not give Class A stations the same status as full-power broadcasters. It eventually secured distribution on several systems, although carriage in the Cincinnati Time Warner Cable system remained limited and contested for years. In January 2004, the station exchanged channel assignments with WOTH-LP and moved from channel 25 to channel 38, adopting the UPN38 brand. The change allowed it to operate with a stronger signal while avoiding interference with stations in nearby markets. When UPN and The WB shut down in 2006, Cincinnati's new CW affiliation went to a digital subchannel of WKRC-TV rather than WBQC. The station therefore became independent and gradually replaced network programming with syndicated and archival entertainment. It also experienced further changes in cable placement and branding during the transition to digital broadcasting. In November 2008, WBQC began using the on-air identity WKRP-TV, referencing the Cincinnati-set television sitcom. The legal call sign did not change. The station later expanded its digital multicast offering, carried several subchannels through Cincinnati Bell's FiOptics service, and used programming from services including Retro Television Network, Cozi TV, This TV, and getTV at different points. Before becoming primarily a network outlet, WBQC also produced locally oriented shows involving music, commentary, films, talk, religious programming, and talent showcases. Following Block's death in 2019, Gray Television announced an agreement to acquire the station in 2022. The transaction closed on November 21, 2022, making WBQC-LD a sister station of WXIX-TV. On July 27, 2023, WBQC-LD became Cincinnati's Telemundo affiliate. The affiliation change also reorganized its multicast services, moved Cozi TV and This TV to other subchannels, and ended getTV carriage so that the primary Telemundo service could be upgraded to high-definition transmission. WBQC-LD remains an active local broadcast outlet with a history spanning independent television, two former major network affiliations, local programming, digital multicast services, and its current Spanish-language network role.

WBQC-LD began broadcasting on September 29, 1990, as W25AI, a low-power station founded by Elliott Block. The original TV 25 service used a transmitter in Corryville and carried a mixture of older movies, discontinued series, infomercials, Star Television Network content, and music videos. A 1993 power increase broadened coverage to much of the Cincinnati area. The station entered network television in 1995 as a WB affiliate, changing its calls to WBQC-LP. It lost that affiliation in 1997 after a market realignment involving WSTR-TV, then operated independently until joining UPN in 1998. Distribution was a persistent business issue. WBQC sought cable and satellite carriage and promoted its local relevance despite lacking the full must-carry rights of a full-power station. It eventually appeared on multiple local and regional systems, although negotiations with major Cincinnati providers were prolonged. In 2001, the station became a Class A outlet, gaining additional regulatory protection but not automatic cable carriage. In 2004, it moved to channel 38 after exchanging assignments with WOTH-LP and became known as UPN38. The station became independent again in 2006 when UPN and The WB ceased operations. Cincinnati's CW service was placed on WKRC-TV's digital subchannel, while WBQC relied on syndicated, archival, sports, and locally produced programming. Its cable position changed during this period, and in 2008 it adopted WKRP-TV as an on-air brand while retaining WBQC-LD as its legal call sign. The station expanded its digital and fiber distribution, including carriage of multiple subchannels through Cincinnati Bell's FiOptics service. Its multicast schedule at various times included Retro Television Network, Cozi TV, This TV, and getTV. Block died in 2019. Gray Television announced a purchase agreement in September 2022 and completed the transaction on November 21 of that year. WBQC-LD consequently became part of Gray's Cincinnati station cluster with WXIX-TV. On July 27, 2023, it adopted Telemundo as its primary network affiliation. The change repositioned the station toward Spanish-language programming and led to a restructuring of its multicast services, including the relocation of Cozi TV and This TV and the discontinuation of getTV to support a high-definition Telemundo service.

• 2023

  Telemundo launch

  [1]WBQC-LDen.wikipedia.org

  WBQC-LD becomes a Telemundo affiliate and upgrades its primary service to high definition.

• 2022

  Acquisition by Gray

  [1]WBQC-LDen.wikipedia.org

  Gray completes its acquisition of WBQC-LD on November 21.

• 2008

  WKRP-TV branding

  [1]WBQC-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station adopts WKRP-TV as its principal on-air identity.

• 2006

  Return to independence

  [1]WBQC-LDen.wikipedia.org

  WBQC becomes independent after the closure of UPN and The WB.

• 2004

  Move to channel 38

  [1]WBQC-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station moves from channel 25 to channel 38 and brands itself UPN38.

• 1998

  UPN affiliation

  [1]WBQC-LDen.wikipedia.org

  WBQC begins carrying UPN programming.

• 1995

  WB affiliation

  [1]WBQC-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station joins The WB and adopts the WBQC-LP call sign.

• 1993

  Coverage expansion

  [1]WBQC-LDen.wikipedia.org

  A power increase expands the station's service area to include the Interstate 275 loop.

• 1990

  First broadcast

  [1]WBQC-LDen.wikipedia.org

  W25AI begins broadcasting in Cincinnati under the TV 25 brand.

A locally rooted low-power broadcast station serving the Cincinnati market, currently positioned as a Spanish-language Telemundo outlet within Gray Media's local station group.

• Spanish-language network television · 2023

  Telemundo on WBQC-LD1

  WBQC-LD's principal service carries Telemundo programming for the Cincinnati market. The service represents the station's current primary business and editorial position, replacing its earlier independent and UPN-oriented schedules. The primary subchannel was upgraded to high-definition transmission when the affiliation began in 2023.

• Television programming · 1990

  Local and syndicated programming

  Before its Telemundo affiliation, WBQC offered a changing mix of syndicated entertainment, older films and series, sports, religious content, and locally produced programs. Examples included music entertainment, political and paranormal commentary, hosted kung-fu films, a music talent showcase, call-in talk, and a rebroadcast of a local newscast.

• 2008WKRP-TV rebranding

  Cincinnati

  WBQC promoted the WKRP-TV identity, drawing on the Cincinnati-set sitcom to distinguish the station and highlight its digital-broadcast transition.

  Outcome. The branding became a notable on-air identity, although WBQC-LD remained the station's legal call sign.

  Source

• 2023

  Switch to TelemundoStrategy

  Background

  The Gray-owned station was repositioned within the Cincinnati television market after its years as an independent and former UPN outlet.

  Action taken

  WBQC-LD became a Telemundo affiliate on July 27 and reorganized its digital multicast services.

  Aftermath

  The primary service moved to high definition, Cozi TV and This TV shifted to other subchannels, and getTV ended its carriage.

  Source

• 2022

  Sale to Gray TelevisionM&A

  Background

  After the death of founder Elliott Block, Gray sought to add the Cincinnati low-power station to its local broadcasting group.

  Action taken

  Gray announced the acquisition in September and completed it on November 21.

  Aftermath

  WBQC-LD became a sister station to Gray-owned WXIX-TV.

  purchase price. $2.5 million (announced September 28, 2022; transaction closed November 21, 2022)

  Source

• 2006

  Continue as an independent stationStrategy

  Background

  UPN and The WB were scheduled to close, while Cincinnati's CW affiliation was assigned to WKRC-TV's digital subchannel.

  Action taken

  WBQC retained its operation as an independent outlet and replaced network programming with syndicated, archival, sports, and local content.

  Aftermath

  The station remained active despite losing UPN and faced further cable-placement changes.

  Source

• 2004

  Move from channel 25 to channel 38Strategy

  Background

  The station sought a stronger operating position and a way to avoid interference with stations in nearby markets.

  Action taken

  WBQC exchanged channel assignments with WOTH-LP and adopted the UPN38 brand.

  Aftermath

  The move gave the station a stronger signal and a new identity during its UPN period.

  Source

1. 1WBQC-LDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WBQC-LD official websitewkrp.tv