An Ohio television station licensed to Lorain and serving the Cleveland area.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
WUAB is a television station licensed to Lorain, Ohio, and serving the wider Cleveland metropolitan area. Although its license city is Lorain, the station operates as part of the Cleveland television market and shares facilities, personnel, and infrastructure with sister stations owned by Gray Media. The station is associated with channel 43 branding and currently operates as an independent outlet, with its schedule centered on local news, sports, syndicated programming, films, and other acquired content. WUAB also transmits through a channel-sharing arrangement using the full-power spectrum of sister station WOIO, while transmitter facilities are shared in Parma, a Cleveland suburb. The station was established by United Artists Broadcasting, the television arm of the United Artists film studio, and began broadcasting on September 15, 1968. Its call sign was derived from United Artists Broadcasting. WUAB entered the market eight months after Kaiser Broadcasting launched WKBF-TV, creating a high-profile contest between two commercially well-financed UHF independent stations. At first, WUAB operated under difficult conditions: its permanent studios were not yet complete, and some early operations were conducted from temporary facilities in Parma and borrowed studio space. The station initially emphasized feature films, including the UA Star Movie showcase, but its competitive position improved as it added sports, children's programming, local personalities, hosted movie programs, and other distinctive schedule elements. By 1971, WUAB had overcome WKBF-TV in audience and advertiser support and had become one of the highest-rated UHF independent stations in the United States. Its local identity was strengthened by personalities such as Linn Sheldon, who revived Barnaby on WUAB, Marty Sullivan, who developed the Superhost character for Mad Theatre, Jack Reynolds, and Alice Weston. Sports became another defining part of the station's identity. WUAB carried college sports and professional events, including Cleveland Barons, Cleveland Cavaliers, and later Cleveland Indians telecasts. The station's regional cable distribution also expanded, allowing its programming and sports coverage to reach viewers beyond the immediate Cleveland market. In 1975, the station absorbed much of the programming and technical assets of WKBF-TV after Kaiser decided to close that station, leaving WUAB as Cleveland's dominant UHF independent. United Artists sold WUAB to Gaylord Broadcasting in 1976. Under Gaylord, the station continued to develop its sports profile and cable footprint, including important contracts for Indians and Cavaliers broadcasts. The arrival of additional independent stations in the 1980s increased competition, however, and WUAB eventually lost the Cavaliers rights to WOIO. Gaylord later sold the station to Stephen J. Cannell's company in 1990. Malrite Communications, the owner of WOIO, assumed operational control of WUAB through a local marketing agreement in 1994. This arrangement coincided with WOIO becoming Cleveland's CBS affiliate and enabled the two stations to coordinate news operations. WUAB was associated with both UPN and The WB at the start of the network era, became an exclusive UPN affiliate, and then joined MyNetworkTV when UPN ceased operations in 2006. It affiliated with The CW in 2018. Raycom Media acquired WUAB outright in 2000 through its acquisition of Malrite's successor interests. Gray Television, now Gray Media, acquired Raycom in 2019 and retained WUAB alongside WOIO and other Cleveland-area stations. The station's Cleveland broadcast group later expanded with the addition of Telemundo affiliate WTCL-LD in 2022 and WOHZ-CD, associated with Rock Entertainment Sports Network, in 2024. In 2025, WUAB dropped The CW affiliation and returned to an independent format featuring additional local news and sports programming, while continuing MyNetworkTV-supplied syndicated programming. WUAB therefore represents a long-running Cleveland-area television brand whose identity has shifted from film-led independent station to sports and local-programming outlet, network affiliate, and, most recently, independent station within a larger regional media group.
History
WUAB's origins date to a United Artists Broadcasting application for a Cleveland-area UHF television license. United Artists initially pursued a Cleveland allocation and later amended its plans to seek a channel serving Lorain, after which the channel assignment was changed to 43. The Federal Communications Commission awarded construction permits to United Artists and Superior Broadcasting in 1966. Superior's permit ultimately led to the launch of WKBF-TV, while United Artists proceeded with WUAB. WUAB signed on September 15, 1968, as the second commercial UHF independent station to enter the Cleveland market that year. Its temporary operating arrangements reflected the difficulty of launching a new station before permanent facilities were ready. The station used transmitter infrastructure in Parma and operated portions of its early production from temporary or borrowed facilities. Permanent studios were completed in 1969. WUAB's initial schedule relied heavily on films, but the station quickly differentiated itself through hosted movie programs, children's television, sports, public affairs, and local personalities. The competitive struggle with WKBF-TV defined WUAB's early years. WUAB benefited from a strong film inventory and increasingly recognizable local talent, while WKBF-TV encountered financial and operating difficulties. By 1971, WUAB was the leading UHF independent in Cleveland and among the highest-rated UHF independents in the country. Its hosts and characters, including Linn Sheldon's Barnaby and Marty Sullivan's Superhost, helped create a local identity that went beyond syndicated programming. When Kaiser announced the closure of WKBF-TV in 1975, WUAB acquired much of the station's programming and technical assets and expanded its reach on cable systems outside Cleveland. United Artists then sold WUAB to Gaylord Broadcasting in 1976. Gaylord maintained the station's independent format while expanding its sports and cable presence. Indians and Cavaliers broadcasts became central to the station's regional appeal, and WUAB also carried other college and professional sports. Increasing competition from new independent stations in the 1980s raised programming costs and pressured advertising rates, and WOIO eventually secured the Cavaliers rights. Gaylord sold WUAB to Cannell Communications in 1990. In 1994, Malrite Communications, owner of WOIO, began operating WUAB under a local marketing agreement. The arrangement connected the stations operationally and supported WOIO's transition to CBS. WUAB participated in the changing U.S. network landscape, serving first as a charter affiliate associated with UPN and The WB, then as an exclusive UPN affiliate, and later as a MyNetworkTV affiliate after UPN closed in 2006. Raycom Media acquired the station outright in 2000. Gray Television's 2019 acquisition of Raycom brought WUAB into Gray's portfolio. Gray's Cleveland group subsequently added WTCL-LD in 2022 and WOHZ-CD in 2024. WUAB affiliated with The CW in 2018 but dropped that affiliation in 2025, returning to an independent schedule focused more heavily on local news, sports, and syndicated programming. The station continues to operate as part of a Cleveland-area cluster from shared facilities in Downtown Cleveland and uses a channel-sharing arrangement with WOIO.
- 2025
Returns to independent operation
[1]WUAB drops The CW and expands local news and sports programming while retaining MyNetworkTV-supplied content.
- 2019
Gray adds WUAB through Raycom transaction
[1]Gray Television acquires Raycom Media, including WUAB and WOIO.
- 2018
The CW affiliation begins
[1]WUAB becomes a CW affiliate.
- 2006
MyNetworkTV affiliation
[1]WUAB joins MyNetworkTV after the end of UPN.
- 2000
Raycom acquires WUAB outright
[1]Raycom Media acquires the station as part of the consolidation of Malrite's broadcast assets.
- 1994
Malrite local marketing agreement begins
[1]Malrite begins operating WUAB alongside WOIO.
- 1990
Cannell acquisition
[1]Cannell Communications purchases WUAB from Gaylord Broadcasting.
- 1980
Builds a major professional-sports schedule
[1]WUAB carries Cleveland Indians and Cavaliers telecasts, strengthening its regional sports role.
- 1976
Sold to Gaylord Broadcasting
[1]Gaylord Broadcasting purchases WUAB from United Artists.
- 1975
Absorbs WKBF-TV assets
[1]Following WKBF-TV's closure, WUAB acquires much of its programming and technical inventory.
Products and positioning
A Cleveland-area local television station combining regional news, sports, syndicated entertainment, and over-the-air broadcast distribution.
Television news · 1988
Local news programming
News programming produced for the Cleveland market, including local reporting and coverage coordinated with the station's sister-station operations. News became a formal part of WUAB's business more prominently after the station established a news department in 1988 and later shared resources with WOIO.
Sports broadcasting · 1972
Cleveland sports telecasts
Regional sports broadcasts have been a central part of WUAB's identity. The station has carried Cleveland Indians and Cleveland Cavaliers games, as well as other professional and collegiate sports, and has used sports rights to extend its reach across the Cleveland region and neighboring cable systems.
Network television · 2006
MyNetworkTV programming
WUAB has continued to carry MyNetworkTV-supplied syndicated programming after its 2025 departure from The CW. This content complements local news, sports, and other independently scheduled programming.
Entertainment television · 1968
Feature-film programming
Films were a major part of WUAB's original independent-station schedule, reflecting its ownership by United Artists. Early showcases such as UA Star Movie and other hosted movie blocks helped the station compete for viewers before the growth of large syndicated entertainment libraries.
Brand decisions
2025
Drop The CW and expand local programmingStrategyBackground
Gray revised WUAB's schedule and distribution strategy after the station's CW affiliation period.
Action taken
WUAB dropped The CW and added further local news and sports programming, with MyNetworkTV syndication also retained.
Aftermath
The station resumed an independent format within Gray's Cleveland station group.
2018
Switch to The CWStrategyBackground
WUAB changed its network affiliation during the continuing realignment of Cleveland television outlets.
Action taken
The station became a CW affiliate.
Aftermath
WUAB held the affiliation until 2025, when it returned to independent operation.
2006
Join MyNetworkTVStrategyBackground
The closure of UPN required WUAB to select a new network relationship.
Action taken
WUAB affiliated with MyNetworkTV and carried its programming after UPN ended.
Aftermath
The station remained a network-linked outlet until its later affiliation with The CW in 2018.
1994
Enter a local marketing agreement with MalriteStrategyBackground
Malrite owned WOIO and needed an operating relationship with WUAB as WOIO transitioned to CBS affiliation.
Action taken
Malrite assumed operational control of WUAB while coordinating the station with WOIO.
Aftermath
The two stations developed shared news and operational resources; Raycom later acquired WUAB outright.
1975
Acquire WKBF-TV programming and technical assetsM&ABackground
Kaiser Broadcasting determined that the Cleveland market could not sustain two financially successful UHF independent stations and announced the closure of WKBF-TV.
Action taken
WUAB acquired substantial programming and technical assets from WKBF-TV and replaced it on some out-of-market cable systems.
Aftermath
WUAB became the dominant UHF independent station in the Cleveland market and expanded its regional distribution.
Sources2 sources
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