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{{short description|Defunct media conglomerate}}
{{Short description|American media conglomerate (1939–1999)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = Taft Broadcasting Company
| name = Taft Broadcasting Company
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| founded = {{Start date and age|1939}}
| founded = {{Start date and age|1939}}
| defunct = {{End date and age|1999}}
| defunct = {{End date and age|1999}}
| successors = [[iHeartMedia]]<br />[[Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution]]<br />([[Hanna-Barbera]] and pre-1991 [[Ruby-Spears]] library only)<br />[[Endemol Shine Australia]]<br />([[Endemol Australia|Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd.]]/Taft-Hardie Group Pty. Ltd. library only)<br />[[CBS Media Ventures]]<br />([[Worldvision Enterprises]] library only)
| successors = Radio:<br />[[iHeartMedia]]<br />Library:<br />[[Warner Bros. Television Studios#Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution|Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution]]<br />([[Hanna-Barbera]] and pre-1991 [[Ruby-Spears]] library only)<br />[[Endemol Shine Australia]]<br />([[Endemol Australia|Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd.]]/Taft-Hardie Group Pty. Ltd. library only)<br />[[CBS Media Ventures]]<br />{{small|(through [[Spelling Television]])}}<br />([[Worldvision Enterprises]] library only)<br />[[Paramount Pictures]]<br />{{small|(through [[Republic Pictures|Melange Pictures]])}}<br />(Taft International Pictures library only)
| location_city = [[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, Ohio]]
| location_city = [[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, Ohio]]
| location_country = United States
| location_country = United States
| key_people =
| key_people =
}}
}}
'''Taft Broadcasting Company''' (also known as '''Taft Television and Radio Company, Incorporated''') was an American media conglomerate based in [[Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]].

The '''Taft Broadcasting Company''' (also known as '''Taft Television and Radio Company, Incorporated''') was an American media conglomerate based in [[Cincinnati]], [[Ohio]].


The company was rooted in the [[Taft family|family]] of [[William Howard Taft]], the 27th [[President of the United States]]. In 1879, William Howard's brother, [[Charles Phelps Taft]], purchased two afternoon newspapers in Cincinnati, ''The Times'' and ''The Cincinnati Daily Star'', merging them into the ''[[The Cincinnati Times-Star|Cincinnati Times-Star]]'' in 1880. It was during the tenure of the merged paper's second publisher, [[Hulbert Taft|Hulbert Taft Sr.]], son of Charles and William Howard's half-brother, Peter Rawson Taft II, that the newspaper also became involved in broadcasting.
The company was rooted in the [[Taft family|family]] of [[William Howard Taft]], the 27th [[President of the United States]]. In 1879, William Howard's brother, [[Charles Phelps Taft]], purchased two afternoon newspapers in Cincinnati, ''The Times'' and ''The Cincinnati Daily Star'', merging them into the ''[[The Cincinnati Times-Star|Cincinnati Times-Star]]'' in 1880. It was during the tenure of the merged paper's second publisher, [[Hulbert Taft|Hulbert Taft Sr.]], son of Charles and William Howard's half-brother, Peter Rawson Taft II, that the newspaper also became involved in broadcasting.
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The company was the owner of such major media and entertainment properties as [[Hanna-Barbera|Hanna-Barbera Productions]], [[Endemol Australia|Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd.]]/Taft-Hardie Group Pty. Ltd., [[Worldvision Enterprises]], [[Ruby-Spears|Ruby-Spears Productions]], [[Kings Entertainment Company|KECO Entertainment]] and many [[television station|television]] and [[radio station]]s. It also owned 50% of [[CIC Video]]'s [[Australia]]n operations, CIC-Taft Home Video.
The company was the owner of such major media and entertainment properties as [[Hanna-Barbera|Hanna-Barbera Productions]], [[Endemol Australia|Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd.]]/Taft-Hardie Group Pty. Ltd., [[Worldvision Enterprises]], [[Ruby-Spears|Ruby-Spears Productions]], [[Kings Entertainment Company|KECO Entertainment]] and many [[television station|television]] and [[radio station]]s. It also owned 50% of [[CIC Video]]'s [[Australia]]n operations, CIC-Taft Home Video.


The company went through a large reorganization period starting in the late 1980s with its acquisition by [[Carl Lindner, Jr.]] to become '''Great American Broadcasting'''. Shortly after filing for bankruptcy in 1993, it became '''Citicasters''' and was, in 1999, acquired by Clear Channel Communications, which was renamed [[iHeartMedia]] in 2014. Taft — as Citicasters — remained incorporated as a [[holding company]] within iHeartMedia<ref name=B&C>{{cite magazine|last=Albiniak|first=Paige|title=A Cloud Over Clear Channel; Petition says it controls stations through 'fronts,' including Ohio FM it seeks to buy|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/140615-A_Cloud_Over_Clear_Channel.php|access-date=20 April 2013|magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|date=November 25, 2001}}</ref> until 2020.<ref name="ir-citicasterseliminated">{{cite news|title=iHeart Retires Some Heritage Radio Corporate Names|url=http://www.insideradio.com/free/iheart-retires-some-heritage-radio-corporate-names/article_d8975f8e-4ff6-11eb-8981-47225a7826df.html|access-date=September 5, 2021|work=Inside Radio|date=January 6, 2021|language=en}}</ref>
The company went through a long reorganization period starting in 1987 with its acquisition by [[Carl Lindner, Jr.]] and renamed '''Great American Broadcasting'''. Shortly after filing for bankruptcy in 1993, it became '''Citicasters''' and was, in 1999, acquired by Clear Channel Communications, which was renamed [[iHeartMedia]] in 2014. Taft — as Citicasters — remained incorporated as a [[holding company]] within iHeartMedia<ref name=B&C>{{cite magazine|last=Albiniak|first=Paige|title=A Cloud Over Clear Channel; Petition says it controls stations through 'fronts,' including Ohio FM it seeks to buy|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/140615-A_Cloud_Over_Clear_Channel.php|access-date=20 April 2013|magazine=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|date=November 25, 2001}}</ref> until 2020.<ref name="ir-citicasterseliminated">{{cite news|title=iHeart Retires Some Heritage Radio Corporate Names|url=http://www.insideradio.com/free/iheart-retires-some-heritage-radio-corporate-names/article_d8975f8e-4ff6-11eb-8981-47225a7826df.html|access-date=September 5, 2021|work=Inside Radio|date=January 6, 2021|language=en}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
===1939–1959===
===1939–1959===
The Taft family's involvement in broadcasting began in 1939 as '''Radio Cincinnati, Inc.''', when the ''[[The Cincinnati Times-Star|Cincinnati Times-Star]]'' purchased [[WKRC (AM)|WKRC radio]] from [[CBS]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Times-Star buys WKRC, Cincinnati|magazine=Broadcasting - Broadcast Advertising|date=September 1, 1939|page=34|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/39-OCR/1939-09-01-BC-OCR-Page-0034.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=WKRC's transfer approved by FCC|magazine=Broadcasting - Broadcast Advertising|date=December 1, 1939|page=36|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/39-OCR/1939-12-01-BC-OCR-Page-0036.pdf}}</ref>
The Taft family's involvement in broadcasting began in 1939 as '''Radio Cincinnati, Inc.''', when the ''[[The Cincinnati Times-Star|Cincinnati Times-Star]]'' purchased [[WKRC (AM)|WKRC radio]] from [[CBS]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Times-Star buys WKRC, Cincinnati|magazine=Broadcasting - Broadcast Advertising|date=September 1, 1939|page=34}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=WKRC's transfer approved by FCC|magazine=Broadcasting - Broadcast Advertising|date=December 1, 1939|page=36}}</ref>


In April 1949, Taft's first TV station, [[WKRC-TV]] in Cincinnati, began broadcasting.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://local12.com/news/local/wkrc-celebrates-70th-anniversary-local12-local-12-1949-birthday-history-cincinnati-news-channel|title=WKRC celebrates 70th anniversary|last=WKRC|date=2019-04-03|website=WKRC|access-date=2020-01-29}}</ref>
In April 1949, Taft's first TV station, [[WKRC-TV]] in Cincinnati, began broadcasting.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://local12.com/news/local/wkrc-celebrates-70th-anniversary-local12-local-12-1949-birthday-history-cincinnati-news-channel|title=WKRC celebrates 70th anniversary|last=WKRC|date=2019-04-03|website=WKRC|access-date=2020-01-29}}</ref>


In 1951, in its first expansion outside Ohio, Radio Cincinnati acquired a 20 percent interest in WBIR-[[WIFA (AM)|AM]]-[[WIMZ|FM]] in [[Knoxville, Tennessee]] from father-and-son owners J. Lindsay and Gilmore Nunn.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Taft gets WBIR interest|magazine=Broadcasting - Telecasting|date=September 17, 1951|page=4|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/51-OCR/1951-09-17-BC-OCR-Page-0004.pdf}}</ref> A year-and-a-half later, the Taft family increased its stake to 30 percent when the Nunns sold additional shares in that station to Martha and Robert Ashe, John P. Hart, and Radio Cincinnati.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=FCC okays ownership shifts for KTHT, WBIR|magazine=Broadcasting - Telecasting|date=April 13, 1953|page=52|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/53-OCR/BC-1953-04-13-OCR-Page-0052.pdf}}</ref>
In 1951, in its first expansion outside Ohio, Radio Cincinnati acquired a 20 percent interest in WBIR-[[WIFA (AM)|AM]]-[[WIMZ|FM]] in [[Knoxville, Tennessee]] from father-and-son owners J. Lindsay and Gilmore Nunn.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Taft gets WBIR interest|magazine=Broadcasting - Telecasting|date=September 17, 1951|page=4}}</ref> A year-and-a-half later, the Taft family increased its stake to 30 percent when the Nunns sold additional shares in that station to Martha and Robert Ashe, John P. Hart, and Radio Cincinnati.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=FCC okays ownership shifts for KTHT, WBIR|magazine=Broadcasting - Telecasting|date=April 13, 1953|page=52}}</ref>


In 1953, Radio Cincinnati purchased WTVN-TV (now [[WSYX]]) in [[Columbus, Ohio]], from Picture-Waves, Inc., controlled by [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]] attorney and broadcaster [[Edward Lamb]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=TV station is purchased|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 13, 1953|page=32}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Taft buys WTVN for $1.5 million|magazine=Broadcasting|date=January 19, 1953|page=56|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/53-OCR/BC-1953-01-19-OCR-Page-0056.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=FCC approves WTVN (TV) sale from Lamb to Taft family|magazine=Broadcasting|date=March 2, 1953|page=54|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/53-OCR/BC-1953-03-02-OCR-Page-0054.pdf}}</ref>
In 1953, Radio Cincinnati purchased WTVN-TV (now [[WSYX]]) in [[Columbus, Ohio]], from Picture-Waves, Inc., controlled by [[Toledo, Ohio|Toledo]] attorney and broadcaster [[Edward Lamb]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=TV station is purchased|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 13, 1953|page=32}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Taft buys WTVN for $1.5 million|magazine=Broadcasting|date=January 19, 1953|page=56}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=FCC approves WTVN (TV) sale from Lamb to Taft family|magazine=Broadcasting|date=March 2, 1953|page=54}}</ref>


In 1954, the company bought WHKC radio in Columbus from United Broadcasting, then-owners of [[WHK (AM)|WHK]] in [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland]]; WHKC is renamed [[WTVN]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=WHKC bought by WTVN (TV), WKRC interests for $158,000|magazine=Broadcasting - Telecasting|date=April 19, 1954|page=7|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/54-OCR/1954-04-19-BC-OCR-Page-0007.pdf}}</ref>
In 1954, the company bought WHKC radio in Columbus from United Broadcasting, then-owners of [[WHK (AM)|WHK]] in [[Cleveland, Ohio|Cleveland]]; WHKC is renamed [[WTVN]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=WHKC bought by WTVN (TV), WKRC interests for $158,000|magazine=Broadcasting - Telecasting|date=April 19, 1954|page=7}}</ref>


In August 1956 [[WBIR-TV]] in Knoxville began broadcasting, under the same ownership structure as the WBIR radio stations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://casetext.com/case/radio-station-wbir-inc-v-commr-of-internal-revenue|title=Radio Station WBIR, Inc. v. Commissioner, 31 T.C. 803 {{!}} Casetext|website=casetext.com|access-date=2020-01-29}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=January 2020}}
In August 1956 [[WBIR-TV]] in Knoxville began broadcasting, under the same ownership structure as the WBIR radio stations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://casetext.com/case/radio-station-wbir-inc-v-commr-of-internal-revenue|title=Radio Station WBIR, Inc. v. Commissioner, 31 T.C. 803 {{!}} Casetext|website=casetext.com|access-date=2020-01-29}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=January 2020}}


In 1957, Radio Cincinnati purchased WBRC-[[WERC (AM)|AM]]-[[WBPT|FM]]-[[WBRC-TV|TV]] in [[Birmingham, Alabama]], from [[Storer Broadcasting]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=This week's receipts: $26 million|magazine=Broadcasting - Telecasting|date=April 8, 1957|pages=31–32|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1957/1957-04-08-BC.pdf}}</ref>
In 1957, Radio Cincinnati purchased WBRC-[[WERC (AM)|AM]]-[[WBPT|FM]]-[[WBRC-TV|TV]] in [[Birmingham, Alabama]], from [[Storer Broadcasting]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=This week's receipts: $26 million|magazine=Broadcasting - Telecasting|date=April 8, 1957|pages=31–32}}</ref>


In 1958, the ''Cincinnati Times-Star'' was merged into the ''[[Cincinnati Post]]'', published by the [[E.W. Scripps Company]]. Radio Cincinnati also purchased WKXP-TV in [[Lexington, Kentucky]], from local interests and changed its call letters to [[WKYT-TV]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Changing hands|magazine=Broadcasting|date=May 19, 1958|pages=88, 90|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1958/1958-05-19-BC.pdf}}</ref>
In 1958, the ''Cincinnati Times-Star'' was merged into the ''[[Cincinnati Post]]'', published by the [[E.W. Scripps Company]]. Radio Cincinnati also purchased WKXP-TV in [[Lexington, Kentucky]], from local interests and changed its call letters to [[WKYT-TV]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Changing hands|magazine=Broadcasting|date=May 19, 1958|pages=88, 90}}</ref>


In 1959, the company acquired the remaining 70 percent of WBIR-AM-FM-TV in Knoxville.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Changing hands|magazine=Broadcasting|date=October 12, 1959|page=54|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/59-OCR/1959-10-12-BC-OCR-Page-0054.pdf}}</ref> Also in 1959, the Taft family merged its broadcasting subsidiaries into one, using the '''Taft Broadcasting Company''' name.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Taft files with SEC to sell common stock|magazine=Broadcasting|date=June 15, 1959|page=66|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/59-OCR/1959-06-15-BC-OCR-Page-0066.pdf}}</ref> Subsidiaries WBRC, Inc. (WBRC-AM-FM-TV), WTVN, Inc. (WTVN-TV), Radio Cincinnati, Inc. (WKRC-AM-FM-TV and WKYT-TV), and Radio Columbus, Inc. (WTVN-AM-FM) were merged on June 23, 1959<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=For the record|magazine=Broadcasting|date=June 29, 1959|page=92|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/59-OCR/1959-06-29-BC-OCR-Page-0092.pdf}}</ref> and WBIR, Inc. (WBIR-AM-FM-TV) was merged on February 1, 1960.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=For the record|magazine=Broadcasting|date=February 8, 1960|page=98|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/60-OCR/BC-1960-02-08-OCR-Page-0098.pdf}}</ref>
In 1959, the company acquired the remaining 70 percent of WBIR-AM-FM-TV in Knoxville.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Changing hands|magazine=Broadcasting|date=October 12, 1959|page=54}}</ref> Also in 1959, the Taft family merged its broadcasting subsidiaries into one, using the '''Taft Broadcasting Company''' name.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Taft files with SEC to sell common stock|magazine=Broadcasting|date=June 15, 1959|page=66}}</ref> Subsidiaries WBRC, Inc. (WBRC-AM-FM-TV), WTVN, Inc. (WTVN-TV), Radio Cincinnati, Inc. (WKRC-AM-FM-TV and WKYT-TV), and Radio Columbus, Inc. (WTVN-AM-FM) were merged on June 23, 1959<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=For the record|magazine=Broadcasting|date=June 29, 1959|page=92}}</ref> and WBIR, Inc. (WBIR-AM-FM-TV) was merged on February 1, 1960.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=For the record|magazine=Broadcasting|date=February 8, 1960|page=98}}</ref>


===1960–1979===
===1960–1979===
[[File:Taftlogo.jpg|thumb|right|The Taft logo from 1959 to 1974.]]
[[File:Taftlogo.jpg|thumb|right|The Taft logo from 1959 to 1974.]]
In 1960, Taft launched WTVN-FM in Columbus (it is now [[WLVQ]]).<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Changing hands|magazine=Broadcasting|date=September 26, 1960|page=50|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/60-OCR/BC-1960-09-26-OCR-Page-0050.pdf}}</ref> A year later the company sold the WBIR stations in Knoxville to [[Multimedia (media company)|Multimedia Inc.]] of [[Greenville, South Carolina]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Principals complete WBIR-AM-TV transfer|magazine=Broadcasting|date=January 16, 1961|page=53|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/61-OCR/1961-01-16-BC-OCR-Page-0053.pdf}}</ref>
In 1960, Taft launched WTVN-FM in Columbus (it is now [[WLVQ]]).<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Changing hands|magazine=Broadcasting|date=September 26, 1960|page=50}}</ref> A year later the company sold the WBIR stations in Knoxville to [[Multimedia (media company)|Multimedia Inc.]] of [[Greenville, South Carolina]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Principals complete WBIR-AM-TV transfer|magazine=Broadcasting|date=January 16, 1961|page=53}}</ref>


In 1961, Taft signed a group affiliation deal with [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], converting all of the stations Taft had owned at that time, to the network. With WTVN-TV already an ABC affiliate, WBRC-TV, WKYT, and WKRC-TV switched to the network.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Taft stations switch to ABC-TV|magazine=Broadcasting|date=February 27, 1961|page=36|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/61-OCR/1961-02-27-BC-OCR-Page-0036.pdf}}</ref> This came after that network's founder [[Leonard Goldenson]] persuaded Taft president Hulbert Taft Jr., a longtime friend, to switch several of the company's stations to ABC.
In 1961, Taft signed a group affiliation deal with [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], converting all of the stations Taft had owned at that time, to the network. With WTVN-TV already an ABC affiliate, WBRC-TV, WKYT, and WKRC-TV switched to the network.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Taft stations switch to ABC-TV|magazine=Broadcasting|date=February 27, 1961|page=36}}</ref> This came after that network's founder [[Leonard Goldenson]] persuaded Taft president Hulbert Taft Jr., a longtime friend, to switch several of the company's stations to ABC.


In 1963, Taft purchased several stations from Transcontinent Television Corporation: [[KCSP (AM)|WDAF-AM]]-[[KCKC-FM|FM]]-[[WDAF-TV|TV]] in [[Kansas City, Missouri]], [[WGR|WGR-AM]]-[[WGRF|FM]]-[[WGRZ-TV|TV]] in [[Buffalo, New York]], and [[WNEP-TV]] in [[Scranton, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Transcontinent sale: Last of its kind?|magazine=Broadcasting|date=February 24, 1964|pages=27–28|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1964/1964-02-24-BC.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Radio-TV concern to sell stations|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 3, 1963|page=21}}</ref>
In 1963, Taft purchased several stations from Transcontinent Television Corporation: [[KCSP (AM)|WDAF-AM]]-[[KCKC-FM|FM]]-[[WDAF-TV|TV]] in [[Kansas City, Missouri]], [[WGR|WGR-AM]]-[[WGRF|FM]]-[[WGRZ-TV|TV]] in [[Buffalo, New York]], and [[WNEP-TV]] in [[Scranton, Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Transcontinent sale: Last of its kind?|magazine=Broadcasting|date=February 24, 1964|pages=27–28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Radio-TV concern to sell stations|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 3, 1963|page=21}}</ref>


In October 1966, Taft purchased the [[Hanna-Barbera]] cartoon studio from its founders, [[Joseph Barbera]], [[William Hanna]] and [[George Sidney]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Yogi and friends going to Taft|magazine=Broadcasting|date=October 31, 1966|page=78|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/66-OCR/1966-10-31-BC-OCR-Page-0078.pdf}}</ref> Several months later in April 1967, the firm sold WKYT-TV to a subsidiary of Kentucky Central Life Insurance Company.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Station sales total $10.7 million|magazine=Broadcasting|date=May 1, 1967|page=58|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/67-OCR/1967-05-01-BC-OCR-Page-0058.pdf}}</ref>
In October 1966, Taft purchased the [[Hanna-Barbera]] cartoon studio from its founders, [[Joseph Barbera]], [[William Hanna]] and [[George Sidney]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Yogi and friends going to Taft|magazine=Broadcasting|date=October 31, 1966|page=78}}</ref> Several months later in April 1967, the firm sold WKYT-TV to a subsidiary of Kentucky Central Life Insurance Company.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Station sales total $10.7 million|magazine=Broadcasting|date=May 1, 1967|page=58}}</ref>


On November 10, 1967, Taft Broadcasting president and chairman Hulbert Taft Jr. died in liquid propane gas-related explosion<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/100695069/?terms=Hulbert%2BTaft%2C%2BJr|title=Gas Leak May Have Caused Blast Killing Hulbert Taft Jr.|date=November 12, 1967|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|page=1}}</ref> in a bomb shelter he had built on his property in the Cincinnati suburb of Indian Hill.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/100693617/?terms=Hulbert%2BTaft%2C%2BJr|title=Hulbert Taft Jr. Killed as Blast Rips Shelter|date=November 11, 1967|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|page=1}}</ref> Days after his death, his son Dudley S. Taft replaced him on the firm's board of directors,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/100703851/?terms=Hulbert%2BTaft%2C%2BJr|title=Dudley S. Taft Named to Board|date=November 14, 1967|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|page=29}}</ref> and he eventually became head of the company.
On November 10, 1967, Taft Broadcasting president and chairman Hulbert Taft Jr. died in liquid propane gas-related explosion<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/100695069/?terms=Hulbert%2BTaft%2C%2BJr|title=Gas Leak May Have Caused Blast Killing Hulbert Taft Jr.|date=November 12, 1967|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|page=1}}</ref> in a bomb shelter he had built on his property in the Cincinnati suburb of Indian Hill.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/100693617/?terms=Hulbert%2BTaft%2C%2BJr|title=Hulbert Taft Jr. Killed as Blast Rips Shelter|date=November 11, 1967|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|page=1}}</ref> Days after his death, his son Dudley S. Taft replaced him on the firm's board of directors,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/100703851/?terms=Hulbert%2BTaft%2C%2BJr|title=Dudley S. Taft Named to Board|date=November 14, 1967|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|page=29}}</ref> and he eventually became head of the company.


In 1969, Taft purchased WIBF-TV in [[Philadelphia]] and changed its call letters to [[WTXF-TV|WTAF-TV]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=$20 million in TV sales approved|magazine=Broadcasting|date=May 12, 1969|page=48|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/69-OCR/1969-05-12-BC-OCR-Page-0048.pdf}}</ref> The FCC initially granted Taft a waiver to keep both WTAF-TV and WNEP-TV, but later reversed itself in 1973 (four years later), and Taft sold the Scranton outlet to the station's management, who formed NEP Communications.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Changing hands|magazine=Broadcasting|date=November 26, 1973|page=28|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/73-OCR/1973-11-26-BC-OCR-Page-0026.pdf}}</ref>
In 1969, Taft purchased WIBF-TV in [[Philadelphia]] and changed its call letters to [[WTXF-TV|WTAF-TV]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=$20 million in TV sales approved|magazine=Broadcasting|date=May 12, 1969|page=48}}</ref> The FCC initially granted Taft a waiver to keep both WTAF-TV and WNEP-TV, but later reversed itself in 1973 (four years later), and Taft sold the Scranton outlet to the station's management, who formed NEP Communications.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Changing hands|magazine=Broadcasting|date=November 26, 1973|page=28}}</ref> Also that year, the broadcasting group formed The Sy Fischer Company to produce television programming.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=September 8, 1980 |title=Under one roof |pages=38 |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]] |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/80-OCR/1980-09-08-BC-OCR-Page-0038.pdf |access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref>


In 1970, Taft formed Rhodes Productions, a television syndication arm for various independent TV programs, including those of Hanna-Barbera.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=New syndication firm goes under Taft banner|magazine=Broadcasting|date=March 2, 1970|page=55|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/70-OCR/1970-03-02-BC-OCR-Page-0055.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Jack Rhodes as Taft's New Syndie Bossman; Reeves Pilots Talkshow|date=March 11, 1970|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|page=52}}</ref>
In 1970, Taft formed [[Blair Entertainment|Rhodes Productions]], a television syndication arm for various independent TV programs, including those of Hanna-Barbera.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=New syndication firm goes under Taft banner|magazine=Broadcasting|date=March 2, 1970|page=55}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Jack Rhodes as Taft's New Syndie Bossman; Reeves Pilots Talkshow|date=March 11, 1970|magazine=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|page=52}}</ref>


In 1972, Taft opened its first theme park, [[Kings Island]], outside of Cincinnati. Taft owned five other theme parks through its [[KECO Entertainment]] division. WBRC radio and WBRC-FM in Birmingham are sold to Mooney Broadcasting.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Taft's WBRC-AM-FM sold for $2 million|magazine=Broadcasting|date=January 24, 1972|page=29|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/72-OCR/1972-01-24-BC-OCR-Page-0029.pdf}}</ref> In 1973, Taft sold WNEP-TV in Scranton to its management, called NEP Communications.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Changing hands|magazine=Broadcasting|date=November 26, 1973|page=28|url=http://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/73-OCR/1973-11-26-BC-OCR-Page-0026.pdf}}</ref>
In 1972, Taft opened its first theme park, [[Kings Island]], outside of Cincinnati. Taft owned five other theme parks through its [[KECO Entertainment]] division. WBRC radio and WBRC-FM in Birmingham are sold to Mooney Broadcasting.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Taft's WBRC-AM-FM sold for $2 million|magazine=Broadcasting|date=January 24, 1972|page=29}}</ref> Taft's Rhodes Productions subsidiary has hired John Pearson International as international backer of its programming.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 10, 1972 |title=Program notes |pages=94 |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]] |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/72-OCR/1972-04-10-BC-OCR-Page-0094.pdf |access-date=November 2, 2023}}</ref> In 1973, Taft sold WNEP-TV in Scranton to its management, called NEP Communications.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Changing hands|magazine=Broadcasting|date=November 26, 1973|page=28}}</ref>


In 1974, Taft acquired [[Top 40]] station [[KQV]] and [[Rock music|rock]] outlet [[WDVE]], both in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]], from [[Cumulus Media|ABC Radio]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Taft in, ABC out of Pittsburgh radio|magazine=Broadcasting|date=April 1, 1974|page=22|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/74-OCR/1974-04-01-BC-OCR-Page-0022.pdf}}</ref>
In 1974, Taft acquired [[Top 40]] station [[KQV]] and [[Rock music|rock]] outlet [[WDVE]], both in [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]], from [[Cumulus Media|ABC Radio]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Taft in, ABC out of Pittsburgh radio|magazine=Broadcasting|date=April 1, 1974|page=22}}</ref>


In 1975, a second theme park based on Kings Island, [[Kings Dominion]], opened outside of [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]]. Rhodes Productions was renamed to Taft, H-B Program Sales while Taft, H-B International was established as the new overseas television distribution arm for the company.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Fates & Fortunes|magazine=Broadcasting|date=May 19, 1975|page=68|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/75-OCR/1975-05-19-BC-OCR-Page-0068.pdf}}</ref> Rhodes was eventually revived two weeks later under [[Filmways]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Rhodes under Filmways flag|magazine=Broadcasting|date=May 26, 1975|page=33|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/75-OCR/1975-05-26-BC-OCR-Page-0033.pdf}}</ref> [[Carowinds]] in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]] was acquired by the company in 1975 from the Carowinds Corporation.
In 1975, a second theme park based on Kings Island, [[Kings Dominion]], opened outside of [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]]. Rhodes Productions was renamed to Taft, H-B Program Sales while Taft, H-B International was established as the new overseas television distribution arm for the company.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Fates & Fortunes|magazine=Broadcasting|date=May 19, 1975|page=68}}</ref> Rhodes was eventually revived two weeks later under [[Filmways]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Rhodes under Filmways flag|magazine=Broadcasting|date=May 26, 1975|page=33}}</ref> [[Carowinds]] in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]] was acquired by the company in 1975 from the Carowinds Corporation.


In 1979, Taft purchased [[WDCA|WDCA-TV]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] from the Superior Tube Company.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Taft's turn to buy WDCA-TV; price this time is $13.5 million|magazine=Broadcasting|date=May 1, 1978|page=50|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/78-OCR/1978-05-01-BC-OCR-Page-0052.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=FCC stays on course, just barely, with top-50 policy; grants waiver for Taft buy of WDCA-TV|magazine=Broadcasting|date=August 20, 1979|pages=25–26|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1979/BC-1979-08-20.pdf}}</ref> Around this same period, Taft also acquired independent distributor [[Worldvision Enterprises]] (formerly a division of ABC) and production company [[Quinn Martin#QM Productions|QM Productions]].
In 1979, Taft purchased [[WDCA|WDCA-TV]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] from the Superior Tube Company.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Taft's turn to buy WDCA-TV; price this time is $13.5 million|magazine=Broadcasting|date=May 1, 1978|page=50}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=FCC stays on course, just barely, with top-50 policy; grants waiver for Taft buy of WDCA-TV|magazine=Broadcasting|date=August 20, 1979|pages=25–26}}</ref> Around this same period, Taft also acquired independent distributor [[Worldvision Enterprises]] (formerly a division of ABC) and production company [[Quinn Martin#QM Productions|QM Productions]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117475065/taft-broadcasting-acquires-qm/|title=Taft Broadcasting acquires QM Productions (Page 1)|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |date=1 February 1979|pages=55|accessdate=17 March 2023|via=newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/117475180/taft-broadcasting-acquires-qm/|title=Taft Broadcasting acquires QM Productions (Page 2)|newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |date=1 February 1979|pages=56|accessdate=17 March 2023|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>


===1980–1987===
===1980–1987===
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<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Wcix-1984.png|175px|thumb|left|Station identification tag for [[WFOR-TV|WCIX]] from 1984, which also features the corporate logo for Taft Broadcasting.{{deletable image-caption|Tuesday, 24 November 2015}}]] -->
In 1980, Taft acquired [[Sunn Classic Pictures]] and two additional [[Schick (razors)|Schick]] divisions. Sunn Classic was reincorporated as '''Taft International Pictures'''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 14, 1980 |title=Bottom Line |pages=54 |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]] |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/80-OCR/1980-07-14-BC-OCR-Page-0054.pdf |access-date=October 22, 2023}}</ref> In 1981, two Taft executives launched Jensen Farley Pictures to purchase the company's distribution assets, while in 1982, the company name was reverted back to Sunn Classic Pictures.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hollinger |first=Hy |date=November 18, 1982 |title=Jensen Farley Pictures Wants To Fill Niche Once Held By Avco and Filmways |pages=1, 22 |work=[[Daily Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 26, 1982 |title=Monitor |pages=83 |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]] |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/82-OCR/1982-04-26-BC-OCR-Page-0083.pdf |access-date=October 22, 2023}}</ref>
In 1980, Taft acquired [[Sunn Classic Pictures]] and two additional [[Schick (razors)|Schick]] divisions. Sunn Classic was reincorporated as '''Taft International Pictures''' and QM Productions was reincorporated into '''Taft Entertainment Television''', although the QM name and logo continued to be used on-screen and for copyright purposes until 1983.


In 1981, Taft acquired [[Ruby-Spears|Ruby-Spears Productions]] from [[Filmways]]. Around this time, Taft split its operation into two "subdivisions": the "'''Taft Entertainment Company'''" (which included Hanna-Barbera, Ruby-Spears, Worldvision, the theme parks, Taft International Pictures, and Taft Entertainment Television). The other was the "'''Taft Television & Radio Co, Inc.'''". Also in 1981, Taft, in partnership with [[The Great-West Life Assurance Company]] of [[Winnipeg]], opened [[Canada's Wonderland]], a theme park near [[Toronto]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/24/travel/a-theme-park-called-wonderland-opens-near-toronto.html|title=A THEME PARK CALLED WONDERLAND OPENS NEAR TORONTO|date=1981-05-24|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-08-10}}</ref>
In 1981, Taft acquired [[Ruby-Spears|Ruby-Spears Productions]] from [[Filmways]]. Around this time, in the early 1980s, Taft split its operation into two "subdivisions": the "'''Taft Entertainment Company'''" (which included Hanna-Barbera, Ruby-Spears, Worldvision, the theme parks, Taft International Pictures, and Taft Entertainment Television), which was headed by Sy Fischer.<ref name=":0" /> The other was the "'''Taft Television & Radio Co, Inc.'''". Also in 1981, Taft, in partnership with [[The Great-West Life Assurance Company]] of [[Winnipeg]], opened [[Canada's Wonderland]], a theme park near [[Toronto]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/05/24/travel/a-theme-park-called-wonderland-opens-near-toronto.html|title=A THEME PARK CALLED WONDERLAND OPENS NEAR TORONTO|date=1981-05-24|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-08-10}}</ref> Taft also bought television producer Titus Productions, run by [[Herbert Brodkin]] later that year as part of the Taft Entertainment Company.<ref>{{Cite news |date=February 17, 1986 |title=When it was good, it was very, very good (A Herbert Brodkin bio) |pages=93 |work=[[Broadcasting & Cable|Broadcasting]] |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/86-OCR/BC-1986-02-17-OCR-Page-0093.pdf |access-date=October 8, 2023}}</ref>


In 1982, KQV in Pittsburgh was sold to its general manager Robert W. Dickey and newspaper publisher [[Richard Mellon Scaife]], under the "Calvary, Inc." banner.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Changing hands|magazine=Broadcasting|date=April 12, 1982|page=98|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/82-OCR/1982-04-12-BC-OCR-Page-0096.pdf}}</ref>
In 1982, KQV in Pittsburgh was sold to its general manager Robert W. Dickey and newspaper publisher [[Richard Mellon Scaife]], under the "Calvary, Inc." banner.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Changing hands|magazine=Broadcasting|date=April 12, 1982|page=98}}</ref>


In 1983, Taft exchanged WGR-TV in Buffalo to General Cinema Corporation's Coral Television subsidiary in return for [[WFOR-TV|WCIX]] in [[Miami]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=$110 million deal for Miami independent|magazine=Broadcasting|date=August 2, 1982|page=24|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/82-OCR/1982-08-02-BC-OCR-Page-0024.pdf}}</ref> In 1984, the Taft Entertainment Company was reorganized, in order to set up various theatrical projects that was made by the studio, such as ''On Wings with Eagles''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Loynd|first=Ray|date=1984-02-08|title=Taft Entertainment Reorganized; Consolidates, Sets New Projects|page=24|work=Variety}}</ref> Also that year, it formed a partnership with [[Keith Barish]] to start out a joint venture, with a worldwide distribution alliance at [[20th century Fox|20th Century Fox]] to distribute the films.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1984-05-02|title=Taft Entertainment, Barish Form Pact|page=4|work=Variety}}</ref> On August 20, 1986, Taft/Barish Productions, the feature film joint venture between the broadcasting group and Keith Barish Productions had inked a ten-picture distribution deal with [[TriStar Pictures|Tri-Star Pictures]] for $200 million, to handle domestic distribution of the films at a rate of four to six films per year.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Tusher|first=Will|date=1986-08-20|title=Taft/Barish Pacts With Tri-Star For 10 Pics, With More Possible|page=7|work=Variety}}</ref>
In 1983, Taft exchanged WGR-TV in Buffalo to General Cinema Corporation's Coral Television subsidiary in return for [[WFOR-TV|WCIX]] in [[Miami]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=$110 million deal for Miami independent|magazine=Broadcasting|date=August 2, 1982|page=24}}</ref> In 1984, the Taft Entertainment Company was reorganized, in order to set up various theatrical projects that was made by the studio, such as ''On Wings with Eagles''.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Loynd|first=Ray|date=1984-02-08|title=Taft Entertainment Reorganized; Consolidates, Sets New Projects|page=24|work=Variety}}</ref> Also that year, it formed a partnership with [[Keith Barish]] to start out a joint venture, with a worldwide distribution alliance at [[20th century Fox|20th Century Fox]] to distribute the films.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1984-05-02|title=Taft Entertainment, Barish Form Pact|page=4|work=Variety}}</ref> During that year, Taft decided to rename the former QM Productions unit as Taft Entertainment Television, with ''[[The Lucie Arnaz Show]]'' being the first show to be produced under that name.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hastings |first=Julianne |date=April 15, 1984 |title=Here's Lucie's TV new comedy |pages=157 |work=[[New York Daily News]]}}</ref>


On August 20, 1986, Taft/Barish Productions, the feature film joint venture between the broadcasting group and Keith Barish Productions had inked a ten-picture distribution deal with [[TriStar Pictures|Tri-Star Pictures]] for $200 million, to handle domestic distribution of the films at a rate of four to six films per year.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Tusher|first=Will|date=1986-08-20|title=Taft/Barish Pacts With Tri-Star For 10 Pics, With More Possible|page=7|work=Variety}}</ref>
In 1985, Taft purchased Gulf Broadcasting, which includes [[KTXA]] in [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]]; [[KTXH]] in [[Houston]]; [[WTSP]] in [[St. Petersburg, Florida]]; KTSP-TV (now [[KSAZ-TV]]) in [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]]; [[KESQ-TV]] in [[Palm Springs, California]]; and [[WGHP]] in [[High Point, North Carolina]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Taft buys Gulf|magazine=Broadcasting|date=February 4, 1985|page=38|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/85-OCR/BC-1985-02-04-OCR-Page-0038.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=In brief|magazine=Broadcasting|date=June 3, 1985|page=128|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/85-OCR/BC-1985-06-03-OCR-Page-0130.pdf}}</ref> As a result, Taft sold several radio stations to [[CBS]] to comply with FCC rules.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=CBS's audio concentration|magazine=Broadcasting|date=May 6, 1985|page=40|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/85-OCR/BC-1985-05-06-OCR-Page-0040.pdf}}</ref> KESQ-TV was spun off to former Gulf Broadcasting executive E. Grant Fitts.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Annuals/Archive-BC-YB-IDX/80s-OCR-YB/1987-YB/1987-BC-YB-OCR-Page-0535.pdf|title=Broadcasting Yearbook, 1987|page=353}}</ref>

In October 1986, WTAF-TV in Philadelphia and WCIX in Miami became [[charter|charter affiliates]] of the [[Fox Broadcasting Company]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Fox network begins to take shape|magazine=Broadcasting|date=August 4, 1986|page=44|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/86-OCR/BC-1986-08-04-OCR-Page-0044.pdf}}</ref> One month later, Taft announced the sale of both of those stations along with its three [[Independent station (North America)|independent]] stations (WDCA-TV, KTXA, and KTXH) to the [[TVX Broadcast Group]]; the sale was completed in April 1987.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Taft's TV's go to TVX for $240 million|magazine=Broadcasting|date=November 24, 1986|page=41|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/86-OCR/BC-1986-11-24-OCR-Page-0041.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=McDonald paints a bright picture for TVX|magazine=Broadcasting|date=May 11, 1987|page=37|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/87-OCR/BC-1987-05-11-OCR-Page-0037.pdf}}</ref> Taft also sold WGR radio and WRLT-FM (the former WGR-FM) in Buffalo to Rich Communications, a subsidiary of Buffalo-based [[Rich Products]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Changing hands|magazine=Broadcasting|date=February 23, 1987|page=64|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/87-OCR/BC-1987-02-23-OCR-Page-0070.pdf}}</ref> In 1987, Taft, wanting to purchase more network-affiliated television stations, is looking to sell Taft Entertainment Group, the entertainment subsidiary of the Taft Broadcasting company to a different buyer, with estimates cost $300 million, and the group had a record production year in 1986 out of 334 animated half hours and 63 live-action half hour programs, to the three networks, to the cable networks, to first-run syndication.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1987-02-04|title=Taft Out to Shed Entertainment Unit; Eyes TV Stations|pages=43, 148|work=Variety}}</ref>
In 1985, Taft purchased Gulf Broadcasting, which included [[KTXA]] in [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]]; [[KTXH]] in [[Houston]]; [[WTSP]] in [[St. Petersburg, Florida]]; KTSP-TV (now [[KSAZ-TV]]) in [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]]; [[KESQ-TV]] in [[Palm Springs, California]]; and [[WGHP]] in [[High Point, North Carolina]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Taft buys Gulf|magazine=Broadcasting|date=February 4, 1985|page=38}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=In brief|magazine=Broadcasting|date=June 3, 1985|page=128}}</ref> As a result, Taft sold several radio stations to [[CBS]] to comply with FCC rules.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=CBS's audio concentration|magazine=Broadcasting|date=May 6, 1985|page=40}}</ref> KESQ-TV was spun off to former Gulf Broadcasting executive E. Grant Fitts.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Broadcasting Yearbook, 1987|page=353}}</ref>
In October 1986, WTAF-TV in Philadelphia and WCIX in Miami became [[charter|charter affiliates]] of the [[Fox Broadcasting Company]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Fox network begins to take shape |magazine=Broadcasting |date=August 4, 1986 |page=44}}</ref> One month later, Taft announced the sale of both of those stations along with its three [[Independent station (North America)|independent]] stations (WDCA-TV, KTXA, and KTXH) to the [[TVX Broadcast Group]]; the sale was completed in April 1987.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Taft's TV's go to TVX for $240 million |magazine=Broadcasting |date=November 24, 1986 |page=41}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=McDonald paints a bright picture for TVX |magazine=Broadcasting |date=May 11, 1987 |page=37}}</ref> Taft also sold WGR radio and WRLT-FM (the former WGR-FM) in Buffalo to Rich Communications, a subsidiary of Buffalo-based [[Rich Products]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Changing hands |magazine=Broadcasting |date=February 23, 1987 |page=64}}</ref> In 1987, Taft, wanting to purchase more network-affiliated television stations, is looking to sell Taft Entertainment Group, the entertainment subsidiary of the Taft Broadcasting company to a different buyer, with estimates cost $300 million, and the group had a record production year in 1986 out of 334 animated half hours and 63 live-action half hour programs, to the three networks, to the cable networks, to first-run syndication.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1987-02-04|title=Taft Out to Shed Entertainment Unit; Eyes TV Stations|pages=43, 148|work=Variety}}</ref>


Taft Broadcasting Company was purchased by TFBA Limited Partnership, which included [[Robert Bass|Robert M. Bass]] as a partner, in April 1987 for $1.43 billion, taking the company private.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Applebome|first1=Peter|title=TEXAS DEAL MAKER: Robert M. Bass; A Younger Brother Steps Out on His Own|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/05/business/texas-deal-maker-robert-m-bass-a-younger-brother-steps-out-on-his-own.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=July 3, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=June 5, 1988}}</ref>
Taft Broadcasting Company was purchased by TFBA Limited Partnership, which included [[Robert Bass|Robert M. Bass]] as a partner, in April 1987 for $1.43 billion, taking the company private.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Applebome|first1=Peter|title=TEXAS DEAL MAKER: Robert M. Bass; A Younger Brother Steps Out on His Own|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/06/05/business/texas-deal-maker-robert-m-bass-a-younger-brother-steps-out-on-his-own.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=July 3, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=June 5, 1988}}</ref>


===Successor companies===
===Successor companies===
Later in 1987, Cincinnati-based businessman [[Carl Lindner, Jr.]] became Taft's majority stockholder in a hostile takeover and renamed the company '''Great American Broadcasting''' (also known as '''Great American Communications''') following a major restructuring of its operations. The new name came from Linder's insurance company, [[American Financial Group|Great American Insurance]]. The FCC considered this restructuring to be an ownership change, and told Lindner he could not keep both WTVN-TV and WKRC-TV. As a result, Great American spun off WTVN-TV to Anchor Media, a new firm composed of former Taft Broadcasting board members led by Robert Bass. (The two stations have since been reunited under the [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]], with cross-ownership rules having since been relaxed.) Another new company, led by former Taft Broadcasting president Dudley S. Taft Sr., took the Taft Broadcasting name. This new company retained WGHP and later purchases another Philadelphia station, [[WPHL-TV]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Taft Broadcasting now Taft-less|magazine=Broadcasting|date=February 2, 1987|page=43|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/87-OCR/BC-1987-02-02-OCR-Page-0043.pdf}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Green light expected for Taft sale|magazine=Broadcasting|date=September 28, 1987|pages=36–37|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1987/BC-1987-09-28.pdf}}</ref>
Later in 1987, Cincinnati-based businessman [[Carl Lindner, Jr.]] became Taft's majority stockholder in a hostile takeover and renamed the company '''Great American Broadcasting''' (also known as '''Great American Communications''') following a major restructuring of its operations. The new name came from Linder's insurance company, [[American Financial Group|Great American Insurance]]. The FCC considered this restructuring to be an ownership change, and told Lindner he could not keep both WTVN-TV and WKRC-TV. As a result, Great American spun off WTVN-TV to Anchor Media, a new firm composed of former Taft Broadcasting board members led by Robert Bass. (The two stations have since been reunited under the [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]], with cross-ownership rules having since been relaxed.) Another new company, led by former Taft Broadcasting president Dudley S. Taft Sr., took the Taft Broadcasting name. This new company retained WGHP and later purchases another Philadelphia station, [[WPHL-TV]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Taft Broadcasting now Taft-less |magazine=Broadcasting |date=February 2, 1987 |page=43}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Green light expected for Taft sale |magazine=Broadcasting |date=September 28, 1987 |pages=36–37}}</ref>


In 1988, Great American Broadcasting sold Worldvision to [[Spelling Television|Aaron Spelling Productions]]. Included with Worldvision were outright ownership of all of Great American's programming assets (including the remnants of Taft International Pictures and Taft Entertainment Television), except for the Hanna-Barbera and Ruby-Spears libraries, which remained owned by Great American for the time being. However, Worldvision continued to hold syndication rights until the two animation studios found new owners.
In 1988, Great American Broadcasting sold Worldvision to [[Spelling Television|Aaron Spelling Productions]]. Included with Worldvision were outright ownership of all of Great American's programming assets (including the remnants of Taft International Pictures and Taft Entertainment Television), except for the Hanna-Barbera and Ruby-Spears libraries, which remained owned by Great American for the time being. However, Worldvision continued to hold syndication rights until the two animation studios found new owners.
Line 101: Line 103:
In 1999, [[iHeartMedia|Clear Channel Communications]] acquired Citicasters and Jacor. The Citicasters name lived on as a holding company and licensee under the Clear Channel corporate structure;<ref name=B&C /> the two subsidiaries with the name were eliminated at the end of 2020 as part of a reorganization of iHeartMedia's subsidiaries.<ref name="ir-citicasterseliminated"/>
In 1999, [[iHeartMedia|Clear Channel Communications]] acquired Citicasters and Jacor. The Citicasters name lived on as a holding company and licensee under the Clear Channel corporate structure;<ref name=B&C /> the two subsidiaries with the name were eliminated at the end of 2020 as part of a reorganization of iHeartMedia's subsidiaries.<ref name="ir-citicasterseliminated"/>


==Former stations==
==Stations formerly owned by Taft Broadcasting and its successors==
Stations are arranged in alphabetical order by state and [[city of license]].
Stations are arranged in alphabetical order by state and city of license.


* (**) Indicates a station that was built and signed-on by Taft.
Notes:
* ''Two boldface asterisks appearing following a station's call letters ('''**''') indicate a station that was [[construction permit#broadcasting|built]] and [[broadcast license|signed-on]] by Taft.''


===Television stations===
===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
! [[City of license]] / [[Media market|Market]]
! [[City of license]] / [[Media market|Market]]
! Station
! Station
! Channel
! Channel<br>[[Virtual channel|TV]] ([[Digital terrestrial television|RF]])
! Years owned
! Years owned
! Current ownership status
! Current status
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]] - [[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa]] - [[Anniston, Alabama|Anniston]]
| [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]][[Tuscaloosa, Alabama|Tuscaloosa]][[Anniston, Alabama|Anniston, AL]]
| '''[[WBRC|WBRC-TV]]'''
! [[WBRC|WBRC-TV]]
| 6 (29)
| 6
| 1957–1994
| 1957–1995
| '''[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]''' affiliate owned by [[Gray Television]]
| [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] affiliate owned by [[Gray Television]]
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]]
| [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix, AZ]]
| '''KTSP-TV'''
! KTSP-TV
| 10 (10)
| 10
| 1985–1994
| 1985–1994
| '''Fox''' owned-and-operated ([[owned-and-operated station|O&O]]), '''[[KSAZ-TV]]'''
| Fox owned-and-operated ([[owned-and-operated station|O&O]]) [[KSAZ-TV]]
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| [[Washington, D.C.]]
| [[Washington, D.C.]]
| '''[[WDCA|WDCA-TV]]'''
! [[WDCA|WDCA-TV]]
| 20 (35)
| 20
| 1979–1987
| 1979–1987
| '''[[MyNetworkTV]]''' owned-and-operated (O&O)
| [[MyNetworkTV]] affiliate owned by [[Fox Television Stations]]
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| [[Miami, Florida|Miami]] - [[Fort Lauderdale, Florida|Fort Lauderdale]]
| [[Miami, Florida|Miami]][[Fort Lauderdale, Florida|Fort Lauderdale, FL]]
| '''WCIX'''
! WCIX
| 6
| 6 ({{small|now}} 4 (22))
| 1983–1987
| 1983–1987
| '''[[CBS]]''' owned-and-operated (O&O), '''[[WFOR-TV]]'''
| [[CBS]] owned-and-operated (O&O) [[WFOR-TV]] on channel 4
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| [[St. Petersburg, Florida|St. Petersburg]] - [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]]
| [[St. Petersburg, Florida|St. Petersburg]][[Tampa, Florida|Tampa, FL]]
| '''[[WTSP]]'''
! [[WTSP]]
| 10 (10)
| 10
| 1985–1994
| 1985–1996
| CBS affiliate owned by [[Tegna Inc.]]
| '''CBS''' affiliate owned by [[Tegna Inc.]]<br>{{small|(sale to [[Standard General]] pending<ref>{{Cite web|last=Miller|first=Mark K.|date=2022-02-22|title=Tegna Selling To Standard General For $5.4 Billion|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/tegna-selling-to-standard-general-for-5-4-billion/|access-date=2022-03-01|work=TVNewsCheck|language=en-US}}</ref>)}}
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| [[Lexington, Kentucky]]
| [[Lexington, Kentucky|Lexington, KY]]
| '''[[WKYT-TV]]'''
! [[WKYT-TV]]
| 27 (36)
| 27
| 1958–1967
| 1958–1967
| '''CBS''' affiliate owned by Gray Television
| CBS affiliate owned by Gray Television
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| [[Kansas City, Missouri]]
| [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City, MO]]
| '''[[WDAF-TV]]'''
! [[WDAF-TV]]
| 4 (34)
| 4
| 1964–1994
| 1964–1994
| '''Fox''' affiliate owned by [[Nexstar Media Group]]
| Fox affiliate owned by [[Nexstar Media Group]]
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| [[Buffalo, New York]]
| [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo, NY]]
| '''WGR-TV'''
! WGR-TV
| 2 (33)
| 2
| 1964–1983
| 1964–1983
| [[NBC]] affiliate [[WGRZ]], owned by Tegna Inc.
| '''[[NBC]]''' affiliate, '''[[WGRZ]]''', owned by Tegna Inc.<br>{{small|(sale to Standard General pending<ref name="tegnasale">{{Cite web|last=Miller|first=Mark K.|date=2022-02-22|title=Tegna Selling To Standard General For $5.4 Billion|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/tegna-selling-to-standard-general-for-5-4-billion/|access-date=2022-02-24|work=[[TVNewsCheck]]|language=en-US}}</ref>)}}
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| [[High Point, North Carolina|High Point]] - [[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]] -<br>[[Winston-Salem, North Carolina|Winston-Salem]]
| [[High Point, North Carolina|High Point]][[Greensboro, North Carolina|Greensboro]][[Winston-Salem, North Carolina|Winston-Salem, NC]]
| '''[[WGHP]]'''
! [[WGHP]]
| 8 (35)
| 8
| 1985–1994
| 1985–1995
| '''Fox''' affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
| Fox affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| [[Cincinnati, Ohio|Cincinnati]]
| [[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, OH]]
| '''[[WKRC-TV]] **'''
! [[WKRC-TV]] **
| 12 (12)
| 12
| 1949–1995
| 1949–1996
| '''CBS''' affiliate owned by [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]]
| CBS affiliate owned by [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]]
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| [[Columbus, Ohio]]
| [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus, OH]]
| '''WTVN-TV'''
! WTVN-TV
| 6 (28)
| 6
| 1953–1987
| 1953–1987
| '''[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]''' affiliate, '''[[WSYX]]''', owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
| [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate [[WSYX]], owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| rowspan="2" |[[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Philadelphia|Philadelphia, PA]]
| '''WTAF-TV'''
! WTAF-TV
| 29 (31)
| 29
| 1969–1987
| 1969–1987
| '''Fox''' owned-and-operated (O&O), '''[[WTXF-TV]]'''
| Fox owned-and-operated (O&O) [[WTXF-TV]]
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| '''[[WPHL-TV]]'''
! [[WPHL-TV]]
| 17 (17)
| 17
| 1987–1992
| 1987–1992
| '''[[MyNetworkTV]]''' affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
| [[The CW]] and [[MyNetworkTV]] affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| [[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]] - [[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania|Wilkes-Barre, PA]]
| [[Scranton, Pennsylvania|Scranton]][[Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania|Wilkes-Barre, PA]]
| '''[[WNEP-TV]]'''
! [[WNEP-TV]]
| 16 (21)
| 16
| 1964–1973
| 1964–1973
| '''ABC''' affiliate owned by Tegna Inc.<br>{{small|(sale to Standard General pending<ref name="tegnasale"/>)}}
| ABC affiliate owned by Tegna Inc.
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| [[Knoxville, Tennessee]]
| [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville, TN]]
| '''[[WBIR-TV]]'''
! [[WBIR-TV]]
| 10 (10)
| 10
| 1959–1961 <sup>1</sup>
| 1959–1960 <sup>1</sup>
| '''NBC''' affiliate owned by Tegna Inc.<br>{{small|(sale to Standard General pending<ref name="tegnasale"/>)}}
| NBC affiliate owned by Tegna Inc.
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]] - [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas]]
| [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]][[Dallas|Dallas, TX]]
| '''[[KTXA]]'''
! [[KTXA]]
| 21 (29)
| 21
| 1985–1987
| 1985–1987
| '''[[Independent station (North America)|Independent]]''' station owned by [[Paramount Global]]
| [[Independent station (North America)|Independent]] station owned by [[Paramount Global]]
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| [[Houston, Texas|Houston]]
| [[Houston|Houston, TX]]
| '''[[KTXH]]'''
! [[KTXH]]
| 20 (19)
| 20
| 1985–1987
| 1985–1987
| '''MyNetworkTV''' owned-and-operated (O&O)
| MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Fox Television Stations
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
|}
|}
Note:
* <sup>1</sup> Prior to full ownership, Taft held a 30% interest in WBIR between 1956 and 1959.
* <sup>1</sup> Prior to full ownership, Taft held a 30% interest in WBIR between 1956 and 1959.


===Radio stations===
===Radio===
''(a partial listing)''
''(a partial listing)''


Line 229: Line 228:
|}
|}
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! City of license/Market
! City of license / Market
! Station/frequency
! Station
! Years owned
! Years owned
! Current ownership
! Current status
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| rowspan="2" | Birmingham, Alabama
| rowspan="2" | [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham, AL]]
!style="background: #cedff2"| '''WBRC 960'''
!style="background: #cedff2"| WBRC 960
| 1957–1972
| 1957–1972
| '''[[WERC (AM)|WERC]]''', owned by [[iHeartMedia]]
| [[WERC (AM)|WERC]], owned by [[iHeartMedia]]
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
!style="background: #ddcef2;"| '''WBRC-FM 106.9'''
!style="background: #ddcef2;"| WBRC-FM 106.9
| 1957–1972
| 1957–1972
| '''[[WBPT]]''', owned by [[SummitMedia]]
| [[WBPT]], owned by [[SummitMedia]]
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| rowspan="2" | Kansas City, Missouri
| rowspan="2" | [[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City, MO]]
!style="background: #cedff2"| '''WDAF 610'''
!style="background: #cedff2"| WDAF 610
| 1964–1987
| 1964–1987
| '''[[KCSP (AM)|KCSP]]''', owned by [[Audacy, Inc.]]
| [[KCSP (AM)|KCSP]], owned by [[Audacy, Inc.]]
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
!style="background: #ddcef2;"| '''WDAF-FM 102.1'''
!style="background: #ddcef2;"| WDAF-FM 102.1
| 1964–1987
| 1964–1987
| '''[[KCKC]]''', owned by Steel City Media
| [[KCKC]], owned by Steel City Media
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| rowspan="2" | Buffalo, New York
| rowspan="2" | [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo, NY]]
!style="background: #cedff2"| '''[[WGR]] 550'''
!style="background: #cedff2"| [[WGR]] 550
| 1964–1987
| 1964–1987
| Owned by Audacy, Inc.
| Owned by Audacy, Inc.
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
!style="background: #ddcef2;"| '''WGR-FM 96.9'''
!style="background: #ddcef2;"| WGR-FM 96.9
| 1964–1987
| 1964–1987
| '''[[WGRF]]''', owned by [[Cumulus Media]]
| [[WGRF]], owned by [[Cumulus Media]]
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| rowspan="2" | Cincinnati
| rowspan="2" | [[Cincinnati|Cincinnati, OH]]
!style="background: #cedff2"| '''[[WKRC (AM)|WKRC]] 550'''
!style="background: #cedff2"| [[WKRC (AM)|WKRC]] 550
| 1939–1987
| 1939–1987
| Owned by iHeartMedia
| Owned by iHeartMedia
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
!style="background: #ddcef2;"| '''WKRC-FM 101.9 **'''
!style="background: #ddcef2;"| WKRC-FM 101.9 **
| 1947–1987
| 1947–1987
| '''[[WKRQ]]''', owned by [[Hubbard Broadcasting]]
| [[WKRQ]], owned by [[Hubbard Broadcasting]]
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| rowspan="2" | Columbus, Ohio
| rowspan="2" | [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus, OH]]
!style="background: #cedff2"| '''[[WTVN]] 610'''
!style="background: #cedff2"| [[WTVN]] 610
| 1954–1987
| 1954–1987
| Owned by iHeartMedia
| Owned by iHeartMedia
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
!style="background: #ddcef2;"| '''WTVN-FM 96.3 **'''
!style="background: #ddcef2;"| WTVN-FM 96.3 **
| 1960–1987
| 1960–1987
| '''[[WLVQ]]''', owned by Saga Communications
| [[WLVQ]], owned by Saga Communications
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| rowspan="2" | [[Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania|Pittsburgh]]
| rowspan="2" | [[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, PA]]
!style="background: #cedff2"| '''[[KQV]] 1410'''
!style="background: #cedff2"| [[KQV]] 1410
| 1974–1982
| 1974–1982
| Owned by Broadcast Educational Communications, Inc.
| Owned by Broadcast Educational Communications, Inc.
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
!style="background: #ddcef2;"| '''[[WDVE]] 102.5'''
!style="background: #ddcef2;"| [[WDVE]] 102.5
| 1974–1987
| 1974–1987
| Owned by iHeartMedia
| Owned by iHeartMedia
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
| rowspan="2" | Knoxville, Tennessee
| rowspan="2" | [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville, TN]]
!style="background: #cedff2"| '''WBIR 1240'''
!style="background: #cedff2"| WBIR 1240
| 1959–1961 <sup>1</sup>
| 1959–1960 <sup>1</sup>
| '''[[WIFA (AM)|WIFA]]''', owned by Progressive Media, Inc.
| [[WIFA (AM)|WIFA]], owned by Progressive Media, Inc.
|-
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
!style="background: #ddcef2;"| '''WBIR-FM 103.5'''
!style="background: #ddcef2;"| WBIR-FM 103.5
| 1959–1961 <sup>1</sup>
| 1959–1960 <sup>1</sup>
| '''[[WIMZ-FM]]''', owned by [[Midwest Communications]]
| [[WIMZ-FM]], owned by [[Midwest Communications]]
|- style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"
|}
|}

Note:
* <sup>1</sup> Prior to full ownership, Taft held a 20% interest in the station from 1951 to 1953. The stake was increased to 30% from 1953 to 1959.
* <sup>1</sup> Prior to full ownership, Taft held a 20% interest in the station from 1951 to 1953. The stake was increased to 30% from 1953 to 1959.



Revision as of 14:03, 12 August 2024

Taft Broadcasting Company
FormerlyRadio Cincinnati, Inc. (1939–1959)
Company typeCorporation
Industrytelevision and radio network
Founded1939; 85 years ago (1939)
Defunct1999; 25 years ago (1999)
FateAcquired by Clear Channel Communications
SuccessorsRadio:
iHeartMedia
Library:
Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution
(Hanna-Barbera and pre-1991 Ruby-Spears library only)
Endemol Shine Australia
(Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd./Taft-Hardie Group Pty. Ltd. library only)
CBS Media Ventures
(through Spelling Television)
(Worldvision Enterprises library only)
Paramount Pictures
(through Melange Pictures)
(Taft International Pictures library only)
Headquarters,
United States

Taft Broadcasting Company (also known as Taft Television and Radio Company, Incorporated) was an American media conglomerate based in Cincinnati, Ohio.

The company was rooted in the family of William Howard Taft, the 27th President of the United States. In 1879, William Howard's brother, Charles Phelps Taft, purchased two afternoon newspapers in Cincinnati, The Times and The Cincinnati Daily Star, merging them into the Cincinnati Times-Star in 1880. It was during the tenure of the merged paper's second publisher, Hulbert Taft Sr., son of Charles and William Howard's half-brother, Peter Rawson Taft II, that the newspaper also became involved in broadcasting.

The company was the owner of such major media and entertainment properties as Hanna-Barbera Productions, Hanna-Barbera Pty, Ltd./Taft-Hardie Group Pty. Ltd., Worldvision Enterprises, Ruby-Spears Productions, KECO Entertainment and many television and radio stations. It also owned 50% of CIC Video's Australian operations, CIC-Taft Home Video.

The company went through a long reorganization period starting in 1987 with its acquisition by Carl Lindner, Jr. and renamed Great American Broadcasting. Shortly after filing for bankruptcy in 1993, it became Citicasters and was, in 1999, acquired by Clear Channel Communications, which was renamed iHeartMedia in 2014. Taft — as Citicasters — remained incorporated as a holding company within iHeartMedia[1] until 2020.[2]

History

1939–1959

The Taft family's involvement in broadcasting began in 1939 as Radio Cincinnati, Inc., when the Cincinnati Times-Star purchased WKRC radio from CBS.[3][4]

In April 1949, Taft's first TV station, WKRC-TV in Cincinnati, began broadcasting.[5]

In 1951, in its first expansion outside Ohio, Radio Cincinnati acquired a 20 percent interest in WBIR-AM-FM in Knoxville, Tennessee from father-and-son owners J. Lindsay and Gilmore Nunn.[6] A year-and-a-half later, the Taft family increased its stake to 30 percent when the Nunns sold additional shares in that station to Martha and Robert Ashe, John P. Hart, and Radio Cincinnati.[7]

In 1953, Radio Cincinnati purchased WTVN-TV (now WSYX) in Columbus, Ohio, from Picture-Waves, Inc., controlled by Toledo attorney and broadcaster Edward Lamb.[8][9][10]

In 1954, the company bought WHKC radio in Columbus from United Broadcasting, then-owners of WHK in Cleveland; WHKC is renamed WTVN.[11]

In August 1956 WBIR-TV in Knoxville began broadcasting, under the same ownership structure as the WBIR radio stations.[12][better source needed]

In 1957, Radio Cincinnati purchased WBRC-AM-FM-TV in Birmingham, Alabama, from Storer Broadcasting.[13]

In 1958, the Cincinnati Times-Star was merged into the Cincinnati Post, published by the E.W. Scripps Company. Radio Cincinnati also purchased WKXP-TV in Lexington, Kentucky, from local interests and changed its call letters to WKYT-TV.[14]

In 1959, the company acquired the remaining 70 percent of WBIR-AM-FM-TV in Knoxville.[15] Also in 1959, the Taft family merged its broadcasting subsidiaries into one, using the Taft Broadcasting Company name.[16] Subsidiaries WBRC, Inc. (WBRC-AM-FM-TV), WTVN, Inc. (WTVN-TV), Radio Cincinnati, Inc. (WKRC-AM-FM-TV and WKYT-TV), and Radio Columbus, Inc. (WTVN-AM-FM) were merged on June 23, 1959[17] and WBIR, Inc. (WBIR-AM-FM-TV) was merged on February 1, 1960.[18]

1960–1979

The Taft logo from 1959 to 1974.

In 1960, Taft launched WTVN-FM in Columbus (it is now WLVQ).[19] A year later the company sold the WBIR stations in Knoxville to Multimedia Inc. of Greenville, South Carolina.[20]

In 1961, Taft signed a group affiliation deal with ABC, converting all of the stations Taft had owned at that time, to the network. With WTVN-TV already an ABC affiliate, WBRC-TV, WKYT, and WKRC-TV switched to the network.[21] This came after that network's founder Leonard Goldenson persuaded Taft president Hulbert Taft Jr., a longtime friend, to switch several of the company's stations to ABC.

In 1963, Taft purchased several stations from Transcontinent Television Corporation: WDAF-AM-FM-TV in Kansas City, Missouri, WGR-AM-FM-TV in Buffalo, New York, and WNEP-TV in Scranton, Pennsylvania.[22][23]

In October 1966, Taft purchased the Hanna-Barbera cartoon studio from its founders, Joseph Barbera, William Hanna and George Sidney.[24] Several months later in April 1967, the firm sold WKYT-TV to a subsidiary of Kentucky Central Life Insurance Company.[25]

On November 10, 1967, Taft Broadcasting president and chairman Hulbert Taft Jr. died in liquid propane gas-related explosion[26] in a bomb shelter he had built on his property in the Cincinnati suburb of Indian Hill.[27] Days after his death, his son Dudley S. Taft replaced him on the firm's board of directors,[28] and he eventually became head of the company.

In 1969, Taft purchased WIBF-TV in Philadelphia and changed its call letters to WTAF-TV.[29] The FCC initially granted Taft a waiver to keep both WTAF-TV and WNEP-TV, but later reversed itself in 1973 (four years later), and Taft sold the Scranton outlet to the station's management, who formed NEP Communications.[30] Also that year, the broadcasting group formed The Sy Fischer Company to produce television programming.[31]

In 1970, Taft formed Rhodes Productions, a television syndication arm for various independent TV programs, including those of Hanna-Barbera.[32][33]

In 1972, Taft opened its first theme park, Kings Island, outside of Cincinnati. Taft owned five other theme parks through its KECO Entertainment division. WBRC radio and WBRC-FM in Birmingham are sold to Mooney Broadcasting.[34] Taft's Rhodes Productions subsidiary has hired John Pearson International as international backer of its programming.[35] In 1973, Taft sold WNEP-TV in Scranton to its management, called NEP Communications.[36]

In 1974, Taft acquired Top 40 station KQV and rock outlet WDVE, both in Pittsburgh, from ABC Radio.[37]

In 1975, a second theme park based on Kings Island, Kings Dominion, opened outside of Richmond. Rhodes Productions was renamed to Taft, H-B Program Sales while Taft, H-B International was established as the new overseas television distribution arm for the company.[38] Rhodes was eventually revived two weeks later under Filmways.[39] Carowinds in Charlotte, North Carolina was acquired by the company in 1975 from the Carowinds Corporation.

In 1979, Taft purchased WDCA-TV in Washington, D.C. from the Superior Tube Company.[40][41] Around this same period, Taft also acquired independent distributor Worldvision Enterprises (formerly a division of ABC) and production company QM Productions.[42][43]

1980–1987

In 1980, Taft acquired Sunn Classic Pictures and two additional Schick divisions. Sunn Classic was reincorporated as Taft International Pictures.[44] In 1981, two Taft executives launched Jensen Farley Pictures to purchase the company's distribution assets, while in 1982, the company name was reverted back to Sunn Classic Pictures.[45][46]

In 1981, Taft acquired Ruby-Spears Productions from Filmways. Around this time, in the early 1980s, Taft split its operation into two "subdivisions": the "Taft Entertainment Company" (which included Hanna-Barbera, Ruby-Spears, Worldvision, the theme parks, Taft International Pictures, and Taft Entertainment Television), which was headed by Sy Fischer.[31] The other was the "Taft Television & Radio Co, Inc.". Also in 1981, Taft, in partnership with The Great-West Life Assurance Company of Winnipeg, opened Canada's Wonderland, a theme park near Toronto.[47] Taft also bought television producer Titus Productions, run by Herbert Brodkin later that year as part of the Taft Entertainment Company.[48]

In 1982, KQV in Pittsburgh was sold to its general manager Robert W. Dickey and newspaper publisher Richard Mellon Scaife, under the "Calvary, Inc." banner.[49]

In 1983, Taft exchanged WGR-TV in Buffalo to General Cinema Corporation's Coral Television subsidiary in return for WCIX in Miami.[50] In 1984, the Taft Entertainment Company was reorganized, in order to set up various theatrical projects that was made by the studio, such as On Wings with Eagles.[51] Also that year, it formed a partnership with Keith Barish to start out a joint venture, with a worldwide distribution alliance at 20th Century Fox to distribute the films.[52] During that year, Taft decided to rename the former QM Productions unit as Taft Entertainment Television, with The Lucie Arnaz Show being the first show to be produced under that name.[53]

On August 20, 1986, Taft/Barish Productions, the feature film joint venture between the broadcasting group and Keith Barish Productions had inked a ten-picture distribution deal with Tri-Star Pictures for $200 million, to handle domestic distribution of the films at a rate of four to six films per year.[54]

In 1985, Taft purchased Gulf Broadcasting, which included KTXA in Fort Worth; KTXH in Houston; WTSP in St. Petersburg, Florida; KTSP-TV (now KSAZ-TV) in Phoenix; KESQ-TV in Palm Springs, California; and WGHP in High Point, North Carolina.[55][56] As a result, Taft sold several radio stations to CBS to comply with FCC rules.[57] KESQ-TV was spun off to former Gulf Broadcasting executive E. Grant Fitts.[58] In October 1986, WTAF-TV in Philadelphia and WCIX in Miami became charter affiliates of the Fox Broadcasting Company.[59] One month later, Taft announced the sale of both of those stations along with its three independent stations (WDCA-TV, KTXA, and KTXH) to the TVX Broadcast Group; the sale was completed in April 1987.[60][61] Taft also sold WGR radio and WRLT-FM (the former WGR-FM) in Buffalo to Rich Communications, a subsidiary of Buffalo-based Rich Products.[62] In 1987, Taft, wanting to purchase more network-affiliated television stations, is looking to sell Taft Entertainment Group, the entertainment subsidiary of the Taft Broadcasting company to a different buyer, with estimates cost $300 million, and the group had a record production year in 1986 out of 334 animated half hours and 63 live-action half hour programs, to the three networks, to the cable networks, to first-run syndication.[63]

Taft Broadcasting Company was purchased by TFBA Limited Partnership, which included Robert M. Bass as a partner, in April 1987 for $1.43 billion, taking the company private.[64]

Successor companies

Later in 1987, Cincinnati-based businessman Carl Lindner, Jr. became Taft's majority stockholder in a hostile takeover and renamed the company Great American Broadcasting (also known as Great American Communications) following a major restructuring of its operations. The new name came from Linder's insurance company, Great American Insurance. The FCC considered this restructuring to be an ownership change, and told Lindner he could not keep both WTVN-TV and WKRC-TV. As a result, Great American spun off WTVN-TV to Anchor Media, a new firm composed of former Taft Broadcasting board members led by Robert Bass. (The two stations have since been reunited under the Sinclair Broadcast Group, with cross-ownership rules having since been relaxed.) Another new company, led by former Taft Broadcasting president Dudley S. Taft Sr., took the Taft Broadcasting name. This new company retained WGHP and later purchases another Philadelphia station, WPHL-TV.[65][66]

In 1988, Great American Broadcasting sold Worldvision to Aaron Spelling Productions. Included with Worldvision were outright ownership of all of Great American's programming assets (including the remnants of Taft International Pictures and Taft Entertainment Television), except for the Hanna-Barbera and Ruby-Spears libraries, which remained owned by Great American for the time being. However, Worldvision continued to hold syndication rights until the two animation studios found new owners.

In 1991, Hanna-Barbera, along with much of the original Ruby-Spears library, was acquired by Turner Broadcasting System, which became part of Time Warner in 1996. As part of this deal, syndication rights to the libraries were passed to Turner Program Services (via Turner Entertainment Co.) prior to Time Warner's purchase of Turner. Eventually, TPS was folded into Warner Bros. Television Distribution. The Ruby-Spears studio was spun off and bought back by Joe Ruby and Ken Spears, and operated as an independent operation from then forward.[67]

In 1992, KECO Entertainment, Great American's theme park division, was sold to Paramount Communications (the parent of Paramount Pictures; the parent company was formerly known as Gulf+Western) and became Paramount Parks, later to be acquired by Viacom. (These parks were sold to Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. by CBS in 2006.) Great American also reacquired WGHP from Dudley Taft.

In 1993, Great American filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and renamed to Citicasters Communications. It also sold WKRC radio to Jacor and shut down Electra, a teletext service operated as a joint venture between Taft, Zenith, and Turner Broadcasting's WTBS (now WPCH-TV) in Atlanta.

In 1994, Citicasters sold most of its TV stations, including WDAF-TV and KSAZ-TV to New World Communications, and WBRC and WGHP to the News Corporation's Fox Television Stations unit, which would later acquire the New World chain. Around the same time, when two of the markets switched to ABC via Scripps, Citicasters agreed to a two-station deal with CBS to affiliate with WTSP and WKRC.

In 1996, Citicasters, by then the owner of two television stations, five AM radio stations and 14 FM radio stations, merged with Jacor, which became a subsidiary of Citicasters. Three months after the merger was completed, Jacor exchanged WTSP to Gannett in return for Gannett's radio stations in Los Angeles, San Diego and Tampa. In 1997, as a condition of the merger, Jacor sold WKRQ and the original WDAF-FM (by then KYYS, now KCKC) to American Radio Systems, which would become acquired by Infinity Broadcasting (later renamed CBS Radio) in 1998. Also in 1997, Jacor sold WDAF (AM) (now KCSP) to Entercom.

In 1997, the Worldvision properties that had previously been under Taft and Great American (with the exception of the Hanna-Barbera and most of the Ruby-Spears material) were incorporated into Republic Pictures (today part of CBS Studios).

In 1999, Clear Channel Communications acquired Citicasters and Jacor. The Citicasters name lived on as a holding company and licensee under the Clear Channel corporate structure;[1] the two subsidiaries with the name were eliminated at the end of 2020 as part of a reorganization of iHeartMedia's subsidiaries.[2]

Former stations

Stations are arranged in alphabetical order by state and city of license.

  • (**) Indicates a station that was built and signed-on by Taft.

Television

City of license / Market Station Channel Years owned Current status
BirminghamTuscaloosaAnniston, AL WBRC-TV 6 1957–1994 Fox affiliate owned by Gray Television
Phoenix, AZ KTSP-TV 10 1985–1994 Fox owned-and-operated (O&O) KSAZ-TV
Washington, D.C. WDCA-TV 20 1979–1987 MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Fox Television Stations
MiamiFort Lauderdale, FL WCIX 6 1983–1987 CBS owned-and-operated (O&O) WFOR-TV on channel 4
St. PetersburgTampa, FL WTSP 10 1985–1994 CBS affiliate owned by Tegna Inc.
Lexington, KY WKYT-TV 27 1958–1967 CBS affiliate owned by Gray Television
Kansas City, MO WDAF-TV 4 1964–1994 Fox affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Buffalo, NY WGR-TV 2 1964–1983 NBC affiliate WGRZ, owned by Tegna Inc.
High PointGreensboroWinston-Salem, NC WGHP 8 1985–1994 Fox affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
Cincinnati, OH WKRC-TV ** 12 1949–1995 CBS affiliate owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Columbus, OH WTVN-TV 6 1953–1987 ABC affiliate WSYX, owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Philadelphia, PA WTAF-TV 29 1969–1987 Fox owned-and-operated (O&O) WTXF-TV
WPHL-TV 17 1987–1992 The CW and MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Nexstar Media Group
ScrantonWilkes-Barre, PA WNEP-TV 16 1964–1973 ABC affiliate owned by Tegna Inc.
Knoxville, TN WBIR-TV 10 1959–1960 1 NBC affiliate owned by Tegna Inc.
Fort WorthDallas, TX KTXA 21 1985–1987 Independent station owned by Paramount Global
Houston, TX KTXH 20 1985–1987 MyNetworkTV affiliate owned by Fox Television Stations
  • 1 Prior to full ownership, Taft held a 30% interest in WBIR between 1956 and 1959.

Radio

(a partial listing)

AM Station FM Station
City of license / Market Station Years owned Current status
Birmingham, AL WBRC 960 1957–1972 WERC, owned by iHeartMedia
WBRC-FM 106.9 1957–1972 WBPT, owned by SummitMedia
Kansas City, MO WDAF 610 1964–1987 KCSP, owned by Audacy, Inc.
WDAF-FM 102.1 1964–1987 KCKC, owned by Steel City Media
Buffalo, NY WGR 550 1964–1987 Owned by Audacy, Inc.
WGR-FM 96.9 1964–1987 WGRF, owned by Cumulus Media
Cincinnati, OH WKRC 550 1939–1987 Owned by iHeartMedia
WKRC-FM 101.9 ** 1947–1987 WKRQ, owned by Hubbard Broadcasting
Columbus, OH WTVN 610 1954–1987 Owned by iHeartMedia
WTVN-FM 96.3 ** 1960–1987 WLVQ, owned by Saga Communications
Pittsburgh, PA KQV 1410 1974–1982 Owned by Broadcast Educational Communications, Inc.
WDVE 102.5 1974–1987 Owned by iHeartMedia
Knoxville, TN WBIR 1240 1959–1960 1 WIFA, owned by Progressive Media, Inc.
WBIR-FM 103.5 1959–1960 1 WIMZ-FM, owned by Midwest Communications
  • 1 Prior to full ownership, Taft held a 20% interest in the station from 1951 to 1953. The stake was increased to 30% from 1953 to 1959.

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