View source for WSTR-TV

{{Short description|Television station in Cincinnati}}
{{good article}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = WSTR-TV
| city =
| logo = WSTR-TV logo.svg
| logo_size = 220px
| logo_alt = A rounded rectangle divided into blue and gray parts with the word STAR in white, a pointed silver star with black shadow in the upper right, and a black 64 in a sans serif in the lower right corner.
| branding = Star 64
| digital = 18 ([[UHF]])
| virtual = 64
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''64.1:''' [[MyNetworkTV]]|''for others, see {{section link||Technical information and subchannels}}''}}
| atsc3 = yes
| owner = [[Deerfield Media]]
| licensee = Deerfield Media (Cincinnati) Licensee, [[LLC]]
| operator = [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]] via [[Local marketing agreement|LMA]]; outright sale pending<ref name="wstrsold">{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/views/public/assignmentDraftCopy?displayType=html&appKey=25076f9197ac7d550197af06f205073c&id=25076f9197ac7d550197af06f205073c&goBack=N|title=Assignments|work=Licensing and Management System|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|date=July 1, 2025|accessdate=July 12, 2025}}</ref>
| location = [[Cincinnati]], Ohio
| country = United States
| airdate = {{start date and age|1980|1|28|p=y|br=yes}}
| callsign_meaning = Star 64
| sister_stations = [[WKRC-TV]]
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WBTI (1980–1985)|WIII (1985–1990)}}
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 64 (UHF, 1980–2009)|'''Digital:''' 33 (UHF, 2002–2019)}}
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|[[Independent station|Independent]] (1980–1995)|[[UPN]] (1995–1998)|[[The WB]] (1998–2006)}}
| erp = 325 kW
| haat = {{convert|337|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 11204
| coordinates = {{Coord|39|12|1|N|84|31|22|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website = {{url|star64.tv}}
}}
'''WSTR-TV''' (channel 64), branded '''Star 64''' (stylized as '''STAR64'''), is a [[television station]] in [[Cincinnati]], Ohio, United States, affiliated with [[MyNetworkTV]]. It is owned by [[Deerfield Media]], which maintains a [[local marketing agreement]] (LMA) with [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]], owner of dual [[CBS]]/[[The CW|CW]] affiliate [[WKRC-TV]] (channel 12), for the provision of advertising sales and other services. The two stations share studios on Highland Avenue in the [[Mount Auburn, Cincinnati|Mount Auburn]] section of Cincinnati; WSTR's transmitter, [[Star Tower]], is located in the city's [[College Hill, Cincinnati|College Hill]] neighborhood.

WSTR-TV began broadcasting in 1980 as WBTI, which broadcast a mix of commercial advertising-supported and [[subscription television]] (STV) programs. The STV programming was relegated into overnight hours (before being dropped altogether) at the start of 1985, making way for the station to become an [[independent station]] under the callsign WIII. After financial trouble, channel 64 stabilized under ABRY Communications before being purchased by Sinclair in 1996. It was briefly an affiliate of [[UPN]] before switching to [[The WB]] in 1998 and becoming part of MyNetworkTV in 2006. WKRC-TV produces dedicated morning and late evening newscasts for air on WSTR-TV. The station is one of Cincinnati's two [[ATSC 3.0]] (NextGen TV) transmitters, serving the market's major commercial stations, which each broadcast some of WSTR-TV's subchannels on its behalf.

==History==
===Construction and subscription television years===
On June 30, 1977, the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) granted a construction permit to Buford Television of Ohio, Inc., for a new channel 64 television station in Cincinnati, Ohio.<ref name="hc">{{Cite web|title=History Cards for WSTR-TV|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/api/download/attachment/0188c481-8751-845b-1907-36427e10a859}}</ref> WBTI signed on the air on January 28, 1980.<ref name="reruns">{{cite news|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61837019/|access-date=October 25, 2020|title=Channel 64 Going Strong With Reruns|first=Steve|last=Hoffman|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|page=B-11|date=February 12, 1980|archive-date=March 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313004156/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61837019/channel-64-going-strong-with-reruns/|url-status=live}}</ref> It broadcast with one million [[watt]]s of power and operated from studios on Fishwick Drive in the Bond Hill area; the station's original transmitter was located on Chickasaw Street.{{r|hc}}

WBTI was conceived and began broadcasting as a hybrid. During the day, it was an advertiser-supported, general-entertainment [[independent station]] from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day, with a program schedule primarily consisting of classic reruns.{{r|reruns}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67271991/|date=January 13, 1980|title=Here's Some New And Different TV|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 9, 2021|page=F-10|archive-date=March 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313004132/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67271991/heres-some-new-and-different-tv/|url-status=live}}</ref> In the late evening hours, the station's signal was [[Scrambler|scrambled]] as it carried programming from the [[ON TV (TV network)|ON TV]] service, which provided movies, sports, and live events to viewers through a paid subscription and a decoder to receive ON TV programs.{{r|reruns}} (Buford, which had planned a multi-city expansion into subscription television and even a national network of [[broadcast relay station#Broadcast translator|translator]]s through its Residential Entertainment subsidiary,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67272374/|date=January 21, 1981|work=The Evening Press|page=5-A|title=Texas company wants new TV station in Binghamton|first=Lisa|last=Rubenstein|access-date=January 9, 2020|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052611/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67272374/texas-company-wants-new-tv-station-in/|url-status=live}}</ref> licensed the ON TV name from Oak Communications in the Cincinnati market and also would build STV operations in Chicago and Minneapolis under the brand name [[Spectrum (TV channel)|Spectrum]]; it created the Home Entertainment Network division for this business.<ref name="Cinc811218">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106523980/on-tv-studies-plan-to-expand-time-on-the/|date=December 18, 1981|page=7B|first=P.J.|last=Bednarski|title=ON-TV studies plan to expand time on the air|newspaper=The Cincinnati Post|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 29, 2022|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052611/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106523980/on-tv-studies-plan-to-expand-time-on/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri -->) Local sports programming included a small package of [[Cincinnati Reds]] home games, a major advance for a team that had not permitted the telecast of more than three home games in a season on television since 1966.<ref name="Cinc800506">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106524187/on-tv-telecast-may-mean-a-new-era/|date=May 6, 1980|page=2D|first=Barry|last=Cobb|title=ON TV telecast may mean a new era|newspaper=The Cincinnati Post|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 29, 2022|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052611/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106524187/on-tv-telecast-may-mean-a-new-era/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue -->

WBTI's ratings were less than stellar, while ON TV was being well received but already sensed that competition with cable was going to increase and present a difficulty in keeping subscribers. The subscription operation examined increasing to 20 hours a day—then the maximum amount of hours of non-free programming permitted by the FCC—as early as December 1981,{{r|Cinc811218}} and it carried out that expansion on April 1, 1982, relegating ad-supported WBTI programming to weekday mornings.<ref name="Cinc820327">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106524868/on-tv-faces-cable/|date=March 27, 1982|page=26|title=ON-TV faces cable|newspaper=The Cincinnati Post|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 29, 2022|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052611/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106524868/on-tv-faces-cable/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> In June 1983, the station cut back its commercial programs to the 90-minute edition of ''[[The 700 Club]]'' on weekdays, with ON TV the rest of the day and weekends except for three further hours of religious programs on Sunday mornings.<ref name="trades">{{cite news|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61252702/wbti-trades-free-cable-programming-for/|access-date=October 25, 2020|first=Angie|last=Cannon|title=WBTI Trades Free Programming For Profitable Cable Service|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|date=June 10, 1983|page=B-2|archive-date=October 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022023447/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61252702/wbti-trades-free-cable-programming-for/|url-status=live}}</ref> It was able to do so because the FCC had abolished the so-called "28-hour rule"—which required stations to provide a minimum of, on average, four hours a day of non-subscription programming—in June 1982.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1982/BC-1982-06-21.pdf|work=Broadcasting|via=World Radio History|date=June 21, 1982|id={{ProQuest|962704775}}|title=Marketplace wins again at FCC: No holds barred or STV|page=23|access-date=August 20, 2022|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108151423/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1982/BC-1982-06-21.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

ON TV was beginning to face a tough road. After much delay, the [[Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment|Warner-Amex]] cable service [[QUBE]] became available within the Cincinnati city limits in early 1983, making ON TV less attractive to viewers. In October 1983, United Cable, which had acquired 80 percent of Buford's three STV operations, [[Write-off#Write-down|wrote down]] the entire unit and offered the systems for sale.<ref>{{cite news|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61313568/|access-date=October 17, 2020|date=August 27, 1983|first=Charles|last=Storch|work=Chicago Tribune|title=Spectrum TV up for sale|page=2:6|archive-date=March 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313004437/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61313568/spectrum-tv-up-for-sale/|url-status=live}}</ref> All of this programming was also seen in [[Dayton]], where Buford established translator W66AQ in 1981 to extend the marketing area of ON TV and WBTI's commercial fare.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cincinnati subscription TV station coming to Dayton|access-date=October 27, 2020|date=September 16, 1980|first=Tom|last=Hopkins|work=Dayton Daily News|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61998058/|page=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61998077/ 11]|archive-date=March 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313004444/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61998058/cincinnati-subscription-tv-station/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61998111/|title=News media get critical look|first=Bob|last=Schumacher|date=May 7, 1981|work=The Journal Herald|page=43|access-date=October 27, 2020|archive-date=March 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313004429/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61998111/news-media-get-critical-look/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|This translator, later renamed W22DE when it moved to channel 22 and integrated into Sinclair's Dayton operation, continued on paper until the license was surrendered in 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/draftCopy.html?displayType=html&appKey=25076ff379b50ad40179b53253fa00a9&id=25076ff379b50ad40179b53253fa00a9&goBack=N|title=LMS #148246 — Cancellation — W22DE|date=May 28, 2021|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|accessdate=May 30, 2021|archive-date=June 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210602212356/https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/draftCopy.html?displayType=html&appKey=25076ff379b50ad40179b53253fa00a9&id=25076ff379b50ad40179b53253fa00a9&goBack=N|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

===Emerging from STV===
United sold 90 percent of WBTI in November 1984 to Channel 64 Joint Venture for $9.4&nbsp;million, at which time ON TV had just 12,500 local subscribers (75 percent of which subscribed to adult programming),{{r|freehours}} compared to 45,200 in June 1982. The station relaunched as WIII, "The Eyes of Cincinnati", on January 1, 1985; it restored a general-entertainment schedule, with ON TV programming being relegated to overnight hours only.<ref name="freehours">{{cite news|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61997933/|access-date=October 27, 2020|date=December 5, 1984|title=Channel 64 Expands To 17 Free Hours In '85|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|first=Tom|last=Brinkmoeller|pages=G-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/61997977/ G-8]}}</ref> At that time, general manager and Channel 64 Joint Venture part-owner Stephen Kent said the STV service "virtually runs itself" and could break even with just 2,600 customers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://archive.org/details/sim_televisionweek_1984-12-20_3_51/page/n41/mode/2up?q=WBTI|first=Tom|last=Brinkmoeller|title=Cincinnati ON TV goes independent|date=December 20, 1984|work=[[Electronic Media]]|page=40}}</ref> However, with a mere 3,200 subscribers remaining and Oak shutting down its satellite feed, ON TV in Cincinnati ended on June 1, 1985, at which time WIII converted into a full-time general-entertainment independent station.<ref name="cinplug">{{cite news|title=ON TV Pulls the Plug|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33618423/|page=D-10|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|date=May 7, 1985|access-date=October 25, 2020|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052612/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33618423/on-tv-pulls-the-plug/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:StarTower.JPG|thumb|right|upright=0.8|alt=A dark-colored telecommunications tower with an unusual design|The [[Star Tower]] has been used to transmit WSTR-TV since 1991.]]
Channel 64 soon ran into financial trouble. In April 1986, the station almost went off air after United Cable, which had retained a 10 percent stake after the 1984 sale to Channel 64 Joint Venture, sued the other partners, who refused to accept funding provided by the company to keep the station going. In a proceeding that saw the appointment of general manager Stephen A. Kent as [[receivership|receiver]], it was revealed that the station owed more than $175,000 to program suppliers and had less than $5,000 in the bank.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67225994/|access-date=January 9, 2021|date=April 25, 1986|title=WIII-TV won't be off air|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|first=J. Frazier|last=Smith|page=F-1|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052612/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67225994/wiii-tv-wont-be-off-air/|url-status=live}}</ref> A Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing soon followed;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226027/|pages=A-6, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226066/ A-8]|first=John|last=Kiesewetter|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|date=May 13, 1986|access-date=January 9, 2021|title=WIII files to reorder its debts|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052612/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226027/wiii-files-to-reorder-its-debts/|url-status=live}}</ref> the lengthy battle, marked by conflicts between United and the other partners,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226106/|date=June 28, 1986|title=WIII-TV executives win a round in court|first=John|last=Kiesewetter|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|page=D-10|access-date=January 9, 2021|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052627/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226106/wiii-tv-executives-win-a-round-in-court/|url-status=live}}</ref> as well as cable penetration in the market, hurt the station, which had to exit several programming contracts.<ref>{{cite news|pages=E-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226156/ E-6]|title=Ch. 64's outlook dims|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226197/|access-date=January 9, 2021|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|first=Jon|last=Newberry|date=January 19, 1987|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052613/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226197/ch-64s-outlook-dims/|url-status=live}}</ref> Talks with several potential buyers, including the [[Home Shopping Network]], continued;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226217/|access-date=January 9, 2021|date=February 28, 1987|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|first=Jon|last=Newberry|page=B-8|title=WIII rejects pact with Columbia|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052612/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226217/wiii-rejects-pact-with-columbia/|url-status=live}}</ref> Gerald J. Robinson, owner of the [[Cincinnati Gardens]] arena, made an offer,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226231/|access-date=January 9, 2021|date=July 31, 1987|title=Robinson renews bid for station|page=B-7|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|first=Jon|last=Newberry|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052613/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226231/robinson-renews-bid-for-station/|url-status=live}}</ref> but it was ultimately United Cable that won out, immediately reselling the station to a consortium that included itself and two other investors.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226270/|access-date=January 9, 2021|title=Sale of Channel 64 approved by court|date=November 19, 1987|page=E-4|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|first=Jon|last=Newberry|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052613/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226270/sale-of-channel-64-approved-by-court/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Under United, the station left behind its status as what ''[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]'' media columnist John Kiesewetter called "the IOUs of Cincinnati" and began to spend again on syndicated programming.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226317/|access-date=January 9, 2021|page=D-6|title=Cable channels strut their stuff|first=John|last=Kiesewetter|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|date=April 4, 1988|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052613/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226317/cable-channels-strut-their-stuff/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the other investors opted not to buy the remainder of WIII from United Cable, resulting in the station—now with better ratings and reduced program costs—being put back on the market in August 1988.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226346/|access-date=January 9, 2021|date=August 18, 1988|title=TV station up for sale once again|page=B-7|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|first=Jon|last=Newberry|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052613/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226346/tv-station-up-for-sale-once-again/|url-status=live}}</ref>

United sold WIII to Cincinnati TV 64 [[Limited Partnership]], under the ownership of Andrew Banks and Royce Yudkoff, in November 1989.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226373/|access-date=January 9, 2021|title=Channel 64 sale pending|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|page=D-11|date=August 10, 1989|archive-date=August 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820190111/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226373/channel-64-sale-pending/|url-status=live}}</ref> Their initials served as the name for ABRY Communications. Soon after, stronger programming was added to include more recent sitcoms and better movies, and ABRY also invested in improved equipment.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226388/|access-date=January 9, 2021|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|first=Jeff|last=Harrington|date=January 22, 1990|title=Boston owners trying to make WIII city's No. 1 independent|pages=D-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226411/ D-4]|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052714/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226388/boston-owners-trying-to-make-wiii/|url-status=live}}</ref> On September 15, 1990, coinciding with a total program lineup overhaul, the station changed its call sign to WSTR-TV and its on-air branding to "Star 64".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226438/|page=TV Week 2|title=New letters, new look, new lineup: Just about everything has changed at Channel 64|first=John|last=Kiesewetter|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|date=September 16, 1990|access-date=January 9, 2021|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052714/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67226438/new-letters-new-look-new-lineup-just/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1991, the station increased its transmitter power from one to five million watts at a brand new tower and transmitter site in Cincinnati's College Hill neighborhood.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67273392/|access-date=January 9, 2020|date=November 15, 1991|first=Tom|last=Hopkins|work=Dayton Daily News|title=Independent WSTR-TV boosts its power|page=10C|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052726/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67273392/independent-wstr-tv-boosts-its-power/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Star Tower]] housed WSTR-TV and [[WOFX-FM]].<ref name="Fort911104">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-a-new-concept-o/179039797/|date=November 4, 1991|page=Tarrant Business 14|first=Sandra|last=Baker|title=A new concept of large: Fort Worth firm's steel tower stands 954 feet tall in Cincinnati|newspaper=Fort Worth Star-Telegram|location=Fort Worth, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 16, 2025}}</ref><!-- Mon -->

===Network affiliation===
[[File:WSTR-TV logo, 1990-1998.svg|thumb|right|Star 64 logo from 1990 to 1998. A star design returned to WSTR's logo in 2009.|alt=At left, the italicized blue lettering "STAR" next to the blue numeral 64 encased in five yellow points that outline a tilted star. The call sign W S T R - TV is displayed in black beneath the word STAR.]]
Under ABRY's ownership, the station acquired additional syndicated programs; WSTR then became a charter affiliate of the United Paramount Network ([[UPN]]) on January 16, 1995.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67274105/|access-date=January 9, 2020|date=July 27, 1994|title=WSTR to join Paramount network|page=B7|agency=Associated Press|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052714/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67274105/wstr-to-join-paramount-network/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1996, Sinclair Communications (now Sinclair Broadcast Group) acquired WSTR-TV (for $22 million) and [[KSMO-TV]] in [[Kansas City, Missouri]], after already having purchased the remainder of the company's stations in 1993.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67273869/|access-date=January 9, 2021|work=Kansas City Star|date=December 13, 1995|title=Sinclair Broadcasting to buy Channel 62|first=Barry|last=Garron|page=F-6|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052715/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/67273869/sinclair-broadcasting-to-buy-channel-62/|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 1997, Sinclair signed an affiliation deal with [[The WB]], that resulted in a number of the company's UPN affiliates and independent stations switching to the network, among them WSTR,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1997/BC-1997-07-21.pdf#page=6|pages=4, 8|first=Steve|last=McClellan|via=World Radio History|date=July 21, 1997|work=Broadcasting & Cable|title=WB woos and wins Sinclair|id={{ProQuest|225341388}}|access-date=January 9, 2021|archive-date=January 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210111095533/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1997/BC-1997-07-21.pdf#page=6|url-status=live}}</ref> which began broadcasting WB programming in January 1998.<ref name="Cinc980108">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106524457/same-station-new-network-channel-64-ma/|date=January 8, 1998|page=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106524482/ 4B]|first=Greg|last=Paeth|title=Same station, new network: Channel 64 makes its move with WB|newspaper=The Cincinnati Post|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 29, 2022|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052715/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106524457/same-station-new-network-channel-64/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu -->  The former WB outlet—low-power [[WBQC-LP]] (channel 25), with its limited signal and cable carriage—joined UPN nine months later.<ref name="Cinc980926">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106524709/beefed-up-wbqc-to-air-upn-shows/|date=September 26, 1998|page=8C|first=Greg|last=Paeth|title=Beefed-up WBQC to air UPN shows|newspaper=The Cincinnati Post|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 29, 2022|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052715/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106524709/beefed-up-wbqc-to-air-upn-shows/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat -->

In January 2006, The WB and UPN announced their effective merger into [[The CW]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/cbs_warner/|title='Gilmore Girls' meet 'Smackdown'; CW Network to combine WB, UPN in CBS-Warner venture beginning in September|work=[[CNNMoney.com]]|date=January 24, 2006|access-date=August 3, 2020|archive-date=March 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316043531/http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/cbs_warner/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/business/media/24cnd-network.html?bl|first=Bill|last=Carter|title=UPN and WB to Combine, Forming New TV Network|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=January 24, 2006|access-date=February 23, 2017|archive-date=October 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017035638/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/business/media/24cnd-network.html?bl|url-status=live}}</ref> This was followed by the creation of MyNetworkTV by the [[Fox Television Stations]] group, which owned many UPN affiliates passed over for The CW.<ref>{{cite news|title=News Corp. to launch new mini-network for UPN stations|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-02-22-fox-my-network_x.htm|access-date=January 21, 2013|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=February 22, 2006|archive-date=September 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923100154/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-02-22-fox-my-network_x.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/102922-News_Corp_Unveils_My_Network_TV.php|title=News Corp. Unveils MyNetworkTV|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|date=February 22, 2006|access-date=September 21, 2013|archive-date=April 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417165134/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/102922-News_Corp_Unveils_My_Network_TV.php|url-status=live}}</ref> While Cincinnati only had one full-power affiliate between the two networks, Sinclair signed an affiliation agreement first with MyNetworkTV, which included WSTR-TV, two months before reaching any pact with The CW.<ref name="Sinclair MyNet">{{cite press release|publisher=[[Sinclair Broadcast Group]]|date=May 2, 2006|url=http://sbgi.net/press/release_200652_162.shtml|title=SBG Enters Into Affiliation Agreement With The CW Network|access-date=May 20, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923101053/http://www.sbgi.net/press/release_200652_162.shtml|archive-date=September 23, 2006}}</ref><ref name="B&C MyNet">{{cite news|first=Allison|last=Romano|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6312455.html|title=Sinclair Signs On to MyNetworkTV|work=Broadcasting & Cable|publisher=[[Reed Business Information]]|date=March 2, 2006|access-date=May 20, 2006|archive-date=March 23, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060323081011/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6312455.html|url-status=live}}</ref> (By that time, WKRC-TV had agreed to launch a subchannel to carry The CW.) WSTR carried MyNetworkTV's debut on September 5, 2006.<ref>{{cite news|title=Channel 64 joins MyNetworkTV team|first=John|last=Kiesewetter|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|date=September 4, 2006|page=D3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106776631/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=August 2, 2022|archive-date=August 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820190109/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106776631/the-cincinnati-enquirer/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2009, WSTR reintroduced its 1990s brand, dropping the "My" branding in favor of "Star 64", while keeping the network's logo color and style scheme.<ref name="Enquirer Kiesewetter Star return">{{cite news|title=Old TV Star Returns To Channel 64|work=The Cincinnati Enquirer|publisher=Gannett Company|date=September 14, 2009|url=http://cincinnati.com/blogs/tv/2009/09/14/old-tv-star-returns-to-channel-64/|access-date=September 14, 2009|archive-date=September 25, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925184520/http://cincinnati.com/blogs/tv/2009/09/14/old-tv-star-returns-to-channel-64/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Sinclair purchased WKRC-TV from [[Newport Television]] in 2012. To complete this acquisition, Sinclair assigned the WSTR-TV license to [[Deerfield Media]], continuing to operate the station under a local marketing agreement that allows Sinclair to sell WSTR-TV's advertising time and provide technical, promotion, and support services for WSTR-TV's operation.<ref name=tvnc-saletodeerfield>{{cite news|title=Newport Sells 22 Station For $1 Billion|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/60876/newport-sells-22-stations-for-1-billion|access-date=July 19, 2012|newspaper=TVNewsCheck|date=July 19, 2012|archive-date=March 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308212139/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/60876/newport-sells-22-stations-for-1-billion|url-status=live}}</ref> The sale was completed on December 3, 2012.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/Newport%20closing_qcm5mk7w.shtml|title=Sinclair Broadcast Group Closes TV Station Acquisitions|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121207055905/http://www.sbgi.net/site_mgr/temp/Newport%20closing_qcm5mk7w.shtml |archive-date=December 7, 2012|date=December 3, 2012|publisher=Sinclair Broadcast Group }}</ref>

==Programming==
===Newscasts===
{{main|WKRC-TV#News operation}}
In December 2003, WSTR began producing a local 10 p.m. newscast with a staff of 19, using Sinclair's [[News Central (American TV program)|News Central]] hybrid format with a local anchor—Kim Moening, previously of [[WXIX-TV]]—reading stories in Cincinnati and national segments produced from Sinclair's headquarters in [[Hunt Valley, Maryland]].<ref name="Cinc050505">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106525805/anchor-feels-right-at-home-kim-moening/|date=May 5, 2005|page=E1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106525861/ E2]|first=John|last=Kiesewetter|title=Anchor feels right at home: Kim Moening helps Channel 64 build a news operation from the ground up|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 29, 2022|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052718/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106525805/anchor-feels-right-at-home-kim-moening/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu -->

News Central was wound down nationally in early 2006, with the last newscast airing on February 24, 2006.<ref name="Enquirer News Central">{{cite news|first=Sara|last=Pearce|url=http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060211/ENT/602110327/-1/all|title=Ch. 64 to drop local newscast|work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]|publisher=[[Gannett]]|date=February 11, 2006|access-date=May 20, 2006}}</ref> It was replaced by a news share agreement with WKRC-TV, which began to produce a dedicated 10 p.m. newscast for the station in August 2006.<ref name="WSTR">{{cite press release|publisher=[[Sinclair Broadcast Group]]|date=April 24, 2006|url=http://sbgi.net/press/release_2006424_158.shtml|title=WSTR & WKRC Enter Into 10PM News Share In Cincinnati|access-date=May 20, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923101003/http://www.sbgi.net/press/release_2006424_158.shtml|archive-date=September 23, 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> After two years, WKRC-TV opted to reclaim the newscast for its CW subchannel.<ref name="Cinc080803">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106526171/local-media-that-shhhh-meant-steve-ho/|date=August 3, 2008|page=D2|first=John|last=Kiesewetter|title=Local Media: That 'SHhhh' meant Steve Horstmeyer|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 29, 2022|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052715/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106526171/local-media-that-shhhh-meant-steve/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun -->

Local news from WKRC-TV was restored in January 2014 after the two stations came under common operation, including a 10 p.m. newscast<ref name="Cinc140105">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106526314/back-on-tv-beat-cincinnati-police-women/|date=January 5, 2014|page=D10|first=John|last=Kiesewetter|title=Back on TV beat: Cincinnati police women will be featured on TLC show|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 29, 2022|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052716/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106526314/back-on-tv-beat-cincinnati-police/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --> and a 7 a.m. hour of that station's ''Good Morning Cincinnati''. An 8 a.m. hour of the morning show was added in 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wvxu.org/media/2015-09-14/wkrc-tv-adding-hour-to-good-morning-cincinnati-and-other-daytime-tv-changes|work=WVXU|first=John|last=Kiesewetter|title=WKRC-TV Adding Hour To 'Good Morning Cincinnati' And Other Daytime TV Changes|date=September 14, 2015|access-date=July 29, 2022|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052716/https://www.wvxu.org/media/2015-09-14/wkrc-tv-adding-hour-to-good-morning-cincinnati-and-other-daytime-tv-changes|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Sports programming===
From [[2016 FC Cincinnati season|2016]] to 2022, WSTR was the television home of [[FC Cincinnati]], airing all matches not chosen for national TV.<ref>{{cite press release| url = https://www.fccincinnati.com/post/2021/04/15/fc-cincinnati-announce-star64-iheartradio-local-broadcast-partners| title = FC Cincinnati announce Star64, iHeartRadio as Local Broadcast Partners| website = FC Cincinnati| access-date = April 19, 2021| archive-date = April 19, 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210419025727/https://www.fccincinnati.com/post/2021/04/15/fc-cincinnati-announce-star64-iheartradio-local-broadcast-partners| url-status = live}}</ref>{{efn|All [[Major League Soccer]] local television rights agreements ended after 2022 to make way for MLS's 10-year deal with [[Apple Inc.|Apple]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3490012/2022/06/14/mls-agrees-to-10-year-broadcast-deal-with-apple-worth-2-5-billion-sources/|work=[[The Athletic]]|first=Sam|last=Stejskal|title=MLS agrees to 10-year broadcast deal with Apple worth $2.5 billion: Sources|quote=Apple TV matches will not be shown on local television networks...|date=June 14, 2022|url-access=subscription|access-date=July 26, 2022|archive-date=July 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718022734/https://theathletic.com/news/mls-tv-deal-espn-apple-univision/cbC0ubEBpHsb/|url-status=live}}</ref> }}

==Technical information and subchannels==
The station's [[ATSC 1.0]] channels are carried on the [[multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]] signals of other Cincinnati television stations:

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Subchannels provided by WSTR-TV (ATSC 1.0)
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Programming
! scope = "col" | ATSC 1.0 host<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?mktid=40|title=Digital TV Market Listing for Cincinnati, Ohio|website=rabbitears.info|access-date=July 28, 2022|archive-date=January 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111004930/https://rabbitears.info/market.php?mktid=40|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
! scope = "row" | 64.1
| [[720p]] || rowspan=5|[[16:9]] || MyTV || [[MyNetworkTV]] || [[WLWT]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 64.2
| rowspan=4|[[480i]] || Antenna || [[Antenna TV]] || rowspan=2|[[WKRC-TV]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 64.3
| Charge! || [[Charge! (TV network)|Charge!]] 
|-
! scope = "row" | 64.4
| ROAR || [[Roar (TV network)|Roar]] || [[WXIX-TV]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 64.5
| Comet || [[Comet (TV network)|Comet]] || [[WCPO-TV]]
|}

WSTR-TV ended regular programming on its analog signal, over [[UHF]] channel 64, on February 17, 2009, the originally intended [[Digital television transition in the United States|digital television transition]] date.<ref name="Cinc090217">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106526521/some-digital-tv-viewers-just-dont-get-t/|date=February 17, 2009|page=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106526539/ A2]|first=John|last=Kiesewetter|title=Some digital TV viewers just don't get the picture|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|location=Cincinnati, Ohio|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 29, 2022|archive-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729052716/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/106526521/some-digital-tv-viewers-just-dont-get/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --><ref name="Analog to Digital">{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref>

===ATSC 3.0===
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Subchannels of WSTR-TV (ATSC 3.0)<ref name="rei">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WSTR|title=RabbitEars TV Query for WSTR|website=[[RabbitEars.info]]|access-date=September 14, 2021|archive-date=September 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914210623/https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WSTR|url-status=live}}</ref>
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col" |[[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col" |[[Display resolution|Res.]]
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col" |Short name
! style="background-color: #bdbdff" scope = "col" |Programming
|-
! scope = "row" | 5.1
| [[1080p]] || style="background-color:#ffe8d0|WLWT || style="background-color:#ffe8d0|[[NBC]] ([[WLWT]]) [[File:Action lock 2 - orange.svg|14px|alt=DRM|link=]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 9.1
| [[720p]] || style="background-color:#ffe8d0|WCPO || style="background-color:#ffe8d0|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] ([[WCPO-TV]]) [[File:Action lock 2 - orange.svg|14px|alt=DRM|link=]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 12.1
| rowspan=3|1080p || WKRC || [[CBS]] ([[WKRC-TV]])
|-
! scope = "row" | 12.10
| style="background-color:#ffffd0|T2 || style="background-color:#ffffd0|[[Tennis Channel#Streaming channels|T2 (from Tennis Channel)]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 12.11
| style="background-color:#ffffd0|PBTV || style="background-color:#ffffd0|[[Tennis Channel#Streaming channels|Pickleballtv]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 19.1
| rowspan=2|720p || style="background-color:#ffe8d0|WXIX || style="background-color:#ffe8d0|[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] ([[WXIX-TV]]) [[File:Action lock 2 - orange.svg|14px|alt=DRM|link=]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 64.1
| WSTR || [[MyNetworkTV]]
|}
{{legend|#ffe8d0|Subchannel broadcast with [[digital rights management]]}}
{{legend|#ffffd0|Subchannel streamed via the Internet<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/static.php?name=atsc3_streaming|title=ATSC 3.0 Streams Delivered Via Internet|website=[[RabbitEars.info]]|accessdate=March 24, 2024}}</ref>}}

On September 14, 2021, WSTR-TV turned off its ATSC 1.0 signal and became Cincinnati's host station for [[ATSC 3.0]] (NextGen TV), with reciprocal agreements with the four other commercial stations in the market to continue ATSC 1.0 broadcast of its subchannels while broadcasting the other stations in 3.0 format.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/tech/article/five-stations-launch-nextgen-tv-in-cincinnati/|work=TVNewsCheck|date=September 14, 2021|title=Five Stations Launch NextGen TV In Cincinnati|access-date=July 29, 2022|archive-date=February 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220204055618/https://tvnewscheck.com/tech/article/five-stations-launch-nextgen-tv-in-cincinnati/|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Channel 18 digital TV stations in the United States]]
* [[Channel 64 virtual TV stations in the United States]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|https://star64.tv/}}

{{Cincy TV}}
{{Ohio TV}}
{{Indiana TV}}
{{Kentucky TV}}
{{SBGI}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wstr-Tv}}
[[Category:1980 establishments in Ohio]]
[[Category:Antenna TV affiliates]]
[[Category:ATSC 3.0 television stations]]
[[Category:Charge! (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Comet (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:MyNetworkTV affiliates]]
[[Category:Roar (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Sinclair Broadcast Group]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1980]]
[[Category:Television stations in Cincinnati|STR-TV]]