What WHIO does

WHIO is a local multimedia broadcasting operation serving Dayton, Ohio and the broader Miami Valley region. The station comprises WHIO-TV (Channel 7), a CBS-affiliated television station launched in 1949, and WHIO Radio, an AM/FM radio operation dating back to 1930, with additional sub-channels carrying ME TV and Laff TV programming. Content spans local news, weather (Storm Center 7, including interactive radar and 24/7 weather streaming), traffic conditions (Triple Team Traffic), sports coverage of the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Dayton Flyers, and Ohio State Buckeyes, plus investigative journalism through the I-Team unit.

The product portfolio has expanded beyond traditional broadcast into digital streaming services (WHIO 7 NOW, WHIO 24/7 News, Law & Crime, Gusto TV), a mobile application for iOS and Android, podcasts, and email newsletters, distributed via whio.com and social media channels on Facebook, X, and YouTube. Community-facing programs such as the School Watch Program and 7 Circle of Kindness support local engagement and alert distribution.

WHIO is owned and operated by Cox Media Group, a private media conglomerate, with corporate support including advertising solutions, a careers portal, and shared technology infrastructure. Revenue is generated through advertising and sponsorship, with no publicly disclosed pricing for consumer access. The station operates under FCC broadcast licenses for television and radio properties, and is currently in the FCC license renewal process.

Name

WHIO

Legal name

Cox Media Group Television

Website

https://whio.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1930

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

WHIO is a Dayton, Ohio-based local broadcast media outlet operating WHIO-TV (CBS-affiliated Channel 7) and WHIO AM/FM radio, serving the Miami Valley with news, weather, sports, and traffic content. Owned by Cox Media Group, it distributes across broadcast, digital streaming, mobile, and social channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Broadcast Television and Radio

NAICS

Television Broadcasting Stations (516120), Radio Broadcasting Stations (51611)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Network-Affiliated Local TV Stations (ABC/CBS/NBC/FOX/CW/Telemundo/Univision, etc.) (MPABACAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Network-Affiliated Local Radio Stations (News/Talk/Sports Syndication Affiliates) (MPABACAF)

Keywords

• Local broadcast television
• Regional news media
• Radio broadcasting
• Weather forecasting
• Digital news streaming

Headquarters

HQ city

Dayton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

WHIO operates a CBS-affiliated television station (WHIO-TV Channel 7) and AM/FM radio stations serving Dayton, Ohio and the Miami Valley region. The company delivers local news, weather forecasts, traffic updates, sports coverage, and investigative reporting through broadcast television, radio, digital streaming, mobile apps, and podcasts. Content is supported by advertising and sponsorship revenue.

Product overview

WHIO is a local multimedia broadcasting company based in Dayton, Ohio, and part of Cox Media Group. The company operates WHIO TV 7 (a CBS-affiliated television station) and WHIO Radio (AM/FM radio), providing local news, weather, sports, crime coverage, and entertainment content to the Miami Valley region. The product portfolio centers around broadcast television and radio as the core offerings, supplemented by digital streaming services (WHIO 7 NOW, WHIO Weather 24/7), traffic information (Triple Team Traffic), and podcast content. WHIO also offers a mobile application for news alerts and streaming access. The company is an FCC-licensed broadcaster with public file access available for both television and radio properties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WHIO TV 7 WHIO TV 7 is a CBS-affiliated local television station serving Dayton, Ohio with network programming, local news coverage, weather updates, sports, and entertainment content.
• WHIO Radio WHIO Radio is an AM/FM radio station providing news, talk shows, sports coverage, traffic updates, and podcasts to the Dayton and Miami Valley area.
• WHIO 7 NOW / WHIO 24/7 News Live streaming video service providing continuous news coverage, breaking news alerts, and on-demand video content from WHIO's local news operations.
• WHIO Weather 24/7 / Storm Center 7 Round-the-clock weather streaming service featuring interactive radar, hour-by-hour forecasts, 7-day forecasts, and severe weather alerts for the Miami Valley region.
• WHIO Triple Team Traffic Traffic information service providing live traffic conditions, updates on road incidents, and commuting information for the Dayton metropolitan area.
• WHIO Radio Podcasts On-demand audio content including news podcasts and radio show recordings available for streaming and download.
• WHIO Mobile App Mobile application for iOS and Android providing news alerts, live streaming, and on-demand content access for WHIO TV and Radio audiences.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CBS ProgrammingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWHIO-TV is affiliated with CBS for network programming. The station broadcasts CBS schedule including sports events such as UFC Freedom 250 held at the White House.
• ME TVminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWHIO-TV Channel 72 carries ME TV (Memorable Entertainment Television) programming including classic TV shows and movies.
• Laff TVminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWHIO-TV carries Laff TV programming, a network focused on comedy entertainment content.
• StreamAmericaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWHIO offers StreamAmerica channels including Inside look at law enforcement and true crime content, and Gusto TV food and lifestyle programming.
• Cox Media GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWHIO is owned and operated by Cox Media Group, part of CMG Television stations. Cox Media Group provides corporate support, advertising solutions, careers portal, and shared technology infrastructure.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Hearst Television: Hearst Television owns ~30 local TV stations affiliated with ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX. It is comparable to WHIO as a network-affiliated local broadcaster with strong newsroom investment and digital extensions.
• Tegna: Tegna owns a portfolio of 60+ local TV stations affiliated with major networks including CBS, NBC, ABC, and FOX. It is a comparable local-broadcast operator focused on local news, weather, and digital extensions of broadcast content.
• Cox Media Group: Cox Media Group is the direct parent company of WHIO and operates other local TV and radio stations across the US. As the corporate parent and operator of broadcast properties in multiple markets, it is the closest strategic and operating peer to WHIO.
• iHeartMedia: iHeartMedia is the largest US radio broadcaster and a leading podcast platform. Its AM/FM radio plus digital audio/podcast monetization model is directly comparable to WHIO Radio's news/talk/sports programming and podcast product lines.
• Gray Television: Gray Television operates 180+ local TV stations concentrated in mid-sized US markets, including CBS and other network affiliates. Its market profile and dual TV+digital strategy closely mirror WHIO's positioning.
• Nexstar Media Group: Nexstar is the largest US television broadcaster, operating 200+ local stations. It is comparable to WHIO as a CBS/network-affiliated local broadcaster with significant ad-revenue scale and an active M&A footprint in local TV.
• Sinclair Broadcast Group: Sinclair is one of the largest US local TV station operators, owning dozens of network-affiliated stations across mid-sized DMAs. It is a structural peer for WHIO's broadcast economics, network affiliation strategy, and local news operating model, though at vastly greater scale.
• E.W. Scripps Company: Scripps operates a portfolio of local TV stations (Scripps Local Media) alongside national networks. Its local-broadcast operating model, network-affiliation mix, and growing emphasis on digital/streaming revenue are directly comparable to WHIO.

Direct peers

• WKEF/WRGT (Dayton 24/7 Now): WKEF is the ABC-affiliated local TV station in Dayton (with WRGT, the Fox affiliate). It directly competes with WHIO-TV for local news audiences and advertising share in the Dayton market.
• WDTN: WDTN is the NBC-affiliated local TV station serving the Dayton, Ohio DMA (Channel 2). It is WHIO's closest direct local broadcast competitor for news, weather, and ad revenue in the same Miami Valley market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/whiotv
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCIr2L5vnVPAC1-FCLf5mcng
• Facebookfacebook.com/whionews
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1359970

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WHIO