FOX19
U.S. local news, right-leaning ownership influence
Background
WXIX-TV signed on in 1968 as Cincinnati's first commercial independent station, initially airing movies and syndicated programming before becoming a Fox affiliate. It began local newscasts in the 1990s and rebranded as 'Fox 19' in 1995. The station has changed corporate hands several times, having been owned by Raycom Media before Gray Television acquired Raycom in 2019, folding WXIX into Gray's national portfolio of roughly 180 stations. Gray Television, led by chairman and CEO Hilton Howell, has drawn national scrutiny for requiring its local anchors nationwide to read company-scripted segments, including ones covering topics like conservative-aligned 'must-run' commentary and content tied to Gray's business interests, though such centrally produced segments are a small share of total local programming. Locally, FOX19 NOW's day-to-day reporting on Cincinnati-area crime, weather, and community issues is generally considered straightforward local news rather than overtly partisan. As with most Fox network affiliates, FOX19 carries Fox Broadcasting Company's national entertainment and sports programming but produces its own separate local newscasts, which are editorially distinct from Fox News Channel (a different company, owned by Fox Corporation, not Gray).
Sources
Profile compiled 2026-09-26; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.