Winston Broadcasting Network

WBNX-TV

Company type	Private
Industry	Broadcasting
Founded	1985
Headquarters	Akron, Ohio , United States
Area served	Cleveland, Ohio area
Owner	Nexstar Media Group
Parent	Nexstar Media Group

WBNX-TV (channel 55) operates as an independent television station licensed to Akron, Ohio, catering to the Cleveland viewing area. It is owned by Nexstar Media Group and functions alongside Fox affiliate WJW (channel 8), with both stations sharing production facilities on Dick Goddard Way, situated northeast of downtown Cleveland. The transmitter for WBNX-TV is located in the suburban area of Parma, Ohio.

The origins of channel 55 trace back to 1968 when televangelist Rex Humbard secured a construction permit for "WCOT-TV" as part of his ministry at the Cathedral of Tomorrow. Despite extensive plans, the station was never completed, leading to the permit’s cancellation. In 1980, Akron-Rhema Television obtained the license but depleted its funds during the building phase. Subsequently, Ernest Angley assumed control, utilizing Humbard’s former studio facilities. WBNX commenced broadcasting on December 1, 1985, and Angley acquired full ownership by early 1987 through "Winston Broadcasting Network," a commercial entity affiliated with his ministry.

At its inception, WBNX featured a lineup of classic sitcoms and films alongside Angley’s religious programming. The station incorporated Fox Kids in 1994, joined The WB network in 1997, and later affiliated with The CW in 2006. The partnership with The CW ended in 2018 amid financial difficulties and allegations involving Angley, who died in 2021. After acquisition by Nexstar in early 2025 and integration with WJW, WBNX is set to reinstate its CW affiliation starting September.

Prior history of channel 55 in Akron

In March 1951, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposed adding three new UHF channels for use in Akron, Ohio: channels 49, 55, and 61. Channel 55 was initially earmarked for non-commercial educational television (ETV). Channel 49 was first activated when WAKR-TV launched in 1953; however, channel 55’s educational service was delayed due to disagreements between Akron University and Kent State University. The FCC reassigned channel 55 to commercial status in August 1966 after approving WAKR-TV's shift from channel 49 to channel 23; channel 49 then became designated for ETV.

In May 1967, televangelist Rex Humbard, based at the Cathedral of Tomorrow in Cuyahoga Falls, filed an application with the FCC to operate on channel 55. Humbard and his family had settled in Akron in 1952 and began their television ministry on WAKR-TV in 1953; their ministry initially operated from a former movie theater converted into studios by WAKR. Humbard had prior experience seeking broadcast licenses, including one for a radio station in Massillon, Ohio. The FCC granted him a permit in June 1968 under the call sign WCOT-TV; plans focused on religious programming combined with live entertainment aiming for a January 1969 launch. However, the station's debut was postponed until fall 1969 under the supervision of Rex Humbard Jr.

By April 1970, Humbard requested authorization to increase WCOT-TV’s antenna height significantly and boost power output beyond one million watts. A refurbished former Shoppers Fair building adjacent to the Cathedral was designated as WCOT’s studio site, while Cuyahoga Falls City Council upgraded local power infrastructure to support the station’s operations. Humbard Jr. anticipated a September 1971 on-air date featuring "good clean entertainment."

Inspired by Husky Oil’s headquarters in Calgary, Humbard submitted plans in May 1971 to construct a concrete tower featuring a revolving restaurant, studios, an observation deck, and a cross-shaped transmitter mast—potentially becoming Ohio’s tallest structure—with estimated costs around $4 million. Earlier that year he had acquired Mackinac College with a $2 million loan. Despite securing approximately $750,000 from banks toward financing, Humbard also utilized Teamsters loans for renovations.

Construction commenced in September 1971 despite opposition from local residents and a lawsuit filed by WSLR radio over alleged signal interference; this legal challenge was eventually dismissed. Modifications during construction caused delays but “Cathedral Teleproductions,” the new TV studio facility, opened in November 1971 and received praise comparable to NBC’s Burbank studios. However, the tower lacked essential water and sewer connections.

By November 1971, only part of the tower had been completed using reinforced concrete supplied by M. W. Kellogg. Cathedral staff committed to a June 1, 1972 launch date; nonetheless, construction stopped in January 1972 due to financial shortfalls. Northern Ohio Bank offered a $5 million loan contingent on secured financing; despite this condition not being met fully, Humbard continued work by having contractors accept promissory notes while promising completion within three months and WCOT-TV’s sign-on before year-end.

By January 1973, following multiple cease-and-desist orders related to securities sales and concerns over insolvency raised by Ohio authorities, all securities sales were halted; the SEC also joined litigation against Humbard. This legal action forced closure of studios to external clients and resulted in layoffs affecting about forty employees. The Cathedral ministry entered state supervision with assets frozen amid debts exceeding $12.5 million owed to investors.

After eight years without completing construction on channel 55 facilities, the FCC revoked WCOT-TV’s permit on August 27, 1976. This freed channel 55 for use by WVIZ’s Chagrin Falls translator which began operations in 1977. M. W. Kellogg was not fully compensated until winning a fraud lawsuit against Humbard in 1989. The unfinished tower—derisively nicknamed "Rex's Erection"—was sold that same year to local entrepreneur Mike Krieger who considered completing it; today it primarily functions as a cellular transmission site.

Application and initial construction

Following the FCC's revocation of Humbard's WCOT-TV permit, the agency reopened the bidding process for Akron's channel 55. Between May and August 1980, four entities submitted applications: Rhema Television, Ebony Blackstar, Akron Telecasting Corp., and Ohio Telecasting Corp. Rhema, led by a former associate of Humbard and composed primarily of local clergy, intended to operate a dedicated religious station. One key figure, Rev. Amer Shab, managed a bible college and church in North Ridgeville. Ebony Blackstar aimed to serve the African American community, Akron Telecasting proposed a general independent format with local news coverage, while both Ohio Telecasting and Ebony Blackstar suggested subscription television services similar to WCLQ.

Summit Radio, owner of WAKR-TV, opposed the bids from Rhema and Ohio Telecasting—likely due to WAKR-TV’s existing focus on religious content. Subsequently, Akron Telecasting and Rhema combined their efforts into a joint bid known as Akron-Rhema, which ultimately secured the FCC license. Their programming vision included a variety of content such as a local morning show, music segments, quiz programs, and family-oriented reruns. Despite these plans, by August 1983 they had only raised $100,000 out of the $500,000 required startup capital; first-year operational costs were projected at $5 million. By early 1985, Akron-Rhema had exhausted all its operating funds.

Signing on under Ernest Angley management

In December 1984, faced with insufficient capital to launch the station independently, Akron-Rhema entered into an agreement with Ernest Angley to provide financial backing and facilities. Angley, a television veteran since 1957 known for his charismatic preaching and faith healing ministry, had purchased much of the Cathedral's assets—including its TV studio—for $2 million earlier that year. Shortly after Humbard’s programs ceased airing, Angley introduced a daily show on WDLI-TV. At Akron-Rhema’s request, the station’s call letters were changed from "WPSC" to WBNX. A transmitter location was arranged on the WWWE/WZAK tower in Brecksville, temporarily reducing WWWE's output during antenna installation.

Lou Spangler, serving as Angley’s ministry executive director, joined WBNX’s programming board. Under Angley and Spangler’s leadership, full control over programming was established; WBNX shifted focus toward family-friendly reruns, movies, and Angley’s daily broadcast The Ninety and Nine Club, modeled after CBN. Although initially planned for a late 1985 launch, distribution obstacles arose after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated the FCC's must-carry rule. This led local cable providers to decline carriage due to WBNX’s specialized content. Even after the FCC reinstated must-carry regulations with more flexible provisions in 1986, none of Akron’s twenty cable systems carried WBNX when it debuted on December 1, 1985.

In May 1986, Angley established "Winston Broadcasting Network"—named after his middle name "Winston"—as a preliminary step before Grace Cathedral purchased the license outright from Akron-Rhema in January 1987 for $1.2 million. Angley described this acquisition as inspired by divine guidance and operated WBNX along with related ventures as for-profit entities that reinvested earnings into his ministry. By April 1986, WBNX secured carriage on Warner Cable and expanded into additional cable systems by 1989 while continuing efforts to broaden its cable footprint. In 1994, Angley completed acquisition of the remaining portions of Humbard's Cathedral complex for $2.7 million.

Seeking to enhance profitability by relocating its transmitter closer to Cleveland—a move Angley attributed to divine direction—WBNX solicited donations through The Ninety and Nine Club. In March 1989, the station proposed erecting a 1,200-foot tower within Rising Valley Park situated between Richfield and Hinckley townships; however, park trustees rejected this plan. After two years of searching for alternatives, WBNX leased 32 acres in Parma adjacent to a former landfill (currently Cleveland Metroparks West Creek Reservation) for construction of an 1,100-foot tower. The clearing of 12 acres for this project triggered legal disputes concerning alleged deed restrictions protecting green space use; former property owners also filed suit against Winston Broadcasting. Despite opposition efforts, the Parma tower was completed and became operational in July 1993.

Integration of Fox Kids and Enhanced Market Presence

On May 23, 1994, New World Communications, which owned WJW-TV, secured a long-term affiliation agreement with Fox, resulting in the displacement of the original Fox affiliate WOIO. Subsequently, WOIO affiliated with CBS and intended to discontinue Fox Kids programming, which WJW opted not to adopt. Consequently, WBNX agreed to broadcast Fox Kids starting September 1, 1994, just prior to these affiliation changes. Anne Keith, WBNX’s program director, characterized this as a pivotal chance for the station to establish itself as a key player in the Cleveland market. Unlike WOIO’s limited presentation of Fox Kids with minimal on-air talent, WBNX featured a live continuity host in-studio, which contributed to increasing the "Fox 55 Kids Club" membership from 91,000 to 130,000 by April 1996—ranking it as the fourth-largest Fox Kids club nationwide.

The transition of WOIO to CBS coincided with its local marketing agreement takeover of WUAB, consolidating syndicated content at WUAB and leaving WBNX to acquire surplus programming from both stations. In December 1995, WBNX began tape-delayed rebroadcasts of WJW's 10 p.m. newscast at 11 p.m., anticipating Fox’s possible introduction of a late-night talk show. To bolster promotional efforts, the station collaborated with Media Marketing, a group formed by former WUAB marketing personnel. While WUAB secured affiliations with UPN and The WB in early 1995, WBNX positioned itself firmly as an independent station. Despite lower prime-time ratings compared to competitors, WBNX experienced a 300% surge in morning viewership and a 17% increase in afternoon ratings, rivaling or exceeding WUAB’s performance within the 2–11 age demographic.

Ernest Angley’s ownership influence remained evident; for instance, the station refused to air an episode of The Best of National Geographic that addressed evolution. During the 1995–96 season, WBNX acquired first-run shows such as Baywatch Nights, even though concerns arose regarding its alignment with the station’s family-oriented image; editing rights were obtained to manage content appropriately. The series was eventually dropped following its thematic shift toward occult subjects. Programming enhancements continued into the 1996–97 season alongside the launch of WBNX’s website on September 9—making it the first television station in Cleveland to establish an online presence. By July 1997, it remained unique among local stations for maintaining a website, underscoring its early commitment to digital engagement within the market.

Affiliation with The WB and Transition to The CW

WUAB carried UPN starting in September 1993 and added The WB from January 1995 as both networks began with limited programming schedules. UPN served as WUAB's primary affiliation and received priority during prime-time slots. As both networks expanded their prime-time blocks in fall 1995, conflicts arose due to Cleveland Indians and Cavaliers broadcasts on WUAB; this led to The WB programs being rescheduled frequently to late-night or weekend slots. Between November 1995 and November 1996, ratings for UPN programming on WUAB increased by 75%, whereas The WB shows experienced a 33% decrease in viewership. By May 1997, WUAB extended its UPN affiliation through 2004 but permitted The WB to withdraw owing to executive concerns and market research findings. Subsequently, negotiations commenced with WBNX-TV regarding The WB affiliation.

On July 1, 1997, WBNX inked a four-year agreement with The WB effective September 1; prime-time shows aired according to standard scheduling patterns while Saturday morning Kids' WB programming was shifted to Sunday mornings to accommodate Fox Kids content. Under Ernest Angley’s ownership philosophy emphasizing family-friendly programming, some content challenges arose; for example, Buffy the Vampire Slayer was broadcast despite potential conflicts. General manager Lou Spangler acknowledged these issues but affirmed that the network managed them appropriately.

In addition to network programming, WBNX aired fifteen Akron Aeros minor league baseball games during the 1997 regular season and continued this coverage into 1998. In July 1998, the station introduced The Ghoul, hosted by Ron Sweed for Friday late-night slots—marking Sweed’s return to local television. With full creative control over content granted by the station, Sweed humorously proposed provocative programming ideas. By October 2000, The Ghoul was moved to Sunday late-night broadcasts.

On January 24, 2006, UPN and The WB announced their merger into The CW network. The CW planned affiliate selections primarily from existing UPN or WB stations in markets lacking CBS-owned UPN or Tribune-owned WB affiliates. Although speculation suggested WUAB might become Cleveland's CW affiliate, scheduling conflicts due to Cavaliers games and concerns about The CW's financial model complicated this possibility. Conversely, strong ratings performance by WBNX with The WB secured its designation as Cleveland’s CW affiliate on March 1—making it one of the first five affiliates outside of those owned by major media groups.

Following this transition, WBNX began airing reruns of Friends during evening hours, replacing Ernest Angley’s long-running program Ninety and Nine Club. Meanwhile, WUAB affiliated with MyNetworkTV.

Allegations, financial challenges, and separation from The CW

In October 2014, the Beacon Journal released an investigative series exposing various accusations against Ernest Angley and his Cathedral ministry. These claims included cult-like conduct, sexual abuse involving Angley’s associates, and manipulative practices such as enforced marriages and reproductive control. Former employees and congregants reported exploitative working conditions at WBNX and the Cathedral Buffet, where volunteers frequently endured extended hours for little or no compensation. These labor infractions prompted a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Department of Labor, culminating in a federal mandate to pay over $388,000 in back wages. The Cathedral Buffet eventually ceased operations in 2017 due to financial inviability without volunteer labor support.

Financial strains also impacted property holdings when Beck Energy initiated legal action against Grace Cathedral and Winston Broadcasting over a $3.6 million loan default linked to real estate mortgages. This lawsuit threatened foreclosure on the ministry’s six-acre headquarters site. Angley resolved the outstanding debt in 2019 shortly before a scheduled sheriff’s sale of WBNX facilities and other assets.

In July 2018, The CW network transferred its Cleveland affiliation from WBNX to WUAB, attributing the change to successful collaborations with WUAB’s parent company, Raycom Media. That year also saw former associate pastor Brock Miller file a lawsuit accusing Angley of sexual misconduct; both parties reached a settlement through arbitration in 2020. Due to health concerns, Angley retired from preaching in February 2019.

Ernest Angley passed away on May 7, 2021, at age 99. He did not establish a formal succession strategy for the ministry or its broadcast operations, expressing that leadership matters were "in the hands of the Lord." This lack of defined leadership raised uncertainties regarding Grace Cathedral's future business structure and media activities.

Acquisition by Nexstar and reinstatement of The CW affiliation

Nexstar Media Group, which had acquired WJW in 2019 and obtained majority ownership of The CW in 2022, announced on October 28, 2024, its purchase of WBNX from Winston Broadcasting for $22 million. Nexstar disclosed intentions for WBNX to become a CW owned-and-operated station beginning September 1, 2025, supplanting WUAB as the network’s Cleveland affiliate. The transaction was completed on February 1, 2025.

Notable alumni

• Dagmar Midcap

Subchannels

WBNX-TV broadcasts multiple subchannels:

WBNX-TV Subchannel Lineup

Channel	Resolution	Aspect Ratio	Identifier	Content
55.1	1080i	16:9	WBNX-HD	Independent transitioning to The CW (effective September 1, 2025)
55.2	480i		WBNX-SD	Buzzr
55.3			Rewind	Rewind TV
55.4			H&I	Heroes & Icons
55.5			StartTV	Start TV

Transition from analog to digital broadcasting

WBNX initiated digital transmissions in April 2007 on UHF channel 30; due to Cleveland’s proximity to the Canada–United States border, coordination with both the FCC and CRTC was necessary—a process that extended beyond three years. The analog signal was discontinued on June 12, 2009, aligning with the nationwide U.S. digital transition; meanwhile, the digital broadcast continued on channel 30 with virtual channel identification as 55. In August 2019, following the wireless spectrum auction conducted in 2016, WBNX shifted its digital signal from channel 30 to channel 17.

External links

• UHF History website featuring WCOT