WLWT was established by the Crosley Broadcasting Corporation, owners of WLW (700 AM), one of the United States' most powerful radio stations. After starting experimental broadcasts in 1946 as W8XCT on channel 1, the station began commercial broadcasts on February 9, 1948 on VHF channel 4, making it Cincinnati's first television station and Ohio's second (after WEWS-TV in Cleveland). Following the release of the FCC's Sixth Report and Order in 1952, all of Cincinnati's VHF stations changed channel positions. WLWT was reassigned to channel 5, as the previous channel 4 allocation was shifted north to Columbus and given to sister station WLWC (now WCMH-TV), which began operations in April 1949.
1952–1959
1959–1964
1964–1969
1969–1972
News bumper
This logo resembles the one used by KPIX in San Francisco.
1972–1976
1976–1998
1976–1979
During this period, WLWT was known as "5, The Originator" as a reference to its role in producing first-run programming such as The Phil Donahue Show.
1979–1984
News open (1983–1984)
This Helvetica "5" was also used by WMAQ-TV in Chicago, minus the Multimedia symbol.
1984–1992
News open (1986-1988)
News open (1988-1989)
News open (1989–1993)
Newscast logo with "Going Places" slogan
"Cincinnati Style" version (mid-1980s)
1986-1992 version
USA Today On TV ad.
Italicized version of the Helvetica "5".
1992–1993
1993–1998
News 5 logo (1993-1998)
WLWT weather logo, 1993–1998
Must See TV (1996)
A Friends flashback.
The World's Greatest Magic promo.
Invasion.
1998–2004
Early variant.
Station ID (1998-2004)
Eyewitness News 5 logo (1998-2004)
Eyewitness News 5 Today logo (1998-2004)
"Target 5" investigative team open (1998-2004)
StormCenter 5 logo
1990's early 2000's news graphic (This version comes from an archive airing of Sam Wyche's "You don't live in Cleveland" speech)
Tuesday Comedy promo.
The West Wing ad.
Friends and more Must See TV shows.
The Little Richard Movie.
2004–present
2004–2013
"News 5" logo (2004-2013)
News 5 Today logo (2004-2013)
"Blitz 5" sports program logo (2004-2013)
"Target 5" investigative team logo
Power of 5 Radar Network
StormTeam 5 Weather promo (2004–06)
This looks similar to the KXAS-TV logo from 1998 to 2012 which lacks the star.
2013–2016
2016–present
Designer:
Logo design: Jeffrey J. Brown On-air graphics: National Ministry of Design (National Boston) (2016-2018) Hearst Television Design (2018-Present)
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