WKRP Call Letters Auctioned, Coming to Cincinnati After 48 Years

The iconic radio station call letters made famous by the 1970s sitcom will be used again in the city that inspired the show.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:00pm

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A minimalist, abstract composition of bold, angular black shapes against a bright red background, conceptually representing the iconic WKRP radio station and the nostalgic energy of the beloved TV series.The return of the legendary WKRP call letters to Cincinnati promises to revive the quirky, irreverent spirit of the classic sitcom.Today in Raleigh

The WKRP call letters, made famous by the 1970s sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati, have been acquired by a North Carolina-based nonprofit media organization. After operating a low-power FM station under the WKRP calls for 10 years, the organization is now auctioning off the rights to use the iconic call letters, with the winning bidder planning to bring WKRP back to the airwaves in Cincinnati.

Why it matters

The WKRP sitcom developed a cult following over the years, with the station's call letters becoming synonymous with the show's quirky characters and memorable moments, like the infamous Thanksgiving turkey drop. Bringing the WKRP call letters back to Cincinnati, the city that inspired the show, will likely reignite nostalgia and excitement among fans of the classic TV series.

The details

In 2014, the North Carolina-based nonprofit Oak City Media acquired the WKRP call letters from the FCC and launched a low-power FM station under the WKRP-LP calls in Raleigh. For the past 10 years, the station has operated in a similar irreverent spirit to the fictional WKRP, even hosting an annual Thanksgiving turkey giveaway. Now, the organization is auctioning off the rights to use the WKRP calls, with the winning bidder planning to bring the station to Cincinnati, the city where the original sitcom was set.

  • In 2014, Oak City Media acquired the WKRP call letters from the FCC.
  • WKRP-LP, a low-power FM station, went live in Raleigh, North Carolina on November 30, 2015.
  • After 10 years of operating the WKRP-LP station, Oak City Media decided to auction off the rights to use the WKRP call letters in 2026.

The players

DP McIntire

The head of the North Carolina-based nonprofit Oak City Media, which acquired the WKRP call letters in 2014 and launched a low-power FM station under the WKRP-LP calls.

Loni Anderson

An actress who starred in the original WKRP in Cincinnati sitcom.

Richard Sanders

An actor who played the bumbling newsman Les Nessman in the original WKRP in Cincinnati sitcom.

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What they’re saying

“I cannot, by contract, tell you when. I cannot tell you who. But I can tell you, direct to the camera, WKRP, after 48 years, is coming to Cincinnati.”

— DP McIntire, Head of Oak City Media

“And at the end of the 30-minute episode, I got up and I proclaimed, 'I'm going to be in radio. And if I ever have the opportunity, I'm going to run a station called WKRP.'”

— DP McIntire, Head of Oak City Media

What’s next

The winning bidder for the rights to use the WKRP call letters will determine when and how the station returns to the airwaves in Cincinnati.

The takeaway

The return of the iconic WKRP call letters to Cincinnati, the city that inspired the beloved 1970s sitcom, will likely reignite nostalgia and excitement among fans of the show. The new WKRP station will have big shoes to fill in honoring the legacy of the original, quirky radio station.