WKRP Radio Station Coming to Cincinnati After 48 Years

North Carolina nonprofit auctioning off famous call letters to new owners

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:26pm

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A bold, abstract illustration in the style of Saul Bass, featuring a striking black silhouette of the WKRP radio tower against a stark red and white background, conceptually representing the iconic station's comeback in Cincinnati.The return of the legendary WKRP radio station to Cincinnati, 48 years after the beloved sitcom first aired, is sure to excite longtime fans.Today in Raleigh

D.P. McIntire, who runs a nonprofit media organization in Raleigh, North Carolina, has announced that the WKRP call letters made famous by the 1970s sitcom 'WKRP in Cincinnati' will be coming to an actual radio station in Cincinnati. McIntire's nonprofit acquired the WKRP call letters in 2014 and launched a low-power FM station in Raleigh, but is now auctioning off the rights to use the iconic call letters, with the new owners planning to bring WKRP to Cincinnati.

Why it matters

The WKRP call letters have a special place in the hearts of many fans of the classic sitcom, which ran from 1978 to 1982 and featured memorable characters like the bumbling newsman Les Nessman. The announcement that the call letters will finally be used by an actual radio station in Cincinnati, the setting of the show, is sure to excite longtime fans and generate interest in the new station.

The details

McIntire's nonprofit, Oak City Media, acquired the WKRP call letters in 2014 and launched a low-power FM station in Raleigh, North Carolina that same year. The station, WKRP-LP, has operated with a format focused on classic hits from the 70s, 80s, and 90s. After 10 years on the air, McIntire and his partners decided it was time to pass the WKRP call letters on to new owners, putting out a call for bids to use the call letters on FM, AM radio, television, and digital television. While the TV-related suffixes WKRPTV and WKRPDT were initially part of the deal, another group defaulted on that agreement. However, McIntire confirmed that the Cincinnati radio deal is now in place, though he is not able to provide any further details at this time.

  • In 2014, Oak City Media acquired the WKRP call letters from the FCC.
  • On November 30, 2015, WKRP-LP, a low-power FM station in Raleigh, North Carolina, went live on the air.
  • After 10 years of operating WKRP-LP, Oak City Media decided it was time to pass the WKRP call letters to new owners.

The players

D.P. McIntire

The director of the North Carolina-based nonprofit Oak City Media, which acquired the WKRP call letters in 2014 and launched a low-power FM station in Raleigh using the call sign.

Oak City Media

A nonprofit media organization based in Raleigh, North Carolina that acquired the WKRP call letters in 2014 and launched a low-power FM station using the call sign.

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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. Book it! It's done!”

— D.P. McIntire, Director, 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.'”

— D.P. McIntire, Director, Oak City Media

What’s next

McIntire was unable to provide any additional details about the new WKRP radio station coming to Cincinnati, including when it will launch or who the new owners are. However, he confirmed that the deal is finalized and the iconic call letters will be returning to the city that made them famous.

The takeaway

The return of the WKRP call letters to Cincinnati, after nearly 50 years since the beloved sitcom first aired, is sure to be a nostalgic and exciting moment for fans. While the specifics of the new station are still under wraps, the fact that the legacy of WKRP will live on through an actual radio station in the city is a testament to the enduring popularity of the show.