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Change In Plans: WKRC-TV To Air WEBN Fireworks

Riverfest fireworks
Tana Weingartner
/
WVXU
Riverfest fireworks

WKRC-TV to the rescue again! WKRC-TV executives reversed a July decision and announced Monday they will broadcast the 40th anniversary Western & Southern/WEBN-FM Riverfest fireworks live at 9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3.

Two weeks ago, WKRC-TV (Channel 12) general manager Jon Lawhead was emphatic in a July 26 email to me by writing: "We are NOT carrying the fireworks."

All the other major stations in town told me the same thing in late July, which was the basis for my July 26 story, "No TV For WEBN-FM Fireworks Again?"

That changed Monday. "We will air them," Lawhead emailed me Monday afternoon. 

The "last blast of summer" fireworks show starts at 9:05 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 3, on the Ohio River downtown.

It's the second consecutive year that Channel 12 and Lawhead, Cincinnati/Dayton group manager for the Sinclair Broadcast Group, have stepped up to air the fireworks. Like last year, Channel 12 will cut the traditional two-hour telecast to just an hour. 

There was no telecast in 2015, ending a 31-year Cincinnati television tradition.

Copyright 2021 91.7 WVXU. To see more, visit .

John Kiesewetter joined the WVXU news team as a TV/Media blogger on July 1 2015, after nearly 30 years covering local and national broadcasting for The Cincinnati Enquirer. He’ll be posting news about Greater Cincinnati TV, radio and movies; updating your favorite former local TV/radio personalities or stars who grew up here; and breaking news about national TV, radio and media trends. You’ll also learn about Cincinnati’s rich broadcasting history.