Taft Broadcasting Company (1879-2020)
Taft Broadcasting Company, rooted in the family of President William Howard Taft, began as a newspaper conglomerate. In 1939, it entered broadcasting by purchasing WKRC radio. Over the following decades, Taft expanded into television, acquiring stations and launching Kings Island theme park. In 1966, it purchased Hanna-Barbera, the legendary cartoon studio.
In the 1980s, Taft faced financial challenges and underwent a series of ownership changes. In 1987, Carl Lindner, Jr. acquired the company and renamed it Great American Broadcasting. After filing for bankruptcy in 1993, the company was renamed Citicasters and later acquired by Clear Channel Communications in 1999.
Taft Broadcasting played a significant role in the entertainment industry. Hanna-Barbera produced iconic animated shows like "The Flintstones" and "Scooby-Doo." Kings Island and other theme parks provided family entertainment. The company also owned Worldvision Enterprises and Ruby-Spears Productions, distributing and producing television and film content.
In 2020, the Citicasters name was retired as part of a reorganization at Clear Channel, which later rebranded as iHeartMedia. However, Taft's legacy remains through its former stations, such as WKYC-TV in Cleveland, WKRC-TV in Cincinnati, and KSAZ-TV in Phoenix. The company's influence on the broadcast industry and entertainment landscape continues to be felt today.