WEWS/WCPO to broadcast and live stream debate for U.S. Senate race in Ohio on Oct. 20

Presented in partnership with The City Club of Cleveland and ideastream

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Oct 13, 2016, 01:00 ET

CINCINNATI, Oct. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- WEWS in Cleveland and WCPO in Cincinnati, both ABC network affiliates owned by The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP), are partnering with ideastream and The City Club of Cleveland to broadcast and live stream across the state the debate between Ohio's top two contenders for U.S. Senate.

"Ohio Counts: Race for the U.S. Senate," will take place in Cleveland on Oct. 20.

The televised debate is between incumbent U.S. Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Democrat challenger and former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland. It is the last of three debates in October and the only one carried live across multiple platforms throughout Ohio, between the major party candidates vying to represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate.

"Ohio is a hotbed political state," said Steve Weinstein, vice president and general manager for WEWS. "The spotlight was on Cleveland earlier this summer for the Republican National Convention. WEWS provided coverage not only for local audiences but across the nation. Now our station again has the opportunity to be at the center of the conversation over who Ohio voters will elect to represent us in the U.S. Senate for the next term."

"Leveraging partnerships and convening the community is what ideastream does best," said Jerry Wareham, president and chief executive officer for ideastream. "We are pleased to host this live event at the Idea Center in the Westfield Insurance™ Studio Theatre."

"With leading local TV brands in both Cincinnati and Cleveland, Scripps has an essential footprint for political discourse in the key state of Ohio," said Jeff Brogan, vice president and general manager of WCPO. "For this senate race, our combined audience reach delivers hundreds of thousands of potential voters who can decide from the comfort of their living room or while on the go watching the live stream, who might get their vote in November."

Danita Harris, WEWS anchor, and Karen Kasler of the Ohio Public Radio and Television Statehouse News Bureau will serve as debate moderators. The format of the debate will include opportunities for some audience members to ask questions.

The debate will air/live stream, without commercials, from 7-8 p.m. ET on these television stations along with select public radio stations across Ohio:
WCPO (Cincinnati) – Live stream
WEWS (Cleveland) – Live stream
WYTV (Youngstown)
WILO (Lima)
WSYX (Columbus) – 6.2 digital channel
WTVG (Toledo) – Live stream only
PBS stations (select locations – check listings)

The candidates are squaring off in two additional debates not included in this televised coverage: Oct. 14 in Youngstown and Oct. 17 in Columbus.

About Scripps
The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE: SSP) serves audiences and businesses through a growing portfolio of television, radio and digital media brands. Scripps is one of the nation's largest independent TV station owners, with 33 television stations in 24 markets and a reach of nearly one in five U.S. households. It also owns 34 radio stations in eight markets. Scripps also runs an expanding collection of local and national digital journalism and information businesses, including multi-platform satire and humor brand Cracked, podcast industry leader Midroll Media and over-the-top video news service Newsy. Scripps also produces television shows including "THE LIST" and "The Now," runs an award-winning investigative reporting newsroom in Washington, D.C., and serves as the long-time steward of the nation's largest, most successful and longest-running educational program, the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Founded in 1878, Scripps has held for decades to the motto, "Give light and the people will find their own way."

About ideastream
The mission of ideastream is to strengthen our communities. ideastream pursues this mission as a multiple media public service organization by providing distinctive, thought-provoking programs and services that enlighten, inspire, educate and entertain.

About The City Club of Cleveland
The City Club of Cleveland is dedicated to creating conversations of consequence that help democracy thrive. A product of the Progressive Era, the City Club was founded in 1912 and is renowned for its tradition thoughtful debate and discussion. For more than a hundred years, audience members have posed unscripted questions to every speaker, from sitting presidents to community activists, striving to fulfill the vision of strong and informed communities and individuals that prize freedom of speech and civil, civic dialogue.

SOURCE The E.W. Scripps Company