CINCINNATI – WCPO-TV, Channel 9 and the City of Cincinnati have reached an agreement that helps clear the way for the city to expand the Albert B. Sabin Cincinnati Convention Center.The city has agreed to purchase WCPO’s downtown property and help relocate the television station for a total of $11.9 million. The amount agreed upon includes cash, relocation assistance and enterprise zone tax incentives. The agreement is contingent on the convention center expansion project receiving all of the necessary approvals.The city wants to acquire WCPO’s downtown property at Fifth and Central avenues because the station is immediately adjacent to the convention center and in the path of the proposed expansion.WCPO, which is owned and operated by The E. W. Scripps Company, has until June 1, 2004 to vacate the downtown property. The television station is searching for a new location with the City of Cincinnati.“We’re pleased that we could work together with the City of Cincinnati to make this important civic project possible, ” said Kenneth W. Lowe, president and chief executive officer for Scripps. “The city should be commended for its perseverance in seeing the project through and for negotiating a fair and equitable agreement for the WCPO property.”Founded by Scripps in 1949, WCPO is one of Ohio’s oldest television stations. The station, which is affiliated with the ABC television network, has operated out of its current downtown location since 1967. The E.W. Scripps Company is a diverse media concern with interests in newspaper publishing, broadcast television, national television networks and interactive media. Scripps operates 21 daily newspapers, 10 broadcast TV stations and four cable television networks.Scripps national television network brands include Home & Garden Television, Food Network, DIY — Do It Yourself Network and Fine Living. Scripps Networks programming can be seen in 25 countries.The company also operates Scripps Howard News Service, United Media, the worldwide licensing and syndication home of PEANUTS and DILBERT, and 31 Web sites, including hgtv.com, foodtv.com, diynet.com, fineliving.com and comics.com.