Miami–Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach television network affiliate switches on January 1, 19891989 South Florida television affiliation switch at a glance
Station
Market
Channel
Affiliation (pre-1989)
Affiliation (post-1989)
WTVJ
Miami–Fort Lauderdale
4
CBS
NBC
WCIX
Miami–Fort Lauderdale
6
Fox
CBS
WSVN
Miami–Fort Lauderdale
7
NBC
Fox
WPEC
West Palm Beach
12
ABC
CBS
WPBF
West Palm Beach
25
Not signed on
ABC
WTVX
West Palm Beach
34
CBS
Independent
On January 1, 1989, six
Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, Florida, markets, exchanged network affiliations. The event, referred to in contemporary media coverage as "The Big Switch",[1] was described as "Miami's own soap opera"[2] and at times compared to Dallas and Dynasty because of the lengthy public disputes between multiple parties that preceded it.[3] Approximately three million television viewers in both markets were affected.[4]
The changes were initiated after
Broward County with a reliable over-the-air signal, West Palm Beach's ABC affiliate WPEC (channel 12) switched to CBS, with existing CBS affiliate WTVX (channel 34) becoming an independent station and WPBF (channel 25) signing on as the new ABC affiliate. WPBF's agreement to join ABC was the first reverse compensation
deal in which a station paid a network to affiliate.
The new NBC station, WTVJ, had a mixed ratings performance. On WCIX, CBS struggled in the Miami market for the next six years, with fourth-rated local newscasts despite a major investment in personnel and in additional transmitters to mitigate the coverage issue. Quickly proving to be an influential Fox affiliate, WSVN adopted a
WPTV
. WPBF, the new ABC affiliate, found itself a distant third in the news race and ultimately had to renegotiate the payments it had promised to the network. Without a network affiliation, WTVX's value diminished greatly, and its news department folded in August 1989 after months of cutbacks.
Overview
Mitchell Wolfson, founder of WTVJ
Sidney and Edmund Ansin, founders of Sunbeam Television
WTVJ was the first television station to sign on in Florida, having done so on March 21, 1949, on channel 4.
WFTL-TV took the NBC affiliation[11] when they signed on in 1953.[10] WTVJ's first 34 years of broadcasting were characterized by unusual levels of stability, led primarily by Wolfson's stewardship of Wometco; its CBS affiliation; and Ralph Renick, the station's founding news director, lead anchor, and personal friend of Wolfson.[3]
At channel 7, WSVN was originally WCKT, which signed on in 1956 as the second full-time NBC affiliate in Miami and owned by
WTVJ and WCIX's Grade A signal contours as they existed in the early 1990s. WTVJ (red), located between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, provided primary coverage from
The channel 6 allocation in Miami was first proposed by the FCC in 1956,
Hallandale.[31][32][33]General Cinema Corporation purchased WCIX in 1968[34] and became the theater chain's sole broadcast asset to turn a profit.[35]Taft Broadcasting acquired the station via a 1982 trade.[36] Long the market's only full-time general independent, WCIX was challenged by the emergence of two UHF competitors, WDZL (channel 39) in 1982[37] and WBFS-TV (channel 33) in 1984,[38] with WBFS tying WCIX in local ratings by March 1986.[39] WCIX became a charter Fox affiliate in October 1986.[40]
Wolfson died of a heart attack on January 28, 1983,
stockholder in Wometco at the time of his death.[46] Some believed Wolfson intended to have his family decide the company's future, while others felt his "secret plan" was simply never to leave.[47]
KKR then acquired Storer Communications in another leveraged buyout engineered to thwart a liquidation of that company by dissatisfied shareholders[56] and to prevent a hostile takeover by Comcast.[57] Completed in December 1985, approval by the FCC was contingent on KKR divesting either Storer's cable systems in Miami and Wometco's cable systems in Atlanta, or WTVJ and Storer's WAGA-TV, within 18 months to satisfy cross-ownership rules. While Storer and Wometco remained nominally separate companies, the FCC recognized KKR as the primary owner of both.[58] KKR opted on April 25, 1986, to retain the Storer cable system and put WTVJ on the market with a deadline of May 1, 1987, to make a sale.[59] Wometco's cable systems were also divested.[60]
Attempted sale of WTVJ to Lorimar
I wonder if I have to wear cowboy boots to work now... I was totally surprised. I never heard the name Lorimar mentioned around the station. I heard network, and I heard other big broadcasting companies named but not, Lorimar.
Alan Mendelson, WTVJ reporter, on news of the station's proposed sale to Lorimar-Telepictures (producers of the CBS soap opera Dallas)[61]
One anonymous Wometco staffer told
The Miami Herald that several broadcast networks showed an interest in WTVJ, with a CBS official identifying Miami as one of eight "Sun Belt" markets for future acquisitions. A revision to the Herald story revealed that NBC also made an inquiry about the station, but that network's executives were not available for comment.[62] KKR had originally intended to sell off WTVJ by itself and had rejected a $350 million offer by CBS in the process, but it soon fielded inquiries about including some of the Storer stations in a potential sale.[63]
Television and film
WJW-TV, WSBK-TV and KCST—in a $1.85 billion group deal announced on May 21, 1986.[61] WTVJ, including the studio building and surrounding land, was itself sold for $405 million.[64] Also included was Storer's program production company, advertising sales division and Washington news bureau.[65] A KKR representative said the firm stood "to make a bundle" and that Lorimar-Telepictures, unlike KKR, had the resources to do more with the stations.[63] Lorimar-Telepictures was not a stranger to broadcast station ownership, already owning five television stations inherited from predecessor Telepictures[66] and having made concurrent offers to purchase WPGH-TV in Pittsburgh and WTTV in Bloomington, Indiana, serving Indianapolis.[67]
Lorimar founder
NABET and a group of minority Wometco shareholders, but Lorimar-Telepictures president Alan Bell expressed confidence those disputes would be resolved.[66]
The June 7, 1986, edition of
Palm Beach County.[69] In 1980, WTVX built a new transmitting facility with a more southerly location. Its signal covered Palm Beach County for the first time, and the county's cable systems added WTVX to their lineups.[70][71] WTVX general manager Lynwood Wright asserted no one from either network had been in contact with him, while Michals expressed puzzlement over CBS wanting to risk hurting WTVJ's ratings by having WPEC join the network, saying, "[T]he only question I have with the swap is why?"[68]
The first CBS–WCIX courtship
On October 22, 1986, Lorimar-Telepictures asked to exclude WTVJ from the deal, which KKR agreed to.
high-yield bonds raised by Adelson.[74] The $405 million price was nearly 21 times WTVJ's cash flow while typical station purchase prices were 10 to 14 times cash flow, causing financial markets to believe Lorimar grossly overpaid.[3]
A few days later, The Miami Herald reported that Lorimar backed away from WTVJ after learning CBS inquired with Taft Broadcasting about purchasing WCIX for as much as $125 million, which risked forcing WTVJ to become an independent with a drastically reduced valuation.
Electronic Media, CBS was still allowed to make an offer on WCIX while that transaction was taking place.[82]
We had a sign out on our front lawn saying 'We'd like to purchase a TV station in a top 20 market. Please call this number if you have such a station to sell.' The fact one network had never bought another's affiliate in a hundred years was just a function of, well, not doing it.
Following Lorimar's withdrawal, KKR still valued the station between $250 million and $300 million.
Capital Cities/ABC Inc. and NBC parent company General Electric (GE),[3] under the belief a competing network would not have their bids affected by a CBS disaffiliation threat,[79] internally referred to as "that Channel 6 card".[83] ABC declined the offer, but rumors of interest in WTVJ by NBC quickly emerged.[75] Negotiations were purposefully kept hidden over the next few weeks in an effort to prevent Laurence Tisch from knowing anything in advance.[3]
NBC purchases WTVJ
On January 16, 1987, KKR agreed to sell WTVJ to the General Electric Property Management Co. for $270 million, a
U.S. Virgin Islands when the news broke, resulting in none of the company's executives being available for comment.[84][87] Wright called Tisch, who was playing tennis, to tell him the news, saying, "[H]e was very gracious ... we didn't get into it in any detail, but I think he was surprised."[3]
NBC president Raymond Timothy and vice president Pierson Mapes were tasked by Wright to inform Ed Ansin of the WTVJ purchase in what Mapes later regarded as one of the worst moments of his career. Notified shortly before noon,[15] Timothy recounted Ansin saying "You Expletive Deleted" at the news but honored a prior invite to lunch at a seafood restaurant on the 79th Street Causeway, picking up the tab.[3] After returning to the WSVN studios, Ansin pointed at a satellite dish used to receive NBC programming and deadpanned to Timothy and Mapes, "Why don't you take it home on the airplane?"[15] Ansin later described his reaction as "bewilderment", telling Timothy and Mapes it was "bizarre and certainly unprecedented".[88]
Ed was a perfect gentleman. He was upset, sure, but he's a class act. He said, 'You Expletive Deleted' — with a smile.
Ray Timothy, NBC president, on when Ed Ansin found out about the network's purchase of CBS affiliate WTVJ[3]
No formal announcement was made to the WSVN staff that day beyond a terse internal
vote of confidence, and told everyone to proceed with "business as usual."[91]
The situation was anything but usual, as industry and media speculation started over where the CBS affiliation would move to and when it would take place.[83] NBC signed a two-year contract extension with WSVN until January 1989,[3] 15 days before they agreed to purchase WTVJ, while WTVJ's existing contract with CBS ran until April 1988.[90] While it was suggested WTVJ could operate as an independent for an interregnum period if CBS were to purchase WCIX and move network programming there,[83] most speculation revolved around WSVN linking with CBS in a simple exchange between the two stations.[86] NBC committed to honor WSVN's existing contract,[92] but Ansin voiced concerns NBC could create a competitive disadvantage by owning WTVJ yet operating it as a CBS affiliate for two years,[93] an arrangement without precedent.[83]
Sunbeam formally protests
With WCIX's sale to TVX still pending, CBS expressed renewed interest in the station, telling the Herald they had been "talking to [Taft] for some time", which was interpreted as the network either indicating a WSVN affiliation was not possible or making a threat to pressure Ansin.[92] During WSVN's 6 p.m. newscast on March 10, 1987, Ansin announced he would protest the WTVJ sale,[15] citing "anti-competitive overtones ... adverse to the public interest".[93] Assisted by former WSVN operations manager and attorney Allen Sternberg,[15] Ansin retained former FCC commissioner Charles D. Ferris as his lead representation[88] and reached out to Rep. Dante Fascell[88] and Sen. Lawton Chiles[3] for additional lobbying.[94] Ansin likened the transaction to the extortion-driven 1956 asset swap between NBC and Group W for stations in Cleveland and Philadelphia the commission overturned nine years later.[95] In a subsequent interview, Ansin said his bitterness with NBC was because the network discarded decades of loyalty from WSVN, especially in the late 1970s when NBC was mired in third place.[96]
Ansin's petition to deny alleged NBC could induce WTVJ to liberally preempt popular CBS shows for lower-rated syndicated programming, disenfranchising Miami television viewers. WTVJ's general manager Alan Perris rejected such a scenario,[97] even though prior to the sale, WTVJ declined to carry CBS News Sunday Morning, which WPLG aired instead.[83] Even with NBC's commitment to honor the balance of the WSVN contract, Ansin claimed the network damaged WSVN's status among programmers and advertisers to the benefit of WTVJ.[88] Ansin publicly expressed his want to keep WSVN as a network affiliate under his stewardship, eventually passing control to his children; when asked about the possibility of WSVN becoming an independent station, Ansin replied, "that's not good... I don't think it'll happen."[96] One Wall Street analyst suggested that Ansin's objections really centered around the risk of losing untold millions of dollars if WSVN failed to secure a network affiliation and had little to do with the sale itself.[94]
When TVX's purchase of WCIX was completed in late March 1987, TVX president Tim McDonald told the News his company was committed to operating WCIX and was not offering it for sale, forcing CBS to negotiate with Ansin by default.[98] The FCC also approved the sale of WTVJ to GE on September 17, 1987,[99] even after Sen. Chiles introduced an appropriations bill amendment requesting a full hearing on the sale by the FCC.[3] Ferris also acknowledged he held doubts about the FCC being receptive to Sunbeam's petition.[96] As WTVJ's CBS affiliation was set to end in April 1988, both networks agreed to extend the CBS contract on a two-week basis for as long as was deemed necessary.[100]
Preemptions and scheduling chaos
The horror story I lived through, no one will ever know until I write my memoirs. We couldn't compete in an era when we had to. At the same time, CBS was going into the toilet.
Alan Perris, former WTVJ general manager, upon his resignation[101]
Despite the FCC's approval, the concern raised in Ansin's petition of NBC using WTVJ to undermine CBS's standing in the market was realized. WTVJ soon began liberal preemptions of the CBS lineup for syndicated shows such as the
TV movie He's Not Your Son; WTVJ's program director claimed that they were unaware of Cidre's local ties until after making the schedule change.[104] In turn, CBS initially declined to invite WTVJ general manager Dick Lobo—recently transferred to the station from Chicago's WMAQ-TV after Alan Perris's resignation[105]—from the network's 1988 affiliate convention; he was invited after three attempts to reach the network directly.[106]
The scheduling brinksmanship was not limited to CBS fare; in response to WPLG acquiring the rights to
NBC peacock that revealed the CBS eye logo.[108] Alan Perris defended his stewardship of the station after resigning, calling it a "horror story" in which WTVJ could not compete and CBS's ratings were suffering a downturn nationally.[101]
The WSVN–CBS impasse
We're dealing here with a very unusual situation. A man with strong opinions. Set in his ways. And with a lot of pride. He couldn't get over [the NBC snub]. It was the damndest thing. He'd go on and on about it. He was personally hurt by the whole experience with NBC and couldn't forget it.
Tony Malara, CBS affiliate relations director, on the network's negotiations with Ed Ansin[109]
CBS's growing discomfort was compounded by negotiations with Ansin failing to progress, even with conventional wisdom suggesting a WSVN-CBS affiliation was the most likely outcome.[107] The impasse centered around Ansin's insistence a CBS contract be effective on January 1, when WSVN's NBC contract was to end.[102] Ansin's unwavering date was due to NBC's commitments with the 1988 Summer Olympics, the 1988 World Series,[106] and a majority of Miami Dolphins football games because of the network's AFC broadcast rights.[110] Tony Malara, CBS's affiliate relations division president, insisted CBS was deeply distressed at having to remain on a station controlled by NBC; WSVN general manager Bob Leider countered such distress was never mentioned by CBS during the negotiations,[3] and Ansin insisted CBS had agreed to his timeframe, which Malara denied.[109] Ansin made arrangements to fly to New York City on April 26 to sign a CBS contract at Black Rock when Malara called off the meeting, citing that they were reaching out to other parties regarding a purchase or affiliation.[102] Malara said to Ansin the trip was pointless if he would not waver off of the January 1 date.[109]
One week after the negotiations broke down,[111] Ansin filed a United States antitrust lawsuit against NBC, CBS and the GE subsidiary that held WTVJ's license alleging collusion between the networks over WTVJ's sale with intent to cause WSVN "irreparable injury", which Alan Perris dismissed as a mere "fishing expedition."[112] An additional letter of protest sent by Ansin to NBC charged that WTVJ was supplying stories to NBC News, with their Miami news bureau dealing exclusively with WTVJ.[107] Initially bolstered by a verdict that awarded $3.5 million in damages to the owner of a former ABC station in Springfield, Missouri, after Capital Cities/ABC disaffiliated them[106]—which was later thrown out on appeal[113]—Ansin insisted the lawsuit would not hurt WSVN's chances regarding a network contract[111] even though talks between him and CBS never resumed.[107]
The uncertainty at WSVN was not limited to the CBS impasse. News director David Choate abruptly resigned in December 1987; his replacement,
WKYC-TV in Cleveland, which at the time was a higher-ranked market than Miami.[119] Lewis's replacement, Jim Berry, took the job assuming WSVN would remain a network affiliate, viewing the distinction as "a sign of privilege" and "like a badge".[120]
Even with TVX president Tim McDonald's prior insistence WCIX was not for sale,
WTAF-TV in Philadelphia, the other stations were seen as poorly-performing in their respective markets, WCIX included.[124] WTAF-TV and WCIX also became the only stations in TVX's portfolio to have local newscasts.[125]
The company was to pay Salomon Brothers $200 million on January 1, 1988, and missed the first payment deadline, having been unable to lure investors to its
junk bonds even before the Black Monday stock market crash in October 1987.[126] McDonald resigned as TVX president in May 1988 and was succeeded by co-founder John Trinder.[127] Shortly thereafter, TVX sold off its stations in Little Rock[128] and Nashville.[129] With Salomon Brothers pressuring TVX to dispose of additional assets,[130]Electronic Media reported in late July 1988 that CBS quietly re-entered talks with the banker over WCIX.[131] The News reported on August 5 that CBS News president Howard Stringer, recently promoted to president of CBS's owned-stations division, expected a resolution to the Miami affiliation situation "very soon... probably by next week", while Ansin conceded CBS executives had not been in contact with him since April.[132] WCIX's general manager stated that the network already went too far in the process for it to be just a threat aimed at Ansin.[133]
CBS's intention to purchase a station was also financially motivated. After fending off a
the original iteration of Viacom for $122.5 million as part of a larger asset disposition plan.[134] With that sale, a tax credit worth "tens of millions of dollars" was claimed[135] on the condition that CBS purchase another TV station by January 1, 1989; the network made an unsuccessful attempt to buy then-independent KPHO-TV in Phoenix earlier in 1988 from the Meredith Corporation.[136] Network executives later denied this had factored directly into their pursuits within the Miami market.[3]
CBS acquires WCIX
Three days after Stringer's interview with the News, CBS finally agreed to acquire WCIX for $59 million on August 8, 1988,[2][137] a price far below TVX's $90 million valuation of the station two years earlier.[3] Concurrent with this purchase, the network announced that WPEC would also switch affiliations from ABC to CBS at the same time as WCIX,[1] effectively conceding WCIX's multiple technical disadvantages in the Miami market.[138] CBS's purchase of WCIX meant that WSVN would become an independent station at the end of 1988; several Wall Street analysts estimated WSVN's market value dropped by as much as $200 million,[3] with one analyst suggesting the station now had one-third of the cash flow it had while an NBC affiliate.[109] In response, Ansin immediately announced WSVN's news operations would not be contracted[109] and even expanded.[115]
Steve Sonsky of the Miami Herald, critical of Ansin's prior legal battles and continued defiance, wrote:
They're not going to become one of those independents that just runs back-to-back sitcom reruns... but that's the way all indie stations operate—because they've found that without the big original network programming as lead-ins and lead-outs, you just can't compete on the same level. His ratings have to drop. And so his revenues will drop. It's a mystery how he'll continue to pay for the news staff necessary to do three hours a night of local news, and how he'll keep his best newsroom talent. If he pulls it off he'll set the industry on its ear. But somehow you get the feeling that maybe, once again, Ed Ansin just might be fooling himself.[109]
A West Palm affiliation shuffle
In agreeing to affiliate with West Palm Beach's WPEC in an attempt to offset any network coverage losses in Broward, CBS pulled a second media market into the affiliation switch. ABC was placed in the position of searching for a new affiliate among three stations: outgoing CBS affiliate WTVX, West Palm Beach Fox affiliate
Palm Beach Gardens and which was projected to sign on as an independent.[139]
Conventional wisdom when the WPEC switch to CBS was announced gave WTVX a strong chance of emerging with the ABC hookup; WTVX was the only station with an existing newsroom, and it was the most established of the three. Bob Morford, the news director, told his staff in a memo, "The bottom line for WTVX is that we expect we will become the next ABC affiliate for this market."
Tallahassee-area WCTV, one of the most successful television stations in the country.[141]
In October, ABC handed down its decision: it selected WPBF,[142] which had offered to pay the first-ever fee to affiliate with a network in an industry where networks paid stations.[143] A disappointed Morford believed that ABC preferred a new station in the centrally located, high-growth Palm Beaches area to his existing station in Fort Pierce.[144] The very same officials that just two months prior had stated they had "not even contemplated" life without a network now were left with one prospect: independent status.[145] The decision was likewise received with shock by other local television executives and on the national level. Murray Green, general manager of WFLX, called the decision "ludicrous" for awarding the affiliation to a station that was not even broadcasting yet.[146] The precedent-setting reverse compensation deal, which was said to make affiliates of ABC "very nervous",[147] was so unusual that it spurred an editorial in Electronic Media calling the idea of selling affiliations to the highest bidder a "dangerously short-sighted move" with the potential to destabilize the industry.[148]
WTVX's Morford declared the 35-person news staff would remain and that the station would reinforce its commitment to local news.[149][150] Morford noted that, while movies and syndicated shows would be on the new lineup, "the world does not need another movie channel".[151] WTVX owner Frank Spain put the station on the market in November 1988, trying to gauge its value without a network affiliation;[152] he opted not to take the various offers that ranged from $9 to $24 million—half the $49 million value it had as a CBS affiliate.[153]
Meanwhile, in Palm Beach Gardens, work was accelerated on WPBF. As late as November 10, the studio building was an empty warehouse; equipment had to be ordered and installed and a staff assembled. WPBF's news director started on the job on November 14; he received hundreds of unsolicited audition tapes for anchor and reporter positions.[154][143]
WSVN's news and Fox gamble
It's an interesting and unique opportunity we've been put in... there is no reason why we can't become a WGN or a WTTG. There's a good chance we could become the No. 1 indie in the country.
After CBS's purchase of WCIX, Ansin and Leider offered Joel Cheatwood an opportunity to leave due to Ansin's "blood oath" not being fulfilled, but Cheatwood decided to stay on advice from his wife.
The station committed to producing 7+1⁄2 hours of local newscasts on weekdays, gambling that its current audience would not defect to other channels.[3] Such reasoning was not entirely unfounded: due to the increasingly convoluted nature of the affiliation swaps that now encompassed six stations in two adjacent markets, informal polling conducted by WTVJ indicated significant confusion among viewers as to on which stations their favorite network programs would soon be broadcast.[159] This level of news expansion was also attributed to a lack of foresight. Assuming a CBS affiliation was still possible right up to the WCIX sale, WSVN did not acquire a syndicated program inventory comparable to the majority of independent stations,[158] and its program director resigned when the station's independent status was confirmed.[160] Ansin later explained that WSVN had considered itself an appendage of NBC instead of a network affiliate.[161] WSVN quickly acquired local broadcast rights to 650 feature films for a nightly prime time movie showcase at 8 p.m., boasting a library of over 750 titles.[1] Leider noted that over two dozen movie packages meant for over-the-air broadcasters had been previously unclaimed in the market, making the purchases a relatively easy process.[162]
There is a presumption that the only way to program an independent station is with wall-to-wall sitcoms. I don't think that's going to be our approach... we have a tradition and an image we're not going to give up.
WSVN agreed to carry The Arsenio Hall Show upon its 1989 debut, briefly complicating affiliation negotiations with Fox as the network filed a lawsuit against show distributor Paramount Television; Hall previously hosted Fox's Late Show for a 13-week period.[155] When WSVN finally announced an agreement with Fox,[163] the network only programmed in weekend prime time, allowing the station to bill itself as an independent.[115] In a marked contrast to its weekday schedule, WSVN programmed like a conventional independent on the weekends with a mix of cartoons, syndicated professional wrestling, off-network reruns and movies, in addition to Fox programming and half-hour newscasts at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.[158]
WSVN's plans, unheard of for any television station in the United States, were ridiculed and pilloried in the local media. Conventional wisdom suggested independent stations had to operate with a focus on sitcom reruns and movies because they were unable to compete on the same level with network programming.[109] Up to the switch, WCIX's news output consisted of a single half-hour 10 p.m. newscast[109] raising doubts that four full-time English-language television news operations in a market like Miami could be feasible.[3] Historically, stations that were disaffiliated from a network had their news departments culled back if not eliminated altogether: KMSP-TV in Minneapolis–Saint Paul had been the most successful example of a station and news operation that thrived after being downscaled.[164] The Herald's Steve Sonsky suggested that if WSVN's plans were successful, "a video precedent-shattering event will have taken place here".[4]
Initiating the switches
The FCC approved the sale of WCIX to CBS on October 31, 1988,[100] after The National Black Media Coalition withdrew a legal challenge following a favorable review of TVX's past Equal Employment Opportunity Commission compliance.[165] CBS had to legally wait at least 40 days after FCC approval before assuming operations[100] and did not fully take over WCIX until January 3, 1989, preventing them from making a significant on-air promotional campaign.[3] The network did, however, invest in an outdoor billboard campaign; one billboard for Murder, She Wrote on the South Dixie Highway featured a dagger piercing a numeral "4".[4] Due to the consummation process, the affiliation changes were now slated to take place on January 1, 1989, when WSVN's NBC contract was to end, the date Ansin had preferred and Bob Leider argued made CBS's insistence on an earlier date irrelevant. CBS affiliate relations division president Malara countered by telling the Herald, "... if I had to wait anyway, why should I affiliate with [Ansin]? If I had to wait, screw him. Why not buy an asset?"[3]
WSVN started aggressively marketing itself on-air as "your news station".
cardboard cutout of Bill Cosby was placed in the main lobby of the WTVJ studios.[166] Both WTVJ and WSVN sent literature to advertising clients focusing on WCIX's weak broadcast signal,[1] with WSVN's packet stating "WCIX does not deliver" and touting WSVN's new independent status and news department.[169]
With WSVN, WTVJ, and WCIX all locked into their existing network programming for the rest of 1988, WTVJ picked up NBC's
Later with Bob Costas when it launched in August; WTVJ ran the program on a tape-delay basis.[170]
The final night of programming prior to the switches had both WSVN and WTVJ broadcasting the
King Orange Jamboree Parade; WTVJ's coverage had Sandy Duncan of The Hogan Family as a co-host, while WSVN concurrently ran NBC's coverage, hosted by Joe Garagiola and Marilyn McCoo.[175] Bob Soper co-hosted a lead-in to NBC's parade coverage on WSVN as well as a local New Year's countdown, while WCIX carried CBS's Happy New Year, America after its final night of Fox programming.[176] At 3 a.m., WTVJ interrupted the movie Love and Larceny to air a pre-recorded message from general manager Dick Lobo finally welcoming the station to the NBC network.[175]
Ramifications
Sign-on to sign-off ratings comparison year-over-year for the Miami–Fort Lauderdale market, 1988–1989[177]
Station
Arbitron
Nielsen
Nov. 1988
Nov. 1989
Nov. 1988
Nov. 1989
WTVJ
5
6
6
6
WCIX
2
4
2
4
WSVN
7
5
7
5
WPLG
8
6
8
7
Prime time ratings comparison year-over-year for the Miami–Fort Lauderdale market, 1988–1989[177]
Station
Arbitron
Nielsen
Nov. 1988
Nov. 1989
Nov. 1988
Nov. 1989
WTVJ
9
13
9
13
WCIX
4
8
4
8
WSVN
13
8
14
9
WPLG
13
11
14
11
Sign-on to sign-off ratings comparison year-over-year for the West Palm Beach market, 1988–1989[177]
Station
Arbitron
Nielsen
Nov. 1988
Nov. 1989
Nov. 1988
Nov. 1989
WPTV
8
8
9
10
WPEC
5
5
6
7
WPBF
—
3
—
3
WTVX
3
1
3
1
Prime time ratings comparison year-over-year for the West Palm Beach market, 1988–1989[177]
Station
Arbitron
Nielsen
Nov. 1988
Nov. 1989
Nov. 1988
Nov. 1989
WPTV
13
16
13
16
WPEC
10
11
11
12
WPBF
—
7
—
7
WTVX
5
2
5
2
WTVJ
While WTVJ's marketing campaign for its switch to NBC was centered around the "don't worry, be happy" phrase,
South Florida Sun-Sentinel critic Tom Jicha retrospectively wrote, "practically speaking, it was over as soon as it started. The jingle ... never reflected reality ... there has been little to smile about and plenty to fret over."[178] WTVJ's ratings performance following the switch was largely mixed: despite NBC programming creating a halo effect for WTVJ at 11 p.m.,[177] the station fell to third place behind WPLG and WSVN in late afternoons,[179] and lead anchor John Hambrick left for WCIX at the end of 1989.[180] Under general manager Dick Lobo's leadership, WTVJ began marketing to the region's Spanish-language communities[168] in efforts Jicha later called "ticklish" and "feverish".[178][180]
Led by meteorologist
Arbitron books.[182] WTVJ started emphasizing crime stories and a tabloid presentation, similar to WSVN; the station also experienced frequent turnover in its lead anchor role, a situation that contrasted with Renick's 35-year tenure as its signature personality.[181] Lobo resigned in late September 1993.[178]
WCIX
Appraisals of WCIX in the months following the CBS takeover were immediately negative. Laurence Tisch's past concerns of the CBS Evening News rating poorly on WCIX proved correct, as ratings for the Evening News fell by more than half in the first two months.
Pompano Beach to use as a translator later in the year.[185] By July 1989, Howard Stringer called WCIX "a disaster" to local media and stated the station could "never be better than third" due to their signal issues; Stringer also said, "if it [the purchase] had happened six months later, I think I might have been able to talk them out of it."[186] Stringer's "disaster" remark, which was covered on the front page of Variety, prompted Tisch to issue a memo in support of the station.[187] The Homestead tower collapsed due to destructive winds from Hurricane Andrew on August 24, 1992,[188] and was rebuilt over a two-year process.[189] While WCIX operated with reduced power during this period, reception improved dramatically among Broward County residents due to the temporary site being located at the Broward–Dade line, to the extent the rebuilt Homestead tower was considered a technical downgrade.[25]
Despite significant investment into WCIX's news operation under CBS, WCIX ranked fourth among English-language news operations in Miami following the switch, a position that ultimately never changed.[186][190] An attempt by WCIX to de-emphasize crime stories and violent footage in its newscasts was implemented in May 1994[190] and proved to be a market failure, with ratings falling by 24 percent year-over-year during the first month.[191]
WSVN
As predicted, WSVN's ratings suffered significant declines after losing NBC programming, particularly in prime time.
WHDH-TV in Boston in 1993, Cheatwood was transferred there to oversee the adoption of a similar tabloid format.[193]Frank Magid consultant Eric Braun likened WSVN's fast-paced stories, flashing graphics, and emotional anchors to be an updated form of the Eyewitness News and Action News formats 20 years earlier[193] and akin to Walter Winchell;[194] Magid also consulted stations on adopting certain elements of the WSVN format.[195]
The phrase "if it bleeds, it leads"
Sacramento, St. Louis,[200] Chicago,[201] Cleveland,[202] and New York City.[203] By 1994, Fox network president Lucie Salhany hailed WSVN as "the future of television".[198] When Edmund Ansin died on July 26, 2020, he was remembered by Radio & Television Business Report for having overseen what became a "legendary, revolutionary news-driven station".[204] As was Ansin's wishes in 1987,[96] Sunbeam Television was taken over by sons James and Andy Ansin.[205]
WPEC
Having joined CBS mainly to address WCIX's over-the-air home reception issues in much of Broward County, CBS reportedly paid $5 million over two years to WPEC, consisting of an increase in network compensation payments, $1 million in capital improvements to the transmitter, and promotion expenses.[206] WPEC courted Broward viewers with enhanced news coverage and special antenna deals,[207] and the station reinforced its news presence in the southern part of its market and beyond, bolstering an existing news bureau in Boca Raton and adding one in Fort Lauderdale.[208] A full-time staff of five people was devoted to covering news from Broward.[209] WPEC also established a news bureau in Stuart for the Treasure Coast later in 1989 after WTVX's news department folded.[210][211]
WPEC experienced substantial ratings increases in Broward County after the switch. In 1988, seven percent of the station's viewers in total-day ratings, and six percent in afternoon and prime time, came from Broward. By February 1989, those figures jumped to 24 percent, 29 percent, and 32 percent, respectively.[209] However, the station found that residents of these areas were watching primarily for network programs and turned to Miami stations for local news,[212] and channel 12 continued to rank behind WPTV in overall ratings.[213][214] After two years, WPEC formally abandoned targeting Broward viewers for news coverage.[212] WPEC owner Alexander W. Dreyfoos Jr. sold the station to Freedom Communications in 1995.[215]
WPBF
The sudden change in plans for WPBF reflected in the station's performance over its first few years of operation. Newscasts debuted on the station's second day on-air[216] and ranked in third place behind WPEC and WPTV. Efforts were made to expand the news department beginning in late 1989,[217] but a poor signal in southern Palm Beach County, problems establishing viewer loyalty when some viewers preferred the Miami stations,[218] and the early 1990s recession resulted in WPBF downsizing nearly 30 percent of its workforce through the latter half of 1991 and receiving forgiveness from ABC on some of the affiliation fees.[219] WPBF's fortunes stabilized under Paxson Communications, which bought the station in late 1993.[220][221] Since 1997, the station has been owned by Hearst Television.[222] Over the course of the 2000s and early 2010s, WPBF edged past WPEC for second place in the West Palm Beach news ratings.[223][224]
WPBF's reverse compensation deal ultimately heralded the industry trend. The ability of broadcasters to collect retransmission consent payments from cable and satellite providers motivated the networks to seek payment for affiliation, in essence receiving a cut of what stations collected in exchange for providing popular national sports and entertainment programming.[225][226] By 2012, CBS received an estimated $250 million a year in fees from its affiliates.[227]
WTVX
Unlike WSVN, WTVX's forced independent status proved to be a liability more than an advantage. Without CBS programming, the station's total-day audience fell by two-thirds and its prime time audience by 60 percent.[228] WTVX also initially moved its 11 p.m. newscast to 10 p.m.[229] but programmed less-popular movies as a lead-in,[230] while its non-news programs attracted a different audience altogether.[231] The station quickly began canceling newscast after newscast (ending up with just 5:30, 6, and 11 p.m. newscasts[232]), while the news staff dropped from 40 to 16 people.[230] Many of the staff that remained began to look for jobs elsewhere.[233] Weekend newscasts were dropped in June,[234] and the news department was eliminated outright on August 4.[235] The three West Palm Beach stations each bought advertising time on WTVX's final broadcast to promote their newscasts.[236]
WTVX owner Frank Spain encountered similar difficulty in selling off the station. A Maryland real estate developer obtained an option to buy WTVX,[237] but no deal was ever reached, and WTVX came off the market for a second time.[234] By April 1990, the station was courting three suitors,[238] and though Frank Spain initially backed out of a planned sale to Krypton Broadcasting,[239] the firm agreed to purchase WTVX for $8 million in September 1990.[240] Krypton's failure to pay a $19 million loan from Dutch bank Internationale Nederlanden Bank N.V.[241] began a series of events culminating with a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 1993,[242] with WTVX owing over $3.3 million to various program suppliers.[243] Whitehead Media, an affiliate of WPBF owner Paxson Communications, purchased the station in a bankruptcy auction the following year.[244]
WTVJ and WCIX initiated an equally complicated switch in 1995 as part of a larger
WCAU-TV.[245][246] NBC prevailed in a bidding war for WCAU-TV,[247] with NBC agreeing to sell to the CBS–Group W partnership KCNC-TV in Denver, KUTV in Salt Lake City, and WTVJ's license and transmitter, and CBS selling to NBC both WCAU-TV and WCIX's license and transmitter.[248] When the asset swap took place on September 10, 1995, WCIX "moved" to channel 4 and was renamed WFOR-TV,[249] operating on WTVJ's former license, with WTVJ "moving" to channel 6, operating on WCIX's former license.[250]
^The current WSVN license dates back to Sunbeam being awarded a license to replace the first WCKT, which was revoked by the FCC in 1962;[12] Sunbeam purchased the assets of the first WCKT and retained all personnel.[13]
^This phrase was initially coined in an October 1989 New York article to describe WABC-TV, which had implemented an equally tabloid style.[196]
^ abWard, Mike; Lomartire, Paul; Anderson, Bonnie; Jicha, Paul (August 9, 1988). "TV flip-flop 'like Miami's own soap opera'". The Miami News. Miami, Florida. pp. 1A, 7A. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcSonsky, Steve (January 1, 1989). "3 million TV viewers affected". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 1A, 25A. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
(PDF) from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2020 – via World Radio History.
^"TV Thaw Due But Long Lag Seen In Miami". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. April 12, 1952. p. B1. Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ab"ABC-TV Announces WITV Affiliation". Fort Lauderdale Daily News. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. November 8, 1953. p. 20. Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^"FCC Turns Down Channel 7 Appeal". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. Associated Press. May 10, 1962. p. 2A. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved February 15, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcdefChrissos, Joan (May 25, 1987). "A private man goes public". The Miami Herald Business/Monday. Miami, Florida. pp. 1, 12–13. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Golden, Daniel (August 22, 1993). "Miami Dice". The Boston Globe Globe Magazine. Boston, Massachusetts. pp. 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29. Archived from the original on March 12, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Sidney Ansin Dies; Owner of Channel 7". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. October 23, 1971. p. B1. Archived from the original on February 18, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Adams, James L. (August 22, 1968). "Northside Land Sale 1 Of County's Biggest". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. pp. 1, 16. Archived from the original on February 18, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Schnier, Sanford (October 9, 1961). "High Court Paves Way For Ch. 10 Transfer". The Miami News. Miami, Florida. pp. 1A, 5A. Archived from the original on June 14, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^"WLBW-TV Takes Over Channel 10". The Miami News. Miami, Florida. November 20, 1961. p. 1A. Archived from the original on June 17, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Kelly, Herb (November 13, 1969). "Channel 10 mails out fat bonuses to 125". The Miami News. Miami, Florida. p. 4-B. Archived from the original on June 17, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abJicha, Tom (May 6, 1994). "Getting the big picture from Channel 6". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. 4E. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Channel 6 Shift Asked". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. Associated Press. July 31, 1957. p. 1-A. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Channel 6 TV Outlet Indicated". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. March 20, 1957. p. 1-A. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Pepinski, Pete (March 15, 1973). "WCIX to begin beaming here". Boca Raton News. p. 11A. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Coral Television Sells Debentures". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. January 1, 1969. p. 8-D. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Russell, James (March 15, 1982). "WCIX's profits prompt 'buy' on General Cinema". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. Business/Monday 55. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Kelley, Bill (December 7, 1984). "Station starts up, thinks big". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. 1D, 8D. Retrieved May 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Kelley, Bill (March 13, 1986). "Wrestling, R-flicks and bingo!". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. 1E, 4E. Retrieved May 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
(PDF) from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
^Splichal, Tom (April 26, 1982). "Wometco sees turnaround in TV operation". The Miami News Money. Miami, Florida. p. 2. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Davis, Dick (May 3, 1982). "Kroger Co. has tenants and analyst's praise". The Miami Herald Business/Monday. Miami, Florida. p. 32. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abMerzer, Martin (September 22, 1983). "Wometco price tag is $1 billion". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. pp. 1A, 3A. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Dickerson, Brian (February 1, 1983). "Wometco stock peaks on talk of sale". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. pp. 8D–9D. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abMerzer, Martin (April 26, 1983). "Wometco raises its defenses". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. pp. 7D–8D. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Merzer, Martin (February 6, 1983). "The Colonel's plan". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. pp. 1F, 6F. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Sigale, Merwin (September 22, 1983). "Wometco suitor: No shake-up planned". The Miami News. Miami, Florida. pp. 1A, 8A. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Birger, Larry (March 12, 1984). "New Wometco to sell its theaters". The Miami Herald Business/Monday. Miami, Florida. p. 5. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Russell, James (March 15, 1984). "Wometco buyout breaks up an institution". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 14C. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Birger, Larry (April 30, 1985). "Wometco sells part of chain". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 4D. Archived from the original on March 31, 2023. Retrieved April 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Lyons, David (April 29, 1985). "Storer shareholders wait for the best offer". The Miami Herald Business/Monday. Miami, Florida. p. 7. Archived from the original on February 19, 2022. Retrieved April 9, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
Owens, Dory (April 29, 1986). "Channel 4 up for sale; CBS may be a bidder". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 5D. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
Owens, Dory (April 29, 1986). "Channel 4 is up for sale; networks may be bidders". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 5D. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Miami's oldest television station, WTVJ-Channel 4, is up for sale and among the dozen companies interested in buying it are NBC and CBS. ... NBC officials could not be reached for comment.
^ abFoote, Jr., Cornelius F. (May 22, 1986). "WTVJ owner expects 'bundle' from sale". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 15C. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Altaner, David (May 22, 1986). "Lorimar buying WTVJ, 6 other stations". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. D1. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abMichals, Bob (June 7, 1986). "TV stations may pull switcheroo". Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. p. F1. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Michals, Bob (June 2, 1980). "Powerful 34: The New Kid On the Dial". Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. pp. A13, A16, A17. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Cable Drops Sports Programming". Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. June 1, 1980. p. B2. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^Chrissos, Joan (October 23, 1986). "Sale of Channel 4 falls through". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 4D. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Lorimar drops deal for WTVJ". The Palm Beach Post. Palm Beach, Florida. Reuters. October 23, 1986. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abAltaner, David (October 23, 1986). "Channel 4 purchase called off". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. D1. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcSonsky, Steve (October 30, 1986). "Is CBS behind collapse of WTVJ sale?". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. pp. 7D–8D. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2011 – via Newspapers.com.
^Meyer, Caroline E. (September 14, 1986). "Tisch may restore CBS prominence". The Journal Times. Racine, Wisconsin. The Washington Post. p. 1C. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
(PDF) from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2018 – via World Radio History.
Electronic Media
. pp. 1, 70.
^ abcdefghSonsky, Steve (February 10, 1987). "Sale turns local market topsy-turvy". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. pp. 1B, 4B. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Michals, Bob (January 17, 1987). "Miami's CBS affiliate gets new owner—NBC". The Palm Beach Post. Palm Beach, Florida. pp. 1A, 12A. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcdSteighorst, Tom (March 16, 1987). "Family-owned station WSVN battles network". South Florida Sun-Sentinel Weekly Business. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. 4. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcWilker, Deborah; Walker, Adrian (January 17, 1987). "WSVN employees take news in stride". The Miami News. Miami, Florida. p. 6A. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abKelley, Bill (January 22, 1987). "Local market turning into alphabet soup". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. E1. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abChrissos, Joan (February 25, 1987). "CBS execs cast appraising eye on Channel 6". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 5B. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abStieghorst, Tom (March 11, 1987). "Channel 7 fights sale of rival". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. D1. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abChrissos, Joan (March 11, 1987). "WSVN's owner seeks to block sale of WTVJ". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 4B. Archived from the original on February 20, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
(PDF) from the original on February 20, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
^ abcdFields, Gregg (March 12, 1987). "Channel 7's owner attacks NBC's plans". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 9D. Archived from the original on February 20, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcdJicha, Tom (November 1, 1988). "FCC approves sale of Channel 6 to CBS". The Miami News. Miami, Florida. p. 4C. Archived from the original on February 20, 2022. Retrieved April 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Jicha, Tom (April 23, 1988). "This week: April 23-30, 1988". The Miami News TV/Cable. Miami, Florida. p. 3. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Coto, Juan Carlos (May 19, 1988). "Hometown won't see what she did". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 11A. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Welin, Joel (May 24, 1988). "WTVJ president resigns to return to 'first love'". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. 8E. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcKelley, Bill (June 19, 1988). "CBS snubs WTVJ". Fort Lauderdale News. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. pp. 1D, 10D. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^WTVJ Sales Presentation(YouTube recording) (Television production). Miami, Florida: WTVJ. 1988. Event occurs at 1:28. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2021. Today, our situation is as unique as our marketplace. For the first time in television history, a station owned by one network carries the programming of another network. WTVJ is an NBC-owned station, but a CBS affiliate until January of 1989.
^ abRubinkowski, Leslie (May 7, 1988). "WSVN owner files suit against networks, firm". Fort Lauderdale News. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. 7B. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Leigh, Catesby (May 7, 1988). "Channel 4 ridicules Channel 7 suit". The Miami News. Miami, Florida. p. 8A. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Sonsky, Steve (January 5, 1988). "WSVN names news director". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 7C. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Sonsky, Steve (June 8, 1988). "What's going on at Channel 7?". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. pp. 1C, 4C. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Hyde, Dave (June 3, 1988). "NCAA invited CBS to Series". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 8E. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Williams, Marla (August 22, 1988). "Broadcast Moves". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. pp. 1D, 4D. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Rusnak, Jeff (August 12, 1988). "Stations tossed like Lotto balls". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. 10C. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Weiss, Michael (July 8, 1987). "Broadcaster to focus on trimming costs: Channel 21's new owner 'doing deals'". The Dallas Morning News. p. 1D.
^Chrissos, Joan (December 10, 1986). "Channel 33 files for Chapter 11". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 5B. Retrieved May 4, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Blake, Joseph P. (April 2, 1987). "Ch. 29 Switches Ownership Today". Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. p. 52. Retrieved April 7, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Weiss, Michael (January 24, 1988). "Channel 21's latest signals show trouble, possible sale". The Dallas Morning News. p. 2H.
^Gnoffo, Anthony Jr. (May 3, 1988). "President of WTAF-TV parent quits". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. pp. 8-C, 10C. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
(PDF) from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved February 23, 2022 – via World Radio History.
^Schweid, Richard (October 18, 1988). "Buyer has high hopes for Ch. 30". The Tennessean. p. 1D. Archived from the original on December 29, 2022. Retrieved December 29, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Sonsky, Steve; Owens, Dory (July 13, 1988). "CBS team pays visit to WCIX-Channel 6". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 4B. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^"In brief"(PDF). Broadcasting. December 9, 1985. p. 120. Archived(PDF) from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
(PDF) from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
^Wilkinson, Bud (November 29, 1988). "CBS eye looking at KPHO?". Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. p. C5, C10. Archived from the original on November 26, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Palm Beach to get new TV station". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. July 27, 1988. p. 1E. Archived from the original on March 13, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Michals, Bob (August 6, 1988). "Five TV stations poised for network shuffle". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. p. 1A, 14A. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abMichals, Bob (September 8, 1988). "Who will win? Race to be ABC affiliate starts". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. p. 1D, 9D. Archived from the original on March 13, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abSaunders, Michael (December 30, 1988). "Instant TV". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. 1A, 12A. Archived from the original on March 13, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Burns, Tony (October 19, 1988). "WTVX won't be ABC affiliate". St. Lucie News Tribune. Fort Pierce, Florida. p. A1, A6. Archived from the original on March 13, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Chrzan, Adam (August 9, 1988). "Search for affiliate may not be simple as ABC". St. Lucie News Tribune. Fort Pierce, Florida. p. B1. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Michals, Bob (October 19, 1988). "Channel 25 will sign on as ABC affiliate". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. p. 1A, 13A. Archived from the original on March 13, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Williams, Peter (November 11, 1988). "Exec puts WTVX put up for sale". St. Lucie News Tribune. Fort Pierce, Florida. p. A1, A7. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Jicha, Tom (February 2, 1989). "Infant Ch. 25 thrives on improvisation". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. 1E, 10E. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcSonsky, Steve (September 2, 1988). "Channel 7 plans news, news, news". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. pp. 1B, 4B. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcJicha, Tom (April 11, 1989). "Cheatwood makes best of bad situation". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. E1. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Kelley, Bill (December 28, 1988). "Shifting TV channels confuse many viewers". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. 8A. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Bernstein, David S. (November 2001). "Breaking News". Boston. Archived from the original on September 29, 2013. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
^ abKelley, Bill (September 13, 1988). "Emphasis on news a bold move for Ch. 7". South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. E1. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Sonsky, Steve (October 13, 1988). "Channel 7, Fox near agreement". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 8D. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abSonsky, Steve (September 8, 1988). "Try this one: Is Channel 10 up for grabs?". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. pp. 1C–2C. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Loudis, Stephanie (October 14, 1988). "A new producer for 2's Camera 2". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 17E. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^Loudis, Stephanie (December 2, 1988). "WTVJ goes stereo as it becomes NBC". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 19D. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abLoudis, Stephanie (December 31, 1988). "NBC stars appear on two channels". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 13A. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Tonight's Best Bets". The Miami Herald TV. Miami, Florida. December 25, 1988. p. 63. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcJicha, Tom (September 28, 1993). "WTVJ does worry—and isn't happy". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. E1. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abCoto, Juan Carlos (February 8, 1990). "Channel 4 yet to unveil new plan for news". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. pp. 1F, 4F. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Jicha, Tom (March 11, 1993). "Another month, more of the same ratings". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. 3E. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Loudis, Stephanie (July 8, 1989). "Channel 6 expands local evening news". The Miami Herald. p. 6E. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Zbar, Jeffery D. (June 13, 1994). "WCIX ads advise viewers on getting good reception". South Florida Sun Sentinel. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. p. Weekly Business 14. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abRohter, Larry (April 27, 1993). "Here's the news: Pow! Bam! Splat!". The Berkshire Eagle. Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The New York Times. p. C6. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Feran, Tom (December 18, 1993). "Tighter TV-3 News is good news". The Plain Dealer. Cleveland, Ohio. p. 1E. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via NewsBank.
^Mink, Eric (February 5, 1993). "Channel 11 Goes Too Far For Owner". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. p. 11G. Archived from the original on April 10, 2023. Retrieved April 10, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Francis, Thomas (March 1, 2001). "Satan or Savior?". Cleveland Scene. Cleveland, Ohio. Archived from the original on October 25, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
^ abJicha, Tom (March 30, 1989). "WPEC gets signal to move into Broward". South Florida Sun Sentinel. p. 6E. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Labbee, William (June 25, 1989). "Channel 34 makes more newscast cuts". The Miami Herald. pp. 1B, 2B. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^LoMartire, Paul (May 26, 1995). "NBC, WPTV top ratings sweep". The Palm Beach Post. p. 5D. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Betcher, Bob (December 14, 1992). "Channel 5 news rides high in ratings". The Stuart News. p. 1D. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023. Retrieved April 12, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Elmore, Charles (November 11, 1989). "Lagging Ch. 25 to expand news staff". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. p. 11B. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Kleinman, Jeffrey (August 9, 1991). "Fox affiliate to air news show at 10". The Miami Herald. Miami, Florida. p. 1B. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^McKenney, Mitch (October 8, 1995). "Paxson puts IN TV on TV". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. p. 1E, 2E. Archived from the original on March 13, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Halbe, Bob (December 28, 1988). "Independent WTVX hopes viewers will stay". St. Lucie News Tribune. Fort Pierce, Florida. p. A1, A2. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abEyman, Scott (August 7, 1989). "Signing Off". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. p. 1E, 4E. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Sheets, David (June 27, 1989). "WTVX might eliminate its local news". St. Lucie News Tribune. Fort Pierce, Florida. p. B4. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abLomartire, Paul (June 24, 1989). "WTVX discontinuing its weekend newscasts". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. p. 8D. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Eyman, Scott (August 5, 1989). "Channel 34 pulls plugs on news broadcasts". Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. p. B1. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^Sheets, David (April 24, 1990). "Three suitors court Channel 34". St. Lucie News Tribune. Fort Pierce, Florida. p. B4, B8. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Kleinberg, Eliot (August 25, 1993). "All Feltner TV stations now seeking Chapter 11". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. p. 5B. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Kleinberg, Eliot (August 8, 1993). "TV and film mogul's empire under siege". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. p. 1A, 10A. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^Kleinberg, Eliot (October 4, 1994). "WTVX sold at auction". The Palm Beach Post. West Palm Beach, Florida. p. 1B, 4B. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Channel 6 will drop CIX for FOR". The Miami Herald. December 14, 1994. p. 1C. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^Dougherty, Robin (August 18, 1995). "TV switcheroo II set for Sept. 10". The Miami Herald. p. 1A, 17A. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
Key West
Reception may vary by location and some stations may only be viewable with cable television