Editing WSVN (section)

== WSVN (1983–present) ==
=== Number-centric call letters ===
{{Quote box
| quote = We first changed all the cosmetic things you can do, even the call letters from WCKT to WSVN. We had to position ourselves to know what we were... We wanted to be looked upon as the 'hometown station,' just as the slogan says, the place where you get everything from your entertainment to your news.
| author = David Choate
| source = WSVN news director{{r|Fort860615}}
| align = right
| width = 275px
| qalign = left
| salign = right
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Sunbeam filed paperwork with the FCC in mid-March 1983 to change WCKT's call sign to WSVN, derived from "seven", while retaining their existing "South Florida 7" slogan.{{r|Miam830606}} Calling it "one of the biggest moves" made by the station in recent years, general manager Robert Leider explained that the Miami market was now more familiar identifying the station by channel number, saying, "if someone asks you if you saw ''[[Hill Street Blues]]'' last night, you say, 'Yeah, I saw it last night on Ch. 7'... you don't say 'on WCKT.'"<ref name="Miam830416">{{Cite news|last=Earley|first=Sandra|date=April 16, 1983|title=Ch. 7 to change call letters|page=4C|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74457590/ch-7-to-change-call-letters/|access-date=February 19, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220181456/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74457590/ch-7-to-change-call-letters/|url-status=live}}</ref> The station was also being placed on different channel positions over area [[Cable television in the United States|cable systems]], in some cases on channels "O" and "D" instead of "7". Leider regarded the "WSVN" name as easier to viewers to remember, thus providing a competitive advantage.<ref name="Miam830418">{{Cite news|last=Jicha|first=Tom|date=April 18, 1983|title='Abortion Clinic' looks at both sides of a sensitive issue|page=5B|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74457741/abortion-clinic-looks-at-both-sides/|access-date=February 19, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220181454/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74457741/abortion-clinic-looks-at-both-sides/|url-status=live}}</ref> As part of the change, Sunbeam acquired the rights for the WSVN call letters from [[PBS]] member [[WBRA-TV]] in [[Roanoke, Virginia]], which had used them for their [[Norton, Virginia|Norton]]-licensed satellite.{{r|Miam830416}}

Sunbeam invested a total of $150,000 into this change, including $50,000 for the call letter purchase and FCC paperwork, and $100,000 for an extensive marketing campaign.{{r|Miam830606}} The call sign change was effective at 7&nbsp;a.m. on June 7, 1983, with ''News'' radio critic Tom Jicha joking, "...the station should have gone all the way and done it at 7:07 on July 7".{{r|Miam830418}} NBC engaged in [[cross-promotion]] to help the station unveil their new "WSVN" name, mentioning it on-air both ''Today'' and ''The Tonight Show''. Network executives Grant Tinker and [[Steve Sohmer]] both sent congratulatory letters to Leider on the name change, and Sohmer began to advise NBC affiliates on how to stress their respective call letters for future promotions.<ref name="Miam830606">{{Cite news|last=Jicha|first=Tom|date=June 6, 1983|title=That new name cost a bundle to WS(e)V(e)N|page=7A|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71162512/that-new-name-cost-a-bundle-to/|access-date=February 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034333/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71162512/that-new-name-cost-a-bundle-to/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Even with the name change, WSVN continued to struggle in the ratings at both 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., often finishing in third place after WTVJ and WPLG. News director David Choate said, "we're not the favorite station for news in Miami... we keep battling [WTVJ] for second place".<ref name="Miam840810a">{{Cite news|last=O'Day|first=Bilie|date=August 10, 1984|title=Rondinaro reports for last time on Channel 7 news|page=9A|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95582928/rondinaro-reports-for-last-time-on/|access-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220181504/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95582928/rondinaro-reports-for-last-time-on/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Wayne Fariss left the station on January 31, 1984, initially retiring after a 36-year broadcasting career;<ref name="Miam831216">{{Cite news|date=December 16, 1983|title=NBC cancels five, adds six new shows|page=25E|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95641632/nbc-cancels-five-adds-six-new-shows/|access-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220071647/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95641632/nbc-cancels-five-adds-six-new-shows/|url-status=live}}</ref> a brief comeback attempt as vice president of news for [[WZVN-TV|WEVU-TV]] in [[Naples, Florida|Naples]] ended after Fariss suffered a heart attack.<ref name="Miam841208">{{Cite news|date=December 8, 1984|title=2 veteran broadcasters in critical condition|page=1B|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75064888/2-veteran-broadcasters-in-critical/|access-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220181455/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75064888/2-veteran-broadcasters-in-critical/|url-status=live}}</ref> Lead anchor Steve Rondinaro left in August 1984 after declining an offer to return to field reporting, calling wages paid to anchors "[[hazard pay]]" due to their jobs being dependent on ratings.<ref name="Miam840810">{{Cite news|last=Cheakalos|first=Christina|date=August 10, 1984|title=Ch. 7 to replace anchor Rondinaro|page=13C|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95553504/ch-7-to-replace-anchor-rondinaro/|access-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220071649/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95553504/ch-7-to-replace-anchor-rondinaro/|url-status=live}}</ref> Rondinaro's coverage of the [[1984 Democratic National Convention]], praised by local media, occurred after his departure was announced.{{r|Miam840810a}} His replacement was [[CNN Headline News]] anchor [[Peter Shann Ford|Peter Ford]], an [[Australia]]n native.{{r|Miam840810}} WSVN debuted ''Live at Five'', an hour-long lifestyle-centered newscast anchored by Denise White and Frank Robertson, on August 1, 1986.<ref name="Sout870609">{{Cite news|last=Kelley|first=Bill|date=June 9, 1987|title='Live at 5' needs more than a bath|page=E1|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95640384/live-at-5-needs-more-than-a-bath/|access-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220071648/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95640384/live-at-5-needs-more-than-a-bath/|url-status=live}}</ref> While in development for nearly a year with a $2 million (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|2000000|1986}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}) investment, production manager Frank Biancuzzo said, "we're going to be the [[David Letterman]] of the 5 p.m. shows, in that we'll try anything."<ref name="Miam860727">{{Cite news|last=Loudis|first=Stephanie|date=July 27, 1986|title=Channel 7 has high hopes for its new 'Live at 5' team|pages=4–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95649651/channel-7-has-high-hopes-for-its-new/ 5]:TV|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95649595/channel-7-has-high-hopes-for-its-new/|access-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220071659/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95649595/channel-7-has-high-hopes-for-its-new/|url-status=live}}</ref> WSVN also began a series of remote broadcasts spotlighting the region's history titled ''Celebrating South Florida''<ref name="Miam870501">{{Cite news|last=Loudis|first=Stephanie|date=May 1, 1987|title=Sachs leave Channel 10; 7 spotlights local history|page=11E|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95640732/sachs-leave-channel-10-7-spotlights/|access-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220181500/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/95640732/sachs-leave-channel-10-7-spotlights/|url-status=live}}</ref> and billed themselves as "Your Hometown Station".<ref name="Fort860615">{{Cite news|last=Kelley|first=Bill|date=June 15, 1986|title=Ch. 7 team irked at ratings spot|page=11:TV Book|newspaper=Fort Lauderdale News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74458246/ch-7-team-irked-at-ratings-spot/|access-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220071657/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74458246/ch-7-team-irked-at-ratings-spot/|url-status=live}}</ref>

{{Quote box
| quote = When a major story breaks in Miami, you don't turn to WSVN... If a major bank failed and a truck carrying pigs overturned on the freeway on the same day, WPLG would lead with the pigs, WTVJ probably would go with the bank and WSVN would miss the stories altogether.
| author = Tom Jicha
| source = ''Miami News'' columnist<ref name="Channels198806p26">{{Cite magazine |last=Behrens |first=Steve |date=June 1988 |title=Miami Braces for a Jolt |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Channels-of-Communication/Channels-1988-06.pdf |magazine=Channels |pages=26–27 |volume=8 |issue=6}}</ref>
| width = 275px
| salign = right
}}

''Live at Five'' struggled in the ratings; the May 1987 sweeps book showed minimal improvement over ''[[Quincy, M.E.]]'' reruns that it replaced, with ''[[Sun-Sentinel]]'' critic Bill Kelley saying, "the way I look at it, if you're determined to keep that ailing family dog that everyone in town has been telling you to put to sleep, you do more for him than give him a bath."{{r|Sout870609}} Rick Sanchez, who was in consideration to co-host ''Live at Five'', was suspended in March 1986 after revelations of ties to [[influence peddling|influence peddler]] Alberto San Pedro came to light.<ref name="MiamiH19860326p23">{{Cite news|last1=Leen|first1=Jeff|last2=Ducassi|first2=Jay|date=March 26, 1986|title=Police, politicians call San Pedro's allegations big lies|page=3B|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96085672/police-politicians-call-san-pedros/|access-date=February 22, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="MiamiH19860423p20">{{Cite news|last1=Leen|first1=Jay|last2=Melouza|first2=Lourdes|last3=Santiago|first3=Fabiola|last4=Viglucci|first4=Andres|last5=Ducassi|first5=Jay|date=April 23, 1986|title=Tapes depict San Pedro as a political manipulator|page=4B|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96086438/tapes-depict-san-pedro-as-a-political/|access-date=February 22, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> While not directly implicated in any criminal activity, Sanchez left the Miami market to take a reporting job with Houston's [[KHOU]].<ref name="MiamiN19860702p9">{{Cite news|last=Jicha|first=Tom|date=July 2, 1986|title=Sanchez gets Houston job|page=9A|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/96087856/sanchez-gets-houston-job/|access-date=February 22, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Choate expressed frustration at continued perception of WSVN as a "perennial third-place station" while critics noted the newscasts had improved substantially since Fariss's 1980 removal from evenings.{{r|Fort860615}} The station even made the news on October 17, 1985, when an [[electrical fire]] broke out in the studio during the 11 p.m. newscast, temporarily forcing the station off the air.<ref name="Miam851018">{{Cite news|last=Miller|first=Maurice|date=October 18, 1985|title=Channel 7 blaze puts news anchor in midst of story|page=10A|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74456060/channel-7-blaze-puts-news-anchor-in/|access-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220181436/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74456060/channel-7-blaze-puts-news-anchor-in/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Veteran weatherman Wayne Chandler suffered a severe head injury in a [[vehicular collision]] on December 7, 1984.<ref name="Miam060815">{{Cite news|last=Pease|first=Shannon|date=August 15, 2006|title=Wayne Chandler, 65: Former weatherman at WSVN-Channel 7|page=5B|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94632480/wayne-chandler-65-former-weatherman/|access-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220071704/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94632480/wayne-chandler-65-former-weatherman/|url-status=live}}</ref> By coincidence, Chandler's hospitalization occurred hours after Wayne Fariss was hospitalized for his heart attack.{{r|Miam841208}} Chandler's ''Sunday Funnies'' co-host Toby the Robot previously "retired" on April 1, 1984, when Charlie Folds accepted a full-time role as WSVN's public relations director.<ref name="Miam840309">{{Cite news|last=Easley|first=Sandra|date=March 9, 1984|title=After 21 years, Toby the Robot retires from TV|page=5B|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75064687/after-21-years-toby-the-robot-retires/|access-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220071705/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75064687/after-21-years-toby-the-robot-retires/|url-status=live}}</ref> Folds later said of his last day playing the robot, "when I put on that costume, I ''became'' Toby."<ref name="Miam031206">{{Cite news|last=Garvin|first=Glenn|date=December 6, 2003|title=Charlie Folds, public face of WSVN, to retire|page=4A|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94632164/charlie-folds-public-face-of-wsvn-to/|access-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220071707/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94632164/charlie-folds-public-face-of-wsvn-to/|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite hopes of an on-air return, Chandler never fully recovered from his injuries and was forced to retire.{{r|Miam060815}} Folds (as himself) took over as host of ''Sunday Funnies'',<ref name="Miam841223">{{Cite news|last=Gemoules|first=Craig|date=December 23, 1984|title=Newsman Fariss recuperating; Chandler still in hospital|page=2D|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75064802/newsman-fariss-recuperating-chandler/|access-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220071659/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75064802/newsman-fariss-recuperating-chandler/|url-status=live}}</ref> which continued production through 1986. Long-running public affairs shows ''Impacto'', ''Perspectives'' and ''Florida Forum'', which operations manager Dave Bieber called "holdovers from a significant number of years ago", were all cancelled at the end of 1986 in advance of NBC's planned spring 1987 launch of ''[[Weekend Today|Sunday Today]]''.<ref name="Miam861219">{{Cite news|last=Jicha|first=Tom|date=December 19, 1986|title=Channel 7 cancels public-affairs shows; 'Stingray' returning|page=9A|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75065154/channel-7-cancels-public-affairs-shows/|access-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220181444/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75065154/channel-7-cancels-public-affairs-shows/|url-status=live}}</ref> The presence of ''Live at Five'' as a daily program that already covered similar topics to those shows was regarded as an upgrade.{{r|Sout870316}}

=== The Miami network affiliation dispute ===
{{Main|1989 South Florida television affiliation switch}}
WSVN became the central figure in a complicated dispute between Sunbeam, NBC and CBS that lasted nearly two years.{{r|MiamN880809p1|Miam890101a}} WTVJ's founding owner, [[Wometco]], was acquired in 1983 by [[merchant bank]]er [[Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.]] (KKR) in a $1&nbsp;billion [[leveraged buyout]] (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|1000000000|1983}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}).<ref name="Miam830922">{{Cite news|last=Merzer|first=Martin|date=September 22, 1983|title=Wometco price tag is $1 billion|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75396555/wometco-price-tag-is-1-billion-p2/ 3A]|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75396502/wometco-price-tag-is-1-billion/|url-status=live|access-date=April 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416163800/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75396502/wometco-price-tag-is-1-billion/|archive-date=April 16, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> KKR also took over Storer Communications in 1985.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lyons|first=David|date=April 29, 1985|title=Storer shareholders wait for the best offer|page=7:Business Monday|newspaper=The Miami Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75431827/storer-shareholders-wait-for-the-best/|url-status=live|access-date=April 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219055450/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75431827/storer-shareholders-wait-for-the-best/|archive-date=February 19, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The FCC directed KKR to divest 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 then-existing cross-ownership rules.{{efn|While Wometco and Storer were legally separate entities, the FCC considered KKR the primary owner of both companies.}}<ref>{{Cite news|date=December 6, 1985|title=Storer Communications now part of SCI Holdings|page=10A|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75431657/storer-communications-now-part-of-sci/|url-status=live|access-date=April 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219055454/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75431657/storer-communications-now-part-of-sci/|archive-date=February 19, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last1=Martin|first1=Mary|last2=Jicha|first2=Tom|date=April 28, 1986|title=Channel 4: Wometco cites FCC divestiture rules|page=1A|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75507694/channel-4-wometco-cites-fcc/|url-status=live|access-date=April 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411012857/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75507694/channel-4-wometco-cites-fcc/|archive-date=April 11, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> KKR initially sold WTVJ and Storer's station group to [[Lorimar-Telepictures]] for $1.85&nbsp;billion (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|1850000000|1986}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}) on April 25, 1986,<ref name="Miam860521">{{Cite news|date=May 21, 1986|title=Lorimar Corp. buying WTVJ in deal with Wometco firm|page=10A|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75457035/lorimar-corp-buying-wtvj-in-deal-with/|access-date=April 10, 2021|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=April 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411012859/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75457035/lorimar-corp-buying-wtvj-in-deal-with/|url-status=live}}</ref> with WTVJ alone selling for $405&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|405000000|1986}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}).<ref>{{Cite news|last=Chrissos|first=Joan|date=July 1, 1986|title=Lorimar agrees to buy WTVJ, 6 other stations for $1.85 billion|page=6D|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75456940/lorimar-agrees-to-buy-wtvj-6-other/|access-date=April 10, 2021|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=April 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411012859/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75456940/lorimar-agrees-to-buy-wtvj-6-other/|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the Lorimar deal collapsed after CBS inquired with [[Taft Broadcasting]] about purchasing WCIX, an independent affiliated with [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]], for approximately $125&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|125000000|1986}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}). Such a deal would have moved all CBS programming from WTVJ to WCIX, and in turn, reduced the value of WTVJ by hundreds of millions of dollars.<ref name="MiamN861023p8A">{{Cite news|last=Sigale|first=Merwin|date=October 23, 1986|title=WTVJ ownership uncertain after Lorimar exclusion|page=8A|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75438298/wtvj-ownership-uncertain-after-lorimar/|access-date=April 11, 2021|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=April 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411051521/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75438298/wtvj-ownership-uncertain-after-lorimar/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Miam861030">{{Cite news|last=Sonsky|first=Steve|date=October 30, 1986|title=Is CBS behind collapse of WTVJ sale?|pages=7D–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75443461/is-cbs-behind-collapse-of-wtvj-sale-p2/ 8D]|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75443437/is-cbs-behind-collapse-of-wtvj-sale/|url-status=live|access-date=April 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411051519/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75443437/is-cbs-behind-collapse-of-wtvj-sale/|archive-date=April 11, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

CBS's subsequent $170&nbsp;million offer to KKR for WTVJ was deemed unacceptable by the banker,{{r|Miam870210}} which offered WTVJ to [[Capital Cities/ABC]] and NBC parent [[General Electric]] (GE){{r|Miam890101a}} under the belief neither ABC or NBC would be intimidated by a threat from CBS to disaffiliate WTVJ.<ref name="Miam870210">{{Cite news|last=Sonsky|first=Steve|date=February 10, 1987|title=Sale turns local market topsy-turvy|pages=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75073789/sale-turns-local-market-topsy-turvy-p2/ 4B]|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75073636/sale-turns-local-market-topsy-turvy/|url-status=live|access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034335/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75073636/sale-turns-local-market-topsy-turvy/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="ap">{{Cite news|date=October 23, 2017|title=Alan Perris|url=https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/alan-perris|access-date=April 11, 2021|website=Television Academy Interviews|language=en|archive-date=February 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220219055448/https://interviews.televisionacademy.com/interviews/alan-perris|url-status=live}}</ref> After months of rumors,{{r|Miam861030}}{{r|Miam890101a}} KKR agreed to sell WTVJ to the General Electric Property Management Co., a [[holding company]] within GE, for $270&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|270000000|1987}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}) on January 16, 1987.<ref name="Miam870117a">{{Cite news|last1=Owens|first1=Dory|last2=Chrissos|first2=Joan|date=January 17, 1987|title=NBC buying Miami's Channel 4; CBS must find new spot on dial|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75064167/nbc-buying-miamis-channel-4-cbs/ 18A]|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75064120/nbc-buying-miamis-channel-4-cbs/|url-status=live|access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210416163750/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75064120/nbc-buying-miamis-channel-4-cbs/|archive-date=April 16, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> It was universally accepted in the media and the industry that NBC was the pending owner:<ref name="Palm870117">{{Cite news|last=Michals|first=Bob|date=January 17, 1987|title=Miami's CBS affiliate gets new owner—NBC|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75064469/miamis-cbs-affiliate-gets-new/ 12A]|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75064445/miamis-cbs-affiliate-gets-new/|url-status=live|access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034341/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75064445/miamis-cbs-affiliate-gets-new/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> for the first time in the history of North American television, a broadcast network purchased an affiliate of a competing network.<ref name="Miam870525">{{Cite news|last=Chrissos|first=Joan|date=May 25, 1987|title=A private man goes public|pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75053365/a-private-man-goes-public-p2/ 12]–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75053454/a-private-man-goes-public-p3/ 13]:Business Monday|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75053173/a-private-man-goes-public/|url-status=live|access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034337/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75053173/a-private-man-goes-public/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="Miam870117b">{{Cite news|last1=Croghan|first1=Lore|last2=Walker|first2=Deborah|date=January 17, 1987|title=Channel 4 sale seen triggering shuffles at Miami TV stations|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75064239/channel-4-sale-seen-triggering-shuffles/ 6A]|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75064211/channel-4-sale-seen-triggering-shuffles/|url-status=live|access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034333/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75064211/channel-4-sale-seen-triggering-shuffles/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> NBC's purchase of WTVJ came 15 days after NBC signed a two-year contract renewal with WSVN{{r|Miam890101a}} and came as the network, now rated number-one, was initiating multiple affiliation switches across the country.<ref name="EM850805">{{Cite news |last=Mermigas |first=Diane |date=August 5, 1985 |title=Affiliate raids: NBC targets markets for station swaps |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_televisionweek_1985-08-05_4_32/mode/2up |work=[[Electronic Media]] |pages=1, 32}}</ref><ref name="EM860317">{{Cite news |last=Mermigas |first=Diane |date=March 17, 1986 |title=Affiliate switch to NBC seen as first of several |url=https://archive.org/details/sim_televisionweek_1986-03-17_5_11_0/page/n1/mode/2up?q=%22affiliation+switch%22 |work=Electronic Media |pages=3, 65}}</ref>

Ansin later described his reaction to the WTVJ purchase as "bewilderment", telling NBC executives who visited the station it was "bizarre and certainly unprecedented".{{r|Sout870316}} Ansin cursed at the executives,{{r|Miam870525}}<ref name="Miam890101a">{{Cite news|last=Sonsky|first=Steve|date=January 1, 1989|title=Swaps' plot twists outdid Dallas|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74463265/swaps-plot-twists-outdid-dallas-p2/ 24A]|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74463145/swaps-plot-twists-outdid-dallas/|url-status=live|access-date=April 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034334/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74463145/swaps-plot-twists-outdid-dallas/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> pointed at a [[satellite dish]] used to receive NBC programming, and asked them, "why don't you take it home on the airplane?"{{r|Miam870525}} No formal announcement was made to WSVN's staff that day beyond a terse internal memo,<ref name="Miam870117">{{Cite news|last1=Wilker|first1=Deborah|last2=Walker|first2=Adrian|date=January 17, 1987|title=WSVN employees take news in stride|page=6A|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75064260/wsvn-employees-take-news-in-stride/|url-status=live|access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034348/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75064260/wsvn-employees-take-news-in-stride/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> with some staffers admitting to checking job openings in ''Broadcasting'' magazine amid a combination of anxiety and [[gallows humor]].{{r|Miam870210}} One unidentified WSVN manager described it as a difficult day because they also had to report the story on the evening newscasts.{{r|Miam870117}} During their coverage of the sale, Ansin revealed GE executives previously offered to purchase WSVN, which he rejected under the belief that they would not buy a competitor.<ref name="Sout870122">{{Cite news|last=Kelley|first=Bill|date=January 22, 1987|title=Local market turning into alphabet soup|page=E1|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75075537/local-market-turning-into-alphabet-soup/|url-status=live|access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034334/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75075537/local-market-turning-into-alphabet-soup/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Likewise, one NBC executive told the ''News'' NBC had preferred to buy WSVN, but the station was not available.{{r|Miam870117}} WSVN's NBC contract ran until January 1989{{r|Miam890101a}} while WTVJ's CBS contract ran through April 1988.{{r|Sout870122}} Industry speculation centered over what station in Miami would pick up CBS programming, or if NBC would be contractually obligated to operate WTVJ as a CBS affiliate until their WSVN contract expired.{{r|Miam870210}}{{r|Miam870117b}}<ref name="Sout870311">{{Cite news|last=Stieghorst|first=Tom|date=March 11, 1987|title=Channel 7 fights sale of rival|page=D1|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74548791/channel-7-fights-sale-of-rival/|url-status=live|access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034336/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74548791/channel-7-fights-sale-of-rival/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> NBC pledged to honor WSVN's contract, while CBS showed renewed interest in WCIX, itself in the process of being sold to [[TVX Broadcast Group]].<ref name="Miam870225">{{Cite news|last=Chrissos|first=Joan|date=February 25, 1987|title=CBS execs cast appraising eye on Channel 6|page=5B|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75075141/cbs-execs-cast-appraising-eye-on/|url-status=live|access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034335/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75075141/cbs-execs-cast-appraising-eye-on/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

In an interview on WSVN's 6&nbsp;p.m. newscast on March 10, 1987, Ansin announced Sunbeam would challenge the WTVJ sale before the FCC,{{r|Miam870525}} citing "anti-competitive overtones&nbsp;... adverse" to the public interest.{{r|Sout870311}} With former channel&nbsp;7 operations manager Allen Sternberg as legal counsel,{{r|Miam870525}} Ansin retained former FCC commissioner [[Charles D. Ferris]] as his lead representation.<ref name="Sout870316">{{Cite news|last=Steighorst|first=Tom|date=March 16, 1987|title=Family-owned station WSVN battles network|page=4|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel Weekly Business|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74545382/family-owned-station-wsvn-battles/|url-status=live|access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034336/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74545382/family-owned-station-wsvn-battles/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Ansin also reached out to [[United States congressional delegations from Florida|Florida's congressional delegation]] for additional lobbying,<ref name="Miam870311">{{Cite news|last=Chrissos|first=Joan|date=March 11, 1987|title=WSVN's owner seeks to block sale of WTVJ|page=4B|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74548743/wsvns-owner-seeks-to-block-sale-of/|url-status=live|access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220181439/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74548743/wsvns-owner-seeks-to-block-sale-of/|archive-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> including Rep. [[Dante Fascell]]{{r|Sout870316}} and Sen. [[Lawton Chiles]].{{r|Miam890101a}} The petition to deny claimed WSVN's status among programmers and advertisers was damaged to WTVJ's benefit{{r|Sout870316}} and that an NBC-owned CBS affiliate threatened to disenfranchise Miami television viewers.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Ames|first=Joe|date=March 24, 1987|title=WSVN filing says viewers lose out if Channel 4 sold|page=10A|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74548870/wsvn-filing-says-viewers-lose-out-if/|url-status=live|access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220181457/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74548870/wsvn-filing-says-viewers-lose-out-if/|archive-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In a statement Ansin submitted to various Washington agencies, he likened the nature of the sale to the extortion-driven [[Westinghouse Broadcasting#The 1956 trade with NBC|1956 asset swap between NBC and Group W]] for stations in [[Cleveland]] and Philadelphia the commission eventually overturned nine years later.<ref>{{Cite news|date=March 16, 1987|title=WSVN owner contests NBC purchase of WTVJ Miami|volume=112|pages=43, [https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/87-OCR/BC-1987-03-16-OCR-Page-0044.pdf 44]|work=Broadcasting|issue=11|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/87-OCR/BC-1987-03-16-OCR-Page-0043.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=April 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220181427/https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/87-OCR/BC-1987-03-16-OCR-Page-0043.pdf|archive-date=February 20, 2022|via=World Radio History}}</ref> In a subsequent interview, Ansin explained that his bitterness with NBC was the result of the network simply discarding decades of loyalty, especially when the network was mired in third place in the late 1970s.<ref name="Miam870312">{{Cite news|last=Fields|first=Gregg|date=March 12, 1987|title=Channel 7's owner attacks NBC's plans|page=9D|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74545308/channel-7s-owner-attacks-nbcs/|url-status=live|access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220181456/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74545308/channel-7s-owner-attacks-nbcs/|archive-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Ansin's visibility protesting the sale was also a marked departure from his reputation as a modest, conservative owner that rarely sought public attention and who barely knew his own station personnel.{{r|Boston19930822p362}}

The day before WCIX's sale to TVX was completed, TVX president Tim McDonald told the ''News'' that WCIX was not only not for sale, but TVX was committed to owning the station, forcing CBS to negotiate with Ansin by default.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Jicha|first=Tom|date=March 30, 1987|title=Ch. 6's new owner says 'no sale'; CBS pushed toward Ch. 7|page=4C|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74548989/ch-6s-new-owner-says-no-sale/|url-status=live|access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220181503/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74548989/ch-6s-new-owner-says-no-sale/|archive-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In multiple interviews, Ansin expressed a hope to keep WSVN as a network affiliate and eventually pass control of Sunbeam to his children; when asked about WSVN possibly becoming an independent station, Ansin replied, "that's not good... I don't think it'll happen."{{r|Miam870312}} 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 an affiliation.{{r|Miam870311}} The FCC approved the sale of WTVJ to GE on September 17, 1987,<ref name="Miam870918">{{Cite news|last=Chrissos|first=Joan|date=September 17, 1987|title=Is the switch on? FCC approves Channel 4 sale|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74548667/is-the-switch-on-fcc-approves-channel/ 4A]|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74548552/is-the-switch-on-fcc-approves-channel/|url-status=live|access-date=April 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220181428/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74548552/is-the-switch-on-fcc-approves-channel/|archive-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> despite Sen. Chiles introducing an amendment into an FCC [[Appropriations bill (United States)|appropriations bill]] that requested a full hearing on the sale.{{r|Miam890101a}} Ferris also acknowledged he held doubts from the beginning about the FCC being receptive to Ansin's challenge;{{r|Miam870312}} undeterred, Ansin pledged to appeal the FCC's approval.{{r|Miam870918}} NBC and CBS both agreed to extend WTVJ's CBS affiliation contract on a two-week basis after it expired in April 1988, allowing CBS to move their programming off WTVJ at any given date.<ref name="Miam881101">{{Cite news|last=Jicha|first=Tom|date=November 1, 1988|title=FCC approves sale of Channel 6 to CBS|page=4C|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74535532/fcc-approves-sale-of-channel-6-to-cbs/|url-status=live|access-date=April 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220181440/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74535532/fcc-approves-sale-of-channel-6-to-cbs/|archive-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The temporary arrangement resulted in WTVJ—now run by NBC management<ref>{{Cite news|last=Welin|first=Joel|date=May 24, 1988|title=WTVJ president resigns to return to 'first love'|page=8E|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75140888/wtvj-president-resigns-to-return-to/|url-status=live|access-date=April 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034439/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75140888/wtvj-president-resigns-to-return-to/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="Miam880524">{{Cite news|last=Jicha|first=Tom|date=May 24, 1988|title=Perris 'resigns' top job at WTVJ; NBC brings in own management|page=4C|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75156482/perris-resigns-top-job-at-wtvj-nbc/|url-status=live|access-date=April 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034440/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75156482/perris-resigns-top-job-at-wtvj-nbc/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>—refusing to carry significant portions of CBS's primetime schedule,<ref name="Miam880427">{{Cite news|last=Jicha|first=Tom|date=April 27, 1988|title=CBS and WSVN are hassling over their wedding date|page=4C|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74463717/cbs-and-wsvn-are-hassling-over-their/|url-status=live|access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220181446/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74463717/cbs-and-wsvn-are-hassling-over-their/|archive-date=February 20, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Jicha|first=Tom|date=April 23, 1988|title=This week: April 23–30, 1988|page=3:TV/Cable|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75140702/this-week-april-23-30-1988/|url-status=live|access-date=April 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034457/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75140702/this-week-april-23-30-1988/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Coto|first=Juan Carlos|date=May 19, 1988|title=Hometown won't see what she did|page=11A|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75146143/hometown-wont-see-what-she-did/|url-status=live|access-date=April 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034440/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75146143/hometown-wont-see-what-she-did/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> while CBS initially refused to invite WTVJ management to the network's 1988 affiliate convention.<ref name="Fort880619">{{Cite news|last=Kelley|first=Bill|date=June 19, 1988|title=CBS snubs WTVJ|pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74526884/cbs-snubs-wtvj-p2/ 10D]|newspaper=Fort Lauderdale News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74526774/cbs-snubs-wtvj/|url-status=live|access-date=April 4, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034440/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74526774/cbs-snubs-wtvj/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

=== Changes in the news ===
[[File:Rick Sanchez - 100 Characters Conference.jpg|thumb|[[Rick Sanchez (journalist)|Rick Sanchez]] rejoined WSVN in May 1988 as a reporter and anchor.]]
The uncertainty at WSVN was not limited to their network affiliation. News director David Choate abruptly resigned in December 1987; his replacement, [[Joel Cheatwood]], came to Miami from [[WEWS-TV]] in Cleveland, where he had been that station's assistant news director.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sonsky|first=Steve|date=January 5, 1988|title=WSVN names news director|page=7C|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74460559/wsvn-names-news-director/|url-status=live|access-date=April 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034453/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74460559/wsvn-names-news-director/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Cheatwood took the job under assurances WSVN would remain a network affiliate under Sunbeam in what he called a "[[Blood brother|blood oath]]" by Ansin.<ref name="Miam880809c">{{Cite news|last=Jicha|first=Tom|date=August 9, 1988|title=Channel 7 has a lot of getting ready to do|page=7A|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74459688/channel-7-has-a-lot-of-getting-ready-to/|url-status=live|access-date=April 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034444/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74459688/channel-7-has-a-lot-of-getting-ready-to/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> By that March, WSVN's newscasts started to take a more aggressive tone, ostensibly to make the station more palatable to a CBS affiliation,<ref name="Miam880321">{{Cite news|last=Jicha|first=Tom|date=March 21, 1988|title=WSVN tightening ship while waiting to align with CBS|page=4C|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74463849/wsvn-tightening-ship-while-waiting-to/|url-status=live|access-date=April 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034500/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74463849/wsvn-tightening-ship-while-waiting-to/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> while multiple staffers were either dismissed or resigned.<ref name="Miam880609b">{{Cite news|last=Sonsky|first=Steve|date=June 8, 1988|title=What's going on at Channel 7?|pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74534030/whats-going-on-at-channel-7-p2/ 4C]|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74533828/whats-going-on-at-channel-7/|url-status=live|access-date=April 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034445/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74533828/whats-going-on-at-channel-7/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Some also left WSVN directly due to the affiliation uncertainty, including sports director Bret Lewis and weekend sports anchor Doug Vaughn.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Hyde|first=Dave|date=June 3, 1988|title=NCAA invited CBS to Series|page=8E|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74539176/ncaa-invited-cbs-to-series/|url-status=live|access-date=April 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034459/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74539176/ncaa-invited-cbs-to-series/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> By happenstance, Lewis and anchor Jill Beach left to take jobs with NBC:<ref name="Miam880809b">{{Cite news|last=Fields|first=Gregg|date=August 9, 1988|title=A hot local news-rating battle just got hotter.|pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75030167/a-hot-local-news-rating-battle-just-got/ 8C]|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75030128/a-hot-local-news-rating-battle-just-got/|url-status=live|access-date=April 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034446/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75030128/a-hot-local-news-rating-battle-just-got/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Lewis went to [[KNBC-TV]] in [[Los Angeles]], while Beach went to [[WKYC-TV]] in Cleveland, which at the time was a higher-ranked [[TV market]] than Miami.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Williams|first=Marla|date=August 22, 1988|title=Broadcast Moves|pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74535081/broadcast-moves-p2/ 4D]|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74534970/broadcast-moves/|url-status=live|access-date=April 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034445/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74534970/broadcast-moves/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Lewis's replacement, [[Jim Berry (news anchor)|Jim Berry]], joined WSVN under the assumption it would become a CBS affiliate, saying a network affiliation is "a sign of privilege, it's like a badge."<ref name="Sout880812">{{Cite news|last=Rusnak|first=Jeff|date=August 12, 1988|title=Stations tossed like Lotto balls|page=10C|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74535920/stations-tossed-like-lotto-balls/|access-date=April 5, 2021|via=Newspapers.com|archive-date=February 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034445/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74535920/stations-tossed-like-lotto-balls/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the conclusion of the [[Nielsen ratings|May sweeps period]], Cheatwood fired lead anchor Peter Ford despite the 6&nbsp;p.m. and 11&nbsp;p.m. newscasts posting their best ratings in recent years.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sonsky|first=Steve|date=June 4, 1988|title=No Ford in WSVN's future|pages=1B–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74526391/no-ford-in-wsvns-future-p2/ 2B]|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74526325/no-ford-in-wsvns-future/|url-status=live|access-date=April 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034446/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74526325/no-ford-in-wsvns-future/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Reports of on- and off-air tension between Ford and co-anchor Sally Fitz was seen as the determining factor for the move,{{r|Miam880609b}} but Fitz was also in a personal relationship with Ed Ansin, which Ansin previously admitted to.{{r|Miam870525}} Steve Sonsky of the ''Herald'' suggested Fitz's relationship with Ansin factored into WSVN's personnel decisions, which station officials denied.{{r|Miam880609b}} After Alberto San Pedro's murder trial concluded,<ref name="Sout880629">{{Cite news|last=Kelley|first=Bill|date=June 29, 1988|title=Channel 7 hires Rick Sanchez as 'Live at 5' co-anchor|page=8E|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74527336/channel-7-hires-rick-sanchez-as-live/|url-status=live|access-date=April 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034446/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74527336/channel-7-hires-rick-sanchez-as-live/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Rick Sanchez returned to the station as the new co-anchor for ''Live at Five'', which was initially developed with him in mind as the lead host.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sonsky|first=Steve|date=May 10, 1988|title=Topsy-turvy TV: Sanchez is back|pages=1B–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74528685/topsy-turvy-tv-sanchez-is-back-p2/ 2B]|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74528622/topsy-turvy-tv-sanchez-is-back/|url-status=live|access-date=April 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034500/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74528622/topsy-turvy-tv-sanchez-is-back/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Sanchez replaced Frank Robertson, who was dismissed by Cheatwood in early May after market research showed him as the program's "weak link".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kelley|first=Bill|date=May 6, 1988|title=Frank Robertson fired by Channel 7|page=8E|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74536428/frank-robertson-fired-by-channel-7/|url-status=live|access-date=April 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034447/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74536428/frank-robertson-fired-by-channel-7/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In an outreach attempt to [[Cuban migration to Miami|Miami's Cuban community]], Cheatwood announced Sanchez's return during an on-air interview at Spanish-language radio station [[WQBA]].{{r|Sout880629}}

=== CBS purchases WCIX ===
After NBC purchased WTVJ, the ''Herald''{{'}}s Steve Sonsky wrote "the simplest thing that could happen" was for CBS to affiliate with WSVN in a two-station exchange.{{r|Miam870210}} By June 1988, Sonsky said a WSVN-CBS affiliation was still possible, "...&nbsp;unless 7 wants to become an independent station and suffer an enormous drop in value".{{r|Miam880609b}} An impasse developed between Ansin and CBS: the network desired to move off of WTVJ as soon as possible, but Ansin insisted a CBS contract take effect on January 1, 1989, when WSVN's NBC contract was set to end.{{r|Miam880427}} Sports broadcasts were the core reason. NBC was committed to carrying the [[1988 Summer Olympics]], the [[1988 World Series]],{{r|Fort880619}} and a majority of [[Miami Dolphins]] football games thanks to [[NFL on NBC|the network's NFL-AFC broadcast rights]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jicha |first=Tom |date=July 4, 1988 |title=Delayed season an opportunity for WSVN compromise |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74525747/delayed-season-an-opportunity-for-wsvn/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034454/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74525747/delayed-season-an-opportunity-for-wsvn/ |archive-date=February 17, 2022 |access-date=April 4, 2021 |newspaper=The Miami News |page=4C |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Tony Malara, president of CBS's affiliate relations division who handled the negotiations, insisted CBS was deeply distressed at having to remain on an NBC-owned station; WSVN general manager Bob Leider countered, saying that such distress was never mentioned by CBS during negotiations,{{r|Miam890101a}} and Ansin insisted CBS agreed to his timeframe early on in the talks, which Malara denied.<ref name="Miam880809a">{{Cite news |last=Sonsky |first=Steve |date=August 9, 1988 |title=Channel 7's Ed Ansin gambled big and lost big. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74976470/channel-7s-ed-ansin-gambled-big-and/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034502/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74976470/channel-7s-ed-ansin-gambled-big-and/ |archive-date=February 17, 2022 |access-date=April 2, 2021 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74976496/channel-7s-ed-ansin-gambled-big-and/ 8C] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Ansin made arrangements to fly to [[New York City]] on April 26 to sign a CBS contract at [[CBS Building|Black Rock]] when Malara called off the meeting, citing that they were reaching out to other parties regarding a purchase or affiliation.{{r|Miam880427}} Malara said to Ansin the trip was pointless if he would not waver off of the January 1 date.{{r|Miam880809a}}

One week after the negotiations broke down,<ref name="Fort880507">{{Cite news |last=Rubinkowski |first=Leslie |date=May 7, 1988 |title=WSVN owner files suit against networks, firm |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74525894/wsvn-owner-files-suit-against-networks/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034441/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74525894/wsvn-owner-files-suit-against-networks/ |archive-date=February 17, 2022 |access-date=April 5, 2021 |newspaper=Fort Lauderdale News |page=7B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Ansin filed an [[United States antitrust law|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".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Leigh |first=Catesby |date=May 7, 1988 |title=Channel 4 ridicules Channel 7 suit |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74484106/channel-4-ridicules-channel-7-suit/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034441/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74484106/channel-4-ridicules-channel-7-suit/ |archive-date=February 17, 2022 |access-date=April 5, 2021 |newspaper=The Miami News |page=8A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Ansin sent an additional [[Diplomatic correspondence|letter of protest]] to NBC that claimed WTVJ supplied stories to [[NBC News]] through the network's Miami [[news bureau]], which Ansin alleged violated NBC's existing WSVN contract.<ref name="MiamiN19880609p23">{{Cite news|last=Jicha|first=Tom|date=June 9, 1988|title=WTVJ move forces a choice between 'Jeopardy', 'Wheel'|page=5C|newspaper=The Miami News|location=Miami, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75141980/wtvj-move-forces-a-choice-between/|access-date=April 5, 2021|archive-date=February 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034443/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75141980/wtvj-move-forces-a-choice-between/|url-status=live}}</ref> Initially bolstered by a verdict that awarded $3.5&nbsp;million in damages to the owner of [[KOZL-TV|a former ABC station]] in [[Springfield, Missouri]], after Capital Cities/ABC Inc. disaffiliated them{{r|Fort880619}} (which was later thrown out on [[appeal]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rubin |first=James H. |date=October 2, 1989 |title=High Court Refuses TV Station Appeal |url=https://apnews.com/article/00f357033565398a62e3841eb5a07670 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034444/https://apnews.com/article/00f357033565398a62e3841eb5a07670 |archive-date=February 17, 2022 |access-date=April 8, 2021 |work=Associated Press}}</ref>) Ansin insisted the lawsuit would not hurt WSVN's chances regarding a network contract,{{r|Fort880507}} but talks between him and CBS never resumed.{{r|Miam880609b}}

Meanwhile, TVX was under financial duress by principal creditor [[Salomon Brothers]], which helped finance TVX's purchase of WCIX and four other Taft stations and in turn held more than 60&nbsp;percent ownership of TVX.<ref name="DMN870708">{{cite news |last=Weiss |first=Michael |date=July 8, 1987 |title=Broadcaster to focus on trimming costs: Channel 21's new owner 'doing deals' |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |page=1D}}</ref> After a missed payment of $200&nbsp;million to Salomon earlier in 1988,<ref name="DMN880124">{{cite news |last=Weiss |first=Michael |date=January 24, 1988 |title=Channel 21's latest signals show trouble, possible sale |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |page=2H}}</ref> the creditor induced TVX to sell off two stations<ref>{{cite magazine |date=May 16, 1988 |title=For the Record |magazine=Broadcasting |volume=114 |issue=20 |pages=69–70 |id={{ProQuest|1014726593}}}}</ref><ref name="Tenn881018">{{Cite news |last=Schweid |first=Richard |date=October 18, 1988 |title=Buyer has high hopes for Ch. 30 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115370246/buyer-has-high-hopes-for-ch-30/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221229075124/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115370246/buyer-has-high-hopes-for-ch-30/ |archive-date=December 29, 2022 |access-date=December 29, 2022 |newspaper=The Tennessean |location= |page=1D |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and pressured them to divest further.<ref>{{cite news|date=August 9, 1988|title=THE MEDIA BUSINESS; CBS to Buy TV Station In Miami|newspaper=The New York Times|location=New York, New York|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/09/business/the-media-business-cbs-to-buy-tv-station-in-miami.html|access-date=April 8, 2021|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117210546/https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/09/business/the-media-business-cbs-to-buy-tv-station-in-miami.html|url-status=live}}</ref> By July 1988, ''[[Electronic Media]]'' reported CBS quietly was in talks with Salomon to purchase WCIX.<ref name="Miam880730">{{Cite news |last=Loudis |first=Stephanie |date=July 30, 1988 |title=Rumors fly again about chance of Channel 6-CBS tie |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121661146/rumors-fly-again-about-chance-of/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327064444/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121661146/rumors-fly-again-about-chance-of/ |archive-date=March 27, 2023 |access-date=March 27, 2023 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=7B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> [[Howard Stringer]], recently appointed as president for [[CBS News and Stations|CBS's owned-stations division]], told the ''News'' on August 5 he expected a resolution of the Miami affiliation dilemma "... probably by next week".<ref>{{Cite news|last=Jicha|first=Tom|date=August 5, 1988|title=CBS purchase of Channel 6 likely, chief hints|page=7A|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74526615/cbs-purchase-of-channel-6-likely-chief/|url-status=live|access-date=April 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034448/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74526615/cbs-purchase-of-channel-6-likely-chief/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> WCIX's general manager said CBS's negotiations with Salomon made it much more than a threat aimed at Ansin.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Sonsky|first1=Steve|last2=Owens|first2=Dory|date=July 13, 1988|title=CBS team pays visit to WCIX-Channel 6|page=4B|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75239834/cbs-team-pays-visit-to-wcix-channel-6/|url-status=live|access-date=April 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034513/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75239834/cbs-team-pays-visit-to-wcix-channel-6/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> On August 8, 1988, CBS announced their purchase of WCIX for $59&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|59000000|1988}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}),<ref name="MiamN880809p1">{{Cite news|last1=Ward|first1=Mike|last2=Lomartire|first2=Paul|last3=Anderson|first3=Bonnie|last4=Jicha|first4=Paul|date=August 9, 1988|title=TV flip-flop 'like Miami's own soap opera'|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74459633/tv-flip-flop-like-miamis-own-soap/ 7A]|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74459567/tv-flip-flop-like-miamis-own-soap/|url-status=live|access-date=April 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034449/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74459567/tv-flip-flop-like-miamis-own-soap/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> a price far below TVX's $90&nbsp;million valuation of the station two years earlier.{{r|Miam890101a}} Several Wall Street analysts estimated WSVN's market value dropped by as much as $200&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|200000000|1988}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US}}) after CBS's announcement,<ref name="Miam890101b">{{Cite news|last=Sonsky|first=Steve|date=January 1, 1989|title=3 million TV viewers affected|page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74463579/3-million-tv-viewers-affected-p2/ 25A]|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74463186/3-million-tv-viewers-affected/|url-status=live|access-date=April 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412212200/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74463186/3-million-tv-viewers-affected/|archive-date=April 12, 2021|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> with one analyst suggesting the station now had one-third of the [[cash flow]] it had while an NBC affiliate.{{r|Miam880809a}}

CBS simultaneously announced a new affiliation agreement was reached with West Palm Beach's ABC affiliate [[WPEC]]<ref name="Palm880806">{{Cite news |last=Michals |first=Bob |date=August 6, 1988 |title=Five TV stations poised for network shuffle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105526539/five-tv-stations-poised-for-network/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714035000/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105526539/five-tv-stations-poised-for-network/ |archive-date=July 14, 2022 |access-date=July 13, 2022 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |location=West Palm Beach, Florida |page=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105526581/ 14A] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> that addressed WCIX's technical disadvantages for over-the-air television viewers in the Miami market.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kelley|first=Bill|date=December 28, 1988|title=CBS fans might find picture a little fuzzy on Channel 6|page=8A|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74534747/cbs-fans-might-find-picture-a-little/|url-status=live|access-date=April 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034449/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74534747/cbs-fans-might-find-picture-a-little/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The WPEC-CBS deal pulled a second media market into the affiliation switches that now involved, in both Miami and West Palm Beach, six stations and three million television viewers.<ref name="Fort881228a">{{Cite news|last=Kelley|first=Bill|date=December 28, 1988|title=The Big Switch: Tuning in to South Florida TV|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74534707/the-big-switch-tuning-in-to-south/ 8A]|newspaper=Fort Lauderdale News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74534562/the-big-switch-tuning-in-to-south/|url-status=live|access-date=April 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034449/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74534562/the-big-switch-tuning-in-to-south/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>{{r|Miam890101b}}<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kelley|first=Bill|date=December 28, 1988|title=Shifting TV channels confuse many viewers|page=8A|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74535146/shifting-tv-channels-confuse-many/|url-status=live|access-date=April 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034453/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74535146/shifting-tv-channels-confuse-many/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

=== Becoming an independent ===
Immediately after the sale of WCIX, Ansin publicly announced that WSVN's news operations would not be contracted{{r|Miam880809b}} and would be expanded.{{r|Miam880809c}} Ansin and Leider offered Joel Cheatwood an opportunity to leave if he wanted, due to Ansin's "blood oath" of WSVN having an affiliation with CBS or NBC not being kept, but Cheatwood decided to stay.<ref name="Sout890411">{{Cite news|last=Jicha|first=Tom|date=April 11, 1989|title=Cheatwood makes best of bad situation|page=E1|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74462479/cheatwood-makes-best-of-bad-situation/|url-status=live|access-date=April 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034452/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74462479/cheatwood-makes-best-of-bad-situation/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> At a staff meeting called by Cheatwood the following Monday, the majority of the personnel present verbally committed to staying in a show of support.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Loudis|first=Stephanie|date=August 19, 1988|title=Channel 7 plans to expand news, add newsmagazine|page=4C|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75240212/channel-7-plans-to-expand-news-add/|url-status=live|access-date=April 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034452/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75240212/channel-7-plans-to-expand-news-add/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Dave Beiber resigned as operations manager shortly after WSVN's independent status was confirmed:<ref>{{Cite news|last=Jicha|first=Tom|date=September 8, 1988|title=New programmer at Ch. 7 prefers her independence|page=5C|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74526075/new-programmer-at-ch-7-prefers-her/|url-status=live|access-date=April 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034453/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74526075/new-programmer-at-ch-7-prefers-her/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> management, assuming WSVN would still link up with CBS, failed to purchase enough [[syndicated programming]] at the start of [[1988–89 United States network television schedule|the fall season]] to compensate for the loss of a network.{{r|Miam881207}} Ansin later described WSVN as a station that had little to no effort put into it because of their prior NBC association, saying, "[w]e were very much the traditional network affiliate... we considered ourselves an appendage of the network".<ref name="BostonMagBreaking2">{{Cite magazine |last=Bernstein |first=David S. |date=November 2001 |title=Breaking News |url=http://www.bostonmagazine.com/2006/05/boston-magazine-breaking-news-1/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929030029/http://www.bostonmagazine.com/2006/05/boston-magazine-breaking-news-1/ |archive-date=September 29, 2013 |access-date=April 14, 2023 |magazine=[[Boston (magazine)|Boston]]}}</ref>

The station's plans were revealed as September 1988 began. Rebranded to ''Channel 7 News'' with an aggressive press-room feel, both ''Live at Five'' and the hour-long 6&nbsp;p.m. news were relaunched as faster-paced, half-hour newscasts.<ref name="Miam880902">{{Cite news|last=Sonsky|first=Steve|date=September 2, 1988|title=Channel 7 plans news, news, news|pages=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74517401/channel-7-plans-news-news-news-p2/ 4B]|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74517197/channel-7-plans-news-news-news/|url-status=live|access-date=April 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034452/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74517197/channel-7-plans-news-news-news/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Addressing the loss of NBC, WSVN announced its 11&nbsp;p.m. news would move to an hour-long 10&nbsp;p.m. slot on January 1,{{r|Miam890101b}} along with an expansion of its [[Breakfast television|early-morning local newscast]] ''Today in Florida'' in ''[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]''{{'}}s timeslot and locally produced [[news magazine]] ''Inside Story'' replacing the ''[[NBC Nightly News]]''.<ref name="Miam881207">{{Cite news|last=Jicha|first=Tom|date=December 7, 1988|title=WSVN keeps word to be news-heavy as an independent|page=5C|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74480227/wsvn-keeps-word-to-be-news-heavy-as-an/|url-status=live|access-date=April 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034506/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74480227/wsvn-keeps-word-to-be-news-heavy-as-an/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Hosted by WSVN anchor [[Penny Daniels]], ''Inside Story'' was a pet project of Cheatwood, similar in tone to ''[[A Current Affair (American TV program)|A Current Affair]]''.{{r|Sout890411}} WSVN signed up as a [[CNN]] affiliate for national and international news coverage, simulcasting [[Headline News]] in the overnight hours.{{r|Miam881207}} Altogether, the station committed to producing {{frac|7|1|2}} hours of local newscasts on weekdays under the belief their current audience would not defect to other channels.{{r|Miam890101b}} Station promos began to reorient WSVN as "your news station"{{r|Fort881228a}}{{r|Sout880913}} and extensively advertised their upcoming 10&nbsp;p.m. newscast during NBC's own primetime schedule.<ref name="Tall881231">{{Cite news|date=December 31, 1988|title=It's tough to tell who's on first in Miami TV switches|page=5B|newspaper=Tallahassee Democrat|agency=Associated Press|location=Tallahassee, Florida|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75160131/its-tough-to-tell-whos-on-first-in/|url-status=live|access-date=April 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034455/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75160131/its-tough-to-tell-whos-on-first-in/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> 

WSVN quickly acquired the rights to 650 feature films for a nightly prime time movie showcase at 8&nbsp;p.m., boasting a library of over 750 titles.{{r|Fort881228a}} Leider himself 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.<ref name="Sout880913">{{Cite news|last=Kelley|first=Bill|date=September 13, 1988|title=Emphasis on news a bold move for Ch. 7|page=E1|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74533497/emphasis-on-news-a-bold-move-for-ch-7/|url-status=live|access-date=April 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034454/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74533497/emphasis-on-news-a-bold-move-for-ch-7/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The station also signed up with Fox, replacing WCIX in the role,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Sonsky|first=Steve|date=October 13, 1988|title=Channel 7, Fox near agreement|page=8D|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74533686/channel-7-fox-near-agreement/|url-status=live|access-date=April 2, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034502/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74533686/channel-7-fox-near-agreement/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>{{r|Miam880902}} but still billed itself as an independent as Fox only programmed in prime time on the weekends.{{r|Miam880809c}} In a marked contrast to its weekday schedule, WSVN was 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&nbsp;p.m. and 10&nbsp;p.m.{{r|Miam881207}}

The timing of WCIX's purchase by CBS resulted in the series of affiliation switches all taking place on January 1, 1989, the date Ansin had preferred from the beginning.{{r|Miam890101a}} While CBS was unable to assert control of WCIX until the following day,{{r|Miam881101}}{{r|Miam890101b}} multiple CBS and NBC programs were [[Glossary of broadcasting terms#clearance|cleared]] by their future affiliates,<ref>{{Cite news|last=Loudis|first=Stephanie|date=September 30, 1988|title=Viewers tuning out USA Today, want to tune in Price|page=18F|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75157991/viewers-tuning-out-usa-today-want-to/|url-status=live|access-date=April 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034457/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75157991/viewers-tuning-out-usa-today-want-to/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Loudis|first=Stephanie|date=October 14, 1988|title=A new producer for 2's Camera 2|page=17E|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75157907/a-new-producer-for-2s-camera-2/|url-status=live|access-date=April 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034517/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75157907/a-new-producer-for-2s-camera-2/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Loudis|first=Stephanie|date=December 2, 1988|title=WTVJ goes stereo as it becomes NBC|page=19D|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75238899/wtvj-goes-stereo-as-it-becomes-nbc/|url-status=live|access-date=April 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034458/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75238899/wtvj-goes-stereo-as-it-becomes-nbc/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> including several NBC shows WSVN either dropped or declined to carry.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Jicha|first=Tom|date=September 16, 1988|title=Notes and quotes at the conclusion of Nielsen's year|page=11A|newspaper=The Miami News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75142111/notes-and-quotes-at-the-conclusion-of/|url-status=live|access-date=April 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034457/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75142111/notes-and-quotes-at-the-conclusion-of/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="Miam880905">{{Cite news|last=Sonsky|first=Steve|date=September 8, 1988|title=Try this one: Is Channel 10 up for grabs?|pages=1C–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75238681/try-this-one-is-channel-10-up-for/ 2C]|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75238611/try-this-one-is-channel-10-up-for/|url-status=live|access-date=April 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034456/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75238611/try-this-one-is-channel-10-up-for/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The final night prior to the switches, on December 31, 1988, had both WSVN and WTVJ broadcast the ''[[King Orange Jamboree Parade]]'' simultaneously; WTVJ's local parade coverage included multiple NBC network stars, while WSVN aired NBC's network coverage.<ref name="Miam881231">{{Cite news|last=Loudis|first=Stephanie|date=December 31, 1988|title=NBC stars appear on two channels|page=13A|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75129878/nbc-stars-appear-on-two-channels/|url-status=live|access-date=April 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034458/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75129878/nbc-stars-appear-on-two-channels/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=December 25, 1988|title=Tonight's Best Bets|page=63:TV|newspaper=The Miami Herald|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75241096/tonights-best-bets-dec-31-1988/|url-status=live|access-date=April 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034525/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75241096/tonights-best-bets-dec-31-1988/|archive-date=February 17, 2022|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

=== Ratings ramifications ===
[[File:Svntape.JPG|thumb|WSVN archival [[betacam]] news tape, {{Circa|1989}}, at the Florida Moving Image Archive|263x263px]]
WSVN's news expansion, at the time unheard of for any television station in the United States, was ridiculed and pilloried in the local media. Prior to this, television stations without a network affiliation generally operated with a focus on sitcom reruns and movies, which did not rate as highly; the ''Herald''{{'}}s Steve Sonsky said, "...&nbsp;that's the way all indie stations operate... without the big original network programming as lead-ins and lead-outs, [they] just can't compete on the same level".{{r|Miam880809a}} Up to the switch, WCIX's news output only consisted of a single half-hour 10&nbsp;p.m. newscast,{{r|Miam880809b}} raising doubts that four full-time English-language television news operations would be feasible in a market like Miami.{{r|Miam890101b}} Market consensus also assumed WCIX would be more than able to compensate for their signal coverage issues simply by becoming CBS-owned.{{r|SouthF19900101p 1}} Ansin later said, "everybody predicted, I say the world predicted, that this was not going to work... we had to be creative and innovative."<ref name="WSVN7News2020g359">{{cite web |date=July 26, 2020 |title=Loss of a Leader: WSVN owner Ed Ansin passes away at 84 |url=https://wsvn.com/news/local/loss-of-a-leader-ed-ansin/ |access-date=February 28, 2024 |website=WSVN 7News}}</ref>

WSVN's ratings, as predicted, declined significantly after losing NBC fare, but as an independent, the station was quickly seen by the ''Sun-Sentinel''{{'s}} Tom Jicha as a major success story.<ref name="SouthF19900101p 1">{{Cite news |last=Jicha |first=Tom |date=January 1, 1990 |title=TV switch was 1989's cliffhanger: Last year's shuffle defied predictions |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122589689/tv-switch-was-1989s-cliffhanger-last/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410191546/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122589689/tv-switch-was-1989s-cliffhanger-last/ |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2023 |newspaper=South Florida Sun-Sentinel |location=Fort Lauderdale, Florida |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122589744/tv-switch-was-1989s-cliffhanger-last/ 12A] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> By April 1989, the station's early-evening news had begun to outdraw WTVJ's newscasts, with ''Inside Story'' an unexpected hit.{{r|Sout890411}} By November 1989, WSVN's 6:30&nbsp;p.m. news was beating the ''NBC Nightly News'' on WTVJ in both Nielsen and Arbitron ratings, with WSVN's ''Today in Florida'' competitive against WTVJ's ''Today''.<ref name="SunSentinel1989j947">{{cite news |last=Jicha |first=Tom |date=December 5, 1989 |title=The People's Choice: Television writer Tom Jicha takes a daylong look at what viewers watch in South Florida |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1989/12/05/the-peoples-choice-television-writer-tom-jicha-takes-a-daylong-look-at-what-viewers-watch-in-south-florida/ |access-date=February 27, 2024 |newspaper=South Florida Sun-Sentinel}}</ref> This contrasted heavily against WCIX, which, despite being network-owned and with higher ratings than the year prior, was badly hampered by its poor signal and saw itself in fourth place.{{r|SouthF19900101p 1}} At years' end, WSVN was in second place behind WPLG in most time slots and the 10&nbsp;p.m. news was increasingly visible against the other networks,<ref name="MiamiH19900120p143">{{Cite news |last=Coto |first=Juan Carlos |date=January 20, 1990 |title=Fox taps Miami executive to launch national news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122586033/fox-taps-miami-executive-to-launch/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410191545/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122586033/fox-taps-miami-executive-to-launch/ |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2023 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=3B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> prompting Jicha to write, "[I]n this case, the conventional wisdom wasn't wise."{{r|SouthF19900101p 1}} WSVN's performance prompted WTVJ management to issue a memo in May 1990 directing their newscasts to find additional "intensity, involvement and innovation" in their presentation, implying a need to emulate WSVN.<ref name="MiamiH19910408p1152">{{Cite news |last=Coto |first=Juan Carlos |date=April 8, 1991 |title=URGENT! This just in! ... Joel Cheatwood is back in charge of the Channel 7 News. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122628175/urgent-this-just-in-joel/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410191538/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122628175/urgent-this-just-in-joel/ |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2023 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122628221/urgent-this-just-in-joel/ 4C] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

The station's success resulted in Sunbeam launching a [[production company]] by May 1989, headed by Cheatwood, who relinquished his news director role; Sunbeam planned to sell ''Inside Story'' to syndication as ''Inside Report'' and develop two additional television programs.{{r|Sout890411}} As 1990 began, Fox hired Cheatwood to help develop a possible newscast for the network; this also resulted in ''Inside Report'' being withdrawn from syndication.{{r|MiamiH19900120p143}} Cheatwood was executive producer for the syndicated [[newsmagazine]] ''Personalities'', which was cancelled due to low ratings.<ref name="LosAngt 2710Sap508">{{Cite news |last=Rosenburg |first=Howard |date=October 27, 1990 |title=Why Rose Bowed Out Two Months After Show's Start |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-why-rose-bowed-out/142958735/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308211328/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-why-rose-bowed-out/142958735/ |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |access-date=March 8, 2024 |newspaper=The Los Angeles Times |pages=F1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-why-rose-bowed-out/142958783/ F5] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> After Fox put their newscast development on hold, Cheatwood returned to WSVN as vice president of news.{{r|MiamiH19910408p1152}} Under Cheatwood, WSVN launched a 7:30&nbsp;p.m. newscast in the lead-up to the [[1991 Persian Gulf conflict]]; after the war ended, the newscast was converted to ''7:30'', a newsmagazine hosted by Daniels and [[Joan Lovett]] described by Cheatwood as "news with a real flair".<ref name="SunSen19910329">{{cite news|last=Jicha|first=Tom|date=March 29, 1991|title=News Show To Get WSVN's Familiar Tabloid Touch|newspaper=Sun-Sentinel|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1991-03-29/features/9101160152_1_newscast-joel-cheatwood-wsvn|access-date=July 9, 2012|archive-date=October 7, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007025258/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1991-03-29/features/9101160152_1_newscast-joel-cheatwood-wsvn|url-status=dead}}</ref> The station also openly floated the possibility of bidding for broadcast rights to [[Miami Marlins|Miami's expansion baseball team]], with comparisons drawn to both [[Superstation WGN]] and [[TBS (American TV channel)|TBS]], two [[superstation]]s that featured local baseball play-by-play for a national audience.{{r|MiamiH19910408p1152}}{{r|SunSen19910329}} By 1992, WSVN ranked first in mornings and late evenings, and second in late afternoons, and was regarded as the highest-rated independent in the country.{{r|MiamiH19920802p231}}

=== Fast-paced tabloid journalism ===
{{Quote box
| quote = The [[Book of Revelation]]s{{sic}} does not say whether the apocalypse will be televised. But if it is, WSVN in Miami will not have to interrupt its regular programming.
| author = Johnathan Cohn
| source = ''[[The American Prospect]]''{{r|Cohn1994k262}}
| align = right
| width = 300px
| qalign = left
| salign = right
}}

The style for WSVN's newscasts became as attention-grabbing as the output of news the station now produced. Terminology in reporting was shifted to a more casual approach, with authority figures like the [[chief of police]] being called "Miami's top cop".{{r|Farzan2016d648}} Raw video footage would sometimes be altered to present a [[film noir]] effect,<ref name="Rohter1993r267">{{cite news |last=Rohter |first=Larry |date=April 25, 1993 |title=Television: It Might Be News, but It's Not 'MacNeil/Lehrer' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/25/arts/television-it-might-be-news-but-it-s-not-macneil-lehrer.html |access-date=February 26, 2024 |newspaper=The New York Times |page=34:2}}</ref> or in slow-motion, particularly with vehicular accidents.{{r|Farzan2016d648}} One competing news director claimed to ''[[The Christian Science Monitor]]'' that WSVN employed inexperienced reporters with little pay, placing them in cars with [[police scanner]]s in order to "...see how many crime scenes they could get to".{{r|Walker1994u302}} A typical hour-long newscast now featured as many as fifty stories, all short in duration.{{r|Rohter1993r267}} Coverage of area and statewide government functions, including area city council and school board meetings, was eliminated, and WSVN's bureau in [[Tallahassee]] was closed.{{r|Boston19930822p362}} Anchors, in particular Fitz and Sanchez, accentuated their on-air delivery with theatrics including raised eyebrows, head shaking, and dramatic pauses.{{r|Rohter1993r267}} By 1994, the station's newscasts and newsroom were incorporated into a {{Convert|25000|sqft|m2|adj=on}} set dubbed the "Newsplex".{{r|StarTr19940623p 55}}

The phrase "if it bleeds, it leads" originated in a 1989 ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' story about [[WABC-TV]] in New York City,<ref name="NYmag891009">{{Cite magazine |last=Pooley |first=Eric |date=October 9, 1989 |title=Grins, Gore and Videotape: The trouble with local TV news |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_OcCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA36 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410191547/https://books.google.com/books?id=_OcCAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA36 |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2023 |magazine=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |pages=36–44 |via=Google Books |volume=22 |issue=40}}</ref> but ''[[Boston (magazine)|Boston]]'' magazine,{{r|BostonMagBreaking2}} ''[[Newsweek]]'',<ref name="StarTr19940623p 55">{{Cite news |last=Marin |first=Rick |date=June 23, 1994 |title=If it bleeds, it leads: Miami station's news is notorious |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94630741/if-it-bleeds-it-leads-miami-stations/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410191543/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94630741/if-it-bleeds-it-leads-miami-stations/ |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2023 |newspaper=Star Tribune |location=Minneapolis, Minnesota |pages=1E, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94630765/if-it-bleeds-it-leads-miami-stations/ 3E] |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Newsweek}}</ref> the ''[[Miami New Times]]'',<ref name="Mullin1997i031">{{Cite web |last=Mullin |first=Jim |date=February 6, 1997 |title=Farewell, Joel Hello, Marvin |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/farewell-joel-hello-marvin-6360916 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528165817/https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/farewell-joel-hello-marvin-6360916 |archive-date=May 28, 2022 |access-date=April 10, 2023 |website=Miami New Times |language=en}}</ref> the ''[[New York Times]]'',{{r|Rohter1993r267}} the [[Associated Press]],<ref name="Tallah19930822p242">{{Cite news |last=Sewell |first=Dan |date=August 22, 1993 |title=Hype-heavy news puts TV station over the top |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tallahassee-democrat-hype-heavy-news-put/94630102/ |access-date=March 2, 2024 |newspaper=Tallahassee Democrat |page=6C |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> and ''[[The American Prospect]]''{{r|Cohn1994k262}} all used the phrase to describe WSVN. Cheatwood defended WSVN's emphasis on crime, saying it "has helped in preventing other people from becoming victims, and let people know what was happening on the street".{{r|Walker1994u302}} Such reporting contrasted with FBI statistics that showed violent crime in Miami to be in decline (albeit still the highest in the nation{{r|Walker1994u302}}), but a 1993 NBC poll of area residents showed 73&nbsp;percent believed the murder rate in Miami had increased.{{r|Cohn1994k262}} A [[University of Florida]] study revealed WSVN was issued 239 [[subpoena]]s for video footage or testimony in court proceedings between August 1988 and March 1992, well above the average of 17 subpoenas for competing media outlets in the market.{{r|Boston19930822p362}} [[University of Miami]] journalism professor Joseph Angotti tabulated the amount of airtime WSVN devoted to violent crime, discovering it made up 48.9&nbsp;percent of their news coverage in the month of November 1993.{{r|Farzan2016d648}} The ''Prospect'' noted that WSVN's July 18, 1993, newscast devoted 22 out of the station's allotted 34 minutes of news airtime to stories about people being robbed, injured or killed, with a visit by President [[Bill Clinton]] to Miami relegated to a quick soundbite 14 minutes into the broadcast.<ref name="Cohn1994k262">{{cite web |last=Cohn |first=Jonathan |date=October 1, 1994 |title=Diary of the American Nightmare |url=https://prospect.org/culture/diary-american-nightmare/ |access-date=February 26, 2024 |website=The American Prospect}}</ref>

[[File:WSVN 7 News (5031599932).jpg|thumb|The WSVN newsroom, commonly referred to as the "Newsplex"]]
Cheatwood told the ''Monitor'' that WSVN's tabloid style was designed to counter public perception of local news being boring, staid, and slow.<ref name="Walker1994u302">{{cite web |last=Walker |first=Sam |date=February 14, 1994 |title=News Wars |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/1994/0214/14111.html |access-date=February 26, 2024 |website=CSMonitor.com |publisher=The Christian Science Monitor}}</ref> Newscasts opened with flashy graphics and punchy headlines like "Tiny Victims", "Kids Who Kill"{{r|StarTr19940623p 55}} or "Mauled to Death".<ref name="Farzan2016d648">{{cite web |last=Farzan |first=Antonia |date=August 30, 2016 |title=Carmel Cafiero Changed the Way South Florida Does News |url=https://www.browardpalmbeach.com/news/carmel-cafiero-changed-the-way-south-florida-does-news-8041154 |access-date=February 26, 2024 |website=New Times Broward-Palm Beach}}</ref> Scott Chapin, a rock radio [[disc jockey]] for [[WFLC|WGTR-FM]] and WIOD's program director, became WSVN's announcer,<ref name="PalmBe19891022p180">{{Cite news |last=Benarde |first=Scott |date=October 22, 1989 |title=Unsung Rock 'N' Roll Animal breeds hit parodies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-unsung-rock-n-roll/94927344/ |access-date=February 26, 2024 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |pages=1L, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-unsung-rock-n-roll/94927446/ 4L] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> chosen as his voice better stood out against the competition.<ref name="Diaz 2016 j107">{{cite web |last=Diaz |first=Johnny |date=May 3, 2016 |title=The voice of WSVN is back |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2016/05/03/the-voice-of-wsvn-is-back/ |access-date=February 26, 2024 |website=Sun Sentinel}}</ref> Chris Crane, a [[computer hacker]] with no formal music training and who by his own admission "couldn't read a score", was hired to compose WSVN's news themes.<ref name="Steinle1992">{{cite magazine |last=Steinle |first=Paul |title="Live from South Florida": Local TV news under siege |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Television-Quarterly/TVQ-1992-Fall.pdf |access-date=February 26, 2024 |magazine=Television Quarterly |volume=XXVI |issue=4 |date=Fall 1992 |pages=43–50}}</ref>{{rp|p=45}} WSVN's on-air graphics took on a red and blue color scheme, as they were determined by Bob Leider to be "the boldest colors".{{r|Diaz2019x120}} WSVN's visual cues were frequently compared to [[MTV]],{{r|Rohter1993r267}} ''[[Hard Copy]]'',{{r|StarTr19940623p 55}} ''[[Miami Vice]]'',{{r|Farzan2016d648}} [[NFL Films]], and ''[[The March of Time]]''{{r|Steinle1992|p=45}} and were derisively labeled "[[New wave music|new wave]] news"<ref name="TAR19930426">{{Cite news |last=Holsopple |first=Barbara |date=April 26, 1993 |title=Channel 15 to launch Fox's local newscast |work=The Arizona Republic |location=Phoenix, Arizona |page=E6 |id={{ProQuest|245668799}}}}</ref> and "all-crime-all-the-time".<ref name="CPD20040321pA1">{{cite news |last1=Mark |first1=Dawidziak |last2=Washington |first2=Julie E. |date=March 21, 2004 |title=TV's shock news: Channel 19 could set style for other stations |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F1017F17DCFDC4CA3 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230110035128/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/1017F17DCFDC4CA3&f=basic |archive-date=January 10, 2023 |access-date=October 23, 2022 |newspaper=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=A1 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> The ''Times'' described WSVN as "stories... zooming across the screen at a dizzying speed, accompanied by graphics and sound bigger, brighter and bolder than anything Miami viewers can find elsewhere".{{r|Rohter1993r267}}

Paul Steinle, University of Miami communications professor, criticized WSVN for not coherently presenting information beyond the flashy presentation, loud music and bold headlines, specifically with failures to clearly attribute sources, using footage with minimal information or context, and substandard writing.{{r|Steinle1992|pp=45–46}} ''7:30'' was criticized for focusing on sensational and lurid subject matter and gossip with cynicism: when introducing a report about the [[Genitorturers]], reporter [[Jessica Aguirre]] said, "hey, we do what it takes to get ratings, and you're watching".{{r|Rohter1993r267}} In June 1994, seven area hotels owned by the Continental Companies began a [[Blackout (broadcasting)|blackout]] of WSVN's newscasts objecting to the heavy emphasis on crime, saying their frustration with WSVN "reached the breaking point"; this followed the Thunderbird and Chateau by the Sea hotels blacking out the station altogether.<ref name="MiamiH19940601p1">{{Cite news |last=Boedecker |first=Hal |date=June 1, 1994 |title=Citing 'sensationalism,' hotels blocking Ch. 7 News |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-citing-sensationalism/77583851/ |access-date=March 3, 2024 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-citing-sensationalism/77584290/ 5A] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> The month prior, WCIX retooled their newscasts to a "family sensitive" format intentionally eschewing violent footage,<ref name="Palm940511">{{Cite news |date=May 11, 1994 |title=Miami's WCIX-TV curbs graphic footage |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121825788/miamis-wcix-tv-curbs-graphic-footage/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328193215/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121825788/miamis-wcix-tv-curbs-graphic-footage/ |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |access-date=March 28, 2023 |newspaper=The Palm Beach Post |page=8A |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> which led to lower ratings and was ultimately abandoned after a year.<ref name="Sout940601">{{Cite news |last=Jicha |first=Tom |date=June 1, 1994 |title=WCIX's cleaned-up newscasts take a ratings bath |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121824405/wcixs-cleaned-up-newscasts-take-a-ratin/ |access-date=March 28, 2023 |newspaper=South Florida Sun-Sentinel |page=3E |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="Miam950912">{{Cite news |last=Fleischman |first=Joan |date=September 12, 1995 |title=Part II: Gersten's new day in court |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121826486/part-ii-gerstens-new-day-in-court/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328193211/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121826486/part-ii-gerstens-new-day-in-court/ |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |access-date=March 28, 2023 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=8A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Criticism of the station's stylized approach was also internal. One of the station's remaining Black anchors, Denise White, left WSVN in 1990 for a job in Tampa,{{r|Boston19930822p362}} telling the ''New Times'', "if you watch ''Crime Check'' regularly, you'll believe that black folks do nothing but commit crime," echoing the sentiments of a coalition of area Black leaders protesting the Rick Sanchez-led segment.<ref name="Sun Sentinel 1990 w557">{{cite news |first=Monica|last=Rhor|date=September 8, 1990 |title=Coalition charges WSVN unfairly portrays Blacks |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1990/09/08/coalition-charges-wsvn-unfairly-portrays-blacks/ |access-date=February 27, 2024 |work=South Florida Sun-Sentinel}}</ref>{{r|Farzan2016d648}} While delivering a weather report in June 1989, Bob Soper disputed a [[Teleprompter]] cue that a hurricane was "barreling out of control toward Miami" as his data showed otherwise.{{r|Boston19930822p362}} Three years later, Soper was replaced by [[Jillian Barberie|Jillian Warry]]—who, at age 25, wore short skirts on-air while delivering the weather—under claims his genial personality no longer aligned with the station, with Cheatwood saying, "the [[Willard Scott]] era is gone."<ref name="MiamiH19920802p231">{{Cite news |last=Laughlin |first=Meg |date=August 2, 1992 |title=Weather-Beaten—At Channel 7, You Don't Have To Be A Weatherman To Know Which Way The Wind Is Blowing |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121839076/weather-beatenat-channel-7-you/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328224217/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121839076/weather-beatenat-channel-7-you/ |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |access-date=March 28, 2023 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121839104/weather-beaten-p1/ 22], 23, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121839147/weather-beaten-p3/ 24]:Tropic |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Soper left the station six weeks before [[Hurricane Andrew]] hit Miami, damaging WSVN's credibility at the same time [[Bryan Norcross]] and WTVJ won industry acclaim and a Peabody Award for their coverage;{{r|Boston19930822p362}} Cheatwood claimed a chief meteorologist was unnecessary, as all stations were fed the same information from the [[National Hurricane Center]].<ref name="MiamiH19920826p57">{{Cite news |last=Bodecker |first=Hal |date=August 26, 1992 |title=Soper didn't miss Andrew, but he was missed on TV |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121838128/soper-didnt-miss-andrew-but-he-was/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328224216/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121838128/soper-didnt-miss-andrew-but-he-was/ |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |access-date=March 28, 2023 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=7D |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Carmel Cafiero disagreed with the "if it bleeds, it leads" descriptor for WSVN, later saying, "people use that phrase because it's catchy, but I just don't buy it. I think people were jealous, frankly."{{r|Farzan2016d648}}

=== Influence on the industry ===
WSVN's tabloid format proved heavily influential to the industry and was widely imitated throughout the country.{{efn|The following local and national media outlets have attributed WSVN with this distinction:{{r|SouthF19940704p46|SFLBiz20010827|Rohter1993r267|Walker1994u302|StarTr19940623p 55|Steinle1992|TAR19930426|CPD20040321pA1}}{{r|MiamiH19930816p109|SouthF19930302p11|StLoui19930205p 82|NYDailyNews2000m714|CleSceneAppleg2001|Variety 1993 h682}}}} The station and its unlikely success was the subject of a [[Harvard Business School]] case study.<ref name="MiamiH19970129p1">{{Cite news |last=Fields |first=Gregg |date=January 29, 1997 |title=Channel 7 news guru switches to Chicago station |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-channel-7-news-guru-swi/142778851/ |access-date=March 6, 2024 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-channel-7-news-guru-swi/142778892/ 6A] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In one week in 1993, Cheatwood received requests for news tape in cities ranging from Los Angeles to [[Louisville, Kentucky]].{{r|MiamiH19930816p109}} [[Frank Magid]] consultant Eric Braun likened WSVN to an updated form of the ''[[Eyewitness News]]'' and ''[[Action News]]'' formats 20 years earlier<ref name="MiamiH19930816p109">{{Cite news |last=Boedeker |first=Hal |date=August 16, 1993 |title=Ch. 7's Cheatwood prepares for bigger role in TV news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94630268/ch-7s-cheatwood-prepares-for-bigger/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410191547/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94630268/ch-7s-cheatwood-prepares-for-bigger/ |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2023 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94630299/ch-7s-cheatwood-prepares-for-bigger/ 6C] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and compared it to radio commentator [[Walter Winchell]].{{r|Rohter1993r267}} Braun consulted other news departments nationwide on incorporating elements of the WSVN format but advised against the format being copied outright,{{r|Rohter1993r267}} telling the ''Herald'', "It's something you could only do in Miami. No other city in North America has the rhythm of Miami."{{r|MiamiH19930816p109}} One of Braun's clients was WTVJ,{{r|Steinle1992|p=49}} which began emphasizing crime coverage, larger graphics, and a pressroom feel in its newscasts amid frequent on-air turnover and criticisms of a lost identity.<ref name="MiamiH19930331p192">{{Cite news |last=Boedeker |first=Hal |date=March 31, 1993 |title=Anchors Away: What's behind the changing faces at Channel 4? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122585325/anchors-away-whats-behind-the/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410191536/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122585325/anchors-away-whats-behind-the/ |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2023 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |pages=12B–[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122585391/anchors-away-whats-behind-the/ 11B] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Another client was WKYC-TV, a former NBC-owned station that experienced significant off- and on-air turnover under [[Multimedia, Inc.]], and adopted WSVN's emphasis on a higher volume of shorter stories, minimal crosstalk, and bold headlines like "TOP STORY" or "SPECIAL REPORT".<ref name="CPD19940417p8S">{{Cite news |last=Phillips |first=Stephen |date=April 17, 1994 |title=Rebuilding TV-3 News: Local ratings loser hopes latest retooling attracts viewers |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F807CC35A9B28F1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410191549/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F807CC35A9B28F1&f=basic |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2023 |work=The Plain Dealer Sunday |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=8 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> While WKYC's ratings did not immediately improve, the station was regarded as having finally found a direction not seen under NBC ownership.<ref name="CPD19931218p1E">{{Cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=December 18, 1993 |title=Tighter TV-3 News is good news |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid%2Finfoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F80799E22C67DE1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410191541/https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=NewsBank&docref=news/0F80799E22C67DE1&f=basic |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2023 |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=1E |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

Other stations across the country attempted to import WSVN's format outright. Bill Applegate, who oversaw WABC-TV's late 1980s tabloid format,{{r|NYmag891009}} joined WBBM-TV, the CBS-owned outlet in Chicago; WBBM incorporated much of WSVN's visual presentation and hired away some of the station's air talent,<ref name="CleSceneAppleg2001">{{Cite web |last=Francis |first=Thomas |date=March 1, 2001 |title=Satan or Savior? |url=https://www.clevescene.com/news/satan-or-savior-1476345 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025163335/https://www.clevescene.com/news/satan-or-savior-1476345 |archive-date=October 25, 2022 |access-date=October 25, 2022 |website=Cleveland Scene |language=en |location=Cleveland, Ohio}}</ref> including Penny Daniels, Joan Lovett, Jim Berry,<ref name="SunSentinel1993i547">{{cite web |date=November 23, 1993 |title=Fitz quits Ch. 7 to be closer to husband |first=Tom|last=Jicha|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/1993/11/23/fitz-quits-ch-7-to-be-closer-to-husband/ |access-date=February 28, 2024 |newspaper=South Florida Sun-Sentinel}}</ref> and [[Rick Leventhal]], along with hiring WSVN producer Mark Toney to be its news director.<ref name="SouthF19930302p11">{{Cite news |date=March 2, 1993 |title=WSVN anchor leaving: Daniels to move to Chicago station |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-florida-sun-sentinel-wsvn-anchor-l/142645740/ |access-date=March 4, 2024 |newspaper=South Florida Sun-Sentinel |page=4B|first=Tom|last=Jicha |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> WBBM's changes eschewed their long-standing reputation of investigative, serious journalism and ultimately produced mixed results in the ratings.{{r|CleSceneAppleg2001}} Scott Jones, a former WSVN producer, was hired as news director for [[KMAX-TV|KRBK-TV]] in [[Sacramento, California]], and quickly promoted to co-owned [[KPLR-TV]] in [[St. Louis]], but his tenure lasted less than nine months as ownership disagreed with his implementation of the WSVN format.<ref name="StLoui19930205p 82">{{Cite news |last=Mink |first=Eric |date=February 5, 1993 |title=Channel 11 Goes Too Far For Owner |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115475930/channel-11-goes-too-far-for-owner/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410191543/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/115475930/channel-11-goes-too-far-for-owner/ |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |access-date=April 10, 2023 |newspaper=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |location=St. Louis, Missouri |page=11G |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> By 2002, Applegate, now heading [[WOIO]]/[[WUAB]] in Cleveland,{{r|CleSceneAppleg2001}} relaunched the station's low-rated news operation with a fast-paced tabloid style that drew comparisons to WSVN.{{r|CPD20040321pA1}}

The most notable imitation of WSVN came from within. In April 1993, Sunbeam purchased [[WHDH-TV]], then Boston's CBS affiliate, from [[David Mugar]] for $215 million.{{r|Walker1994u302}} Former Massachusetts governor [[Michael Dukakis]], a part-time Florida resident, publicly protested the sale,{{r|Cohn1994k262}}{{r|Walker1994u302}} referring to WSVN's newscasts as "a collection of the bizarre, tragic and bloody".{{r|MiamiH19930816p109}} Ed Ansin's brother Ron, who previously served in Dukakis's cabinet, arranged a dinner between the two as a mediator.{{r|Boston19930822p362}} After the deal closed, Cheatwood was appointed as vice president of news for both stations; Cheatwood stressed WHDH would not become a direct copy of WSVN but hold a style unique to the market, saying a philosophy for newscasts is "not a franchise you can lift and open like a [[Kentucky Fried Chicken]] down the street."{{r|MiamiH19930816p109}} Long the third-rated news service in Boston,{{r|Boston19930822p362}} WHDH became the market leader by the end of the decade, prompting the more traditional [[WBZ-TV]] and [[WCVB-TV]] to incorporate tabloid elements into their newscasts.{{r|BostonMagBreaking2}}

WSVN's success also signaled an industry trend to increase local news production, particularly as a way to stand out against stiffer competition from cable.<ref name="Variety 1993 h682">{{cite web |date=August 17, 1993 |title=TV stations 'go local' for survival |url=https://variety.com/1993/tv/news/tv-stations-go-local-for-survival-109680/ |access-date=February 28, 2024 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref> This included coverage of national and international stories, formerly material seen as network-exclusive, with WSVN dispatching crews to report on the [[Waco siege]], a train wreck in Alabama, and the [[assault of Nancy Kerrigan]].{{r|Walker1994u302}} In the wake of ''Today in Florida''{{'}}s success, Fox-owned stations began launching their own local morning shows including ''[[Good Day New York]]'' and ''[[Good Day L.A.]]'', while [[KCAL-TV]] in Los Angeles debuted a three-hour prime time newscast.{{r|Variety 1993 h682}} Fox president [[Lucie Salhany]] described WSVN as "the station of the future" and said it can be a model for newscasts on other Fox affiliates.<ref name="SouthF19940704p46">{{Cite news |last=McCash |first=Vicki |date=July 4, 1994 |title=WSVN: You can't argue with success |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/south-florida-sun-sentinel-wsvn-you-can/71172837/ |access-date=March 6, 2024 |newspaper=[[South Florida Sun Sentinel]] |page=4:Weekly Business |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Fox's [[1994–1996 United States broadcast television realignment|1994 groupwide affiliation agreement]] with [[New World Communications]] saw multiple long-tenured, large-market "Big Three" affiliates switching to Fox<ref name="nytbusinessdigest22">{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Bill |date=May 24, 1994 |title=FOX WILL SIGN UP 12 NEW STATIONS; TAKES 8 FROM CBS |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/24/us/fox-will-sign-up-12-new-stations-takes-8-from-cbs.html?pagewanted=4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625021414/http://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/24/us/fox-will-sign-up-12-new-stations-takes-8-from-cbs.html?pagewanted=4 |archive-date=June 25, 2017 |access-date=October 22, 2012 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> between 1994 and 1996, furthering the news production boom; [[Ball State University]] professor Bob Papper estimated between 1,500 to 2,000 jobs were created nationwide, with the possibility of thousands more jobs among older Fox affiliates yet to create or expand their news services.<ref name="NiemanSp1996p13">{{Cite journal |last=Papper |first=Bob |date=Spring 1996 |title=Hiring explosion at television stations. |journal=Nieman Reports |volume=50 |issue=1 |pages=13+ |id={{gale|A18178483}}}}</ref> By 1994, WSVN was generating more revenue that it ever had with NBC thanks to increased control over programming and local advertising via Fox's limited prime time schedule, which was regarded as a factor in the Fox-New World pact.{{r|SouthF19940704p46}}<ref>{{Cite news |last=Feran |first=Tom |date=May 24, 1994 |title=Profits aren't only pluses |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=1082885C71926A79&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F807CF6220AF1A3 |url-access=subscription |access-date=May 4, 2023 |work=The Plain Dealer |location=Cleveland, Ohio |page=9A |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

When Fox launched [[Fox News]] in 1996, WSVN reporter [[Shepard Smith]] was hired as its lead reporter; by 1999, Smith was anchoring ''[[Fox Report]]'', the channel's nightly flagship newscast, which focused on a high story count, tight writing, and a flashy presentation.<ref name="SunSentinel2004s856">{{cite news |first=Tom|last=Jicha |date=May 8, 2004 |title=WSVN's talent pool is deep |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2004/05/08/wsvns-talent-pool-is-deep/ |access-date=February 29, 2024 |newspaper=South Florida Sun-Sentinel}}</ref><ref name="John2004k635">{{cite web |last=St. John |first=Warren |date=March 28, 2004 |title=News Reports For Ultra-Short Attentions |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/28/style/news-reports-for-ultra-short-attentions.html |access-date=February 29, 2024 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

=== Adjustments, ''Deco Drive'', and continuity ===
{{Quote box
| quote = Already it's hard to remember a time when television news wasn't paced like an action movie, edited like an MTV video, and scored like a horror flick.
| author = Jim Mullin
| source = the ''Miami New Times'', on Joel Cheatwood's departure from Sunbeam{{r|Mullin1997i031}}
| width = 275px
| salign = right
}}

In February 1997, Joel Cheatwood left his role at Sunbeam Television to become news director for Chicago's NBC-owned station, WMAQ-TV.{{r|MiamiH19970129p1}} Cheatwood's tenure at WMAQ lasted 16 months and was punctuated by a short-lived experiment with [[Jerry Springer]] as a commentator;<ref name="Blogs. 2011 k803">{{cite web |last=Rosenthal |first=Phil |date=March 27, 2011 |title=Onetime WMAQ rebel may go rogue with Glenn Beck |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/ct-biz-0327-phil--20110327%2C0%2C7642311.column |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110329131350/https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/columnists/ct-biz-0327-phil--20110327,0,7642311.column |archive-date=March 29, 2011 |access-date=March 5, 2024 |website=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> he later attempted to implement a tabloid format at WCBS-TV in New York City.<ref name="NYDailyNews2000m714">{{cite web |date=October 25, 2000 |title=New Identity for Ch. 2: Info Network |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2000/10/25/new-identity-for-ch-2-info-network/ |access-date=February 28, 2024 |website=New York Daily News}}</ref> Cheatwood was succeeded as vice president of news by existing news director Alice Jacobs,<ref name="MiamiH19940715p22">{{Cite news |last=Boedeker |first=Hal |date=July 15, 1994 |title=Ch. 7 exec heads to new Iowa job |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-ch-7-exec-heads-to-new/142777407/ |access-date=March 6, 2024 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=2B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="MiamiH19970507p45">{{Cite news |last=Jackson |first=Terry |date=May 7, 1997 |title='Body-bag journalism' rules in broadcast news, study says |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-body-bag-journalism-r/142778213/ |access-date=March 6, 2024 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |pages=1D–[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-body-bag-journalism-r/142778288/ 2D] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> a position she still holds.{{r|BC220622}}

By the end of the 1990s, all English-language stations in Miami–Fort Lauderdale adapted portions of the WSVN format. WHDH news director Bill Pohovey joined WPLG in 1998 as vice president of news;<ref name="Fybush1998u619">{{cite web |last=Fybush |first=Scott |date=May 20, 1998 |title=North East RadioWatch: May 20, 1998 |url=https://bostonradio.org/nerw/nerw-980520.html |access-date=March 3, 2024 |website=The Archives @ BostonRadio.org}}</ref> under Pohovey, WPLG remained number one among English-language stations in 1999, emphasizing investigative journalism and human interest stories, combining it with elements of WSVN's tabloid format.<ref name="Parker2000r116">{{cite web |last1=Parker |first1=Danielle |last2=Leavitt |first2=Debra |date=March 1, 2000 |title=Miami Vice No More |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/journalism/2000/03/01/miami-vice-no-more/ |access-date=February 26, 2024 |website=Pew Research Center&#039;s Journalism Project}}</ref> Pohovey remains at WPLG in that position into the present day.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=March 10, 2021 |title=WPLG And WSFL Partner On New Newscasts |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/journalism/article/wplg-and-wsfl-partner-on-new-newscasts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624201053/https://tvnewscheck.com/journalism/article/wplg-and-wsfl-partner-on-new-newscasts/ |archive-date=June 24, 2021 |access-date= |website=TV News Check}}</ref> In 1998, three years after WCIX moved to channel 4 as [[WFOR-TV]],{{Efn|See {{section link|WFOR-TV|Move to channel 4}}.}} that station's newscasts were reformatted to feature bold colors and a news theme with a [[Salsa music|salsa]] feel;<ref name="BC010507">{{Cite news |last=Trigoboff |first=Dan |date=May 7, 2001 |title=News with a salsa beat |magazine=Broadcasting & Cable |volume=131 |issue=20 |page=53 |id={{Gale|A74580820}}}}</ref> by 2004, WFOR and WTVJ employed multiple WSVN alumni.{{r|SunSentinel2004s856}} In response, WSVN began emphasizing breaking news, investigative and consumer stories.{{r|Parker2000r116}} Carmel Cafiero's reports were branded ''Carmel on the Case'' and given priority; a 2010 story on a Broward County [[pill mill]] as part of an ongoing series on the [[opioid crisis]] earned Cafiero and the station an [[Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award]].<ref name="MiamiH20230925pA10">{{Cite news |last=Cohen |first=Howard |date=September 25, 2023 |title=Carmel Cafiero, who exposed corruption in Miami for more than 40 years, dies at 76 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-carmel-cafiero-who-exp/142779200/ |access-date=March 6, 2024 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=10A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

[[File:WSVN outdoor marquee Dec 2011.jpg|thumb|WSVN outdoor marquee promoting meteorologist Phil Ferro|190x190px]]

''7:30'' was relaunched on January 8, 1996, as ''[[Deco Drive]]'', a Miami-centric newsmagazine with Jessica Aguirre and Kelly Mitchell as hosts; WHDH also carried the program.<ref name="MiamiH19951117p125">{{Cite news |last=Whitefield |first=Mimi |date=November 17, 1995 |title=Sunbeam show stars S. Fla. ritz and glitz |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-sunbeam-show-stars-s-f/142646960/ |access-date=March 4, 2024 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-sunbeam-show-stars-s-f/142646985/ 3C] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Along with the relaunch came a significant influx of personnel: while ''7:30'' operated with a staff of five people, ''Deco Drive'' debuted with a staff of 28. WHDH cancelled ''Deco'' after five months due to low ratings,{{r|MiaNT970508}} but the program continues to air on WSVN into the present day.{{r|Malone2021w244}} ''Deco'' initially met with moderate ratings in Miami but started to decline after several months, resulting in a format change that featured fast-paced reports mostly aggregated from WSVN's satellite feeds. Mitchell left the show in April 1996, followed by Aguirre in February 1997; Belkys Nerey replaced Aguirre as co-host.<ref name="MiaNT970508">{{Cite web |last=Semple |first=Kirk |date=May 8, 1997 |title=That's Infotainment! |url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/thats-infotainment-6360714 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034523/http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/thats-infotainment-6360714 |archive-date=February 17, 2022 |access-date=March 8, 2016 |website=Miami New Times}}</ref> Lynn Martinez, who has co-hosted ''Deco Drive'' since the summer of 1996, continues in that role.<ref name="Malone2021w244">{{cite web |last=Malone |first=Michael |date=January 8, 2021 |title=WSVN Miami's 'Deco Drive' Turns 25 |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/wsvn-miamis-deco-drive-turns-25 |access-date=March 5, 2024 |website=Broadcasting & Cable}}</ref>

Rick Sanchez left WSVN in April 2001 for a role at [[MSNBC]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Eggerton |first=John |date=April 11, 2001 |title=MSNBC signs Sanchez |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/138219-MSNBC_signs_Sanchez.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002174421/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/138219-MSNBC_signs_Sanchez.php |archive-date=October 2, 2013 |access-date=October 1, 2010 |newspaper=Broadcasting & Cable}}</ref>{{r|MiamiH20190526pA1}} His replacement was anchor-reporter Craig Stevens, who was paired with Nerey in August 2003 following the departure of Laurie Jennings. Stevens and Nerey continue to be the station's lead anchor team in the present day, praised for having a "dynamic" on-air chemistry between the two<ref name="Diaz2017l892">{{cite web |last=Diaz |first=Johnny |date=August 11, 2017 |title=Belkys Nerey, Craig Stevens look back on 14 years together as WSVN's lead anchor team |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2017/08/11/belkys-nerey-craig-stevens-look-back-on-14-years-together-as-wsvns-lead-anchor-team/ |access-date=March 1, 2024 |website=Sun Sentinel}}</ref> and strong knowledge of the region.<ref name="BC220622">{{cite news |last=Malone |first=Michael |date=June 22, 2022 |title=Local News Close-Up: South Florida Holds the Keys to Successful Local News |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/local-news-close-up-south-florida-holds-the-keys-to-successful-local-news |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703062220/https://www.nexttv.com/news/local-news-close-up-south-florida-holds-the-keys-to-successful-local-news |archive-date=July 3, 2022 |access-date=March 28, 2023 |work=Broadcasting & Cable}}</ref> Joining WSVN in 1994 as a reporter,<ref name="Kamph2012o746">{{cite web |last=Kamph |first=Stefan |date=November 22, 2012 |title=Belkys Nerey: Anchoring Miami |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/belkys-nerey-anchoring-miami-6389903 |access-date=March 1, 2024 |website=Miami New Times}}</ref> Nerey became interested in TV news by watching [[Molly Turner]]'s consumer reports on WPLG.<ref name="Bosch2016t243">{{cite news|last=Bosch |first=Peter Andrew |date=July 22, 2016 |title=Florida's first female TV news anchor Molly Turner dies at 93 |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/obituaries/article91274367.html |access-date=March 3, 2024 |work=The Miami Herald}}</ref> The continuity has extended beyond the anchor desk: Steve Shapiro joined WSVN in 1997 as sports director and host of ''Sports Xtra'' on Sunday nights, duties he held until retiring at the end of 2020.<ref name="MiamiH20201230pA18">{{Cite news |last=Jackson |first=Barry |date=December 30, 2020 |title=Retiring Shapiro reflects on longest TV sportscast career in SoFla |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-retiring-shapiro-reflec/121857688/ |access-date=March 1, 2024 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=A18 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> [[Josh Moser]] was named as Shapiro's successor,<ref name="n594">{{cite news |last=Jackson |first=Barry |date=November 27, 2020 |title=WSVN-7 hires replacement for retiring Steve Shapiro. And NFL takes on college football |url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article247433610.html |access-date=March 25, 2025 |work=The Miami Herald}}</ref> a role he continues to hold.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 20, 2023 |title=Best TV Sports Anchor – Josh Moser |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/best-of/2023/arts-and-entertainment/best-tv-sports-anchor-17198814 |access-date=February 22, 2025 |website=Miami New Times |language=en}}</ref><ref name="b963">{{cite web |last=Chamberlain |first=Gene |date=June 24, 2024 |title=Drew Rosenhaus Advertises His Duo; Are Bears Listening? |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/drew-rosenhaus-advertises-his-duo-are-bears-listening |access-date=March 25, 2025 |website=Chicago Bears On SI}}</ref> Since 1998, Patrick Fraser has hosted ''Help Me Howard'', a consumer advocacy/legal advice segment with former Broward County public defender [[Howard Finkelstein]];<ref name="Diaz2018j698">{{cite web |last=Diaz |first=Johnny |date=January 8, 2018 |title='Help Me Howard' turns 20 on WSVN-Ch. 7 |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2018/01/08/help-me-howard-turns-20-on-wsvn-ch-7/ |access-date=March 2, 2024 |website=Sun Sentinel}}</ref> Finkelstein also serves as WSVN's legal analyst.<ref name="Olmeda2020e932">{{cite web |last=Olmeda |first=Rafael |date=December 27, 2020 |title=What's next for 'Help Me Howard' Finkelstein? |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2020/12/27/whats-next-for-help-me-howard-finkelstein/ |access-date=March 3, 2024 |website=Sun Sentinel}}</ref> Carmel Cafiero retired in July 2016 after a 43-year run at channel 7; her retirement was regarded as the end of an era given her journalistic background and longevity.{{r|Farzan2016d648}} [[Marilyn Mitzel]] was the station's health reporter from 1988 until 2005, when the station dismissed her. Mitzel subsequently filed an [[age discrimination]] lawsuit against WSVN,<ref name="MiamiH20070812p4">{{Cite news |last=Fleischman |first=Joan |date=August 12, 2007 |title=Suit: Firing unhealthy for 50-plus health anchor |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-suit-firing-unhealthy/142646077/ |access-date=March 4, 2024 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=4A |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> initially prevailing in court; the ruling was overturned on appeal.<ref name="MiamiH20100814p26">{{Cite news |last=House |first=Kelly |date=August 14, 2010 |title=Former Ch. 7 reporter 'vindicated' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-former-ch-7-reporter/142646249/ |access-date=March 4, 2024 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |pages=1C–[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-former-ch-7-reporter/142646263/ 2C] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="MiamiH20120119pB8">{{Cite news |last=Garvin |first=Glenn |date=January 19, 2012 |title=Reporter's age-bias win reversed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-reporters-age-bias-win/142646333/ |access-date=March 4, 2024 |newspaper=The Miami Herald |page=8B |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

[[File:Sportscaster Josh Moser.jpg|thumb|WSVN sports anchor [[Josh Moser]] in 2024|alt=Josh Moser, wearing a Miami Heat press credential and reporting from a basketball arena and holding a microphone with the WSVN mic flag]]
News production has steadily increased, including the debut of a daily 4&nbsp;p.m. newscast in 2006,<ref name="Bandell2006y523">{{cite news|last=Bandell|first=Brian|date=September 4, 2006|title=More news is good news for WSVN Channel 7|work=South Florida Business Journal|url=http://southflorida.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2006/09/04/story4.html|access-date=April 8, 2021|archive-date=February 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034500/https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2006/09/04/story4.html|url-status=live}}</ref> additional news on the weekends,<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 21, 2010 |title=WSVN Adding More Weekend News |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/43152/wsvn-adding-more-weekend-news?nocookies |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603124308/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/43152/wsvn-adding-more-weekend-news?nocookies |archive-date=June 3, 2012 |access-date=October 19, 2010 |website=TVNewsCheck}}</ref> and a 2011 expansion of ''Today in Florida'' to five hours.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 9, 2011 |title=WSVN Miami Expands Morning News Block |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/2011/08/09/53130/wsvn-miami-expands-morning-news-block |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217034517/https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/wsvn-miami-expands-morning-news-block/ |archive-date=February 17, 2022 |access-date=March 3, 2024 |website=TVNewsCheck}}</ref> In March 2015, the "Newsplex" newsroom/newscast set was given a $500,000 upgrade to allow for more graphical elements to be displayed on-air.<ref name="SoFloBJ2015s477">{{cite web |last=Bandell |first=Brian |date=March 6, 2015 |title=WSVN to unveil pricy redesign of studio |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2015/03/06/wsvn-to-unveil-pricy-redesign-of-studio-slideshow.html |access-date=March 1, 2024 |website=South Florida Business Journal}}</ref> The newscast expansions and investment came against increased competition from the Internet and other technologies.{{r|Bandell2006y523}} Since 2010, viewership for all television stations in the Miami–Fort Lauderdale market, including WSVN, have declined per data from Nielsen Media, attributed to the growth of [[video on demand]] services and [[free ad-supported streaming television]].{{r|Farzan2016d648}} In local news ratings for the first half of 2022, WSVN placed second in nearly every timeslot among Miami's English-language stations.{{r|BC220622}}

As of 2022, WSVN produced 68 hours of local news every week.{{r|BC220622}}

=== Digital and leadership transitions ===
WSVN activated its [[Digital terrestrial television|digital signal]] on September 1, 1999,<ref>{{Cite book |title=Television and Cable Factbook |year=2006 |pages=A-521 |chapter=WSVN-DT}}</ref> and ended programming on its [[Analog television|analog signal]] over VHF channel 7, on June 12, 2009, the official date on which full-power television stations in the United States [[Digital television transition in the United States|transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts]]. The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition VHF channel 8 to channel 7.<ref>{{cite web |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 |access-date=March 24, 2012}}</ref> The station was one of four that operated digital signals on the VHF band to be granted a power increase later that month after stations experienced signal problems on VHF that did not occur with the [[UHF]] band following the transition.<ref>{{cite news |last=Eggerton |first=John |date=June 29, 2009 |title=Boise Station Gets Power Boost |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/307121-Boise_Station_Gets_Power_Boost.php?rssid=20068&q=digital+tv |access-date=July 1, 2009 |work=Broadcasting & Cable}}</ref> On September 27, 2017, three workers were killed after a [[gin pole]] supporting the scaffolding they were on collapsed off the side of WSVN's television tower. The tower, shared with WPLG, was having to install a new transmitter for WSVN as part of the mandated [[2016 United States wireless spectrum auction|FCC spectrum repack]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Neal |first1=David J. |last2=Dixon |first2=Lance |date=September 27, 2017 |title=Three dead in 30-story fall at Miami TV signal tower |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article175737951.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929113424/http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article175737951.html |archive-date=September 29, 2017 |access-date=September 27, 2017 |work=The Miami Herald}}</ref> On December 4, 2023, WSVN began hosting [[ATSC 1.0]] broadcasts for WPLG, which transitioned to [[ATSC 3.0]] transmissions; WSVN's primary channel also broadcast over WPLG's ATSC 3.0 "lighthouse".<ref name="Radio & Television Business Report 2023 q527">{{cite web |last=Jacobson |first=Adam |date=December 5, 2023 |title=A Miami NEXTGEN TV Void Is Filled |url=https://rbr.com/a-miami-nextgen-tv-void-is-filled/ |access-date=March 3, 2024 |website=Radio & Television Business Report}}</ref>

As part of [[Sinclair Broadcast Group]]'s attempted [[Attempted acquisition of Tribune Media by Sinclair Broadcast Group|2017 purchase]] of [[WSFL-TV]] owner [[Tribune Broadcasting]], Sinclair offered to resell WSFL to [[Fox Television Stations]].<ref name="foxsinclairdeal">{{cite web |last=Littleton |first=Cynthia |date=February 22, 2018 |title=21st Century Fox Finalizing Deal With Sinclair to Acquire Six TV Stations (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/sinclair-tribune-fox-station-deal-seattle-1202707565/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222205212/http://variety.com/2018/tv/news/sinclair-tribune-fox-station-deal-seattle-1202707565/ |archive-date=February 22, 2018 |access-date=February 22, 2018 |website=Variety}}</ref><ref name="foxsinclairdeal2">{{cite web |last=Hayes |first=Dade |date=May 9, 2018 |title=21st Century Fox Buys Seven Local TV Stations From Sinclair For $910 Million |url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/21st-century-fox-buys-seven-local-tv-stations-from-sinclair-for-910-million-1202386066/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514012204/http://deadline.com/2018/05/21st-century-fox-buys-seven-local-tv-stations-from-sinclair-for-910-million-1202386066/ |archive-date=May 14, 2018 |access-date=May 9, 2018 |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> Ansin affirmed WSVN would remain a Fox affiliate through June 2019 and "continue to be the news leader in South Florida" with or without Fox programming;<ref name="b&c-wsvnnofox?">{{cite news |last=Lafayette |first=Jon |date=May 11, 2018 |title=Ansin: WSVN-TV Will Thrive Despite Fox Buying Fla. Station |url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/ansin-wsvn-will-thrive-despite-fox-buying-fla-station |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512023002/https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/ansin-wsvn-will-thrive-despite-fox-buying-fla-station |archive-date=May 12, 2018 |access-date=May 11, 2018 |work=Broadcasting & Cable |language=en-us}}</ref> Ansin also stated network executives had yet to meet with him over their plans for WSFL.<ref name="ss-wsvnnofox?">{{cite news |last=Diaz|first=Johnny|date=May 11, 2018|title=Could Fox network shows find a new home on Miami-Fort Lauderdale TV?|work=Sun Sentinel|url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/fl-reg-wsvn-channel-7-may-lose-fox-affiliation-20180511-story.html|access-date=May 11, 2018|archive-date=May 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511233923/http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/fl-reg-wsvn-channel-7-may-lose-fox-affiliation-20180511-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Fox's purchase of WSFL was nullified after the FCC voted to have an [[administrative law judge]] review the Tribune-Sinclair deal, prompting Tribune to terminate it.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fung |first1=Brian |last2=Romm |first2=Tony |date=August 9, 2018 |title=Tribune withdraws from Sinclair merger, saying it will sue for 'breach of contract' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/08/09/tribune-withdraws-sinclair-merger-saying-it-will-sue-breach-contract/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428203302/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2018/08/09/tribune-withdraws-sinclair-merger-saying-it-will-sue-breach-contract/ |archive-date=April 28, 2021 |access-date=April 8, 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> On September 26, 2019, WSVN announced that it had renewed its Fox affiliation.<ref name="b&c-wsvnfoxrenewal">{{cite news |last1=Lafayette |first1=Jon |date=September 26, 2019 |title=WSVN-TV in Miami Renews Affiliation Deal with Fox |url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/wsvn-tv-in-miami-renews-affiliation-deal-with-fox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927041656/https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/wsvn-tv-in-miami-renews-affiliation-deal-with-fox |archive-date=September 27, 2019 |access-date=September 27, 2019 |work=Broadcasting & Cable |language=en-us}}</ref>

Edmund Ansin died on July 26, 2020, at the age of 84; his death was announced on WSVN that evening.{{r|WSVN7News2020g359}} Adam Jacobson of ''Radio & Television Business Report'' credited Ansin for having overseen what became a "legendary, revolutionary news-driven station".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jacobson |first=Adam |date=July 27, 2020 |title=A TV News Pioneer Is Remembered, as Ed Ansin Dies |url=https://rbr.com/sunbeam-television-owner-ed-ansin-dies/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415125307/https://rbr.com/sunbeam-television-owner-ed-ansin-dies/ |archive-date=April 15, 2023 |access-date=April 15, 2023 |website=Radio & Television Business Report |language=en-US}}</ref> Ansin frequently dismissed the idea of retirement or selling off his stations:{{r|SFLBiz20010827}} in a January 2020 interview with the ''Boston Globe'', Ansin boasted, "I want to die with my boots on."<ref name="Leung2020e429">{{cite web |last=Leung |first=Shirley |date=January 2, 2020 |title=At 83, WHDH owner Ed Ansin is still in charge: 'I want to die with my boots on.' |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2020/01/01/whdh-owner-ansin-still-charge-want-die-with-boots/OUdRVkqeC7AtU5c1YGlr4J/story.html |access-date=March 1, 2024 |website=The Boston Globe}}</ref> As was Ansin's wish in 1987,{{r|Miam870312}} Sunbeam Television was taken over by sons James and Andy Ansin.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bandell |first=Brian |date=July 27, 2020 |title=Billionaire WSVN owner Edmund Ansin dies |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2020/07/27/billionaire-wsvn-owner-ansin-dies.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419010428/https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2020/07/27/billionaire-wsvn-owner-ansin-dies.html |archive-date=April 19, 2023 |access-date=April 15, 2023 |website=South Florida Business Journal}}</ref> Ansin's death came one year after Bob Leider's death in June 2019 at age 75; Leider retired in 2014 (briefly returning from 2016 to 2017<ref>{{Cite news |last=Malone |first=Michael |date=November 20, 2017 |title=All Systems Go in SoFlo |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/all-systems-go-soflo-416682 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328180936/https://www.nexttv.com/news/all-systems-go-soflo-416682 |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |access-date=March 28, 2023 |work=Broadcasting & Cable}}</ref>) and was remembered for his 43-year tenure with the station, his leadership during the 1989 affiliation switch, and extensive volunteer work in the community.<ref name="Diaz2019x120">{{cite web |last=Diaz |first=Johnny |date=June 27, 2019 |title=Longtime WSVN Channel 7 general manager Robert Leider dead at 75 |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2019/06/27/longtime-wsvn-channel-7-general-manager-robert-leider-dead-at-75/ |access-date=March 1, 2024 |website=Sun Sentinel}}</ref><ref name="RBR2019x148">{{cite web |date=June 27, 2019 |title=A Miami TV 'Leider' Is Remembered |url=https://rbr.com/wsvn-gm-bob-leider/ |access-date=February 28, 2024 |website=Radio & Television Business Report}}</ref>

=== Future studios, reuniting the "Isle of Dreams" and linking with ABC ===
Sunbeam announced in 2023 that it would build a new facility for WSVN in [[Miramar, Florida|Miramar]], near [[Florida's Turnpike]] on the southeast corner of [[Red Road (Miami)|Red Road]] and Miramar Parkway. The site is in a business park owned by the company's real estate interests; completion is scheduled for 2026. The {{convert|71000|ft2|m2|adj=on}} facility would contain two studios, allowing for commercial and other production to take place in parallel with live newscasts, and be centrally located in the region. It also would sit on elevated land and be designed to operate during a [[Category 5 hurricane]], with backup air conditioning, two generators, and a fuel tank for station vehicles. The construction of the new WSVN facility is contingent on Miramar approving other development in the area to provide sufficient services for the station and other business park tenants. The primary reason for the move is to clear the North Bay Village land on which the station is located for high-density development.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2023/08/11/fox-affiliate-wsvn-moving-to-broward-county.html|title=WSVN Channel 7 to move station, headquarters to Broward County|work=[[American City Business Journals|South Florida Business Journal]]|first=Brian|last=Bandell|date=August 11, 2023|access-date=August 12, 2023}}</ref>

As part of the redevelopment, Sunbeam purchased the other side of the island long used by WIOD radio in 2021 for $29&nbsp;million.<ref name="BushorDinkova2021f904">{{cite web |last=Dinkova |first=Lidia |date=March 11, 2021 |title=Sunbeam Bought Site Next to Channel 7 Station for $29M |url=https://therealdeal.com/miami/2021/03/11/sunbeam-television-buys-north-bay-village-site-next-to-channel-7-for-29m/ |access-date=February 29, 2024 |website=The Real Deal}}</ref>{{r|BizJor20210310}} In 2002, Ed Ansin and WSVN staff raised concerns about the physical condition of the WIOD towers when rust from the tower directly facing the WSVN studio entrance fell, damaging a car.<ref name="Fraser2024r746">{{cite web |last=Fraser |first=Patrick |date=February 9, 2024 |title=A tale of two towers: Crews remove decades-old radio towers from WSVN to make way for the future |url=https://wsvn.com/news/special-reports/a-tale-of-two-towers-crews-remove-decades-old-radio-towers-from-wsvn-to-make-way-for-the-future/ |access-date=February 29, 2024 |website=WSVN 7News}}</ref> By 2003, WIOD's then-owner [[Clear Channel Communications]] sold their half of the island to "Isle of Dreams [[LLC]]", a developer that initially planned to build a 21-story [[high rise]] over the parcel then changed the plans in favor of a five-story [[strip club]], both of which Ansin publicly campaigned against.{{r|Miam080424}}<ref name="Munzenrieder2011x663">{{cite web |last=Munzenrieder |first=Kyle |date=November 15, 2011 |title=WSVN Doesn't Want a Strip Club Next To Its Studios |url=https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/wsvn-doesnt-want-a-strip-club-next-to-its-studios-6525491 |access-date=February 29, 2024 |website=Miami New Times}}</ref><ref name="WSVN 7News 2013 k256">{{cite web |last=Fraser |first=Patrick |date=August 7, 2013 |title=Strip Club |url=https://wsvn.com/news/strip-club/ |access-date=February 29, 2024 |website=WSVN 7News}}</ref> After the strip club plans fell through in 2012, Sunbeam sued the developer to foreclose on a mortgage; the developer counter-sued in response.{{r|BushorDinkova2021f904}} The WIOD towers were decommissioned and dismantled on February 8, 2024.{{r|Fraser2024r746}}

Sunbeam and ABC announced a multiyear affiliation deal on March 20, 2025, moving ABC to a WSVN subchannel and displacing WPLG in the role;<ref name="n451">{{cite web | last=Jacobson | first=Adam | title=Miami Hurricane: WPLG To Drop ABC. It's Going To Sunbeam | website=Radio & Television Business Report | date=March 20, 2025 | url=https://rbr.com/miami-hurricane-wplg-to-drop-abc-with-wsvn-grabbing-it/ | access-date=March 25, 2025}}</ref> the new service, tentatively branded "ABC Miami", will launch on August 4, 2025.<ref name="g490">{{cite web | last=Rivero | first=Danny | title=ABC programming to move to WSVN Channel 7 after WPLG Local 10 cuts ties with network | website=WLRN | date=March 21, 2025 | url=https://www.wlrn.org/news-in-brief/2025-03-21/abc-programming-to-move-to-wsvn-channel-7-after-wplg-local-10-cuts-ties-with-network | access-date=March 25, 2025}}</ref><ref name="m989">{{cite news | last=Jackson | first=Barry | title=How the ABC affiliate change in South Florida will affect sports fans. What to know | work=The Miami Herald | date=March 21, 2025 | url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article302525184.html | access-date=March 25, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/wplg-miami-loses-abc-affiliation-disney-abc-miami-sunbeam-1236169307/|title=Warren Buffett's Only TV Station Loses ABC Affiliation as Disney Finds New Miami Partner|first=Alex|last=Weprin|website=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|date=March 20, 2025|accessdate=March 21, 2025}}</ref> As a direct result, Sunbeam terminated the ATSC 3.0 arrangement with WPLG, effective in August, so it could have enough transmission capacity to broadcast Fox and ABC in high definition in 1.0 format.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://enterpriseefiling.fcc.gov/dataentry/public/tv/draftCopy.html?displayType=html&appKey=25076ff39674f8cc01968c87d8ee0fb5&id=25076ff39674f8cc01968c87d8ee0fb5&goBack=N|title=Application for Modification of the License of WSVN to Cease ATSC 3.0 Operation|author=Sunbeam Television Corporation|date=May 5, 2025|website=Licensing and Management System|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]}}</ref>