Editing WSVN (section)

=== 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>