Editing WRBU (section)

===Early history===
The station first signed on the air on September 11, 1989, as WHSL, originally operating as a full simulcast of the Home Shopping Network ([[HSN]]). Unlike most full-time HSN affiliates of the period, it was not founded by the network's broadcasting arm, [[USA Broadcasting|Silver King Communications]]; instead, it was originally owned by St. Louis-based [[Roberts Broadcasting]], a family-owned firm owned by [[African American]] businessmen Steven, Mike and Mark Roberts.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59930138/one-stop-shopping-channel-46-makes/|accessdate=April 3, 2021|first=John J.|last=Archibald|title=One-Stop Shopping: Channel 46 Makes Debut|page=3D|date=October 9, 1989|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}}</ref> WHSL was the first full-power television station to sign on in the St. Louis market since [[KNLC]] (channel 24) debuted in September 1982.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59930187/fcc-head-cuts-ribbon-on-black-owned/|accessdate=April 3, 2021|date=September 12, 1989|first=Fred W.|last=Lindecke|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|page=4B|title=FCC Head Cuts Ribbon On Black-Owned Station}}</ref>

What was a placid relationship between HSN and Roberts for the station's first seven years on air soured in 1996, when HSN sued the station for breach of contract; Roberts sought to air more infomercials and fewer hours of home shopping. The move came after HSN reduced the number of local commercial minutes per hour from 5 to 2 and after Roberts considered leasing the station's airtime to [[River City Broadcasting]] (owners of [[KDNL-TV]]) or Koplar Communications, which owned [[KPLR-TV]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Fred|last=Faust|title=Lawsuit Pits Home Shopping Vs. Infomercials: Channel 46 Bucks Big Network|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75065037/|pages=1E, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75065053/ 8E]|date=December 1, 1996|accessdate=April 3, 2021|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}}</ref> A judge found in favor of HSN in the dispute.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75065162/|accessdate=April 3, 2021|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|date=December 4, 1996|title=24-Hour Home Shopping Ordered|first=Tim|last=Bryant|page=7C}}</ref> With few exceptions, Roberts was thus locked into airing HSN's programs in an arrangement that did not expire until 2003.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/75065207/|accessdate=April 3, 2021|date=July 23, 1997|work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch|title=Roberts Broadcasting Loses Suit Against Home Shopping|first=Tim|last=Bryant|page=8C}}</ref>