Editing WSVN (section)

=== 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>