Fast-forward to 2012. WSVN is one of the strongest television stations in South Florida, with a very news-intensive schedule. They run 5 hours of morning news, an hour of news at noon, three more hours starting at 4 PM, and an hour and a half starting at 10 pm. Channel 7 is one of the biggest Fox affiliates in the country. After the digital switch, WSVN moved their digital signal from channel 8 back to 7. They now share a new digital transmitter site with WPLG Channel 10.

WSVN did become a FOX station in 1989, but FOX only broadcast on the weekends back then. The rest of the week, the station was an independent. Most FOX stations back then were small and mostly UHF channels.

Yes. WTVJ moved its tower during the switch to digital broadcasting. I believe it's now at the Dade-Broward line with everyone else.

WSVN became a model FOX station, by not focusing on general entertainment, but a more news-intensive operation. It became more hard-hitting too, also influencing the news operations of other FOX stations. New World's former Big 3 stations that went to FOX followed a similar patten. Who knows? One day, FOX just might buy WSVN.

2:06 - But in 1995, CBS South Florida returned to Channel 4 under the "WFOR" call sign, while WTVJ NBC South Florida moved to Channel 6.

FOX moving to WSVN was a major coup for the young network, because WSVN had been an NBC affiliate for years. FOX was probably more than pleased to get its programming onto a longtime Big 3 station back then. As an NBC affiliate, WSVN was a frequent pre-empter of programs, but with FOX they usually only preempted the cartoons and Fox News Sun. Morn. (FOX programs for fewer hours than the Big 3, and FNSM can also be seen on FNC)

WCIX and WTVJ only switched broadcast towers. The change was part of a complicated deal between CBS and NBC involving several different stations and markets. WTVJ went from broadcasting on Ch. 4 to Ch. 6. WCIX went from Ch. 6 to Ch 4. WCIX simultaneously switched its call letters to WFOR. I have both channel switches posted on my page.

It was almost like a trend that was happening back then with tv stations swapping network affiliations. I remember in the summer of 1989 in Rochester, NY their NBC and CBS network affiliate stations swapped

Nope it was just a local switch, WSVN went to FOX, WTVJ went to NBC, and WCIX (now WFOR) went to CBS. In 1994-95 is the switch really went nationwide as FOX bought broadcast rights to the NFL (NFC Games) whereas Group Westinghouse was bought by CBS and so on, causing a handful of stations across the country to switch some of which are now owned and operated.

Actually, Channel 6 is not independent. It is a Fox Affiliate. And since next week, Channel 7 will air some syndicated shows and some Fox shows.

This must have been at the tail end of December 1988.

Fascinating. Of course, at the time of this news story from 1988 uploaded here, there was one television program that continued to air on WCIX-TV-6 (now WFOR CBS 4) after it became a CBS O&O: the then-nationally-syndicated, Emmy award-winning 'Star Trek: The Next Generation', which ended its seven-year run on the formerly-named WCIX in 1994 with the two-hour series finale 'All Good Things...' Today, 'Star Trek' is owned by CBS as well.

3:29 this entrance is pure gold!!

R.I.P., Ed Ansin.

That's the affiliation switch that a ripple effect across FOX's stations that air news now. Many of FOX's O&Os do the news just like WSVN 7 did it and programmed in similar ways. WSVN 7 became a rare news-intensive FOX affiliate, which looks commonplace now among FOX stations that used to be affiliated with CBS, ABC or, in 7's case, NBC. I know about it since WTVT did the same thing in Tampa after the New World Communications deal on Dec. 12, 1994.

In New York City, nothing has changed in the last 65 years. WCBS-TV has channel 2, WNBC-TV has channel 4, WABC-TV has channel 7, but I don't think they going to move affiliations to different channels, no way. These three TV stations in New York City are iconics and it should leave them alone.

With the digital transition, didn't Channel 6 finally move their transmitter to the Dade antenna farm??

These people didn't know on which station those shows were broadcast *before* the switch!

There are times when I visit Miami and still forget the channel line ups. LOL

For 15 months, wasn't it the case that WTVJ owned by one 'Big 3' network (NBC) but at the same time affiliated with another (CBS)?

CBS's time on Channel 6 was short lived, as they (WCIX/WFOR) would take back CBS's original spot on Channel 4 in 1995 as part of a swap between them and WTVJ. Basically: they swapped positions on the dial, taking their network affiliations with them in doing so.

Not mentioned here was the ripple effect of the 1989 Miami affiliate changes.Because CBS moved then to channel 6 and Broward county would find it very difficult to get the station. WPEC-12 also changed affiliation from ABC to CBS. The West Palm Beach area stations were watched very clearly in Broward back then. The West Palm Beach/Fort Pierce stations involved in this 1989 switch were WPEC-12 from ABC to CBS, WTVX-34 lost CBS and became independent while ABC went to the brand new WPBF-25.

Channel 4, was once a CBS affiliate, now (and currently), it's back to being a CBS affiliate, in the fall of 1995. Crazy, huh?

Maybe it still seems independent because it goes against the FOX Mandate (FOX 7 or FOX Miami/South Florida), although it really wasn't after the big switch. Nonetheless, it set the tone for other FOX stations in terms of how news is presented.

@1985OldSkool It did. This aired in the last week of 1988, days before the switch.

I remembered when this happened. Missed an episode of Riptide due to the confusion 😂😂😂😂

I was born on October 23, 1989 just months after the big TV flip-flop. WTVJ now carries the peacock and still is an NBC O&O station to this day. But I never like WSVN, CBS, neither Fox. One thing for sure is that WSVN's newsplex is what I called the "Newsroom of Doom" and they now have flamboyant style of local news. Sunbean Television is facing a similar fate to this day because they also own WHDH in Boston and they, like WSVN, are losing its affiliation with NBC. I read about it in Wikipedia and saw some KZfaq videos about it.

Oh lord! It's Darth Ansin! And geeze... I wasn't expect Joel Cheatwood... to look... soo.. nerdy.

"Inside Story" later became "Inside Report." Neither was connected to "Inside Edition."

When Carmel said “in order to do Dallas” I was like what? I don’t think she thought that out

7 should be an ABC station.

Thank goodness I was born after this.

wsvn fox 7 owned by sunbream television

Instead of the big switch CBS had 2 stations in Philadelphia ,NBC had lost it's station there but it had WMGM-TV in Atlantic City/Wildwood and just boosted it's power to force CBS to sell a station.

Channel 4(WTVJ): CBS -> NBC Channel 6(WCIX): Fox -> CBS Channel 7(WSVN): NBC -> Fox

Happy 27th anniversary wsvn 7 wtvj 6 and wfor 4

In a few years,it becomes a FOX affiliate.

@altfactor I've never heard of that proposal.

“Time to straighten out South Florida’s TV players. In 1989, Channel 7 (WSVN), which used to show NBC programs, bids adieu to the Peacock and becomes an independent•. On Channel 7, you will find, among other things, a hour-long 10:00 newscast and 8:00 movie. (•Note: the independent status is incorrect; The stations involved were actually affiliated with Fox, which only offered programming in weekends at the time, making the affiliates behave as de-facto independent stations.) Channel 4 (WTVJ, now Channel 6) says so long to CBS and picks up the Peacock, since channel 4 is now an NBC owned-and-operated station. Shows like ‘Bill Cosby’ and ‘Cheers’ will be found here. Channel 6 (WCIX, now WFOR 4), meanwhile, which used to be an independent•, will be carrying CBS programs, because it too has became a network owned-and-operated station. If you’re looking for ‘60 Minutes’, look to Channel 6.”

Awesome. The way things used to be back in Florida during the late 80's. By the way, I used to have a crush on Penny Daniels. I just hope she and her family are doing well these days and also, Sally Fitz.

WPLG Channel 10 was the big winner in both Miami affiliation swaps. But only because they reportedly turned down an offer in 1994 to join Fox.

WSVN started out as an NBC affiliate, then an independent affiliate with a secondary FOX affiliation. WSVN is now a full-time FOX affiliate.

Yes they were but at that time Fox only had programming on Saturday and Sundays (I think) so they didn't really consider themselves as a network affiliate at that time.

so who's where now?

My god look how pretty and young Carmel Cafiero look here...i cant believe she's been with wsvn for over 20 years

@Padrigfilms Because, at the time, Fox only programmed 2 nights a week. It wasn't the full-fledged network it is today.

I know there are several large satellites at their studio in Miramar. I don't know if it transmits there.

Has the problem of channel 6's signal been fixed?

...and they went right back to their affiliates: cbs 4 and nbc 6, both network o&o!

but 1995 when channel 4 WTVJ move to CHANNEL 6 NBC 6 and channel 6 wcix CBS now wfor move to ch 4

channel6 changes to cnnbcbs XD

Penny Daniels once worked at WKBW TV Channel 7 in Buffalo. ABC affiliate

Well the plantiff and defendant have to give consent before they go on a court show, and they're all civil cases so nobody needs to worry about Judge Judy presiding over a double murder trial.

In 1988, seven years before The Big Switch came to Denver, it came to Miami! Why?! Because WTVJ Channel 4 went from CBS to NBC, WSVN Channel 7 went from NBC to FOX, and WCIX Channel 6 went from FOX to CBS! Then in 1995, WTVJ moved to Channel 6, and WCIX moved to Channel 4 and became WFOR!

I don't think that was the only reason for their success.

Hope they bring back the original Miami-Ft. Lauderda;e TV Network lineup!CBS-4,Fox 6,NBC 7 and ABC 10.

Fox 7 didn’t really became a full-week network till 1993-1994 and then outbid cbs for nfl Sunday games

the digital signal reaches the north part of the market better, so that problem is gone

Around that time, didn't the FCC consider moving Channel 7 down to the Keys, and moving WSVN to a new UHF allocation??

Fox been on channel 7 since 1989

WTVJ's sale has been canceled.

At the time WSVN switched to Fox, the network never aired programming on weekdays.

3:07 - Not true Carmel. You're gonna be a FOX affiliate. Which means "This is the Year, The Year for FOX 7!"

January 1st 2019 30th anniversary 7 Fox 4/6 nbc 6/4 CBS well done all 3.

Doesn't 6 transmit in Miramar now as well, since about 2002?

Is WSVN now a fox station?

Uh, oh. Where's FOX?

it would've made more sense to make wsvn abc

wsvn fox 7 owned by sunbream television