WRDC: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{short description|MyNetworkTV affiliate in Durham, North Carolina}}

{{Infobox television station

| callsign = WRDC

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==History==

===WRDU-TV/Triangle Telecasters===

In 1966, a major overhaul of the UHF allocation table moved the market's channel 28 allotment from Raleigh to Durham. On November 18 of that year, Triangle Telecasters, Inc., a group led by law professor [[Robinson O. Everett]], applied to the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) for a construction permit to build a new channel 28 station in Durham.<ref name="hc">{{FCC letter|hcards=yes|letterid=86771|callsign=WRDC}}</ref> The Everett group competed with a very similarly named company, Durham–Raleigh Telecasters (owned by the same interests that were building ~~WCTU, now~~ [[WCNC-TV|WCTU-TV]], in [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]]), which also applied for the channel.<ref name="News661118">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51755496/authority-to-be-asked-for-new-durham-tv/|date=November 18, 1966|agency=Associated Press|page=28|title=Authority to Be Asked For New Durham TV|newspaper=The News and Observer|location=Raleigh, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 12, 2022|archive-date=January 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112084913/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51755496/authority-to-be-asked-for-new-durham-tv/|url-status=live}}</ref> Triangle Telecasters won out on April 29, 1968.{{r|hc}} Everett sold a minority stake to Charles Woods, owner of [[WTVY-TV]] in [[Dothan, Alabama]].<ref name="Hera680505">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92398020/new-tv-station-gets-fcc-permit/|date=May 5, 1968|page=4A|title=New TV Station Gets FCC Permit|newspaper=Durham Morning Herald|location=Durham, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 12, 2022|archive-date=January 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112084915/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92398020/new-tv-station-gets-fcc-permit/|url-status=live}}</ref> Other minority partners included [[List of mayors of Chapel Hill, North Carolina|then-mayor]] of [[Chapel Hill, North Carolina|Chapel Hill]] and [[WCHL (AM)|WCHL]] founder Roland "Sandy" McClamroch, [[List of mayors of Durham, North Carolina|former Durham mayor]] E. J. Evans and [[List of mayors of Raleigh, North Carolina|former Raleigh mayor]] Jim Reid.<ref name="Dail681023">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86289765/area-receives-new-wrdu-tv/|date=October 23, 1968|page=6|title=Area Receives New WRDU-TV|newspaper=The Daily Tar Heel|location=Chapel Hill, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 12, 2022|archive-date=October 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009221814/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86289765/area-receives-new-wrdu-tv/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The new channel 28 began broadcasting on the afternoon of November 4, 1968, as WRDU-TV. The station had no single full affiliation: its first programs were an episode of the CBS soap opera ''[[Love is a Many Splendored Thing (TV series)|Love is a Many Splendored Thing]]'' followed by the NBC soaps ''[[The Doctors (1963 TV series)|The Doctors]]'' and ''[[Another World (TV series)|Another World]]''.<ref name="Launch of WRDU">{{cite news |last1=Morrison |first1=Bill |title=Our New TV Station Debuts This Week |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50909985/our-new-tv-station-debuts-this-week/ |access-date=October 25, 2021 |work=The News and Observer |date=November 3, 1968 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=74 |language=English |archive-date=October 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025160527/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50909985/our-new-tv-station-debuts-this-week/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The new station's studios were on [[North Carolina Highway 54]] in southern Durham ~~(now a [[DaVita Inc.]] [[Kidney dialysis|dialysis]] center)~~, with a transmitter near [[Terrells Mountain]] in [[Chatham County, North Carolina|Chatham County]].{{r|hc}}

The station's first broadcast day reflected the unusual situation in Raleigh–Durham television and which would ultimately have an impact on federal regulations. By then, the Triangle was one of the largest markets in the country with only two commercial television stations. WRAL-TV aired ABC full-time, while CBS and NBC were shoehorned on WTVD. In 1966, a columnist for the [[University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill]]'s student newspaper, ''[[The Daily Tar Heel]],'' opined that WTVD let NBC programs play a "poor second fiddle" to its primary affiliation with CBS.<ref name="Dail660426">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92397778/local-tv-programs-are-bad-news/|date=April 26, 1966|page=2|first=Richard|last=Klein|title=Local TV Programs Are Bad News|newspaper=The Daily Tar Heel|location=Chapel Hill, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 12, 2022|archive-date=January 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112084915/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92397778/local-tv-programs-are-bad-news/|url-status=live}}</ref> The area had not been allocated a third commercial VHF station; the nearest NBC affiliates were [[WITN-TV]] in [[Washington, North Carolina|Washington]] and ~~WSJS-TV (now~~ [[WXII-TV|WSJS-TV]]) in [[Winston-Salem, North Carolina|Winston-Salem]].{{r|Dail660426}} Even though the [[All-Channel Receiver Act]] had only taken effect in 1964, WRDU-TV had one form of compensation the old channel 28 lacked: cable TV. After four years of deliberation by the Raleigh city council,<ref name="Cablevision proposal in Raleigh">{{cite news |last1=Holder, Jr. |first1=Laurie |title=Council Delays Vote On Pay TV Proposal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86770621/wrangle-over-antenna-council-delays-vot/ |access-date=October 9, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=May 19, 1964 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=22 |language=English |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112084915/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86770621/wrangle-over-antenna-council-delays/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Altice USA|Cablevision]] came to the city the same year the station launched, and WRDU was picked up by the Raleigh and [[Burlington, North Carolina|Burlington]] cable systems almost as soon as it went on the air.<ref name="WRDU on Cablevision">{{cite news |title=Cablevision Brings Eight Stations In |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86647336/cablevision-1969/ |access-date=October 9, 2021 |work=The Daily Times-News |date=March 1, 1969 |location=Burlington, NC |page=Cable Supplement 9 |archive-date=October 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009221806/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86647336/cablevision-1969/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

~~Logically,~~Even ~~WRDU~~with ~~should~~a ~~have~~third ~~taken~~station ~~the NBC affiliation. However, NBC did not believe~~on the ~~Everetts had the financial wherewithal to run a television station~~air, ~~and allowed~~ WTVD tostill ~~retain~~held [[right of first refusal]] for NBC programming. AsThis itsituation ~~had~~allowed ~~done~~WTVD ~~since~~to ~~WRAL-TV~~continue ~~became~~its aestablished ~~full~~practice ~~ABC~~of ~~affiliate in 1962, WTVD continued [[wikt:Special:Search/cherry picking|cherry-picking]]~~selecting higher-rated NBC and CBS programs (just as itWTVD had selected the higher-rated CBS and ABC programs when WNAO-TV was in business), leaving WRDU to carry ~~NBC's news programming and~~ the lower-rated ~~NBC~~shows ~~and~~from ~~CBS~~those ~~shows~~networks as well as NBC's news programming.<ref>{{cite news|title=Economics blamed for UHF ills|work=Broadcasting|date=December 29, 1969|page=56|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1969/1969-12-29-BC.pdf|access-date=May 20, 2020|archive-date=January 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112084937/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1969/1969-12-29-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> By November 1969, this situation prompted Triangle Telecasters to petition the FCC for recourse against WTVD taking shows back from them that they had previously rejected.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72007635/|accessdate=February 24, 2021|date=August 1, 1970|title=WRDU Appeal Could Affect Nation|page=6|work=The News & Observer}}</ref><ref name="WTVD taking shows from WRDU">{{cite news |last1=Morrison |first1=Bill |title=T.V. Stations Here Ask Network Links |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86233847/tv-stations-here-ask-network-links/ |access-date=October 11, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=November 6, 1969 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=22 |language=English |archive-date=October 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011030517/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86233847/tv-stations-here-ask-network-links/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1971, the FCC ruled in favor of Triangle Telecasters (in part due to the commission's then-policy of protecting the development of UHF stations), setting a precedent for similar cases elsewhere. The ruling forced WTVD to choose one network;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1970/1970-09-21-BC.pdf|title=Networks, V's balk at aid for UHF's.|work=Broadcasting|date=September 21, 1970|page=40|access-date=May 20, 2020|archive-date=January 12, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220112084933/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1970/1970-09-21-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=One (network) to a customer|work=Broadcasting|date=March 29, 1971|page=67|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1971/1971-03-29-BC.pdf|access-date=May 20, 2020}}</ref> it ultimately chose CBS, forcing NBC to sign with WRDU-TV by default ahead of the 1971–1972 television season.<ref name="Durh710903">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92402174/in-durham-research-triangle-areawrdu-b/|date=September 3, 1971|page=17|title=In Durham, Research Triangle Area—WRDU Becoming Only NBC Net|newspaper=The Durham Sun|location=Durham, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 12, 2022}}</ref>

NBC's affiliation with WRDU~~-TV~~ meant that Triangle television viewers, for the first time, finally saw the full schedules of all three networks on separate stations. However, it ~~was~~consigned aNBC ~~massive~~to ~~technical~~a ~~downgrade.~~weaker ~~WRAL-TV~~UHF ~~and~~station ~~WTVD~~in ~~were~~terms ~~highly~~of ~~respected~~personnel, ~~successful affiliates for their respective networks on the VHF band. On the other hand~~programming, ~~channel 28 was on the UHF band~~ and ~~with a weaker~~ signal. Channel 28's transmitter was located on the [[Orange County, North Carolina|Orange]]–Chatham County line on the market's western fringe, providing only a Grade B signal to Raleigh proper and rendering it practically unviewable over the air in southern and eastern [[Wake County, North Carolina|Wake County]]. A channel 70 translator went on air in May 1969 to improve WRDU's coverage in eastern Wake County;<ref name="News690515">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50910187/see-what-youve-been-missing/|date=May 15, 1969|page=38|title=See what you've been missing!|newspaper=The News and Observer|location=Raleigh, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 12, 2022|archive-date=December 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201154603/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50910187/see-what-youve-been-missing/|url-status=live}}</ref> in 1972, that translator moved to channel 22 and from the top of the [[Truist Financial|BB&T Building]] in downtown Raleigh to the top of a newly constructed retirement home nearby.<ref name="Translator switch from 70 to 22">{{cite news |title=TV Station Plans Changes |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86585933/tv-station-plans-changes/ |access-date=October 6, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=October 26, 1972 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=5 |language=English |archive-date=October 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006195148/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86585933/tv-station-plans-changes/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Even then, one writer once called the signal "weak as a [[Carrie Nation]] cocktail".{{r|makes}}

Another problem of WRDU's early years was Triangle Telecasters's frequent preemption of network shows for [[Broadcast syndication|syndicated]] programs. The Everetts believed they could get more revenue from local advertising than from network airtime payments, due to WRDU's low ratings keeping compensation rates very low in turn. The preemptions only increased during NBC's 1970s ratings struggles. Even so, some of that was likely prompted by NBC's already-strained relationship with the station, rooted in the network's chagrin over the 1971 FCC decision effectively forcing it onto an undesirable UHF channel (see above). At the time,though NBC was considerably less tolerant of its stations substituting alternative programming for its feed than ABC or CBS~~. However~~, when NBC demanded that Triangle Telecasters clear its entire schedule with no preemptions, the Everetts turned them down. NBC was in no position to do anything about it because of the lack of competition in the market. One time WRDU chose not to preempt a network program, ~~they~~it still faced criticism for different reasons; the program was [[Franco Zeffirelli]]'s mini-series ''[[Jesus of Nazareth (TV series)|Jesus of Nazareth]]'', and those lodging complaints were religious leaders fearing it would offend their beliefs.<ref name="Jesus of Nazareth protest">{{cite news |last1=Powell |first1=John |title=Area Viewers Protesting TV Movie About Jesus |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86606366/area-viewers-protesting-tv-movie-about-j/ |access-date=October 6, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=March 21, 1977 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=19 |language=English}}</ref> This was in spite of the fact that some of the station's preemptions of network shows were for [[Billy Graham]] crusades and the fact that the station also had the local rights to ''[[The PTL Club]]''.<ref name="PTL Club">{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Ernie |title=PTL Club Network Succeeds From 'Electronic Pulpit' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86587744/ptl-club-network-succeeds-from-electron/ |access-date=October 6, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=April 18, 1976 |location=Raleigh, NC |pages=65, 71 |language=English}}</ref> The station was also home to the ''[[Jerry Lewis]] [[MDA Labor Day Telethon]]'' until 1979, when it moved to WTVD.<ref name="Jerry Lewis Telethon">{{cite news |title=Telethon Slates State Officials |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86586279/telethon-slates-state-officials/ |access-date=October 11, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=September 3, 1972 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=6 |language=English |archive-date=October 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211011030523/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86586279/telethon-slates-state-officials/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===WPTF-TV/Durham Life era===

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~~NBC's concerns about Triangle Telecasters' financing proved well-founded.~~ By 1975, though it had outlived the original channel 28 ~~by this point in time~~, WRDU was running out of money, and the Everetts wanted out. Realizing that the station was on the verge of shutting down, ~~they~~the family began to ~~looked~~look for a new owner.<ref name="Firm May Buy WRDU">{{cite news |last1=Guillory |first1=Ferrell |title=Firm May Buy WRDU |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86646156/firm-may-buy-wrdu/ |access-date=October 9, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=May 19, 1977 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=26}}</ref> Several national groups examined the station, including [[E. W. Scripps Company|Scripps–Howard Broadcasting]].<ref name="Hera760814">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92402852/wrdu-tv-not-soldyet/|date=August 14, 1976|page=1-B|first=William M.|last=Smith|title=WRDU-TV Not Sold—Yet|newspaper=Durham Morning Herald|location=Durham, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 12, 2022}}</ref> After two years of negotiations,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50910295/negotiations-under-way-for-purchase-of/|title=Negotiations Underway For Purchase of WRDU|page=10|work=The News & Observer|date=March 5, 1975|accessdate=February 24, 2021}}</ref> the Durham Life Insurance ~~Company, which~~Company—which owned [[WPTF]] (680 AM), the Triangle's oldest radio station, and [[WQDR-FM]] (94.5, now on 94.7)~~, bought~~—bought WRDU-TV from the Everetts in May 1977 and changed its call sign to WPTF-TV on August 14, 1978.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1976/1976-12-06-BC.pdf|title=In brief|work=Broadcasting|date=December 6, 1976|page=22|access-date=May 20, 2020}}</ref>

This was Durham Life's second attempt to get into television. It was one of two applicants for channel 5 in the 1950s, and had gone as far as buying cameras and rehearsing announcers.{{r|makes}} However, the FCC shocked Durham Life when it awarded the license to the much smaller [[Capitol Broadcasting Company|Capitol Broadcasting]], owner of ~~WRAL radio (AM 1240, now~~ [[WPJL|WRAL-AM]]~~, and~~ -[[WRAL-FM|~~101.5~~ FM]]) radio, as WRAL-TV.{{r|makes}} Before buying channel 28, Durham Life had been interested in building a new station on channel 22,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72007947/|accessdate=February 24, 2021|date=December 25, 1976|title=Christian Channel Planned|work=The News & Observer|page=30}}</ref> a Raleigh assignment that had been proposed for a station in the 1960s.<ref name="Original plans for channel 22">{{cite news |last1=Morrison |first1=Bill |title=New TV Station Selects Classic Films For Debut |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50911081/new-tv-station-selects-classic-films-for/ |access-date=October 25, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=February 1, 1967 |location=Raleigh |page=10 |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Public Notice: WJHF |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87709628/public-notice-for-channel-22/ |access-date=October 25, 2021 |work=The News and Observer |date=January 2, 1968 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=26 |archive-date=October 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025162111/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87709628/public-notice-for-channel-22/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Morrison |first1=Bill |title=New TV Station Announced |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50920687/new-tv-station-announced/ |access-date=October 25, 2021 |work=The News and Observer |date=August 8, 1968 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=33 |language=English |archive-date=October 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211025162017/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50920687/new-tv-station-announced/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Durham Life had far more financial resources than Triangle Telecasters could have ever managed, and invested a considerable amount of money into its new purchase. It built a new {{convert|1300|ft|m|adj=on|sp=us}} transmitter tower near [[Apex, North Carolina|Apex]] that gave itthe renamed WPTF-TV a coverage area comparable to those of WRAL-TV and WTVD.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1977/BC-1977-07-25.pdf|title=Under new management|work=Broadcasting|date=July 25, 1977|page=80|access-date=May 20, 2020}}</ref><ref name="makes">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50910657/|title=Ch. 28 makes its move|first=Bill|last=Morrison|work=The News & Observer|date=August 13, 1978|access-date=May 22, 2020|pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/50910694/ 10]}}</ref> It also started a full news department—[[Woody Durham]], longtime play-by-play voice of [[North Carolina Tar Heels]] sports, served as sports director<ref name="Hera790401">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92409885/ratings-war-to-escalate-next-monday/|date=April 1, 1979|page=TV World 1|title=Ratings War To Escalate Next Monday|newspaper=Durham Morning Herald|location=Durham, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 12, 2022}}</ref>—and purchased $500,000 in new equipment. It also added a weekday children's show entitled ''Barney's Army'', which was hosted by the namesake Aniforms puppet and ran from 1979 to 1983, long after the genre had disappeared from most other American stations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wral.com/entertainment/blogpost/1863187/|title=Remembering the First "Barney"|work=[[WRAL.com]]|date=September 26, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116032951/https://www.wral.com/entertainment/blogpost/1863187/|archive-date=January 16, 2011}}</ref> The show consisted of short interstitials between cartoons and other children's shows, a viewer call-in game called ''[[TV Powww|TV Pow]]'' along with local musical acts and educational segments. This youth-centered daytime schedule came at the expense of the NBC soap opera ''Another World'', which did not air on the station during its 90-minute expansion from 1979 to 1980; a station representative argued the syndicated shows were more profitable. The preemption of ''Another World'' came amid vehement opposition from the network and angry calls and letters from viewers who had actually watched the show on WPTF. Meanwhile, the next closest stations still playing the show in its regular time slot were [[WECT]] in Wilmington, WITN-TV in Greenville, and [[WAVY-TV]] in [[Portsmouth, Virginia]], all of which were VHF stations.<ref name="AW absent from WPTF while 90 minutes">{{cite web |last1=Morrison |first1=Bill |title='Another World' is elsewhere |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84753020/another-world-is-elsewhere/ |publisher=The News & Observer |access-date=September 7, 2021 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=TV Observer 3 |language=English |date=April 17, 1979 |archive-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907082103/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84753020/another-world-is-elsewhere/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Likewise, the station's removal of ''[[Texas (TV series)|Texas]]'' prompted viewer outrage,;<ref>{{cite news |title=Texas Fans Unite |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85560414/texas-fans-unite/ |access-date=October 6, 2021 |work=The Daily Tar Heel |date=January 22, 1982 |location=Chapel Hill, NC |page=2 |language=English |archive-date=October 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006230133/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85560414/texas-fans-unite/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ~~and~~ less than a year ~~after~~later, the station added the show back when the network moved it to a mid-morning time slot,<ref name="Texas timeslot change">{{cite news |last1=Deeb |first1=Gary |title=Daytime shakeup at NBC |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84756205/daytime-shakeup-at-nbc/ |access-date=October 6, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |agency=Field Newspaper Syndicate |date=March 28, 1982 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=6E |language=English |archive-date=October 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006230135/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84756205/daytime-shakeup-at-nbc/ |url-status=live }}</ref> NBC canceled it along with ''The Doctors''.: WPTF was the only NBC affiliate in North Carolina that still aired the latter show.<ref name="The Doctors cancellation">{{cite news |last1=Hirsch |first1=Lynda |title=Daytime dial: Surgery didn't save 'Doctors' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87963896/daytime-dial-surgery-didnt-save-docto/ |access-date=October 29, 2021 |work=The News and Observer |agency=Field Newspaper Syndicate |date=December 14, 1982 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=TV Observer 2 |language=English}}</ref>

Amid indications that Durham Life was as willing to preempt NBC programming as the Everetts had been despite a more powerful signal, Channel 28 still faced the audience-loyalty problems it had under Triangle Telecasters. As NBC's ratings slump worsened, WPTF's already frosty relationship with NBC became even chillier. Even the network's few hits at the time, such as ''[[Diff'rent Strokes]]'' and ''[[The Rockford Files]]'', performed poorly for the station,<ref name="Top-rated NBC shows perform poorly on WPTF">{{cite news |last1=Morrison |first1=Bill |title=ABC takes the Triangle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86648074/abc-takes-the-triangle/ |access-date=October 9, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=January 9, 1979 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=TV Observer 3 |language=English |archive-date=October 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009221814/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86648074/abc-takes-the-triangle/ |url-status=live }}</ref> a problem compounded when NBC programming head [[Fred Silverman]]'s theory of a "living schedule" did not generate the same success as it did at ABC.<ref name="Fred Silverman and the Living Schedule">{{cite news |last1=Boyer |first1=Peter J. |title='Living schedule' becomes stable this fall on NBC |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87636186/living-schedule-becomes-stable-this/ |access-date=October 29, 2021 |work=The Bradenton Herald |agency=Associated Press |date=August 24, 1979 |location=Bradenton, FL |page=17 |language=English |archive-date=November 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101013031/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87636186/living-schedule-becomes-stable-this/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Channel 28's stronger signal did not result in a boost for its news ratings; in November 1979, WRAL's 6 p.m. newscast attracted a 30 rating, WTVD's a 16, and WPTF-TV's a measly 1.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72008298/|accessdate=February 24, 2021|title=WPTF-TV news director resigns|page=20|work=The News & Observer|date=December 15, 1979}}</ref> In 1981, Durham Life reorganized as a holding company, Durham Corporation; the reorganized company fended off two hostile takeover attempts later in the decade. While the radio stations continued to make money,<ref name="Durham Corp attempted takeover">{{cite news |last1=Hill |first1=Thom |title=Durham Corp. target of investment firm |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85050549/durham-corp-target-of-investment-firm/ |access-date=September 13, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=February 28, 1984 |location=Raleigh, NC |pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85050595/ 10D] |language=English |archive-date=September 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914012727/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85050549/durham-corp-target-of-investment-firm/ |url-status=live }}</ref>the broadcasting division posted losses because of channel 28.<ref name="recuperating">{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72008422/|accessdate=February 24, 2021|date=February 7, 1982|first=Doug|last=McInnis|title=TV chief leaves recuperating station|work=The News & Observer|page=8D}}</ref> ItDurham Life also continued to preempt NBC programming, albeit less often than the 1970s. Citing a scheduling problem with a syndicated special, WPTF-TV preempted [[Maya Angelou]]'s TV movie ''[[Sister, Sister (1982 film)|Sister, Sister]]'' when NBC aired it, despite its being set in North Carolina and despite Angelou teaching at [[Wake Forest University]].<ref name="Maya Angelou TV-movie pre-emption">{{cite news |title=Angelou drama pre-empted |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84757388/angelou-drama-pre-empted/ |access-date=September 7, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=June 8, 1982 |page=4B |language=English |archive-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907082104/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84757388/angelou-drama-pre-empted/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The station defended its programming philosophy by pointing to its most acclaimed and popular examples of first-run syndicated programs, such as ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', and TV movies from [[Operation Prime Time]].<ref name="The Muppet Show">{{cite news |last1=Morrison |first1=Bill |title=A season of confusion |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85002131/ |access-date=September 14, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=September 6, 1978 |location=Raleigh, NC |pages=TV Observer 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85002178/a-season-of-confusion-part-2/ 3] |language=English}}</ref>

Channel 28 also justified its reliance on syndicated programs by pointing out how they got higher ratings than its nightly news broadcasts. WPTF-TV dropped its 11:00 p.m. newscast in 1982, moving its early-evening newscast to 5:30 and delaying the ''[[NBC Nightly News]]'' to 7:00 p.m. so it could air ''[[Star Trek: The Original Series|Star Trek]]'' instead.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Calloway |first1=James |title=WPTF-TV shake-up drops 11 p.m. news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84752509/wptf-tv-shake-up-drops-11-pm-news/ |access-date=September 14, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=April 22, 1982 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=10B |archive-date=September 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914012726/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84752509/wptf-tv-shake-up-drops-11-pm-news/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It also dropped ''[[NBC News Overnight]],'', arguing to a local newspaper that the station would lose money on the show compared to just showing nothing at all and signing off after ''[[Late Night with David Letterman]]''.<ref name="NBC News Overnight">{{cite news |last1=Morrison |first1=Bill |title=Two gains and great loss |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85560279/two-gains-and-great-loss/ |access-date=October 6, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=July 27, 1982 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=TV Observer 3 |language=English |archive-date=October 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006230139/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85560279/two-gains-and-great-loss/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The following year, longform evening newscasts were dropped altogether, replaced with brief cut-ins throughout the day. The closest thing to a newscast on the station was a half-hour weekday newsmagazine, ''North Carolina Today''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Morrison |first1=Bill |title=Good night, Ken and Kim |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85003589/good-night-ken-and-kim/ |access-date=September 14, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=March 29, 1983 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=TV Observer 3}}</ref>

WRAL and WTVD switched affiliations in 1985 after WTVD's owner, [[Capital Cities Communications]], bought ABC. Despite an ad campaign designed to poke fun at itthe change, saying "you know where to find us" to point out that NBC was still in the same place,<ref>{{cite news |title=24 Reasons Why WPTF is NBC |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84883365/wptf-you-know-where-to-find-us/ |access-date=September 7, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |location=Raleigh, NC |page=5E |archive-date=September 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907082106/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84883365/wptf-you-know-where-to-find-us/ |url-status=live }}</ref> WPTF-TV saw practically no windfall from the switch~~. Normally, when two stations in a market switched networks, the third station usually exploits the transition, and potential ensuing confusion, to its advantage~~. By the mid-to-late 1980s, even with NBC's powerful prime time lineup leading the network to first place only two years after finishing last, WPTF-TV remained stubbornly last in the Triangle television ratings. It even trailed WLFL, an [[Independent station (North America)|independent station]] (and later, a [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] affiliate) that had only been on the air since 1981. Meanwhile, preemptions of NBC shows continued unabated. The station even preempted the popular prime time dramas ''[[Hill Street Blues]]'' and ''[[St. Elsewhere]]'', prompting over 400 angry calls and letters to the station.<ref name="WPTF pre-emption backlash over Hill Street Blues and St. Elsewhere">{{cite news |title=WPTF-TV catches the heat |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85002344/wptf-tv-catches-the-heat/ |access-date=September 13, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=December 4, 1986 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=45 |language=English |archive-date=September 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914012727/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85002344/wptf-tv-catches-the-heat/ |url-status=live }}</ref> One short-lived NBC daytime show called ''[[Fantasy (game show)|Fantasy]]'' went to UNC–Chapel Hill to hold auditions for guests despite the fact that WPTF-TV refused to air it. The show was canceled after only one season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Weaver |first1=Clinton |title=NBC program carries out students' fantasies |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85562171/nbc-program-carries-out-students-fantas/ |access-date=October 6, 2021 |work=The Daily Tar Heel |date=April 13, 1983 |location=Chapel Hill, NC |page=1 |language=English}}</ref> By this time, NBC was running out of patience with WPTF-TV. According to ''[[Electronic Media]]'' magazine, the network had begun "continuing courtship" of WRAL-TV, a station that rejected the network's overtures out of a desire to avoid a second affiliation switch in three years, going as far as to sweetening the deal by offering the NBC affiliation in Charlotte to Capitol's newly-built [[WJZY]] with WRAL, which would in turn resolve NBC's continued issues with WPCQ-TV in that market.<ref>{{cite news|pages=3, 67|url=https://archive.org/details/sim_televisionweek_1988-02-08_7_6_0|date=February 8, 1988|title=NBC renews affiliate switch efforts in South|work=Electronic Media|first=Diane|last=Mermigas}}</ref>

Durham Corporation was able to make progress and begin making money again in its broadcasting unit in the 1980s. Full-length evening newscasts returned in 1986,<ref name=NandOBuy/> and a year later the company moved WPTF-AM-TV and WQDR to new quarters in the Highwoods office complex costing $1 million. However, it still made very little difference in the ratings. The 6 p.m. edition of ''Newsbeat 28'' not only saw no improvement on the same low ratings it garnered in the previous decade, but it trailed reruns on WLFL of the former NBC sitcom ''[[Gimme a Break!]]'', with WTVD and WRAL maintaining their leads.<ref name="Newsbeat 28 ratings lost to Gimme A Break">{{cite news |last1=Langford |first1=Bob |title=WTVD leads in Nielsen, Arbitron ratings for second time |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80649227/wtvd-leads-in-nielsen-arbitron-ratings/ |access-date=August 21, 2021 |work=The News and Observer |date=March 30, 1988 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=5D |language=English |archive-date=August 21, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210821072720/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80649227/wtvd-leads-in-nielsen-arbitron-ratings/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The next year, WPTF-TV appeared on the cable system in [[Fayetteville, North Carolina|Fayetteville]] for the first time, a move cited as key in increasing station circulation and giving it more parity with WRAL and WTVD.<ref>{{cite news|pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72008622/ 4D]|work=The News & Observer|date=May 3, 1988|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72008738/|title=Broadcaster poised for growth|first=Todd|last=Cohen}}</ref> During this decade, the station broke new ground by broadcasting in 3D<ref>{{cite news |last1=Calloway |first1=James |title=Triangle to see 3-D TV |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84759491/triangle-to-see-3-d-tv/ |access-date=October 6, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=July 4, 1982 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=7E |language=English |archive-date=October 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006230142/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84759491/triangle-to-see-3-d-tv/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and stereo sound<ref name="WPTF in stereo">{{cite news |title=WTVD in May outrates WRAL for the 1st time |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84762562/wtvd-in-may-outrates-wral-for-the-1st-ti/ |access-date=October 6, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=June 19, 1985 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=11A|language=English}}</ref> before other stations (and in the case of the latter, ahead of the network itself) while also being the first station in the area to accept condom ads.<ref name="Condom ads">{{cite news |title=WPTF-TV to air ads for condoms |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86000769/wptf-tv-to-air-ads-for-condoms/ |access-date=October 6, 2021 |agency=Associated Press |date=February 6, 1987 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=2D |work=The News & Observer |language=English |archive-date=October 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006230137/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86000769/wptf-tv-to-air-ads-for-condoms/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In August 1989, Durham Corporation opted to focus on its core insurance business and announced it was placing WPTF-TV up for sale.<ref name=NandOBuy>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72008863/|accessdate=February 24, 2021|title=Durham Life Broadcasting seeks buyer for WPTF-TV|first=Todd|last=Cohen|work=The News & Observer|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72008903/ 7A]}}</ref> Durham Life sought as much as $45 million for the station.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/59816415/|accessdate=February 24, 2021|date=August 23, 1989|work=The News & Observer|first=Bob|last=Langford|title=What's in store for WPTF-TV? Some predictions|page=6D}}</ref> Nature, however, derailed the station's attempts to turn its fortunes around. On December 10, 1989, WPTF-TV's three-year-old tower near [[Auburn, North Carolina|Auburn]] collapsed in an ice storm that also brought down the nearby tower of WRAL-TV.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63197619/|accessdate=February 24, 2021|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63197748/tv-towers-off-us-70-collapse/ 12A]|title=Ice causes 2 TV towers to collapse|first=Michael|last=Haddigan|work=The News & Observer|date=December 11, 1989}}</ref> The next day, Durham Corporation took WPTF-TV off the market due to the collapse; it had received lesser offers than it had expected.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63197836/|accessdate=February 24, 2021|date=December 12, 1989|title=Durham Corp. takes WPTF-TV off market|pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72009186/ 3D]|work=The News & Observer|first=C.E.|last=Yandle}}</ref> The first signs of trouble came earlier that year when a less severe ice storm still proved strong enough to knock the station off the air for 10 hours so maintenance workers could replace parts of a damaged transmission line.<ref>{{cite news |title=WPTF to be off air for 10 hours |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85582907/wptf-to-be-off-air-for-10-hours/ |access-date=October 6, 2021 |work=The News and Observer |date=March 12, 1989 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=26A |language=English |archive-date=October 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006230140/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85582907/wptf-to-be-off-air-for-10-hours/ |url-status=live }}</ref> After temporarily broadcasting some programs over WYED-TV (channel 17) from Goldsboro and [[WRPX-TV|WFCT]] (channel 62) in Fayetteville,<ref name="News891213">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63218211/wptf-tv-is-on-the-air/|date=December 13, 1989|page=45|title=WPTF-TV is on the air!|newspaper=The News and Observer|location=Raleigh, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 12, 2022}}</ref> WPTF reactivated its old ~~tower~~transmission facility near Apex, which it had used from 1978 to 1986, allowing the station to resume its broadcasts on channel 28 as usual.<ref name="News891220">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/63198264/when-the-towers-come-tumbling-down/|date=December 20, 1989|page=5D|title=When the towers come tumbling down|newspaper=The News and Observer|location=Raleigh, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 12, 2022}}</ref> That same tower was dismantled several years later and then donated to [[classical music|classical]] radio station [[WCPE-FM]], who reassembled it at a spot near its studios in [[Wake Forest, North Carolina|Wake Forest]] in 1993.<ref name="News920414">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92409582/wcpe-will-play-musical-towers/|date=April 14, 1992|page=1D|first=C. E.|last=Yandle|title=WCPE will play musical towers|newspaper=The News and Observer|location=Raleigh, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 12, 2022}}</ref> In 1991, WPTF-TV joined WRAL-TV on a newly built {{convert|1,989|ft|m|0|adj=on}} broadcast tower at the latter's previous site, which also housed the signals for WRAL-FM, WQDR-FM, and aseveral ~~couple of~~local [[low-power broadcasting#Television|low-power television]] stations ~~in the area~~.<ref name="News901212">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87420769/the-towering-implications-of-one-cold-da/|date=December 12, 1990|page=8D|title=The towering implications of one cold day|newspaper=The News and Observer|location=Raleigh, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 12, 2022}}</ref>

Even when WPTF-TV began broadcasting on its own signal again, its nightly newscasts remained in the ratings basement, ~~and~~frequently ~~were was frequently~~being trounced by the newscasts on WRAL-TV and WTVD and reruns on WLFL. The station had also lost some ratings momentum with the tower collapse.{{r|News901212}} In September 1990, ~~Channel~~channel 28 tried moving the 6 p.m. newscast to 7 p.m., displacing ''[[Hard Copy (TV program)|Hard Copy]]'' (a rare ratings success for the station) and airing after ''NBC Nightly News'' instead of before it, with ''[[Cheers]]'' reruns taking its old time slot.<ref name="WPTF moves news to 7">{{cite news |last1=Langford |first1=Bob |title=WPTF to move news to 7 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72009467/wptf-to-move-news-to-7/ |access-date=September 5, 2021 |work=The News and Observer |date=September 12, 1990 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=5D |language=English |archive-date=September 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905093202/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72009467/wptf-to-move-news-to-7/ |url-status=live }}</ref> By this time, lead anchor and producer Terry Thill had been replaced by Ben Garrett. Moving the early newscast ~~actually~~failed ~~made~~to ~~ratings~~improve ~~worse~~ratings, as it now had to compete with ''[[Jeopardy!]]'' on WTVD and ''[[Entertainment Tonight]]'' on WRAL. By this time, their higher-rated competitors were also airing pre-6 p.m. newscasts. The firing of Terry Thill ultimately proved to be a grim harbinger of things to come for the news division.<ref name="The Thill is gone">{{cite news |last1=Langford |first1=Bob |title=The Thill is gone; what's next for WPTF |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84747164/the-thill-is-gone-whats-next-for-wptf/ |access-date=September 5, 2021 |work=The News and Observer |date=December 15, 1990 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=43 |archive-date=September 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905093203/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84747164/the-thill-is-gone-whats-next-for-wptf/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On top of that, the whole of Durham Life Broadcasting was suffering bad publicity due to Laurel Smith, general manager of WQDR-FM, facing accusations of sexual harassment by male employees while she was also involved in a child custody case with her ex-husband; a memo by company president Felton P. Coley told employees of the company's radio and TV stations, WPTF-TV included, not to talk about it publicly, a point made moot when she resigned.<ref name="Laurel Smith case">{{cite news |last1=Bailey |first1=Sean |title=Trial puts focus on personnel; sexual harassment by woman alleged |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84747839/trial-puts-focus-on-personnel/ |access-date=September 5, 2021 |work=The News and Observer |date=December 13, 1990 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=1B, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84747875/ 2B] |archive-date=September 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905091422/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84747839/trial-puts-focus-on-personnel/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Laurel Smith resignation">{{cite news |title=Woman involved in custody dispute resigns job |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84747960/woman-involved-in-custody-dispute-resign/ |access-date=September 5, 2021 |work=The News and Observer |date=February 28, 1991 |page=2B |language=English}}</ref>

===Sale to FSF TV===

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While the company initially announced plans to retain its broadcasting properties,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72009212/|accessdate=February 24, 2021|date=November 17, 1990|title=Durham Life to keep its stations|first=Bob|last=Langford|page=9D|work=The News & Observer}}</ref> the interest of buyers in Durham Life itself resulted in a deal. Bev W. Landstreet III, an investor from [[Nashville, Tennessee]], and owner of Financial Securities Fund L.P., had been attempting to buy Durham Corporation and its $8.2 billion portfolio of life insurance policies since 1983. When Durham instead opted to sell itself to Capital Holding of [[Louisville, Kentucky]], Landstreet got the consolation prize: Durham Life Broadcasting.<ref name="Tenn910419">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92822424/tv-deal-may-end-insurance-buyout-try/|date=April 19, 1991|page=1F, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92822509/ 4F]|first=Ed|last=Gregory|title=TV deal may end insurance buyout try|newspaper=The Tennessean|location=Nashville, Tennessee|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 17, 2022}}</ref> Landstreet immediately sold the radio stations to [[Curtis Media Group]]. He then formed FSF TV, Inc. to acquire channel 28, with Paul Brissette, a [[Boca Raton, Florida]]-based investor and president of [[Adams Communications|Adams Television]], as a minority partner. The new owners hired Vickie ~~Street, former~~Street—former general manager of Adams-owned [[WWAY]], the ABC affiliate in ~~Wilmington, as~~Wilmington—as general manager, answering directly to Brissette.<ref name="Vickie Street general manager">{{cite news |last1=Marshall |first1=Kyle |title=New WPTF owners eye bottom line |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84748914/new-wptf-owners-eye-bottom-line/ |access-date=October 20, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |location=Raleigh, NC |page=6C |language=English |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020055726/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84748914/new-wptf-owners-eye-bottom-line/ |url-status=live |date=August 2, 1991}}</ref> Almost as soon as FSF took control in late July 1991, Brissette canceled the evening newscasts and fired virtually the entire news department. The news staffers were told of the decision just before the scheduled start of the 7 p.m. newscast, and given just two hours to pack their things. Station officials said that the newscasts had not budged from last place despite numerous attempts at improvements.<ref name="FSF and Brissette">{{cite news |first1=Kyle |last1=Marshall |first2=Bob |last2=Langford |title=New owners cancel WPTF news shows |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84749074/new-owners-cancel-wptf-news-shows/ |access-date=October 19, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=August 1, 1991 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=7C |language=English |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020055723/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84749074/new-owners-cancel-wptf-news-shows/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Brissette said that the newscasts' ratings were the most anemic he had seen in all of his years in television; they only attracted a two percent share at the time of their cancellation. This led Brissette and Landstreet to conclude that it would not be worth the effort to spend the money it would take to make the newscasts viable.<ref name="money">{{cite news|title=Owners turn WRDC into money maker|pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51789347/ 2D]|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51789310/|date=November 12, 1991|access-date=May 20, 2020|work=The News & Observer|first=Kyle|last=Marshall}}</ref> Brissette also shuttered the public affairs department.<ref name=betray/> The call sign was then changed to WRDC on October 25, 1991, after the three major cities in the Triangle (Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill); the station branded as "TRI-28" (later rendered as "TRY-28").<ref name="News911025">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84748471/wptf-tv-changes-call-letters-today/|date=October 25, 1991|page=1D|title=WPTF-TV changes call letters today|newspaper=The News and Observer|location=Raleigh, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 17, 2022}}</ref>

FSF was able to make the station profitable almost immediately, but faced the perception that it believed in making money rather than being a part of the community.<ref name="money"/> In particular, the loss of news programming assured little to no goodwill from NBC about the future direction of the station. One disgruntled ex-employee bitterly suggested that the station's new call sign stood for "We Really Don't Care",<ref>{{cite news|title=Name change obvious|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53017934/|access-date=June 7, 2020|newspaper=The News & Observer|first=Michael|last=Butzgy|date=November 9, 1991|page=13A}}</ref> while another compared the situation to the last episode of ''[[The Mary Tyler Moore Show]]'' in which the new owners of the fictional WJM fired all the employees of the nightly newscast except Ted Baxter.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Langford |first1=Bob |title=News gone, but not up in flames |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84748869/news-gone-but-not-up-in-flames/ |access-date=October 20, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=August 2, 1991 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=1A |language=English |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020055725/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84748869/news-gone-but-not-up-in-flames/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Some argued that a last-place newscast was better than nothing<ref name=betray>{{cite news |last1=Langford |first1=Bob |title=PTF Betrays the Viewers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84748940/ptf-owners-betray-the-viewers/ |access-date=October 20, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=August 2, 1991 |location=Raleigh, NC |pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84748995/ 6D] |language=English |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020055651/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84748940/ptf-owners-betray-the-viewers/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and that the Triangle needed more than two functioning news departments to adequately cover the market.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shafer |first1=Barry |title=The People's Forum: WPTF newscast needed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84748826/the-peoples-forum/ |access-date=October 20, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=August 9, 1991 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=18A |language=English |quote=An area the size of the Triangle needs a third local news program to better serve the public. |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020055652/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/84748826/the-peoples-forum/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Meanwhile, several stations in which Brissette had controlling interest not only had full-fledged newscasts, but successful ones as well.{{r|money}} The station continued to employ a single anchor/reporter to helm local cut-ins that would air in and around NBC network shows and syndicated programming. Even these news briefs were canceled in 1994, two years after WLFL had launched a 10 p.m. newscast, leaving WRDC as little more than a "pass-through" for network and syndicated programming. However, like its predecessors, FSF continued to preempt NBC shows to make more money off of airing Billy Graham crusades and other fare.<ref name="News921202">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87418610/spy-is-great-television-if-you-can-s/|date=December 2, 1992|page=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87418660/ 2D]|title='Spy' is great television — if you can see it|newspaper=The News and Observer|location=Raleigh, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 17, 2022}}</ref>

===Switch from NBC to UPN===

In March 1994, FSF sold channel 28 to [[Communications Corporation of America]], headed by Tom Galloway.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Marshall |first1=Kyle |title=WRDC owners OK sale |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87405933/wrdc-owners-ok-sale/ |access-date=October 20, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=March 10, 1994 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=8C |language=English |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020055649/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87405933/wrdc-owners-ok-sale/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite hopes that Galloway would do something to fix what ''News & Observer'' media critic Bob Langford called "the worst NBC affiliate in the country,", the ownership change would not be enough to save channel 28's affiliation with NBC.<ref name="Fix"/> By this time, NBC's patience with WRDC had been exhausted after over a quarter-century of mediocrity at best on channel 28. It had perennially been one of NBC's weakest affiliates, even during its nationwide ratings dominance. The station's lackluster ratings in what had become one of the fastest-growing markets in the country were a particular embarrassment for a network still capitalizing on the success of the [[Must See TV]] campaign. Continuing preemptions and Brissette's all-but-nonexistent commitment to local news did not help matters.<ref name="Fix">{{cite news |last1=Langford |first1=Bob |title=Will new owner fix WRDC? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87416444/will-new-owner-fix-wrdc/ |access-date=October 31, 2021 |work=The News and Observer |date=March 16, 1994 |location=Raleigh, NC |pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92405144/ 7D] |language=English |archive-date=November 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101013028/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87416444/will-new-owner-fix-wrdc/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

NBC began to look to move its programming to another station at the end of its affiliation agreement with channel 28. Unlike in the 1970s, itthe ~~had~~establishment ~~options~~of ~~this~~new ~~time~~television ~~around~~stations toin gothe ~~elsewhere~~Triangle and ~~get a better arrangement, thanks in no small part to~~ cable leveling the playing field between VHF and UHF outlets ~~and~~gave aNBC ~~deregulatory-minded~~flexibility ~~FCC~~in ~~ceasing~~selecting ~~active~~a ~~promotion~~new oflocal ~~the~~outlet ~~development~~for ofits ~~UHF,~~programs. ~~leaving~~In it1994, toNBC ~~market~~selected ~~forces.~~WYED-TV It(channel ~~believed~~17, itsoon ~~had~~to ~~found a replacement in~~become [[WNCN]] ~~(channel 17, formerly WYED-TV~~), licensed to Goldsboro but located just outside Raleigh in [[Clayton, North Carolina|Clayton]]. WNCN had recently boosted its signal to 5 million watts to provide greater coverage to the Triangle. Additionally, channel 17's new owner, [[Outlet Communications]], had very good relations with NBC; it owned [[WJAR-TV]] in [[Providence, Rhode Island]], and [[WCMH-TV]] in [[Columbus, Ohio]], which were two of NBC's strongest and longest-standing affiliates.<ref name="News940817">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87416013/will-nbc-jump-to-wyed/|date=August 17, 1994|page=41|title=Will NBC jump to WYED?|newspaper=The News and Observer|location=Raleigh, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 12, 2022}}</ref> Although WNCN had just affiliated with the new [[The WB|WB Television Network]], NBC quickly cut a deal with Outlet to move its Triangle affiliation to WNCN on October 1, 1995, the day channel 28's affiliation agreement expired.<ref name="News941109">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53018088/nbc-wrdc-to-split/|date=November 9, 1994|page=43|title=NBC, WRDC to split|newspaper=The News and Observer|location=Raleigh, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 12, 2022}}</ref>

WRDC took on a secondary affiliation with [[UPN]] when that network launched in January. However, in anticipation of the switch, it began branding itself as "UPN 28" and all but stopped promoting NBC programming outside network hours; it also delayed UPN's Monday and Tuesday night slates to air on Friday and Saturday nights instead of NBC's weak prime time lineup,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51789835/tangled-nets-trap-trekkies/|title=Tangled nets trap Trekkies|date=January 18, 1995|page=1E|first=Bob|last=Langford|work=The News & Observer|access-date=June 7, 2020|archive-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608062512/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51789835/tangled-nets-trap-trekkies/|url-status=live}}</ref> which WNCN aired on those nights until September.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51789995/wncn-to-be-part-of-nbc/|title=WNCN to be part of NBC|work=The News & Observer|first=Kyle|last=Marshall|date=August 4, 1995|pages=9C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53017699/ 10C]|access-date=June 7, 2020|archive-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608062512/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51789995/wncn-to-be-part-of-nbc/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The switchover took place on September 10, 1995—a month earlier than planned, by mutual agreement between the two ~~stations, ending~~stations—ending a 27-year partnership between channel 28 and NBC under four different owners. WNCN became the sole NBC affiliate in the Triangle, while WRDC became an exclusive UPN affiliate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51790135/heres-news-wncn-going-to-nbc-early/|title=Here's news: WNCN going to NBC early|date=August 18, 1995|access-date=June 7, 2020|work=The News & Observer|first=Bob|last=Langford|pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53017758/ 3D]|archive-date=June 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608062511/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/51790135/heres-news-wncn-going-to-nbc-early/|url-status=live}}</ref> That fall, ~~The~~the WB affiliation intended for WNCN went to newly launched [[WRAZ (TV)|WRAZ]] (channel 50), operated by WRAL-TV under a [[local marketing agreement]], with the understanding that the new station would switch affiliations with WLFL three years later.<ref name="WLFL/WRAZ affiliation switch of 1998">{{cite news |last1=Eisenstadt |first1=Steven |title=WRAZ to become Fox affiliate in the Triangle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87414636/wraz-to-become-fox-affiliate-in-triangle/ |access-date=October 31, 2021 |work=The News and Observer |date=December 21, 1995 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=9C |language=English |archive-date=November 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101013034/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87414636/wraz-to-become-fox-affiliate-in-triangle/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In the wake of the switch, WRDC picked up several syndicated shows that WNCN no longer had time to air. This left WRDC with mostly talk shows on its daytime lineup.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pollak |first1=Lisa |title=Talk, talk, talk |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87409642/talk-talk-talk/ |access-date=October 20, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=September 18, 1995 |location=Raleigh, NC |pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87412663/ 7C] |language=English |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020055649/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87409642/talk-talk-talk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>By then, Communications Corporation of America had contracted with Sinclair Broadcast Group, which was purchasing WLFL, to combine the two stations' operations under a [[local marketing agreement]]. Although WLFL was the senior partner in the LMA, the merged operation was housed at the former WRDC facility.<ref name="News940930">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53018039/view-from-the-cellar-at-wrdc/|date=September 30, 1994|page=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87414834/view-from-the-cellar-at-wrdc-part-2/ 5D]|first=Bob|last=Langford|title=View from the cellar at WRDC|newspaper=The News and Observer|location=Raleigh, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 12, 2022}}</ref> WRDC was then sold to Glencairn Ltd., nominally headed by former Sinclair executive Edwin Edwards. However, the Smith family, founders and owners of Sinclair, held 97% of Glencairn's stock; for all intents and purposes, Sinclair now owned both stations. Similar arrangements were in place at Glencairn's other eight stations, leading to allegations that Sinclair was using Glencairn to make an end-run around FCC rules forbidding television station [[duopoly (broadcasting)|duopolies]]. Ties between WRDC and Sinclair were apparent even before the sale to Glencairn; Sinclair had put up 98 percent of the money Communications Corporation of America had used to buy WRDC. The FCC eventually fined Sinclair $40,000 for its illegal control of Glencairn but approved its direct acquisition of the Glencairn stations in 2001, after duopolies were legalized.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 23, 2000 |title=Sinclair's slap on the wrist |work=Milwaukee Business Journal |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2001/12/24/editorial1.html |access-date=January 12, 2022 |archive-date=December 4, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031204133508/http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2001/12/24/editorial1.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="News940930"/>

With WRDC now a full-time UPN affiliate, it no longer had a decent amount of programming to preempt, solving that long-standing problem. UPN only programmed on Monday and Tuesday nights at the time, and would never air any programming on weekends. WRDC also picked up several syndicated shows that WNCN no longer had time to air. This left WRDC with mostly talk shows on its daytime lineup.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pollak |first1=Lisa |title=Talk, talk, talk |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87409642/talk-talk-talk/ |access-date=October 20, 2021 |work=The News & Observer |date=September 18, 1995 |location=Raleigh, NC |pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87412663/ 7C] |language=English |archive-date=October 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020055649/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87409642/talk-talk-talk/ |url-status=live }}</ref>By then, Communications Corporation of America had contracted with Sinclair Broadcast Group, which was purchasing WLFL, to combine the two stations' operations under a [[local marketing agreement]]. Although WLFL was the senior partner in the LMA, the merged operation was housed at the former WRDC facility.<ref name="News940930">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53018039/view-from-the-cellar-at-wrdc/|date=September 30, 1994|page=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87414834/view-from-the-cellar-at-wrdc-part-2/ 5D]|first=Bob|last=Langford|title=View from the cellar at WRDC|newspaper=The News and Observer|location=Raleigh, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 12, 2022}}</ref> WRDC was then sold to Glencairn Ltd., nominally headed by former Sinclair executive Edwin Edwards. However, the Smith family, founders and owners of Sinclair, held 97% of Glencairn's stock; for all intents and purposes, Sinclair now owned both stations. Similar arrangements were in place at Glencairn's other eight stations, leading to allegations that Sinclair was using Glencairn to make an end-run around FCC rules forbidding television station [[duopoly (broadcasting)|duopolies]]. Ties between WRDC and Sinclair were apparent even before the sale to Glencairn; Sinclair had put up 98 percent of the money Communications Corporation of America had used to buy WRDC. The FCC eventually fined Sinclair $40,000 for its illegal control of Glencairn but approved its direct acquisition of the Glencairn stations in 2001, after duopolies were legalized.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 23, 2000 |title=Sinclair's slap on the wrist |work=Milwaukee Business Journal |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2001/12/24/editorial1.html |access-date=2022-01-12 |archive-date=December 4, 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031204133508/http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2001/12/24/editorial1.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="News940930"/>

===As a MyNetworkTV affiliate===

On January 24, 2006, [[WarnerMedia|Time Warner]] and [[CBS Corporation]] announced that The WB and UPN (which had only used its initials as its official name since 2000) would merge their higher-rated programs onto a new network, [[The CW]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seid |first=Jessica |date=January 24, 2006 |title='Gilmore Girls' meet 'Smackdown'; CW Network to combine WB, UPN in CBS-Warner venture beginning in September |url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/cbs_warner/ |website=[[CNN Business|CNN Money]] |publisher=CNN |access-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-date=March 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170316043531/http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/24/news/companies/cbs_warner/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Bill |date=January 24, 2006 |title=UPN and WB to Combine, Forming New TV Network |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/business/media/24cnd-network.html?bl |website=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=February 22, 2017 |archive-date=October 17, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017035638/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/24/business/media/24cnd-network.html?bl |url-status=live }}</ref> The news of the merger resulted in Sinclair announcing, two months later, that most of its UPN and WB affiliates, including WRDC, would join [[MyNetworkTV]], a new service formed by the [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]], which is also owner of the Fox network.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/102922-News_Corp_Unveils_My_Network_TV.php|title=News Corp. Unveils MyNetworkTV|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|date=February 22, 2006|access-date=June 15, 2013|archive-date=April 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417165134/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/102922-News_Corp_Unveils_My_Network_TV.php|url-status=live}}</ref> ~~Sister station~~ WLFL, which had been a WB affiliate since 1998, took the CW affiliation a few months later.<ref name="News060504">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92825049/wb-22-to-get-new-newscasts/|date=May 4, 2006|page=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/92825156/ 3D]|first=David|last=Ranii|title=WB 22 to get new newscasts|newspaper=The News & Observer|location=Raleigh, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=January 17, 2022}}</ref>

On May 15, 2012, Sinclair and Fox agreed to a five-year affiliation agreement extension for Sinclair's 19 Fox-affiliated stations until 2017. This included an option, exercisable between July 1, 2012, and March 31, 2013, for Fox parent News Corporation to buy a combination of six Sinclair-owned stations (two CW/MyNetworkTV duopolies and two standalone MyNetworkTV affiliates) in three out of four markets; WLFL and WRDC were included in the Fox purchase option, along with stations in [[Cincinnati]] ([[WSTR-TV]]), [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]] ([[WTVZ]]) and [[Las Vegas]] ([[KVCW]] and [[KSNV|KVMY]]).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/59463/sinclair-reups-with-fox-gets-wutb-option|title=Sinclair Reups With Fox, Gets WUTB Option|work=TVNewsCheck|date=May 15, 2012|access-date=May 15, 2012|archive-date=May 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509075210/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/59463/sinclair-reups-with-fox-gets-wutb-option|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2013, Fox announced that it would not exercise its option to buy any of the Sinclair stations in the four aforementioned markets.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/65306/sinclair-in-an-acquisition-state-of-mind|title=Sinclair In An Acquisition State Of Mind|work=TVNewsCheck|date=February 6, 2013|access-date=February 6, 2013|archive-date=May 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509065728/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/65306/sinclair-in-an-acquisition-state-of-mind|url-status=live}}</ref>

~~==Syndicated programming==~~

In addition to the MyNetworkTV schedule, syndicated programming on WRDC includes ''[[The Simpsons]]'' (which began its syndication run on the station its last year as an NBC affiliate before moving to WLFL<ref name="Simpsons rerun premiere on WRDC">{{cite news |last1=Richmond |first1=Ray |title='Simpsons' in syndication, off in new directions on Fox |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87400938/simpsons-in-syndication-off-in-new-di/ |access-date=October 31, 2021 |work=The News and Observer |agency=Los Angeles Daily News |date=September 21, 1994 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=55 |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Estes |first1=Chris |title=TV tonight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/87417426/tv-tonight-bob-hope-is-on-the-simpsons/ |access-date=October 31, 2021 |work=The News and Observer |date=July 3, 1995 |location=Raleigh, NC |page=24 |language=English}}</ref>), ''[[Family Guy]]'' (another former WLFL holdover), ''[[Bob's Burgers]]'', ''[[Two and a Half Men]]'', ''[[Law and Order: Special Victims Unit]]'', ''[[Judge Mathis]]'', ''[[Divorce Court]]'', ''[[The People's Court]]'', ''[[25 Words or Less (game show)|25 Words or Less]]'', and ''Kickin' It with [[Byron Allen]]''.

==Technical information==