WTVJ-TV (NBC) moved from channel 4 to channel 6. WCIX-TV (CBS) moved from channel 6 to channel 4 and becomes WFOR-TV. Once again, WPLG, channel 10, remains an ABC affiliate.
In 1994, CBS and Westinghouse (Group W) Broadcasting signed a long-term affiliation deal, part of which resulted in three Westinghouse-owned stations becoming CBS affiliates. As a sidebar, a subsequent deal between NBC and a new Group W/CBS joint venture was made in 1995, with CBS selling the channel 6 facility to NBC as compensation for the loss of two Westinghouse-owned NBC affiliates, in Philadelphia and Boston. In return, Group W/CBS received the stronger channel 4 facility and cash as compensation for the loss of WCAU-TV in Philadelphia, which was being acquired by NBC. NBC also included stations in Denver and Salt Lake City in the trade off to Group W/CBS.
At 1:00 a.m. on September 10, 1995, WCIX and WTVJ swapped dial positions. The entire WCIX intellectual unit (including programming and staff) moved from channel 6 to channel 4, thus returning CBS programming to channel 4 after a six-year hiatus. WTVJ had been Miami's CBS affiliate from its sign-on in 1949 until the 1989 switch to NBC. Along with the frequency change came a new set of call letters, WFOR-TV. However, WFOR's studios remained the same as they were when the station was on channel 6. Even though the FCC regards channel 4 as changing its call letters from WTVJ to WFOR on September 10, the stations themselves did not change hands, only the transmitting facilities. ([1], [2]) As a result, WFOR operates with the original WTVJ license, while the present WTVJ operates using WCIX's license.
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