WHTN

Channel 39 had a disappointing ratings debut. In June 1984, its first ratings book after signing on, WFYZ's audience was too small for [[Nielsen Media Research|A. C. Nielsen]] or [[Arbitron]] to generate a rating; according to Arbitron, its afternoon block of children's programming was the only significant source of viewership. This was in stark contrast to a Nashville station that had signed on less than two months later, [[WCAY-TV]] (channel 30), owned by the [[TVX Broadcast Group]]. The June 1984 ratings book showed WCAY with three percent of the total viewing audience; this, in turn, was behind Nashville's established independent, [[WZTV]] (channel 17).<ref name="Tenn840628">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-mays-ratings-give-ch-4/125415379/|date=June 28, 1984|page=1-D|first=Diane|last=Bartley|title=May's Ratings Give Ch. 4 Something To Crow About|newspaper=The Tennessean|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --> The arrival of WCAY-TV compounded many of the station's problems.<ref name="Tenn840907">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-ch-39s-new-policy-they/115393124/|date=September 7, 1984|pages=1-D, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-ch-39s-new-policy-lea/115393049/ 10-D]|first=Diane|last=Bartley|title=Ch. 39's New Policy: They're Getting 'Lean and Mean'|newspaper=The Tennessean|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri --> Seeking to remedy its technical problems, the station applied in September 1984 to move its tower closer to Nashville, but it could not do so until the allocated but unused channel 42 was moved out of the city.<ref name="Tenn840713">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-ch-39-hopes-to-move-towe/125415574/|date=July 13, 1984|page=3D|first=Diane|last=Bartley|title=Ch. 39 Hopes To Move Tower to Nashville|newspaper=The Tennessean|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri --> Months after going on the air, it had become apparent that WFYZ would be a challenge.<ref name="Dail840708">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-journal-will-tv-39-surviv/125415541/|date=July 8, 1984|page=6B|title=Will TV 39 survive the rating battles? With $8 million invested, an ABC veteran leads a racially-mixed staff into combat|first=Ed|last=Kimbrell|newspaper=The Daily News-Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sun --> Amid persistent rumors, one of the major stockholders, Bill Geissler, told ''The Tennessean'' on September 1 that the station was "here to stay" in spite of its troubles.<ref name="Tenn840901">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-despite-low-ratings-ch/125415818/|date=September 1, 1984|page=4-D|first=Diane|last=Bartley|title=Despite Low Ratings, Ch. 39 'Here To Stay'|newspaper=The Tennessean|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat --> On September 5, general manager Holt resigned and ownership announced it would cut back the station's hours of operation, most notably going from a 6 a.m. sign-on to a 3 p.m. start-up;<ref name="Dail840906">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-journal-money-woes-force/115850265/|date=September 6, 1984|pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-journal-money/115850288/ 2]|first=Curt|last=Anderson|title=Money woes force WFYZ cutback|newspaper=The Daily News-Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --> local productions were halted as the station adopted a 'lean and mean' operating strategy.{{r|Tenn840907}} Debts were piling up to syndicators, radio stations, and Nashville's two daily newspapers; the latter placed the station on their "stop list" of delinquent accounts not to be given additional advertising.<ref name="Tenn840906">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-channel-39-status-left-in/125415915/|date=September 6, 1984|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-shake-up-leaves-channel-3/125415959/ 4A]|first=Diane|last=Bartley|title=Channel 39 Status Left In Question|newspaper=The Tennessean|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023|archive-date=May 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527224640/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-channel-39-status-left-in/125415915/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Tim McDonald, president of TVX, doubted his competitor's strategy, noting that programming costs would continue to be the primary expense and telling ''The Tennessean'', "If you're going to be of service to your viewers, you have to be there. There's no television station in the U.S.—nowhere—that's successful with a part-time on-air schedule."{{r|Tenn840907}} Meanwhile, UPI Media put its only other operating television station, [[WGBO-DT|WFBN-TV]] in [[Joliet, Illinois]], on the market.<ref name="Tenn840921">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-tv-station-put-on-sale-bl/125416186/|date=September 21, 1984|page=7-B|first=Diane|last=Bartley|title=TV Station Put On Sale Block|newspaper=The Tennessean|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri -->

Channel 39 had a disappointing ratings debut. In June 1984, its first ratings book after signing on, WFYZ's audience was too small for [[Nielsen Media Research|A. C. Nielsen]] or [[Arbitron]] to generate a rating; according to Arbitron, its afternoon block of children's programming was the only significant source of viewership. This was in stark contrast to a Nashville station that had signed on less than two months later, [[WCAY-TV]] (channel 30), owned by the [[TVX Broadcast Group]]. The June 1984 ratings book showed WCAY with three percent of the total viewing audience; this, in turn, was behind Nashville's established independent, [[WZTV]] (channel 17).<ref name="Tenn840628">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-mays-ratings-give-ch-4/125415379/|date=June 28, 1984|page=1-D|first=Diane|last=Bartley|title=May's Ratings Give Ch. 4 Something To Crow About|newspaper=The Tennessean|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --> The arrival of WCAY-TV compounded many of the station's problems.<ref name="Tenn840907">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-ch-39s-new-policy-they/115393124/|date=September 7, 1984|pages=1-D, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-ch-39s-new-policy-lea/115393049/ 10-D]|first=Diane|last=Bartley|title=Ch. 39's New Policy: They're Getting 'Lean and Mean'|newspaper=The Tennessean|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri --> Seeking to remedy its technical problems, the station applied in September 1984 to move its tower closer to Nashville, but it could not do so until the allocated but unused channel 42 was moved out of the city.<ref name="Tenn840713">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-ch-39-hopes-to-move-towe/125415574/|date=July 13, 1984|page=3D|first=Diane|last=Bartley|title=Ch. 39 Hopes To Move Tower to Nashville|newspaper=The Tennessean|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri --> Months after going on the air, it had become apparent that WFYZ would be a challenge.<ref name="Dail840708">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-journal-will-tv-39-surviv/125415541/|date=July 8, 1984|page=6B|title=Will TV 39 survive the rating battles? With $8 million invested, an ABC veteran leads a racially-mixed staff into combat|first=Ed|last=Kimbrell|newspaper=The Daily News-Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sun --> Amid persistent rumors, one of the major stockholders, Bill Geissler, told ''The Tennessean'' on September 1 that the station was "here to stay" in spite of its troubles.<ref name="Tenn840901">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-despite-low-ratings-ch/125415818/|date=September 1, 1984|page=4-D|first=Diane|last=Bartley|title=Despite Low Ratings, Ch. 39 'Here To Stay'|newspaper=The Tennessean|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat --> On September 5, general manager Holt resigned and ownership announced it would cut back the station's hours of operation, most notably going from a 6 a.m. sign-on to a 3 p.m. start-up;<ref name="Dail840906">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-journal-money-woes-force/115850265/|date=September 6, 1984|pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-journal-money/115850288/ 2]|first=Curt|last=Anderson|title=Money woes force WFYZ cutback|newspaper=The Daily News-Journal|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --> local productions were halted as the station adopted a 'lean and mean' operating strategy.{{r|Tenn840907}} Debts were piling up to syndicators, radio stations, and Nashville's two daily newspapers; the latter placed the station on their "stop list" of delinquent accounts not to be given additional advertising.<ref name="Tenn840906">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-channel-39-status-left-in/125415915/|date=September 6, 1984|pages=1A, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-shake-up-leaves-channel-3/125415959/ 4A]|first=Diane|last=Bartley|title=Channel 39 Status Left In Question|newspaper=The Tennessean|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023|archive-date=May 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527224640/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-channel-39-status-left-in/125415915/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Tim McDonald, president of TVX, doubted his competitor's strategy, noting that programming costs would continue to be the primary expense and telling ''The Tennessean'', "If you're going to be of service to your viewers, you have to be there. There's no television station in the U.S.—nowhere—that's successful with a part-time on-air schedule."{{r|Tenn840907}} Meanwhile, UPI Media put its only other operating television station, [[WGBO-DT|WFBN-TV]] in [[Joliet, Illinois]], on the market.<ref name="Tenn840921">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-tv-station-put-on-sale-bl/125416186/|date=September 21, 1984|page=7-B|first=Diane|last=Bartley|title=TV Station Put On Sale Block|newspaper=The Tennessean|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri -->

In late September, a new general manager was hired, and WFYZ pivoted its broadcast schedule again to emphasize religious programming in the late morning and early afternoon hours it had just cut back, in part to generate income from the sale of airtime to religious ministries. Only one local show, ''Saturday Nite at the Videos'', remained—because its host paid to air it.<ref name="Tenn840927">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-troubled-ch-39-names-new/125416345/|date=September 27, 1984|page=D-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-troubled-ch-39/125416395/ D-9]|first=Diane|last=Bartley|title=Troubled Ch. 39 Names New Head, Accents Religion|newspaper=The Tennessean|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Programming from the short-lived Prime of Life Network, a Nashville-based service with programming for seniors, was added in December, when the station extended its broadcast day and increased its focus on programming for the Murfreesboro area. By this time, some of the station's former movie packages and syndicated shows had been acquired by WZTV and WCAY-TV.<ref name="Tenn841122">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-ch-39-plans-full-time-br/125416430/|date=November 22, 1984|page=1-D, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-ch-39-plans-full-time/125416479/ 12-D]|first=Diane|last=Bartley|title=Ch. 39 Plans Full-Time Broadcasting|newspaper=The Tennessean|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023|archive-date=May 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527230112/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-ch-39-plans-full-time-br/125416430/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Beginning on April 1, 1985, the station filled most of its broadcast day with [[music video]]s from the Odyssey service and removed many of the remaining syndicated reruns it aired.<ref name="Tenn850326">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-ch-39-rockin-all-night/115390783/|date=March 26, 1985|page=1-D, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-ch-39-rockin/125416304/ 7-D]|first=Diane|last=Bartley|title=Ch. 39 Rockin' All Night Long; Goes 24-Hour, Adds Music Videos|newspaper=The Tennessean|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue -->

In late September, a new general manager was hired, and WFYZ pivoted its broadcast schedule again to emphasize religious programming in the late morning and early afternoon it had just cut back, in part to generate income from the sale of airtime to religious ministries. Only one local show, ''Saturday Nite at the Videos'', remained—because its host paid to air it.<ref name="Tenn840927">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-troubled-ch-39-names-new/125416345/|date=September 27, 1984|page=D-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-troubled-ch-39/125416395/ D-9]|first=Diane|last=Bartley|title=Troubled Ch. 39 Names New Head, Accents Religion|newspaper=The Tennessean|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Programming from the short-lived Prime of Life Network, a Nashville-based service with programming for seniors, was added in December, when the station extended its broadcast day and increased its focus on programming for the Murfreesboro area. By this time, some of the station's former movie packages and syndicated shows had been acquired by WZTV and WCAY-TV.<ref name="Tenn841122">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-ch-39-plans-full-time-br/125416430/|date=November 22, 1984|page=1-D, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-ch-39-plans-full-time/125416479/ 12-D]|first=Diane|last=Bartley|title=Ch. 39 Plans Full-Time Broadcasting|newspaper=The Tennessean|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023|archive-date=May 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527230112/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-ch-39-plans-full-time-br/125416430/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> Beginning on April 1, 1985, the station filled most of its broadcast day with [[music video]]s from the Odyssey service and removed many of the remaining syndicated reruns it aired.<ref name="Tenn850326">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-ch-39-rockin-all-night/115390783/|date=March 26, 1985|page=1-D, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-ch-39-rockin/125416304/ 7-D]|first=Diane|last=Bartley|title=Ch. 39 Rockin' All Night Long; Goes 24-Hour, Adds Music Videos|newspaper=The Tennessean|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue -->

===WHTN: New owners, same problems===

===WHTN: New owners, same problems===