WOFL

WSWB-TV began broadcasting on March 31, 1974. It represented an investment of $3.6 million and was a general-entertainment [[independent station]] with movies, sports, reruns, children's shows, and pre-empted network programming. It also featured a local 10:30 p.m. newscast.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-channel-35-goes-on/53526362/|date=March 31, 1974|page=16-A|title=Channel 35 Goes 'On The Air' Today|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} The 10:30 news used national and international footage from [[Television News Inc.]];{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-tvn-furnishes-news/95900248/|date=April 27, 1974|page= 6-D|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=TVN Furnishes News Alternative|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} it lasted six months before being scrapped.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-new-land-may-prom/158688158/|date=September 28, 1974|page= 8-D|first=Noel|last=Holston|title='New Land' May Prompt Shifts|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} At the outset, WSWB-TV invested heavily in locally produced programs, which included a midday talk show, ''Florida Lifestyle''; two children's shows, ''[[Romper Room]]'' and ''Uncle Hubie's Children's Playhouse''; a teen dance hour, ''Blue Christie's Rock and Roll Sundance''; and the country music program ''The Gene Thomley Show''.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-local-music-series/158688112/|date=June 3, 1974|page=8-D|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=Local Music Series Joins 35's Lineup|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}}

WSWB-TV began broadcasting on March 31, 1974. It represented an investment of $3.6 million and was a general-entertainment [[independent station]] with movies, sports, reruns, children's shows, and pre-empted network programming. It also featured a local 10:30 p.m. newscast.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-channel-35-goes-on/53526362/|date=March 31, 1974|page=16-A|title=Channel 35 Goes 'On The Air' Today|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} The 10:30 news used national and international footage from [[Television News Inc.]];{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-tvn-furnishes-news/95900248/|date=April 27, 1974|page= 6-D|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=TVN Furnishes News Alternative|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} it lasted six months before being scrapped.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-new-land-may-prom/158688158/|date=September 28, 1974|page= 8-D|first=Noel|last=Holston|title='New Land' May Prompt Shifts|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} At the outset, WSWB-TV invested heavily in locally produced programs, which included a midday talk show, ''Florida Lifestyle''; two children's shows, ''[[Romper Room]]'' and ''Uncle Hubie's Children's Playhouse''; a teen dance hour, ''Blue Christie's Rock and Roll Sundance''; and the country music program ''The Gene Thomley Show''.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-local-music-series/158688112/|date=June 3, 1974|page=8-D|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=Local Music Series Joins 35's Lineup|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}}

Within months of signing on the air, WSWB-TV began showing signs of financial strain. In November 1974, [[RCA Corporation|RCA]], a major equipment supplier to the startup station, sued for $2.28 million they alleged they were owed on video tape equipment, which they sought to repossess.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-equipment-firm-sues/158688176/|date=November 7, 1974|page=2-B|title=Equipment Firm Sues Channel 35|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} Sun World countersued, alleging that RCA had breached its contract and claiming loss of advertising sales and reputation after the RCA suit.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-34-million-sought/158688207/|date=November 19, 1974|page=8-A|title=$34 Million Sought In Channel 35 Suit|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} The station spent 1975 fighting for its viability. In June, Sun World agreed to sell WSWB-TV to the Martin International Corporation,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-agreement-reached-o/53526799/|date=June 22, 1975|page= 11-A|title=Agreement Reached On Sale Of Ch. 35|newspaper= Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} though the transaction was not submitted for FCC approval until December 16.{{r|hc}} Meanwhile July 2, leasing company Continental Credit Corporation moved to seize $200,000 of mostly office furnishings from the studios, though the station continued to broadcast.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-troubled-station-st/158688307/|date=July 2, 1975|page=1-B|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=Troubled Station Still On Air|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} Continental pushed for the appointment of a receiver for WSWB-TV, to which Martin objected because it believed such a move would jeopardize the station's [[broadcast license]]; as a compromise, the parent of Sun World, not Sun World itself, was put into receivership.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-channel-35-negotiat/158688361/|date=July 10, 1975|page=B-1|title=Channel 35 Negotiators In Accord|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} Following the appointment, WSWB-TV canceled its local programs, let go of their hosts,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-future-cloudy-for-c/158688393/|date=July 19, 1975|page=8-D|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=Future Cloudy For Channel 35|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-equal-time-rule-hov/158688406/|date=July 26, 1975|page=8-D|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=Equal Time Rule Hovers|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} and focused its early evening lineup and movies.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-channel-35s-on-the/158688451/|date=August 30, 1975|page=10-D|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=Channel 35's On The Mov(i)e|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} In December 1975, Winter Park Federal Savings and Loan and Continental Credit—the two mortgageholders on WSWB-TV properties—moved to auction the station's facilities to satisfy creditors,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-channel-35-on-block/158688551/|date=December 5, 1975|page=B-1|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=Channel 35 On Block Unless Buyer Arrives|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} with the savings and loan winning its own mortgages at auction.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-tv-35-facilities-so/53527277/|date=January 22, 1976|page=12-B|title=TV 35 Facilities Sold For Debts|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}}

Within months of signing on the air, WSWB-TV began showing signs of financial strain. In November 1974, [[RCA Corporation|RCA]], a major equipment supplier to the startup station, sued for $2.28 million they alleged they were owed on video tape equipment, which they sought to repossess.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-equipment-firm-sues/158688176/|date=November 7, 1974|page=2-B|title=Equipment Firm Sues Channel 35|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} Sun World countersued, alleging that RCA had breached its contract and claiming loss of advertising sales and reputation after the RCA suit.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-34-million-sought/158688207/|date=November 19, 1974|page=8-A|title=$34 Million Sought In Channel 35 Suit|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} The station spent 1975 fighting for its viability. In June, Sun World agreed to sell WSWB-TV to the Martin International Corporation,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-agreement-reached-o/53526799/|date=June 22, 1975|page= 11-A|title=Agreement Reached On Sale Of Ch. 35|newspaper= Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} though the transaction was not submitted for FCC approval until December 16.{{r|hc}} Meanwhile, on July 2, leasing company Continental Credit Corporation moved to seize $200,000 of mostly office furnishings from the studios, though the station continued to broadcast.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-troubled-station-st/158688307/|date=July 2, 1975|page=1-B|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=Troubled Station Still On Air|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} Continental pushed for the appointment of a receiver for WSWB-TV, to which Martin objected because it believed such a move would jeopardize the station's [[broadcast license]]; as a compromise, the parent of Sun World, not Sun World itself, was put into receivership.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-channel-35-negotiat/158688361/|date=July 10, 1975|page=B-1|title=Channel 35 Negotiators In Accord|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} Following the appointment, WSWB-TV canceled its local programs, let go of their hosts,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-future-cloudy-for-c/158688393/|date=July 19, 1975|page=8-D|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=Future Cloudy For Channel 35|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-equal-time-rule-hov/158688406/|date=July 26, 1975|page=8-D|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=Equal Time Rule Hovers|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} and focused its early evening lineup and movies.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-channel-35s-on-the/158688451/|date=August 30, 1975|page=10-D|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=Channel 35's On The Mov(i)e|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} In December 1975, Winter Park Federal Savings and Loan and Continental Credit—the two mortgageholders on WSWB-TV properties—moved to auction the station's facilities to satisfy creditors,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-channel-35-on-block/158688551/|date=December 5, 1975|page=B-1|first=Noel|last=Holston|title=Channel 35 On Block Unless Buyer Arrives|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}} with the savings and loan winning its own mortgages at auction.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-orlando-sentinel-tv-35-facilities-so/53527277/|date=January 22, 1976|page=12-B|title=TV 35 Facilities Sold For Debts|newspaper=Sentinel Star|location=Orlando, Florida|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 10, 2024}}

===Three years off the air===

===Three years off the air===