However, the new ventures, designed to brace for potential cuts to federal support of public broadcasting, caused expenses to soar, and the station was unable to attract tenants to fill the rest of the  building. By late 1996, WKPC-TV had accrued $4 million in debts. Tom Dorsey, television and radio writer for The Courier-Journal, noted that "it was always too busy paying the bills to do much local programming".
However, the new projects, intended to prepare for possible reductions in federal funding of public broadcasting, led to increased expenses, and the station was unable to attract tenants to occupy the remaining part of the building. By late 1996, WKPC-TV had accumulated $4 million in debts. Tom Dorsey, television and radio writer for The Courier-Journal, noted that "it was always too busy paying the bills to do much local programming".