However, in February 2014, this deal was abandoned in favor of selling WQCW and WOCW to Gray outright for that same $5.5 million; Gray noted in the updated filing with the FCC that WQCW is not among the four highest-rated stations in the Charleston – Huntington market and that there would still be eight unique station owners upon the completion of the WQCW purchase, and in a statement said that "it made more sense to own the stations outright."
In February 2014, the deal to sell WQCW and WOCW was abandoned; Gray acquired them outright for $5.5 million; Gray noted that WQCW is not among the top four most-watched stations in the Charleston – Huntington market; there would be eight unique station owners after the purchase.