In 1990, WZTV's owner, Act III Broadcasting, who were known for buying its competitors' stronger programming assets, offered to buy WXMT's entire syndicated programming inventory and move most of the shows over to WZTV, alongside programs that were already broadcast on that station. Fox also planned to exercise its option to moving its Nashville area affiliation to WZTV. Originally, WXMT was to switch to a hybrid format of home shopping for 18 hours a day and religious programs for six hours a day, but MT Communications still wanted some programming and entertainment shows on the schedule. The deal was called off early in February. When Fox moved over to WZTV later that month, negotiations resumed and immediately it was decided that WZTV would get only cash programming (including sitcoms, movies, and some of the cartoons), while WXMT would keep barter cartoons, a few barter sitcoms, and some religious shows.