When WVFT became a conventional independent, it seemingly filled a void left when WJPR (channel 21, now WWCW) joined Fox at its inception on October 6, 1986. However, the fledgling network would not air a full week's worth of programming until September 1993, so WVFT was still programmed as an independent. The Roanoke/Lynchburg market was not large enough at the time to support what were essentially two independent stations, and both channels 21 and 27 suffered from the tight competition between one another. However, by 1990, WVFT's financial problems were more pronounced; the station suffered from declining viewership and was unable to pay for the rights to acquire stronger syndicated programming.