Another consequence of WFTS replacing WTSP (channel 10) in ABC's affiliate lineup was that it had a more centrally located transmitting facility, which then-ABC president Bob Iger cited as a positive in the switch. That meant that the network would no longer have had a coverage gap between Tampa and Fort Myers, which had been filled by WWSB-TV in Sarasota since its 1971 sign-on. Coinciding with the Scripps-ABC pact, ABC notified WWSB that it would be terminating its affiliation; though no reason was given by the network, WWSB cited conversations with ABC officials who described it as essential to the broader deal and petitioned to deny channel 28's license renewal. The Sarasota station ended up winning its battle with ABC and signed a new affiliation contract in March 1995.