In 1985, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) considered an application to amend CBNLT's licence so it could receive all of its programming directly from CBNT in St. John's.

This meant the station would cease production of its local public affairs and information programming, which aired 15 minutes per day, Monday to Friday.

Due to budget cuts, it was agreed that it would be unreasonable to expect the CBC to reinstate completely the former level of local origination at CBNLT.

On September 13, 1988, CBMRT (Channel 9, 0.089 kW) in Fermont, Quebec was authorized to change its program source from CBMT in Montreal to CBNLT in Labrador City.

On February 22, 1991, CBNLT-1 in Churchill Falls was authorized to change its program source from CBNLT Labrador City, to the CBC Television network feed received via satellite.

The CBC indicated the change was necessary because the Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway Company Inc. would abandon its microwave facilities on February 9.