[10] While RBG Productions filed for a construction permit to build a second television station in the Watertown area in 1978,[11] WOTT–WNCQ's financial condition was deteriorating.

RBG Productions owed the Internal Revenue Service more than $44,000 in back taxes, and its property was seized by the agency.

[13][14] By 1982, the station was in arrears to Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, the local electric utility; United Press International; and on its music licensing fees.

[17] Rumblings of format changes had been swirling for months as the new owners sought to compete against the leading station in the area, contemporary hit outlet WTNY-FM (93.3).

[19][20] The deal combined the pair with WTNY AM and FM and put WTNY-FM and WCIZ, the two top-rated stations in the North Country, under common ownership.

[23] Citing low listenership, Regent flipped WUZZ to sports at the end of 2000; after obtaining the WGME call letters for three weeks starting on December 14,[24] the station launched as WNER with sports—originally ESPN Radio—programming in February 2001.