newport announced on july 19, 2012 that it would sell 12 of its stations, including wivt and wbgh, to nexstar. the sale was completed on december 3. on september 16, 2013, it was announced that mission broadcasting would acquire wicz and low-powered mynetworktv affiliate wbpn-lp from the stainless broadcasting company subsidiary of northwest broadcasting. upon the deal's completion, the stations' operations would have been taken over by nexstar making them sisters to wivt and wbgh. in march 2015, mission's purchase of wicz and wbpn was canceled; as a result, stainless withdrew the license assignment applications on march 18.