In 1982, its license renewal was designated for hearing alongside a competing proposal for the frequency from Metro Broadcasting, Inc. While WBBY initially was to lose its license, Metro dropped out of the running when it was bought out by Nourse, and the administrative law judge approved the renewal of WBBY's license despite a new finding: that Nourse, who was claimed to be the station manager spending 40 hours per week at WBBY, was actually working full-time at his family's car dealership in Marietta, Ohio, 120 miles away.