nascent network. Another coup for WOIO came with a long-term contract for Cavaliers games in 1988, replacing WUAB. Cannell ownership and lease to Malrite 1990 began with two of WUAB's local stalwarts ending their shows within weeks of each other. Superhost's final episode aired on January 20, 1990, following a period of declining ratings, with Marty Sullivan continuing as a booth announcer. On January 30, Linn Sheldon announced his retirement after a 41-year career in television, with "Barnaby" concluding its run on March 30; Sheldon's departure was seen as the end to one of the last remaining links to the "Golden Era" for locally produced children's television. The week before Sheldon's final "Barnaby" show, Gaylord announced the sale of WUAB to Cannell Communications, headed by television producer Stephen J. Cannell and former WUAB general manager William Schwartz, for $60 million (equivalent to $ in ). While Cannell became famous for creating multiple television series during the 1980s, his purchase of WUAB occurred during a downturn for his production company, with only two programs in active production. The changes at WUAB were not limited to the station itself: the FCC's passage of syndication exclusivity regulations began affecting the station's cable footprint, with Columbus cable systems acknowledging WUAB was a "trouble spot" for likely blackouts. Despite the departures of Sheldon and "Superhost" and the sale of the station, WUAB continued aggressively competing against WOIO, with newly appointed general manager Brooke Spectorsky calling WUAB "a sleeping giant... that has been throttled back by previous owners". In 1988, the station launched Kidsland for the station's children's programming, hiring Liz Hermann as a continuity host in February 1990. WUAB began carrying The Disney Afternoon program block in the fall of 1990 as Kidsland centerpiece. Kidsland was established at the same time that WOIO set up a similar kids' club, but WOIO ultimately folded their club into Fox Kids and declined to hire an in-studio host. The station also picked up local rights to the Prime Time Entertainment Network in 1993 and the Action Pack syndication block in 1994. As a nod to Cannell's ownership, WUAB acquired reruns to 21 Jump Street in 1990, displacing Hee Haw, which WUAB carried throughout the entirety of Gaylord ownership. WUAB lead news anchor Romona Robinson also made a cameo appearance as a news reporter on The Commish, a series Cannell co-created and produced. On May 23, 1994, WJW-TV owner