station occasionally leased airtime to Storer to offer free previews of programming from basic and premium cable networks carried by the system, in addition to co-sponsoring various community service projects. As a Fox affiliate In July 1988, LRCA negotiated a deal with MMC Television, which acquired channel 38 months prior, to acquire the non-license assets of KJTM. Under the deal, KLRT would acquire KJTM's rights to the Fox affiliation and selected syndicated programs, while KJTM would become a full-time Home Shopping Network affiliate; Scollard Communications (through its creditors) would have also allegedly handled KJTM's financial liabilities with programming distributors. Fox's programming first changed hands between the two stations on September 9, 1988, when the network shifted to the higher-rated KLRT. By October, however, KLRT management decided to pull out of the deal; Scollard reportedly notified KJTM/MMC that the asset sale would not be moving forward in a letter faxed to station management. Fox shifted back to the re-called KASN after 42 days under a separate contract that MMC and Fox struck during the asset negotiations, which reverted the affiliation rights to KASN if the proposed asset merger was not completed by October 21, 1988. Fox changed hands again on April 1, 1990, when the network moved its programming to KLRT full-time. After learning that KASN would end its Fox affiliation for good, MMC Television filed a lawsuit against LRCA/Scollard with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois over the failed merger, alleging civil conspiracy, misappropriation of trade secrets, interfering with business relationships, breach of contract and fraud. MMC Television claimed the asset merger was a deliberate effort by KLRT management to "dismantle" KASN, while LRCA/Scollard asserted that MMC misrepresented its actions and concealed KASN's financial difficulties in the suit. After rejoining Fox, KLRT continued to be programmed as a de facto independent station, with its programming remaining relatively unchanged; as the network began expanding beyond its initial weekend-only prime time lineup (starting with the addition of programs on Thursdays and Fridays in September 1990), KLRT continued to air a movie at 7:00 p.m. on nights without Fox prime time programs until the network implemented a seven-night-per-week schedule in January 1993. Channel 16's syndicated children's programming would also be supplemented by the Fox Kids block. On March 6, 1991, San Antonio, Texas–based Clear Channel Communications (now iHeartMedia) purchased KLRT from the LRCA/Scollard partnership for $6.6 million. The sale