List of 3 or 4 station markets who spent a season as a Wheel of Fortune desert:
1) Burlington/Plattsburgh 1990-91
After the 3 year contract from WVNY Ch 22 expired, only Jeopardy aired on WPTZ Ch 5 but the Champlain Valley had no Wheel of Fortune for Season 8 until it returned to WPTZ Ch 5 since 1991. It brought Wheel back to Ch 5 for the first time since 1987 and Jeopardy has aired on WPTZ since opening day 1984. In the fall of 1990, the only way to see Wheel of Fortune was the daytime show with Bob Goen on WCAX Ch 3. When CBS gave Daytime Wheel a return to sender back to NBC, the first hour of NBC game shows were preempted on WPTZ Ch 5 in favor of Sally Jessy Raphael.
2) Columbia, South Carolina 1991-92
After their contracts on WIS Ch 10 expired, only Jeopardy moved to WOLO Ch 25 but Columbia had no Wheel for Season 9 until Wheel came to Ch 25 since 1992
3) Binghamton, New York 1992-93
After a 6 year contract with Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy expired in 1992, only Jeopardy moved to WICZ Ch 40 but Binghamton had no Wheel for Season 10 until Wheel returned to Ch 40 in 1993. WICZ aired Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy until their contracts expired in 1997. This wasn't the first time Ch 40 aired Wheel and Jeopardy, they were originally on WICZ from 1983 & 1984 until they moved to WBNG Ch 12 in 1986.
4) Eureka, California 1993-94
After a one year run on Cox Cable Eureka Ch 4, only Jeopardy moved to KIEM Ch 3 but Eureka had no Wheel for Season 11 until Wheel came to Ch 3 since 1994
1) Burlington/Plattsburgh 1990-91
After the 3 year contract from WVNY Ch 22 expired, only Jeopardy aired on WPTZ Ch 5 but the Champlain Valley had no Wheel of Fortune for Season 8 until it returned to WPTZ Ch 5 since 1991. It brought Wheel back to Ch 5 for the first time since 1987 and Jeopardy has aired on WPTZ since opening day 1984. In the fall of 1990, the only way to see Wheel of Fortune was the daytime show with Bob Goen on WCAX Ch 3. When CBS gave Daytime Wheel a return to sender back to NBC, the first hour of NBC game shows were preempted on WPTZ Ch 5 in favor of Sally Jessy Raphael.
2) Columbia, South Carolina 1991-92
After their contracts on WIS Ch 10 expired, only Jeopardy moved to WOLO Ch 25 but Columbia had no Wheel for Season 9 until Wheel came to Ch 25 since 1992
3) Binghamton, New York 1992-93
After a 6 year contract with Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy expired in 1992, only Jeopardy moved to WICZ Ch 40 but Binghamton had no Wheel for Season 10 until Wheel returned to Ch 40 in 1993. WICZ aired Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy until their contracts expired in 1997. This wasn't the first time Ch 40 aired Wheel and Jeopardy, they were originally on WICZ from 1983 & 1984 until they moved to WBNG Ch 12 in 1986.
4) Eureka, California 1993-94
After a one year run on Cox Cable Eureka Ch 4, only Jeopardy moved to KIEM Ch 3 but Eureka had no Wheel for Season 11 until Wheel came to Ch 3 since 1994