The only television station broadcasting in Wisconsin prior to the FCC's 1948 freeze on television licenses was WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee. After the FCC's freeze ended in 1952, WBAY-TV became the second television station on the air in the state, on March 17, 1953. WBAY-TV was originally owned by the Norbertine Order of Priests, whose abbey is in nearby De Pere. The priests run St. Norbert College in De Pere, and already operated WBAY radio (1360 AM, now WTAQ) in Green Bay and WHBY radio in Appleton. Like WTMJ when that station started in 1947 – as the only station in the market – WBAY originally carried programming from all four networks of the day – channel 2 was a primary CBS affiliate with secondary affiliations with NBC, ABC and DuMont.
195?–1962
YEAR MISSING
1962–1965
1965–1968
BETTER LOGO NEEDED
1968–1970
1970–1979
In 1974, WBAY was sold to Nationwide Communications, which operated the station until 1993, when it was sold to Young Broadcasting along with its two ABC-affiliated sisters WATE-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee and WRIC-TV in Richmond, Virginia.
1Owned by Branson Visitors TV, Gray holds a 50.1% interest in the company. 2Owned by Schurz Communications, Gray operated KGHZ through an SSA. 3Owned by Entravision Communications, Gray operates KDCU through a JSA. 4Gray operates this station owned by American Spirit Media. 5Gray operates this station owned by Tegna through an SSA. 6The E.W. Scripps Company operates this station through an SSA. 7Gray operates this station owned by Tougaloo College. 8Joint venture with Ryman Hospitality Properties. 9Gray operates this station owned by SagamoreHill Broadcasting through an SSA. 10Sale of this station to an unknown buyer pending FCC approval. 11Sale of this station to VCY America pending FCC approval.
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