WBAY-TV first took to the air on March 17, 1953, becoming the second television station in Wisconsin (after Milwaukee's WTMJ-TV), as well as the first in Wisconsin to launch after the lifting of the FCC's 1948-1952 freeze on television licenses. WBAY-TV was originally owned by the Norbertine Order of Priests, whose abbey is in neighboring De Pere and who operate St. Norbert College in that city. The Norbertines already operated WBAY radio (1360 AM, the present-day WTAQ) in Green Bay and WHBY radio in Appleton when WBAY-TV launched.
As with WTMJ when it was the only station in the Milwaukee market, WBAY originally provided Green Bay audiences with programming from all four networks at the time, primarily with CBS but also secondary arrangements with ABC, DuMont, and NBC. As other stations in Northeast Wisconsin would commence operations, ABC and NBC programming would peel off from WBAY, which would become solely a CBS affiliate when DuMont ceased broadcasting in 1956.
195?–1962
YEAR MISSING
1962–1965
1965–1969
BETTER LOGO NEEDED
1969-1977
During the use of this logo, the Norbertines would sell WBAY to Nationwide Communications, which purchased the station from 1974 and operated it until 1993.
1977-1978
1979–1984
"We've Got the Touch, You and TV2"
1984–1986
Monochrome ad for "Action Sports" (the "N" logo was that of owner Nationwide Communications)
1986–present
This "Circle 2" has been used by WBAY-TV in one variation or another since 1986. The logo has survived an affiliation swap (from CBS to ABC, in 1992), as well as sales to Young Broadcasting (in 1994, along with its two ABC-affiliated sisters WATE-TV/Knoxville and WRIC-TV/Richmond), Media General (in 2013), and Gray Television (WBAY's current owner, in 2017).
1986–1992
Station ID from 1986-1987
"TV2 Spirit" (1987–1988)
Station ID from 1988-1992
1992–2003
On March 15, 1992, WBAY became an ABC affiliate; the CBS affiliation went to WFRV-TV.
Station ID from 1992 (If it's Northeast Wisconsin, It Must Be WBAY-TV2)
Station ID from 1993 (Watched by More People Than Any Other Network, WBAY-TV2)
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 VCY America pending FCC approval.
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