The predecessor of WFRV-TV is WNAM-TV, a UHF station (Channel 42) owned and operated by the Neenah-Menasha Broadcasting Company and serving as a sister station to WNAM radio.
WFRV-TV[]
Pre-launch[]
By 1954, Valley Telecasting Company was preparing to launch WFRV-TV (Channel 5), promoting its efforts in trade ads such as that shown here. Fearing that a third VHF signal in the Green Bay/Fox Cities TV market would doom its UHF outlet, WNAM-TV's owners suspended the station's operations at the beginning of 1955 and merged with Valley Telecasting.
1955–1959[]
WFRV-TV formally commenced programming on Channel 5 in May 1955 as an ABC affiliate, using the studios and facilities of the former WNAM-TV.
1959–1969[]
WFRV switched affiliations from ABC to NBC in 1959.
1969–1973[]
Print ad using logos for WFRV and its Upper Michigan-based repeater WJMN-TV.
1973–1976[]
The number itself
In the mid-1970s, WFRV would use a logo in the same Microgramma typeface as those of WCSC-TV in Charleston, South Carolina and WTVF in Nashville.
1976–2001[]
In 1976, WFRV and satellite WJMN-TV adopted logos that utilized the Verona Serial Heavy font used by fellow Orion Broadcasting stations in Louisville (WAVE), Cedar Rapids (WMT-TV), and Evansville (WFIE).
1976–1983[]
"5 Country" logo
1983–1992[]
WFRV Win, Lose or Draw promo using graphics from "Something's Happening on ABC" campaign (1988)
WFRV Oprah Winfrey Show premiere promo
On April 18, 1983, WFRV rejoined ABC after 24 years away. The "5" became enclosed in a circle.
1992–1996[]
After its owner Midwest Radio and Television was purchased by CBS, WFRV-TV became a network owned-and-operated station on March 15, 1992 (with WBAY-TV taking over the ABC affiliation). With the switch came an exit of the "5" logo from its ABC-era circle.
1996–2001[]
Early 2001–Late 2001[]
This short-lived logo was the last to incorporate the Orion-era "5" logo.
1Owns a 75% stake of the network, the other 12.5% stake is co-owned between Paramount Global and Warner Bros. Discovery. 2Joint venture with Warner Bros. Discovery, in which Nexstar owns 31% while Warner Bros. Discovery owns the remaining 69%. 3Nexstar operates these stations owned by Mission Broadcasting. 4Nexstar operates this station owned by Cunningham Broadcasting. 5Nexstar operates this station owned by White Knight Broadcasting through an SSA. 6Nexstar operates this station owned by Vaughan Media. 7Predecessor company of LIN Media. 8Nexstar operates this station owned by Londen Media Group.