View source for WACY-TV

{{Short description|Television station in Appleton, Wisconsin}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{redirect|Super 32|the add-on for the [[Sega Genesis]]/[[Mega Drive]] game console, sold in Japan under the name Sega Super 32X|Sega 32X}}
{{Infobox television station
| callsign = WACY-TV
| city = Appleton, Wisconsin
| logo = The Spot Green Bay 32.png
| logo_size = 220px
| logo_alt = 
| branding = The Spot – Green Bay 32
| digital = 36 ([[UHF]])
| virtual = 32
| subchannels = 
| translators = 
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''32.1:''' [[Independent station|Independent]] / [[NBC]] (alternate)|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| owner = [[E. W. Scripps Company]]
| licensee = Scripps Broadcasting Holdings [[LLC]]
| location = [[Appleton, Wisconsin|Appleton]]–[[Green Bay, Wisconsin]]
| country = United States
| founded = April 25, 1983
| airdate = {{start date and age|1984|3|7|p=y}}
| last_airdate = 
| callsign_meaning = Station was owned by Ace TV in the 1990s
| sister_stations = [[WGBA-TV]], [[WTMJ-TV]]
| former_callsigns = {{ubl|WXGZ-TV (1984–1995)|WACY (1995–2009)}}
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 32 (UHF, 1984–2009)|'''Digital:''' 59 (UHF, 2002–2006), 27 (UHF, 2006–2019)}}
| former_affiliations = {{ubl|Independent (1984–1986, 1994–1995)|[[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] (1986–1992)|[[Dark (broadcasting)|Dark]] (1992–1994)|[[UPN]] (1995–2006) |[[The WB]] (Secondary 1995–1999)|[[MyNetworkTV]] (2006–2022)}}
| erp = 85 [[kW]]
| haat = {{convert|297.3|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 361
| coordinates = {{coord|44|21|30|N|87|58|48.4|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website = {{url|https://www.nbc26.com/thespot-greenbay32}}
}}

'''WACY-TV''' (channel 32) is an [[Independent station|independent]] [[television station]] licensed to [[Appleton, Wisconsin]], United States, serving the [[Green Bay, Wisconsin|Green Bay]] area. It is owned by the [[E. W. Scripps Company|E.{{nbsp}}W. Scripps Company]] alongside [[NBC]] affiliate [[WGBA-TV]] (channel 26). The two stations share studios on North Road near Airport Drive/[[WIS 172]] in the Green Bay suburb of [[Ashwaubenon]]; WACY-TV's transmitter is located in the [[Shirley, Wisconsin|Shirley]] section of [[Glenmore, Wisconsin]].

==History==

===Early history and troubles===
The station first signed on the air on March 7, 1984, as WXGZ-TV, and was the first television station licensed to and based out of Appleton;<ref name="WXGZ-TV1984">{{cite news |title=TV 32 is... Signing On |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-tv-32-is-signing-on/172578077/ |access-date=May 17, 2025 |newspaper=The Post-Crescent |date=March 7, 1984 |location=Appleton, Wisconsin |page=A-10 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> it was originally owned by Appleton Midwestern Television. The station's original studio was located on North Marshall Road, southwest of the [[Interstate 41]]/[[Wisconsin Highway 441|WIS 441]] interchange on Appleton's north side. ''[[The Post-Crescent]]'' reported on January 31 that the station began operations by testing its signal,<ref>{{cite news |last=Richards |first=Tom |title=WXGZ-TV on air only with tests |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-wxgz-tv-on-air-only-wi/179091097/ |access-date=August 17, 2025 |newspaper=The Post-Crescent |date=January 31, 1984 |location=Appleton, Wisconsin |page=B-6 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> although it formally began programming on March 7.<ref name="WXGZ-TV1984" /> WXGZ originally operated as an independent station during its first three years, showing off-network sitcoms and other syndicated programming. On October 6, 1986, under the "Super 32" moniker, WXGZ became a charter affiliate of the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] network. However, like most early Fox affiliates, the station continued to essentially program itself as an independent station. The network's only program at the time was the late night talk program ''[[The Late Show (1986 TV series)|The Late Show]] Starring [[Joan Rivers]]''; prime time programming followed in 1987. After joining Fox, WXGZ became the first station in the Green Bay–Appleton [[Television market area|television market]] to begin broadcasting in [[stereo]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Channel 32 to be first Valley station in stereo |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-channel-32-to-be-first/179095121/ |access-date=August 17, 2025 |newspaper=The Post-Crescent |date=April 24, 1986 |location=Appleton, Wisconsin |page=B-7 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

A noted local personality on WXGZ was "Oscor the [[Clown]]" (played by Wayne Lowney), who served as the mascot of the WXGZ children's lineup and hosted a Sunday morning program starting in 1986 called ''Oscor's Place'',<ref>{{cite news |last=Richards |first=Tom |title=Oscor eyes job market: Clown sad to see his show's end |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-oscor-eyes-job-market/179095418/ |access-date=August 17, 2025 |newspaper=The Post-Crescent |date=February 15, 1992 |location=Appleton, Wisconsin |pages=A-1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-oscor/179095542/ A-11] |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> a show whose major sponsor was [[Chuck E. Cheese]]'s predecessor brand, [[ShowBiz Pizza Place]]. Outside of Fox programming, WXGZ was noteworthy for airing the successful first-run syndicated programs ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'' and ''[[The Arsenio Hall Show]]''.

By November 1991, Appleton Midwestern Television ran into financial problems and declared [[Bankruptcy in the United States|bankruptcy]]. After an unsuccessful search for a new buyer for the station or more financing, WXGZ was forced to sign-off permanently on the night of [[Valentine's Day|February 14]], 1992,<ref>{{cite news |last=Richards |first=Tom |title=WXGZ-TV expected to go off air Feb. 14 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-wxgz-tv-expected-to-go/179096041/ |access-date=August 17, 2025 |newspaper=The Post-Crescent |date=February 5, 1992 |location=Appleton, Wisconsin |page=B-2 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> ending its eight-year history with a half-hour retrospective featuring on-air and behind-the-scenes footage at the station. WXGZ staff announcer Ed Myers and [[general manager]] Roy Smith said the last of the station's goodbyes, after which WXGZ closed operations at midnight. The next morning, fellow independent station [[WGBA-TV]] (channel 26) became the market's new Fox affiliate,<ref>{{cite news |last=Richards |first=Tom |title=Channel 26 likely to get Fox programming from WXGZ |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-crescent-channel-26-likely-to-g/179096198/ |access-date=August 17, 2025 |newspaper=The Post-Crescent |date=February 6, 1992 |location=Appleton, Wisconsin |page=C-5 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and acquired some of WXGZ's syndicated programming inventory (including ''Arsenio'' and ''Star Trek: The Next Generation'').

After WXGZ's shut down, the station's license was left in the hands of a holding company from March to August 1992, at which point it was bought by Ace TV Incorporated, a corporation solely owned by Shirley A. Martin. Channel 32 remained off-the-air for two years with occasional word that the station intended to begin broadcasting again "in the near future".

===Revival as WACY-TV===
WXGZ's license to operate was put back into use in June 1994. License holder Ace TV<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/fcc-oks-journal-green-bay-duopoly-with-2-million-wacytv-purchase|title=FCC Oks Journal Green Bay Duopoly With $2 Million WACY-TV Purchase|first=Deborah D.|last=McAdams|date=September 4, 2012|website=TVTechnology}}</ref> put WXGZ back on the air with the help of WGBA and its then-owner Aries Telecommunications, who arranged to put WXGZ on solid financial footing through the entrance of a [[local marketing agreement]] with Ace TV, allowing WGBA to operate and program WXGZ through its studios and sell advertising time for the station.

At the outset, programming on WXGZ (whose logo was an [[ace of spades]] as a nod to its owner) consisted of second-run airings of off-network reruns (including such series as ''[[Gunsmoke (TV series)|Gunsmoke]]'', ''[[St. Elsewhere]]'' and ''[[Newhart]]''), along with select airings of [[Milwaukee Brewers]] baseball and [[Milwaukee Bucks]] basketball games (which WGBA previously aired but no longer had room to run due to its own commitments with Fox). By the fall of 1994, first-run syndicated programming would be included on WXGZ's schedule, including ''[[Family Feud]]'' and programming from the [[Prime Time Entertainment Network]] syndication service. On January 16, 1995, WXGZ became a charter affiliate of the United Paramount Network ([[UPN]]). The station also maintained a secondary affiliation with [[The WB]] for the network's first four years before WIWB (channel 14, now [[WCWF]]) became the Green Bay market's WB affiliate in June 1999.

By August 1995, the station – which would change its [[call signs in North America|call sign]] that month to WACY-TV – benefited from WGBA's affiliation switch to [[NBC]] (due to [[WLUK-TV]], channel 11, joining Fox). With WGBA now committed to NBC and its programming lineup, programs that WGBA no longer had room to broadcast were moved over to WACY, including some syndicated programming (most notably reruns of ''[[The Simpsons]]'') and daytime children's programming. With this move, WACY adopted the "WACkY 32" branding for its kids' lineup (running roughly 6–11 a.m. and 1–5 p.m.), which over the years would include ''[[Garfield and Friends]]'', ''[[Scooby-Doo]]'', ''[[Dennis the Menace (1986 TV series)|Dennis the Menace]]'', ''[[Pokémon (TV series)|Pokémon]]'', ''[[Sailor Moon]]'' and ''[[Adventures of Sonic the Hedgehog]]''; programs from the [[UPN Kids]], [[BKN]] and [[The Disney Afternoon]] blocks (as well as from [[Kids' WB]] as the Green Bay television market did not have a full-time WB affiliate); and [[educational and informational]]-compliant programs like ''[[The New Zoo Revue]]''. The live character "Cuddles the Clown" provided host continuity for "WACkY 32" programming. The station's children's lineup would dwindle over the years, thanks in part to increased cable competition from cable channels such as [[Cartoon Network]] and [[Nickelodeon]] and the decreased financial justification of airing a more-than-necessary amount of children's programming, although it would continue to air UPN's ''[[Disney's One Too]]'' until the network discontinued its daily children's block in 2003. After that, WACY would rely on general syndicated entertainment and infomercials for its daytime lineup.

One of WACY's most durable programs was called ''Who, What, When, Where'', a show hosted by [[Oshkosh, Wisconsin|Oshkosh]] [[public-access television]] personalities Jim C. Hoffman and [[Dan Davies (actor)|Dan Davies]]. ''Who, What, When, Where'' featured various interviews, advertisements (notably Ron and Lloyd's supermarket and [[WNAM]] radio), and entertainment sketches performed by Davies. The show would be rechristened ''N.E.W. Now'' (for "North East Wisconsin") in early 1997, its last year on the air. Later local shows on WACY included the legal affairs show ''It's the Law'', produced by Hoffman and hosted by Oshkosh attorney George W. Curtis, and the Sunday morning [[polka music]] show ''Polka, Polka, Polka'', which originated from a [[Manitowoc, Wisconsin|Manitowoc]] supper club/dance hall (''Polka, Polka, Polka'' now airs on WCWF).

In 2004, [[Milwaukee]]-based [[Journal Communications]] (owner of that city's [[WTMJ-TV]]), purchased WGBA from Aries Telecommunications for $43.25 million. As part of the deal, Journal would take over the local marketing agreement with WACY, as well as acquire the option to purchase channel 32 from Ace TV if the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) ever relaxed or waived its media ownership rules to allow the purchase.<ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Journal+Communications%27+Broadcast+Group+Completes+Acquisition+of...-a0122911728 "Journal Communications' Broadcast Group Completes Acquisition of Green Bay Television Station,"] press release from Journal Communications, July 10, 2004 (via The Free Library)</ref>

===MyNetworkTV affiliation (2006–2022)===
[[File:WACY MyNet Logo.png|thumb|right|The station's "My New 32" logo used from 2006 until 2021]]
[[File:WACY-WGBA.JPG|thumb|right|The studios of WACY-TV and [[WGBA-TV]] in 2007]]
On February 22, 2006, [[News Corporation]] announced the launch of a new "sixth" network called [[MyNetworkTV]], which would be operated by [[Fox Television Stations]] and its syndication division [[Twentieth Television]]. MyNetworkTV was created to compete against another upstart network that would launch at the same time that September, [[The CW]] (an amalgamated network that was originally consisted primarily of UPN and The WB's higher-rated programs) as well as to give UPN and WB stations that were not mentioned as becoming CW affiliates another option besides converting to independent stations.<ref>{{cite news|title=News Corp. to launch new mini-network for UPN stations|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2006-02-22-fox-my-network_x.htm|access-date=January 21, 2013|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|date=February 22, 2006}}</ref><ref>[http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/102922-News_Corp_Unveils_My_Network_TV.php News Corp. Unveils MyNetworkTV], ''[[Broadcasting & Cable]]'', February 22, 2006.</ref> WACY reached a turning point with the pending loss of UPN programming, as a result of the shutdown of the network and The CW's launch. The CW chose WIWB as its Green Bay affiliate, as that station's then-owner [[ACME Communications]] had a deep relationship with WB management (ACME's founder [[Jamie Kellner]] was a former president of The WB). On March 22, 2006, WACY announced that it would affiliate with MyNetworkTV, bringing channel 32's affiliation with a Fox-owned network full-circle.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2006/03/20/daily24.html | title=Journal's Appleton station to join MyNetworkTV | date=March 22, 2006}}</ref>

After the 2005–06 television season ended, WACY began distancing itself from UPN, reducing its carriage of the network's programming on Monday through Thursdays to only one hour per night during the summer of 2006, with [[infomercial]]s filling the dropped second hour. WACY severed ties with UPN completely on September 4 (the night prior to MyNetworkTV's debut), leaving WIWB to air the balance of UPN programming as a transitional secondary affiliation alongside its WB shows (including weekend airings of ''[[Veronica Mars]]'' and ''[[WWE Friday Night SmackDown]]'').

After affiliating with MyNetworkTV, WACY adopted a new branding in late-July 2006, becoming "My New 32"—with "New" referring to both the "new" network, and as an abbreviation of "Northeast Wisconsin"—and in the process downplaying the WACY call sign (aside from official [[station identification]]) and abandoning the ace of spades logo that the station used in some form since its return to the air in 1994.

As far back as the latter years of WACY's UPN affiliation, the station aired a weekly high school football game featuring local schools on Friday nights in the fall (billed as ''Friday Night Thunder''), with select [[University of Wisconsin–Green Bay]] men's and women's basketball games added in 2007. All sports broadcasts on WACY featured WGBA's sports anchors, while visual presentation depended on the in-house camera system from the arena where the game was played instead of station-owned cameras. The broadcasts of high school games were discontinued in 2008, in part due to the addition of ''SmackDown'' to MyNetworkTV's Friday night lineup and also due to a lean financial period for the stations during the [[Great Recession]], at a time when WGBA's news and sports staff were cut back due to budget concerns, WTMJ began to take control of several of WGBA's newscasts, and [[infomercial]]s occupied portions of WACY's programming schedule. Sports broadcasts would return to WACY in August 2011 under the ''N.E.W. Sports Showdown'' banner, featuring both high school sports as well as [[St. Norbert College]] athletics (added in 2011)<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.upn32.com/NEWSportsShowdown/tabid/7387/Default.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625050937/http://www.upn32.com/NEWSportsShowdown/tabid/7387/Default.aspx |archive-date=June 25, 2011 |title=N.E.W. Sports Showdown}}</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20120718064427/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/greenbaypressgazette/2365884411.html?FMT=CITE&date=Jun+04,+2011 "WACY to televise 20 St. Norbert sports events,"] from the archives of ''Green Bay Press-Gazette'', April 6, 2011</ref> and [[Wisconsin Timber Rattlers]] baseball (added in the spring of 2013 until 2017, returned/revived in 2024).<ref>[http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4548222 "Timber Rattlers Announce 2013 TV Broadcast Schedule,"] press release from Wisconsin Timber Rattlers via OurSportsCentral, February 18, 2013</ref>

A late-night feature that aired on WACY's weekend lineup was the movie program ''Ned the Dead''. Hosted by the ghoulish "Ned" (played by local actor and radio personality Steve Brenzel), the show – which began on WLUK-TV in the 1980s as ''Ned the Dead's Chiller Theater'' before eventually moving to WACY – featured presentations of B-movies (mainly sci-fi or horror features from the 1950s), with "Ned" providing wraparound segments of comic relief. Over the years, ''Ned'' would move toward airings of low-budget color films and additional segments of Ned and his colorful troupe of sidekicks.<ref>[http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090323/GPG0705/903230509/1261/GPG05 "Green Bay fixture Ned the Dead likes show's makeover,"] from ''Green Bay Press-Gazette'' archives</ref> Though ''Ned the Dead'' would move around WACY's schedule during its time on the station, the show aired mainly at 11&nbsp;p.m. on Saturdays and was sponsored by the Van Vredee's chain of local furniture/appliance stores (Brenzel serves as the stores' spokesperson). ''Ned the Dead'' ended its WACY run on December 12, 2010.<ref>{{cite news|last=Warren|first=Gerds|title=Warren Gerds column: Teen show will get a Packers presence|url=http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20101214/GPG0704/12140485/Warren-Gerds-column-Teen-show-will-get-a-Packers-presence|access-date=December 19, 2010|newspaper=[[Green Bay Press-Gazette]]|date=December 14, 2010}}</ref>

====2012 full purchase of station by Journal====
In May 2012, [[Journal Communications]] commenced on a plan to purchase WACY from Ace TV, Inc. for $4.65 million.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101495276&qnum=5040&copynum=1&exhcnum=2|title = Asset Purchase Agreement|publisher = FCC}}</ref> Although Journal obtained the option to purchase WACY when it bought WGBA in the mid-2000s, it could not proceed with a purchase of WACY due to FCC duopoly limits placed on markets such as Green Bay–Appleton, which has fewer than eight independently owned full-power television stations. In paperwork filed with the FCC on May 3, 2012, Journal included a "failing station waiver" that would allow it to purchase WACY and keep it on the air, an avenue that [[LIN TV Corporation]] used in purchasing Green Bay's WCWF in 2011 and creating a [[duopoly (broadcasting)|duopoly]] with WLUK-TV.<ref>{{cite web|title=FCC File# BALCDT – 20120503AEN, Application for Consent to Assignment of Broadcast Station Construction Permit or License|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/cdbsmenu.hts?context=25&appn=101495276&formid=314&fac_num=361|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|date=May 3, 2012}}</ref> As the petitioner, Journal needed to prove in its waiver request that WACY was in an economically non-viable position (reasoning that LIN also cited in its purchase of WCWF).<ref>{{cite web|title=Journal hopes to buy WACY for $2M|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/2012/05/04/59209/journal-hopes-to-buy-wacy-for-2m|first=Harry A.|last=Jessell|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=May 4, 2012|access-date=June 28, 2015}}</ref>

The FCC would approve Journal's request of WACY's license transfer on September 4, 2012, specifically citing two points Journal had included in its request: The financial and operational status of WACY before the grandfathered LMA commenced in 1994 (and which Journal inherited when it bought WGBA in 2004), and WGBA's ability to "produce and broadcast [on WACY] programming that furthers the public interest," programming that WACY would otherwise not have been able to produce. Also cited was channel 32's bankruptcy as WXGZ.<ref name=b&c-waivergranted>{{cite news|title=FCC Okays Journal Request for Green Bay Duopoly Waiver|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/fcc-okays-journal-request-green-bay-duopoly-waiver/43657|first=John|last=Eggerton|periodical=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|publisher=[[NewBay Media]]|access-date=September 4, 2012|date=September 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=File No. BALCDT-20120503AEN|url=http://transition.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Business/2012/db0904/DA-12-1439A1.pdf|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|date=September 4, 2012}}</ref> On October 23, the deal was consummated.<ref>{{cite web|title=Application Search Details|url=http://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/ws.exe/prod/cdbs/pubacc/prod/app_det.pl?Application_id=1521517|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|date=October 24, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Journal closes acquisition of WACY-TV in Fox Valley|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2012/10/23/journal-closes-acquisition-of-wacy-tv.html|first=Rich|last=Kirchen|newspaper=Milwaukee Business Journal|publisher=[[American City Business Journals]]|date=October 23, 2012}}</ref> It was the third station that Journal acquired through a failed station waiver, after [[KNIN-TV]] in [[Boise]] and [[KWBA]] in [[Tucson]].

=== Summer 2013 Time Warner Cable carriage dispute ===
After several extensions of the original June 30, 2013, expired agreement, and the invocation of the [[sweeps]] rule disallowing cable providers from pulling the main signal of a carried station during local sweeps periods (which includes July),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2013/06/28/time-warner-cable-channel-4-owner.html|title=Time Warner Cable, Channel 4 owner agree to extension|first=Rich|last=Kirchen|newspaper=The Business Journal (Milwaukee)|publisher=[[American City Business Journals]]|date=June 28, 2013|access-date=June 29, 2013}}</ref> the main signals of WGBA and WACY were pulled off [[Time Warner Cable]] systems in the market at midnight on July 25, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Conspiracy theories, frustration multiply as Time Warner pulls WTMJ-TV|url=http://www.jsonline.com/entertainment/tvradio/conspiracy-theories-frustration-multiply-as-time-warner-pulls-wtmj-tv-b9960887z1-217024301.html|first=Duane|last=Dudek|newspaper=[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]|publisher=Journal Communications|date=July 25, 2013|access-date=August 15, 2013}}</ref> The MeTV subchannel had been pulled earlier on July 10 as those were not under the same protection under the sweeps rule.<ref>{{cite news|title=Stalemate in Journal Broadcast negotiations with Time Warner|url=http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/entertainment/214982561.html|first=Duane|last=Dudek|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|publisher=Journal Communications|date=July 10, 2013|access-date=July 10, 2013}}</ref> WTMJ was also affected in the Milwaukee market, along with Journal stations in [[Omaha]] and [[Palm Springs, California]]. The main effect of the blackout on Time Warner Cable systems was the carriage of three Packers preseason games on WTMJ and WGBA, which were blacked out on the provider due to the dispute, though the games were still available via the [[Spanish language]] simulcast using the Packers Television network camera positions produced for Milwaukee's [[Telemundo]] affiliate [[WYTU-LD]] (channel 63/49.4), which is carried on the subchannel tier in the Green Bay market (and was simulcast on WACY), with the suggestion to listen to English play-by-play via either [[WTMJ (AM)|WTMJ]] radio from Milwaukee or the local FM stations in Green Bay or Appleton carrying Packers Radio Network coverage. The later replays of the games were also available via replays on [[NFL Network]] through the week.<ref>{{cite news|title=Packers ratings strong despite blackout of WTMJ on Time Warner|url=http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/entertainment/219106561.html|first=Duane|last=Dudek|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|publisher=Journal Communications|date=August 10, 2013|access-date=August 15, 2013}}</ref>

A [[class action lawsuit]] was also filed by viewers against Time Warner Cable on August 8 under grounds of [[breach of contract]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.multichannel.com/distribution/twc-customers-file-lawsuit-over-retrans-disconnect-milwaukee-station/144892|title=TWC Customers File Lawsuit over Retrans Disconnect with Milwaukee Station; Plaintiffs Seek Class-Action Status over Disconnect with Journal Broadcast's WTMJ|last=Reynolds|first=Mike|date=August 9, 2013|work=[[Multichannel News]]|access-date=August 15, 2013}}</ref> Journal Broadcast Group has also made claims via its website detailing their version of the carriage dispute that TWC was distracted due to the other dispute involving [[CBS Corporation]]'s [[CBS Television Stations|Television Stations group]] and [[Showtime Networks]] premium channel suites.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jbganswers.com|title=JBG Answers|access-date=August 15, 2013}}</ref>

By August 15, WGBA and WACY's channel slots on Time Warner Cable were replaced with a simulcast of [[Game Show Network|GSN]], with [[Starz (TV channel)|Starz Kids & Family]] airing on the channel 994 subchannel slot usually carrying MeTV. Journal Broadcast Group also asked state authorities to intervene in their dispute with Time Warner Cable.<ref>{{cite web|title=Journal asks state to force Time Warner to credit customers|url=http://onmilwaukee.com/movies/articles/journaltimewarner.html?34842|first=Steve|last=Kabelowsky|website=[[OnMilwaukee.com]]|publisher=LIFTdigital Solutions|date=August 14, 2013|access-date=August 15, 2013}}</ref>

Journal and Time Warner Cable came to an agreement for carriage on September 20, 2013, to last at least through the [[2016 Summer Olympics]], returning WGBA and WACY to their lineups as of 7 p.m. that evening. However, Journal conceded that the analog and [[cable-ready]] positions were less important than carriage in the high definition tier, so while WGBA's high definition signal remained on channel 1007, the standard definition signal moved to channel 13, WACY's former SD slot, with WACY shifting to channel 83 with high definition coverage coming at the start of the year.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Journal Broadcast Group and Time Warner Cable Reach Agreement|url=http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=145779&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1856754&highlight=|publisher=Journal Communications|date=September 20, 2013|access-date=September 21, 2013}}</ref> However, MeTV subchannel 26.2 remained removed from Time Warner systems, though southern portions of the Green Bay market already receive MeTV Milwaukee flagship [[WBME-CD]] (channel 41) on the basic lifeline tier.<ref>{{cite web|title=TWC Conversations: Q: Why are WGBA-D2 (Me TV), WTMJ-D2 (Storm Team), WTMJ-D3 (Live Well) no longer available? A: We have agreed with Journal to carry the channels that we believe deliver the most value to our customers.|url=http://twcconversations.com/dispute/local/|publisher=Time Warner Cable|date=September 21, 2013|access-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922161647/http://twcconversations.com/dispute/local/|archive-date=September 22, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Sale to the E. W. Scripps Company===
On July 30, 2014, the [[E. W. Scripps Company]] announced that it would acquire Journal Communications in an all-stock transaction. The combined firm would retain their broadcast properties, including WTMJ-TV and its radio siblings, with the print assets being [[corporate spin-off|spun off]] as Journal Media Group.<ref>{{cite web|title=Journal, Scripps deal announced|url=http://www.jsonline.com/business/news31-b99321641z1-269303021.html|first=Bill|last=Glauber|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel|publisher=Journal Communications|date=July 30, 2014|access-date=July 30, 2014}}</ref> The deal was approved by the FCC on December 12, 2014,<ref>{{cite web|title=Scripps-Journal Merger Gets FCC OK|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/81530/scrippsjournal-merger-gets-fcc-ok|website=TVNewsCheck|publisher=NewsCheck Media|date=December 12, 2014}}</ref> with shareholders of the two companies approving it on March 11, 2015;<ref>{{cite web|title=Journal Communications, Scripps Spin/Merger set for April 1|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/joecornell/2015/03/16/journal-communications-scripps-spinmerger-set-for-april-1/|first=Joe|last=Cornell|periodical=[[Forbes]]|publisher=Forbes LLC|date=March 16, 2015}}</ref> the merger/spin-off between Journal and Scripps formally closed on April 1.

E. W. Scripps and Time Warner Cable announced a new multi-year carriage agreement on February 1, 2016, that includes WGBA and WACY, along with WACY's new subchannels also coming to Time Warner in addition to those of WGBA.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.tvtechnology.com/business/0011/retrans-quietly-accomplished-ew-scripps-time-warner-cable/277857|title=Retrans Quietly Accomplished: E.W. Scripps, Time Warner Cable|last=McAdams|first=Deborah|date=February 1, 2016|work=TVTechnology|access-date=February 3, 2016}}</ref>

In October 2021, WACY-TV began to discontinue the "MyNew32" branding (and its secondary "My32" branding used since 2016) in favor of the on-air "TV 32" branding, downplaying their affiliation with MyNetworkTV.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1449108930567843842|user=CameronMoreland|title=Week 9 @showdown32 game features @LuxCascoHS vs @VikingsDenmarkCoverage begins at 7pm Friday, Oct 15 on WACY TV…|date=October 15, 2021}}</ref>

===Return to independence (2022–present)===
On June 3, 2022, WACY ended their affiliation with MyNetworkTV with no public notice, and returned to being an unaffiliated independent station for the first time since January 1995. The station replaced MyNetworkTV programming with ''[[Dateline NBC|Dateline]]'' and ''[[Chicago P.D. (TV series)|Chicago P.D.]]'' (both of which are also carried with MyNetworkTV). The schedule of the service quietly returned to the market in February 2023, when [[WBAY-TV]] picked it up as a late night offering on their third subchannel carrying [[Circle (TV network)|Circle]] (currently [[365BLK]]); the move of MyNetworkTV to a late night slot on a subchannel has become an increasingly common fate for the service.

In November 2025, to align the station's branding with that of Scripps' other independent stations, TV 32 was rebranded as "The Spot – Green Bay 32". 

==Local programming==
Locally-produced programming includes the [[cooking show]] ''Mad Dog & Merril's Midwest Grillin'' (Mad Dog and Merril are longtime Northeast Wisconsin-based cooking experts). The station also airs local high school and college sports, under the umbrella title of ''N.E.W. Sports Showdown''. The same title is also used for a broad schedule of professional minor league sports carried by the station, including the [[United States Hockey League]]'s [[Green Bay Gamblers]]. Beginning with the [[2017–18 NBA G League season|2017–18 season]], the station also broadcasts [[NBA G League]] games involving the Oshkosh-based [[Wisconsin Herd]], which is owned by the Milwaukee Bucks and affiliates with that team.

Until 2016 when WCWF acquired local rights to the [[Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association]] state basketball and hockey championships, it carried those tournaments for the Green Bay market. Unique for an [[American English|English-language]] station, it also simulcasts [[Spanish language in the United States|Spanish-language]] coverage of preseason [[Green Bay Packers]] football produced by Milwaukee Telemundo affiliate WYTU-LD for the convenience of over-the-air viewers; both WACY and WYTU-LD have availability on local cable systems. When WGBA has NBC network commitments to the [[Summer Olympics]], English-language coverage airs, along with the team's Family Night scrimmage.

On June 15, 2020, WACY debuted a half-hour weeknight 9 p.m. newscast produced by WGBA, titled ''My News at 9'' with a repeat of ''NBC 26 Tonight'' (originally aired at 6:30&nbsp;p.m. on WGBA) at 9:30&nbsp;p.m. before its later cancellation; it now airs as of July 2024 as ''NBC 26 News at 9 on TV 32''.

Since 2024, WACY has an agreement with the [[University of Wisconsin–Green Bay]] to air and produce select home men's and women's basketball games, which are aired beyond Green Bay and the visiting school's broadcast partner on [[ESPN+]] under their general rights agreement with the [[Horizon League]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Six Phoenix Basketball Games to be Broadcast on NBC 26 & TV 32|url=https://greenbayphoenix.com/news/2024/10/17/general-six-phoenix-basketball-games-to-be-broadcast-on-nbc-26-tv-32-.aspx|date=October 17, 2024|access-date=October 17, 2024|website=Green Bay Phoenix}}</ref>

Since 2024, WACY shares the local rights to the [[Wisconsin Timber Rattlers]], the High-A affiliate of the [[Milwaukee Brewers]], with [[WCWF]]. In 2025, WACY reached an agreement with the Brewers to simulcast 13 games with [[FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin]]. During the 2025 season, select Timber Rattlers games will air in [[Broadcast delay|tape delay]] after Brewers games.<ref>{{Cite web|title=tv32 expands local sports coverage with Milwaukee Brewers games|url=https://www.nbc26.com/sports/mlb/milwaukee-brewers/tv32-expands-local-sports-coverage-with-milwaukee-brewers-games|date=March 13, 2025|access-date=March 31, 2025|website=NBC26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Here's Where to Find the Timber Rattlers on TV & Radio in 2025 |url=https://www.milb.com/wisconsin/news/2025-wisconsin-timber-rattlers-broadcast-information|date=March 14, 2025|access-date=March 31, 2025|website=Wisconsin Timber Rattlers}}</ref>

==Technical information==

===Subchannels===
The station's signal is [[Multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Subchannels of WACY-TV<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WACY|title=RabbitEars TV Query for WACY|website=[[RabbitEars]]|accessdate=November 18, 2024}}</ref>
! scope = "col" | [[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Programming
|-
! scope = "row" | 32.1 
| [[720p]] || rowspan="6" | [[16:9]] || WACY || [[Independent station|Independent]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 32.2 
| rowspan="5" |[[480i]]|| LAFF || [[Laff (TV network)|Laff]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 32.3 
| Mystery || [[Ion Mystery]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 32.4
| CourtTV || [[Court TV]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 32.5
|Busted || [[Busted (TV network)|Busted]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 32.6
| GameSho || [[Game Show Central]]
|- style="background:#dfebf6; border-top:2px solid #039;"
! scope = "row" | [[WCWF|14.4]]
| rowspan="2"|480i || rowspan="2"|16:9 || Nest || [[The Nest (TV network)|The Nest]] ([[WCWF]])
|- style="background:#dfebf6;"
! scope = "row" | [[WCWF|14.5]]
| QUEST || [[Quest (American TV network)|Quest]] ([[WCWF]])
|}
{{legend|#DFEBF6|Broadcast on behalf of another station}}

===Analog-to-digital conversion===
WACY-TV shut down its analog signal, over [[UHF]] channel 32, on June 12, 2009, the official date on which full-power television stations in the United States [[Digital television transition in the United States|transitioned from analog to digital broadcasts]] under federal mandate. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 27, using [[virtual channel]] 32.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |access-date=March 24, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |archive-date=August 29, 2013 }}</ref>

One week after the transition, Journal chose to suffix all of their owned television stations with the "-TV" suffix as part of the FCC's one-time allowance during the transition to allow stations to suffix either "-TV" or "-DT" to their call signs if not previously included on their permanent digital channel; this included WACY despite its separate ownership by ACE TV at the time, which became WACY-TV in FCC correspondence and on-air station identifications on June 17, 2009.

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[https://www.nbc26.com/thespot-greenbay32 Official website for WACY-TV, "The Spot – Green Bay 32"]

{{Green Bay TV}}
{{Wisconsin TV}}
{{EWS CORP}}

[[Category:1984 establishments in Wisconsin]]
[[Category:Court TV affiliates]]
[[Category:E. W. Scripps Company television stations]]
[[Category:Independent television stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Ion Mystery affiliates]]
[[Category:Laff (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1984]]
[[Category:Television stations in Green Bay, Wisconsin|ACY-TV]]