WACY-TV
An independent television station serving northeastern Wisconsin from Appleton, Wisconsin, and operated alongside NBC affiliate WGBA-TV.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WACY-TV is a full-power television station licensed to Appleton, Wisconsin, and serving the Green Bay–Appleton media market. The station broadcasts on digital channel 32 and is operated by The E. W. Scripps Company alongside WGBA-TV, the market's NBC affiliate. WACY is currently presented as The Spot – Green Bay 32 and operates as an independent station, although its history includes affiliations with Fox, UPN, The WB, and MyNetworkTV. The station began broadcasting on March 7, 1984, under the call sign WXGZ-TV. It was the first television station licensed to and based in Appleton. Initially an independent outlet, WXGZ built its schedule around syndicated sitcoms, films, and other off-network programming. In October 1986 it became a charter Fox affiliate under the Super 32 identity. Because Fox had only a limited schedule during its early years, the station continued to function largely as an independent broadcaster. Its programming included notable syndicated series such as Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Arsenio Hall Show. WXGZ also developed locally recognizable children's programming, including Oscor's Place, hosted by Wayne Lowney in the character of Oscor the Clown. Financial difficulties led Appleton Midwestern Television into bankruptcy in 1991. WXGZ ceased broadcasting at midnight on February 14, 1992, after an on-air retrospective. Its Fox affiliation and some syndicated programming moved to WGBA-TV, while the channel 32 license remained dormant for approximately two years. Ace TV Incorporated, owned by Shirley A. Martin, acquired the license in 1992 and later restored the station with operational and programming assistance from WGBA and its owner, Aries Telecommunications. The revived station returned to the air in June 1994 with reruns, syndicated programs, selected Milwaukee Brewers and Milwaukee Bucks broadcasts, and other entertainment programming. It joined UPN as a charter affiliate on January 16, 1995, while also carrying selected WB programming for several years. The call sign changed from WXGZ-TV to WACY-TV in August 1995. During this period, the station used the WACkY 32 identity for a substantial children's schedule that included syndicated cartoons, network children's blocks, and educational programming. Local productions included Who, What, When, Where, later renamed N.E.W. Now, the legal program It's the Law, and the polka-music program Polka, Polka, Polka. WACY moved into the MyNetworkTV era in 2006 after UPN was discontinued and the market's CW affiliation went to another station. It adopted the My New 32 brand and remained affiliated with MyNetworkTV until 2022. The station also carried local sports under the N.E.W. Sports Showdown banner, including high-school athletics, St. Norbert College events, and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers baseball during various periods. Its weekend movie presentation Ned the Dead, hosted by local performer Steve Brenzel, was another distinctive local feature and ended its WACY run in December 2010. Journal Communications, which had acquired WGBA in 2004, completed its purchase of WACY in October 2012 after receiving an FCC failing-station waiver. This converted the existing operational relationship between the two stations into common ownership. The stations later became part of Scripps through corporate transactions involving Journal Communications. WACY shares facilities with WGBA on North Road near Airport Drive and Wisconsin Highway 172 in Ashwaubenon; its transmitter is in the Shirley area of Glenmore, Wisconsin. In its current independent format, the station combines syndicated entertainment and other acquired programming with local-market branding and content associated with the wider Scripps/WGBA operation.
History
WACY-TV's history began with the launch of WXGZ-TV on March 7, 1984. Owned by Appleton Midwestern Television, WXGZ was the first station licensed to and based in Appleton. Its original operation was independent, emphasizing syndicated sitcoms, films, and other acquired programming. In 1986, the station became one of Fox's original affiliates in the market and adopted the Super 32 identity. The limited amount of Fox programming available at the time meant that WXGZ retained the programming profile of an independent station. Its schedule included nationally recognized syndicated programs such as Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Arsenio Hall Show. Local identity was reinforced by children's host Wayne Lowney, who performed as Oscor the Clown on Oscor's Place. The original ownership group experienced severe financial problems. Appleton Midwestern Television filed for bankruptcy in 1991, and WXGZ ended operations on February 14, 1992. The station's final broadcast was a retrospective featuring staff and archival footage. WGBA-TV assumed Fox programming the next day and acquired portions of WXGZ's syndicated inventory. The channel 32 license remained in a holding structure until Ace TV Incorporated, controlled by Shirley A. Martin, acquired it later in 1992. Ace TV restored the station in June 1994 with assistance from WGBA and Aries Telecommunications. The arrangement allowed WGBA to program and operate channel 32 and sell its advertising. Early post-revival programming consisted of reruns, syndicated entertainment, selected sports, and later first-run syndicated shows. On January 16, 1995, the station became a charter affiliate of UPN. It also carried WB programs on a secondary basis until the market obtained a full-time WB affiliate in 1999. The call letters changed to WACY-TV in August 1995. The station developed several identities during the 1990s and early 2000s. Its WACkY 32 children's block mixed syndicated cartoons, network children's programming, and educational shows, with Cuddles the Clown providing continuity. As cable competition increased and children's television economics changed, the block contracted and was eventually replaced by general syndicated programming and infomercials. WACY also aired locally produced programs, including Who, What, When, Where, later known as N.E.W. Now; the legal-affairs show It's the Law; and the regional polka program Polka, Polka, Polka. Sports programming included selected broadcasts involving local schools, the University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, and other regional teams. The end of UPN created a major affiliation decision. In 2006, The CW selected another Green Bay–Appleton station, leaving WACY without its existing network. WACY announced that it would join the newly created MyNetworkTV. The station phased out UPN programming and launched the My New 32 identity in 2006. MyNetworkTV programming remained an important part of the station's schedule through 2022, while WACY continued to carry syndicated entertainment, local sports, infomercials, and special programming. Its distinctive late-night presentation Ned the Dead, hosted by Steve Brenzel, ended on December 12, 2010. Journal Communications acquired WGBA in 2004 and inherited the operating agreement with WACY, as well as an option to buy the station. FCC ownership limits initially prevented the purchase from proceeding. In 2012, Journal petitioned for a failing-station waiver, citing WACY's economic history and the programming and operational support supplied by WGBA. The FCC approved the transfer on September 4, 2012, and Journal completed the purchase on October 23. WACY thereby became part of a formal local television duopoly with WGBA. In July 2013, WACY and WGBA were involved in a carriage dispute with Time Warner Cable. After extensions expired, the cable provider removed the stations' main signals from its local systems. The dispute also affected other Journal-owned stations and temporarily interrupted carriage of programming, including preseason football broadcasts. WACY's MeTV subchannel had been removed earlier because it did not receive the same protection under the applicable sweeps-period rules. WACY is now owned by The E. W. Scripps Company and remains associated with WGBA. Its current presentation, The Spot – Green Bay 32, reflects an independent-station model rather than a full-time affiliation with MyNetworkTV. The station shares studios with WGBA in Ashwaubenon, while its transmitter is located near Shirley in Glenmore, Wisconsin. Across its history, WACY has repeatedly repositioned itself in response to network changes, ownership constraints, financial pressure, evolving syndicated-program economics, and the competitive relationship between broadcast television and cable services.
- 2022
Station operates as an independent outlet
[1]WACY ends its long-running MyNetworkTV affiliation and is presented as The Spot – Green Bay 32.
- 2012
Journal completes WACY acquisition
[1]Journal Communications completes its purchase of WACY after receiving an FCC failing-station waiver.
- 2006
MyNetworkTV affiliation begins
[1]WACY replaces UPN with MyNetworkTV and launches the My New 32 brand.
- 1995
WACY call sign and UPN affiliation
[1]The station adopts the WACY-TV call sign and becomes a UPN charter affiliate.
- 1994
Station is revived
[1]The channel returns to the air with support from WGBA and Aries Telecommunications.
- 1992
Broadcast operations cease
[1]WXGZ leaves the air after its owner enters bankruptcy.
- 1986
Fox affiliation begins
[1]WXGZ becomes a charter Fox affiliate and uses the Super 32 identity.
- 1984
WXGZ-TV launches
[1]The station begins broadcasting on March 7 as an independent station licensed to Appleton.
Products and positioning
A locally oriented, over-the-air entertainment station serving the Green Bay–Appleton market, with a history of carrying emerging network services and community sports and entertainment programming.
Broadcast television service · 2022
The Spot – Green Bay 32
WACY-TV's current independent-station identity serving the Green Bay–Appleton market. The service is distributed over the air and through local television providers and combines syndicated entertainment, movies, acquired programming, advertising, and other station-scheduled content.
Network-affiliated television service · 2006
My New 32
The brand used during WACY's MyNetworkTV affiliation. It connected the station's channel number with the network's 'new' programming identity and served as the principal on-air presentation from 2006 until the affiliation ended.
Local sports programming · 2011
N.E.W. Sports Showdown
A regional sports presentation that returned to WACY in 2011. It included selected high-school sports, St. Norbert College athletics, and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers baseball during different periods.
Local movie program
Ned the Dead
A weekend horror and science-fiction movie presentation hosted by the character Ned, played by Steve Brenzel. The program used comedic wraparound segments and local sponsorship and ended its WACY run in December 2010.
Brand decisions
2022
Transition to independent programmingStrategyBackground
WACY's long-running MyNetworkTV affiliation ended.
Action taken
The station repositioned itself under The Spot – Green Bay 32 identity.
Aftermath
WACY continued operating as an independent over-the-air entertainment station.
2012
Journal seeks and completes purchase of WACYM&ABackground
FCC duopoly limits had prevented Journal from immediately acquiring WACY after it purchased WGBA.
Action taken
Journal requested a failing-station waiver, received FCC approval on September 4, and completed the transaction on October 23.
Aftermath
WACY entered common ownership with WGBA, formalizing the operational relationship that had existed through the local marketing agreement.
Purchase price. $4.65 million (2012 transaction)
2006
Switch from UPN to MyNetworkTVStrategyBackground
UPN was scheduled to close, while The CW selected another station in the Green Bay–Appleton market.
Action taken
WACY announced that it would affiliate with MyNetworkTV and gradually reduced and then ended its UPN programming.
Aftermath
The station launched the My New 32 identity and remained associated with MyNetworkTV until 2022.
Sources2 sources
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