WFMY-TV

File:WFMY first broadcast plaque.jpg in the lobby of the WFMY-TV studios recognizing the first live television broadcast in North Carolina.|alt=A wooden structure housing a historical marker plaque. Written on the plaque, "From this site on August 18, 1949, at 6:10 p.m., WFMY-TV originated the first live television broadcast in the state of North Carolina."]]

The Greensboro News Company, publisher of the Greensboro Daily News and Daily Record newspapers, began its foray into broadcasting with FM radio. On January 8, 1947, ground was broken on a tower for a new FM radio station, WFMY, near the Daily News building on Davie Street.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-ground-broken-for-new-fm/151030063/|date=January 9, 1947|page=2:1|title=Ground Broken for New FM Radio Station|newspaper=Greensboro Daily News|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024}} Construction proceeded slowly; the tower was not completed until December,{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-wfmy-antenna-hoisting-to/151030186/|date=December 18, 1947|page=2:1|title=WFMY Antenna Hoisting To End Building Of Tower|newspaper=Greensboro Daily News|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024}} and WFMY made its first broadcast on March 14, 1948,{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-kelley-announces-april-1/151030276/|date=March 15, 1948|page=2:1|title=Kelley Announces April 13 Opening Of Radio Station|newspaper=Greensboro Daily News|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711062423/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-kelley-announces-april-1/151030276/|url-status=live}} on 97.3 MHz.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-point-your-fm-dial-to-97/151030375/|date=March 10, 1948|page=1:2|type=Advertisement|title=Point Your FM Dial to 97.3 Sunday, Mar. 14|newspaper=Greensboro Daily News|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024}}

A month before WFMY radio debuted, the Greensboro News Company applied on February 26, 1948, for authority to build a television station.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-greensboro-record-news-company-appli/151030248/|date=February 27, 1948|page=5|title=News Company Applies For Television Permit|newspaper=The Greensboro Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024}} The Federal Communications Commission approved the request on June 2,{{Cite web|url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=86184|title=History Cards for WFMY-TV|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} but preparations for the new station began in earnest in April 1949, after final construction approval for changes.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-television-dream-becomes/151031368/|date=August 19, 1949|page=2:1|title=Television Dream Becomes Reality|newspaper=Greensboro Daily News|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024}} Among the last items was a modification to the existing WFMY radio tower, which was set back by the failure of a cable, causing the antenna to drop and be damaged.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-television-antenna-damag/151031829/|date=August 2, 1949|page=2:1|title=Television Antenna Damaged When Supporting Cable Snaps|newspaper=Greensboro Daily News|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024}}{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-wfmy-tv-antenna-is-final/151031335/|date=August 11, 1949|page=2:1|first=Leo|last=Schumaker|title=WFMY-TV Antenna Is Finally Hoisted|newspaper=Greensboro Daily News|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024}}

WFMY-TV made its first test broadcasts on August 18, 1949. At 6:10 p.m., viewers saw staff announcer Don Hardison; the newscast did not start correctly with sound, and the first words viewers heard Hardison say were "Judas Priest".{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-wfmy-evolved-with-the-so/151035533/|date=December 13, 1999|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-wfmy/151035515/ A4]|first=Jeri|last=Rowe|title=WFMY evolved with the South|newspaper=News & Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712055529/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-wfmy-evolved-with-the-so/151035533/|url-status=live}} This was the first live television broadcast in North Carolina; while WBTV in Charlotte was already on the air, it lacked the capability to originate local broadcasts.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/statesville-daily-record-live-television/151031390/|date=August 19, 1949|page=1|title=Live Television Show Broadcast At Greensoro [sic]|newspaper=Statesville Daily Record|location=Statesville, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712055530/https://www.newspapers.com/article/statesville-daily-record-live-television/151031390/|url-status=live}} Full programming began on September 22, 1949, and the station initially aired six days a week, going off the air every Saturday.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-greensboro-record-about-20000-see-w/151031648/|date=September 23, 1949|page=1-B|title=About 20,000 See WFMY's TV Inaugural|newspaper=The Greensboro Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712055531/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greensboro-record-about-20000-see-w/151031648/|url-status=live}} WFMY-TV was a primary affiliate of CBS,{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-wfmy-tv-station-signs-wi/151031182/|date=June 17, 1949|page=1|title=WFMY-TV Station Signs With CBS For Television|newspaper=Greensboro Daily News|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712055531/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-wfmy-tv-station-signs-wi/151031182/|url-status=live}} but it had arrangements to use programming from all four networks of the day, including NBC, ABC, and DuMont Television Network.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-greensboro-record-wfmy-tv-enters-con/151031241/|date=June 28, 1949|page=1-B|title=WFMY-TV Enters Contract With DuMont For Television|newspaper=The Greensboro Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712055532/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greensboro-record-wfmy-tv-enters-con/151031241/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-chapel-hill-news-preliminary-scenes/151031533/|date=August 12, 1949|page=1|title=Preliminary Scenes from Greensboro's Television Station Are Expected to Be on Screen Here Today|newspaper=The Chapel Hill News|location=Chapel Hill, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712055533/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-chapel-hill-news-preliminary-scenes/151031533/|url-status=live}} Network programs were presented by kinescopes—filmed recordings of telecasts as seen in New York—until September 1950, when network coaxial cable service reached Greensboro.{{Cite news|title=Cable to WFMY-TV|id={{ProQuest|1401186749}}|date=October 2, 1950|page=73|work=Broadcasting}} WFMY radio closed on April 19, 1953, with its studio space and personnel absorbed into the growing television operation.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-wfmy-petitioning-to-disc/151032044/|date=March 31, 1953|page=1:7|title=WFMY Petitioning To Discontinue Broadcasting|newspaper=Greensboro Daily News|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712055533/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-wfmy-petitioning-to-disc/151032044/|url-status=live}}

WFMY and WBTV were the only authorized television stations in North Carolina prior to the FCC's freeze on new television station awards, which lasted from October 1948 to July 1952.{{cite news|first=Rufus|last=Crater|pages=22A, 57|work=Broadcasting|id={{ProQuest|1040475180}}|title=Television Freeze: FCC Action Halted Pending Definite Policy|date=October 4, 1948}}{{Cite news|date=April 15, 1952|title=Thaw July 1: 617 VHFs, 1436 UHFs in 1291 Markets; Educators Win|work=Broadcasting|pages=23, 67–68|id={{ProQuest|1285696665}} }} As a result, channel 2 was the first television station to provide dependable service not only to the Triad but areas of east-central North Carolina; this included Durham and the state capital, Raleigh, which did not get a local station until July 1953. Even then, WNAO-TV was an ultra high frequency (UHF) station and required a converter to view, so many households in Raleigh continued to mostly watch WFMY{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-when-tv-hit-the-ai/92287013/|date=September 30, 1979|pages=1-V, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-tvs-debut-in-caro/92287246/ 11-V]|first=Jane A.|last=Welch|title=When TV hit the airwaves in Carolina|newspaper=The News and Observer|location=Raleigh, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712060038/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-when-tv-hit-the-ai/92287013/|url-status=live}} until WTVD began in Durham in September 1954.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-herald-sun-with-snowy-start-tv-view/121798090/|date=April 26, 1981|page=11I|first=Ernie|last=Greup|title=With Snowy Start, TV Viewing Began In '49|newspaper=Durham Morning Herald|location=Durham, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712060037/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-sun-with-snowy-start-tv-view/121798090/|url-status=live}} The end of the freeze also brought new stations to the Triad. WFMY-TV became a sole CBS affiliate in September 1953 when two new stations went on the air in Winston-Salem. First on air was WTOB-TV (channel 26), an affiliate of ABC and DuMont,{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122096774/television-from-faint-flicker-to-full-c/|date=April 10, 1966|page=J2|first=George|last=Thomas|title=Television: From Faint Flicker to Full Color|newspaper=Winston-Salem Journal and Sentinel|location=|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 6, 2023|archive-date=April 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407034250/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122096774/television-from-faint-flicker-to-full/|url-status=live}} followed by NBC affiliate WSJS-TV (now WXII-TV) on channel 12.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121979952/series-opener-provides-wsjs-first-video/|date=October 1, 1953|pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121979990/television/ 4]|title=Series Opener Provides WSJS First Video|newspaper=Winston-Salem Journal|location=Winston-Salem, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 6, 2023|archive-date=April 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407034329/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121979952/series-opener-provides-wsjs-first-video/|url-status=live}} WTOB-TV closed in 1957, and channels 2 and 12 split ABC programming{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-a-third-television/151104069/|date=April 12, 1962|page=4|type=Editorial|title=A Third Television Channel|newspaper=Winston-Salem Journal|location=Winston-Salem, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712060037/https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-a-third-television/151104069/|url-status=live}} until WGHP began on channel 8 in 1963.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-new-tv-station-ope/122368698/|date=October 15, 1963|page=21|title=New TV Station Operating|newspaper=Winston-Salem Journal|location=Winston-Salem, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712060038/https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-new-tv-station-ope/122368698/|url-status=live}}

Beginning at the end of 1953, WFMY-TV built new facilities and a new tower, {{convert|659|ft|m}} high plus a {{convert|101|ft|m|adj=on}} antenna, at its present studio site at Phillips and Summit avenues.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-crew-en-route-to-erect-n/151035083/|date=December 31, 1953|page=13|title=Crew En Route To Erect New Video Tower|newspaper=Greensboro Daily News|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712060039/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-crew-en-route-to-erect-n/151035083/|url-status=live}} The new building was six times larger than the {{Convert|4500|ft2|m2|adj=on}} facility on Davie Street and boasted two studios, each larger than the original studio of {{convert|14|by|26|ft|m}}.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-tv-station-construction/151035148/|date=March 22, 1954|page=2:1|title=TV Station Construction To Begin: City Firm To Build WFMY-TV Home|newspaper=Greensboro Daily News|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711062430/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-tv-station-construction/151035148/|url-status=live}} The station moved to the new studios on January 2, 1955, and simultaneously increased its power to the maximum of 100,000 watts.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-greensboro-record-tv-officials-repor/151035163/|date=January 3, 1955|page=B-3|title=TV Officials Report Successful Expansion|newspaper=The Greensboro Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712060039/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greensboro-record-tv-officials-repor/151035163/|url-status=live}}

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Over the course of the 1950s, WFMY-TV launched three long-running local programs. In 1951, the station debuted the children's show Six-Gun Playhouse. It was hosted by George Perry, who noted a fad of Confederate fashion at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and adopted a "Rebel cap" for his character. The Old Rebel Show—filmed before a live studio audience of dozens of children—remained on the station for 26 years, first in afternoons and then in mornings before becoming a weekly Saturday program in its final year.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sentinel-old-rebel-ending-run-13/151032770/|date=August 31, 1977|pages=13, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sentinel-the-old-rebel-ending-tv-run/151032811/ 14]|first=Richard|last=Starbuck|title='Old Rebel' Ending Run|newspaper=The Sentinel|location=Winston-Salem, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712060040/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sentinel-old-rebel-ending-run-13/151032770/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-george-perry-th/151032739/|date=November 25, 1980|page=2B|first=John|last=York|title=George Perry, 'The Old Rebel,' Dies At 58|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|location=Charlotte, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712060542/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-george-perry-th/151032739/|url-status=live}} What's Cooking Today, a cooking series hosted by Cordelia Kelly, ran for 18 years from 1953 to 1971.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-tv-cook-cordelia-kelly-d/151033090/|date=January 14, 1988|pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-kelly/151033103/ D2]|first=Jim|last=Schlosser|title=TV cook Cordelia Kelly dies at 82|newspaper=News & Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712060542/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-tv-cook-cordelia-kelly-d/151033090/|url-status=live}}

The third major program in the 1950s came about as the result of a schedule change by CBS. When the network dropped an early incarnation of The Jimmy Dean Show, program director Gomer Lesch sought to fill the 7:30 a.m. slot it vacated with a local program along the lines of a radio morning show. On December 16, 1957, The Good Morning Show debuted, hosted by WFMY-TV announcer Lee Kinard. Over the years, the program evolved from a half-hour show that played music into a morning show with news, weather, sports, and community features. It expanded first to an hour, then 90 minutes and finally two hours in 1971.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-lee-kinard-the-good-mo/151121236/|date=December 11, 1977|pages=TV Week 1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-the-good-morning-man/151121636/ 5]|title=Lee Kinard: The 'Good Morning' Man|newspaper=Greensboro Daily News|first=Jerry|last=Kenion|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712060543/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-lee-kinard-the-good-mo/151121236/|url-status=live}} Kinard also hosted a variety show in the afternoon, TV Matinee, that lasted until 1965.{{r|News771211}} in addition to presenting the weather on WFMY's early evening newscast.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/stanly-news-and-press-lee-kinard-new-wea/151121080/|date=September 19, 1958|page=14-B|title=Lee Kinard New Weatherman On Greensboro TV|newspaper=Stanly News and Press|location=Albemarle, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712060544/https://www.newspapers.com/article/stanly-news-and-press-lee-kinard-new-wea/151121080/|url-status=live}}

The Greensboro News Company, its newspapers and WFMY-TV included, were acquired by Norfolk–Portsmouth Newspapers Inc. in a $17.1 million transaction in 1964; half the transaction cost was estimated to represent the television station.{{Cite news|title=A banner week in station sales|pages=54–55|work=Broadcasting|date=September 7, 1964|id={{ProQuest|1014489015}} }}{{Cite news|page=68|title=Norfolk media group buys Greensboro TV|work=Broadcasting|id={{ProQuest|1014491556}}|date=October 5, 1964}} Despite objections from some FCC commissioners over excessive concentration of media, the deal received approval in December,{{Cite news|pages=39–40|work=Broadcasting|title=FCC okays sale of WFMY-TV|date=December 21, 1964|id={{ProQuest|1014479827}} }} Norfolk–Portsmouth Newspapers, now with media interests beyond Virginia, renamed itself Landmark Communications in 1967.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-greensboro-record-landmark-communica/151119989/|date=February 2, 1967|page=D10|title=Landmark Communications Inc. Will Be Name Of Parent Firm|newspaper=The Greensboro Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712060545/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greensboro-record-landmark-communica/151119989/|url-status=live}}

The Greensboro sit-ins in 1960 spurred changes in the short- and long-term at WFMY-TV as well as the growth of the news department. These changes became visible in the late 1960s and 1970s as the station hired Black presenters and reporters. Fred Davis, hired in December 1968, was the first Black reporter at the station; his wife received death threats for Fred, threatening a reprise of "what happened to Martin Luther King".{{r|News991213}} Davis left for Michigan, but he recommended television to another graduate of North Carolina A&T State University, Sandra Hughes. Hughes joined in 1972 and two years later was hosting a daily talk show, Sandra & Friends, making her the first African American to host such a program in North Carolina. At times, bomb threats were called into the station; she stayed in the studio as almost everyone else evacuated, keeping the program going.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-leaving-is-hard-to-do-r/151035498/|date=March 14, 2010|pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-leaving/151035475/ D2]|first=Robert|last=Lopez|title=Leaving is hard to do: Retirement seems bittersweet for Hughes, who will likely leave this year|newspaper=News and Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712060546/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-leaving-is-hard-to-do-r/151035498/|url-status=live}}

Harte-Hanks Newspapers acquired WFMY-TV from Landmark in a $19 million deal announced in July 1976 and closed in January 1977.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/corsicana-daily-sun-harte-hanks-buys-tv/151034792/|date=July 2, 1976|page= 2|agency=Associated Press|title=Harte-Hanks buys TV station|newspaper=Corsicana Daily Sun|location=Corsicana, Texas|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024}}{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-durham-sun-wfmy-tv-sale-brings-19-m/151034823/|date=January 4, 1977|page=8-A|agency=Associated Press|title=WFMY-TV Sale Brings $19 Million|newspaper=The Durham Sun|location=Durham, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712061048/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-durham-sun-wfmy-tv-sale-brings-19-m/151034823/|url-status=live}} Old Rebel was canceled by the station, having "run its course".{{Cite news|page=214|title='Old Rebel,' 57, Grounded At 26: George Perry's Venerable Kidvid Program At Greensboro's WFMY-TV 'Runs Its Course'|work=Variety|date=October 19, 1977|id={{ProQuest|1286109130}} }}{{r|Sent770831}} Landmark never gave a specific reason for selling WFMY-TV, but newspaper–broadcast cross-ownership limitations were suggested, as was a concurrent project to build a new printing press for the Greensboro newspapers.{{cite news|date=October 6, 1976|page=56|title=Landmark Co. Gives 'Future' Reason For Sale Of WFMY-TV|work=Variety|id={{ProQuest|1401295329}} }} When Sandra & Friends ended in 1978, Hughes initially moved to hosting the station's version of PM Magazine.{{r|News100314}} By this time, the station had cemented itself as the ratings leader; when one survey in 1978 showed WXII ahead of WFMY-TV at 6 p.m., Jerry Kenion of the Greensboro Daily News called it "the first time in recent memory (and perhaps the first time ever)" that WFMY had been surpassed.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-wfmy-tv-fires-11-pm-pr/151142552/|date=December 21, 1978|page=B6|first=Jerry|last=Kenion|title=WFMY-TV Fires 11 P.M. Producer, Drops 'Sandra!' Show After Ratings|newspaper=Greensboro Daily News|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712061049/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-wfmy-tv-fires-11-pm-pr/151142552/|url-status=live}} That turned out to be a fluke, even by the admission of WXII management.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-wxiifirst-or-last/151142864/|date=January 4, 1980|page=15|first=John|last=Byrd|title=WXII—First or Last or...|newspaper=Winston-Salem Journal|location=Winston-Salem, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712061049/https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-wxiifirst-or-last/151142864/|url-status=live}} In 1981, the station expanded its evening newscast to an hour, the first in North Carolina outside of Charlotte.{{Cite news|date=September 30, 1981|work=Variety|id={{ProQuest|1438350149}}|title=WFMY Debuts Hour Newscast Format}} In 1982, when CBS expanded its morning offerings, the weekday edition of the network morning show—then titled Morning—was removed from channel 2's schedule to keep the highly popular The Good Morning Show intact, and WFMY also lost Captain Kangaroo due to the scheduling difference.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-captain-kangaroo-to-ge/151144229/|date=January 19, 1982|page=A9|first=Sue|last=Robinson|title='Captain Kangaroo' To Get Ax Locally After January 31|newspaper=Greensboro Daily News|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712061050/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-captain-kangaroo-to-ge/151144229/|url-status=live}}

WFMY-TV built its current tower near Sophia, North Carolina, south of Greensboro, in 1980. The {{convert|1914|ft|m|adj=on}} mast cost $3 million to build and was part of a plan to increase the station's coverage area from {{convert|11720|mi2|km2}} to {{convert|19730|mi2|km2}}. While it provided at least secondary coverage as far east as Laurinburg, North Carolina, it also impaired reception for residents in its shadow.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-greensboro-record-antenna-boon-or-bl/151035194/|date=May 30, 1980|pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greensboro-record-antenna-sends-tv-2/151035176/ B8]|first=Blanche|last=Alston|title=Antenna boon or blight? Depends on view of TV 2|newspaper=The Greensboro Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712061051/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greensboro-record-antenna-boon-or-bl/151035194/|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-greensboro-record-kinks-remain-in-ch/151035257/|date=July 8, 1980|pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greensboro-record-tower-shadows-so/151035247/ B2]|first=Melanie|last=Sill|title=Kinks remain in Channel 2 tower|newspaper=The Greensboro Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712061052/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-greensboro-record-kinks-remain-in-ch/151035257/|url-status=live}}

On the evening of September 25, 1984, the station's leased Bell JetRanger news helicopter, "Sky 2", crashed while attempting to assist in the rescue of a construction worker trapped atop a water tower in Kernersville (near Winston-Salem). The tower was being dismantled when a piece of steel snapped and trapped the worker for hours, causing him to bleed profusely; "Sky 2" was called in to assist in the rescue. Pilot Tom Haroski began lowering the chopper above the tower, as an EMS worker on board was preparing to rescue the man. The chopper's tail rotor hit one of the steel beams as it hovered over the tower, sending it spiraling nose-first into the ground, killing Haroski and the rescue worker instantly.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-sentinel-pilot-rescue-worker-always/151146542/|date=September 26, 1984|pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sentinel-pilot-rescue-worker-always/151146641/ 13]|first=Tom|last=Sieg|title=Pilot, Rescue Worker Always Ready to Help|newspaper=The Sentinel|location=Winston-Salem, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712061052/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sentinel-pilot-rescue-worker-always/151146542/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001214X40964&key=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050218054427/https://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001214X40964&key=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 18, 2005|title=NTSB Identification: ATL84FA297|publisher=National Transportation Safety Board|date=February 18, 2005}}

In 1984, Harte-Hanks underwent a leveraged buyout that saddled it with $700 million in debt. To reduce this load, Harte-Hanks put a number of its divisions up for sale in October 1987, including three newspapers, seven cable systems, and WFMY-TV and WTLV in Jacksonville, Florida.{{Cite news|id={{ProQuest|305947450}}|page=3B|first=Mark|last=Memmott|work=USA Today|title=Media group plans sale}} That December, Gannett agreed to buy WFMY-TV and WTLV for $155 million.{{cite news|title=Harte-Hanks selling two TV's to Gannett for $155 million|pages=94–95|date=December 7, 1987|id={{ProQuest|1014722057}} }} The transaction was completed in February 1988.{{Cite news|work=Broadcasting|page=136|title=In Brief|id={{ProQuest|1014726271}}|date=February 8, 1988}} WFMY's first general manager under Gannett, Hank Price, found the station in good condition and not needing any major changes.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-new-boss-this-price-may/151034907/|date=February 29, 1988|page=Triad Business Weekly 4|first=Bradley|last=Johnson|title=New boss: This Price may be right as head of WFMY-TV|newspaper=News & Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712061602/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-new-boss-this-price-may/151034907/|url-status=live}} CBS This Morning began airing on tape delay in 1988, running after The Good Morning Show.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-channel-2-will-air-cbs/151147529/|date=August 8, 1988|page=A8|title=Channel 2 will air 'CBS This Morning'|newspaper=News and Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712061603/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-channel-2-will-air-cbs/151147529/|url-status=live}}

As late as 1995, WFMY held leads in all time periods where it had newscasts.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-newscast-off-to-slow-sta/151147281/|date=December 16, 1995|pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-tv/151147241/ B2]|first=Leigh|last=Pressley|title=Newscast off to slow start in ratings|newspaper=News & Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712061604/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-newscast-off-to-slow-sta/151147281/|url-status=live}} However, its ratings soon came under pressure. Kinard left The Good Morning Show in November 1997 after just under 40 years,{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-goodbye-good-morning/151032541/|date=November 26, 1997|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-kinard/151032551/ A2]|first=Jeri|last=Rowe|title=Goodbye, 'Good Morning': Kinard leaves a.m. institution|newspaper=News and Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712061605/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-goodbye-good-morning/151032541/|url-status=live}} and the station was experiencing increased competition from WGHP and WXII, to which it responded by updating the look and feel of its newscasts and the format of Good Morning—now airing for three hours—to appeal to younger viewers.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-a-look-for-the-90s-wfm/151076552/|date=March 1, 1998|pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-wfmy/151076608/ D2]|first=Jeri|last=Rowe|title=A look for the '90s: WFMY pursues younger set of viewers|newspaper=News and Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712061607/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-a-look-for-the-90s-wfm/151076552/|url-status=live}} The 1998 local introduction of people meters for ratings purposes also hurt WFMY by increasing the representation of younger viewers, who were less likely to be loyal to the station.{{r|News980301}}{{Cite news|pages=28–32|title=Greensboro, N.C.|work=Mediaweek|first=Eileen|last=Davis Hudson|id={{ProQuest|213614145}}|date=May 29, 2000}}

Kinard retired from the 6 p.m. newscast in December 1999.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-anchor-retires-after-fou/151147115/|date=December 11, 1999|page=B3|first=Amy|last=Wolfford|title=Anchor retires after four decades on local television: Lee Kinard says goodbye and heads on to|newspaper=News and Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712061607/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-anchor-retires-after-fou/151147115/|url-status=live}} By then, WXII had come to surpass WFMY at 11 p.m., and WGHP was more competitive in the morning.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-without-kinard-wfmys-f/151076230/|date=December 9, 1999|page=CityLife 5|first=Jeri|last=Rowe|title=Without Kinard, WFMY's future uncertain|newspaper=News and Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 11, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712061607/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-without-kinard-wfmys-f/151076230/|url-status=live}} For WXII, this was the result of a strategy over the course of the 1990s to increase its coverage of news events beyond the western Piedmont and into Greensboro, the market's largest city; WGHP, which had made a similar decision, benefited from its 1995 affiliation switch from ABC to Fox. WFMY, with a news viewership described in 2000 as "older and more ethnic",{{r|MW000529}} now found itself in a regularly close ratings race.{{Cite news|pages=12–17|title=Greensboro, N.C.|work=Mediaweek|first=Eileen|last=Davis Hudson|id={{ProQuest|213636808}}|date=May 27, 2002}} Hughes retired in 2010, capping a 20-year run as evening anchor at the station, which named its newsroom for her.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-fostering-community-equa/151035434/|date=November 4, 2013|pages=A1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-hughes/151035412/ A4]|first=Jonnelle|last=Davis|title=Fostering community equality: Former news anchor Sandra Hughes wins NCCJ's Brotherhood/Sisterhood|newspaper=News and Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 12, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712061608/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-fostering-community-equa/151035434/|url-status=live}}

In 2011, under general manager Larry Audas, WFMY revamped its news format, dubbed "News 2.0".{{Cite news|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/wfmy-greensboro-debuting-hd-news-2-0/|work=TVNewsCheck|date=November 10, 2011|title=WFMY Greensboro Debuting HD 'News 2.0'|access-date=July 12, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712061609/https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/wfmy-greensboro-debuting-hd-news-2-0/|url-status=live}} Shortly after, the station launched an expansion of The Good Morning Show to 4:30 a.m.{{Cite news|url=https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/wfmy-expands-morning-news-to-430/|first=Mark K.|last=Miller|date=January 5, 2012|work=TVNewsCheck|title=WFMY Expands Morning News To 4:30|access-date=July 12, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712062112/https://tvnewscheck.com/uncategorized/article/wfmy-expands-morning-news-to-430/|url-status=live}} A new newscast displaced a fixture on channel 2's schedule: the 5:30 p.m. airing of The Andy Griffith Show, which WFMY-TV had aired in that time period for decades.{{Cite news |last=Malone |first=Michael |date=2013-04-23 |title=WFMY: Double the 'Andy Griffith', But in a New Time |url=https://www.nexttv.com/blog/wfmy-double-andy-griffith-new-time-66549 |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=Broadcasting & Cable |language=en |archive-date=September 28, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928085324/https://www.nexttv.com/blog/wfmy-double-andy-griffith-new-time-66549 |url-status=live }}

On June 29, 2015, the Gannett Company split in two, with one side specializing in print media and the other side specializing in broadcast and digital media. WFMY was retained by the latter company, named Tegna.{{Cite web|title = Separation of Gannett into two public companies completed|date = June 29, 2015|url = http://www.tegna.com/separation-of-gannett-into-two-public-companies-completed/|publisher = Tegna|access-date = June 29, 2015|archive-date = July 2, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150702005302/http://www.tegna.com/separation-of-gannett-into-two-public-companies-completed/|url-status = live}}

In December 2019, The Good Morning Show was changed to end at 7 a.m., allowing CBS This Morning to air live for the first time on WFMY; this was part of a larger schedule overhaul that included a 4 p.m. newscast.{{cite web|url=https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/four-2-five-jeopardy-ii-cbs-this-morning-programming-changes-wfmy/83-cdffd7da-ec5b-4dc1-b34a-066731975525|title=New show means new program flow on WFMY News 2: Four 2 Five, along with Jeopardy II and other changes|publisher=WFMY-TV|date=December 2, 2019|access-date=December 6, 2019|archive-date=December 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191206095853/https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/four-2-five-jeopardy-ii-cbs-this-morning-programming-changes-wfmy/83-cdffd7da-ec5b-4dc1-b34a-066731975525|url-status=live}}

• Woody Durham — sports director, 1963–1977{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-the-voice-of-the-tar-hee/151187071/|date=March 10, 1989|pages=Weekend 3, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-woody-durhams-voice-of/151186992/ 4]|first=Tom|last=Steadman|title=The voice of the Tar Heels|newspaper=News and Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 12, 2024}}
• Mike Hogewood — sports director, 1987–2001{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-sportscaster-leaving-job/151186651/|date=May 31, 2001|pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-sports/151186714/ B4]|first=Donald W.|last=Patterson|title=Sportscaster leaving job at WFMY|newspaper=News & Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 12, 2024}}
• Monica Malpass — news researcher, early 1980s{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/statesville-record-and-landmark-thomasvi/151187296/|date=April 19, 1983|page=Dogwood Festival 23|title=Thomasville Represented|newspaper=Statesville Record and Landmark|location=Statesville, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 12, 2024}}
• Topper Shutt — weekend meteorologist, 1987–1988{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-taylor-will-join-oneil/151189972/|date=July 30, 1987|page=B4|title=Taylor will join O'Neil in weekend anchor slot|newspaper=News and Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 12, 2024}}{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-ho-hum-high-jinks-in-new/151189956/|date=September 3, 1988|page=A6|first=Donnell|last=Stoneman|title=Ho-hum high jinks in new comedy 'First Impressions'|newspaper=News and Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 12, 2024}}
• Rolonda Watts — reporter, early 1980s{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-charlotte-observer-winston-salem-nat/151187486/|date=May 5, 1992|page=3E|first=Ronald|last=Jordan|agency=Winston-Salem Journal|title=Winston-Salem native brings a new attitude to TV co-host job|newspaper=The Charlotte Observer|location=Charlotte, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 12, 2024}}

The station's signal is multiplexed:

WFMY-TV began digital broadcasting on April 18, 2002, as the second local station to do so.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-wfmy-becomes-second-area/151169169/|date=April 19, 2002|page=B5|title=WFMY becomes second area station to go digital|newspaper=News and Record|location=Greensboro, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 12, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712062113/https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-wfmy-becomes-second-area/151169169/|url-status=live}} It ended regular programming on its analog signal on June 12, 2009, as part of the FCC-mandated transition to digital television for full-power stations.{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2006 |title=DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and Second Rounds |url=http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf |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 |access-date=August 29, 2021 |publisher=Federal Communications Commission}} The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 51, using virtual channel 2.{{Cite news|url=https://newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-tvs-shift-to-digi/151169209/|date=June 14, 2009|pages=B1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-digital/151169191/ B5]|first=Tim|last=Clodfelter|title=TV's shift to digital is smooth — in general: Some viewers couldn't pick up WGHP/FOX8|newspaper=Winston-Salem Journal|location=Winston-Salem, North Carolina|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=July 12, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712062114/https://www.newspapers.com/article/winston-salem-journal-tvs-shift-to-digi/151169209/|url-status=live}} As part of the SAFER Act, WFMY-TV kept its analog signal on the air until July 12 to inform viewers of the digital television transition through a loop of public service announcements from the National Association of Broadcasters.{{cite web|url=https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-291375A1.pdf|title=UPDATED List of Participants in the Analog Nightlight Program|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|date=June 12, 2009|access-date=June 21, 2024|archive-date=July 12, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240712062111/https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-291375A1.pdf|url-status=live}}

On May 15, 2020, under the provisions of the FCC's spectrum reallocation program, WFMY's transmissions moved to channel 35.{{Cite web|url=http://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Transition_Files/Phase_Assignment_Closing_PN.csv|title=FCC TV Spectrum Phase Assignment Table|format=CSV|website=Federal Communications Commission|date=April 13, 2017|access-date=April 17, 2017|archive-date=April 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417160749/http://data.fcc.gov/download/incentive-auctions/Transition_Files/Phase_Assignment_Closing_PN.csv|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |website=WFMY |date=2020-04-10 |title=We've activated our new, improved antenna! Here's how to rescan your TV and get back the shows you love |url=https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/rescan-your-channels-to-keep-wfmy-programming/83-15c63fa6-1cec-4131-abb2-4c207ed9903a |access-date=2024-07-12 |language=en-US |archive-date=November 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124060424/https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/rescan-your-channels-to-keep-wfmy-programming/83-15c63fa6-1cec-4131-abb2-4c207ed9903a |url-status=live }}

{{reflist}}

{{Piedmont Triad TV}}

{{CBS North Carolina}}

{{CBS Virginia}}

{{Tegna}}

Category:1949 establishments in North Carolina

Category:CBS affiliates

Category:Former Gannett subsidiaries

Category:Ion Mystery affiliates

Category:Quest (American TV network) affiliates

Category:Tegna Inc.

Category:Television channels and stations established in 1949

FMY-TV

Category:True Crime Network affiliates