GREENSBORO, N.C. — On Aug. 18, 1949, WFMY-TV launched its first live television broadcast. The broadcast lasted for four minutes and 25 seconds and was the first in the Piedmont Triad. Aug. 18 is the date WFMY News 2 recognizes as its birthday!
To commemorate this milestone, we threw a diamond birthday party in Triad Park on Sunday! The festivities featured a performance from Eric and the Chill Tones, health screenings from Cone Health's Mobile Screening Van, a spray/play area with a fire truck from the Summerfield Fire Department, and opportunities to meet and get autographs from past and present members of the WFMY News 2 team.
Food trucks were also featured at the party, with Backyard Flames, Coolin Out Ice Cream, HomeSlice Pizza, and Kona Ice attending.
But it wouldn't be a 75th birthday party without an opportunity to look back! We created an area calling Memory Lane, showcasing WFMY News 2 memorabilia from over the years.
We'd like to extend a huge thank you to all that attended today!
WFMY News 2's 75th Birthday Party Celebration
WFMY Timeline
November 21, 1946 – The FCC grants the Greensboro News Company permission to operate a commercial FM radio station in Greensboro.
February 1948 – The Greensboro News Company files an FCC application to operate a TV station in Greensboro.
March 14, 1948 – The Greensboro News Company begins regular FM radio broadcasting on WFMY-FM.
June 2, 1948 – The Greensboro News Company is granted a construction permit from the FCC to build a television station with the call letters WFMY-TV, operating on channel 2.
April 10, 1949 – P.T. Hines announces the FCC permit has been granted.
June 17, 1949 – WFMY-TV signs a contract with CBS-TV.
August 18, 1949 (WFMY's Birthday!) – WFMY-TV originates the first live telecast in the Piedmont Triad, a newscast. It was also one of the first to do so in the Carolinas. The newscast lasted for four minutes and 25 seconds.
August 30, 1949 – WFMY-TV successfully completes the first FM-TV simulcast in the Carolinas.
September 22, 1949 - WFMY-TV signs on the air as the 76th commercial station in the country - running regular programs from 7 p.m. to 10:15 p.m.
February 1951 - WFMY-TV airs the first locally produced children’s program in the state. The show is called “Six Gun Playhouse” but would later be called “The Old Rebel Show.”
December 1953 - WFMY-FM (the radio station) stops operation.
January 1, 1955 - WFMY-TV moves into its facility in Northeast Greensboro.
March 1956 - WFMY-TV transmits its first local color program.
December 16, 1957 – Lee Kinard’s The Good Morning Show premieres. It was the first local morning show to launch in the country.
October 3, 1960 - WFMY-TV airs its first broadcast of “The Andy Griffith Show.”
February 1967 – WFMY-TV carries its first studio color program.