About Us

WYES is a partnership between citizens, foundations, businesses and local, state and federal governments, working together toward the education and development of our community.

The mission of the Greater New Orleans Educational Television Foundation is to inform, teach, illuminate and inspire the many different audiences that make up our community, state and nation through a variety of telecommunications and outreach activities being ever responsive to the public’s varied needs in education, public and cultural affairs and entertainment.

WYES’ local award-winning productions showcase what is unique and interesting about our people, city and region.

Learn more about WYES through these links:

WYES' temporary address is:

WYES
111 Veterans Blvd., Ste. 250
Metairie, LA 70005

If you need to reach the auction department by mail:

WYES
916 Navarre Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70124

WYES phone numbers:

General: (504) 486-5511
Auction: (504) 483-8487
Events: (504) 840-4886
Media: (504) 838-0364
Membership: (504) 831-1503
Programming Questions: (504) 838-0389
Volunteer: (504) 486-5511 x200
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A History Lesson

In 1953, a group of local civic and business leaders, convinced that there was a place on the television dial for quality programming not based on mass audiences or commercial appeal, founded The Greater New Orleans Educational Television Foundation.

The non-profit organization was subsequently granted a license by the Federal Communications Commission to operate an "educational" television station broadcasting on Channel 8.

WYES-TV signed on the air on April 1, 1957 as the twelfth educational television station in the nation. In 1970, the station swapped frequency allocations with another local station, thus becoming Channel 12.

The high caliber national program service we provide, coupled with WYES' 50 year history of being the community resource for programs which reflect our distinct local culture, has earned Channel 12 the largest television audience in its history, with as many as one million viewers tuning in each week.