WYES-TV traces its history to 1953, when a group of civic leaders led by Marion Abramson formed the Greater New Orleans Educational Television Association.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had assigned the VHF channel 8 allocation in the New Orleans market for non-commercial use, and the group quickly snapped up the license.

After KLSE shut down, WYES would be the only educational station in the state until LPB flagship WLPB-TV in Baton Rouge signed on in September 1975.

It was owned by a partnership of the Willwoods Community and LPB; the later bought a stake in order to get its Louisiana-focused programming into New Orleans.

WYES became the market's exclusive PBS member once again on August 1, 2013, when WLAE ended its membership with the network to increase its focus on its locally produced programming.

WYES restored its broadcast signal on December 30, operating from a temporary facility located on Veterans Boulevard and Phosphor Avenue in Metairie.

[9] WYES is best known outside of New Orleans as the home of the famous Louisiana chef and storyteller Justin Wilson, whose show originated from WYES-TV's studios.

[10] In 1984, WYES premiered Informed Sources, a program devoted to in-depth discussion of the news by local journalists; it is still running today.