KQCD-TV

Last updated

KQCD-TV
KQCD 2023.svg
West Dakota Fox logo.png
Channels
Branding
  • KQCD-TV; NBC North Dakota
  • West Dakota Fox (on DT2)
  • MeTV North Dakota (on DT3)
Programming
Network NBC North Dakota
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
KFYR-TV, KMOT, KUMV-TV
History
First air date
c.1967 (current full-power license dates from July 28, 1980)
Former call signs
K07FN (c.1967–1980)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 7 (VHF, c.1967–2009)
  • Digital: 18 (UHF, until 2009)
ABC (secondary, c.1967–1986)
Call sign meaning
Queen City Dickinson
Technical information [1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID 41430
ERP 11.3 kW
HAAT 205 m (673 ft)
Transmitter coordinates 46°56′53″N102°59′27″W / 46.94806°N 102.99083°W / 46.94806; -102.99083 (KQCD-TV)
Links
Public license information
Website www.kfyrtv.com

KQCD-TV (channel 7) is a television station in Dickinson, North Dakota, United States, affiliated with NBC and Fox. The station is owned by Gray Television, and maintains a news bureau and advertising sales office on 21st Street East in Dickinson; its transmitter is located near South Heart, North Dakota.

Contents

KQCD-TV is part of the four-station NBC North Dakota regional network of NBC affiliates in central and western North Dakota, originating from flagship station KFYR-TV (channel 5) in Bismarck. The NBC North Dakota network relays NBC network and other programming from KFYR-TV across central and western North Dakota, as well as bordering counties in Montana and South Dakota. The four stations along with fellow NBC affiliate KVLY-TV in Fargo often share news stories. Master control and some internal operations of KQCD are based at KFYR-TV's facilities on North 4th Street and East Broadway Avenue in downtown Bismarck. The four stations are counted as a single unit for ratings purposes.

Though identifying as a separate station in its own right, KQCD-TV is a semi-satellite of KFYR-TV in Bismarck. While it airs separate commercials and legal identifications, for most of the day it airs a time-shifted feed of KFYR-TV in Mountain Time. Most of the station's coverage area, including Dickinson itself, is in the Mountain Time Zone, and its prime time schedule starts at 6 p.m. rather than the usual 7 p.m. for its sister stations.

History

KQCD-TV debuted on January 25, 1980. It was the last station in what was then known as the Meyer Television Network to sign on, and has always been a semi-satellite of KFYR-TV. It replaced K07HN, a low-powered translator of KFYR-TV that had served the area since around 1967. [2] [3] Until KQCD's sign-on, KDIX-TV (channel 2, now KXMA-TV) aired a few NBC programs in off-hours.

Longtime owner Marietta Meyer Ekberg sold her broadcast holdings in 1997, with the television stations going to Sunrise Television Corporation. Sunrise sold them to The Wicks Group of Companies of New York City.

Hoak Media bought KFYR-TV, KMOT, KUMV, and KQCD in July 2006, as well as KVLY-TV in Fargo and KSFY in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and its satellite stations. On November 17, 2006, the sale was approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

KQCD picked up MeTV in April 2013, with an official launch date of May 1, 2013. [4]

On November 20, 2013, Gray Television announced it would purchase Hoak Media in a $335 million deal. Gray initially planned, through Excalibur Broadcasting, to also acquire Fox affiliate KNDX/KXND for $7.5 million and operate them under a local marketing agreement. [5] On March 25, 2014, Prime Cities Broadcasting, owner of KNDX/KXND, requested that the FCC dismiss the sale of that station to Excalibur. [6] This came as a result of increased scrutiny of LMAs by the FCC. Gray would instead acquire the stations' non-license assets, [7] and, upon the closure of the Hoak purchases on June 13, 2014, shut down KNDX/KXND and moved Fox programming to subchannels of KFYR and its satellites. [8]

News operation

KQCD once aired partially separate weekday newscasts from KFYR-TV at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m., much like KUMV does today. The first 10 minutes (which included regional news and weather) originated at KFYR, while the remaining 20 minutes were filled by KQCD's own news and sports anchors. All other newscasts originated from KFYR. In 2002, severe cutbacks resulted in KQCD ending its locally focused newscasts. Since then, the only visual evidence that KQCD is a separate station has been its separate commercials and idents.

KQCD's news department was reduced to a single reporter, Cebe Schneider. In 2009, she was joined by Adam Powell as bureau chief. Powell and Schneider's stories aired on KFYR's regional newscasts. They were the only reporters based in southwestern North Dakota. However, they were fired in 2012 due to further cutbacks. KQCD still has a single reporter whose stories air on KFYR.

The stations occasionally share stories with co-owned KVLY-TV. The five stations simulcast major North Dakota sporting events and statewide political debates under the NBC North Dakota brand name and share certain equipment, such as remote broadcasting vehicles. On April 30, 2012, NBC North Dakota began broadcasting its local newscasts in high definition. [9]

The Fox-affiliated subchannel debuted West Dakota Fox News at Nine during October 2014, originating from KFYR's studios in Bismarck.

Technical information

Subchannels

The station's signal is multiplexed:

Subchannels of KQCD-TV [10]
Channel Res. Aspect Short nameProgramming
7.1 1080i 16:9 KQCD-DT NBC
7.2 720p WD FOX Fox
7.3 480i MeTV ND MeTV
7.4Circle Circle

Analog-to-digital conversion

KQCD-TV shut down its analog signal, over VHF channel 7, on February 16, 2009, the day prior to the original date on which full-power television stations in the United States were set to transition from analog to digital broadcasts under federal mandate (which was later rescheduled for June 12, 2009). The station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 18 to VHF channel 7 for post-transition operations. [11] [12]

Translators

Former translator

Gray also owned KNDX-LD (channel 38) in Dickinson; this station was acquired alongside the purchase of the non-license assets of KNDX and KXND [7] and thus simulcasts KQCD's Fox-affiliated second subchannel. As of February 4, 2018, KNDX-LD was off the air due to being displaced by T-Mobile. [13] KNDX-LD had been granted a move to channel 28, [14] but Gray Television surrendered KNDX-LD's license to the FCC on October 20, 2020. The FCC canceled the license the same day.

See also

Related Research Articles

In North American broadcasting, a local marketing agreement (LMA), or local management agreement, is a contract in which one company agrees to operate a radio or television station owned by another party. In essence, it is a sort of lease or time-buy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KXMA-TV</span> CW/CBS affiliate in Dickinson, North Dakota

KXMA-TV is a television station in Dickinson, North Dakota, United States, serving as the local CW+ outlet and as a CBS affiliate. The station is owned and operated by The CW's majority owner Nexstar Media Group, and maintains a news bureau and advertising sales office at the intersection of West Villard Street and State Avenue North in Dickinson; its transmitter is located southwest of the city. As Dickinson is located in the Mountain Time Zone, the station's prime time schedule starts at 6 p.m. rather than the usual 7 p.m. start for the rest of Mountain Time, or in Central Time, where most of North Dakota is located.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KXMB-TV</span> CBS/CW affiliate in Bismarck, North Dakota

KXMB-TV is a television station in Bismarck, North Dakota, United States, affiliated with CBS and The CW Plus. The station is owned by Nexstar Media Group, and maintains studios on North 15th Street in Bismarck; its transmitter is located near St. Anthony, North Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KXMD-TV</span> CBS/CW affiliate in Williston, North Dakota

KXMD-TV is a television station in Williston, North Dakota, United States, affiliated with CBS and The CW Plus. Owned by Nexstar Media Group, the station maintains a news bureau and advertising sales office at the intersection of 13th Avenue West and 18th Street West in Williston, and its transmitter is located west of the city near the North Dakota–Montana border.

NBC North Dakota is a network of four television stations that serve most of central and western North Dakota, along with parts of South Dakota and Montana. All four stations are dual NBC/Fox affiliates, and the flagship station is KFYR-TV in Bismarck. All four are owned by Gray Television. Sister station KVLY-TV in Fargo/Grand Forks is also considered a member of the network covering eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota, but originates its own programming and newscasts. Fox programming is also not shown on KVLY-TV. KVLY's sister station CBS affiliate KXJB-LD is not available outside of the KVLY viewing area. In 2023 as part of a rebranding, all four stations rebranded under their respective call letters.

KFYR-TV is a television station in Bismarck, North Dakota, United States, affiliated with NBC and Fox. Owned by Gray Television, the station has studios on North 4th Street and East Broadway Avenue in downtown Bismarck, and its transmitter is located near St. Anthony, North Dakota.

KMOT is a television station in Minot, North Dakota, United States, affiliated with NBC and Fox. The station is owned by Gray Television, and maintains studios and transmitter facilities at the intersection of 16th Street and 18th Avenue SW in Minot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KVLY-TV</span> NBC affiliate in Fargo, North Dakota

KVLY-TV is a television station in Fargo, North Dakota, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Gray Television alongside Horace-licensed low-power dual CBS/CW+ affiliate KXJB-LD. The two stations share studios on 21st Avenue South in Fargo; KVLY-TV's transmitter is located near Blanchard. In addition to its main studio in Fargo, KVLY-TV operates a news bureau and sales office in the US Bank building in downtown Grand Forks.

KUMV-TV is a television station licensed to Williston, North Dakota, United States, affiliated with NBC and Fox. Owned by Gray Television, the station maintains a news studio and advertising sales office at the intersection of Main Street and 6th Street East in Williston, and its transmitter is located west of the city near the North Dakota–Montana border.

KRDK-TV is a television station licensed to Valley City, North Dakota, United States, serving the Fargo–Grand Forks market. Owned by Major Market Broadcasting, it is affiliated with multiple networks on various digital subchannels, with Cozi TV and MyNetworkTV on its main channel. KRDK-TV's offices are located on Winter Show Road in Valley City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KBMY</span> ABC/MyNetworkTV affiliate in Bismarck, North Dakota

KBMY is a television station in Bismarck, North Dakota, United States, affiliated with ABC and MyNetworkTV. Owned by Forum Communications Company, the station maintains a news bureau and advertising sales office on North 15th Street in Bismarck, and its transmitter is located near St. Anthony, North Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KOTA-TV</span> ABC affiliate in Rapid City, South Dakota

KOTA-TV is a television station in Rapid City, South Dakota, United States, affiliated with ABC. It is owned by Gray Television alongside MeTV affiliate KHME and low-power Fox affiliate KEVN-LD. The stations share studios on Skyline Drive in Rapid City, where KOTA-TV's transmitter is also located.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KNOP-TV</span> NBC affiliate in North Platte, Nebraska

KNOP-TV is a television station in North Platte, Nebraska, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Gray Television alongside two low-power stations: CBS affiliate KNPL-LD and Class A Fox affiliate KIIT-CD. The three stations share studios on South Dewey Street in downtown North Platte; master control and some internal operations are based at the facilities of sister station KOLN on North 40th Street in Lincoln. KNOP-TV's transmitter is located at the site of its former studio on US Route 83 north of North Platte.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KCPM (TV)</span> TV station in Grand Forks, North Dakota (2003–2020)

KCPM was a television station licensed to Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States, which served eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. Owned by Chuck Poppen's Central Plains Media of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, it was last affiliated with MyNetworkTV. KCPM's transmitter was located on the Midco cable headend tower northwest of East Grand Forks, Minnesota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KMLU</span> MeTV affiliate in Columbia, Louisiana

KMLU is a television station licensed to Columbia, Louisiana, United States, serving the Monroe, Louisiana–El Dorado, Arkansas market as an affiliate of MeTV. Owned by Legacy Broadcasting, the station maintains studios and transmitter facilities north of Columbia off Seay Road near LA 847.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KSFY-TV</span> ABC affiliate in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

KSFY-TV is a television station in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States, affiliated with ABC. It is owned by Gray Television alongside dual NBC and Fox affiliate KDLT-TV. The two stations share studios in Courthouse Square on 1st Avenue South in Sioux Falls; KSFY-TV's transmitter is located near Rowena, South Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KNHL</span> MyNetworkTV/MeTV affiliate in Hastings, Nebraska

KNHL is a television station licensed to Hastings, Nebraska, United States, affiliated with The CW Plus. It is a full-power satellite of Lincoln-based KCWH-LD which is owned by Gray Television. As KHAS-TV, it formerly served as the NBC affiliate for the western side of the Lincoln–Hastings–Kearney market. KNHL is a sister station to NBC affiliate KSNB-TV in York and CBS affiliates KOLN/KGIN in Lincoln and Grand Island. KNHL's transmitter is located on US 281 north of Hastings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KNDB</span> TV station in Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S.

KNDB is a television station in Bismarck, North Dakota, United States. Owned by BEK Sports Network, Inc., a subsidiary of BEK Communications Cooperative, it is affiliated with multiple networks on various digital subchannels, with Heroes & Icons and BEK Prime on its main channel. KNDB's studios are located on East Interstate Avenue in Bismarck, and its transmitter is located near St. Anthony, North Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KXJB-LD</span> CBS/CW affiliate in Horace–Fargo, North Dakota

KXJB-LD is a low-power television station licensed to Horace, North Dakota, United States, serving the Fargo–Grand Forks market as an affiliate of CBS and The CW Plus. It is owned by Gray Television alongside NBC affiliate KVLY-TV. The two stations share studios on 21st Avenue South in Fargo, where KXJB-LD's transmitter is also located.

References

  1. "Facility Technical Data for KQCD-TV". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. http://americanradiohistory.com/Archive-BC-YB/1978/B-Television-Broadcasting-Yearbook-1978-Full.pdf Page B-152
  3. TV Factbook II 1967, page 225-a
  4. "NorthPine: Upper Midwest Broadcasting". northpine.com.
  5. "Gray Buying Hoak, Prime Stations For $342.5M". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  6. Paxson, Ann Thomas (March 25, 2014). "Re: Prime Cities Broadcasting, Inc. Request for Dismissal of Group Application for Assignment of Broadcast Station License(s)…" (PDF). CDBS Public Access. Federal Communications Commission . Retrieved March 26, 2014.
  7. 1 2 "Gray Adds North And South Dakota TVs". TVNewsCheck. May 1, 2014. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  8. "Gray Completes Hoak-Prime Station Buy". TVNewsCheck. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  9. "KFYR-TV Makes the Conversion to HD".
  10. "RabbitEars TV Query for KQCD". RabbitEars. Retrieved August 19, 2022.
  11. "KFYR-TV/KMOT/ KUMV/KQCD | Bismarck-Minot-Williston-Dickinson".
  12. "DTV Tentative Channel Designations for the First and the Second Rounds" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on August 29, 2013. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  13. "KNDX-LD Silent State". Archived from the original (PDF) on September 13, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  14. "Displacement for LPTV Translator Application". June 7, 2018. Retrieved September 13, 2018.