KCPO-LD

KCPO-LD is a low-power television station serving the Sioux Falls, South Dakota, market. The station is owned by Central Plains Media, a broadcasting group associated with Chuck Poppen, and operates independently rather than as an affiliate of a currently active national broadcast network. Its transmitter is located on the campus of the University of Sioux Falls. The station first signed on March 12, 1999, under the call sign KCPO-LP. At launch, it carried programming from UPN as well as Bloomberg. Its network role changed as the Sioux Falls market evolved: in January 2004, CBS affiliate KELO-TV introduced a UPN-branded digital subchannel, reducing KCPO's role as the area's UPN outlet. When UPN ceased operations in 2006, KCPO continued as an independent station. KCPO was part of a broader Central Plains Media operating arrangement that extended beyond Sioux Falls. In 2004, the group launched KCPL-LP on channel 52 in Rapid City as a semi-satellite of KCPO. KCPL carried UPN programming before that network ended and subsequently operated as an independent station that largely simulcast KCPO outside of locally inserted material. A related station, KCPM in Grand Forks, North Dakota, also shared substantial programming with KCPO while carrying MyNetworkTV programming and maintaining separate commercials, station identifications, and some syndicated content to comply with Federal Communications Commission market requirements. KCPM's license was canceled in 2020 after the station failed to transmit from authorized facilities for the required period, while KCPL-LP's license was canceled in 2013. KCPO's programming has included syndicated series, movies, and locally produced shows. Among the locally oriented programs associated with the station were That Country Video Show, focused on country music videos, and Talk'n Dirt, a motorsports program covering area racetracks and racing events. The station group also carried selected sports programming through arrangements with other broadcasters, including broadcasts of Minnesota State High School League football, hockey, and basketball tournaments supplied through KSTC. This cross-market arrangement gave the Central Plains Media stations a distinctive reach across parts of South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota. KCPO planned a transition from analog to digital broadcasting in 2015, including a proposal to carry Retro TV on a digital subchannel. The station ultimately converted to digital broadcasting in spring 2020. Its history reflects the changing economics and technology of low-power television: it moved from a UPN and Bloomberg launch identity to independent programming, used semi-satellite and shared-programming arrangements to broaden its regional footprint, and later completed its digital transition.

KCPO-LD originated as KCPO-LP, a low-power television station that began broadcasting in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on March 12, 1999. Its initial programming identity combined UPN affiliation with Bloomberg programming, giving the station both general entertainment and business-news content during its launch period. The station was established to serve the Sioux Falls television market with a low-power local outlet. In 2004, the station's owner, Central Plains Media, expanded its model by launching KCPL-LP on channel 52 in Rapid City. KCPL functioned as a semi-satellite of KCPO and carried UPN programming until UPN ceased operations. The arrangement allowed related stations to share much of their programming while serving different markets. KCPL later became an independent station and largely simulcast KCPO outside of network programming, before its license was canceled by the FCC on March 12, 2013. KCPO's UPN affiliation was affected by developments at KELO-TV, the Sioux Falls CBS affiliate. In January 2004, KELO-TV launched a UPN-branded digital subchannel, giving the market another outlet for UPN content. When UPN ended operations in 2006, KCPO no longer operated as a UPN affiliate and continued as an independent station. Its programming mix included syndicated television series, movies, and original local productions. The most identifiable local programs included That Country Video Show, a country-music-video program, and Talk'n Dirt, a motorsports program featuring coverage of area racetracks and racing events. These programs were also made available through the related Central Plains Media station arrangement. The group carried additional regional programming through agreements with other broadcasters, including KSTC broadcasts of Minnesota State High School League tournaments in football, hockey, and basketball. The resulting footprint was unusual for a South Dakota station group because its programming could reach viewers in portions of South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota. KCPM, a related station on channel 27 in Grand Forks, North Dakota, was affiliated with MyNetworkTV and had also previously been a UPN affiliate. It shared much of KCPO's programming but maintained separate advertising, station identifications, and at times different syndicated shows because of FCC market rules. The FCC canceled KCPM's license on March 9, 2020, after the station failed to transmit from authorized facilities for the previous 12 months. KCPO planned to flash-cut to digital broadcasting in 2015 and proposed carrying Retro TV on a digital subchannel. The conversion ultimately took place in spring 2020. The station's development therefore spans several phases of local television: a UPN-era launch, a regional semi-satellite and simulcast structure, a post-network independent format, locally produced programming, and a transition from analog to digital transmission.

• 2020

  Digital broadcasting conversion

  [1]KCPO-LDen.wikipedia.org

  KCPO completes its conversion to digital broadcasting in spring 2020.

• 2013

  KCPL-LP license canceled

  [1]KCPO-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The FCC cancels the license of related station KCPL-LP.

• 2006

  UPN programming ends

  [1]KCPO-LDen.wikipedia.org

  After UPN ceases operations, KCPO continues as an independent station.

• 2004

  Rapid City semi-satellite launches

  [1]KCPO-LDen.wikipedia.org

  KCPL-LP launches in Rapid City and operates initially as a semi-satellite of KCPO.

• 1999

  KCPO-LP signs on

  [1]KCPO-LDen.wikipedia.org

  The station begins broadcasting in Sioux Falls on March 12 as a UPN and Bloomberg affiliate.

A locally oriented, independent low-power television station combining syndicated entertainment, movies, community-focused original programming, and selected regional sports coverage.

• Broadcast television · 1999

  Television broadcasting

  KCPO-LD provides low-power over-the-air television service for the Sioux Falls market. Its programming history includes network affiliation, syndicated entertainment, movies, locally produced shows, and selected regional sports content.

• Local music programming

  That Country Video Show

  A locally produced country music video program associated with KCPO and related Central Plains Media stations. The program formed part of the group's original and regionally oriented schedule.

• Local motorsports programming

  Talk'n Dirt

  A motorsports program covering area racetracks and racing events. It was carried by KCPO and also made available through the group's related station operations.

• Sports broadcasting

  Regional sports coverage

  KCPO's station group carried selected sports broadcasts through agreements with other broadcasters, including Minnesota State High School League football, hockey, and basketball tournament coverage supplied through KSTC.

• 2015

  Planned digital flash-cutGeneration change

  Background

  KCPO planned to replace its analog transmission with digital broadcasting.

  Action taken

  The station planned a digital flash-cut and proposed carrying Retro TV on a digital subchannel.

  Aftermath

  The station converted to digital broadcasting in spring 2020.

  Source

• 2006

  Transition to independent programmingStrategy

  Background

  UPN ceased operations, ending KCPO's original network affiliation.

  Action taken

  KCPO continued as an independent station using syndicated programs, movies, and locally produced content.

  Aftermath

  The independent format became the station's principal programming model after the network era.

  Source

• 2004

  Expansion through a Rapid City semi-satelliteStrategy

  Background

  Central Plains Media sought to extend the KCPO programming model beyond Sioux Falls while maintaining shared programming across stations.

  Action taken

  The group launched KCPL-LP in Rapid City as a semi-satellite that initially carried UPN programming and later simulcast much of KCPO's independent schedule.

  Aftermath

  KCPL-LP continued in an associated role until its license was canceled in 2013.

  Source

1. 1KCPO-LDen.wikipedia.org
2. 2KCPO-LD official websitekcpo.tv