KDLT-TV

KDLT-TV is a broadcast television station serving Sioux Falls, eastern South Dakota, and parts of southwestern Minnesota. The station is affiliated with NBC and operates on virtual channel 46, while its former channel 5 facility in Mitchell operates as KDLV-TV, a full-time satellite whose programming is derived from KDLT. KDLT is owned by Gray Media and shares facilities, news resources, and operational infrastructure with ABC affiliate KSFY-TV under the Dakota News Now brand. The station began broadcasting in 1960 as KORN-TV, licensed to Mitchell and affiliated with NBC. Its early service area was centered on Mitchell rather than Sioux Falls, limiting its competitive position in the larger Sioux Falls market. In 1969, after the construction of a tall transmitting tower near Salem, the station switched to ABC and expanded its signal so that Sioux Falls could receive programming from all three major commercial networks. Following a 1972 ownership change, its call letters became KXON-TV. The station returned to NBC in 1983 after ABC moved its affiliation to KSFY-TV, and it adopted the KDLT-TV call sign in 1982 under Dakotaland Broadcasting. For much of its history, KDLT struggled with low local-news ratings and the perception that it was primarily a Mitchell station. Its geographic disadvantage was compounded by a smaller news operation and less extensive transmitter coverage than competitors KELO-TV and KSFY-TV. In 1987, most operations and news production moved to Sioux Falls, allowing the station to focus more directly on the market's largest population center. Under Red River Broadcasting, the station added low-power translators in several South Dakota communities during the mid-1990s. A major technical and strategic transformation occurred in the late 1990s. Red River launched a new full-power Sioux Falls station on channel 46 in September 1998, using a transmitter near Rowena. The new facility became the principal KDLT-TV signal, while the original channel 5 license was converted into KDLV-TV, a satellite serving the western portion of the market. The project, which cost approximately $8 million according to the cited reference material, improved KDLT's reach in Sioux Falls and helped it meet emerging digital-television coverage requirements. Gray Television announced its acquisition of KDLT in 2018 and completed the transaction in September 2019 after receiving Federal Communications Commission approval for a waiver permitting common ownership with KSFY-TV. The combination created a local television duopoly intended to provide a stronger competitor to the market-leading KELO-TV. KDLT and KSFY consolidated their news operations as Dakota News Now in January 2020 and moved into shared studios at Courthouse Square in Sioux Falls. The combined operation also integrated transmitter networks, expanding over-the-air access to the two stations' network programming. In November 2020, Gray acquired the non-license assets of KTTW and moved Fox programming to KDLT's second digital subchannel. KDLT therefore became a multi-network local platform carrying NBC as its primary service and Fox on a secondary channel, while related station facilities carry additional network and syndicated programming. The station remains an active local broadcaster, with news, weather, sports, community coverage, network programming, and digital distribution forming its principal offerings.

KDLT-TV traces its history to KORN-TV, which Mitchell Broadcasting Association built in Mitchell, South Dakota. The station received federal authorization in 1957 and began broadcasting on June 12, 1960, as an NBC affiliate on channel 5. In 1969, following construction of a high tower near Salem between Mitchell and Sioux Falls, it changed to ABC and greatly broadened its service area. A 1975 ice storm destroyed the Salem tower, requiring temporary use of the Mitchell facility until a replacement tower was completed the following year. Buford Television acquired the station in 1972, and the call sign changed to KXON-TV in 1973 after the radio and television interests were separated. George Gillett's company acquired the station in 1977 and attempted to improve its news presentation, but KXON remained disadvantaged by limited facilities, fewer transmitters, and its reputation as a Mitchell outlet. Dakotaland Broadcasting purchased the station in 1982, changed the call letters to KDLT-TV, and the station returned to NBC in 1983 when ABC selected KSFY-TV as its eastern South Dakota affiliate. Heritage Communications acquired KDLT in 1985 and moved most station operations to Sioux Falls in 1987. The move supported a greater emphasis on Sioux Falls news, although the station continued to trail its principal competitors. Red River Broadcasting purchased KDLT in 1994 and added translators in Aberdeen, Milbank, Pierre, and Watertown. It then pursued a larger technical solution: a new full-power channel 46 facility licensed to Sioux Falls. The station began transmitting from Rowena in September 1998, while the channel 5 facility became KDLV-TV, a full-time satellite. This arrangement improved coverage of both the Sioux Falls and western portions of the market. KDLT continued to experience weak ratings relative to KELO-TV and KSFY-TV. Gray Television's acquisition of KDLT, announced in 2018 and completed in 2019, changed the station's competitive structure. Gray already owned KSFY-TV and received an FCC waiver to operate both stations. In January 2020, the stations combined their news operations as Dakota News Now and moved into KSFY's Courthouse Square studios. Their transmitter networks were also coordinated to improve over-the-air access across the market. Later in 2020, Gray acquired KTTW's non-license assets and placed Fox programming on KDLT's second digital channel. KDLT currently operates as part of Gray Media's Sioux Falls station group, with NBC as its primary affiliation and related services distributed through KDLV and digital subchannels.

1. 2022Gray Media adopts current corporate name

   The parent company formerly known as Gray Television changes its corporate name to Gray Media.

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2. 2020Dakota News Now launches

   KDLT-TV and KSFY-TV merge their news operations under the Dakota News Now brand.

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3. 2020Fox moves to digital subchannel

   Fox programming begins airing on KDLT-TV's 46.2 subchannel after Gray acquires KTTW's non-license assets.

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4. 2019Gray Television takes control

   The FCC approves Gray's acquisition and Gray assumes control of KDLT-TV.

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5. 1998Channel 46 launches

   A new full-power Sioux Falls facility becomes the principal KDLT-TV signal, while channel 5 becomes KDLV-TV.

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6. 1995Translator network expands

   Red River Broadcasting adds low-power translators in several South Dakota communities.

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7. 1987Most operations move to Sioux Falls

   Station operations and news production relocate from the Mitchell-centered structure to Sioux Falls.

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8. 1983Returns to NBC

   KDLT becomes an NBC affiliate after ABC affiliation moves to KSFY-TV.

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9. 1982KDLT-TV identity begins

   Dakotaland Broadcasting acquires the station and changes its call letters to KDLT-TV.

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10. 1973Call sign changes to KXON-TV

    The station adopts the KXON-TV identity after its sale to Buford Television and the separation of the related radio interests.

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11. 1969Service expands toward Sioux Falls

    After a new Salem-area tower is built, the station switches from NBC to ABC and expands its coverage across eastern South Dakota.

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12. 1960KORN-TV begins broadcasting

    The Mitchell, South Dakota station signs on as an NBC affiliate on channel 5.

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A locally focused, network-affiliated broadcast outlet serving the Sioux Falls television market, positioned within Gray Media's Dakota News Now operation as a combined NBC and Fox platform alongside ABC affiliate KSFY-TV.

• KDLT-TV primary serviceNBC-affiliated broadcast television1960

  The station's principal over-the-air service on virtual channel 46.1, carrying NBC network programming together with local news, weather, sports, public-service information, and syndicated programming for Sioux Falls and surrounding areas.

• KDLV-TVFull-time satellite television station1960

  The former channel 5 facility licensed to Mitchell operates as a full-time satellite of KDLT-TV. It extends the station group's service toward western South Dakota and is primarily identified through station and legal identifications rather than a separate local operation.

• Fox 46.2Digital multicast channel2020

  KDLT-TV's second digital subchannel carries Fox programming in the Sioux Falls market. The affiliation moved from KTTW after Gray acquired KTTW's non-license assets in 2020.

• Dakota News NowLocal news operation2020

  The shared news and weather operation serving KDLT-TV and KSFY-TV. It combines newsroom resources while placing programming at different times on the two network affiliates.

• 2020Add Fox programming to KDLT's digital platformProduct launch

  Gray acquired the non-license assets of KTTW, whose Fox affiliation served the market.

  What changed. Fox programming moved to KDLT-TV's 46.2 subchannel, while Cozi TV moved to another digital subchannel.

  Aftermath. KDLT became a multi-network local television platform carrying NBC and Fox services.

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• 2019Combine KDLT-TV with KSFY-TVM&A

  KDLT had historically ranked behind KELO-TV and KSFY-TV, while Gray already owned KSFY-TV.

  What changed. Gray Television completed the acquisition of KDLT after obtaining an FCC ownership waiver.

  Aftermath. The stations shared facilities and launched the Dakota News Now news operation.

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• 1998Build a full-power Sioux Falls facilityStrategy

  The original channel 5 transmitter did not provide an adequate digital-era signal to Sioux Falls and the station remained associated with Mitchell.

  What changed. Red River Broadcasting launched a new channel 46 station from Rowena and converted the channel 5 facility into KDLV-TV, a satellite service.

  Aftermath. The arrangement improved coverage and gave KDLT a principal Sioux Falls signal, although the station continued to face strong audience competition.

  Construction cost. 8000000 (1998)

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• 2020Dakota News Now launches

  KDLT-TV and KSFY-TV consolidated their news operations under the Dakota News Now name and moved into shared Sioux Falls facilities.

  Leadership change
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• 2020Fox programming moves to KDLT subchannel

  Following Gray's acquisition of KTTW's non-license assets, Fox programming moved to KDLT-TV's 46.2 digital subchannel.

  M&AProduct launch
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• 2019FCC approves Gray's KDLT-TV acquisition

  The Federal Communications Commission approved Gray's purchase of KDLT-TV and its proposed combination with KSFY-TV after an extended review and ownership-waiver process.

  M&ARegulation
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• 2018Gray Television announces acquisition of KDLT-TV

  Gray Television announced an agreement to acquire KDLT-TV for $32.5 million, proposing common ownership with KSFY-TV and a combined operation in Sioux Falls.

  M&A
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1. KDLT-TV
2. KDLT official website
3. Gray Media adopts current corporate name