KDSM-TV
Fox-affiliated television station serving Des Moines and central Iowa.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KDSM-TV is a television station licensed to Des Moines, Iowa, and affiliated with the Fox network. It broadcasts on virtual channel 17 and serves the Des Moines–Ames market and surrounding central Iowa communities. The station is owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group, operates studios on Fleur Drive in Des Moines, and transmits from a facility near Alleman, Iowa. Channel 17 first became active in the Des Moines area under the call sign KCBR. Independence Broadcasting Company, a locally based group, won the Federal Communications Commission proceeding to develop the channel after competing applications from several prospective operators. KCBR began test broadcasting on March 7, 1983, and formally signed on March 14. As Des Moines's first successful independent UHF station since the collapse of an earlier channel 17 operation in the 1950s, it initially relied on movies, syndicated series, children's programs, sports, and locally produced public-affairs programming. Duchossois Communications acquired the station in 1985 and moved it into a former NCR building on Fleur Drive, giving it permanent production facilities. In January 1986, the station adopted the KDSM-TV call sign and joined the newly launched Fox network later that year. Its most consequential programming decision came in 1987, when it obtained broadcast rights for Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball and selected Iowa football replays, in addition to syndicated Big Ten sports. The sports rights raised the station's profile, encouraged cable systems outside metropolitan Des Moines to carry it, and helped it compete more effectively for advertising. KDSM also carried Iowa high-school basketball tournament coverage and other syndicated sports programming. River City Broadcasting purchased KDSM-TV in 1991 and emphasized the Fox affiliation through branding, promotion, children's programming initiatives, and community activity. The station briefly carried UPN programs as a secondary affiliate beginning in 1995, but ended that arrangement in 1998 as Fox sports and other programming demands increased. River City merged with Sinclair Broadcast Group in 1996, making KDSM part of a larger national television-station group. For much of its early history, KDSM operated without a conventional local news department. Fox's push for stronger local news coverage led to the launch of a 9 p.m. newscast in 2001, produced by Sinclair-owned KGAN in Cedar Rapids with reporters based in the Des Moines area. In 2008, WHO-TV began producing a longer local evening newscast for KDSM. According to the supplied reference material, that arrangement changed in 2026, when the WHO-produced program moved to streaming platforms and KCCI began supplying a newscast for the station. KDSM introduced a digital signal in 2002 and ended its analog transmission in 2009. In 2023 it became Des Moines's ATSC 3.0, or NextGen TV, broadcaster. Under the market's shared-spectrum arrangement, KDSM's ATSC 1.0 services are carried through other local television facilities while its ATSC 3.0 transmitter carries the principal services of KDSM, KCCI, Iowa PBS, and WHO-DT. The station's business remains centered on network television distribution, locally relevant news and weather, syndicated entertainment, sports history, advertising, and over-the-air and digital broadcast services.
History
The history of KDSM-TV is rooted in the difficult economics of early UHF television in Des Moines. An earlier channel 17 station, KGTV, operated from 1953 until 1955, when it closed amid the financial challenges facing many early UHF broadcasters. Further proposals for channel 17 appeared during the 1960s and 1970s, but none reached operation. In 1979, Koplar Broadcasting proposed a Des Moines independent station modeled on its successful KPLR-TV in St. Louis. Independence Broadcasting Company, a locally owned group associated with Raymond Gazzo, William Trout, and Carl Goldsberry, filed a competing application. The FCC designated the competing applications for a comparative hearing, and in 1982 an administrative law judge awarded the channel to Independence after the applicants reached a settlement under which Independence reimbursed the other parties for their expenses. Construction was delayed by a wet winter and difficult conditions at the proposed transmitter site in Alleman. Although the station had hoped to begin in January 1983, tower work lagged substantially. Channel 17 first broadcast on March 7, 1983, and formally signed on a week later as KCBR. Its schedule consisted primarily of films, syndicated and children's programs, sports, and two locally produced public-affairs shows. The station's first attempted sale, a proposed transaction with Citadel Communications valued at approximately $9 million, collapsed in 1984 and led to litigation. Independence subsequently agreed to sell KCBR to Duchossois Communications for approximately $8.3 million in 1985. Duchossois moved KCBR to a former NCR building on Fleur Drive, replacing the makeshift production arrangements used during its first years. In January 1986 the station became KDSM-TV. It joined Fox when the network launched in October of that year, positioning the formerly independent station within a rapidly expanding national network. KDSM's major competitive breakthrough came in 1987, when it obtained Des Moines-area rights to televise Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball and selected football replays. It also held syndicated Big Ten football and basketball rights, later adding coverage of Iowa high-school basketball tournaments. These sports properties gave channel 17 an unusually strong identity for a young UHF station, improved its credibility with viewers and advertisers, and prompted cable operators in areas beyond metropolitan Des Moines to carry the signal. River City Broadcasting agreed to buy KDSM for approximately $13.5 million in 1990 and took control in 1991. The new owner promoted the Fox affiliation more aggressively, expanded the Fox 17 Kids Club, increased community involvement, and refreshed the station's visual identity. River City also used equipment and promotional resources associated with its flagship station, KDNL-TV. KDSM carried UPN programming during late-night hours from 1995, but discontinued the secondary affiliation in 1998 as Fox sports and other scheduling demands grew. It later carried syndicated Star Trek: Voyager. Sinclair Broadcast Group announced its merger with River City in 1996. The transaction created a large national group of television and radio properties and left KDSM under Sinclair ownership. By that time, KDSM had reportedly overtaken ABC affiliate WOI-TV in Des Moines market revenue, despite operating for many years without its own news department. Its early financial advantage came partly from lower costs and from the growing value of Fox programming and sports rights. KDSM introduced digital broadcasting in 2002 and completed the transition from analog broadcasting in 2009. The station's approach to news evolved in response to Fox's efforts to encourage affiliates to provide local newscasts. In 2001, KGAN in Cedar Rapids began producing a 9 p.m. program for KDSM with Des Moines-based reporters. WHO-TV replaced KGAN in 2008 with an hour-long weeknight newscast branded as 13 News at 9 on Fox 17. The supplied reference material states that this program became exclusive to WHO's streaming platforms on January 1, 2026, and that KCCI subsequently began providing the KDSM newscast. KDSM became part of Des Moines's ATSC 3.0 deployment in March 2023. Its ATSC 1.0 services are carried on other local station multiplexes, while KDSM's NextGen TV facility carries the principal channels of KDSM, KCCI, Iowa PBS, and WHO-DT. The station continues to operate as a Sinclair-owned Fox affiliate serving central Iowa through broadcast, cable, streaming-related news distribution, and digital television.
- 2026
New local-news production arrangement
[1]The supplied reference states that WHO's KDSM newscast moved to streaming distribution and KCCI began supplying the station's newscast.
- 2023
KDSM becomes Des Moines NextGen TV broadcaster
[1]The station began ATSC 3.0 broadcasting as part of a coordinated market deployment.
- 2019
Transmission failure disrupts over-the-air service
[1]A transmission-line failure temporarily interrupted the station's terrestrial signal.
- 2009
Analog broadcasting ends
[1]The station completed the national digital television transition using its pre-transition UHF channel.
- 2002
Digital signal launches
[1]KDSM began digital broadcasting.
- 2001
First regular local newscast begins
[1]KGAN began producing a 9 p.m. newscast for KDSM with Des Moines-area reporting.
- 1996
Sinclair acquires KDSM through River City merger
[1]The River City–Sinclair merger brought KDSM into Sinclair's station group.
- 1991
River City Broadcasting takes control
[1]River City completed its acquisition and pursued a more aggressive Fox-centered marketing strategy.
- 1987
Iowa Hawkeyes sports rights raise station profile
[1]KDSM won important local rights for Iowa athletics and expanded its sports programming portfolio.
- 1986
KDSM-TV joins Fox
[1]The station adopted its current call sign in January and became a charter Fox affiliate in October.
Products and positioning
A locally focused Fox affiliate combining national network entertainment and sports with central Iowa news, weather, advertising, and digital broadcast services.
Network television · 1986
Fox network programming
KDSM's core programming product is its Fox affiliation, which supplies nationally distributed entertainment, sports, and other network programs to viewers in central Iowa through virtual channel 17 and associated distribution platforms.
Local television news · 2001
Local news and weather
KDSM has carried locally oriented evening news programming since 2001. Production has been outsourced among Sinclair-owned KGAN, WHO-TV, and, according to the supplied reference, KCCI, with the precise arrangement changing over time.
Sports broadcasting · 1987
Iowa sports programming
Historically, KDSM built much of its early audience and distribution footprint through Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball, selected Hawkeyes football replays, Big Ten sports, and Iowa high-school basketball tournament coverage. The sports rights were especially important during the station's rise as an independent and new Fox affiliate.
Digital broadcasting · 2023
ATSC 3.0 NextGen TV service
KDSM operates the Des Moines market's ATSC 3.0 transmission facility. The shared deployment uses KDSM's NextGen TV signal to carry principal services associated with KDSM, KCCI, Iowa PBS, and WHO-DT, while KDSM's ATSC 1.0 services are hosted on other local multiplexes.
Marketing campaigns
- 1991Fox-centered station rebrand
Des Moines · Central Iowa
After acquiring KDSM, River City Broadcasting emphasized the station's Fox identity through stronger on-air promotion, a Fox 17 Kids Club, community involvement, and a lobby mural featuring Fox network stars.
Outcome. The campaign reinforced KDSM's network affiliation and supported its effort to become a more prominent local entertainment and sports outlet.
Brand decisions
2023
Adopt ATSC 3.0 transmissionStrategyBackground
Des Moines broadcasters were deploying a coordinated shared-spectrum NextGen TV system.
Action taken
KDSM began operating the market's ATSC 3.0 facility while participating stations shared ATSC 1.0 distribution.
Aftermath
KDSM became a central technical platform for the market's NextGen TV services.
1998
End secondary UPN affiliationStrategyBackground
KDSM had carried UPN programs during late-night hours since 1995, but Fox sports programming and scheduling demands were increasing.
Action taken
The station discontinued regular UPN programming.
Aftermath
KDSM concentrated its schedule on Fox programming and other syndicated content, later acquiring Star Trek: Voyager in syndication.
1987
Invest in Iowa sports rightsStrategyBackground
As a relatively new UHF station, KDSM needed distinctive programming capable of building audience and improving its regional distribution.
Action taken
It acquired Des Moines-area rights for Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball and selected football coverage, alongside syndicated Big Ten sports and high-school tournament programming.
Aftermath
The rights increased visibility, expanded cable carriage beyond metropolitan Des Moines, and strengthened the station's advertising position.
1986
Join the Fox networkStrategyBackground
KDSM was operating as a young independent station when Fox was preparing to launch as a new national network.
Action taken
The station changed its call sign from KCBR to KDSM-TV and affiliated with Fox.
Aftermath
The affiliation gave KDSM a national programming identity and helped it compete with established network affiliates.
Recent events
- 2023
KDSM begins ATSC 3.0 broadcasting[1]
Product launch
KDSM became the Des Moines market's NextGen TV broadcaster as part of a shared local ATSC 3.0 deployment.
- 2019
Transmission-line failure interrupts KDSM over-the-air service[1]
Other
A transmission-line failure temporarily removed KDSM from the air for viewers using antennas. WHO-TV provided facilities to restore an over-the-air signal while repairs proceeded; a worker died after falling from the station mast during the repair period.
- 2008
WHO-TV takes over production of KDSM's local newscast[1]
Product generation
WHO-TV replaced KGAN as producer of KDSM's nightly local 9 p.m. newscast and supplied a longer program.
- 2001
KDSM launches a locally based 9 p.m. newscast[1]
Product launch
A newscast produced by Sinclair-owned KGAN began airing on KDSM using news staff based in the Des Moines area.
- 1996
River City Broadcasting merges with Sinclair[1]
M&A
Sinclair's merger with River City placed KDSM-TV within Sinclair's national broadcast-station portfolio.
- 1990
River City Broadcasting agrees to acquire KDSM-TV[1]
M&A
River City announced a purchase of the station and subsequently intensified its Fox-oriented branding and promotion.
- 1987
KDSM secures Iowa Hawkeyes broadcast rights[1]
Product launch
The station acquired Des Moines-area rights to Iowa men's basketball and selected football coverage, materially increasing its visibility and cable carriage.
- 1986
KCBR adopts KDSM-TV call sign and joins Fox[1]
Product launch
After Duchossois Communications acquired the station, it changed the call sign to KDSM-TV and became an affiliate of the newly launched Fox network.
- 1983
KDSM-TV launches as an independent Des Moines station[1]
Other
Channel 17 began broadcasting under the KCBR call sign, giving Des Moines a new independent UHF station.
Sources2 sources
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