KSFY-TV
An ABC-affiliated television station serving Sioux Falls and much of eastern South Dakota, with CW and other digital-subchannel programming.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
KSFY-TV is a television station licensed to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and serving the Sioux Falls market and surrounding portions of eastern South Dakota. The station operates on virtual channel 13 and is affiliated with ABC. It is owned by Gray Media and is operated alongside KDLT-TV, a dual NBC and Fox affiliate. The two stations share facilities at Courthouse Square in downtown Sioux Falls, while KSFY-TV's main transmitter is located near Rowena, South Dakota. The station began broadcasting on July 31, 1960, under the call sign KSOO-TV. It was the second television station to launch in Sioux Falls and was established by the South Dakota Broadcasting Company, which also owned KSOO radio. KSOO-TV initially carried NBC programming as its primary affiliation and ABC programming on a secondary basis. During its first decade, the station participated in a regional arrangement with KORN-TV in Mitchell, with the two separately owned stations dividing coverage of eastern and western portions of the market. The Federal Communications Commission required that arrangement to be dissolved in 1969, after which KSOO-TV became the market's sole NBC affiliate. In 1970, the station's ownership acquired KXAB-TV in Aberdeen to extend the group's northeastern South Dakota reach. That station was renamed KCOO-TV and later became KABY-TV. The South Dakota Broadcasting Company was liquidated in 1973 after its television stations had experienced prolonged financial losses. Forum Publishing Company of Fargo acquired the stations in 1974 and changed the Sioux Falls station's call letters to KSFY. Forum later added KPRY-TV in Pierre, creating a broader South Dakota station group. A major programming change came in September 1983, when KSFY exchanged network affiliations with channel 5, then known as KDLT-TV. KSFY became an ABC affiliate, a position it retained. The change reflected ABC's strong national ratings at the time and KSFY's wider technical coverage, including multiple full-power transmitters. Ownership subsequently changed several times. Forum sold the stations to AFLAC in 1985. AFLAC divested its broadcasting assets in 1996 to Retirement Systems of Alabama, which combined them with Ellis Communications to form Raycom Media. Raycom sold the KSFY group to The Wicks Group of Companies in 2004, and Hoak Media acquired KSFY and related stations in 2006. Gray Television, now Gray Media, announced its acquisition of most Hoak Media stations in 2013, including KSFY. The transaction closed in June 2014. Gray later purchased KDLT-TV from Red River Broadcasting for $32.5 million, subject to regulatory approval. The FCC approved the transaction in September 2019, and the acquisition closed the following day. KDLT moved into KSFY's Courthouse Square facility in January 2020, and the stations consolidated their news operations under the Dakota News Now brand. Gray also acquired the non-license assets of Fox affiliate KTTW in 2020 and placed Fox programming on a KDLT digital subchannel. KSFY has maintained a substantial local-news operation. It introduced studio-produced high-definition newscasts in August 2011, becoming the first Sioux Falls-market and South Dakota television station to produce its local broadcasts in HD from the studio. The station also simplified its on-air news identity at that time, dropping the Action News branding and using KSFY News. Its terrestrial and digital distribution has expanded through translators across South Dakota and into southwestern Minnesota. The station discontinued analog broadcasting in February 2009 and moved its post-transition digital operation to VHF channel 13. In September 2012, it launched a CW-affiliated second digital subchannel through The CW Plus; MeTV was later placed on another digital subchannel. KSFY-TV remains an active local broadcast brand within Gray's Dakota News Now operation.
History
KSFY-TV began service on July 31, 1960, as KSOO-TV, a new Sioux Falls station owned by the South Dakota Broadcasting Company alongside KSOO radio. It launched as an NBC affiliate with a secondary ABC relationship. From 1960 through 1969, it worked within a regional television arrangement involving independently owned KORN-TV in Mitchell. The stations divided coverage between eastern and western portions of the market, but the FCC required the arrangement to be dissolved in 1969. KSOO-TV then operated as the area's sole NBC affiliate. The station expanded its reach in 1970 when its owner acquired Aberdeen station KXAB-TV, changing that station's call letters to KCOO-TV. South Dakota Broadcasting Company was liquidated in 1973 after its television properties had failed to achieve profitability for several years. Forum Publishing Company of Fargo acquired the stations in 1974 and changed KSOO-TV's call letters to KSFY. Forum subsequently added KPRY-TV in Pierre, establishing a group of South Dakota outlets linked to the KSFY operation. In September 1983, KSFY and channel 5, by then known as KDLT-TV, exchanged network affiliations. KSFY became an ABC affiliate, while KDLT took NBC. ABC's national strength at the time and KSFY's three full-power transmitters were important factors in the change. The station's ownership changed repeatedly after that period. AFLAC acquired the KSFY stations from Forum in 1985. In 1996, AFLAC sold its broadcasting division to Retirement Systems of Alabama, which combined it with Ellis Communications to create Raycom Media. Raycom sold the properties to The Wicks Group of Companies in 2004. Hoak Media acquired KSFY and associated stations in July 2006; the FCC approved the transaction in November of that year. Hoak announced in 2013 that it would sell most of its stations to Gray Television, and Gray completed the KSFY transaction in June 2014. Gray's ownership later brought a major structural change to the Sioux Falls market. In 2018, it announced an agreement to acquire KDLT-TV from Red River Broadcasting for $32.5 million. Because the proposed combination would place two of the market's prominent stations under one owner, Gray requested an FCC waiver. The commission approved the acquisition in September 2019, and the closing occurred the next day. KDLT moved into KSFY's Courthouse Square studios in January 2020. The stations combined their news operations and adopted the Dakota News Now identity. Gray also acquired the non-license assets of Fox affiliate KTTW in 2020 and added Fox programming to a KDLT digital subchannel. As a result, the principal network affiliations in eastern South Dakota became concentrated among Gray and the owner of KELO-TV. KSFY's local programming has remained an important part of its identity. In 2011, it began producing studio newscasts in high definition, introduced a new HD-capable set and used the KSFY News name instead of its former Action News branding. The station has continued to provide local news, weather and sports while carrying ABC programming. Its distribution footprint includes a group of translators serving communities such as Aberdeen, Brookings, Pierre, Sioux Falls and Watertown, as well as Worthington, Minnesota. KSFY ended analog transmission in February 2009 and returned to VHF channel 13 for its post-transition digital operation. It added CW Plus on a second digital subchannel in 2012 and later carried MeTV on another subchannel.
- 2020
Dakota News Now operation begins
[1]KDLT moves into KSFY's facility and the stations merge their news operations under the Dakota News Now brand.
- 2019
FCC approves KDLT combination
[1]The FCC approves Gray's acquisition of KDLT-TV, allowing the two Sioux Falls stations to operate under common ownership.
- 2014
Gray completes KSFY acquisition
[1]Gray Television completes its acquisition of KSFY and other former Hoak Media stations.
- 2012
CW Plus launches on digital subchannel
[1]KSFY adds CW programming on a second digital subchannel as part of The CW Plus.
- 2011
Local newscasts move to studio high definition
[1]The station introduces studio-produced HD newscasts, a new set and the KSFY News branding.
- 2009
Analog transmission ends
[1]KSFY shuts down its analog VHF channel 13 signal and begins post-transition digital operation on VHF channel 13.
- 1983
KSFY becomes an ABC affiliate
[1]KSFY exchanges affiliations with KDLT-TV and takes the ABC affiliation, which remains its principal network relationship.
- 1974
Forum Publishing acquires the station
[1]Forum Publishing Company buys the television properties following South Dakota Broadcasting Company's liquidation and adopts the KSFY call sign.
- 1970
Aberdeen coverage expands
[1]The owner acquires KXAB-TV in Aberdeen and changes its call letters to KCOO-TV.
- 1969
Regional network arrangement ends
[1]The FCC requires the breakup of the KSOO-TV and KORN-TV regional arrangement, leaving KSOO-TV as the sole NBC affiliate in its coverage area.
Products and positioning
A locally oriented Sioux Falls ABC broadcaster combining regional news, weather, sports and community coverage with national network programming and multicast digital services.
Local television news
KSFY News
KSFY's local news service covers Sioux Falls and surrounding South Dakota communities, including breaking news, weather, sports and regional public-affairs reporting. The station moved its studio newscasts to high definition in 2011 and later integrated its newsroom with KDLT-TV's operation under the Dakota News Now identity.
Broadcast network affiliation · 1983
ABC channel 13 programming
KSFY carries ABC network programming on its primary broadcast channel. The station has held the ABC affiliation since an exchange with KDLT-TV in 1983, combining national entertainment, news and sports programming with KSFY's local broadcasts.
Digital multicast television · 2012
CW Sioux Falls
The station's CW service launched on a second digital subchannel in 2012 through The CW Plus. It broadened KSFY's programming portfolio beyond its primary ABC service and replaced KWSD as the Sioux Falls CW affiliate.
Digital multicast television · 2015
MeTV digital service
MeTV programming was added to KSFY's digital multicast lineup in 2015, using a subchannel position previously associated with KWSD. The service provides a schedule of classic television programming alongside the station's primary ABC and CW offerings.
Television distribution
Broadcast translator network
KSFY's programming is rebroadcast through translators serving communities including Aberdeen, Brookings, Pierre, Sioux Falls and Watertown, with an additional translator reaching Worthington, Minnesota. These facilities extend the station's terrestrial coverage beyond its primary transmitter near Rowena.
Brand decisions
2020
Consolidate operations under Dakota News NowStrategyBackground
Following Gray's acquisition of KDLT, the company had an opportunity to combine facilities and news resources in Sioux Falls.
Action taken
KDLT moved to KSFY's Courthouse Square studios and the stations merged their news operations under the Dakota News Now brand.
Aftermath
KSFY and KDLT continued as separate broadcast stations while sharing facilities and a consolidated regional newsroom.
2018
Agree to acquire KDLT-TVM&ABackground
Gray argued that combining KSFY and KDLT would create a more effective competitor in a Sioux Falls market dominated by KELO-TV. The proposed ownership structure required an FCC waiver.
Action taken
Gray announced an agreement to purchase KDLT-TV from Red River Broadcasting for $32.5 million and sought regulatory approval.
Aftermath
The FCC approved the transaction in September 2019, and the deal closed the following day.
Purchase price. $32.5 million (Announced May 1, 2018)
2012
Add CW Plus digital serviceProduct launchBackground
KSFY sought to expand its digital broadcast offering and become the Sioux Falls market's CW outlet.
Action taken
The station launched CW programming on a second digital subchannel through The CW Plus.
Aftermath
The new service replaced KWSD as the local CW affiliate and expanded KSFY's multicast portfolio.
2011
Launch studio high-definition news productionProduct launchBackground
The station was upgrading its presentation and local-news production capabilities as television broadcasting moved toward HD delivery.
Action taken
KSFY introduced an HD-ready studio set, began producing local newscasts in high definition from the studio and adopted the KSFY News name.
Aftermath
KSFY became the first station in the Sioux Falls market and South Dakota to produce studio-based local newscasts in HD.
1983
Exchange NBC affiliation for ABC affiliationStrategyBackground
ABC sought a stronger Sioux Falls outlet during a period when its national ratings were particularly strong. KSFY also had broader technical coverage than KDLT because it operated multiple full-power transmitters.
Action taken
KSFY exchanged affiliations with channel 5, then KDLT-TV, and began carrying ABC as its primary network.
Aftermath
The ABC affiliation became a defining element of the station's identity and remains in place.
Sources2 sources
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