WCCO-TV
CBS-owned television station serving the Minneapolis–Saint Paul market under the CBS Minnesota brand.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
WCCO-TV is a CBS owned-and-operated television station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and serving the Twin Cities metropolitan area and surrounding parts of the state. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 4 and uses the CBS Minnesota identity across its television and digital news operations. Its downtown Minneapolis studios are located on South 11th Street near Nicollet Mall, while its principal transmitter is at the Telefarm complex in Shoreview. WCCO-TV programming is also distributed through satellite station KCCW-TV in Walker and through translators serving communities across Minnesota. Nielsen generally treats WCCO-TV and KCCW-TV as a combined local service under the WCCO+ identifier. The station began broadcasting on July 1, 1949, as WTCN-TV, making it Minnesota's second television station. Its origins are connected to WRHM, a radio station established in 1925 and later acquired by Twin Cities Newspapers, a joint venture associated with the Minneapolis Tribune and the Saint Paul Pioneer Press-Dispatch. The television station initially broadcast from the Radio City Theater in downtown Minneapolis and carried CBS as its primary affiliation from launch. It also maintained a secondary ABC affiliation during its earliest years. In 1952, Twin Cities Newspapers sold its broadcasting properties to the Murphy and McNally families, who had recently acquired Minneapolis radio station WCCO. The television and radio outlets were consolidated under Midwest Radio and Television, and the television station adopted the WCCO-TV call sign on August 17 of that year. CBS held a minority interest for a period but was required to dispose of it in 1954 under federal ownership rules. WCCO-TV developed a reputation for technical experimentation and regional service. It began color broadcasting in 1955 and became the first Midwestern station to use a videotape machine in 1959. In 1962, its mobile production facilities helped provide the feed for the first live international television broadcast transmitted through the Telstar satellite, a program featuring Mount Rushmore. The station also became closely associated with Minnesota sports, including the Vikings during the period when CBS held National Football League rights. It continues to carry selected Vikings games and, since 2023, selected Minnesota Golden Gophers football games through CBS's Big Ten agreement. The station moved from its original South 9th Street facilities to its current Nicollet Mall-area studios in 1983. CBS acquired full ownership of WCCO-TV in 1992 through its purchase of Midwest Communications. The station subsequently became part of CBS's television-station organization, which was renamed CBS Television Stations after the 2005–06 Viacom separation. Following the 2019 recombination of CBS and Viacom, WCCO-TV became part of ViacomCBS, renamed Paramount Global in 2022. The station's former radio sibling was separated from the television operation when CBS Radio was sold to Entercom in 2017. WCCO-TV remains primarily a local news and information service. It produces extensive weekday and weekend newscasts, has historically been one of the Twin Cities market's strongest news operations, and transitioned its local broadcasts to high definition in 2009. Its digital expansion included the launch of CBSN Minnesota in December 2019, later renamed CBS News Minnesota. In September 2022, it added the hour-long The 4 newscast. The brand combines CBS network programming, locally produced journalism, weather, sports, public-service information, and streaming content for viewers in the Twin Cities and wider Minnesota region.
History
WCCO-TV traces its institutional roots to WRHM, a Minneapolis radio station that began in 1925. In 1934, the Minneapolis Tribune and the Saint Paul Pioneer Press-Dispatch formed Twin Cities Newspapers and acquired the radio operation, renaming it WTCN. The company expanded into television with WTCN-TV, which signed on July 1, 1949, from the Radio City Theater in downtown Minneapolis. The station was Minnesota's second television outlet and selected CBS as its primary network affiliation. ABC programming was carried secondarily during the early years. In 1952, Twin Cities Newspapers sold its broadcasting properties to the Murphy and McNally families. The new owners had also acquired WCCO radio, and they combined the stations under Midwest Radio and Television. The television station changed its call letters to WCCO-TV on August 17, 1952. CBS was initially a minority partner in the combined operation, although it sold that interest in 1954 to comply with Federal Communications Commission ownership limits. WCCO-TV has remained a primary CBS affiliate throughout its history, making it the only major commercial station in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul market that has not changed its primary network affiliation. The station adopted color broadcasting in 1955 and installed the Midwest's first station videotape machine in 1959. Its technical role expanded in 1962, when WCCO-TV mobile units supplied facilities for a live international broadcast carried through the Telstar satellite. The station also developed a strong sports profile. Through CBS's NFL rights, it became closely identified with the Minnesota Vikings after the team entered the league in 1961. WCCO-TV carried most Vikings games for many years, although the market distribution changed after the 1993 season. It continues to air selected games, including certain home games against AFC opponents and games shifted under later NFL scheduling rules. During the 1970s and 1980s, the WCCO operation experimented with additional services. A cable-oriented sibling known as WCCO II evolved into the Midwest Sports Channel, a regional sports network that was later sold and became Fox Sports North. WCCO-TV and its radio sibling also experienced a 1979 strike by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers employees. Management and non-striking personnel maintained regular broadcasts during the dispute. In 1983, the television station moved from its original South 9th Street facilities to studios on South 11th Street near Nicollet Mall. CBS obtained full ownership in 1992 when it acquired Midwest Communications. WCCO-TV subsequently passed through CBS's television-station structures, including the Viacom Television Stations Group and, after the 2005–06 corporate split, CBS Television Stations. CBS Radio's 2017 sale to Entercom separated WCCO radio from the television station. The 2019 recombination of CBS and Viacom placed WCCO-TV within ViacomCBS, which adopted the Paramount Global name in 2022. The station expanded its local news footprint through high-definition production in 2009 and the launch of CBSN Minnesota in 2019. The streaming service was later renamed CBS News Minnesota and is tied to the station's local reporting operation. In 2022, WCCO added The 4, an hour-long 4 p.m. newscast. Since 2023, it has also carried selected Minnesota Golden Gophers football games through CBS's Big Ten programming agreement. Its broadcast footprint includes KCCW-TV in Walker, translators in several Minnesota communities, and cable and satellite distribution in areas formerly served by KCCO-TV in Alexandria.
- 2023
Selected Big Ten football coverage begins
[1]The station starts carrying selected Minnesota Golden Gophers football games under CBS's Big Ten agreement.
- 2022
The 4 premieres
[2]WCCO-TV adds an hour-long 4 p.m. newscast.
- 2019
CBSN Minnesota launches
[1]The station introduces a local streaming news service, later renamed CBS News Minnesota.
- 2017
KCCO-TV shuts down
[1]CBS ends operation of its Alexandria satellite following the spectrum incentive auction.
- 2009
Local news moves to high definition
[1]WCCO-TV begins producing local newscasts in high definition on May 28.
- 1992
CBS gains full ownership
[1]CBS acquires Midwest Communications and obtains complete ownership of WCCO-TV.
- 1983
Move to Nicollet Mall studios
[1]WCCO-TV relocates its operations to its current downtown Minneapolis facility.
- 1962
Telstar broadcast contribution
[1]WCCO-TV mobile facilities support the first live international broadcast transmitted by Telstar.
- 1955
Color broadcasting begins
[1]The station starts transmitting color programs.
- 1952
WCCO-TV identity adopted
[1]Following the acquisition of WCCO radio by the station's new owners, WTCN-TV becomes WCCO-TV.
Products and positioning
A long-established, locally focused CBS television service emphasizing trusted Minnesota news, weather, sports, and community information.
Broadcast television station · 1949
WCCO-TV channel 4
The core over-the-air service licensed to Minneapolis and serving the Twin Cities. It combines CBS network programming with locally produced news, weather, sports, public affairs, and community information. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 4 and distributes its signal through cable, satellite, translators, and related satellite facilities.
Streaming news service · 2019
CBS News Minnesota
A digital news service launched as CBSN Minnesota in 2019 and subsequently renamed CBS News Minnesota. It extends WCCO-TV's local reporting, live coverage, weather, and on-demand video beyond the traditional broadcast schedule.
Local newscast · 2022
The 4
An hour-long weekday afternoon newscast introduced in September 2022. The program expands WCCO-TV's local news schedule and provides regional reporting, weather, traffic, and feature coverage before the evening network lineup.
Satellite television station
KCCW-TV
A full-power Walker, Minnesota, satellite that carries WCCO-TV programming in north-central Minnesota. Nielsen combines its ratings with WCCO-TV under the WCCO+ designation.
Brand decisions
2022
Launch of The 4Product launchBackground
WCCO-TV sought to broaden its weekday local-news schedule.
Action taken
The station premiered an hour-long 4 p.m. newscast called The 4.
Aftermath
The new program added another regular local-news window before the evening network schedule.
2019
Launch of CBSN MinnesotaProduct launchBackground
CBS was developing localized streaming news services across its owned television stations.
Action taken
WCCO-TV launched CBSN Minnesota as a digital extension of its local news operation.
Aftermath
The service was later rebranded CBS News Minnesota and became part of the station's multiplatform news offering.
1983
Relocation to downtown MinneapolisStrategyBackground
The station had operated from its original downtown facility since its 1949 launch.
Action taken
WCCO-TV moved its operations to studios on South 11th Street near Nicollet Mall.
Aftermath
The Nicollet Mall facility became the station's continuing broadcast and news headquarters.
1952
Adoption of the WCCO-TV brandStrategyBackground
New owners of the television station also controlled the established WCCO radio service.
Action taken
The former WTCN-TV changed its call letters and operating identity to WCCO-TV, aligning it with the radio station.
Aftermath
The WCCO identity became a durable local media brand and remained associated with CBS television in Minnesota.
Recent events
- 2022
WCCO introduces The 4 newscast[2]
Product launch
The station premiered an hour-long 4 p.m. local newscast on September 5.
- 2019
CBS News Minnesota launches as a local streaming service[1]
Product launch
WCCO-TV launched CBSN Minnesota, a streaming news service later rebranded as CBS News Minnesota.
- 1962
WCCO-TV contributes to first live international Telstar broadcast[1]
Other
The station's mobile units helped transmit a live international program featuring Mount Rushmore through the Telstar satellite.
- 1952
Station adopts WCCO-TV call sign[1]
Other
After a change in ownership and consolidation with WCCO radio, the television station changed its call letters from WTCN-TV to WCCO-TV.
- 1949
WCCO-TV begins operations as WTCN-TV[1]
Other
The station signed on July 1 as Minnesota's second television station and began its long-running primary relationship with CBS.
Sources2 sources
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