WDAY-TV

WDAY-TV is a television station licensed to Fargo, North Dakota, and affiliated with the ABC television network. It is the flagship broadcast property of Forum Communications Company, a Fargo-based media group that also owns The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead and related broadcast and digital assets. The station's studios are located on South 8th Street in downtown Fargo, while its transmitter is situated near Amenia, North Dakota. The station began regular broadcasting on June 1, 1953, after test transmissions in late May. It was the second television station to begin operation in North Dakota and the first serving Fargo and the eastern part of the state. Its call letters were inherited from WDAY radio, a long-established Fargo station associated with The Forum. WDAY-TV originally carried programming from all four major television networks operating at the time, but began primarily as an NBC affiliate. It subsequently lost CBS, DuMont, and ABC programming as competing stations launched or network arrangements changed. In 1983, WDAY-TV exchanged affiliations with Fargo's channel 11 and became an ABC affiliate, a role it continues to hold. WDAY-TV's geographic coverage is unusually extensive. The station's broadcast and distribution footprint reaches across much of North Dakota and into northwestern Minnesota, northern South Dakota, and eastern Montana. Because its main signal was constrained by the need to protect CBC Television's channel 6 service in Winnipeg, it historically did not provide adequate over-the-air coverage to the northern portion of the Fargo–Grand Forks area. Forum addressed that limitation by launching WDAZ-TV in 1967. WDAZ, licensed to Devils Lake and serving Grand Forks, operates as a semi-satellite: it carries WDAY-TV's network and much of its syndicated programming and simulcasts centrally produced newscasts, while retaining local commercial inserts and legal identifications. The wider Forum television operation also includes KBMY in Bismarck and KMCY in Minot, which are operated from Fargo and function as semi-satellites for much of their programming. Together, these stations create a regional distribution system rather than a single-market outlet. Digital subchannels have expanded the group's programming mix. WDAY Xtra provides syndicated programming, high-school sports, state tournament coverage, and selected collegiate athletics, including events involving Minnesota State University Moorhead and North Dakota State University. Other subchannel services have included Justice Network, a former WB-related service, and Ion Television. Local news is central to the WDAY-TV brand. The station has traditionally led ratings in the Fargo–Grand Forks market and produces more than 36 hours of locally originated news and related programming each week. Its news operation has progressively expanded through high-definition production, additional afternoon and prime-time broadcasts, and regional simulcasts. In 2018, Forum consolidated WDAZ's separate evening news operation with WDAY-TV's newsroom, citing changes in television distribution, emerging technology, and regional economics. The station continues to maintain a Grand Forks news bureau and sales office. WDAY-TV also has a distinctive place in broadcast history because its W call sign is unusual west of the Mississippi River; the call sign originated before the federal K-W boundary was moved to the Mississippi River.

WDAY-TV began as part of Fargo's developing newspaper and radio media ecosystem. Construction of its transmission tower started in March 1953, followed by test broadcasts on May 28 and the launch of a regular schedule on June 1. The station was established by Fargo investors led by Norman Black, the owner and publisher of The Forum. In 1958, Black acquired the remaining ownership interests. The station adopted the WDAY call letters already associated with Fargo radio, whose history preceded the television service. At launch, WDAY-TV carried programs from CBS, NBC, ABC, and DuMont. Its principal affiliation was NBC, influenced in part by WDAY radio's relationship with NBC radio. The station lost CBS programming in 1954 when KXJB-TV began operation, and later lost DuMont programming as that network declined. ABC programming ended in 1959 after KXGO-TV, now known as KVLY-TV, entered the market. WDAY-TV's major network identity changed again in 1983, when it exchanged affiliations with channel 11 and became an ABC affiliate. The station's physical coverage created a persistent challenge. Although Fargo and Grand Forks developed as closely connected television markets, WDAY-TV's channel 6 signal was restricted to protect CBWT, the CBC Television station in Winnipeg that also used channel 6. As a result, the main station did not adequately serve northern Grand Forks or much of the northern market. Forum responded by launching WDAZ-TV in 1967. Licensed to Devils Lake, WDAZ became a semi-satellite of WDAY-TV, carrying the parent station's network, syndicated, and locally produced news programming while adding market-specific advertising and station identifications. Forum later extended the same regional model through KBMY in Bismarck and KMCY in Minot. These stations receive much of their programming and operational support from Fargo, helping distribute ABC programming and WDAY-produced news across western and central North Dakota. The overall system reaches a large area that includes North Dakota and portions of Minnesota, South Dakota, and Montana. WDAZ's cable carriage has also historically extended into Manitoba and parts of northwestern Ontario. WDAY-TV experimented with additional television services as the multichannel environment developed. WDAY-TV and WDAZ operated a cable-only WB-affiliated service known as WBFG beginning in 1998. The stations later introduced digital subchannels, including WDAY Xtra, which carries syndicated programming, local and regional sports, and selected college athletics. In 2016, the digital lineup was reorganized to include Justice Network and expanded WDAY Xtra services; an Ion Television service subsequently returned to a digital subchannel. The news department has remained the station's principal local product. WDAY-TV has historically been a ratings leader in the Fargo–Grand Forks market and now produces more than 36 hours of local news and related programming per week. WDAZ's independent news schedule was gradually reduced: weekend broadcasts moved to WDAY in 2011, and its weekday 5 p.m. broadcast was replaced in 2014. The latter decision generated viewer criticism and a petition seeking restoration of the local program. WDAY-TV moved its newscasts to high definition in February 2012, added a prime-time WDAY Xtra News at 9 broadcast in 2016, launched a weekday 4 p.m. newscast in 2017, and introduced a Sunday morning newscast in 2021. In late 2018, Forum announced the consolidation of WDAZ's remaining separate evening newscasts into the WDAY newsroom, while retaining a Grand Forks bureau. The station completed the United States full-power analog television shutdown on June 12, 2009. Its digital transmission continued on UHF channel 21 while retaining virtual channel 6. WDAY-TV remains the flagship station of Forum Communications Company's regional television operation and continues to combine network entertainment, local journalism, digital multicast services, sports, and regional advertising.

• 2021

  Sunday morning newscast launches

  [1]WDAY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WDAY-TV launched a Sunday morning newscast simulcast across the regional sister-station network.

• 2018

  WDAZ news department merges with WDAY-TV

  [1]WDAY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Forum consolidated WDAZ's remaining separate evening news operations with WDAY-TV's newsroom.

• 2017

  First Fargo-market 4 p.m. newscast launches

  [1]WDAY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WDAY-TV introduced a weekday 4 p.m. newscast, also simulcast on WDAZ.

• 2016

  Digital multicast lineup expands

  [1]WDAY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WDAY-TV reorganized and expanded its digital subchannels, including WDAY Xtra and Justice Network services.

• 2012

  Local news moves to high definition

  [1]WDAY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WDAY-TV began producing its local newscasts in high definition.

• 2009

  Analog transmission ends

  [1]WDAY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WDAY-TV ended analog broadcasting during the federally mandated U.S. transition to digital television.

• 1998

  WBFG cable service begins

  [1]WDAY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WDAY-TV and WDAZ-TV began operating a cable-only service associated with the WB network.

• 1983

  WDAY-TV becomes an ABC affiliate

  [1]WDAY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  WDAY-TV exchanged affiliations with channel 11 and assumed the ABC affiliation.

• 1967

  WDAZ-TV launches as a semi-satellite

  [1]WDAY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Forum launched WDAZ-TV to improve service to Grand Forks and the northern part of the Fargo–Grand Forks region.

• 1958

  Norman Black consolidates ownership

  [1]WDAY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Norman Black acquired the remaining shares of the station after leading the investor group that established it.

• 1953

  WDAY-TV begins broadcasting

  [1]WDAY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  After test broadcasts in May, WDAY-TV began its regular schedule on June 1 as Fargo's first television station and North Dakota's second.

A locally rooted ABC affiliate and regional news leader serving one of the largest television coverage areas in the United States.

• Broadcast television · 1953

  WDAY-TV ABC service

  The core WDAY-TV service combines ABC network programming with locally produced news, weather, sports, public affairs, syndicated shows, and commercial programming for Fargo and the surrounding region.

• Local news · 1953

  WDAY News

  WDAY News is the station's principal local journalism offering. It includes weekday, weekend, afternoon, morning, evening, and digital-subchannel broadcasts, with regional coverage produced for a broad North Dakota and western Minnesota audience.

• Digital multicast television · 2013

  WDAY Xtra

  WDAY Xtra is a multicast service carried across the Forum television network. Its schedule includes syndicated programming, high-school sports, North Dakota state tournaments, Minnesota State University Moorhead athletics, and selected North Dakota State University events.

• Local news · 2016

  WDAY Xtra News at 9

  This half-hour prime-time newscast was introduced on WDAY's digital subchannels and simulcast through the regional semi-satellite system, extending local news beyond the station's main-channel schedule.

• Semi-satellite station · 1967

  WDAZ-TV

  WDAZ-TV is the Forum group's Grand Forks-area semi-satellite of WDAY-TV. It carries WDAY-produced news and network programming while retaining separate legal identifications and local commercial inserts.

• 2018

  Consolidate WDAZ and WDAY news operationsStrategy

  Background

  Forum cited changes in television distribution, emerging technologies, and economic conditions affecting the region.

  Action taken

  Separate WDAZ evening newscasts were discontinued and the news operation was merged with WDAY-TV's newsroom, while a Grand Forks bureau remained.

  Aftermath

  Regional newscasts continued through WDAY-TV and its semi-satellites, but WDAZ no longer maintained the same separate evening schedule.

  Source

• 2016

  Expand digital multicast servicesProduct launch

  Background

  The station was developing additional digital services to broaden programming beyond its main ABC channel.

  Action taken

  WDAY-TV and related stations introduced or reorganized digital subchannels featuring Justice Network and WDAY Xtra programming.

  Aftermath

  The expanded lineup provided additional syndicated entertainment, local news, and regional sports coverage.

  Source

• 1983

  Switch to ABC affiliationStrategy

  Background

  WDAY-TV had previously carried NBC as its primary network and had lost other network affiliations as competing Fargo-area stations launched.

  Action taken

  The station exchanged affiliations with channel 11 and became an ABC affiliate.

  Aftermath

  ABC became WDAY-TV's continuing primary network relationship.

  Source

• 2018

  WDAY-TV consolidates WDAZ evening news operations[1]WDAY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Leadership change

  Forum announced that WDAZ's separate evening newscasts would be discontinued and that the news operation would be merged with WDAY-TV's newsroom.

• 2016

  WDAY Xtra expands digital programming[1]WDAY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The station expanded its digital multicast offering, including WDAY Xtra News at 9 and additional syndicated and regional programming.

• 2012

  WDAY-TV launches high-definition local news[1]WDAY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Product generation

  The station began presenting its locally produced newscasts in high definition.

• 1983

  WDAY-TV becomes an ABC affiliate[1]WDAY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  An affiliation exchange with Fargo's channel 11 moved WDAY-TV from its earlier network relationship to ABC.

• 1953

  WDAY-TV begins regular broadcasting[1]WDAY-TVen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  WDAY-TV began its regular daily schedule in Fargo after a period of test broadcasts, becoming an early television station in North Dakota.

1. 1WDAY-TVen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WDAY official websitewday.com