WHO-DT

WHO-DT is a commercial television station serving Des Moines and the surrounding central Iowa market. The station broadcasts on virtual and VHF channel 13 and is affiliated with NBC. Its studios are located on Grand Avenue in downtown Des Moines, while its main transmitter is in Alleman, Iowa. The station’s current identity developed from WHO-TV, a long-running local broadcaster whose call letters were inherited from the WHO radio properties associated with the Palmer family. WHO-TV began broadcasting on April 25, 1954, as Des Moines’s third television station. Tri-City Broadcasting Company, controlled by the Palmer family, established the station after resolving a licensing competition involving KIOA for channel 13. Because the Palmer-owned WHO radio stations had a longstanding relationship with the NBC Radio Network, the television station launched as an NBC affiliate and has retained that affiliation throughout its history. The station initially operated alongside WHO radio from the same building and used an owl mascot connected to the WHO identity. For much of its early history, WHO-TV combined network programming with a substantial amount of local output. During the 1960s and 1970s, it was known for preempting or delaying some NBC programs in favor of local shows, including afternoon movie programming. Its local news operation later became especially prominent through the Des Moines version of the Eyewitness News format. The station’s 1970s news team included Jack Cafferty, Phil Thomas, Jerry Reno, and Jim Zabel. Cafferty subsequently moved to WNBC in New York and later became associated with CNN, while Thomas became the station’s news director by the end of the decade. WHO-TV remained locally connected to the Palmer family until 1996, when Palmer Communications sold its broadcast holdings. WHO-TV and Oklahoma City sister station KFOR-TV were acquired by The New York Times Company. The Times later sold its television division to Oak Hill Capital Partners in a transaction announced in 2007 and completed that May. Oak Hill placed the former Times stations into Local TV LLC. Local TV entered a shared-services relationship with Tribune, which affected administrative functions, digital operations, and website technology. Tribune Broadcasting acquired Local TV in 2013, bringing WHO-TV into the Tribune station group. Tribune itself became the subject of a proposed Sinclair Broadcast Group acquisition in 2017, but that transaction collapsed after regulatory scrutiny and litigation. Nexstar Media Group subsequently agreed to acquire Tribune Media in 2018, completing the purchase in 2019. Because Nexstar already owned other Des Moines stations, WOI-DT and KCWI-TV were divested to Tegna and related parties, while WHO-DT remained with Nexstar. The station has also expanded beyond its core NBC service. WHO-TV entered a news-sharing agreement with Fox affiliate KDSM-TV in 2008, producing a prime-time newscast for the competing station. It has operated or carried several digital-subchannel services, including a weather service derived from NBC Weather Plus, This TV, Court TV, and later weather and classic-television programming. WHO-TV also added a 4 p.m. local newscast in 2014. WHO-DT has emphasized technical innovation in the Des Moines market. It was an early adopter of videotape and live field reporting, introduced live Doppler radar, transmitted digital programming beginning in 2001, and participated in high-definition broadcasting during the 2002 Winter Olympics. It completed its transition from analog channel 13 to digital channel 13 in 2009 and later used the WHO-HD identity in local promotion. The station remains an NBC network affiliate with a large locally produced news schedule and a broad central-Iowa service area.

WHO-DT traces its history to WHO-TV, which began broadcasting in Des Moines on April 25, 1954. It was established by Tri-City Broadcasting Company, the Palmer family’s broadcasting enterprise, after the company secured the channel 13 license following a settlement connected to a competing application from KIOA. The new station inherited an NBC affiliation associated with the Palmer-owned WHO radio outlets and has remained affiliated with NBC ever since. The station’s early identity combined network service with extensive local programming. In its first decades, WHO-TV frequently preempted or delayed NBC programs in favor of locally produced programs and afternoon films. It also operated alongside WHO radio from a shared facility and used an owl mascot. WHO-TV was one of several stations in the region that helped establish television service across central Iowa, and for its first 23 years it faced competition from KQTV/KVFD-TV in Fort Dodge. During the 1970s, Palmer Communications became the name used for the Palmer family’s broadcast holding company. WHO-TV’s news operation developed a notable version of the Eyewitness News format. The 1976 news team included Jack Cafferty, Phil Thomas, Jerry Reno, and Jim Zabel. Cafferty left for WNBC-TV in New York in 1977 and later worked for CNN. Greg Burden succeeded him as an anchor. Thomas later became news director, and the station’s on-air style became known for strong personalities and informal exchanges. Palmer Communications sold its broadcast holdings in 1996. WHO-TV and KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City went to The New York Times Company, ending WHO-TV’s period as the last locally owned commercial television station in Des Moines. The New York Times sold its television division to Oak Hill Capital Partners in 2007. The acquisition closed on May 7, and Oak Hill organized the stations under Local TV LLC. Local TV developed shared operational arrangements with Tribune Company. The relationship supported common administrative and digital functions, including a Tribune-related website platform used by WHO-TV. In 2012, WHO-TV moved its website to a WordPress.com VIP-based system. Tribune then acquired Local TV in 2013, completing the transaction on December 27 and making WHO-TV one of Tribune’s NBC affiliates. Tribune Media later entered into an agreement to be acquired by Sinclair Broadcast Group. Announced in 2017, the proposed transaction faced significant Federal Communications Commission scrutiny concerning divestitures and the handling of overlapping properties. Tribune terminated the agreement and sued Sinclair after the transaction failed. Nexstar Media Group subsequently agreed to acquire Tribune Media in 2018, completing the deal in September 2019. Since Nexstar already controlled WOI-DT and KCWI-TV in the Des Moines market, those stations were divested to Tegna and related parties, leaving WHO-DT in the Nexstar portfolio. WHO-TV expanded its local-news reach through a 2008 agreement with Sinclair-owned KDSM-TV. Under the arrangement, WHO produced KDSM’s prime-time newscast, initially branded as Channel 13 News at Nine on Fox 17. The station also produced programming for KFPX-TV at an earlier stage. Its own schedule later included a 4 p.m. newscast, launched in 2014. Technically, WHO-TV introduced digital programming on channel 19 in January 2001. It shut down its analog channel 13 signal on February 17, 2009, and moved its digital operation to VHF channel 13. The station adopted the WHO-DT call sign in connection with the transition and later promoted itself as WHO-HD. WHO-TV has claimed several market firsts, including early videotape use, live coverage from news events, live Doppler radar, high-definition transmission during the 2002 Winter Olympics, and fully high-definition local news production. Its digital-subchannel history has included Iowa’s Weather Plus, a weather service associated with NBC Weather Plus, This TV, Court TV, and later weather and classic-television services. WHO-DT continues to operate as a major local news and information outlet for Des Moines and central Iowa, with NBC programming, locally produced newscasts, weather reporting, advertising services, and digital-subchannel content.

1. 2019Nexstar acquires Tribune Media

   Nexstar completes its acquisition of Tribune Media and retains WHO-DT after related Des Moines divestitures.

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2. 2014Afternoon newscast launches

   WHO-TV introduces a 4 p.m. local newscast.

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3. 2013Tribune acquires Local TV

   The station becomes part of Tribune Broadcasting.

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4. 2009Analog shutdown and digital channel move

   WHO-TV ends analog transmission and relocates its digital signal to VHF channel 13.

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5. 2008KDSM news-sharing agreement begins

   WHO-TV starts producing a Des Moines prime-time newscast for Fox affiliate KDSM-TV.

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6. 2007Station joins Local TV LLC

   Oak Hill Capital Partners completes its purchase of The New York Times television division and places WHO-TV in Local TV LLC.

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7. 2001Digital broadcasts begin

   The station begins digital television transmission on channel 19.

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8. 1996Palmer Communications sells WHO-TV

   The Palmer family exits broadcast ownership, selling WHO-TV and KFOR-TV to The New York Times Company.

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9. 1976Eyewitness News team is assembled

   WHO-TV forms a prominent local news team featuring Jack Cafferty, Phil Thomas, Jerry Reno, and Jim Zabel.

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10. 1954WHO-TV begins broadcasting

    Tri-City Broadcasting Company launches the station on April 25 as Des Moines's third television station and an NBC affiliate.

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A long-established local NBC affiliate positioned around central-Iowa news, weather, emergency information, sports and community coverage, supported by multiple digital-subchannel services.

• WHO 13 local newsLocal television news

  WHO-DT's locally produced news operation covers Des Moines and central Iowa through morning, daytime, evening, and weekend broadcasts. The station has historically emphasized live reporting, severe-weather information, Doppler radar, political coverage, community reporting, and market-specific newscasts. Its news output has been among the largest in the Des Moines market.

• NBC programmingNetwork television1954

  WHO-DT carries programming from NBC, its continuous network partner since the station launched in 1954. The service includes network news, entertainment, sports, special events, and other scheduled programming, subject to local news, advertising, and station scheduling decisions.

• Iowa's Weather ChannelDigital subchannel2008

  A weather-focused digital service providing rolling forecasts and local weather information for Iowa viewers. The service originated in connection with NBC Weather Plus and has appeared at different times on WHO-DT digital subchannels.

• Channel 13 News at Nine on Fox 17Outsourced local newscast2008

  A prime-time newscast produced by WHO-TV for Sinclair-owned Fox affiliate KDSM-TV under a news-sharing agreement. The program uses WHO's newsroom and production resources while airing on KDSM.

• 2014Launch of a 4 p.m. newscastStrategy

  A syndicated daytime program moved to competitor KCCI, creating an opportunity for WHO-TV to expand local programming.

  What changed. WHO-TV filled the 4 p.m. hour with a locally produced newscast rather than replacement syndicated programming.

  Aftermath. The station increased its local news inventory and retained the advertising opportunity associated with the time slot.

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• 2009Digital television transitionGeneration change

  Federal rules required full-power United States television stations to transition from analog transmission.

  What changed. WHO-TV ended its analog signal and moved its digital transmission from pre-transition UHF channel 19 to VHF channel 13.

  Aftermath. The station adopted WHO-DT as its formal call sign and continued developing high-definition and digital-subchannel services.

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• 2008News-sharing arrangement with KDSM-TVStrategy

  Fox affiliate KDSM-TV required a Des Moines-produced prime-time news service.

  What changed. WHO-TV began producing KDSM's 9 p.m. newscast using its newsroom and production facilities.

  Aftermath. The agreement extended WHO-TV's local-news production across another station and continued with a shared on-air and production structure.

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• 1996Sale to The New York Times CompanyM&A

  Palmer Communications decided to sell its broadcast holdings after decades of family ownership.

  What changed. WHO-TV and sister station KFOR-TV were transferred to The New York Times Company.

  Aftermath. The transaction ended WHO-TV's period as a locally owned commercial station in Des Moines.

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• 2019Nexstar completes Tribune Media acquisition

  Nexstar acquired Tribune Media and retained WHO-DT while divesting other Des Moines stations to satisfy ownership requirements.

  M&ARegulation
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• 2013Tribune completes acquisition of Local TV

  WHO-TV became part of Tribune Broadcasting after Tribune acquired Local TV.

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• 2009WHO-TV completes digital transition

  The station ended analog transmission and moved its digital signal to VHF channel 13.

  Product generationRegulation
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• 2008WHO-TV begins producing KDSM-TV's prime-time newscast

  A news-sharing agreement made WHO-TV the producer of KDSM's Des Moines prime-time news program.

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• 2007WHO-TV joins Local TV LLC after New York Times sale

  Oak Hill Capital Partners completed its purchase of The New York Times Company's television division and placed WHO-TV in Local TV LLC.

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• 1954WHO-TV signs on as Des Moines's third television station

  Tri-City Broadcasting Company launched WHO-TV on April 25 as an NBC affiliate on channel 13.

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1. WHO-DT
2. WHO-TV official website