Just how did KELO-TV become so dominant that that the entire state of South Dakota is also known as KELOLAND? A look at the timeline of broadcast TV in the state through the 1960s shows how KELO quickly built its dominance.
Here’s a look at the early stations around the state, when they signed on, what what networks they carried, and when things changed:
Aberdeen/Watertown
3 KDLO-TV (NBC/CBS/ABC) from 9/27/1955 (satellite of KELO-TV)
9 KXAB-TV (NBC/ABC) from 11/27/1958
3 KDLO-TV (CBS/ABC) from 7/31/1960
3 KDLO-TV (CBS) from 1962
Brookings
8 KESD (NET) from 2/4/1968
Lead
5 KDSJ-TV (NBC/ABC) from 1/1960 (satellite of KRSD-TV)
11 KHSD-TV (CBS/ABC) from 11/2/1966 (satellite of KOTA-TV)
Mitchell
5 KORN-TV (NBC/ABC) from 1960
5 KORN-TV (ABC) from 1969 [tower moved closer to Sioux Falls]
Pierre
6 KPLO-TV (NBC/CBS/ABC) from 7/15/1957 (satellite of KELO-TV)
6 KPLO-TV (CBS/ABC) from 7/31/1960
6 KPLO-TV (CBS) from 1962
Rapid City
3 KOTA-TV (CBS/NBC/ABC) from 7/1/1955
3 KOTA-TV (CBS/ABC) from 1958
7 KRSD-TV (NBC/ABC) from 1958
9 KBHE (NET) from 9/13/1967
Sioux Falls
11 KELO-TV (NBC/CBS/ABC) from 5/19/1953
13 KSOO-TV (NBC/ABC) from 7/31/1960
11 KELO-TV (CBS/ABC) from 7/31/1960
11 KELO-TV (CBS) from 1962
5 KORN-TV (ABC) from 1969 [tower moved closer to Sioux Falls]
13 KSOO-TV (NBC) from 1969
Vermillion, SD
2 KUSD-TV (NET) from 7/5/1961
As you can see, Sioux Falls was a one-station town for the entire 1950s, with KELO-TV acting as a primary NBC affiliate with secondary CBS and ABC affiliations. KELO expanded on its dominance by building satellite stations in Florence/Watertown and Reliance/Pierre. Its only competition throughout the 1950’s was distant reception of Sioux City’s two TV stations.
KSOO-TV signed on in 1960 and took the NBC affiliation. At that point, KELO-TV became a primary CBS affiliate; it dropped the secondary ABC affiliation by 1962. Educational TV became available when KUSD-TV signed on from Vermillion in 1961.
In 1967, an upgrade by Sioux City’s KVTV/9 provided a stronger signal to Sioux Falls as it switched to ABC as KCAU-TV. Pairing together “Siouxland” didn’t last long, though, since KORN-TV/5 moved its tower closer to Sioux Falls and became the market’s primary ABC affiliate in 1969.
Of course, there were many more changes to come in subsequent decades, but KELO’s dominance continued so much that it was part of the FCC’s justification in approving the only-ever waiver to allow one company to own two top-four stations.
LINK: World Radio History’s collection of Broadcasting Yearbooks.