It’s not uncommon for TV stations to be affiliated with multiple major networks these days, with the second affiliation carried on a subchannel.
But the practice of one station being affiliated with two or more major networks actually dates back to the earliest days of TV. Just about every city in the Upper Midwest, even Minneapolis, had a dual affiliation at some point.
Some early stations fit programs from CBS, NBC, DuMont, and ABC onto one schedule, and still signed off at night!
Most of the primary network’s programming would air in pattern with other affiliates. Some of the secondary network’s more popular programs would be played on a delayed basis in timeslots not programmed by the primary network. (Though if the secondary network had a big event or program, a station might pre-empt its primary network for that one show.)
The practice continued well into the 1990s, with FOX airing as a secondary affiliation in many small markets that had only three stations. KXGN-TV in Glendive, MT, carried both CBS and NBC on one channel until 2009!
Here’s a look at some of the network combinations that existed in the Upper Midwest:
Aberdeen/Watertown, SD:
3 KDLO-TV (NBC/CBS/ABC) 1955-1958, (CBS/ABC) 1960-1962
9 KXAB-TV (NBC/ABC) 1958-1970
Alexandria, MN
7 KCMT-TV (NBC/ABC) 1957-1982
Bismarck, ND:
5 KFYR-TV (NBC/CBS/ABC) 1953-1955, then (NBC/ABC) 1955-1985
12 KBMB/KXMB (CBS/ABC) 1955-1985
Des Moines-Ames, IA:
4/5 WOI-TV (CBS/NBC/ABC) 1950-1954, then (CBS/ABC) 1954-1955
17 KGTV (ABC/CBS) 1953
Dickinson, ND:
2 KDIX-TV (CBS/NBC/ABC) 1956-1980, then (CBS/ABC) 1980-1986
Duluth, MN:
3 KDAL-TV (CBS/ABC) 1955-1966
6 WDSM-TV (NBC/ABC) 1955-1966
6 KBJR (NBC/FOX) 199?-1994
10 WDIO (ABC/FOX) 1994-1997
3 KDLH (CBS/FOX) 1997-1999
Eau Claire, WI:
13 WEAU-TV (NBC/CBS/ABC) 1954-1958, (NBC/ABC) 1958-1970
Fargo, ND:
6 WDAY-TV (NBC/CBS/ABC) 1953-1954, (NBC/ABC) 1954-1959
Grand Forks, ND:
10 KNOX-TV (ABC/NBC) 1955-1964
Green Bay, WI:
2 WBAY-TV (CBS/NBC/ABC) 1953-1954
La Crosse, WI:
8 WKBT (CBS/NBC/ABC) 1954-1958, (CBS/ABC) 1958-1970
Lead, SD:
5 KDSJ-TV (NBC/ABC) 1960-1970, (CBS/ABC) 1970-1976
11 KHSD-TV (CBS/ABC) 1966-1970, (NBC/ABC) 1970-1976, (NBC/CBS) 1976-1981, (ABC/FOX) 1994-1996
Madison, WI:
15 WMTV (NBC/ABC) 1953-1956
Marquette, MI:
6 WDMJ-TV/WLUC (CBS/NBC/ABC) 1956-1969
6 WLUC (CBS/ABC) 1969-1983
6 WLUC (CBS/NBC) 1983-1992
6 WLUC (ABC/NBC/FOX) 1992-1995
Milwaukee:
3 WTMJ-TV (NBC/CBS/ABC) 1948-1953
Minneapolis:
4 WTCN-TV/WCCO-TV (CBS/ABC) 1949-1953
Minot, ND:
13 KCJB-TV/KXMC-TV (CBS/ABC) 1953-1986
10 KMOT (NBC/ABC) 1958-1986
Mitchell, SD:
5 KORN-TV (NBC/ABC) 1960-1969
Ottumwa, IA:
3 KTVO (CBS/NBC/ABC) 1955-1968, then (ABC/CBS/NBC) 1968-1974
Pembina, ND:
12 KCND-TV (ABC/NBC) 1960-1967
Pierre, SD:
6 KPLO-TV (NBC/CBS/ABC) 1957-1970, (CBS/ABC) 1960-1962
Quad Cities (Davenport, IA):
5/6 WOC-TV (NBC/CBS/ABC) 1949, then (NBC/ABC) 1950-1963
4 WHBF-TV (CBS/ABC) 1950-1963
Rapid City, SD:
3 KOTA-TV (CBS/NBC/ABC) 1955-1958, (CBS/ABC) 1958-1970, (NBC/ABC) 1970-1976, (NBC/CBS) 1976-1981, (ABC/FOX) 1994-1996
7 KRSD-TV (NBC/ABC) 1958-1970, (CBS/ABC) 1970-1976
Rochester, MN:
10 KROC-TV (NBC/CBS/ABC) 1953, (NBC/ABC) 1953-1954
Sioux City, IA:
9 KVTV (CBS/NBC/ABC) 1953-1954, then (CBS/ABC) 1954-1967
4 KTIV (NBC/ABC) 1954-1967
14 KMEG (CBS/FOX) 1988-1999
Sioux Falls, SD:
11 KELO-TV (NBC/CBS/ABC) 1953-1960, (CBS/ABC) 1960-1962
13 KSOO-TV (NBC/ABC) 1960-1969
Walker, MN:
12 KNMT-TV (NBC/ABC) 1964-1982
Wausau, WI:
7 WSAW-TV (CBS/ABC/NBC) 1954-1965, (CBS/NBC) 1966
9 WAOW (ABC/FOX) 1994-1999
Williston, ND:
8 KUMV (NBC/ABC/CBS) 1957-1969, (NBC/ABC) 1969-1986
11 KXMD-TV (CBS/ABC) 1969-1986
It should be noted that DuMont was also in contention to be a major network in the early 1950s but folded in 1956, so it is not included in this listing.