To broadcast geeks, there’s something pretty cool about a network of several full-power TV transmitters covering an entire region or even a full state.
Networks of three or more signals cover wide geographic areas and sometimes even have separate local identities on some of the transmitters. Most parts of the Upper Midwest have access to a PBS network, and all four TV markets in the Dakotas are served by commercial stations with four transmitters apiece.
Here are networks of three or more full-power TV stations in the Upper Midwest, sorted by state:
Iowa PBS
- KBIN/32.1, Council Bluffs
- KQIN/36.1, Davenport
- KDIN/11.1, Des Moines
- KTIN/21.1, Fort Dodge
- KIIN/12.1, Iowa City
- KYIN/24.1, Mason City
- KHIN/36.1, Red Oak
- KSIN/27.1, Sioux City
- KRIN/32.1, Waterloo
Minnesota Channel (Local PBS productions/government)
- KWCM/10.3, Appleton
- KSMQ/15.4, Austin
- KAWE/9.6, Bemidji
- KAWB/22.6, Brainerd
- KCGE/16.3, Crookston
- WDSE/8.4, Duluth
- WRPT/31.4, Hibbing
- KTCI/2.2, St. Paul
- KSMN/20.3, Worthington
- KBME-TV/3.3, Bismarck, ND
- KMDE/25.3, Devils Lake, ND
- KDSE/9.3, Dickinson, ND
- KJRE/19.3, Ellendale, ND
- KFME/13.3, Fargo, ND
- KGFE/2.3, Grand Forks, ND
- KSRE/6.3, Minot, ND
- KWSE/4.3, Williston, ND
Minnesota: KSTP-TV (ABC)
- KSTP-TV/5.1, St. Paul
- KSAX/42.1, Alexandria
- KRWF/43.1, Redwood Falls
FOX Nebraska
- KWNB-TV/6.2, Hayes Center
- KHGI-TV/13.2, Kearney
- KFXL-TV/51.1, Lincoln
Nebraska Public Media (PBS)
- KTNE-TV/13.1, Alliance
- KMNE-TV/7.1, Basset
- KHNE-TV/29.1, Hastings
- KLNE-TV/3.1, Lexington
- KUON-TV/12.1, Lincoln
- KRNE-TV/12.1, Merriman
- KXNE-TV/19.1, Norfolk
- KPNE-TV/9.1, North Platte
- KYNE/26.1, Omaha
North Dakota: KVRR (FOX)
- KVRR/15.1, Fargo
- KJRR/7.1, Jamestown
- KNRR/12.1, Pembina
- KBRR/10.1, Thief River Falls-Grand Forks
North Dakota: WDAY (ABC)
- WDAY-TV/6.1, Fargo (some syndicated programming differs)
- KBMY/17.1, Bismarck
- WDAZ/8.1, Devils Lake-Grand Forks (some syndicated programming differs)
- KMCY/14.1, Minot
North Dakota: KFYR/KMOT (NBC)
- KFYR-TV/5.1, Bismarck
- KMOT/10.1, Minot
- KQCD/7.1, Dickinson
- KUMV/8.1, Williston
North Dakota: West Dakota FOX
- KFYR-TV/5.2, Bismarck
- KQCD/7.2, Dickinson
- KMOT/10.2, Minot
- KUMV/8.2, Williston
North Dakota: KX (CBS)
- KXMB/12.1, Bismarck
- KXMA/2.2, Dickinson
- KXMC/13.1, Minot
- KXMD/11.1, Williston
North Dakota: Prairie Public Broadcasting (PBS)
- KBME-TV/3.1, Bismarck
- KCGE/16.1, Crookston, MN
- KMDE/25.1, Devils Lake
- KDSE/9.1, Dickinson
- KJRE/19.1, Ellendale
- KFME/13.1, Fargo
- KGFE/2.1, Grand Forks
- KSRE/6.1, Minot
- KWSE/4.1, Williston
South Dakota Public Broadcasting (PBS)
- KDSD-TV/16.1, Aberdeen
- KEST-TV/8.1, Brookings
- KPSD-TV/13.1, Eagle Butte
- KQSD-TV/11.1, Lowry
- KZSD-TV/8.1, Martin
- KTSD-TV/10.1, Pierre
- KBHE-TV/9.1, Rapid City
- KCSD-TV/23.1, Sioux Falls
- KUSD-TV/2.1, Vermillion
South Dakota: KDLT (NBC)
- KDLT/46.1, Sioux Falls
- KDLV/5.1, Mitchell
- KPRY/46.1, Pierre
South Dakota: KDLT (FOX)
- KDLT/46.2, Sioux Falls
- KDLV/5.2, Mitchell
- KPRY/46.2, Pierre
South Dakota: KELOLAND TV (CBS)
- KELO-TV/11.1, Sioux Falls
- KCLO/15.1, Rapid City (some syndicated programming differs)
- KPLO-TV/6.1, Reliance-Pierre
- KDLO-TV/3.1, Watertown
South Dakota: KOTA Territory (ABC)
- KOTA-TV/3.1, Rapid City
- KHSD/11.1, Lead, SD
- KSGW/12.1, Sheridan, WY
South Dakota: KSFY (ABC)
- KSFY/13.1, Sioux Falls
- KDLV/13.1, Mitchell
- KPRY/4.1, Pierre
PBS Wisconsin
- WPNE-TV/38.1, Green Bay
- WHLA-TV/31.1, La Crosse
- WHA-TV/21.1, Madison
- WHWC-TV/28.1, Menomonie-Eau Claire
- WLEF/36.1, Park Falls
- WHRM-TV/20.1, Wausau
Note: Astute observers have probably also noted that KMSP (Minneapolis) technically has two satellites, WFTC (Minneapolis) and KFTC (Bemidji), though the two Minneapolis transmitters serve the same area and KFTC operates at low power levels.
Disclosure: Jon Ellis was an employee of Gray Media Group at the time this item was posted. The statements and views expressed in this posting are his own and do not reflect those of Gray Media Group.