Broadcast TV viewers are seeing channel changes in many markets as a result of national digital subchannel changes as the new year begins.
Circle and Twist have left the air, while new networks Outlaw and THE365 have launched. Meanwhile, Dabl made a change in programming from cooking and home improvement to reruns of sitcoms that originally aired on UPN, the WB, and the CW.
Here is a summary of channel changes in the Upper Midwest:
Bismarck: Gray’s KFYR-TV/5.4 replaced Circle with Outlaw (network website); BEK’s KNDB/26.2 had carried Twist, current programming not immediately known
Des Moines: Tegna’s WOI-DT/5.6 replaced Twist with a simulcast of True Crime Network, which also airs on 5.2 (station website listings)
Duluth: Gray’s K23MQ-D/23.1 switched from Circle to Outlaw and added 23.2 listed as THE365 but blank as of Jan. 1 (off-air reception)
Eau Claire: Gray’s WEAU/13.6 switched from Circle to Outlaw (network website)
Green Bay: Gray’s WBAY-TV/2.3 switched from Circle to THE365 (station announcement)
Lincoln-Tri Cities: Gray’s KOLN/KGIN 10.5/11.5 switched from Circle to THE365 (network website) while Gray’s KSNB/4.6 added Outlaw (network website)
Madison: WMTV/15.3 switched from Antenna TV to Outlaw (network website)
Mankato: Gray’s KMNF-LD/7.3 replaced Circle with THE365 (station announcement)
Marquette: Gray’s WLUC/6.4 replaced Circle with Outlaw (station announcement)
Milwaukee: WIWN/68.9 had carried Twist, current programming not immediately known
Minneapolis: Tegna’s KARE/11.5 had carried Circle, with posts on AVS Forum indicating the channel disappeared when the network left the air. Meanwhile KARE/11.7 replaced Twist with True Crime Network, which also airs on 11.3 (station website listings).
North Platte: Gray’s KNOP/2.4 replaced Circle with Outlaw (network website)
Omaha: Gray’s WOWT/6.6 replaced Circle with THE365 (station announcement)
Ottumwa: Gray’s KYOU-TV/15.3 replaced Circle with THE365 (station announcement)
Quad Cities: Gray’s KWQC/6.6 replaced Circle with Outlaw (network website). Tegna’s WQAD/8.5 replaced Twist with Quest, which also airs on channel 8.6 (station website listings)
Rapid City: Gray’s KOTA-TV/3.2 replaced Circle with Outlaw (network website)
Rochester: Gray’s KTTC/10.6 replaced Circle with Outlaw (network website)
Sioux City: Gray’s KTIV/4.6 replaced Circle with Outlaw (station announcement)
Sioux Falls: No market has seen more changes than Sioux Falls, with four channels changing programming and a fifth new channel launching. As previously reported here, Nexstar’s KELO-TV/11.4 switched from Ion Mystery to CW+. The CW’s former home on Gray’s KSFY/13.2 switched to Outlaw, while THE365 replaced Antenna TV on Gray’s KDLT/46.3. KDLT also added 46.6 to carry Ion Mystery. Meanwhile, Forum’s KSFL-TV/36.1 has ended its brief run as an Ion affiliate and is now operating as an independent with syndicated programming and a simulcast of the Forum News Network 9 p.m. newscast originating in Fargo. (reported off-air reception, TitanTV listings)
Wausau: Gray’s WSAW/7.6 replaced Circle with Outlaw (station announcement)
Note: Outlaw and THE365 are also listed as airing on several low-power TV stations not listed above; see the network’s websites for details
Disclosure: Jon Ellis is an employee of Gray Media Group. The statements and views expressed in this posting are his own and do not reflect those of Gray Media Group.