It’s a media nerd’s dream, but one that has become increasingly rare: cable systems that carry major TV stations from multiple markets.
As mentioned here in previous Broadcast History posts, early cable systems in many rural areas carried channels from multiple cities, with one Iowa system once carrying stations from a half-dozen markets and some South Dakota systems once carrying more channels from Colorado than from their own state.
Carriage of out-of-market stations first declined as systems dropped them for new cable networks, and later as rules became more strict and systems were required to pay stations that opted for retransmission consent agreements.
But there are still many cable systems offering out-of-market cable channels. While there are many that offer channels from two markets, there are few left that offer channels from three markets. (Look closely below for one system that still carries stations from four markets.)
For this list, only major network affiliates are included. The assigned market is listed followed by the out-of-market stations carried. In almost all cases, all of the in-market affiliates are carried, so the individual in-market stations are not listed here.
Algona, IA (Mediacom)
Des Moines market
KEYC-CBS (Mankato)
KAAL-ABC (Austin-Rochester)
Bemidji, MN (Midcontinent)
Minneapolis market
WDIO-ABC (Duluth)
KVLY-NBC (Fargo)
Blue Earth, MN (Midcontinent)
Mankato market
WCCO-CBS (Minneapolis)
KSTP-ABC (St. Paul)
KMSP-FOX (Minneapolis)
KARE-NBC (Minneapolis)
KAAL-ABC (Austin-Rochester)
Emmetsburg, IA (Mediacom)
Sioux City market
KEYC-CBS (Mankato)
KSFY-ABC (Sioux Falls)
WOI-ABC (Ames-Des Moines)
Keokuk, IA (Mediacom)
Quincy market
KTVO-ABC (Kirksville-Ottumwa)
WQAD-ABC (Moline-Quad Cities)
Mankato, MN (Spectrum)
Mankato market (note: market does not have an ABC affiliate)
WCCO-CBS (Minneapolis)
KSTP-ABC (St. Paul)
KMSP-FOX (Minneapolis)
KAAL-ABC (Austin-Rochester)
Mount Pleasant, IA (Mediacom)
Davenport market
KCRG-ABC (Cedar Rapids)
KTVO-ABC (Kirksville-Ottumwa)
KYOU-FOX (Ottumwa)
Owatonna, MN (Spectrum)
Minneapolis market
KEYC-CBS (Mankato)
KAAL-ABC (Austin-Rochester)
KTTC-NBC (Rochester)
Rock Port, MO
Omaha market
WDAF-FOX (Kansas City)
KCTV-CBS (Kansas City)
KMBC-ABC (Kansas City)
KSHB-NBC (Kansas City)
KQTV-ABC (St. Joseph)
Spooner, WI (Spectrum)
Minneapolis market
KBJR-NBC (Duluth)
WDIO-ABC (Duluth)
KQDS-FOX (Duluth)
WEAU-NBC (Eau Claire)
WQOW-ABC (Eau Claire)
Wautoma, WI (Spectrum)
Green Bay market
WISC-CBS (Madison)
WMTV-NBC (Madison)
WSAW-CBS (Wausau)
Windom, MN
Minneapolis market
KEYC-CBS (Mankato)
KEYC-FOX (Mankato)
KDLT-FOX (Sioux Falls)
Winona, MN (Spectrum)
La Crosse-Eau Claire market
WCCO-CBS (Minneapolis)
KSTP-ABC (St. Paul)
KMSP-FOX (Minneapolis)
KTTC-NBC (Rochester)
Note: This list is based on online TV listings, which may potentially be outdated in some cases. Some out-of-market stations may also be subject to network programming blackouts.
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