Gray TV To Add NBC, CW Affiliations in Mankato

Gray TV has announced plans to launch a low-power station in Mankato carrying NBC and CW, joining full-power CBS/FOX affiliate KEYC.

KMNF-LD will launch in September, carrying NBC on channel 7.1 and CW on 7.2. The station will transmit from KEYC’s tower near Lewisville.

Mankato does not currently have affiliates of either network since KEYC is the only station in the small market. Minneapolis NBC and ABC affiliates carried on cable and satellite, as well as several southern Minnesota translator systems.

“The addition of NBC to our well established CBS and FOX programming will offer viewers more news and entertainment options on a local level,” KEYC General Manager Ed Woloszyn said in a news release. “By adding NBC our viewers and advertisers will have additional programming choices from the bevy of NBC’s top rated primetime lineup, sports and news programs, while having a front row seat to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and Super Bowl LVI in 2022.”

It hasn’t been announced whether the new channels will carry local newscasts.

KMNF is former KEYC translator K38MY-D (St. James), which KEYC moved to its tower and very briefly operated as K13AAR-D before obtaining the construction permit to move to channel 7 with 3kW. As a low-power station, KMNF’s coverage area will not be as large as KEYC’s, though rooftop antenna coverage should reach the entire market.

KEYC signed on in 1960 and carried NBC before switching to CBS in 1961. It added the FOX channel in 2007, and Gray bought it earlier this year.