Midwest Communications has switched a third radio station on Minnesota’s Iron Range to a simulcast of a Duluth station.
The former WNMT/650 (Nashwauk-Hibbing), which officially became KDAH on Oct. 1, is now relaying the News/Talk format of KDAL/610 (Duluth). The simulcast was first noted Sept. 30.
WNMT had previously carried nationally-syndicated Talk. The switch gives the station more regional programming, since KDAL’s lineup includes live programming from Duluth from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. The format also includes CBS News updates, replacing FOX News reports that had aired on WNMT.
650 transmits with 10kW non-directional day and 1kW directional at night. Both 610 and 650 have large regional daytime coverage areas due to their low frequencies.
KDAH joins two other Midwest stations on the Iron Range that relay Twin Ports signals: KQDX/106.3 (Hibbing) carries the Classic Rock format of KQDS-FM/94.9 (Duluth), while KDKE/96.1 (Coleraine) simulcasts “Duke FM” Classic Country from WDKE/102.5 (Superior-Duluth).
KQDS-FM has been relayed on the Iron Range for a quarter-century, first on the former KBAJ/105.5 (Deer River) before the simulcast moved to 106.3 in 2017 as a result of a sale. The WDKE-KDKE simulcast began earlier this year, replacing separate iterations of the same format.
Duluth and most of the Iron Range are in St. Louis County, which is larger than three states, but the Range has historically been excluded from the area surveyed for Duluth radio ratings.
Midwest’s other stations on the Iron Range include Adult Top 40 outlet WTBX/93.9 (Hibbing), Adult Contemporary station WEVE/97.9 (Eveleth), Country station “Radio USA” (WUSZ/99.9 Virginia), and Soft Oldies station WMFG/1240 (Hibbing).