The following are updates to stories previously reported here and other recent FCC filings and actions:
Iowa
Bernadette Merrill’s A2Z Broadcasting LLC closed on its purchase of KLGA/92.7 (Algona), KLGZ/1600 (Algona), and KLGZ translator K253BA/98.5 (Algona) from Riverfront Broadcasting of Iowa on Dec. 1.
Michigan
Taconite Broadcasting’s W295CX/106.9 (Marquette) applied to move its transmitter to a taller tower to the west, remaining 250 Watts but expanding its coverage area. W295CX relays WZAM/970 (Ishpeming).
Minnesota
CBS owned-and-operated WCCO-TV/4.1 (Minneapolis) submitted a license to cover application indicating that it is now operating at full power of 1,000kW from its new antenna at the Telefarm tower site in Shoreview. The antenna is shared with Tegna’s KARE/11.1, with KARE on RF channel 31 and WCCO on RF channel 32. WCCO had been at reduced power during work at the site.
The FCC moved K28PQ-D (St. Cloud) to deleted status after the station submitted a cancellation application, with the FCC database now listing it with the callsign DK28PQ-D. However, a response to a question on the application indicates that it is not intended to cancel the entire facility and it appeared the station was still on the air as of Dec. 5. The station transmits form Big Lake on virtual channel 38 with channels including Azteca, Clic, Magnificent Movies Network, Timeless TV.
Gabriel Media’s KYES/1180 (Rockville-St. Cloud) is operating at reduced daytime power due to a burnout in its phasor. The station submitted a picture of the burned-out phasor as part of its request for special temporary authority. KYES normally transmits with 50kW directional during the day but is temporarily using 9kW, with the same pattern. It continues to use its licensed critical hours facility of 8kW directional and its licensed nighttime facility of 5kW directional.
Nebraska
Gray TV reported that the primary signal of NBC affiliate KSNB-TV/4.1 (Superior-Hastings-Lincoln) went silent as it prepares to move to a new site. The filing indicates KSNB programming continues to be seen on subchannels of KOLN (Lincoln) and KCWH-LD (Lincoln); its programming has also been relayed on subchannels of KNHL (Hastings) and KGIN (Grand Island) in the past but they are not mentioned in the filing. As previously reported, KSNB will co-locate with Gray’s KOLN-TV/10.1 at its newly-reconstructed tower near Beaver Crossing. KSNB will change its community of license to York and change frequency to RF channel 24. Its new 260kW facility should be easily receivable in Lincoln.
North Dakota
Major Market Broadcasting of North Dakota submitted a license to cover application indicating that K22OG-D (Fargo) has been constructed as authorized. Programming is unknown. Major Market is the owner of KRDK-TV/4.1 (Valley City-Fargo). It also has a construction permit for K25LY-D (Fargo),
South Dakota
The FCC approved Gray TV’s purchase of MeTV affiliates KHME/23.1 (Rapid City) and satellite KQME/5.1 (Lead) to add to its existing full-power ABC and low-power FOX affiliates in the market. As noted earlier, Gray had divested the stations (the original KOTA-TV and KHSD licenses) five years ago but is now able to buy them back because KHME has fallen out of the top four in the ratings.
The FCC approved a modification for future low-power TV station K06QJ-D (Sioux Falls) to move to the KSFY-TV tower near Rowena with 100 Watts.
Wisconsin
Midwest Communications tells the FCC it has not yet completed repairs at the tower site of WTAQ/1360 (Green Bay) and requested another extension of special temporary authority to operate its 5kW nighttime facility at a variance from its usual directional antenna pattern and/or at reduced power. Filings indicate WTAQ has not been able to read the phase and antenna current at one of its four towers since spring of 2019. The latest filing says standing water at the tower site continues to prevent repairs, and that multiple contractors have said the soil needs to dry out before equipment can enter the premises. Its 10kW daytime facility, using a different directional pattern from two towers at the site, is unaffected.
The FCC approved QueenB Television’s purchase of KQEG-CD/23.1 (La Crescent, MN-La Crosse), WBDL-LD (Elk Mound-Eau Claire, formerly WBOO-LP), and WPDR-LD (Tomah, formerly WEZY-LP) from Magnum Radio. WBDL-LD and WPDR-LD recently started relaying QueenB CBS affiliate WKBT and a viewer report on AVS Forum indicates that KQEG is now relaying WKBT as well. It had previously carried a mix of local programming and AMG TV.
DTV America’s WTSJ-LD/38.1 (Milwaukee), which transmits on RF channel 26, requested special temporary authority to transmit with 5kW rather than its licensed 10kW. The station’s filing says power was reduced because its transmitter was reporting a high temperature.