Reception reports
A viewer has reported receiving new BEK Sports Network station KNGF/27 (Grand Forks-Fargo) with four channels of BEK programming. BEK has not yet formally announced the station’s launch but did file an application for a license to cover on Thursday, Feb. 9. The station transmits with 720kW from the KVLY-TV tower near Blanchard.
KMNQ/1470 (Brooklyn Park) has returned to a simulcast of KMNV/1400 (St. Paul). The station had been off the air for the past year. From the web feed:
Gray TV’s K23MQ-D (Duluth) is now carrying Circle TV, replacing a simulcast of KDLH-CW.
Viewers report Circle TV is now also on the air on channel 4.6 of Gray’s KTIV (Sioux City).
Stations
Civic Media rebranded WMDX/1580 (Watertown, formerly WTTN) and translator W224EG/92.7 (Madison) as “Mad Radio 92.7“ following its purchase of the stations from Good Karma Broadcasting. The Liberal Talk station had previously been known as “Devil Radio 92.7.” The “Mad Radio” slogan was previously used for Alternative formats on the former WMAD/92.1 (Sun Prairie) in the 1980s and 1990s and WMAD/96.3 (Sauk City, now Cross Plains) in the mid-2000s; the latter station retains the WMAD callsign but is now known as “Star Country.”
Tegna NBC affiliate KARE 11 (Minneapolis) received an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Award which for “The Gap: Failure to Treat, Failure to Protect.” The Star Tribune notes that KARE is among only five local stations nationally to receive the award.
The Duluth News Tribune’s Jay Gabler took a look at “The North 103.3” (WDSE-FM Duluth) a year after its sale to the parent of PBS station WDSE-TV, documenting changes that have already happened and exploring whether future changes might affect longtime volunteer-hosted evening shows and student programming.
Similar to recent changes at other PBS stations (documented here and here), PBS North (WDSE-TV/8 Duluth and WRPT/31 Hibbing) has reduced the amount of PBS Kids programming available on its primary channel. PBS Kids programming now runs from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is also available on the stations’ DT5 channels for their entire broadcast day.
TV News Check’s Harry Jessell has a great commentary explaining the current state of ATSC 3.0 (NexGenTV) and what might be done to kickstart it. NextGenTV is currently on the air in Green Bay and Omaha with simulcasts of HD programming also available in 1.0.
People
Quinn Gorham announced that he has accepted a job as Minnesota State Capitol Reporter for Gray TV, which is a new position that will provide capitol coverage for Gray’s stations around the state. Gorham is currently a reporter at Gray NBC/CBS affiliate KBJR/6 (Superior-Duluth).
Chelsey Perkins is moving from the Brainerd Dispatch to Northern Community Radio (KAXE/91.7 Grand Rapids and KBXE/90.5 Bagley-Bemidji), where she will be news director. This comes as KAXE expands its news presence.
Iowa PBS announced that director of engineering William Hayes will retire this year after 24 years at Iowa PBS and 50 years in the industry. Hayes will serve as a consultant for ATSC 3.0 (NexGenTV).
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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.