History of KVLY-TV in Timeline

KVLY-TV is an NBC-affiliated television station located in Fargo, North Dakota. It's owned by Gray Media, operating alongside KXJB-LD (CBS/CW). The stations share studios in Fargo, while KVLY-TV's transmitter is near Blanchard. Besides the main Fargo studio, KVLY-TV has a news bureau and sales office in Grand Forks. KVLY-TV broadcasts local and national news, along with NBC network programming to the Fargo region.

December 1953: Channel 13 Assignment Changed

In December 1953, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) changed the original channel assignment of 13 for Fargo after receiving a petition from a civic group in Bemidji, Minnesota.

January 1957: Fargo Telecasting Company Applies for Channel 11

In January 1957, the Fargo Telecasting Company, controlled by Marvin Kratter of New York, applied for channel 11.

January 1958: Kratter Drops Out

In January 1958, Marvin Kratter dropped out his application for channel 11.

May 27, 1958: FCC Approves NDBC Application

On May 27, 1958, an FCC hearing examiner approved the North Dakota Broadcasting Company application for channel 11.

October 11, 1959: Channel 11 Begins Broadcasting

On October 11, 1959, Channel 11, owned by John Boler of KXJB-TV, started broadcasting, primarily serving as a passthrough for ABC programming in the Fargo–Moorhead area.

1959: Commission Approves the Station

In 1959, the commission approved the station.

1962: Ferris Traylor Acquired KXGO-TV

In 1962, Ferris Traylor of Evansville, Indiana, acquired KXGO-TV as well as KNOX-TV in Grand Forks and KCND-TV in Pembina.

1962: Polaris Industries Acquired Half of Producers, Inc.

In 1962, Milwaukee-based Polaris Industries acquired half of Traylor-owned Producers, Inc.

1962: Station Sold to Polaris Corporation

In 1962, the station was sold to the Polaris Corporation, leading to an overhaul and its transformation into a full-service station with local programming.

May 15, 1963: Station Changed Call Sign to KEND-TV

On May 15, 1963, the station changed its call sign to KEND-TV to dissociate itself from KXGO radio.

November 8, 1963: New Tower Completed

On November 8, 1963, the construction of a new, 2,000 feet (610 m) television tower was completed, with a 113-foot (34 m) antenna for channel 11 affixed to the top of the 1,950-foot (590 m) mast.

1963: Polaris Industries Acquired Remaining of Producers, Inc.

In 1963, Polaris Industries acquired the remainder of Traylor-owned Producers, Inc.

1963: Tall tower erected

In 1963, the Kline Iron and Steel Company erected a tall tower near Blanchard for channel 11 broadcasting.

February 1, 1964: KEND-TV Changed Call Sign to KTHI-TV

On February 1, 1964, KEND-TV changed its call sign again to KTHI-TV (for "Tower High").

February 8, 1964: Channel 11 broadcast from tall tower

Since February 8, 1964, channel 11 has been broadcast from a tall tower near Blanchard, vastly increasing the station's coverage area.

February 1964: KTHI-TV Began Airing Local Newscasts

In February 1964, the station became KTHI-TV and began airing local newscasts.

February 1964: KTHI-TV Broadcasts From Current Tower

In February 1964, the station, now known as KTHI-TV, began broadcasting from its current tower, once the tallest structure in the world.

1966: Pembina Didn't Find A Buyer

In 1966, Pembina had not been able to find a buyer even though the sale of KTHI-TV was provided for in the merger agreement.

1966: Polaris Merged with Natco Corporation

In 1966, Polaris merged with the Natco Corporation and considered selling KTHI-TV and KCND-TV.

February 1967: Fuqua Industries Renamed From Natco Corporation

In February 1967, Natco's primary owner, J. B. Fuqua, renamed the firm Fuqua Industries.

1969: Fuqua Industries Sells KTHI-TV

In 1969, Fuqua Industries sold KTHI-TV for $1.491 million to Spokane Television, a subsidiary of the Morgan Murphy Stations group.

1969: KTHI-TV Acquired by Morgan Murphy Stations

In 1969, Morgan Murphy Stations acquired KTHI-TV and owned it until 1995.

1969: News Department Reorganized

When Morgan Murphy bought channel 11 in 1969, the news department was reorganized with the main early evening newscast at 5 p.m.

1974: Tower surpassed by Warsaw radio mast

In 1974, the KVLY-TV tower, previously the tallest man-made structure, was surpassed in height by the Warsaw radio mast in Poland.

1977: Early Newscast Reinstated

In 1977, the station reinstated an early newscast at 5:30, which moved back to 5 p.m. by 1981.

1979: KXJB Shared 5 P.M. Newscast

In 1979, KXJB briefly shared a 5 p.m. newscast with the KX Network stations in western North Dakota.

1981: Early Newscast Moved Back

By 1981, the early newscast was moved back to 5 p.m.

August 22, 1983: KTHI Becomes NBC Affiliate

On August 22, 1983, KTHI became an NBC affiliate, swapping affiliations with WDAY-TV and its satellite WDAZ-TV.

1983: KTHI-TV Becomes NBC Affiliate

In 1983, KTHI-TV became an NBC affiliate after ABC moved to WDAY-TV and WDAZ-TV.

1986: Channel 11 Removed from Cable Systems in Manitoba

Until 1986, channel 11 was carried by cable systems across Manitoba, including the Winnipeg area. It and KXJB-TV were removed when Canadian cable companies were granted permission to replace most of the North Dakota stations with network affiliates from Detroit.

1987: Introduced First Morning Newscast

In 1987, the station introduced its first morning newscast.

1987: Return to Co-Anchor Format and Introduction of Morning Newscast

In 1987, the station returned to a co-anchor format and introduced its first morning newscast.

1989: KTHI Hired Charley Johnson

In 1989, KTHI hired Charley Johnson, the 14-year news director and anchor at KXJB, to anchor its newscasts, including a 6 p.m. edition.

1991: Collapse of Warsaw radio mast

In 1991, the Warsaw radio mast in Poland collapsed, making the KVLY-TV tower the tallest man-made structure again.

1993: Morning Newscast Lengthened

In 1993, the morning newscast, 15 minutes in length since its 1987 debut, was lengthened to a full half-hour.

November 1994: Meyer Broadcasting Buys the Station

In November 1994, Meyer Broadcasting of Bismarck, North Dakota, owner of KFYR-TV in Bismarck and its network of satellites in western North Dakota, bought the station.

March 1995: Meyer Broadcasting Officially Buys the Station

In March 1995, Meyer Broadcasting of Bismarck, North Dakota, officially bought the station.

1995: Meyer Television Acquires KTHI-TV

In 1995, Meyer Television acquired KTHI-TV, and the station changed its call sign to KVLY-TV.

1995: Morgan Murphy Stations Ownership End

Morgan Murphy Stations' ownership of KTHI-TV ended in 1995.

1996: KVLY Narrowly Behind KXJB at 6 P.M.

By 1996, the station was narrowly behind KXJB at 6 p.m. and ahead of it at 10 p.m.

1998: Meyer Sells TV Stations to Sunrise Television

In 1998, Meyer opted to exit the television business, selling all its TV stations to Sunrise Television for $63.75 million.

2000: KVLY Ahead of KXJB in Both Time Periods

By 2000, KVLY was ahead of KXJB in both the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. time periods.

2002: North Dakota Television LLC Acquired KVLY-TV and KFYR-TV

In 2002, North Dakota Television LLC—a consortium of private equity firms acquired KVLY-TV and KFYR-TV.

2003: KXJB-TV Operations Consolidated with KVLY-TV

In 2003, most operations of KXJB-TV were consolidated with KVLY-TV under a local marketing agreement.

2003: KVLY Took Over Most of KXJB's Operations

When KVLY took over most of KXJB's operations in 2003, the latter station's early evening newscast times and format were changed to not conflict with KVLY.

2006: Hoak Media Acquired KVLY-TV

In 2006, Hoak Media of Dallas acquired KVLY-TV and KFYR-TV, as well as KSFY-TV in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and its satellites.

November 2007: Stations Combined Newscasts Under Valley News Live

In November 2007, the stations' previously separate weeknight 10 p.m. newscasts and news brands were combined under the name Valley News Live.

2007: Full Simulcast News Under Valley News Live Established

In 2007, full simulcast news under the name Valley News Live was established between KVLY-TV and KXJB-TV.

2008: Tower surpassed by Burj Khalifa

In 2008, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai surpassed the KVLY-TV tower as the tallest man-made structure.

February 16, 2009: KVLY-TV shuts down analog signal

On February 16, 2009, KVLY-TV shut down its analog signal over VHF channel 11, one day before the original digital television transition date.

May 2013: Valley News Live Showed Key Demographic Viewership

In May 2013, while WDAY maintained a lead on total households, Valley News Live accounted for more viewership in key demographics favored by advertisers.

November 20, 2013: Hoak Announces Sale of Stations to Gray Television

On November 20, 2013, Hoak announced the sale of most of its stations, including KVLY-TV, to Gray Television.

November 12, 2014: CBS Programming Moved to KVLY-TV Subchannel

On November 12, 2014, KXJB's CBS programming was moved to a subchannel of KVLY-TV.

December 1, 2014: KXJB Facility Turned Off

On December 1, 2014, the KXJB facility was turned off.

2014: Gray Television Acquires KVLY-TV

In 2014, Gray Television acquired KVLY-TV, leading to changes in the CBS affiliation and the introduction of new low-power stations.

2014: KVLY Surpassed WDAY as Ratings Leader

In 2014, KVLY surpassed WDAY as the ratings leader in Fargo–Moorhead proper.

2015: Gray Acquired Low-Power Stations

In 2015, to supplement the main transmitter for CBS service, Gray acquired three low-power stations, at Horace, Argusville, and Grand Forks.

May 28, 2019: KVLY-TV signal repacked to channel 36

On May 28, 2019, KVLY-TV's digital signal, which had remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 44, was repacked to channel 36.

2019: NDSU pregame show featured Kyle Emanuel

In 2019, KVLY's pregame show for North Dakota State Bison football games featured former NFL player and Bison alum Kyle Emanuel as one of the hosts.

2019: VHF antenna removed from mast

In 2019, the VHF antenna at the top of the KVLY-TV mast was removed, reducing its height to 1,987 feet (606 m).

2020: NDSU pregame show featured Kyle Emanuel

In 2020, KVLY's pregame show for North Dakota State Bison football games featured former NFL player and Bison alum Kyle Emanuel as one of the hosts.

2021: NDSU games move to WDAY-TV

In 2021, North Dakota State Bison football games moved to WDAY-TV after Forum Communications won the broadcasting rights.

September 2024: Valley News Live Produced 39 Hours of Local News Programming

As of September 2024, Valley News Live produced a combined 39 hours a week of local news programming across the NBC, CBS, and CW subchannels.

Mentioned in this timeline

CBS is a major American commercial broadcast television and radio...

The National Broadcasting Company NBC is a major American commercial...

Dubai is the most populous city in the United Arab...

Football is a family of team sports centered around kicking...

News encompasses information about current events disseminated through various media...

Dallas Texas is the most populous city in the Dallas...