KNDB

For the Dickinson, North Dakota translator known as KNDX-LD, see KQCD-TV. For the Williston, North Dakota translator also known as KXND-LD, see KUMV-TV.
KNDB
CityBismarck, North Dakota
Channels
BrandingBEK TV/BEK 26
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
  • BEK Communications Cooperative
  • (BEK Sports Network, Inc.)
History
First air date
November 7, 1999 (25 years ago) (1999-11-07)
Former call signs
KNDX (1999–2014)
Former channel number(s)
Analog: 26 (UHF, 1999–2009)
  • Fox (1999–2014)
  • UPN (secondary, 1999–2006)
  • Dark (2014–2015)
Call sign meaning
North Dakota Bismarck
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID82611
ERP50 kW
HAAT300 m (984 ft)
Transmitter coordinates46°35′23″N 100°47′40″W / 46.58972°N 100.79444°W / 46.58972; -100.79444 (KNDB)
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.bek.tv
Satellite station
KNDM
Channels
BrandingBEK TV/BEK 24
Programming
Affiliations
History
First air date
November 15, 1999 (25 years ago) (1999-11-15)
Former call signs
KXND (1999–2014)
Former channel number(s)
Analog: 24 (UHF, 1999–2009)
same as KNDB
Call sign meaning
North Dakota Minot
Technical information[2]
Facility ID82615
ERP50 kW
HAAT238.9 m (784 ft)
Transmitter coordinates48°3′14″N 101°26′5″W / 48.05389°N 101.43472°W / 48.05389; -101.43472 (KNDM)
Links
Public license information

KNDB (channel 26) is a television station in Bismarck, North Dakota, United States. Owned by BEK Sports Network, Inc., a subsidiary of BEK Communications Cooperative, it is affiliated with multiple networks on various digital subchannels, with Heroes & Icons and BEK Prime on its main channel. KNDB's studios are located on East Interstate Avenue in Bismarck, and its transmitter is located near St. Anthony, North Dakota.

KNDM (channel 24) in Minot, North Dakota operates as a semi-satellite of KNDB extending its signal into the northern portion of the Bismarck–Minot market; this station's transmitter is located near South Prairie. KNDM simulcasts all programming as provided through its parent, but airs separate commercial inserts and station identifications. Although KNDM maintains an advertising sales office on 32nd Avenue SW in Minot, master control and most internal operations are based at KNDB's facilities.

From 1999 until 2014, KNDB was known as KNDX, and KNDM was known as KXND. Collectively, the stations were affiliates of Fox and were founded and previously owned by Prime Cities Broadcasting; in 2014, as part of Gray Television's acquisition of the NBC North Dakota chain from Hoak Media, Excalibur Broadcasting—a shell company affiliated with Gray, attempted to acquire KNDX/KXND from Prime Cities, and have Gray operate them under shared services agreements (SSAs). However, due to growing scrutiny surrounding such agreements and virtual duopoly operations, Gray instead acquired the stations' non-license assets and moved Fox programming to sub-channels of its statewide network of NBC affiliates on June 13, 2014, at which point KNDX and KXND went dark pending their sale to a minority owned broadcaster. The subchannels inherited KNDX/KXND's slots on area cable systems.

The stations' translators—KNDX-LD (channel 38) in Dickinson (previously K38HS) and KXND-LD (channel 38) in Williston (previously K38HA)—were sold outright to Gray and continued to carry Fox programming as a simulcast of the subchannels of NBC affiliates KQCD-TV (channel 7) and KUMV-TV (channel 8), respectively. The licenses for both translators were returned to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in October 2020.[3]

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KNDB". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KNDM". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  3. ^ Ellis, Jon (October 25, 2020). "FCC Monitor: Gray Returns North Dakota LPTV Licenses". Northpine.com. Retrieved October 26, 2020.