KELO-TV

KELO-TV is a commercial television station serving Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and a large portion of the northern Great Plains. Broadcasting on channel 11, it is affiliated with CBS and also carries MyNetworkTV and The CW programming through digital multicast services. The station is owned by Nexstar Media Group and operates within the wider KELOLAND Media Group, whose facilities and rebroadcasting stations extend its programming across much of South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, and northwestern Iowa. The station began broadcasting on May 20, 1953, as South Dakota's first television station. It was established by Midcontinent Broadcasting, the owner of KELO radio in Sioux Falls, after the Federal Communications Commission granted a construction permit in late 1952 following the end of the postwar freeze on new television licenses. KELO-TV initially operated as an NBC affiliate while also carrying programs from CBS, ABC, and DuMont. Early television production was technically limited: the station had no television cameras or substantial local studio output at launch, and it relied heavily on network programming and filmed material. Its signal was strengthened in 1954, and network coaxial connections made live network broadcasts possible. A defining feature of KELO-TV's development was its use of additional full-power stations to extend coverage beyond Sioux Falls. KDLO-TV began broadcasting from Florence in 1955 to serve Watertown and eastern South Dakota. KPLO-TV began operation from Reliance in 1957, providing coverage toward central South Dakota. The network's broad footprint helped make Sioux Falls a major advertising and distribution center for the state and gave KELO a coverage advantage over competing stations for much of the analog era. In the early 1980s, the group added service to western South Dakota through a translator in Rapid City; that facility later became the full-power KCLO-TV in 1988. KELO-TV changed its primary network affiliation from NBC to CBS in 1957, completing the transition in 1958. Local programming expanded steadily, including weather, children's programming, sports, and news. The long-running Captain 11 children's program became a prominent local institution, while the station's news department developed a reputation for geographic reach and operational stability. KELO was an early adopter of electronic news gathering, introduced local closed captioning in 1991, deployed regional weather radar beginning in the late 1990s, and moved local newscasts to high definition in 2011. Ownership changed in 1996 when Young Broadcasting acquired KELO-TV and its associated stations from Midcontinent Media. Young merged with Media General in 2013, and Media General was subsequently acquired by Nexstar, with that transaction completed in January 2017. Under Nexstar, the station remains a central local-news and broadcast outlet in the Sioux Falls market. Its local news operation has historically led competing stations in audience and advertising share, and the KELOLAND brand has been used to present the station as a statewide or region-wide news and information service rather than merely a Sioux Falls outlet. The station has also adapted its programming structure to changes in network television. Its digital multicast service, originally known as UTV, carried UPN programming from 2004 and became the Sioux Falls MyNetworkTV affiliate in 2006. The service was later renamed KELOXTRA. KELO-TV's main broadcast identity continues to be anchored by CBS programming, local news, weather, sports, and public-service content, while its satellite stations and digital services broaden its reach. The station's analog signal ended on June 12, 2009, as part of the federally mandated United States digital television transition, after which its digital signal returned to VHF channel 11.

KELO-TV originated with Midcontinent Broadcasting, the company behind Sioux Falls radio station KELO. Midcontinent filed the first application for a South Dakota television station in May 1950. Because the Federal Communications Commission had frozen most new television-station grants, the application remained pending until the freeze ended in 1952. The FCC issued a construction permit on November 20, 1952, and Midcontinent converted space associated with the radio operation for television use. The station transmitted its first regular programming on May 20, 1953, after a test pattern the previous day. It began as an NBC affiliate, although its schedule also included programs from other networks. The original operation had limited local production capability, and it took approximately two years for the station to obtain its own television cameras. A power increase in 1954 improved reception in rural areas, while a network coaxial connection allowed KELO-TV to carry live network broadcasts. Midcontinent later developed a plan to build additional full-power facilities that would relay the Sioux Falls service across eastern and central South Dakota. KDLO-TV began broadcasting from Florence on September 28, 1955, serving Watertown and nearby areas. KPLO-TV followed from Reliance on July 12, 1957, after Midcontinent secured approval to relocate a channel-6 facility toward central South Dakota. These stations created a broad regional footprint and helped align KELO's television coverage with the state's commercial traffic, much of which flowed through Sioux Falls. The network's reach contributed to the growth of the Sioux Falls television market and remained a major competitive advantage for decades. KELO-TV and KELO radio moved toward CBS in 1957, completing the television affiliation change after a transition period in which NBC programming continued. The station opened new studios at 13th and Phillips streets in 1959. Competition increased when KSOO-TV, now KSFY-TV, launched as an NBC station in 1960. Full-time ABC service developed later, leaving KELO with a durable CBS-centered identity. The station's transmission infrastructure experienced several serious incidents. A North Central Airlines aircraft struck a guy wire on the shared Rowena tower on June 24, 1968; the aircraft landed safely, but the tower collapsed and KELO temporarily returned to a site near Shindler. The Rowena mast fell again during an ice storm on January 11, 1975. KELO again used its former facility until a replacement tower entered service later that year. Satellite towers also suffered weather-related failures, including incidents affecting KDLO-TV in 1977 and 2022 and KPLO-TV in 2010. Local programming became an important part of the station's identity. The Captain 11 children's program began in 1955 and continued for more than four decades. KELO's news operation used an early filmed format before developing live and electronic production. The station introduced electronic news gathering in 1973, launched a morning newscast in 1977, added a 5 p.m. newscast in 1982, and introduced local closed captioning in 1991. It installed regional Doppler radar facilities beginning in 1997 and added another radar site in 2001. Local newscasts moved to high definition in 2011, and a 4 p.m. newscast was added in 2022. KELO's coverage expanded westward in 1981 when a translator began serving Rapid City. The facility became full-power KCLO-TV in 1988. An early time-shifted schedule was used to accommodate the Mountain Time Zone, but that practice ended during the Gulf War period in 1991. The broader group became known as the KELOLAND Media Group, a name reflecting its regional rather than purely city-based service model. Midcontinent Media sold KELO-TV and its satellite stations to Young Broadcasting in 1996. Young took control after announcing staff reductions associated with the transaction. In 1999, the station received a National Association of Broadcasters award recognizing its service during recovery efforts after tornado damage in Spencer, South Dakota. Young merged with Media General in 2013, and Nexstar acquired Media General in a transaction completed in 2017. The station's digital transition began before the nationwide analog shutdown. KELO-TV started digital broadcasting on March 6, 2003, and ended its analog VHF transmission on June 12, 2009. Its post-transition digital signal returned to VHF channel 11. Digital capacity also enabled additional network services: UTV carried UPN programming beginning in 2004, became a MyNetworkTV affiliate in 2006, and was later renamed KELOXTRA. The main station continues to combine CBS network content with local news, weather, sports, public-service programming, and regional advertising under Nexstar ownership.

1. 20224 p.m. newscast added

   The station expanded its local news schedule with a new 4 p.m. broadcast.

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2. 2017Nexstar ownership begins

   Nexstar completed its acquisition of Media General, bringing KELO-TV into the Nexstar portfolio.

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3. 2011Local news moves to high definition

   KELO-TV began producing local newscasts in high definition.

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4. 2009Analog transmission ends

   The station ended analog broadcasting and continued as a digital VHF channel 11 service.

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5. 2003Digital broadcasting begins

   KELO-TV began transmitting a digital signal on March 6.

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6. 1996Young Broadcasting acquisition

   Young Broadcasting acquired KELO-TV and its satellite stations from Midcontinent Media.

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7. 1991Local closed captioning introduced

   KELO became the first station in its market to provide closed captioning on local newscasts.

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8. 1988KCLO-TV becomes a full-power station

   The Rapid City facility was upgraded from a translator to full-power KCLO-TV.

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9. 1981Rapid City service begins

   A translator brought KELO CBS programming back to Rapid City and western South Dakota.

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10. 1973Electronic news gathering introduced

    KELO became the first station in its market to move from film-based reporting to electronic news gathering.

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11. 1968Rowena tower collapse

    An aircraft struck a guy wire on the shared Rowena tower, forcing KELO-TV to use a backup transmission site while the tower was rebuilt.

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12. 1957CBS affiliation adopted

    KELO-TV shifted its primary affiliation from NBC to CBS.

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13. 1957KPLO-TV begins operation

    The Reliance station began extending KELO programming into central South Dakota.

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14. 1955KDLO-TV begins operation

    The Florence-licensed station began serving Watertown and eastern South Dakota as part of the KELO network.

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15. 1953Launch of KELO-TV

    KELO-TV began broadcasting on May 20 as South Dakota's first television station.

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16. 1952Construction permit granted

    The FCC issued KELO-TV a construction permit on November 20 after the federal freeze on new television applications ended.

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17. 1950First South Dakota television application filed

    Midcontinent Broadcasting filed the first FCC application for a television station in South Dakota.

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A dominant regional television news and broadcasting brand built around broad over-the-air coverage, local journalism, severe-weather information, and CBS network affiliation.

• KELOLAND NewsLocal television news1953

  KELO-TV's local news service covers Sioux Falls and a wide regional territory through the station's own signal, semi-satellites, translators, digital platforms, and regional reporting operation. Its schedule has historically included morning, early-evening, and late-evening broadcasts, with additional expansion over time. The news operation is a central part of the station's market leadership and brand identity.

• KELOLAND WeatherWeather broadcasting1997

  The station's weather offering emphasizes forecasts, severe-weather alerts, and coverage for rural and agricultural communities across the Great Plains. KELO-TV developed regional Doppler radar capacity beginning in the late 1990s, supporting a service model designed to cover a large area rather than only the Sioux Falls metropolitan audience.

• Captain 11Children's television1955

  Captain 11 was a locally produced children's program launched in Sioux Falls in 1955. Hosted by KELO personality Dave Dedrick, it became one of the station's most durable local programs and continued for approximately four decades before ending with Dedrick's retirement in 1996.

• KELOXTRADigital multicast television2004

  KELOXTRA is the later name of the station's digital multicast service, formerly UTV. The service carried UPN programming beginning in 2004 and became a MyNetworkTV affiliate in 2006, expanding the station's programming portfolio beyond its main CBS service.

• KELOLAND Media GroupRegional broadcast network1955

  The KELOLAND Media Group combines KELO-TV with semi-satellite stations KDLO-TV, KPLO-TV, and KCLO-TV, plus associated translators. The arrangement distributes substantially similar programming across eastern, central, western, and northern portions of the regional market while allowing the stations to serve distinct communities.

• 1999Spencer tornado recovery service

  Spencer, South Dakota · South Dakota

  KELO-TV helped lead public-service and recovery efforts after tornadoes devastated Spencer, South Dakota. The station's response was recognized with the National Association of Broadcasters Friend in Need Television Award.

  Outcome. The station received national industry recognition for disaster-related community service.

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• 2017Ownership transferred to NexstarM&A

  Young Broadcasting had merged with Media General, which was subsequently acquired by Nexstar.

  What changed. Nexstar completed the Media General acquisition and assumed ownership of KELO-TV.

  Aftermath. KELO-TV became part of Nexstar's national local-television portfolio while continuing its regional KELOLAND operating model.

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• 2006UTV adopted MyNetworkTV affiliationStrategy

  The launch of MyNetworkTV reshaped the local distribution of secondary network programming.

  What changed. UTV became the MyNetworkTV affiliate for Sioux Falls while the main KELO-TV service retained its CBS-centered identity.

  Aftermath. The digital subchannel became an additional network outlet under the later KELOXTRA brand.

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• 2004Digital UPN service launchedProduct launch

  KELO-TV sought to add network programming through digital capacity while UPN programming had previously been available locally through a low-power station.

  What changed. KELO-TV, KDLO-TV, and KPLO-TV launched the UTV digital subchannel carrying UPN programming.

  Aftermath. The move increased the geographic reach of UPN programming but initially limited access to households with digital-capable receivers.

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• 1957Primary affiliation changed from NBC to CBSStrategy

  KELO-TV initially followed KELO radio as an NBC affiliate but faced a network compensation dispute while CBS presented a more attractive affiliation proposal.

  What changed. The station moved toward CBS in September 1957, with the transition completed after a period in which NBC programming continued.

  Aftermath. CBS became the station's long-term primary network identity and remains central to its programming strategy.

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• 2022KELO-TV expands its local news schedule

  The station added a 4 p.m. local newscast, expanding a news schedule that had previously included morning, early-evening, and late-evening broadcasts.

  Product launch
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• 2017Nexstar completes acquisition of Media General

  Nexstar completed its acquisition of Media General, making KELO-TV part of the Nexstar station portfolio.

  M&A
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• 2013Young Broadcasting merges with Media General

  Young Broadcasting announced and completed a merger with Media General, transferring KELO-TV into the Media General station group.

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• 2006UTV becomes Sioux Falls' MyNetworkTV affiliate

  The station's digital service adopted the MyNetworkTV affiliation following the launch of that network.

  Product launch
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• 2004KELO-TV launches UPN service on a digital subchannel

  KELO-TV and two of its satellite stations began carrying UPN programming through a digital service known as UTV.

  Product launch
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• 1957KELO-TV changes primary affiliation from NBC to CBS

  The station shifted its primary network relationship to CBS after initially operating as an NBC affiliate.

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• 1953KELO-TV begins broadcasting as South Dakota's first television station

  KELO-TV launched from Sioux Falls on May 20, establishing the first television service in South Dakota.

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1. KELO-TV
2. KELOLAND official website