KQCD-TV

KQCD-TV is a full-power television station serving Dickinson and surrounding communities in southwestern North Dakota. The station broadcasts on VHF channel 7 and is affiliated with NBC, while a secondary digital service carries Fox programming. It is owned by Gray Media and operates within the NBC North Dakota regional television group, whose flagship is KFYR-TV in Bismarck. The group also includes KMOT in Minot and KUMV-TV in Williston, with KVLY-TV in Fargo frequently sharing stories and selected statewide programming. Although KQCD-TV maintains its own callsign, local advertising and legal identifications, it functions primarily as a semi-satellite of KFYR-TV. Much of its programming is a time-shifted version of KFYR's feed, adjusted for the Mountain Time Zone in which Dickinson and much of the station's coverage area are located. Master control and several operational functions are based at KFYR's Bismarck facilities. KQCD also maintains a Dickinson news bureau and advertising-sales office, while its transmitter is located near South Heart, North Dakota. The station began broadcasting on July 28, 1980, replacing a low-power KFYR-TV translator that had served the Dickinson area since 1967. It was the final station established in the Meyer Television Network and was designed from the outset as an extension of KFYR-TV rather than as a fully independent local station. Before KQCD's launch, KDIX-TV, now KXMA-TV, carried some NBC programming on an irregular or off-hours basis. KQCD once produced partially distinct evening newscasts. In the early arrangement, the opening portion of the 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. programs originated at KFYR-TV, while KQCD personnel supplied additional local news and sports segments. Budget reductions in 2002 ended these locally focused newscasts. The station subsequently relied on a small bureau operation whose reports were incorporated into KFYR's regional broadcasts. Reporters Cebe Schneider and, later, bureau chief Adam Powell represented a period of expanded southwestern North Dakota coverage, but both positions were eliminated in 2012 during further reductions. KQCD continued to contribute occasional reporting through a single Dickinson-based reporter. KQCD added MeTV to a digital subchannel in 2013 and later became part of Gray's expanded North Dakota Fox arrangement. Following Gray's acquisition of Hoak Media and related non-license assets associated with KNDX/KXND, Fox programming moved to a subchannel of KFYR-TV and its satellite stations. The Fox service serving KQCD's area introduced West Dakota Fox News at Nine in 2014, with production originating from KFYR's Bismarck studios. The station completed its transition from analog to digital broadcasting in February 2009. Its digital signal moved from pre-transition UHF channel 18 to VHF channel 7, matching its longstanding analog channel identity. KQCD's service is also extended by digital translators in Baker and Plevna, Montana. Overall, the station's brand combines a distinct Dickinson-area identity with the shared programming, news resources, technology and commercial structure of the broader NBC North Dakota operation.

KQCD-TV originated as part of the Meyer Television Network's effort to provide full-power television service across central and western North Dakota. Before the station existed, Dickinson was served by K07HN, a low-power translator of Bismarck's KFYR-TV that began operating on June 1, 1967. Some NBC programming was also available from KDIX-TV, now KXMA-TV, but that station carried selected NBC programs outside its regular schedule rather than providing the kind of consistent network service available through a full-power affiliate. KQCD-TV signed on July 28, 1980, becoming the last station established in the Meyer network. From its launch, it was structured as a semi-satellite of KFYR-TV. This arrangement allowed the Dickinson station to provide a local broadcast identity and sell its own advertising while relying on KFYR for most programming, master control and network operations. Because Dickinson observes Mountain Time while Bismarck is in the Central Time Zone, KQCD generally airs a time-shifted schedule and begins prime time at 6 p.m. local time. Longtime Meyer broadcast owner Marietta Meyer Ekberg sold the company's television holdings in 1997. The stations, including KQCD-TV, moved to Sunrise Television Corporation and were subsequently sold to The Wicks Group of Companies. In July 2006, Hoak Media acquired KFYR-TV, KQCD-TV and related North Dakota properties, together with additional stations in Fargo and Sioux Falls. The Federal Communications Commission approved the transaction on November 17, 2006. Under Hoak, KQCD remained integrated into the KFYR-centered regional operation. The station initially had a more visible local news role than it does today. It aired partially separate weekday newscasts at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. The opening ten minutes, including regional news and weather, came from KFYR, while KQCD anchors and reporters supplied the remaining local news and sports segments. The model was reduced in 2002, when severe cutbacks ended the locally focused newscasts. KQCD's news presence then became bureau-based. Cebe Schneider served as a reporter, and Adam Powell joined her as bureau chief in 2009. Their reports were incorporated into KFYR's regional newscasts and represented the only dedicated reporting presence based in southwestern North Dakota. Further cutbacks ended both positions in 2012, although the station continued to contribute through a smaller reporting operation. KQCD also participated in the broader NBC North Dakota news and programming structure. The North Dakota NBC stations share selected stories and equipment, while the network and co-owned KVLY-TV occasionally collaborate on coverage. Major statewide sporting events and political debates have been presented under the NBC North Dakota identity. The group began airing local newscasts in high definition on April 30, 2012. In April 2013, KQCD added MeTV to a digital subchannel, with the service formally launching on May 1. The station's programming footprint expanded again after Gray Television announced its purchase of Hoak Media on November 20, 2013. Gray initially considered acquiring the licenses of Fox affiliate KNDX/KXND through Excalibur Broadcasting and operating them under a local marketing agreement. FCC scrutiny of such arrangements contributed to Prime Cities Broadcasting's request that the proposed license sale be dismissed. Gray instead acquired the stations' non-license assets. When the Hoak transaction closed on June 13, 2014, KNDX/KXND ceased operations and Fox programming moved to digital subchannels of KFYR-TV and its satellites, including KQCD. The KQCD-area service added West Dakota Fox News at Nine in October 2014, produced from KFYR's Bismarck studios. KQCD completed the federally mandated transition to digital broadcasting on February 16, 2009, one day before the original national deadline, which was later moved to June 12. Its digital signal relocated from pre-transition UHF channel 18 to VHF channel 7. The station's reach is supplemented by digital translators in Baker and Plevna, Montana. A former Gray-owned low-power translator, KNDX-LD in Dickinson, also carried the Fox subchannel but later went off the air after spectrum displacement associated with T-Mobile. Gray surrendered that license in 2020, and the Federal Communications Commission canceled it. Today, KQCD-TV remains a local Dickinson-branded station within Gray Media's NBC North Dakota group. Its principal role is to distribute network, syndicated and regional programming, provide a southwestern North Dakota advertising outlet and contribute local reporting within a shared operational model centered on KFYR-TV.

1. 2020KNDX-LD license is surrendered

   Gray surrenders the license for former Dickinson low-power translator KNDX-LD, and the FCC cancels it.

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2. 2014Gray ownership begins

   Gray completes its Hoak Media acquisition on June 13, bringing KQCD into its television group.

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3. 2014West Dakota Fox News at Nine launches

   A Fox-affiliated digital service begins airing West Dakota Fox News at Nine from KFYR's Bismarck facilities.

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4. 2013MeTV launches on a KQCD subchannel

   MeTV is added to KQCD's digital multiplex and formally launches on May 1.

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5. 2012NBC North Dakota newscasts move to high definition

   The regional NBC North Dakota stations begin broadcasting local newscasts in high definition on April 30.

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6. 2009Digital transition

   KQCD ends analog broadcasting and moves its digital signal to VHF channel 7.

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7. 2006Hoak Media acquires KQCD

   Hoak Media acquires KQCD-TV and related North Dakota stations; the FCC approves the transaction on November 17.

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8. 1997Meyer broadcast holdings are sold

   Marietta Meyer Ekberg sells the television holdings, which move first to Sunrise Television Corporation and later to The Wicks Group of Companies.

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9. 1980KQCD-TV signs on

   KQCD-TV begins full-power broadcasting on July 28 as a semi-satellite of KFYR-TV.

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10. 1967KFYR translator begins serving Dickinson

    K07HN, a low-power translator of KFYR-TV, begins service in the Dickinson area and precedes the creation of KQCD-TV.

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A regional broadcast outlet combining NBC and Fox programming with Dickinson-area distribution, advertising and news coverage through the NBC North Dakota network.

• KQCD-TV channel 7Broadcast television station1980

  KQCD's primary broadcast service serves Dickinson and southwestern North Dakota from a transmitter near South Heart. It carries NBC programming, regional content from KFYR-TV and local commercial inventory, while operating as a distinct station for identification and advertising purposes.

• NBC North DakotaRegional television network

  NBC North Dakota is the shared regional operation centered on KFYR-TV in Bismarck. KQCD participates through time-shifted programming, shared news resources, statewide events, political debates and common technical operations.

• West Dakota FoxDigital television subchannel2014

  The Fox-affiliated digital service carried by KQCD and other North Dakota stations provides Fox network programming and includes West Dakota Fox News at Nine, which originates from KFYR's Bismarck studios.

• MeTVDigital television subchannel2013

  KQCD added MeTV to its digital multiplex in 2013, expanding the station's over-the-air schedule with syndicated classic television programming.

• 2014Integration into Gray's North Dakota Fox structureM&A

  Gray's proposed acquisition of KNDX/KXND licenses through Excalibur faced regulatory complications amid increased FCC scrutiny of local marketing agreements.

  What changed. Gray acquired the stations' non-license assets instead, discontinued KNDX/KXND and moved Fox programming to digital subchannels of KFYR-TV and its satellites, including KQCD.

  Aftermath. KQCD gained a Fox service and West Dakota Fox News at Nine, produced from KFYR's Bismarck facilities.

  Reported transaction value for Gray's Hoak Media acquisition. $335 million (Announced November 20, 2013; completed June 13, 2014)

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• 2013Launch of MeTV digital subchannelProduct launch

  KQCD expanded its over-the-air programming beyond its primary NBC service.

  What changed. MeTV was added to a KQCD digital subchannel and officially launched on May 1.

  Aftermath. The station gained an additional syndicated programming service for its digital broadcast audience.

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• 2009Conversion from analog to digital broadcastingGeneration change

  Federal requirements required full-power United States television stations to end analog transmission and adopt digital broadcasting.

  What changed. KQCD ended its analog channel 7 signal and moved its digital operation from pre-transition UHF channel 18 to VHF channel 7.

  Aftermath. The station continued digital broadcasting under its familiar channel 7 identity.

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• 2002End of locally focused newscastsStrategy

  KQCD had operated partially separate evening newscasts with local anchors and reporters, but severe budget reductions affected the station's news operation.

  What changed. The station discontinued its locally focused portions of the weekday 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts and relied primarily on KFYR-TV's regional production.

  Aftermath. KQCD's local news presence became bureau-based, with occasional reports incorporated into KFYR's regional broadcasts.

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• 2014Gray completes Hoak Media transaction

  The Hoak Media acquisition closed on June 13, transferring KQCD into Gray's station group and consolidating its relationship with the company's North Dakota operations.

  M&A
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• 2014Fox programming moves to KQCD digital subchannel

  After Gray acquired non-license assets associated with KNDX/KXND, Fox programming was placed on digital subchannels of KFYR-TV and its satellites, including KQCD. West Dakota Fox News at Nine launched in October.

  Product launch
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• 2013KQCD adds MeTV service

  MeTV was added to a KQCD digital subchannel, with the service formally launching on May 1.

  Product launch
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• 2013Gray Television announces acquisition of Hoak Media stations

  Gray Television announced an agreement to acquire Hoak Media, including KQCD-TV and other North Dakota stations, in a transaction reported at $335 million.

  M&A
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• 2009KQCD completes analog-to-digital transition

  The station discontinued its analog VHF channel 7 service and moved its post-transition digital operation from UHF channel 18 to VHF channel 7.

  Product generationRegulation
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• 2002KQCD ends locally focused newscasts after cutbacks

  Budget reductions ended the station's partially separate weekday evening newscasts, after which KQCD relied largely on KFYR-TV's regional news operation.

  Leadership change
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• 1980KQCD-TV begins broadcasting in Dickinson

  KQCD-TV signed on as the final station in the Meyer Television Network, replacing a low-power KFYR-TV translator and extending NBC service into the Dickinson area.

  Other
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1. KQCD-TV
2. KQCD-TV official website