KNDX

KNDX / KXND

KNDX: Bismarck, North Dakota KXND: Minot, North Dakota
Branding	Fox 26 Fox 24
Channels	Digital: KNDX: 26 (UHF) Virtual: 26 (PSIP) Digital: KXND: 24 (UHF) Virtual: 24 (PSIP)
Subchannels	26.1 / 24.1 / 38.1 Fox
Translators	K38HA Dickinson (relays KNDX) K38HS Williston (relays KXND)
Affiliations	Fox
Owner	Prime Cities Broadcasting, Inc. (Sale to Excalibur Broadcasting pending, to be operated by Gray Television)
First air date	KNDX: November 7, 1999 KXND: November 15, 1999
Call letters' meaning	KNDX: North Dakota FoX KXND: FoX North Dakota
Former channel number(s)	Analog: KNDX: 26 (UHF, 1999-2009) KXND: 24 (UHF, 1999-2009)
Former affiliations	Secondary: UPN (1999-2006)
Transmitter power	KNDX: 50 kW KXND: 50 kW
Height	KNDX: 300 m KXND: 238.9 m
Facility ID	KNDX: 82611 KXND: 82615
Transmitter coordinates	KNDX: 46°35′23″N 100°47′39″W / 46.58972°N 100.79417°W / 46.58972; -100.79417 (KNDX) KXND: 48°3′14″N 101°26′3″W / 48.05389°N 101.43417°W / 48.05389; -101.43417 (KXND)
Website	www.fox26.tv (KNDX) www.fox24.tv (KXND)

KNDX, channel 26, is the Fox-affiliated television station for Bismarck, North Dakota. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 26 (or virtual channel 26.1 via PSIP) from a transmitter near St. Anthony. The station can also be seen on cable channel 4 in most areas.

There is a high definition feed provided on Midcontinent digital channel 604 and Consolidated Telcom (Dickinson area) digital channel 304. Owned by Prime Cities Broadcasting, it has studios on East Broadway Avenue in Bismarck.

KXND, channel 24, in Minot, North Dakota operates as a semi-satellite of KNDX for the northern portion of the Bismarck/Minot market. KXND simulcasts all network and syndicated programming from KNDX, but airs separate commercials and station identifications. This outlet broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 24 (or virtual channel 24.1 via PSIP) from a transmitter southwest of Minot. The station maintains an advertising sales office on 32nd Avenue SW in Minot. The station can also be seen on cable channel 4 in most areas and Midcontinent channel 3 in Williston. There is a high definition feed provided on Midcontinent digital channel 604 (603 in Williston) and SRT digital channel 504.

KNDX is broadcast on translator K38HA-D (virtual channel 38.1 via PSIP) in Dickinson and KXND is broadcast on translator K38HS-D (virtual channel 38.1 via PSIP) in Williston.

Syndicated programming on KNDX/KXND includes The Big Bang Theory, Everybody Loves Raymond, Family Guy, How I Met Your Mother, The Jerry Springer Show, King of the Hill, Maury, The People's Court, Two and a Half Men, among others. Neither KNDX nor KXND air any local newscasts.

Digital television

Because they were granted original construction permits after the FCC finalized the DTV allotment plan on April 21, 1997 , the stations did not receive companion channels for digital television stations. Instead, on or before June 12, 2009, which is the end of the digital TV conversion period for full-service stations, KNDX and KXND were required to turn off their analog signals and turn on their digital signals (called a "flash-cut").

History

The stations signed on in 1999 bringing Fox network programming to Western North Dakota for the first time. Prior to KNDX/KXND's inception, cable television subscribers in Bismarck and Minot received now-defunct Foxnet on cable for Fox programming, while areas east of Bismarck received Fox from KJRR in Jamestown. Prior to K38HA's inception, cable television subscribers in the Williston area received Denver's KDVR on cable for Fox programming. Dickinson also received KDVR, especially as they were in Mountain Time Zone, until K38HS signed on. Rural cable subscribers south of Dickinson have received and continue to receive KEVN-TV from Rapid City for Fox programming. At the outset, KNDX and KXND also carried UPN programming during late nights; this ended when UPN shut down in 2006.

Until 2007, KNDX and KXND were known collectively as West Dakota Fox. That year, the stations changed their monikers in favor of the station identities for their area.

LMA with KBMY/KMCY

From 2002 until 2008, KNDX/KXND was in a local marketing agreement, or LMA, with KBMY and KMCY, the ABC affiliates of Bismarck and Minot respectively. The LMA between both stations allowed KBMY/KMCY to share the facilities, staff, and some equipment of KNDX/KXND.

The LMA with Forum Communications Company (the owners of KBMY/KMCY) ended in 2008, when they decided to originate programming for KBMY/KMCY remotely from their television facilities of WDAY-TV, Forum's flagship ABC station in Fargo.

Sale to Excalibur

On November 20, 2013, Excalibur Broadcasting announced it would purchase KNDX/KXND for $7.5 million. Gray Television also announced its purchase of Hoak Media Corporation, owners of the NBC North Dakota chain; Gray Television will operate KNDX/KXND under an LMA following the sale, making them sister stations to KFYR-TV.^[1]

Retransmission controversies

Prime Cities has been involved in retransmission consent negotiations with Midcontinent Communications and Dish Network, along with DirecTV which have been described by those providers as contentious, and have resulted in removals of the channels from each of the services, including DirecTV, which does not currently carry them. The stations were removed from Midcontinent on April 8, 2012, and were kept off that system for a month until a new carriage agreement was signed on May 16.

References

External links

• Official KNDX website
• Official KXND website
• Query the FCC's TV station database for KNDX
  • Query the FCC's TV station database for K38HA
• Query the FCC's TV station database for KXND
  • Query the FCC's TV station database for K38HS
  • Query the FCC's TV station database for K35KG-D
• BIAfn's Media Web Database -- Information on KNDX-TV
• BIAfn's Media Web Database -- Information on KXND-TV
• Program Information for KNDX at TitanTV.com