KWBH-LD (channel 27) is a low-power television station in Rapid City, South Dakota, United States. It is a translator of dual NBC/MyNetworkTV affiliate KNBN (channel 21) which is owned by Forum Communications Company. KWBH-LD's transmitter is located on Cowboy Hill west of downtown; its parent station maintains studios on South Plaza Drive in Rapid City.

KWBH-LD
Translator of KNBN,
Rapid City, South Dakota
Channels
Brandingsee KNBN infobox
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
OwnerForum Communications Company
History
FoundedJuly 7, 1992
First air date
April 2, 1998 (26 years ago) (1998-04-02)
Former call signs
  • K27ED (1992−1997)
  • KNBN-LP (1997–2003)
  • KWBH-LP (2003–2022)
Former channel number(s)
Analog: 27 (UHF, 1998–2022)
  • NBC (1998–2003)
  • The WB (2003–2006)
  • The CW (2006–2017)
  • MyNetworkTV (2017–March 2021, now on LD2)
  • Silent (March–December 2021)
Call sign meaning
"WB Black Hills" (reflecting previous affiliation)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID66654
ClassLD
ERP2.6 kW
HAAT126.7 m (416 ft)
Transmitter coordinates44°5′33″N 103°14′55″W / 44.09250°N 103.24861°W / 44.09250; -103.24861
Links
Public license information
LMS
Websitewww.newscenter1.tv

History

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KWBH's former CW logo (2006–2017)

The station signed on for the first time on April 2, 1998, as an NBC affiliate on analog channel 27 with the call letters KNBN-LP. In 2000, Rapid Broadcasting began airing NBC programming on full-power KNBN (channel 21). In October 2003, channel 27—renamed KWBH-LP—became a WB affiliate[2] and carried programming from The CW Plus' predecessor, The WB 100+ Station Group. In September 2006, UPN and The WB merged to become The CW. KWBH-LP joined the new network upon its launch. In 2017, KWBH-LP switched to MyNetworkTV after losing The CW to a subchannel of CBS affiliate KCLO-TV (channel 15).

KWBH-LP went silent in March 2021,[3] ahead of the FCC-mandated shutdown of analog LPTV stations on July 13. Its programming was carried in high definition on KNBN's second digital subchannel. KWBH-LP filed a digital license to cover application on December 16, 2021, indicating that it would rebroadcast KNBN.[4] The station was licensed for digital operation effective February 4, 2022, changing its call sign to KWBH-LD.

On August 14, 2024, it was announced KWBH-LD (and KNBN) would be sold to Fargo, North Dakota–based Forum Communications Company, which owns former sister station KSFL-TV in Sioux Falls.[5] The sale was completed on October 2.[6]

Subchannels

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The signals of KNBN and KWBH-LD are multiplexed:

Subchannels of KNBN[7] and KWBH-LD[8]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
KNBN KWBH-LD
21.1 27.1 1080i 16:9 KNBNNBC NBC
21.2 27.2 720p MyTV MyNetworkTV/YTA TV

References

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  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for KWBH-LD". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ "Broadcasting News-October 2003". Northpine. October 2, 2003. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  3. ^ "Suspension of Operations of an Analog LPTV Station Application". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. March 31, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  4. ^ "License To Cover for LPTV Station Application". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  5. ^ "Assignments". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. August 14, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2024.
  6. ^ "Notification of Consummation". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission. October 2, 2024. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  7. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for KNBN". RabbitEars.
  8. ^ "RabbitEars TV Query for KWBH". RabbitEars.
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