KNBN

KNBN is a broadcast television station serving Rapid City and western South Dakota. The station operates on virtual channel 21 and is associated with the NewsCenter1 brand. Its principal network affiliation is NBC, while the station also carries CBS programming according to the cited reference material. KNBN is owned by Forum Communications Company, a privately held Fargo, North Dakota–based media company with broadcast and publishing operations across the Dakotas and neighboring markets. The station was established in response to a major affiliation change in the Rapid City television market. In 1996, KEVN-TV, then the area's NBC affiliate, announced that it would switch to Fox. That decision threatened to leave the market without a local NBC outlet. Rapid Broadcasting, a locally based company whose president Gilbert Moyle had previously been involved with KEVN, acquired a low-power Christian television station and arranged for it to become Rapid City's NBC affiliate. The resulting station began operating on July 15, 1996, the day KEVN moved to Fox. KNBN initially operated as a low-power service and did not have a full local-news operation. News cut-ins began during NBC's Today in December 1996. A more complete local news service launched on September 22, 1997, under the NewsCenter1 name, with evening broadcasts at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. The station's early development involved changes in low-power facilities and call signs, including movement from channel 24 to channel 27 and the use of a translator in Lead. Rapid Broadcasting later secured the full-power channel 21 assignment through an FCC auction conducted after changes to federal telecommunications and broadcast-licensing law eliminated the prior comparative-hearing process. KNBN began full-power broadcasting in May 2000. By late 2001, its local news ratings were reportedly approaching those of KOTA-TV, an indication that the new station had become a substantial competitor in the market. The company also produced a Sioux Falls-area newscast for commonly owned KAUN beginning in 2002. KNBN converted its over-the-air transmission from analog to digital on January 12, 2009. The transition was timed to allow the station to broadcast Super Bowl XLIII in high definition. Its digital facilities also carried programming for related low-power stations, including KWBH-LP and KKRA-LP, which were affiliated with The CW and MyNetworkTV at that time. Forum Communications announced its agreement to acquire KNBN and KWBH-LD in August 2024. The transaction closed on October 2, 2024. Forum president Bill Marcil Jr. described KNBN as an important addition that completed the company's broadcast presence across the Dakotas, following Forum's acquisition of a Sioux Falls station the previous year. The station continues to produce local newscasts for western South Dakota and transmits from Cowboy Hill west of downtown Rapid City. The cited reference also states that a KNBN subchannel was scheduled to take over the CBS affiliation for western and central North Dakota from KCLO-TV on August 1, 2026.

KNBN emerged from a 1996 disruption in the Rapid City television market. KEVN-TV's owner announced that KEVN would leave NBC and join Fox, creating the possibility that viewers in the market would lose a local NBC affiliate. Rapid Broadcasting responded by acquiring K24AM, a low-power Christian television station that had operated since the mid-1980s. The company increased the facility's power and obtained the NBC affiliation for Rapid City. The new service began broadcasting on July 15, 1996, the same day KEVN switched to Fox. It initially operated as KNBN-LP on channel 24 and was quickly added to local cable systems. Local news was not available at launch, but the station began airing news inserts during NBC's Today in December of that year. On September 22, 1997, it introduced a full local news operation branded NewsCenter1, with evening broadcasts at 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. During this early period, the station's low-power facilities and call signs changed. The KNBN-LP programming and call sign moved to a channel 27 facility in Rapid City, with a channel 31 translator serving Lead. The former channel 24 facility later became associated with Pax TV programming and eventually with another call sign. These changes formed part of a broader effort by Rapid Broadcasting to establish a durable television presence in the market. Rapid Broadcasting was among several applicants seeking a full-power license on channel 21. Legislative changes, including provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, ended the FCC's comparative-hearing process for the assignment and led to an auction in September 1999. Rapid Broadcasting won the auction over four other applicants, including Sunbelt Communications Company. KNBN began full-power operation on channel 21 in May 2000. The station's news operation grew after the full-power launch. By November 2001, its news ratings were reported to be close to those of KOTA-TV. Beginning in 2002, KNBN also produced a Sioux Falls-area news program for commonly owned KAUN, airing at 9 p.m. Central Time, or 8 p.m. Mountain Time. Rapid Broadcasting president Gilbert Moyle died in 2006. KNBN completed its digital transition on January 12, 2009, using a flash cut from analog to digital transmission. The timing allowed the station to provide a high-definition broadcast of Super Bowl XLIII. Its digital signal also carried programming for associated low-power outlets KWBH-LP and KKRA-LP, which were then affiliated with The CW and MyNetworkTV. A new ownership phase began in 2024. Forum Communications Company, headquartered in Fargo, North Dakota, announced on August 14 that it would purchase KNBN and KWBH-LD. The transaction closed on October 2. Forum had acquired a Sioux Falls station the prior year, and its president, Bill Marcil Jr., characterized KNBN as the missing component in the company's intended broadcast coverage of the Dakotas. KNBN operates from studios on South Plaza Drive in Rapid City, while its transmitter is located on Cowboy Hill west of downtown. The station's signal is supplemented by low-power stations and translators serving communities including Rapid City, Lead, and Gillette, Wyoming. The cited reference further identifies a planned 2026 CBS affiliation change involving a KNBN subchannel and service to western and central North Dakota.

• 2026

  Planned CBS affiliation change

  [1]KNBNen.wikipedia.org

  A KNBN subchannel was scheduled to take over the CBS affiliation for western and central North Dakota on August 1, 2026.

• 2024

  Forum Communications acquisition closes

  [1]KNBNen.wikipedia.org

  Forum Communications completed its acquisition of KNBN and KWBH-LD on October 2, 2024.

• 2009

  Digital flash cut

  [1]KNBNen.wikipedia.org

  KNBN switched from analog to digital transmission on January 12, 2009.

• 2002

  Expands news production to Sioux Falls

  [1]KNBNen.wikipedia.org

  KNBN began producing a Sioux Falls-area newscast for commonly owned KAUN.

• 2000

  Full-power broadcasting begins

  [1]KNBNen.wikipedia.org

  KNBN began full-power broadcasts on channel 21 in May 2000.

• 1999

  Wins channel 21 FCC auction

  [1]KNBNen.wikipedia.org

  Rapid Broadcasting won the auction for the full-power channel 21 assignment in September 1999.

• 1997

  NewsCenter1 debuts

  [1]KNBNen.wikipedia.org

  The station launched full evening newscasts under the NewsCenter1 name on September 22, 1997.

• 1996

  Launch as an NBC affiliate

  [1]KNBNen.wikipedia.org

  Rapid Broadcasting launched KNBN-LP on July 15, 1996, preserving an NBC affiliate in Rapid City after KEVN-TV moved to Fox.

• 1996

  First local news inserts

  [1]KNBNen.wikipedia.org

  KNBN began airing news cut-ins during Today in December 1996.

A locally focused network-affiliated television station providing news, weather, community information, and network programming to Rapid City and western South Dakota.

• Local television news · 1997

  NewsCenter1

  KNBN's local-news identity, introduced in 1997. The service produces evening newscasts and local reporting focused on Rapid City and western South Dakota, including news, weather, community affairs, and other information relevant to the station's regional audience.

• Network television affiliation · 1996

  NBC programming

  KNBN's principal network programming service, established when the station launched in 1996 after KEVN-TV moved from NBC to Fox. The affiliation supplies national entertainment, news, sports, and other NBC programming to the Rapid City market.

• Network television affiliation

  CBS programming

  CBS programming carried by KNBN according to the cited reference material. The reference also describes a scheduled expansion of CBS service through a KNBN subchannel for western and central North Dakota.

• 2026

  Expand CBS affiliation through a KNBN subchannelStrategy

  Background

  The cited reference describes a planned change to CBS distribution in western and central North Dakota.

  Action taken

  A KNBN subchannel was scheduled to assume the CBS affiliation from KCLO-TV on August 1, 2026.

  Source

• 2024

  Sell KNBN to Forum CommunicationsM&A

  Background

  Rapid Broadcasting agreed to sell KNBN and KWBH-LD to Forum Communications Company.

  Action taken

  Forum announced the transaction on August 14, 2024, and completed the acquisition on October 2, 2024.

  Aftermath

  KNBN became part of Forum's Dakotas broadcast group and expanded the company's regional coverage.

  Source

• 2009

  Convert to digital transmissionGeneration change

  Background

  The station was transitioning from analog television to digital broadcasting.

  Action taken

  KNBN completed an analog-to-digital flash cut on January 12, 2009.

  Aftermath

  The station gained digital transmission capability and was able to air Super Bowl XLIII in high definition.

  Source

• 1999

  Pursue full-power channel 21 authorizationStrategy

  Background

  Changes in federal communications law led the FCC to replace the comparative-hearing process with an auction for the channel 21 assignment.

  Action taken

  Rapid Broadcasting won the September 1999 auction and proceeded to establish KNBN as a full-power station.

  Aftermath

  KNBN began full-power broadcasting in May 2000, strengthening its coverage and market presence.

  Source

• 1997

  Launch NewsCenter1Product launch

  Background

  KNBN initially lacked a full local-news operation and began with short news inserts during Today.

  Action taken

  The station introduced evening NewsCenter1 newscasts on September 22, 1997.

  Aftermath

  KNBN established a recognizable local-news brand and expanded its competitive position in Rapid City.

  Source

• 1996

  Create a replacement NBC outletStrategy

  Background

  KEVN-TV's planned move from NBC to Fox threatened to leave Rapid City without a local NBC affiliate.

  Action taken

  Rapid Broadcasting acquired a low-power station, increased its transmission capability, and launched it as KNBN-LP on July 15, 1996.

  Aftermath

  The station became Rapid City's NBC outlet and later developed into a full-power channel 21 service.

  Source

1. 1KNBNen.wikipedia.org
2. 2NewsCenter1newscenter1.tv