WDIO-DT

WDIO-DT is a television station based in Duluth, Minnesota, and the ABC affiliate for a broad market covering northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. The station broadcasts on virtual channel 10 and is paired with WIRT-DT, channel 13, in Hibbing. WIRT operates as a full-time satellite rather than as an independently programmed local station, extending WDIO's signal into portions of the Minnesota Iron Range, including communities such as Grand Rapids, Virginia, and Chisholm. WDIO's principal studios and transmitter facilities are located on Observation Road in Duluth. WDIO began broadcasting on January 24, 1966, entering a market in which ABC programming had previously been carried only through limited, off-hours clearances on other local stations. The new station immediately became the area's dedicated ABC affiliate and transmitted in color from its first day. It was established by Frank Befera, an engineer and radio-station owner with operations across northeastern Minnesota. WIRT-DT followed on August 31, 1967, providing a second service for areas where WDIO's primary signal was weak or unavailable. Although the stations' coverage areas overlap considerably, WIRT's role has chiefly been to improve reception in the Iron Range and adjacent communities. Befera sold the stations to publisher Harcourt Brace Jovanovich in 1977 while remaining as president and general manager. Hubbard Broadcasting acquired WDIO and WIRT in 1986, and Befera retired the following year. Hubbard's ownership has made WDIO part of a privately held broadcasting group with a portfolio of television and radio properties. The station remains an ABC affiliate and operates a local news organization alongside its network programming and digital multicast services. Local news has been central to WDIO's identity. During the 1970s and 1980s, its news programming used the Action News name; in the early 1990s, the station adopted Eyewitness News. That branding continued for several decades before being retired in January 2019, when the station introduced WDIO News, a new logo, and a redesigned studio set. WDIO has historically been one of the strongest news outlets in the Duluth market and frequently competed for first place across morning, evening, and late-night time slots. Its news operation has also collaborated with Hubbard sister station KSTP-TV in Minneapolis–Saint Paul during major breaking-news events and election coverage. The station's programming footprint expanded through digital television. WDIO and WIRT completed the federally mandated transition from analog broadcasting on February 17, 2009, with WDIO's digital signal moving to VHF channel 10 and WIRT's to VHF channel 13. In November 2011, MeTV replaced RTV on the stations' second digital subchannels. Ion Television programming was added to the third subchannels around late September 2017, and the multicast services were carried in 720p high definition. WIRT is also distributed through several digital translators across northern Minnesota, with those repeaters generally using virtual channel 13. WDIO has also been associated with community-oriented local events. For many years it televised the SMDC New Year's Eve Ball, a Duluth-area hospital fundraiser, by inserting local coverage into ABC's Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve broadcast. After 17 years of televising the event, the station announced in 2008 that it would stop carrying it. Attendance had already been declining, and the event was subsequently canceled after a 23-year run. Today, WDIO's brand centers on ABC programming, local journalism, weather and emergency information, digital multicast services, and regional coverage for communities around Lake Superior and the Iron Range.

WDIO-TV began broadcasting from Duluth on January 24, 1966. It launched as the market's ABC affiliate at a time when ABC programs had generally been carried only during limited periods by CBS affiliate KDAL-TV and NBC affiliate WDSM-TV. The station was founded by Frank Befera, an engineer who also owned radio stations in northeastern Minnesota. WDIO broadcast in color from its first day, reflecting the growing importance of color television to network and local programming. A second station, WIRT-TV in Hibbing, began operation on August 31, 1967. WIRT was designed to extend the service into the Iron Range, where terrain and distance could limit reception from Duluth. It eventually became a full-time satellite of WDIO. The two stations have overlapping coverage contours, but WIRT improves service in communities such as Hibbing, Grand Rapids, Virginia, and Chisholm. WIRT does not maintain a separate local operation; its programming is a direct simulcast of WDIO, with local references largely limited to required station identifications. Befera sold WDIO and WIRT to Harcourt Brace Jovanovich in 1977 but continued as president and general manager. Hubbard Broadcasting purchased the stations in 1986. Befera retired in 1987, ending his direct association with the stations while Hubbard continued operating them as regional network affiliates. The station's news identity developed over several stages. Newscasts were known as Action News through the 1970s and 1980s. In the early 1990s, WDIO adopted the Eyewitness News title, a name also used by Hubbard sister station KSTP-TV, although the two outlets maintained separate graphics, music, and local presentation. In January 2019, WDIO retired Eyewitness News in favor of WDIO News and introduced a new logo and set. Dennis Anderson became part of the station's news operation in 1969, first presenting the Action Line segment. He became chief evening anchor in 1970 and remained a prominent local television journalist until retiring on May 25, 2011. Anderson was the first local television anchor reported to announce the sinking of the ore freighter Edmund Fitzgerald in November 1975. Darren Danielson, previously associated with WDSE, replaced him beginning the following day. Deborah Anderson, a 20-year station veteran, stepped down as lead weekend anchor in 2009, after which station management promoted existing staff rather than recruiting an outside replacement. WDIO developed a reputation for strong local-news performance soon after sign-on and generally remained highly competitive, often leading the Duluth market. It also coordinated with KSTP-TV for selected major breaking-news events and election debates. During the 2008 Northland blizzard, WDIO, KDLH, and KBJR all experienced intermittent signal losses as power outages affected Duluth. The station upgraded its local newscasts to 16:9 enhanced-definition widescreen around late 2010 or early 2011. The federally mandated analog-to-digital transition occurred on February 17, 2009. WDIO's digital signal moved from pre-transition UHF channel 43 to VHF channel 10, while WIRT moved from UHF channel 36 to VHF channel 13. Digital multicast services were subsequently expanded: MeTV replaced RTV on the second subchannels in November 2011, and Ion Television was added to the third subchannels around September 2017. WIRT's coverage is further extended by digital translators across northern Minnesota. WDIO also played a recurring role in the SMDC New Year's Eve Ball, a hospital fundraiser in Duluth. The station commonly interrupted ABC's national New Year's Eve programming to televise the local event. WDIO ended that practice in 2008 after 17 years. Falling attendance helped bring the event itself to an end after 23 years. WDIO remains an active television and digital news service under Hubbard Broadcasting, combining ABC programming with local journalism, weather, community information, and multicast services.

• 2019

  WDIO News branding introduced

  [1]WDIO-DTen.wikipedia.org

  The station replaces the Eyewitness News identity with WDIO News and unveils updated visual branding.

• 2017

  Ion Television added to third subchannels

  [1]WDIO-DTen.wikipedia.org

  WDIO and WIRT add Ion Television programming to their third digital subchannels.

• 2011

  MeTV joins the digital lineup

  [1]WDIO-DTen.wikipedia.org

  MeTV replaces RTV on the second digital subchannels.

• 2009

  Digital transition

  [1]WDIO-DTen.wikipedia.org

  WDIO and WIRT end regular analog broadcasting and adopt their post-transition VHF digital assignments.

• 1986

  Hubbard Broadcasting acquires WDIO and WIRT

  [1]WDIO-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Hubbard Broadcasting purchases the two stations from Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

• 1977

  Stations sold to Harcourt Brace Jovanovich

  [1]WDIO-DTen.wikipedia.org

  Frank Befera sells WDIO and WIRT while remaining as president and general manager.

• 1967

  WIRT-TV launches in Hibbing

  [1]WDIO-DTen.wikipedia.org

  WIRT begins broadcasting on August 31 to improve ABC coverage across the Iron Range.

• 1966

  WDIO-TV begins broadcasting

  [1]WDIO-DTen.wikipedia.org

  WDIO signs on in Duluth on January 24 as the area's ABC affiliate and broadcasts in color from launch.

A strong regional ABC affiliate distinguished by long-running local news coverage, broad over-the-air reach, and service to Duluth, northeastern Minnesota, northwestern Wisconsin, and the Iron Range.

• Local television news · 2019

  WDIO News

  WDIO's local news operation provides scheduled newscasts, weather, regional reporting, breaking-news coverage, and community information for Duluth and the surrounding Northland. It replaced the station's long-running Eyewitness News branding in 2019.

• Network television affiliation · 1966

  ABC programming

  WDIO carries programming from the American Broadcasting Company as the network's affiliate for northeastern Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin. The affiliation began when the station launched in 1966.

• Satellite television station · 1967

  WIRT-DT

  WIRT-DT operates on channel 13 from Hibbing as a full-time satellite of WDIO. It retransmits WDIO programming to the Iron Range and surrounding areas, with additional translator facilities extending its reach.

• Digital multicast television · 2011

  MeTV digital multicast service

  MeTV programming is carried on WDIO and WIRT's second digital subchannels, replacing RTV in November 2011.

• Digital multicast television · 2017

  Ion Television digital multicast service

  Ion Television programming was added to the stations' third digital subchannels around late September 2017, with the multicast signals carried in 720p high definition.

• SMDC New Year's Eve Ball broadcast

  Duluth, Minnesota

  WDIO regularly televised the SMDC New Year's Eve Ball, a hospital fundraising event, by inserting local coverage into ABC's national New Year's Eve programming.

  Outcome. The station ended its annual broadcast after 17 years in 2008. The event was later canceled amid declining attendance after a 23-year run.

  Source

• 2019

  Rebrand from Eyewitness News to WDIO NewsStrategy

  Background

  The station had used the Eyewitness News identity since the early 1990s.

  Action taken

  WDIO retired the previous name and introduced WDIO News, a new logo, and a new broadcast set.

  Aftermath

  The change aligned the news identity more closely with the station's callsign and current brand presentation.

  Source

• 2011

  Launch of MeTV multicast serviceProduct launch

  Background

  WDIO and WIRT used their second digital subchannels for RTV programming.

  Action taken

  MeTV replaced RTV on the second subchannels.

  Aftermath

  The stations expanded their digital programming lineup with a classic television network.

  Source

• 2008

  End of SMDC New Year's Eve Ball coverageOther

  Background

  WDIO had televised the local hospital fundraiser for 17 years as part of its New Year's Eve programming.

  Action taken

  The station announced that it would discontinue its annual broadcast of the event.

  Aftermath

  Declining attendance contributed to the event's eventual cancellation after 23 years.

  Source

1. 1WDIO-DTen.wikipedia.org
2. 2WDIO official websitewdio.com