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WDAZ-TV

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WDAZ is U.S. television station based in Grand Forks, North Dakota (licensed by the FCC to Devils Lake, ND). WDAZ broadcasts on analog (NTSC) channel 8 and digital (ATSC) channel 59. It is owned by Forum Communications of Fargo, North Dakota, which also owns Grand Forks Herald, and affiliated with the American Broadcasting Company. WDAZ also has offices in Devils Lake. WDAZ is the only network television affiliate that produces newscasts based in Grand Forks. Its transmitter is located near Dahlen, North Dakota, which is roughly between Grand Forks and Devils Lake.

Its sister television station in Fargo is Forum Communications-owned WDAY-TV channel 6. The WB affiliate WBFG is also operated by WDAZ and WDAY.

History

WDAZ signed on in January 1967 as an NBC affiliate primarily rebroadcasting WDAY-TV. In 1983, WDAZ (and WDAY) switched affiliations with KTHI 11 (now KVLY) to become the ABC affiliate. KTHI became the NBC affiliate.

The station won the Edward R. Murrow Award for continuing coverage in 1997 for staying on-the-air providing coverage of the 1997 flood while Grand Forks was evacuated.

News and Sports

WDAZ produces local newscasts during Monday through Friday at 5:00pm, 6:00pm, and 10:00pm, Saturdays at 6:00pm and 10:00pm, and a Sunday newscast at 10:00pm. The morning newscast, First News, at 6:00am Monday through Fridays is rebroadcasted from WDAY-TV of Fargo. Longtime WDAZ personalities include news anchors Milo Smith and Terry Dullum, meteorologist John Wheeler, and sports anchor Pat Sweeney. Chuck Bundlie was the station's first news director and anchor, serving from 1967-1992.

WDAZ's newscasts are the most watched in Grand Forks because it is the only TV station in Grand Forks that produces newscasts. The station sometimes claims to have more people watching its newscasts than its competitors (KVLY, KXJB, and KBRR) combined.

WDAZ goes off-the-air after its 12:08am airing of Jimmy Kimmel Live, and does not show World News Now.

WDAZ is also known for its coverage of University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux athletics. WDAZ airs weekly "coach's shows" for Fighting Sioux football and basketball featuring interviews, highlights, and previews during the college athletic seasons. The station also produces telecasts in conjunction with the University of North Dakota for a cable network known as the Fighting Sioux Sports Network. This network, also known as "FSSN", broadcasts Fighting Sioux hockey, football, and basketball games which are distributed on cable television by Midcontinent Communications and other cable systems in North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota. The Fighting Sioux Sports Network is also available all across the North American continent via Free-To-Air satellite.

Newscasts

WDAZ's newscasts air at the following times (CST):

Weekdays

  • WDAY/WDAZ First News - 6-7AM
  • WDAZ News at 5 - 5-5:30PM
  • WDAZ News at 6 - 6-6:30PM
  • WDAZ News at 10 - 10-10:35PM

Saturday

  • WDAZ News at 6 - 6-6:30PM
  • WDAZ News at 10 - 10-10:30PM

Sunday

  • WDAZ News at 10 - 10-10:35PM


News team

Anchors

  • Terry Dullum (Weekday Anchor of 5PM Newscasts / Producer)
  • Cassie Walder (Weekday Co-anchor of 6PM Newscasts / News Director)
  • Milo Smith (Weekday Co-anchor of 6PM and 10PM Newscasts / Producer)
  • Tami Osborne (Weekend Anchor / Reporter)

Meteorologists / Forecasters (Weather)

  • John Wheeler (Chief Meteorologist - Evenings)
  • Daryl Ritchison (Meteorologist - Weekday Mornings and Midday)
  • Joe Goldade (Forecaster - Weekends)
  • Rob Kupec (Meteorologist - Part-time)

Sports

  • Pat Sweeney (Weekdays)
  • James Degelder (Weekends)

Reporters / Photographers

  • Amber Armstrong (Reporter)
  • Lacey Crisp (Reporter)
  • Jessica Dugan (Reporter)
  • Bill Haug (UBS Stock Market Report)
  • Arlene Martini (UBS Stock Market Report)
  • Chris Regimbal (Chief Photographer)
  • David Schwab (Reporter)

Other

  • Jim L. Johnson (Technical Director)
  • James R. Johnson (Managing Producer)
  • Lisa Burtness (Associate Producer)
  • Matt Christensen (Weekend Director)
  • Kelsey Jacobson (Weekend Associate Producer)
  • Dave Leach (Studio Chief)
  • Rick Abbott (Studio Crew Member)

Logos and Screenshots

Coverage area

Although WDAZ broadcasts in a small market that reaches only 82,000 television households, the station is also carried on Shaw Communications and MTS TV in southern Manitoba including the nearby Winnipeg, Manitoba region, reaching an additional 256,000 homes. WDAZ and Prairie Public Television are the only stations from this region that still air in Manitoba, after KVLY (formerly KTHI) and KXJB were replaced with other network affiliates in March 1986. This was due to a CRTC decision that allowed the Winnipeg cable companies to replace the CBS and NBC affiliates with Detroit stations due to complaints about poor reception, but denied them the ability to replace WDAZ with WXYZ or PPTV with WTVS (although this station would later be added as a second PBS station to cable customers). [1] Shaw Cable airs WDAZ on cable channel 7 and MTS TV airs WDAZ on cable channel 13.

WDAZ can also be seen over the air in extreme southern Manitoba, and in southern parts of Winnipeg with a rooftop antenna. The reception of WDAZ over the air is poor, as its transmitter is over 100 miles (160 kilometers) from Winnipeg.

Advertising from Winnipeg businesses sometimes air on the station, although this is sometimes ineffective due to simultaneous substitution. Because WDAZ is carried on cable in southern Manitoba, it has become somewhat of a regional superstation.

Some areas that carry WDAZ on cable in western Minnesota are actually in the northwestern part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN television market.

Translators

WDAZ rebroadcasts on the following translators (low power rebroadcasters):

WDAZ-TV Tower

WDAZ-TV broadcasts from a a 445.2 meter (1,460.2 feet) high guy-wired aerial mast, making it the third tallest tower in North Dakota after the KVLY-TV tower and KXJB-TV tower. The tower is located in Dahlen, North Dakota, roughly located between Grand Forks and Devils Lake. PBS-affiliate KGFE of Grand Forks also uses this tower.

Geographical coordinates: 48°8′18″N 97°59′36″W / 48.13833°N 97.99333°W / 48.13833; -97.99333

See also

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