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{{short description|ABC affiliate in Duluth, Minnesota}}
{{short description|ABC affiliate in Duluth, Minnesota}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{multiple issues|
{{multiple issues|
{{original research|date=October 2015}}
{{original research|date=October 2015}}
Line 8: Line 8:
| callsign = WDIO-DT
| callsign = WDIO-DT
| city = Duluth, Minnesota
| city = Duluth, Minnesota
| logo = [[File:WDIO-WIRT 2019 Logo.svg|250px]]
| logo = WDIO-WIRT 2019 Logo.svg
| logo_size = 250px
----
| branding = WDIO
[[File:Me-TV WDIO.jpg]]
| branding = WDIO ''(general)''<br>''WDIO News'' ''(newscasts)''
| digital = 10 ([[VHF]])
| digital = 10 ([[very high frequency|VHF]])
| virtual = 10
| virtual = 10
| subchannels =
| subchannels =
| translators =
| translators =
| affiliations = '''10.1:''' [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]<br>'''10.2:''' [[MeTV]]<br>'''10.3:''' [[Ion Television]]<br>'''10.4:''' [[Defy TV]]<br>'''10.5:''' [[TrueReal]]<br>'''10.6:''' [[Newsy]]
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''10.1:''' [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| airdate = {{start date and age|1966|1|24|p=y}}
| airdate = {{start date and age|1966|1|24|p=y}}
| location = {{nowrap|[[Duluth, Minnesota]]–[[Superior, Wisconsin]]}}
| location = {{ubl|[[Duluth, Minnesota]]|[[Superior, Wisconsin]]}}
| country = United States
| country = United States
| callsign_meaning = '''D'''uluth<br> Channel [[Numeronym|'''IO''']] (10)
| callsign_meaning = Duluth Channel [[Numeronym|"IO"]] (10)
| former_callsigns = WDIO-TV (1967–2009)
| former_callsigns = WDIO-TV (1967–2009)
| former_channel_numbers = '''Analog:'''<br/>10 (VHF, 1966–2009)<br/>'''Digital:'''<br/>43 ([[Ultra high frequency|UHF]], 2002–2009)
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 10 (VHF, 1966–2009)|'''Digital:''' 43 ([[UHF]], 2002–2009)}}
| owner = [[Hubbard Broadcasting]]
| owner = [[Hubbard Broadcasting]]
| licensee = WDIO-TV, [[Limited liability company|LLC]]
| licensee = WDIO-TV, [[LLC]]
| sister_stations = [[KSTP-TV|KSTP-TV/KSAX/KRWF]], [[KAAL-TV]]
| sister_stations =
| former_affiliations = '''DT2:'''<br>[[Retro Television Network|RTV]]<br>[[Sportsman Channel|The Sportsman Channel]]
| former_affiliations =
| erp = 45 [[kilowatt|kW]]
| erp = 45 [[kW]]
| haat = {{convert|297|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| haat = {{convert|297|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 71338
| facility_id = 71338
| coordinates = {{nowrap|{{coord|46|47|15|N|92|7|22|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}}}
| coordinates = {{coord|46|47|15|N|92|7|22|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority = [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]
| licensing_authority = [[FCC]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.wdio.com/}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.wdio.com/}}
| embed_header = Satellite station
}}
{{Infobox television station
| embedded = {{Infobox television station
| child = yes
| callsign = WIRT-DT
| callsign = WIRT-DT
| above = [[broadcast relay station#Satellite stations|Satellite]] of WDIO-DT
| city =
| city =
| logo =
| logo =
| branding = see WDIO-DT infobox
| branding =
| digital = 13 (VHF)
| digital = 13 (VHF)
| virtual = 13
| virtual = 13
| subchannels =
| subchannels =
| translators = [[#Outlying translators|See below]]
| translators = ''see {{Section link||WIRT-DT translators}}''
| affiliations = '''13.1:''' ABC<br>'''13.2:''' MeTV<br>'''13.3:''' Ion Television<br>'''13.4:''' Defy TV<br>'''13.5:''' TrueReal<br>'''13.6:''' Newsy
| affiliations = {{ubl|'''13.1:''' ABC|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| airdate = {{start date and age|1967|8|31|p=y}}<ref>The ''Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook'' says September 1, while the ''Television and Cable Factbook'' says August 31.</ref>
| airdate = {{start date and age|1967|8|31|p=y}}<ref>The ''Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook'' says September 1, while the ''Television and Cable Factbook'' says August 31.</ref>
| location = [[Hibbing, Minnesota]]
| location = [[Hibbing, Minnesota]]
| callsign_meaning = [[Iron Range]] Television<ref>{{cite web |url=http://home.earthlink.net/~nelsonbe/origins.call-list.html |title=Call Letter Origins: The List |website=home.earthlink.net |access-date=January 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604153157/http://home.earthlink.net/~nelsonbe/origins.call-list.html |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| country = United States
| former_callsigns = WIRT (1967–2009)
| callsign_meaning = [[Iron Range|'''I'''ron<br>'''R'''ange]]<br>'''T'''elevision<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20110604153157/http://home.earthlink.net/~nelsonbe/origins.call-list.html</ref>
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 13 (VHF, 1967–2009)|'''Digital:''' 36 (UHF, 2002–2009)}}
| former_callsigns =
| former_channel_numbers = '''Analog:'''<br/>13 (VHF, 1967–2009)<br/>'''Digital:'''<br/>36 (UHF, 2002–2009)
| owner = Hubbard Broadcasting
| licensee = WDIO-TV, LLC
| sister_stations =
| sister_stations =
| former_affiliations = '''DT2:'''<br>RTV<br>The Sportsman Channel
| former_affiliations =
| erp = 13 kW
| erp = 13 kW
| haat = {{convert|204|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| haat = {{convert|204|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| facility_id = 71336
| facility_id = 71336
| coordinates = {{nowrap|{{coord|47|22|53|N|92|57|16|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=WIRT}}}}
| coordinates = {{coord|47|22|53|N|92|57|16|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=WIRT}}
| licensing_authority = FCC
| licensing_authority = FCC
}}
| website =
}}
}}


'''WDIO-DT''', [[virtual channel|virtual]] and [[very high frequency|VHF]] [[digital terrestrial television|digital]] channel 10, is an [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]-[[network affiliate|affiliated]] [[television station]] [[city of license|licensed]] to [[Duluth, Minnesota]], United States, serving north-central and northeastern [[Minnesota]], northwestern [[Wisconsin]], and the far western portion of the [[Upper Peninsula of Michigan]]. The station is owned by [[Hubbard Broadcasting]]. WDIO-DT's studios and transmitter are located on Observation Road in Duluth.
'''WDIO-DT''' (channel 10) is a [[television station]] in [[Duluth, Minnesota]], United States, affiliated with [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] and owned by [[Hubbard Broadcasting]]. The station's studios and transmitter are located on Observation Road in Duluth.


'''WIRT-DT''' (virtual and VHF digital channel 13) in [[Hibbing, Minnesota]] operates as a full-time [[broadcast relay station#Satellite stations|satellite]] of WDIO; this station's transmitter is located at Maple Hill Park south of Hibbing. WIRT covers areas of Minnesota's [[Iron Range]] (including [[Grand Rapids, Minnesota|Grand Rapids]], [[Virginia, Minnesota|Virginia]] and [[Chisholm, Minnesota|Chisholm]]) that receive a marginal to non-existent [[terrestrial television|over-the-air]] signal from WDIO, although there is significant overlap between the two stations' [[broadcast range|contours]] otherwise. WIRT is a straight [[simulcast]] of WDIO; on-air references to WIRT are limited to [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC)-mandated hourly [[station identification]]s during newscasts and other programming. Aside from the transmitter, WIRT does not maintain any physical presence locally in Hibbing.
'''WIRT-DT''' (channel 13) in [[Hibbing, Minnesota]], operates as a full-time [[broadcast relay station#Satellite stations|satellite]] of WDIO; this station's transmitter is located at Maple Hill Park south of Hibbing. WIRT covers areas of Minnesota's [[Iron Range]] (including [[Grand Rapids, Minnesota|Grand Rapids]], [[Virginia, Minnesota|Virginia]] and [[Chisholm, Minnesota|Chisholm]]) that receive a marginal to non-existent [[terrestrial television|over-the-air]] signal from WDIO, although there is significant overlap between the two stations' [[broadcast range|contours]] otherwise. WIRT is a straight [[simulcast]] of WDIO; on-air references to WIRT are limited to [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC)-mandated hourly [[station identification]]s during newscasts and other programming. Aside from the transmitter, WIRT does not maintain any physical presence locally in Hibbing.


==History==
==History==
WDIO-TV first went on the air on January 24, 1966 and has transmitted from its first day in [[color television|color]]. It immediately joined ABC, which had previously been relegated to off-hours clearances on [[CBS]] affiliate KDAL-TV (channel 3, now [[KDLH]]) and [[NBC]] affiliate WDSM-TV (channel 6, now [[KBJR-TV]]). It was owned by Frank Befera, a trained engineer who owned a chain of radio stations across northeastern Minnesota. WIRT went on the air on August 31, 1967. Befera sold channels 10 and 13 to publishers [[Harcourt (publisher)|Harcourt Brace Jovanovich]] in 1977,<ref>''Television and Cable Factbook'', 1988 edition</ref> but remained as president and general manager. HBJ sold the stations to [[Hubbard Broadcasting]] in 1986, and Befera retired a year later.
WDIO-TV first went on the air on January 24, 1966,<ref>[https://licensing.fcc.gov/cgi-bin/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getimportletter_exh.cgi?import_letter_id=86141&.pdf FCC History Cards for WDIO-TV (WDIO-DT)]. [[Federal Communications Commission]].</ref> and has transmitted from its first day in [[color television|color]]. It immediately joined ABC, which had previously been relegated to off-hours clearances on [[CBS]] affiliate KDAL-TV (channel 3, now [[KDLH]]) and [[NBC]] affiliate WDSM-TV (channel 6, now [[KBJR-TV]]). It was owned by Frank Befera, a trained engineer who owned a chain of radio stations across northeastern Minnesota. WIRT went on the air on August 31, 1967. Befera sold channels 10 and 13 to publishers [[Harcourt (publisher)|Harcourt Brace Jovanovich]] in 1977,<ref>''Television and Cable Factbook'', 1988 edition</ref> but remained as president and general manager. HBJ sold the stations to Hubbard Broadcasting in 1986, and Befera retired a year later.


[[File:WDIO-WIRT Logo.png|thumb|left|200px|The station's former logo from 2013 to early 2019; the "10/13" element was used for decades.]]
The station utilized a longtime logo from the 1980s until 2019, when it switched to a callsign-only logo. The lettering used in the logo (which blends a number "10" into the "IO" lettering) dates back to as late as the early 1970s. Changes to the 10/13 logo until 2019 merely depended on changes to ABC's logo and branding guidelines.
The station utilized a longtime logo from the 1980s until 2019, when it switched to a callsign-only logo. The lettering used in the logo (which blends a number "10" into the "IO" lettering) dates back to as late as the early 1970s. Changes to the 10/13 logo until 2019 merely depended on changes to ABC's logo and branding guidelines.

On April 11, 2008, a [[blizzard]] swept through the Northland. This caused power outages in Duluth causing WDIO, [[KDLH]], and [[KBJR]] all to lose their signal at times.
On April 11, 2008, a [[blizzard]] swept through the Northland. This resulted in power outages in Duluth, causing WDIO, KDLH and KBJR all to lose their signal at times.


On November 28, 2011, [[MeTV]] replaced RTV on 10.2 and 13.2.<ref>[http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/S2362298.shtml?cat=10335 WDIO: "WDIO/WIRT-DT to Launch Me-TV", November 7, 2011.]</ref> At the end of September 2017, WDIO/WIRT added [[Ion Television]] programming to their third subchannels, and all three signals now run in [[720p]] [[high-definition television|high definition]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=WDIO/WIRT Brings ION Television to the Northland|publisher=WDIO/WIRT|date=September 27, 2017|url=http://www.wdio.com/news/wdio-wirt-ion-television-network/4616315/?cat=10335|access-date=September 28, 2017}}</ref>
On November 28, 2011, [[MeTV]] replaced RTV on 10.2 and 13.2.<ref>[http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/S2362298.shtml?cat=10335 WDIO: "WDIO/WIRT-DT to Launch Me-TV", November 7, 2011.]</ref> At the end of September 2017, WDIO/WIRT added [[Ion Television]] programming to their third subchannels, and all three signals now run in [[720p]] [[high-definition television|high definition]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=WDIO/WIRT Brings ION Television to the Northland|publisher=WDIO/WIRT|date=September 27, 2017|url=http://www.wdio.com/news/wdio-wirt-ion-television-network/4616315/?cat=10335|access-date=September 28, 2017}}</ref>


Every [[New Year's Eve]], WDIO often cuts in to ''[[Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve]]'' to broadcast the [[St. Mary's/Duluth Clinic Health System|SMDC]] New Year's Eve Ball, which was a fundraiser for the hospital. In 2008, after 17 years of televising the event, WDIO announced that it would stop its annual broadcast. This decision, along with declining attendance, led to the decision to cancel the event. The Ball itself ran for 23 years and at its peak hosted 4,000 guests.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=68697&section=None&CFID=43510349&CFTOKEN=29210666&jsessionid=8830d6e69fe746143329|title=SMDC says the New Year's Eve Ball is over|access-date=June 19, 2008|date=June 18, 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
==Digital television==
===Digital channels===
The station's digital signal is [[multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2"|[[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! rowspan="2"|[[Display resolution|Video]]
! rowspan="2"|[[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! colspan="2"|[[Program and System Information Protocol#What PSIP does|PSIP Short Name]]
! rowspan="2"|Programming<ref>[http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WDIO#station RabbitEars TV Query for WDIO]</ref><ref>[http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WIRT#station RabbitEars TV Query for WIRT]</ref>
|-
| <small>'''WDIO'''</small>||<small>'''WIRT'''</small>||<small>'''WDIO'''</small>||<small>'''WIRT'''</small>
|-
| 10.1 || 13.1 || rowspan="3"|[[720p]] || rowspan="6"|[[16:9]] || WDIOabc || WIRTabc || Main programming / [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
|-
| 10.2 || 13.2 || WDIO-Me || WIRT-Me || [[MeTV]]
|-
| 10.3 || 13.3 || WDIOIon || WIRTIon || [[Ion Television]]
|-
| 10.4 || 13.4 || rowspan="3"|[[480i]] || colspan="2"|Defy || [[Defy TV]]
|-
| 10.5 || 13.5 || colspan="2"|TruReal || [[TrueReal]]
|-
| 10.6 || 13.6 || colspan="2"|Newsy || [[Newsy]]
|}

===Analog-to-digital conversion===
Both stations discontinued regular programming on their analog signals, on February 17, 2009, to conclude the [[Digital television transition in the United States|federally mandated transition from analog to digital television]]. The station's digital channel allocations post-transition are as follows:<ref name="Analog to Digital">[https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf List of Digital Full-Power Stations]</ref><ref>[http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/S788817.shtml?cat=10335 Tuesday Night at Midnight WDIO and WIRT-TV Analog Signals End], WDIO-TV, February 16, 2009</ref>
* WDIO discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over [[Very high frequency|VHF]] channel 10; the station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition [[ultra high frequency|UHF]] channel 43 to VHF channel 10.
* WIRT discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over VHF channel 13; the station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 36 to VHF channel 13.

==Programming==
In addition to the ABC network schedule, [[broadcast syndication|syndicated]] programming featured on WDIO/WIRT includes ''[[Live with Kelly and Ryan]]'', ''[[Rachael Ray (talk show)|The Rachael Ray Show]]'', ''[[The Ellen DeGeneres Show]]'' and ''[[Entertainment Tonight]]''.

Every [[New Year's Eve]], WDIO often cuts in to ''[[Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve]]'' to broadcast the [[St. Mary's/Duluth Clinic Health System|SMDC]] New Year's Eve Ball; which was a fundraiser for the hospital. In 2008, after 17 years of televising the event, WDIO announced that it would stop its annual broadcast. This decision, along with declining attendance, led to the decision to cancel the event. The Ball itself ran for 23 years and at its peak hosted 4,000 guests.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=68697&section=None&CFID=43510349&CFTOKEN=29210666&jsessionid=8830d6e69fe746143329|title=SMDC says the New Year's Eve Ball is over|access-date=June 19, 2008|date=June 18, 2008}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>


==''Eyewitness News''==
==News operation==
WDIO/WIRT's newscasts were branded throughout the 1970s and 1980s as ''[[Action News]]''. The station changed its branding to ''[[Eyewitness News]]'' in the early 1990s; it shared this branding with sister station [[KSTP-TV]] in [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul]]. However, the ''Eyewitness News'' branding was the station's only resemblance to KSTP. WDIO uses its own graphics and music packages.
WDIO/WIRT's newscasts were branded throughout the 1970s and 1980s as ''[[Action News]]''. The station changed its branding to ''[[Eyewitness News]]'' in the early 1990s; it shared this branding with sister station [[KSTP-TV]] in [[Minneapolis–Saint Paul]]. However, the ''Eyewitness News'' branding was the station's only resemblance to KSTP. WDIO uses its own graphics and music packages.


WDIO and KSTP team up when breaking news happens (example: the [[I-35W Mississippi River bridge#Collapse|I-35W bridge collapse]] in Minneapolis) or for major election debates.
WDIO and KSTP team up when breaking news happens (example: the [[I-35W Mississippi River bridge#Collapse|I-35W bridge collapse]] in Minneapolis) or for major election debates.


Longtime WDIO news anchor Dennis Anderson joined the station in 1969, initially as anchor of the nightly news' "Action Line" segment. He was promoted to chief anchor of the evening newscasts in 1970;<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081208234812/http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/S141306.shtml WDIO biography: Dennis Anderson (via archive.org)]</ref> he later was the first local TV anchor to announce the sinking of the ore freighter [[Edmund Fitzgerald]] which sank in [[Lake Superior]] on November 10, 1975.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} Anderson retired Wednesday, May 25, 2011, after 42 years with the station.<ref>[http://www.wdio.com/article/12288/ WDIO: "Dennis Anderson: Celebrating a Career"]</ref> Darren Danielson, previously of [[WDSE]], replaced Anderson as anchor the following day, Thursday, May 26.<ref>[http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/S2039245.shtml?cat=10335 WDIO: "Danielson Named Anchor on Eyewitness News at Six and Ten", March 29, 2011.]</ref>
Longtime WDIO news anchor Dennis Anderson joined the station in 1969, initially as anchor of the nightly news' "Action Line" segment. He was promoted to chief anchor of the evening newscasts in 1970;<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081208234812/http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/S141306.shtml WDIO biography: Dennis Anderson (via archive.org)]</ref> he later was the first local TV anchor to announce the sinking of the ore freighter [[Edmund Fitzgerald]] which sank in [[Lake Superior]] on November 10, 1975.{{Citation needed|date=May 2011}} Anderson retired Wednesday, May 25, 2011, after 42 years with the station.<ref>[http://www.wdio.com/article/12288/ WDIO: "Dennis Anderson: Celebrating a Career"]</ref> Darren Danielson, previously of [[WDSE (TV)|WDSE]], replaced Anderson as anchor the following day, Thursday, May 26.<ref>[http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/S2039245.shtml?cat=10335 WDIO: "Danielson Named Anchor on Eyewitness News at Six and Ten", March 29, 2011.]</ref>


In October 2009, 20-year veteran Deborah Anderson stepped down from being the lead anchor of the weekend newscasts. The station management filled the vacancy with reporters already employed with the station rather than searching elsewhere for a replacement.
In October 2009, 20-year veteran Deborah Anderson stepped down from being the lead anchor of the weekend newscasts. The station management filled the vacancy with reporters already employed with the station rather than searching elsewhere for a replacement.


At some point in late 2010 or early 2011, WDIO became the third station in the Duluth area to broadcast its local newscasts in [[16:9]] [[enhanced-definition television|enhanced definition]] [[widescreen]].
At some point in late 2010 or early 2011, WDIO became the third station in the Duluth area to broadcast its local newscasts in [[16:9]] [[enhanced definition]] [[widescreen]].


The ''Eyewitness News'' branding was retired in January 2019 in favor of ''WDIO News'' along with a new logo and broadcast set.
The ''Eyewitness News'' branding was retired in January 2019 in favor of ''WDIO News'' along with a new logo and broadcast set.
Line 132: Line 94:
In November 2009, WDIO doubled the ratings of KBJR at the 10 p.m. newscast with a 12 share compared to KBJR's 6 rating and KDLH's 3. The station also swept the 5 and 6 p.m. time-slots and with a 14 and an 11 rating respectively. KBJR rated a 10 at the same timeslots [http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/pages/biz according to the Duluth News Tribune]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Take note that this ratings period marks one full year anniversary of WDIO's market dominance.
In November 2009, WDIO doubled the ratings of KBJR at the 10 p.m. newscast with a 12 share compared to KBJR's 6 rating and KDLH's 3. The station also swept the 5 and 6 p.m. time-slots and with a 14 and an 11 rating respectively. KBJR rated a 10 at the same timeslots [http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/pages/biz according to the Duluth News Tribune]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Take note that this ratings period marks one full year anniversary of WDIO's market dominance.


==Technical information==
==Translators==
===Subchannels===
Besides WIRT, WDIO is seen on several outlying digital [[Broadcast relay station#Broadcast translators|translators]] in the Iron Range of northeastern and north-central Minnesota. All of these translators are licensed as repeaters of WIRT; via PSIP virtual channel numbering, each translator station remaps to channel 13.
The stations' signals are [[multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:

{| class="sortable wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+Subchannels of WDIO-DT<ref>[http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WDIO#station RabbitEars TV Query for WDIO]</ref> and WIRT-DT<ref>[http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WIRT#station RabbitEars TV Query for WIRT]</ref>
! scope = "col" colspan="2"|[[Digital subchannel#United States|Channel]]
! scope = "col" rowspan="2"|[[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" rowspan="2"|[[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" rowspan="2"|Short name
! scope = "col" rowspan="2"|Programming
|-
|-
! scope = "col" | {{small|WDIO-DT}}||{{small|WIRT-DT}}
! City of license
! Callsign
! Channel
! [[effective radiated power|ERP]]
! [[height above average terrain|HAAT]]
! [[Facility ID]]
! Transmitter coordinates
! Owner
|-
|-
! scope = "row" | 10.1 || 13.1
||[[Big Falls, Minnesota|Big Falls]]||'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|14113|3=K31MA-D}}'''|| 31 || rowspan=3|0.406&nbsp;kW || {{convert|77|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} || 14113 || {{coord|48|11|28.0|N|93|47|24.0|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=K31MA-D}} || [[Koochiching County, Minnesota|Koochiching County]]
| rowspan="2" |[[720p]] || rowspan="6"|[[16:9]] || WDIOabc || [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
|-
|-
! scope = "row" | 10.2 || 13.2
||[[Bigfork, Minnesota|Bigfork]]<br>[[Marcell, Minnesota|Marcell]]||'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|20362|3=K23KZ-D}}'''|| 23 || {{convert|145|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} || 20362 || {{coord|47|39|05.0|N|93|40|25.0|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=K23KZ-D}} || EZ-TV, Inc.
| WDIO-Me || [[MeTV]]
|-
|-
! scope = "row" | 10.3 || 13.3
||[[Birchdale, Minnesota|Birchdale]]||'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|14119|3=K33PL-D}}'''|| 33 ||{{convert|87|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} || 14119 || {{coord|48|29|03.0|N|94|00|27.0|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=K33PL-D}} || rowspan=3|[[Koochiching County, Minnesota|Koochiching County]]
| rowspan="4" |[[480i]]
| ION || [[Ion Television]]
|-
|-
! scope = "row" | 10.4 || 13.4
||[[International Falls, Minnesota|International Falls]]||'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|14102|3=K24MT-D}}'''|| 24 || 0.442&nbsp;kW || {{convert|118|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} || 14102 || {{coord|48|34|22.8|N|93|19|21.5|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=K24MT-D}}
| Defy TV || [[Ion Plus]]
|-
|-
! scope = "row" | 10.5 || 13.5
||[[Kabetogama, Minnesota|Kabetogama]]||'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|14120|3=K32JZ-D}}'''|| 32 || 0.1&nbsp;kW || {{convert|125|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} || 14120 || {{coord|48|21|40.0|N|93|00|37.0|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=K32JZ-D}}
| Grit || [[Grit (TV network)|Grit]]
|-
||[[Max, Minnesota|Max]]||'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|20364|3=K36KZ-D}}'''|| 36 || rowspan=2|0.434&nbsp;kW || {{convert|117|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} || 20364 || {{coord|47|36|48.0|N|94|05|25.0|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=K36KZ-D}} || EZ-TV, Inc.
|-
||[[Northome, Minnesota|Northome]]||'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|14108|3=K16JD-D}}'''|| 16 ||{{convert|124|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} || 14108 || {{coord|47|49|16.0|N|94|18|59.0|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=K16JD-D}} || [[Koochiching County, Minnesota|Koochiching County]]
|-
||[[Red Lake, Minnesota|Red Lake]]||'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|55346|3=K24MM-D}}'''|| 24 || 0.469&nbsp;kW || {{convert|97|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} || 55346 || {{coord|47|50|37.0|N|95|02|19.0|W|type:landmark_scale:2000|name=K24MM-D}} || [[Red Lake Indian Reservation]]
|-
|-
! scope = "row" | 10.6 || 13.6
| SCRIPPS || [[Scripps News]]
|}
|}

===Analog-to-digital conversion===
Both stations discontinued regular programming on their analog signals, on February 17, 2009, to conclude the [[Digital television transition in the United States|federally mandated transition from analog to digital television]]. The station's digital channel allocations post-transition are as follows:<ref name="Analog to Digital">[https://web.archive.org/web/20130829004251/http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1082A2.pdf List of Digital Full-Power Stations]</ref><ref>[http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/S788817.shtml?cat=10335 Tuesday Night at Midnight WDIO and WIRT-TV Analog Signals End], WDIO-TV, February 16, 2009</ref>
* WDIO discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over [[VHF]] channel 10; the station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition [[UHF]] channel 43 to VHF channel 10.
* WIRT discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over VHF channel 13; the station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 36 to VHF channel 13.

===WIRT-DT translators===
Besides WIRT, WDIO is seen on several outlying digital [[Broadcast relay station#Broadcast translators|translators]] in the Iron Range of northeastern and north-central Minnesota. All of these translators are licensed as repeaters of WIRT; via [[virtual channel]] numbering, each translator station remaps to channel 13.

*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|14113|3=K31MA-D}}''' [[Big Falls, Minnesota|Big Falls]]
*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|20362|3=K23KZ-D}}''' [[Bigfork, Minnesota|Bigfork]]/[[Marcell, Minnesota|Marcell]]
*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|14119|3=K33PL-D}}''' [[Birchdale, Minnesota|Birchdale]]
*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|14102|3=K24MT-D}}''' [[International Falls]]
*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|14120|3=K32JZ-D}}''' [[Kabetogama, Minnesota|Kabetogama]]
*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|20364|3=K36KZ-D}}''' [[Max, Minnesota|Max]]
*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|14108|3=K16JD-D}}''' [[Northome]]
*'''{{FCC-LMS-Facility|55346|3=K24MM-D}}''' [[Red Lake, Minnesota|Red Lake]]


==References==
==References==
Line 171: Line 151:
*[http://www.metvduluth.com/ MeTVDuluth.com] - Official MeTV Duluth Website
*[http://www.metvduluth.com/ MeTVDuluth.com] - Official MeTV Duluth Website
*[http://www.northpine.com/broadcast/captures/mn/wdiowirt.html Northpine's 10&13 screengrabs (including a rare look at a 1973 newscast)]
*[http://www.northpine.com/broadcast/captures/mn/wdiowirt.html Northpine's 10&13 screengrabs (including a rare look at a 1973 newscast)]
*[http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WDIO#station Rabbitears.info query - WDIO]
*[http://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=WIRT#station Rabbitears.info query - WIRT]
*{{BIA|WDIO|TV|TV}}
*{{BIA|WIRT|TV|TV}}


{{Duluth TV}}
{{Duluth TV}}
Line 183: Line 159:


{{DEFAULTSORT:Wdio-Dt}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wdio-Dt}}
[[Category:ABC network affiliates]]
[[Category:MeTV affiliates]]
[[Category:Ion Television affiliates]]
[[Category:Defy TV affiliates]]
[[Category:TrueReal affiliates]]
[[Category:Newsy affiliates]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1966]]
[[Category:1966 establishments in Minnesota]]
[[Category:1966 establishments in Minnesota]]
[[Category:American Broadcasting Company affiliates]]
[[Category:Ion Plus affiliates]]
[[Category:Grit (TV network) affiliates]]
[[Category:Hubbard Broadcasting]]
[[Category:Hubbard Broadcasting]]
[[Category:Ion Television affiliates]]
[[Category:MeTV affiliates]]
[[Category:Scripps News affiliates]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1966]]
[[Category:Television stations in Duluth, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Television stations in Duluth, Minnesota]]

Revision as of 16:16, 10 July 2024

WDIO-DT
CityDuluth, Minnesota
Channels
BrandingWDIO
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
History
First air date
January 24, 1966 (58 years ago) (1966-01-24)
Former call signs
WDIO-TV (1967–2009)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 10 (VHF, 1966–2009)
  • Digital: 43 (UHF, 2002–2009)
Call sign meaning
Duluth Channel "IO" (10)
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID71338
ERP45 kW
HAAT297 m (974 ft)
Transmitter coordinates46°47′15″N 92°7′22″W / 46.78750°N 92.12278°W / 46.78750; -92.12278
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.wdio.com
Satellite station
WIRT-DT
Channels
Programming
Affiliations
History
First air date
August 31, 1967 (57 years ago) (1967-08-31)[2]
Former call signs
WIRT (1967–2009)
Former channel number(s)
  • Analog: 13 (VHF, 1967–2009)
  • Digital: 36 (UHF, 2002–2009)
Call sign meaning
Iron Range Television[3]
Technical information[4]
Facility ID71336
ERP13 kW
HAAT204 m (669 ft)
Transmitter coordinates47°22′53″N 92°57′16″W / 47.38139°N 92.95444°W / 47.38139; -92.95444 (WIRT)
Translator(s)see § WIRT-DT translators
Links
Public license information

WDIO-DT (channel 10) is a television station in Duluth, Minnesota, United States, affiliated with ABC and owned by Hubbard Broadcasting. The station's studios and transmitter are located on Observation Road in Duluth.

WIRT-DT (channel 13) in Hibbing, Minnesota, operates as a full-time satellite of WDIO; this station's transmitter is located at Maple Hill Park south of Hibbing. WIRT covers areas of Minnesota's Iron Range (including Grand Rapids, Virginia and Chisholm) that receive a marginal to non-existent over-the-air signal from WDIO, although there is significant overlap between the two stations' contours otherwise. WIRT is a straight simulcast of WDIO; on-air references to WIRT are limited to Federal Communications Commission (FCC)-mandated hourly station identifications during newscasts and other programming. Aside from the transmitter, WIRT does not maintain any physical presence locally in Hibbing.

History

WDIO-TV first went on the air on January 24, 1966,[5] and has transmitted from its first day in color. It immediately joined ABC, which had previously been relegated to off-hours clearances on CBS affiliate KDAL-TV (channel 3, now KDLH) and NBC affiliate WDSM-TV (channel 6, now KBJR-TV). It was owned by Frank Befera, a trained engineer who owned a chain of radio stations across northeastern Minnesota. WIRT went on the air on August 31, 1967. Befera sold channels 10 and 13 to publishers Harcourt Brace Jovanovich in 1977,[6] but remained as president and general manager. HBJ sold the stations to Hubbard Broadcasting in 1986, and Befera retired a year later.

The station utilized a longtime logo from the 1980s until 2019, when it switched to a callsign-only logo. The lettering used in the logo (which blends a number "10" into the "IO" lettering) dates back to as late as the early 1970s. Changes to the 10/13 logo until 2019 merely depended on changes to ABC's logo and branding guidelines.

On April 11, 2008, a blizzard swept through the Northland. This resulted in power outages in Duluth, causing WDIO, KDLH and KBJR all to lose their signal at times.

On November 28, 2011, MeTV replaced RTV on 10.2 and 13.2.[7] At the end of September 2017, WDIO/WIRT added Ion Television programming to their third subchannels, and all three signals now run in 720p high definition.[8]

Every New Year's Eve, WDIO often cuts in to Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve to broadcast the SMDC New Year's Eve Ball, which was a fundraiser for the hospital. In 2008, after 17 years of televising the event, WDIO announced that it would stop its annual broadcast. This decision, along with declining attendance, led to the decision to cancel the event. The Ball itself ran for 23 years and at its peak hosted 4,000 guests.[9]

News operation

WDIO/WIRT's newscasts were branded throughout the 1970s and 1980s as Action News. The station changed its branding to Eyewitness News in the early 1990s; it shared this branding with sister station KSTP-TV in Minneapolis–Saint Paul. However, the Eyewitness News branding was the station's only resemblance to KSTP. WDIO uses its own graphics and music packages.

WDIO and KSTP team up when breaking news happens (example: the I-35W bridge collapse in Minneapolis) or for major election debates.

Longtime WDIO news anchor Dennis Anderson joined the station in 1969, initially as anchor of the nightly news' "Action Line" segment. He was promoted to chief anchor of the evening newscasts in 1970;[10] he later was the first local TV anchor to announce the sinking of the ore freighter Edmund Fitzgerald which sank in Lake Superior on November 10, 1975.[citation needed] Anderson retired Wednesday, May 25, 2011, after 42 years with the station.[11] Darren Danielson, previously of WDSE, replaced Anderson as anchor the following day, Thursday, May 26.[12]

In October 2009, 20-year veteran Deborah Anderson stepped down from being the lead anchor of the weekend newscasts. The station management filled the vacancy with reporters already employed with the station rather than searching elsewhere for a replacement.

At some point in late 2010 or early 2011, WDIO became the third station in the Duluth area to broadcast its local newscasts in 16:9 enhanced definition widescreen.

The Eyewitness News branding was retired in January 2019 in favor of WDIO News along with a new logo and broadcast set.

Ratings

Soon after sign-on, WDIO shot to the top of the local news ratings and has remained there more or less ever since. During the 1970s and 1980s, WDIO dominated competitors KDLH and KBJR.

In the May 2007 ratings race, WDIO took first place in all timeslots except at 5 p.m., where they fell to NBC affiliate KBJR. In February 2008, WDIO won with number of viewers in the morning, and at 6 and 10 p.m. KBJR once again came out slightly ahead at 5 p.m. In July 2009, WDIO topped the ratings again. The 10 p.m. newscast had about 7,000 more viewers than second place KBJR. WDIO also won in the weekend ratings.[1][permanent dead link]

In November 2009, WDIO doubled the ratings of KBJR at the 10 p.m. newscast with a 12 share compared to KBJR's 6 rating and KDLH's 3. The station also swept the 5 and 6 p.m. time-slots and with a 14 and an 11 rating respectively. KBJR rated a 10 at the same timeslots according to the Duluth News Tribune[permanent dead link]. Take note that this ratings period marks one full year anniversary of WDIO's market dominance.

Technical information

Subchannels

The stations' signals are multiplexed:

Subchannels of WDIO-DT[13] and WIRT-DT[14]
Channel Res. Aspect Short name Programming
WDIO-DT WIRT-DT
10.1 13.1 720p 16:9 WDIOabc ABC
10.2 13.2 WDIO-Me MeTV
10.3 13.3 480i ION Ion Television
10.4 13.4 Defy TV Ion Plus
10.5 13.5 Grit Grit
10.6 13.6 SCRIPPS Scripps News

Analog-to-digital conversion

Both stations discontinued regular programming on their analog signals, on February 17, 2009, to conclude the federally mandated transition from analog to digital television. The station's digital channel allocations post-transition are as follows:[15][16]

  • WDIO discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over VHF channel 10; the station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 43 to VHF channel 10.
  • WIRT discontinued regular programming on its analog signal, over VHF channel 13; the station's digital signal relocated from its pre-transition UHF channel 36 to VHF channel 13.

WIRT-DT translators

Besides WIRT, WDIO is seen on several outlying digital translators in the Iron Range of northeastern and north-central Minnesota. All of these translators are licensed as repeaters of WIRT; via virtual channel numbering, each translator station remaps to channel 13.

References

  1. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WDIO-DT". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  2. ^ The Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook says September 1, while the Television and Cable Factbook says August 31.
  3. ^ "Call Letter Origins: The List". home.earthlink.net. Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  4. ^ "Facility Technical Data for WIRT-DT". Licensing and Management System. Federal Communications Commission.
  5. ^ FCC History Cards for WDIO-TV (WDIO-DT). Federal Communications Commission.
  6. ^ Television and Cable Factbook, 1988 edition
  7. ^ WDIO: "WDIO/WIRT-DT to Launch Me-TV", November 7, 2011.
  8. ^ "WDIO/WIRT Brings ION Television to the Northland" (Press release). WDIO/WIRT. September 27, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  9. ^ "SMDC says the New Year's Eve Ball is over". June 18, 2008. Retrieved June 19, 2008. [dead link]
  10. ^ WDIO biography: Dennis Anderson (via archive.org)
  11. ^ WDIO: "Dennis Anderson: Celebrating a Career"
  12. ^ WDIO: "Danielson Named Anchor on Eyewitness News at Six and Ten", March 29, 2011.
  13. ^ RabbitEars TV Query for WDIO
  14. ^ RabbitEars TV Query for WIRT
  15. ^ List of Digital Full-Power Stations
  16. ^ Tuesday Night at Midnight WDIO and WIRT-TV Analog Signals End, WDIO-TV, February 16, 2009
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