WDAY-TV

WDAY-TV, channel 6, is the ABC affiliate for Fargo, North Dakota. The station serves the southern half of the Fargo TV-Grand Forks TV television market, with WDAZ-TV serving the northern half. It broadcasts from a 1,000 foot tower located near Amenia, North Dakota.

The station is owned by Forum Communications of Fargo, which also owns WDAY Radio and The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead.

Fargo CW, a CW affiliate is carried on a digital subchannel of WDAY (channel 6.2 PSIP). Fargo CW is carried on most cable systems in the Fargo-Grand Forks market.

History

WDAY-TV went on the air for the first time in 1953. Originally an NBC affiliate, it switched to ABC along with sister station WDAZ-TV in 1983, a year after former sister station KSFY-TV swictched from NBC to ABC. The former ABC affiliate KTHI-TV (now KVLY-TV) became the NBC affiliate.

On January 29, 1967, WDAY-TV's semi-satellite WDAZ-TV signed on in Grand Forks, although they identify themselves separately from WDAY. It produces its own newscasts, and airs its own commercials. However, it rebroadcasts most of WDAY-TV's syndicated programming, and the two stations often share news stories. WDAZ serves the northern part of the Fargo-Grand Forks market, while WDAY-TV serves the southern portion.

In 1998, WDAY-TV launched a cable channel carrying The WB 100+ and The WB programming. The channel became "Fargo CW", and became available over the air as a digital subchannel of WDAY-TV. Fargo CW also carries programming from The CW Plus. In 2007, WDAY began broadcasting in high-definition.

WDAY-TV is one of the few stations in the country that still signs off at night. It goes off the air after 1:10am Rebroadcast of WDAY News at 10 and does not air World News Now.

Most stations west of the Mississippi begin with K, however WDAY radio licensed its call letters before the U.S. government moved the K-W boundary in 1923 from the state borders between 102 and 104 degrees West longitude (including the North Dakota-Montana border) to the Mississippi River.

News and Sports

WDAY-TV produces local newscasts during Monday through Friday at 6:00am, 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 simulcast on WDAZ-TV.

The station also broadcasts some North Dakota State University football and basketball games as well as WDAZ-produced University of North Dakota hockey games.

WDAY team

Anchors

Kerstin Kealy (Weekday Co-anchor of 6PM and 10PM Newscasts / Producer)
Dana Mogck (Weekday Co-anchor of 6PM and 10PM Newscasts)
Karena Lunday (Weekday Co-anchor of 5PM Newscasts)
TJ Nelson (Weekday Anchor of 5PM Newscasts / Producer)
Jason Vincent (First News Anchor)
Kelsey Soby (Weekend Co-Anchor)
Travis Skonseng (Weekend Co-Anchor)

Meteorologists (Weather)

John Wheeler (Chief Meteorologist - Weekday Evenings)
Daryl Ritchison (Meteorologist - Weekday Mornings and Midday)
Rob Kupec (Meteorologist - Weekends)

Sports

Steve Hallstrom (Weekdays)
Dom Izzo (Weekends)

Other

Sarah Klaphake (Reporter)
Alison Kluck (Reporter)
Kevin Wallevand (Feature Reporter)

ABC Kids

While most stations may or may not carry Power Rangers due to E/I required content (to make up their full 3 hours) WDAY actually airs the full 4 hour block starting at 8:00 AM CST. Confirmation by the network has also varified WDAY will carry Power Rangers as long as ABC continues to air the series.

Fargo CW

Fargo CW is a cable-only station with WB affiliation, and branded as "WBFG". It was operated by WDAY-TV and was part of The WB 100+, a group of cable-only WB affiliates that shared programming outside of The WB's primetime schedule. The WB 100+ was similar to The CW Plus, which Fargo CW is currently part of. The network is also a regular channel VIA Cable servers. Thoes with Cable will generally have this network included since WB previously held the slot. On September 18, 2006, when The CW began broadcasting, Fargo CW was available over-the-air on a digital subchannel of WDAY-TV.