KNDB

KNDB and KNDM
Channels for KNDB
Channels for KNDM
Branding
  • KNDB: BEK TV/BEK 26
  • KNDM: BEK TV/BEK 24
Programming
Affiliations
Ownership
Owner
  • BEK Communications Cooperative
  • (BEK Sports Network, Inc.)
History
First air date
  • KNDB: November 7, 1999 (1999-11-07)
  • KNDM: November 15, 1999 (1999-11-15)
Former call signs
  • KNDB: KNDX (1999–2014)
  • KNDM: KXND (1999–2014)
Former channel numbers
  • KNDB: Analog: 26 (UHF, 1999–2009)
  • KNDM: Analog: 24 (UHF, 1999–2009)
  • Fox (1999–2014)
  • UPN (secondary, 1999–2006)
  • Dark (2014–2015)
Call sign meaning
  • KNDB: North Dakota Bismarck
  • KNDM: North Dakota Minot
Technical information
Licensing authority
FCC
Facility ID
  • KNDB: 82611
  • KNDM: 82615
ERP50 kW
HAAT
  • KNDB: 300 m (984 ft)
  • KNDM: 238.9 m (784 ft)
Transmitter coordinates
Links
Public license information
Websitewww.bek.tv

KNDB (channel 26) is a television station in Bismarck, North Dakota, United States. Owned by BEK Sports Network, Inc., a subsidiary of BEK Communications Cooperative, it is affiliated with multiple networks on various digital subchannels, with Heroes & Icons and BEK Prime on its main channel. KNDB's studios are located on East Interstate Avenue in Bismarck, and its transmitter is located near St. Anthony, North Dakota.

KNDM (channel 24) in Minot, North Dakota operates as a semi-satellite of KNDB extending its signal into the northern portion of the Bismarck–Minot market; this station's transmitter is located near South Prairie. KNDM simulcasts all programming as provided through its parent, but airs separate commercial inserts and station identifications. Although KNDM maintains an advertising sales office on 32nd Avenue SW in Minot, master control and most internal operations are based at KNDB's facilities.

From 1999 until 2014, KNDB was known as KNDX, and KNDM was known as KXND. Collectively, the stations were affiliates of Fox and were founded and previously owned by Prime Cities Broadcasting; in 2014, as part of Gray Television's acquisition of the NBC North Dakota chain from Hoak Media, Excalibur Broadcasting—a shell company affiliated with Gray, attempted to acquire KNDX/KXND from Prime Cities, and have Gray operate them under shared services agreements (SSAs). However, due to growing scrutiny surrounding such agreements and virtual duopoly operations, Gray instead acquired the stations' non-license assets and moved Fox programming to sub-channels of its statewide network of NBC affiliates on June 13, 2014, at which point KNDX and KXND went dark pending their sale to a minority owned broadcaster. The subchannels inherited KNDX/KXND's slots on area cable systems.

The stations' translatorsKNDX-LD (channel 38) in Dickinson (previously K38HS) and KXND-LD (channel 38) in Williston (previously K38HA)—were sold outright to Gray and continued to carry Fox programming as a simulcast of the subchannels of NBC affiliates KQCD-TV (channel 7) and KUMV-TV (channel 8), respectively. The licenses for both translators were returned to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in October 2020.