KCPO-LP
Encyclopedia
KCPO-LP, Channel 26 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
and KCPL-LP, Channel 52 in Rapid City, South Dakota
are a pair of simulcasting independent
television stations that are operated by Central Plains Media
that were formerly UPN
affiliates. KCPO is available on cable channel 21 or 3 in the eastern half of South Dakota and many cable systems reaching viewers in Southwestern Minnesota, while KCPL is seen on cable channel 13 or 12 in the western half of the state.
A third station, MyNetworkTV
affiliate KCPM channel 27 in Grand Forks, North Dakota
, simulcasts KCPO, though KCPM airs different programming at times and local commercial inserts.
affiliate for Sioux Falls, South Dakota
. In 2004, KCPO-TV launched a semi-satellite with the call letters KCPL-TV in Rapid City
.
KCPO was affiliated with UPN until KELO-TV
launched its UPN affiliated "UTV" digital subchannel
in January 2004. KCPL was affiliated with UPN until the network stopped operations in 2006, while simulcast
ing KCPO outside of network programming. Currently, both KCPO/KCPL operate as independent station
s.
A third sister station, KCPM, located in Grand Forks is affiliated with MyNetworkTV
. It simulcasts much of KCPO's programming when not airing network material, but airs separate commercials, station identifications and sometimes different syndicated programming due to Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) market regulations.
KCPO airs syndicated television programs, movies and locally-produced programming, including a country music
video program called That Country Video Show and a car and motorcycle racing program called Talk'n Dirt featuring coverage of area race tracks and events. Both of these programs can be seen on all three stations: KCPO, KCPL and KCPM.
The uniqueness of this three-station system is it is the only South Dakota station group that broadcasts/cablecasts in South and North Dakota and Minnesota. Agreements with other broadcast stations have provided sports programming allowing viewers to see coverage of such activities as the KSTC
broadcasts of Minnesota State High School League
football, hockey, and basketball tournaments. These tournaments have been regularly carried on the Central Plains Media stations for many years.
Central Plains Media stations are owned and operated by G.I.G, Inc., which stand for Guaranteed Impressions Group.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
and KCPL-LP, Channel 52 in Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
are a pair of simulcasting independent
Independent station
An independent station is in the category of television terminology used to describe a television station broadcasting in the United States or Canada that is not affiliated with any television network....
television stations that are operated by Central Plains Media
Central Plains Media
Central Plains Media is a television broadcasting company based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It is a subsidiary of the Guaranteed Impressions Group.Its television stations include:* KCPO-LP channel 26, Sioux Falls, South Dakota...
that were formerly UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
affiliates. KCPO is available on cable channel 21 or 3 in the eastern half of South Dakota and many cable systems reaching viewers in Southwestern Minnesota, while KCPL is seen on cable channel 13 or 12 in the western half of the state.
A third station, MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
affiliate KCPM channel 27 in Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Grand Forks is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of North Dakota and the county seat of Grand Forks County. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 52,838, while that of the city and surrounding metropolitan area was 98,461...
, simulcasts KCPO, though KCPM airs different programming at times and local commercial inserts.
History
KCPO-TV signed on the air for the first time in 1999 as a UPN and BloombergBloomberg Television
Bloomberg Television is a 24-hour global network broadcasting business and financial news. It is distributed globally, reaching over 200 million homes worldwide. It is owned and operated by Bloomberg L.P...
affiliate for Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
. In 2004, KCPO-TV launched a semi-satellite with the call letters KCPL-TV in Rapid City
Rapid City, South Dakota
Rapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
.
KCPO was affiliated with UPN until KELO-TV
KELO-TV
KELO is the CBS affiliate television station in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, broadcasting on digital channel 11. South Dakotans pronounce its call letters as a homonym of "hello"...
launched its UPN affiliated "UTV" digital subchannel
Digital subchannel
In broadcasting, digital subchannels are a means to transmit more than one independent program at the same time from the same digital radio or digital television station on the same radio frequency channel. This is done by using data compression techniques to reduce the size of each individual...
in January 2004. KCPL was affiliated with UPN until the network stopped operations in 2006, while simulcast
Simulcast
Simulcast, shorthand for "simultaneous broadcast", refers to programs or events broadcast across more than one medium, or more than one service on the same medium, at the same time. For example, Absolute Radio is simulcast on both AM and on satellite radio, and the BBC's Prom concerts are often...
ing KCPO outside of network programming. Currently, both KCPO/KCPL operate as independent station
Independent station
An independent station is in the category of television terminology used to describe a television station broadcasting in the United States or Canada that is not affiliated with any television network....
s.
A third sister station, KCPM, located in Grand Forks is affiliated with MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV
MyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
. It simulcasts much of KCPO's programming when not airing network material, but airs separate commercials, station identifications and sometimes different syndicated programming due to Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) market regulations.
KCPO airs syndicated television programs, movies and locally-produced programming, including a country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
video program called That Country Video Show and a car and motorcycle racing program called Talk'n Dirt featuring coverage of area race tracks and events. Both of these programs can be seen on all three stations: KCPO, KCPL and KCPM.
The uniqueness of this three-station system is it is the only South Dakota station group that broadcasts/cablecasts in South and North Dakota and Minnesota. Agreements with other broadcast stations have provided sports programming allowing viewers to see coverage of such activities as the KSTC
KSTC-TV
KSTC-TV is an Independent television station for the Twin Cities that is licensed to Minneapolis. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 45 from a transmitter at the Telefarm installation in Shoreview. Owned by Hubbard Broadcasting, the station is sister to ABC affiliate...
broadcasts of Minnesota State High School League
Minnesota State High School League
The Minnesota State High School League is a voluntary, non-profit association for the support and governance of interscholastic activities at high schools in Minnesota, United States. The association supports interscholastic athletics and fine arts programs for member schools...
football, hockey, and basketball tournaments. These tournaments have been regularly carried on the Central Plains Media stations for many years.
Central Plains Media stations are owned and operated by G.I.G, Inc., which stand for Guaranteed Impressions Group.