Telefarm Towers Shoreview
Encyclopedia
Telefarm Towers Shoreview is a transmission site for FM radio and television
broadcasting
in Shoreview, Minnesota
consisting of two guyed
towers. The towers, commonly called simply the Shoreview Towers by local residents, are owned by Telefarm, Inc., which is a company jointly owned by the Twin Cities stations WCCO
channel 4, KSTP
channel 5, and KARE
channel 11. The towers are used for both analog and digital television
broadcasts, plus the transmission of KSTC
channel 45 (owned by the same company as KSTP) and WUCW
channel 23. Some area radio stations also use the facility. The towers were initially built in the 1970s, and were replacements for a single "candelabra" style tower which collapsed just prior to completion in 1971, killing six workers on the tower and one on the ground.
The towers were upgraded at the turn of the century to allow the addition of digital TV transmitters to meet Federal Communications Commission
requirements. Because each antenna assembly weighs many ton
s, the towers had to be strengthened. Work took a bit longer than expected, and KSTP notably used its original broadcast tower along University Avenue
in St. Paul, Minnesota for digital transmission for about a year starting in late 1999 before the construction was finished.
Upgrades to the first tower were completed in 2000. It now rises 437.7 meters (1436 ft) from the ground. Its geographical coordinates are 45°03′44.0"N 93°08′22.0"W.
Work on the second tower, which rises 438.3 m (1438 ft), was finished in 2001. It is located at 45°03′45.0"N 93°08′22.0"W.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
broadcasting
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
in Shoreview, Minnesota
Shoreview, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there are 25,377 people, Males: 12,303 , Females: 13,074 , 9,965 households, and 7,021 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,315.9 people per square mile . There are 10,127 housing units at an average density of 919.2 per square mile...
consisting of two guyed
Guy-wire
A guy-wire or guy-rope, also known as simply a guy, is a tensioned cable designed to add stability to structures . One end of the cable is attached to the structure, and the other is anchored to the ground at a distance from the structure's base...
towers. The towers, commonly called simply the Shoreview Towers by local residents, are owned by Telefarm, Inc., which is a company jointly owned by the Twin Cities stations WCCO
WCCO-TV
WCCO-TV, is the CBS owned and operated television station that serves the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota. Its transmitter is at the Telefarm complex in Shoreview, Minnesota.- History :...
channel 4, KSTP
KSTP-TV
KSTP-TV, channel 5, is the ABC affiliate for the Twin Cities. Its transmitter is located at the Shoreview Telefarm. It is the flagship station of Hubbard Broadcasting, which also owns several other broadcasting properties across the United States....
channel 5, and KARE
KARE
KARE, digital channel 11, is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota and portions of western Wisconsin. It also operates KARE WX NOW, formerly known as NBC Weather Plus on its second digital subchannel...
channel 11. The towers are used for both analog and digital television
Digital television
Digital television is the transmission of audio and video by digital signals, in contrast to the analog signals used by analog TV...
broadcasts, plus the transmission of 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...
channel 45 (owned by the same company as KSTP) and WUCW
WUCW
WUCW is an affiliate of The CW serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota. The station is currently owned and operated by the Sinclair Broadcast Group....
channel 23. Some area radio stations also use the facility. The towers were initially built in the 1970s, and were replacements for a single "candelabra" style tower which collapsed just prior to completion in 1971, killing six workers on the tower and one on the ground.
The towers were upgraded at the turn of the century to allow the addition of digital TV transmitters to meet 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...
requirements. Because each antenna assembly weighs many ton
Ton
The ton is a unit of measure. It has a long history and has acquired a number of meanings and uses over the years. It is used principally as a unit of weight, and as a unit of volume. It can also be used as a measure of energy, for truck classification, or as a colloquial term.It is derived from...
s, the towers had to be strengthened. Work took a bit longer than expected, and KSTP notably used its original broadcast tower along University Avenue
University Avenue (Minneapolis-St. Paul)
University Avenue in the Minneapolis–St. Paul region of Minnesota begins near the Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul and extends westward into neighboring Minneapolis, where it passes the University of Minnesota, and then turns north to pass through several suburbs before ending in Blaine,...
in St. Paul, Minnesota for digital transmission for about a year starting in late 1999 before the construction was finished.
Upgrades to the first tower were completed in 2000. It now rises 437.7 meters (1436 ft) from the ground. Its geographical coordinates are 45°03′44.0"N 93°08′22.0"W.
Work on the second tower, which rises 438.3 m (1438 ft), was finished in 2001. It is located at 45°03′45.0"N 93°08′22.0"W.