Tom Hansen

KBJR Television Inc.

KBJR 6 and KDLH 3 signed on within two weeks of each other in the spring of 1954 as WDSM-TV and KDAL-TV. At first, WDSM, owned by Ridson Communications, was the CBS affiliated station in the Duluth-Superior area and KDAL, owned by Dalton LeMasurier, was the NBC station. The two stations swapped affiliations in October of 1955. Ridson sold KBJR in 1974 to Robert J. Rich, who in turn sold the station to current owner Granite Broadcasting in 1988. KDLH was sold to a forerunner of Tribune Broadcasting in 1960, Stauffer Communications in 1979 and a succession of short-term owners from 1995 until March of 2004, when it was purchased by current owner Malara Broadcasting. Malara partnered with Granite in 2004 to operate the stations from a single facility, creating the Northland's NewsCenter known to area viewers today. The Northland's NewsCenter also operates four other channels in the Northeast Minnesota/Northwest Wisconsin area. KRII-TV, "Range 11" in Hibbing carries programming from KBJR 6 in Duluth, along with custom news stories, weather forecasts and sponsor opportunities for the Iron Range. "My 9", seen on digital channel 6-2 and on channel 9 on most area cable systems, carries programming from "My Network TV" along with other entertainment, news and sports programs. "Northland CW 2", seen on digital channel 3-2 and on channel 2 on most area cable systems, carries programming from the "CW" network along with local news. Finally, "Northland's NewsCenter WeatherNow", seen on digital channel 6-4 and Charter Cable digital channel 391, carries 24-hour local weather for the Northland.