WMIN-TV

KARE

Industry	Television broadcasting
Founded	September 1, 1953 (1953-09-01) in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Headquarters	Golden Valley, Minnesota , United States
Area served	Twin Cities region
Products	Television broadcasting
Owner	Tegna Inc.

KARE (channel 11) is a television station licensed in Minneapolis, Minnesota, functioning as the NBC affiliate for the Twin Cities region. Owned by Tegna Inc., its studios are situated on Olson Memorial Highway (MN 55) in Golden Valley, while its broadcast signal originates from the Telefarm Towers located in Shoreview, Minnesota.

The station commenced operations on September 1, 1953, initially sharing channel 11 between WMIN-TV of St. Paul and WTCN-TV of Minneapolis; both stations alternated local programming and jointly held an ABC affiliation. In 1955, Consolidated Television and Radio merged these two into WTCN-TV, operating out of Minneapolis studios at the Calhoun Beach Hotel. Early offerings included popular children's shows, cooking segments, news broadcasts, and sports coverage. Following its acquisition by Time Inc. in 1957, the station lost its ABC affiliation to KMSP-TV (channel 9) and transitioned into an independent station, featuring Minnesota Twins baseball games, films, and syndicated programs. Ownership later shifted to Chris-Craft Industries and then Metromedia, with WTCN emerging by the late 1970s as one of the most profitable independent stations nationally.

In 1978, after NBC’s existing Twin Cities affiliate, KSTP-TV, declared it would switch to ABC, NBC selected WTCN over KMSP as its new local partner due to WTCN’s superior facilities and commitment to a robust news department. On March 5, 1979, channel 11 officially affiliated with NBC and launched its NewsCenter 11 newscasts. Despite extensive marketing efforts, its news programming faced challenges competing against KMSP’s entertainment lineup and established market leaders like WCCO-TV and KSTP-TV.

Following Metromedia’s purchase of Chicago’s independent station WFLD in 1982, it divested WTCN to Gannett, which undertook a comprehensive overhaul of the station’s news content. From 1983 through 1987, KARE climbed from last place to first in late-night news ratings, maintaining a close rivalry with WCCO over two decades. The station underwent two call sign changes: first to WUSA in 1985, then to KARE in 1986 after Gannett reassigned the WUSA callsign to its Washington, D.C., outlet. As of 2022, KARE continues to hold a solid second position in local news ratings.

WMIN-TV and WTCN-TV: The shared-time era

In February 1948, the WMIN Broadcasting Company from St. Paul submitted an application for a new channel 2 television station. However, this request was put on hold when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) imposed a freeze on all new TV station licenses that same year.

Two months prior to the FCC lifting this freeze in February 1952, the Minnesota Television Public Service Corporation—led by former ambassador Robert Butler and based in St. Paul—filed for channel 11 allocation in Minneapolis. Shortly thereafter, Mid Continent Radio Television, owner of WTCN-TV (channel 4) and WTCN (1280 AM), announced plans to acquire WCCO radio, consolidate operations with channel 4, and sell off WTCN radio. Consequently, Minnesota Television Public Service purchased WTCN radio since Mid Continent had to divest it for the WCCO acquisition to proceed. These transactions were finalized in August 1952 when channel 4 rebranded from WTCN-TV to WCCO-TV.

After the freeze was lifted, WMIN reapplied in July specifically for channel 11 because channel 2 had been reserved for educational use. Later that month, the Meredith Publishing also filed applications for channel 11 in Minneapolis as well as stations in Rochester, New York, and St. Louis. Meredith owned three stations with three pending applications but withdrew from the channel 11 competition after FCC rules limited companies to owning no more than five combined stations or applications in February 1953. Ultimately, WMIN and WTCN agreed on a time-sharing arrangement for channel 11 that received FCC approval in April 1953.

Channel 11 officially launched on September 1, 1953. At 2 p.m., WMIN-TV aired a news program along with a women’s show titled Talk About the Town followed by a film; two hours later, WTCN-TV began broadcasting with a dedication ceremony followed by cooking show Man Around the House and teen music program Corner Drug. The broadcast signal was transmitted from the downtown Minneapolis landmark—the Foshay Tower—whose master antenna was engineered to accommodate multiple stations including channels 9 and 11 even before their licenses were granted.

Only the transmitter and antenna were shared between these stations; each maintained separate studio facilities aligned with their respective radio affiliations despite both carrying ABC network programming. WMIN-TV operated from former WMIN radio studios located within the Hamm Building in St. Paul but lacked film processing equipment necessitating sending film reels to sister station KELO-TV in Sioux Falls for development. Meanwhile, WTCN-TV broadcasted from Minneapolis’s Calhoun Beach Hotel, utilizing its ballroom and a converted gymnasium as studio space—the largest television studio area available locally at that time.

Both stations produced original local content: WMIN featured Captain 11, a children's show hosted by Jim Lange dressed in a space-themed costume; it also aired Western-themed programs hosted by disc jockey Steve Cannon. On WTCN's side, children’s entertainment included clown character J. P. Patches, initially portrayed by Daryl Laub then Chris Wedes—who later moved on to Seattle's KIRO-TV. For nearly twenty years, local personality Roger Awsumb starred as Casey Jones on WTCN's popular Lunch with Casey program.

By 1954, channel 11 had incorporated some shows from the now-defunct DuMont Television Network, although these programs shifted to newly launched station KEYD-TV (channel 9) when it began broadcasting in January of the following year.

Acquisition by Consolidated and Subsequent Purchase by Time, Inc.

In January 1955, Consolidated Television and Radio Broadcasters of Indianapolis, under the ownership of the Bitner family, reached an agreement to purchase WTCN radio and television along with WMIN-TV for approximately $3 million. Bitner recognized the potential in the channel 11 stations, which were undervalued due to their shared-station arrangement. The WTCN call signs were preserved by the acquiring company. After finalizing the acquisition in April, WMIN discontinued its operations and merged entirely into WTCN. Consolidated consolidated its operations at WTCN’s Minneapolis studios, closing the St. Paul facilities formerly used by WMIN and retaining only a minimal number of employees. Starting in 1956, the station became affiliated with the NTA Film Network.

Less than two years later, in December 1956, the Bitner group sold three broadcasting properties—the WTCN stations, Indianapolis' WFBM radio and television, and Grand Rapids' WLAV radio and television—to Time, Inc. for $15.75 million. This transaction followed Crowell-Collier Publishing Company’s withdrawal from a deal that had included these stations plus WFDF in Flint, Michigan. The Federal Communications Commission granted approval in April 1957. Under Time’s stewardship, station revenue increased due to an expanded film library and more aggressive promotion of feature films. The station provided comprehensive local sports coverage, including select games of the Minneapolis Millers minor league baseball team on WTCN radio; however, it eventually scaled back sports broadcasts on both radio and television because of advertising difficulties and stiff competition, particularly from Minnesota Golden Gophers football radio broadcasts.

Separation from ABC

By the early 1960s, relations between Time and ABC had soured. In March 1960, station executives insisted on a protection clause to prevent ABC from moving its affiliation to KMSP-TV (channel 9), then owned by 20th Century Fox. KMSP was already airing certain ABC programs not carried on channel 11’s lineup. In January 1961, ABC declared it would transfer its programming to KMSP starting April 16.

Following this change, channel 11 operated as an independent station and became the first in the market to televise major league baseball featuring the newly relocated Minnesota Twins. Although WCCO-TV had intended to broadcast the games, CBS blocked any preemption of its prime-time shows. Channel 11 agreed to air 50 night and weekend games, simulcasting with WCCO radio and featuring announcers Bob Wolff and Ray Scott. The Twins broadcasts, along with movies and feature presentations, became key attractions for the station. Additionally, newscasts were scheduled earlier than those on network affiliates, including hourly updates and a 9 p.m. broadcast. To bolster local programming efforts, channel 11 expanded its facilities at Calhoun Beach Hotel and upgraded its technical equipment. Despite these efforts, Time acknowledged in its annual report that losing ABC required adapting to the financial realities of independent operation.

The Twins played a vital role in sustaining channel 11 without network affiliation. In 1962, baseball telecasts averaged audience shares of 58%, reaching as high as 79%. A significant advertising partnership with Hamm's beer for the baseball coverage helped secure programming and led to profitability for the first time in over ten years. An American Research Bureau study identified channel 11 as having the highest relative audience share among independent stations nationwide—even during months without baseball games. The Twins broadcasts extended channel 11’s reach beyond the Twin Cities through cable systems serving areas such as Mankato, Rochester, Minnesota, and Wisconsin locations including Eau Claire and La Crosse. Building on this momentum, the station broadened its sports lineup by adding studio wrestling programs and college sports events.

Chris-Craft ownership

Throughout Time's three-year tenure as the independent operator of WTCN-TV, several potential sales were negotiated. In July 1961, Chicago-based WGN Inc. expressed interest in acquiring WTCN-TV, though other prospective buyers declined the opportunity. A group from the Twin Cities agreed to purchase the station for $2 million in 1963 but ultimately could not secure the necessary financing. In May 1964, Chris-Craft Industries purchased WTCN-TV for $4 million, marking its third television acquisition following KCOP in Los Angeles and KPTV in Portland, Oregon. Meanwhile, WTCN radio was sold separately to the Buckley-Jaeger Company and rebranded as WWTC in October 1964.

Under Chris-Craft’s ownership, the station expanded its children's programming and movie offerings to complement its strong sports lineup, introducing "Kidville 11," which featured more than six hours of weekday children's content. According to a 1965 company report, WTCN-TV’s performance surpassed initial projections. By 1966, the station broadcast Minnesota Twins baseball games through a network of 15 affiliate stations, which grew to 16 with Milwaukee’s WVTV joining in 1967; that same year, the Minnesota North Stars hockey team also began airing on channel 11.

In June 1971, WTCN-TV relocated its transmission tower to the Telefarm site in Shoreview, Minnesota, due to signal obstruction caused by the IDS Center skyscraper blocking viewers’ reception from the original Foshay Tower location. Tragically, during construction on September 7, the new shared tower collapsed, resulting in seven worker fatalities. Following this incident, Telefarm proposed constructing separate towers: one for WTCN-TV and an FM station, and another for WCCO and KSTP; these towers were completed by late 1972.

Metromedia ownership

On July 29, 1971, Chris-Craft sold WTCN-TV to Metromedia for $18 million as part of a strategy to acquire a major-market VHF station elsewhere. Following this acquisition, Metromedia overhauled the programming lineup, discontinuing Lunch with Casey in 1972 due to falling ratings and company policy against live children's hosts. The station also ceased broadcasting Twins games because of low audience interest; the team shifted to WCCO-TV before returning to channel 11 in 1975. Under Metromedia’s management, WTCN-TV became one of the country’s most profitable independent stations, although it still generated less revenue than network-affiliated stations.

The sale included a parcel of land in Golden Valley designated for new studio facilities. In May 1973, Metromedia commenced construction on a $5 million studio complex featuring two broadcast studios, an outdoor sculpture garden, and space dedicated to its corporate art collection.

WTCN maintained a modest news department centered around a 9:30 p.m. newscast titled Total News, which lagged behind network affiliates but ranked just ahead of KMSP-TV in viewership. Before relocating to Golden Valley, limitations in news film processing restricted timely coverage of late-breaking stories. Gil Amundson served both as news director and anchor; notably, the station operated without a professional meteorologist. TV Guide once compared WTCN to the fictional Minneapolis television station portrayed on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

NBC Affiliation

Despite Channel 9's consistent profitability under Donald Swartz, who managed with a lean and cost-efficient approach, KMSP-TV—the ABC affiliate in the Twin Cities—struggled to gain traction in news ratings. By the mid-1970s, ABC was dissatisfied with KMSP’s comparatively low news budget, reportedly less than half that of rivals WCCO-TV and KSTP-TV, prompting ABC to consider re-affiliating with WTCN. As ABC ascended to the top national network in the late 1970s, it actively sought stronger local partners such as WCCO-TV, KSTP-TV, and WTCN-TV. In a significant move, KSTP-TV, then the NBC affiliate and local news leader, expanded its regional reach by switching to ABC in March 1979, ending a half-century association with NBC—a major victory for ABC.

Prior to publicizing KSTP’s transition, NBC evaluated both KMSP-TV and WTCN-TV as potential affiliates. Input from former KMSP staff painted its management as indifferent toward news operations, describing it as a "stepchild" within their structure. Ultimately, NBC selected WTCN-TV over Channel 9 due to WTCN’s superior facilities and overall performance.

Metromedia, owning WTCN, pledged to establish a "first-class news operation," investing nearly $4 million before the affiliation switch into hiring new reporters—many recruited from southern markets—upgrading to a modern news set, installing weather radar, and adopting electronic news gathering technology to replace film. The sole personnel change involved dismissing long-serving weather anchor Toni Hughes for lacking formal meteorological qualifications.

On March 5, 1979, WTCN-TV officially became the Twin Cities’ NBC affiliate. It launched an extensive $1 million promotional campaign titled "We've Got It Now," which featured NBC personalities such as Johnny Carson, visits from network president Fred Silverman, and live broadcasts of Today originating from Minneapolis. The debut of NewsCenter 11 occurred that same day with weeknight anchor Jim Dyer, meteorologist Glenn Burns, and sportscaster Bob Kurtz.

NewsCenter 11: Underwhelming Reception

The launch of NewsCenter 11 was met with poor ratings and critical disapproval. Neal Gendler of the Minneapolis Tribune described the program as mundane and disconnected from Twin Cities audiences, while criticizing Kurtz for inappropriate humor. John Carman of The Minneapolis Star labeled it "a near-perfect case history of how not to put together a successful news operation," attributing failure to weak leadership under Gil Amundson. Critics pointed to out-of-town consultants—particularly Ted Kavanau from Metromedia’s WNEW-TV—whose tabloid-style approach clashed with general manager Robert Fransen’s preference for a traditional format.

In its initial ratings survey, the newscast ranked last among 6 p.m. broadcasts, with Karl Vick likening its popularity to that of measles. Low viewership necessitated expensive makegood advertising to meet commitments to sponsors. During NBC prime time, WTCN commanded a 21% audience share but lost half that during the 10 p.m. news slot; however, viewers returned for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The station only captured between 8-10% of the evening news audience, significantly trailing KSTP and WCCO which held shares exceeding 30%. This weak performance also negatively impacted local viewership of NBC network newscasts.

With some network programming freed up and having acquired broadcast rights for North Stars and Twins games, rival KMSP-TV rose as a leading independent station once again outperforming WTCN much like during its tenure as an ABC affiliate. Kevin O'Brien, then general manager at WTCN, later acknowledged that the rapid NBC affiliation "tore that station asunder" due to inadequate preparation.

Although news quality improved under news director Brink Chipman, internal newsroom instability continued. An investigative reporter was dismissed prior to airing reports due to substandard quality. Anchor Jim Dyer was reassigned before departing by year-end. Bob Kurtz was succeeded by Tom Ryther from KSTP-TV in late 1979. Glenn Burns remained the last original on-air personality until his departure in 1982 for WSB-TV in Atlanta where he had a four-decade career. Ratings saw modest gains after shifting the early newscast to 5:30 p.m., avoiding direct competition with WCCO and KSTP but still lagging behind their national broadcasts. In December 1980, Metromedia closed WTCN’s profitable Metro Productions commercial division.

A notable achievement came in 1982 when anchor John Bachman produced an investigative series on herpes titled Herpes Is Forever, which earned an Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award.

To enhance revenue—which lagged behind other major-market affiliates—Metromedia dropped NBC’s The Tomorrow Show in favor of sitcoms that generated full advertising income and applied similar treatment occasionally to network movies. In early 1982, WTCN temporarily lost rights to air Tonight Show due to conflicts over tape delay scheduling; NBC insisted on a strict live broadcast at 10:30 p.m., threatening reassignment of the show to another local station. WTCN defended delayed airing citing Johnny Carson's aging demographic amid nationwide rating declines. When KMSP also declined live airing of Tonight, NBC ultimately permitted WTCN’s delayed broadcast.

In 1981, critic M. Howard Gelfand summarized Metromedia’s stewardship of WTCN by stating they had "turned a silk purse into a sow's ear" within just a few years.

Acquisition by Gannett and News Revamp

In August 1982, Metromedia reached an agreement to acquire WFLD, an independent television station in Chicago. To adhere to ownership regulations and fund the $136 million transaction—the second-largest amount paid for a single station at the time—it divested two stations, including WXIX-TV in Cincinnati and WTCN-TV. The Gannett Company purchased WTCN-TV for $75 million. Subsequently, Gannett sold off KARK-TV in Little Rock to maintain its portfolio equilibrium.

Gannett assumed control of WTCN in April 1983 and embarked on a thorough transformation of its local news operations with the goal of competing against market leaders WCCO and KSTP. Leadership from KBTV in Denver replaced Metromedia’s management team. The news branding transitioned from NewsCenter 11 to 11 News, aiming to attract a younger demographic that was largely overlooked by other stations. The newsroom staff expanded by approximately 40 employees, effectively doubling its size, although it remained smaller than competitors who each employed around 100 personnel. Enhancements included acquiring a news helicopter, upgrading camera equipment, and adding new vehicles.

Meteorologist Paul Douglas was recruited from the Satellite News Channel, with an innovative outdoor weather set constructed for broadcasts. Anchor personnel changes involved substituting John Bachman and Cora-Ann Mihalik with Paul Magers and Diana Pierce, both sourced from California markets. The station also prioritized visual storytelling by increasing the number of photographers on staff.

The refreshed newscasts debuted quietly in September 1983 under the name News 11, marking two rebranding efforts within a three-month span. Although initial audience ratings improved slowly, progress became noticeable by November 1983. By November 1984, the 10 p.m. newscast's share climbed to 15%, representing a substantial year-over-year increase. By February 1986, WTCN had significantly closed the gap with second-place KSTP, achieving a 23% audience share.

Two Call Letter Changes Within One Year

Following the FCC’s relaxation of call sign regulations in late 1983, Gannett—publisher of USA Today—acquired the KUSA call letters in early 1984 and obtained authorization to assign them to the former KBTV station in Denver after prior restrictions were lifted. Although initially intending to rename WTCN-TV immediately, Gannett prioritized strengthening its news department and resolving a legal challenge from the USA Network cable channel first. After prevailing in this dispute, the station adopted the WUSA call letters on July 4, 1985, signaling its rise as a serious contender in local news.

The WUSA designation remained in Minneapolis for less than one year. In February 1986, Gannett purchased the Evening News Association, which included WDVM—the CBS affiliate located in Washington, D.C., near Gannett’s headquarters in Rosslyn, Virginia. Gannett planned to transfer the WUSA call letters to Washington to create synergy with USA Today and emphasize its presence in the nation’s capital. By March 1986, Gannett directed the Minneapolis station to select a new callsign. After negotiations with KAIR-FM in Kansas—which had used KARE since 1949—the station adopted "KARE" on June 11. This change underscored the station’s commitment to community service under Gannett’s ownership, highlighted by initiatives such as "11 Who Care." Consequently, channel 9 in Washington was able to switch from WDVM to WUSA.

Ratings Improvement

Following its rebranding as KARE, Channel 11 experienced continued growth in news viewership, paralleling NBC's overall ratings resurgence. A landmark event took place on July 18, 1986, when helicopter pilot Max Messmer recorded live footage of a tornado touchdown in Fridley. This groundbreaking coverage was broadcast during KARE’s 5 p.m. newscast, setting a new ratings benchmark and attracting attention from the scientific community.

By 1986, KARE had established dominance in the key adults 25–54 demographic across nearly every ratings survey through to 2000. In October of that year, the station achieved its first second-place finish in local news ratings by surpassing KSTP-TV’s 10 p.m. broadcast, although early evening numbers remained lower due to younger viewers’ schedules. During the July 1987 sweeps period, KARE led the 10 p.m. time slot with a 29% share of the audience. This strong performance persisted into late 1987 and early 1988 despite WCCO’s expanded market presence. The surge in ratings also translated into significant advertising revenue growth; for instance, the cost of a 30-second commercial during KARE newscasts increased from $200 in 1983 to $2,300 by 1987.

KARE’s emotionally engaging and visually focused newscast format drew some criticism but earned multiple awards from the National Press Photographers Association and inspired rival stations to adopt comparable styles. It was also the first station in the Twin Cities to provide closed captioning for local news broadcasts in 1988. A Minnesota Poll conducted that year indicated KARE’s audience tended to be younger, suggesting potential for sustained leadership.

In September 1988, anchor Pat Miles joined KARE under a five-year contract designed to enhance early evening ratings. Despite this effort, WCCO regained momentum and pushed KARE back into second place.

Between 1989 and 1991, under general manager Linda Rios Brook, KARE experimented with programming such as the morning talk show Between Friends, which failed to attract significant viewership. Although her tenure was marked by mixed outcomes and controversy surrounding her evangelical Christian beliefs, the station eventually reclaimed its position as the local news leader before her departure. Hank Price succeeded Rios Brook as general manager.

In 1992, KARE began broadcasting Minnesota Timberwolves NBA games, airing seven to eight contests annually alongside KITN-TV (now WFTC). This marked the team’s return to local professional sports coverage since KARE aired Twins games as an independent station. Starting in 1994, KLGT took over KITN-TV’s role in this partnership. By the 2000–01 season, KARE was broadcasting fifteen Timberwolves games; however, by the following season, all games had moved exclusively to WFTC.

The early 1990s also saw notable anchor departures. Sportscaster Tom Ryther left following an age discrimination lawsuit against KARE that resulted in a $715,000 jury award upheld through appeals by 1997. Meteorologist Paul Douglas departed in 1994 due to family reasons and was succeeded by Ken Barlow.

Throughout the decade, KARE maintained leadership among adults aged 25–54 while closely competing with WCCO-TV for total viewership during late-night newscasts; WCCO led during early evening hours. In 1992, KARE expanded its weekend lineup by adding Saturday morning newscasts.

Additionally, during the late 1990s, KARE aired the locally produced game show Let's Bowl following Saturday Night Live. This exposure helped creators Tim Scott and Rick Kronfeld secure a deal with Comedy Central.

Post-2000

On August 31, 2001, KARE introduced a high-definition digital broadcast on channel 35. Although KARE and WCCO initially targeted a digital launch as early as November 1999, adverse weather conditions and high demand for tower crews postponed the rollout.

Anchor Magers, who played a pivotal role in securing KARE's dominance in late evening newscasts, departed in 2003 to join KCBS-TV in Los Angeles, concluding the long-standing Magers–Pierce partnership. Frank Vascellaro succeeded Magers but exited in 2005 along with meteorologist Barlow, who moved to WBZ-TV in Boston. Mike Pomeranz took over from Vascellaro; after Pomeranz left in 2006, sports anchor Randy Shaver transitioned to the news desk. These personnel shifts coincided with WCCO surpassing KARE in ratings by approximately three percentage points.

In 2006, KARE replaced its mid-morning program KARE 11 Today with Showcase Minnesota, a show incorporating advertiser-supported segments. This series was revived in 2011, with Pierce hosting both Showcase Minnesota and the 4 p.m. news broadcast.

Throughout the early 2010s, KARE experienced a decline in viewership as WCCO dominated across most demographics and time periods. By 2022, KARE remained competitive within the critical 25–54 age group but generally lagged behind WCCO in overall audience numbers. Pierce retired in 2016 after accepting a buyout from Tegna, which became KARE's parent company following the division of Gannett's broadcasting arm in 2015.

During the late 2010s and early 2020s, KARE's newsroom garnered multiple national journalism honors, including several Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Awards (2017, 2020, 2022, and 2023) for investigative reports such as On the Veteran Beat, Love Them First, Cruel and Unusual, and The Gap: Failure to Treat, Failure to Protect. The latter also earned a Peabody Award, marking KARE’s second after sharing one with KUSA Denver in 2022.

Following the federally mandated digital transition in 2009, KARE shifted its digital broadcast from UHF channel 35 to VHF channel 11. In 2020, the station received FCC authorization to move to UHF channel 31 to enhance reception after the spectrum incentive auction and completed this frequency change on October 20, 2021.

On December 11, 2024, KARE announced a collaboration with the Minnesota Timberwolves to simulcast five games along with pre- and post-game coverage during the 2024–25 season—the first local broadcasts of Timberwolves games on KARE since the 2000–01 season. In May 2025, a similar arrangement was reached with the WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx to simulcast four games.

A transformer explosion at KARE’s Golden Valley studios on July 22, 2025 resulted in a power outage and mandatory evacuation. The fire was swiftly controlled but caused operational disruptions; evening newscasts were transmitted from the Shoreview transmitter location while morning anchors presented from sister station WXIA-TV in Atlanta utilizing its secondary studio and control room. The incident primarily inflicted smoke damage on the facility.

Current

• Boyd Huppert reporter since 1996 and national storytelling coach for Tegna

Former Personnel

• Andre Bernier served as the weekday morning meteorologist during the 1980s
• Asha Blake worked as a reporter and anchor in the early 1990s
• Dennis Bounds held the position of weekend news anchor from 1980 to 1982
• Bernie Grace was a crime news reporter from 1979 until 2006
• Jack Horner contributed as a sportscaster

Digital Subchannels

KARE transmits its signal from the Telefarm Towers located in Shoreview, Minnesota. The station’s multiplexed digital channels are organized as follows:

KARE Subchannel Lineup

Channel	Resolution	Aspect Ratio	Identifier	Content
11.1	1080i	16:9	KARE-HD	NBC
11.2	480i	16:9	Quest	Quest
11.3	480i	16:9	Crime	True Crime Network
11.4	480i	16:9	(OPEN)	No programming
11.5	480i	16:9	NEST	The Nest
11.7	480i	16:9	CONFESS	Confess
11.8	480i	16:9	HSN	HSN
23.5	480i	16:9	Rewind	Rewind TV (WUCW)

Translator Stations

Beyond its primary transmitter in Shoreview, KARE expands its broadcast coverage across Minnesota through various translator stations managed by different organizations:

• Alexandria: K14LZ-D
• Frost: K31EF-D (rebroadcasting 11.1 as 11.4)
• Jackson: K19HZ-D (rebroadcasting 11.1 as 11.4)
• Olivia: K20JY-D
• Redwood Falls: K22KU-D
• St. James: K32GX-D (rebroadcasting 11.1 as 11.4)
• Walker: K24KT-D (rebroadcasting 11.1 as 24.1)
• Willmar: K17FA-D

Historically, KARE operated a translator station in Breezy Point and Brainerd, KLKS-LP (channel 14), which was owned by Lakes Broadcasting Group. This repeater functioned from 1995 until July 16, 2011, when Gannett's management ceased its role as a KARE relay.

External links

• Minnesota Bound
• TC Media Now – archival footage and documents related to WTCN/WUSA/KARE
• Coverage of the 1986 tornado by KARE
• Historical imagery of WTCN-TV and WTCN Radio courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society