KBJR Duluth

For the first time in years, the NBC and CBS affiliates in Duluth, Minn., are airing competing live newscasts at 6 and 10 p.m. The changes stem from a shift in ownership late last year for both NBC affiliate KBJR and former CBS affiliate KDLH.  Quincy Media acquired KBJR from Granite Broadcasting and Georgia-based SagamoreHill Broadcasting purchased KDLH from Malara Broadcasting (both stations are operated by Quincy.).

Mediacom Communications announced Thursday that it reached a carriage agreement with Granite Broadcasting Corp. covering KBJR Duluth, Minn.; WISE Fort Wayne, Ind.; and WEEK Peoria, Ill. The Granite stations, which went dark on Mediacom systems on June 1, will be immediately reinstated on the Mediacom channel lineup in the markets where Granite operates the primary network affiliate. “We thank our customers for their patience and continued loyalty as we worked to reach a new contract with Granite Broadcasting,” said Ed Pardini, Mediacom’s SVP of field operations.

KBJR (NBC-MNT) Duluth, Minn.; WISE (NBC-MNT) Fort Wayne, Ind.; and WEEK (NBC) Peoria, Ill., go dark on Mediacom systems after a retrans contract expired with no new deal in place.

It’s purchasing WEEK Peoria-Bloomington, Ill.; WPTA Fort Wayne, Ind.; KBJR and its satellite, KRII, Duluth, Minn.-Superior, Wis.; and WBNG Binghamton, N.Y. In addition, Quincy will provide operating services to WHOI and WAOE Peoria-Bloomington, Ill., as well as to stations to be acquired by SagamoreHill Broadcasting: WISE Fort Wayne, Ind., and KDLH Duluth, Minn.-Superior, Wis.