Forum Communications Company is expanding again in South Dakota.
The Fargo, ND-based company announced today, August 14, that it has reached an agreement with Rapid City Broadcasting to acquire KNBN-TV, the NBC affiliate in Rapid City, SD.
The acquisition will enable Forum Communications to better serve people across South Dakota and act as a trusted news source for the state, said Josh Rohrer, vice president of broadcasting at Forum Communications.
“Combining the outstanding quality of KNBN’s existing local news with the experience and reputation of Forum Communications will help create a new home for the very best local news, weather and sports in South Dakota,” Rohrer said.
KNBN is the only independent TV network in South Dakota. That will remain the case, Rohrer said, but the acquisition opens up the opportunity to expand its reach and impact.
The acquisition includes certain satellite stations that deliver the KNBN signal to the entire Rapid City DMA, according to a press release from Forum Communications.
Viewers can also expect collaborations with Sioux Falls Live/KSFL-TV and the Mitchell Republic on stories of national importance, Rohrer said.
Forum Communications acquired Sioux Falls-based station KSFL (then KWSD-TV and KCWS-LD) in November 2022, around the same time it launched Sioux Falls Live, a website featuring local news, weather and sports.
“We have big plans in South Dakota,” said Mary Jo Hotzler, chief content officer at Forum Communications. “Mitchell has long been a news leader in the state and is unmatched when it comes to high school sports coverage. Sioux Falls has quickly become a go-to destination for news and sports, especially for the (SDSU) Jackrabbits, and we are excited to add Rapid City. This is just the beginning for us in the state.”
Family-owned Forum Communications Company owns and operates newspapers, news websites and television stations in 19 communities in Minnesota, North and South Dakota and Wisconsin. This includes WDAY, an award-winning television station based in Fargo. WDAY-TV broadcasts throughout North Dakota, as well as northwest Minnesota, northern South Dakota, eastern Montana and parts of Canada.
The acquisition of KNBN is subject to receipt of regulatory and other approvals.
