View source for KVLY-TV mast

{{short description|Television-transmitting mast in Blanchard, North Dakota}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox building
| name = KVLY-TV mast
| image = File:KVLY-TV mast.jpg
| caption = KVLY-TV mast in 2018
| building_type = [[Radio masts and towers|TV transmission tower]] (effective radiated power = 316 [[Watt#Kilowatt|kW]])
| location = [[Blanchard, North Dakota|Blanchard]], [[Traill County, North Dakota|Traill County]], [[North Dakota]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| coordinates = {{coord|display=inline,title|47|20|32|N|97|17|21|W|region:US-ND_type:landmark}}
| map_type = North Dakota#USA
| completion_date = {{#statements:inception}}
| height = {{Convert|1987|ft|1}}<ref name="FCC height" />
| owner = [[Gray Media]]
| architect = Hamilton Directors
| main_contractor = [[Kline Iron and Steel]]
}}
The '''KVLY-TV mast''' (formerly the '''KTHI-TV mast''') is a [[television]]-transmitting [[Radio masts and towers|mast]] in [[Blanchard, North Dakota]]. It is used by [[Fargo, North Dakota|Fargo]] station [[KVLY-TV]] (channel 11) and [[KXJB-LD]]'s [[Argusville, North Dakota|Argusville]]/[[Valley City, North Dakota|Valley City]]/[[Mayville, North Dakota|Mayville]] [[Broadcast translator|translator]] [[KXJB-LD|K28MA-D]] (channel 28), along with [[KNGF]] (channel 27).  Completed in 1963, it was once the [[List of tallest structures|tallest structure in the world]], and stood at 2,063 feet (628.8 meters) until 2019, when the top mount VHF antenna was removed for the [[2016 United States wireless spectrum auction|FCC spectrum repack]], dropping the height to {{Convert|1987|ft|1}}.<ref name="FCC height">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fccinfo.com/CMDProASRLookup.php?tabSearchType=ASR+Search&sASR=1046244|title=FCCInfo Structure Registration Results}}</ref>

In 1974, the KVLY-TV mast was succeeded by the [[Warsaw radio mast]] as the world's tallest structure. The Warsaw mast collapsed in 1991, again making the KVLY-TV mast the tallest structure in the world until the [[Burj Khalifa]] surpassed it in 2008. The KVLY-TV mast remained the tallest structure in the [[Western Hemisphere]] and the [[List of tallest buildings and structures#Tallest structure by category|tallest broadcasting mast in the world]] until the removal of its antenna in 2019.

==Location==
[[File:Tallest Structures in the world.png|thumb|left|KVLY-TV mast compared to the tallest buildings in the world. KXJB-TV has since been renamed KRDK-TV.]]
The mast is located {{convert|3|mi|km}} west of [[Blanchard, North Dakota]], halfway between Fargo and [[Grand Forks, North Dakota|Grand Forks]]. It became the tallest artificial structure, and the first man-made structure to exceed {{convert|2000|ft|m}} in height, upon the completion of its construction on August 13, 1963.

==Construction==
The tower was built by Hamilton Erection Company of [[York, South Carolina]], and [[Kline Iron and Steel]], and required thirty days to complete, at a cost of approximately $500,000<ref>{{cite web| url=https://structurae.net/structures/kvly-tower| title=KVLY Tower| author=Blanchard| publisher=Structurae| access-date=July 17, 2019}}</ref> (roughly ${{Format price|{{Inflation|US|500000|1963}}}} today{{Inflation-fn|US}}). Construction was completed August 13, 1963.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://wireless2.fcc.gov/UlsApp/AsrSearch/asrRegistration.jsp?regKey=608746 | title=ASR Registration 1046244 | publisher=U.S. Federal Communications Commission}}</ref>

==Owners==
{{refimprove|section|date=November 2024}}
Owned by [[Gray Media]] of [[Atlanta, Georgia]], the tower broadcasts at 350 [[kW]] on channel 36 for television station [[KVLY-TV]] (channel 11 PSIP, an [[NBC]]/[[CBS]] affiliate) which is based in [[Fargo, North Dakota]]. The tower provides a broadcast area of roughly {{convert|9700|sqmi||abbr=}}, which is a radius of about {{convert|55.0|mi}}. [[CBS]]/[[The CW Plus|CW+]] affiliate [[KXJB-LD]]'s [[broadcast translator|translator]] K28MA-D also broadcasts on this tower at 15 [[kW]] on UHF channel 28 (also its virtual channel).

When the mast was built, the call letters of the television station for which it was built were changed to KTHI for "Tower High".<ref name="Farg631213">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fargo-forum-daily-republican-and-m/159428850/|date=December 13, 1963|page=T-6|first=Jerry|last=Ruff|title=Exciting Changes Due on KEND-TV|newspaper=The Fargo Forum, Daily Republican, and Moorhead Daily News|location=Fargo, North Dakota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=November 22, 2024}}</ref><!-- Fri --> The top is reachable by a two-person service elevator (built by Park Manufacturing of [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]) or ladder.

==Specifications==
The tower consists of two parts: a [[lattice tower]] of {{convert|1950|ft|m}};<ref name="npr">{{cite news| title= N.D. TV Tower No Longer World's Tallest| url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122258086| work=All Things Considered| date=5 January 2010| publisher=NPR.org| access-date=2011-12-06}}</ref> topped by the [[transmitting]] [[antenna (radio)|antenna]] array of {{convert|53|ft|m}}. The total height of both is {{Convert|1987|ft|m}}. The antenna weighs {{convert|9,000|lb|t}}, the lattice tower weighs {{convert|855,500|lb|t}}, giving a total weight of {{convert|864,500|lb|t}}. It takes up {{convert|160|acre|ha}} of land with its [[Guy-wire|guy anchors]].<ref name="emporis">{{cite web| title=KVLY-TV Tower| url=http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=123700| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604190458/http://www.emporis.com/application/?nav=building&lng=3&id=123700| url-status=usurped| archive-date=June 4, 2011| publisher=Emporis| access-date=2011-12-06}}</ref><ref name="valley">{{cite web|url=http://valleynewslive.tv/info/info_tower.html |title=Info |publisher=Valleynewslive.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806003230/http://valleynewslive.tv/info/info_tower.html |archive-date=August 6, 2010 }}</ref> Its height above mean sea level is {{convert|2962|ft|m}}.

==Federal rule change==
Some time after its completion, the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) and [[Federal Aviation Administration]] (FAA) imposed a policy that states, "Although there is no absolute height limit for antenna towers, both agencies have established a [[rebuttable presumption]] against structures over 2,000 feet above ground level." The FCC and FAA may approve a taller structure in "exceptional cases."<ref name="fcc">{{cite web| url=https://www.fcc.gov/media/policy/antenna-tower-lighting-and-marking-requirements| title=Antenna Tower Lighting and Marking Requirements| date=28 June 2016| publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]| access-date=2018-09-29}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:KVLYDistance.jpg|KVLY tower from a distance of about one mile (1.6&nbsp;km)
File:KVLYPylon.jpeg|A [[guy-wire]] anchor
File:KVLYFromBase.jpeg|Detail of the tower, showing its network of guy-wires
File:KVLY-TV tower, North Dakota 019.jpg|Some of the guy-wires that support the tower (with [[Stockbridge damper]]s)
File:Base of KVLY-TV mast.jpg|Looking up at the KVLY-TV mast from its base
File:Base of KVLY-TV tower.jpg|Building at the base of the KVLY-TV tower
</gallery>

==Structures of similar height==
*[[KRDK-TV mast]] ({{Convert|2060|ft|0}})
*[[KXTV/KOVR tower]] ({{Convert|2049|ft|}})

==See also==
*[[List of tallest structures in the world]]
*[[List of tallest structures in the United States]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|KVLY-TV mast}}
*{{Structurae|id=20000675|title=KVLY Tower}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100806003230/http://valleynewslive.tv/info/info_tower.html Tower web page] at KVLY-TV
*{{ASR|key=608746|number=1046244}}
*{{SkyscraperPage|471}}
*[http://www.skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?b471 Drawings of KVLY/KTHI TV Mast] from the Skyscraper Page
*[https://www.pbase.com/talshiarr/kvly KVLY and KXJB Towers] from PBPhase.com
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaWkOA6-EXk Video of the KVLY Tower, summer 2009] from YouTube

{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|rec}}
{{S-bef|before=[[WIMZ-FM-Tower]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[History of the world's tallest structures|World's tallest structure ever built]]|years=1963–1974<br /><small>2,063 ft (628.8 m)</small>}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Warsaw radio mast]]}}
{{S-bef|before=[[Warsaw radio mast]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[History of the world's tallest structures|World's tallest existing structure]]|years=1991–1998}}
{{S-aft|after=[[KRDK-TV mast]]}}
{{S-bef|rows=3|before=[[KRDK-TV mast]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[History of the world's tallest structures|World's tallest existing structure]]|years=1998–2008}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Burj Khalifa]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[History of the world's tallest structures|World's tallest existing tower]]|years=1998–2011}}
{{S-aft|after=[[Tokyo Skytree]]}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[History of the world's tallest structures#Guyed structures|World's tallest existing guyed structure]]|years=1998–2018}}
{{S-aft|after=[[KRDK-TV mast]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kvly-Tv Mast}}
[[Category:Towers in North Dakota]]
[[Category:Mass media in North Dakota]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Traill County, North Dakota]]
[[Category:Radio masts and towers in the United States]]
[[Category:Gray Media]]
[[Category:1963 establishments in North Dakota]]
[[Category:Towers completed in 1963]]