View source for KAAL

{{Short description|Television station in Austin, Minnesota}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Other uses|Kaal (disambiguation)}}
{{infobox television station
| callsign               = KAAL
| city                   = Austin, Minnesota
| logo                   = KAAL 2021.png
| logo_alt = The ABC logo, a black disk with the lowercase letters a b c, overlapping a red parallelogram containing a slanted, sans serif 6
| logo_size              = 175px
| branding               = ABC 6
| digital                = 36 ([[UHF]])
| virtual                = 6 
| subchannels            =
| translators            = 33 (UHF) Garner, Iowa
| affiliations           = {{ubl|'''6.1:''' [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]|''for others, see {{section link||Subchannels}}''}}
| network                = 
| founded                = 
| airdate                = {{start date and age|1953|8|17|p=y}}
| location               = {{ubl|[[Austin, Minnesota|Austin]]–[[Albert Lea, Minnesota|Albert Lea]]–[[Rochester, Minnesota]]|[[Mason City, Iowa]]}}
| country                = United States
| callsign_meaning       = Austin/Albert Lea
| former_callsigns       = {{ubl|KMMT (1953–1967)|KAUS-TV (1967–1974)|KAAL-TV (1974–1998)}}
| former_channel_numbers = {{ubl|'''Analog:''' 6 ([[VHF]], 1953–2009)|'''Digital:''' 33 (UHF, 2001–2009)}}
| owner                  = [[Hubbard Broadcasting]]
| licensee               = KAAL-TV, [[LLC]]
| sister_stations        = 
| former_affiliations    = {{ubl|[[CBS]] (1953–1954)|ABC (secondary, 1953–1954)|[[DuMont Television Network|DuMont]] (secondary, 1953–1955)}}
| erp                    = 620 [[kW]]
| haat                   = {{convert|326|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}
| class                  = 
| facility_id            = 18285
| coordinates            = {{coord|43|38|34|N|92|31|36.0|W|type:landmark_scale:2000}}
| licensing_authority    = [[FCC]]
| website                = {{URL|https://www.kaaltv.com/}} 
}}
'''KAAL''' (channel 6) is a [[television station]] licensed to [[Austin, Minnesota]], United States, serving as the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate for [[Southeast Minnesota]] and Northern [[Iowa]]. The station is owned by [[Hubbard Broadcasting]] and maintains studios in the [[TJ Maxx]]–anchored [[shopping center]] on Salem Road in [[Rochester, Minnesota]]. Its primary transmitter is located in [[Grand Meadow Township, Mower County, Minnesota|Grand Meadow Township]], with a digital replacement translator in [[Garner, Iowa]], near [[Mason City, Iowa|Mason City]].

Channel 6 went on the air as KMMT on August 17, 1953. It was built by a consortium of Austin radio station [[KAUS (AM)|KAUS]] and other investors and operated from the same facility as KAUS radio. The station became a sole ABC affiliate the next year, having originally also carried [[CBS]] and [[DuMont Television Network|DuMont]] programs. From 1958 to 1980, the station was owned by Black Hawk Broadcasting of [[Waterloo, Iowa]]; it was renamed KAUS-TV in 1967, and then KAAL in 1974, when Black Hawk sold off the KAUS radio stations.

After a series of other out-of-state owners in the 1980s and 1990s, including the [[News-Press & Gazette Company]], Dix Broadcasting, and Grapevine Communications, KAAL was acquired by Hubbard Broadcasting in 2001. The purchase completed Hubbard's ownership of every ABC affiliate in the state of Minnesota. To better compete with market leader [[KTTC]] in the growing Rochester area, the station expanded its existing Rochester offices in 2008 and then moved its studios to a new facility there in 2015.

==History==
As the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) neared the end of its multiple-year freeze on TV station awards, [[Austin, Minnesota|Austin]] radio station [[KAUS (AM)|KAUS]] announced in February 1952 that it had filed for a construction permit and acquired an antenna and tower, which were shipped from [[St. Paul, Minnesota|St. Paul]].<ref name="Aust520208">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kaus-may-go-on-c/136011196/|date=February 8, 1952|page=11|title=KAUS May Go on Channel 6 Within Year|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205214201/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kaus-may-go-on-c/136011196/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> KAUS's application remained pending when the South Central Minnesota Television Company, associated with stations [[KATE]] in [[Albert Lea, Minnesota|Albert Lea]] and [[KRFO (AM)|KOBK]] in [[Owatonna, Minnesota|Owatonna]], filed a competing application for channel 6 in January 1953.<ref name="Aust530105">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-new-tv-company-w/136011424/|date=January 5, 1953|page=9|title=New TV Company Would Establish Main Studio Here|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205214154/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-new-tv-company-w/136011424/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Mon --> Facing the prospect of a lengthy [[comparative hearing]] to determine who should be allocated the channel, KAUS and the South Central Minnesota Television Company combined their applications in March 1953, joining as the Minnesota-Iowa Television Company and winning the channel 6 permit.<ref name="Aust530326">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-tv-here-rushed/136011521/|date=March 26, 1953|page=1|title=TV Here Rushed: FCC Grants Austin Permit on Channel 6|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205214144/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-tv-here-rushed/136011521/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> The station took the call sign KMMT, the only proposed call sign that was available of a list submitted by the company to the FCC;<ref name="Aust530411">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-designate-statio/136330984/|date=April 11, 1953|page=7|title=Designate Station Here KMMT-TV; Tests Set|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205214108/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-designate-statio/136330984/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> the KAUS-TV call sign was not available because of the separate ownership.<ref name="Aust530724">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-lions-briefed-on/136331050/|date=July 24, 1953|page=8|title=Lions Briefed on Operations of TV Station|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205214031/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-lions-briefed-on/136331050/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri -->

From studios south of Austin on [[MN 105]], shared with KAUS radio, KMMT signed on the air on August 17, 1953.<ref name="Cour530818">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-austin-tv-station-begins-its/136011685/|date=August 18, 1953|page=2|title=Austin TV Station Begins Its Programs|newspaper=The Courier|location=Waterloo, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205214031/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-austin-tv-station-begins-its/136011685/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> The station was originally an affiliate of [[CBS]],<ref>{{cite news|page=11|title=CBS-TV Adds 2|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=August 4, 1953|id={{ProQuest|2338386749}} }}</ref> [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]],<ref>{{Cite news|date=July 29, 1953|page=28|work=Variety|title=ABC-TV's 135 Affils|id={{ProQuest|1032342307}} }}</ref> and the [[DuMont Television Network]].{{r|Aust530724}} It also broadcast local news and sports coverage; one early program, ''Circle 6 Ranch'', featured country music artist Johnny Western singing songs and presenting films.<ref name="Spen530910">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spencer-daily-reporter-kmmt-newest-t/136011779/|date=September 10, 1953|page=TV 1|title=KMMT Newest Television Station Serving Area|newspaper=The Spencer Daily Reporter|location=Spencer, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205214031/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-spencer-daily-reporter-kmmt-newest-t/136011779/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> The CBS and DuMont affiliations in the area moved to [[KGLO-TV]] in [[Mason City, Iowa]], when that station began in May 1954.<ref name="Aust540507">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-mason-city-telev/136331422/|date=May 7, 1954|page=7|title=Mason City Television Station to Begin Programs May 15|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205214031/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-mason-city-telev/136331422/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> The station also briefly affiliated with the [[NTA Film Network]], which began in 1956.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1956/1956-09-17-BC.pdf|date=September 17, 1956|work=Broadcasting|pages=56, 58|id={{ProQuest|1285731096}}|title=104 Sign Up For NTA Film Network, Due to Begin Operations on Oct. 15|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=July 18, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230718161056/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1956/1956-09-17-BC.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Black Hawk Broadcasting of [[Waterloo, Iowa]], assumed management control of KAUS and KMMT on October 1, 1954;<ref name="Aust551004">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-iowa-firm-renews/136331554/|date=October 4, 1955|page=1|title=Iowa Firm Renews Management Contract With KMMT, KAUS|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue --> the deal included an option to buy the stations, which Black Hawk exercised in 1957.<ref name="Aust570212">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-ok-awaited-on-tv/136331515/|date=February 12, 1957|page=1|title=OK Awaited on TV, Radio Station Sale|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023}}</ref><!-- Tue --> During this time, the station began airing the long-running ''Family Hour'', a Christian program hosted by pastor Joe Matt; the 15-minute show remained on the air on channel 6 until 2001, ending its run as the longest-running local TV show in the United States.<ref name="Aust010427">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-end-of-an-era/136331874/|date=April 27, 2001|pages=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/paper/the-austin-daily-herald/79/ 5]|first=Lee|last=Bonorden|title=End of an Era: 'The Family Hour' tapes last show after 46 years on KAAL|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023}}</ref><!-- Fri --> In 1959, KMMT increased its power to the maximum of 100,000 watts; this expanded the station's coverage area as well as that of ABC, which had no nearby affiliates.<ref name="Aust590706">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kmmt-plans-power/136011951/|date=July 6, 1959|page=2|title=Kmmt Plans Power Boost to 100,000|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023}}</ref><!-- Mon --><ref name="Aust590812">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kmmt-to-build-10/136011963/|date=August 12, 1959|page=1|title=Kmmt to Build 100,000-Watt TV Facilities|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205215223/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kmmt-to-build-10/136011963/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed -->

Its call letters became KAUS-TV (for Austin) on June 1, 1967, to match its radio sisters;<ref name="Aust670526">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kmmt-to-change-n/136012192/|date=May 26, 1967|page=9|title=KMMT to Change Name to KAUS TV on June 1|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205215147/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kmmt-to-change-n/136012192/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> at that time, the station built a new, {{convert|1000|ft|m|adj=on}} tower west of Austin for KMMT and to support a new FM station, [[KAUS-FM]] 99.9, which launched on May 30, 1968.<ref name="Aust670204">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kmmt-files-appli/136329920/|date=February 4, 1967|page=3|title=KMMT Files Application for New Transmitter Tower|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205215144/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kmmt-files-appli/136329920/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --><ref name="Aust680523">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kaus-fm-station/136329129/|date=May 23, 1968|page=11|title=KAUS FM Station to Go on Air Soon|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205215224/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kaus-fm-station/136329129/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> The old tower was purchased by [[KTCA-TV]] and reassembled in the [[Rushford, Minnesota|Rushford]] area for use as part of a translator setup for that station.<ref name="Aust681026">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-education-tv-cha/136012237/|date=October 26, 1968|page=6|title=Education TV Channel Buys Tower in Area|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205215111/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-education-tv-cha/136012237/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> That same year, KAUS-TV discontinued its translators in La Crosse and Winona after the FCC approved a new La Crosse station, [[WXOW]], which would become an ABC affiliate;<ref name="Wino681017">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-winona-daily-news-to-our-la-crosse-a/136328904/|date=October 17, 1968|page=8|title=To Our La Crosse and Winona Viewers|newspaper=The Winona Daily News|location=Winona, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205215153/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-winona-daily-news-to-our-la-crosse-a/136328904/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu --> KMMT had been transmitting to La Crosse since January 1967.<ref name="LaCr670121">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-kmmt-austin-ch/136329812/|date=January 21, 1967|page=16|title=KMMT, Austin, Ch. 6, Starts New Service|newspaper=The La Crosse Tribune|location=La Crosse, Wisconsin|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205215231/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-la-crosse-tribune-kmmt-austin-ch/136329812/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> The Winona transmitter was sold to [[KROC-TV]] of [[Rochester, Minnesota]], and switched to provide its [[NBC]] programming.<ref name="Wino681107">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-winona-daily-news-channel-10-buys-ho/136330032/|date=November 7, 1968|page=18|title=Channel 10 Buys Homer Translator|newspaper=The Winona Daily News|location=Winona, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205215112/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-winona-daily-news-channel-10-buys-ho/136330032/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu -->

Black Hawk Broadcasting sold its Austin radio stations to Withers Broadcasting in 1974. As KAUS-TV and KAUS AM could not share a call sign under separate owners, an exchange was developed. KAUS-TV became KAAL-TV, adopting a call sign which for two years had been used on KAUS-FM.<ref name="Aust721021">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kaus-fm-to-chang/136329482/|date=October 21, 1972|page=2|title=KAUS FM to change call letters to KAAL|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023}}</ref><!-- Sat --><ref name="Aust741120">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-radio-televisio/136012300/|date=November 20, 1974|page=9|title=Radio, television letters changed|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205215744/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-radio-televisio/136012300/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> Withers retained the radio studio facility, and KAAL moved the next year to a new site in Austin, a former [[Volkswagen]] dealership located on 10th Place NE.<ref name="Aust750329">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-move-planned-for/136329639/|date=March 29, 1975|page=82|title=Move planned for May 1: New facility for KAAL-TV|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205215747/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-move-planned-for/136329639/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat -->

The [[News-Press & Gazette Company]] of [[St. Joseph, Missouri]], acquired KAAL for $11.25&nbsp;million in 1980. The sale was a required divestiture to allow Black Hawk Broadcasting to merge into [[Aflac|American Family Corporation]]; to meet FCC ownership regulations, Black Hawk needed to spin off more than half of the seven broadcast properties it owned.<ref>{{cite news|page=24|title=In Brief|work=Broadcasting|date=October 1, 1979|id={{ProQuest|1014699265}} }}</ref><ref name="Aust801011">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-business-notes/136330173/|date=October 11, 1980|page=2|title=Business notes|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205215758/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-business-notes/136330173/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sat --> During this time, KAAL originated the telecast of the [[Miss Minnesota]] pageant, seen statewide.<ref>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012163225/https://www.kaaltv.com/article/stories/S85667.shtml?cat=10172|url=http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/S85667.shtml?cat=10172|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 12, 2007|title=History|website=KAAL|access-date=December 5, 2023}}</ref> NPG owned the station for five years, selling for $13.5&nbsp;million to the Wooster Republican Printing Company of [[Wooster, Ohio]]—the Dix family—in 1985.<ref name="Aust851025">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kaal-sold-to-ohi/136012442/|date=October 25, 1985|page=2|title=KAAL sold to Ohio firm|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205215748/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kaal-sold-to-ohi/136012442/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> During Dix ownership, KAAL signed a secondary affiliation agreement with [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]].<ref>{{Cite news|title=7 ABC affiliates sign with FBC for Rivers in latenight|first=Louis|last=Chunovic|work=The Hollywood Reporter|pages=3, 19|id={{ProQuest|2594619097}}|date=February 2, 1987}}</ref> It was also among the first ABC affiliates to agree to carry the ''[[NFL on Fox]]'' when football left CBS for Fox in 1994.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tough talk over Fox football|date=April 11, 1994|page=18|id={{ProQuest|1016953590}}|work=Broadcasting & Cable|first=Steve|last=McClellan}}</ref>

Eastern Broadcasting acquired KAAL and [[KTWO-TV]] in [[Casper, Wyoming]], from the Dix family in 1995; the owner of Eastern, Roger Neuhoff, came out of retirement to run the two stations.<ref name="Aust950214">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-eastern-broadcas/136012459/|date=February 14, 1995|page=1|title=Eastern Broadcasting purchases KAAL|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205215750/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-eastern-broadcas/136012459/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Tue --> In 1997, Eastern sold its four stations—KAAL, KTWO-TV and repeater KKTU, and [[KODE-TV]] in Joplin, Missouri—for $40 million to Atlanta-based Grapevine Communications;<ref name="Aust970321">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kaal-tv-to-be-so/136332132/|date=March 21, 1997|page=9|title=KAAL-TV to be sold|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205215727/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kaal-tv-to-be-so/136332132/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri --> two years later, Grapevine acquired GOCOM,<ref>{{Cite news|title=Grapevine, Gocom to forge $300Mil group|first=Anne|last=Torpey-Kemph|work=Mediaweek|date=May 17, 1999|page=39|id={{ProQuest|213658296}} }}</ref> though the GOCOM name and corporate offices in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], were retained.<ref name="Aust000302">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-channel-6-operat/136332655/|date=March 2, 2000|page=3|title=Channel 6 operates as GOCOM|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205215704/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-channel-6-operat/136332655/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Thu -->

[[Hubbard Broadcasting]] agreed to purchase KAAL from GOCOM in October 2000; it was the last ABC affiliate in Minnesota that Hubbard did not already own.<ref name="Aust001004">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kaal-to-get-a-ne/136332469/|date=October 4, 2000|page=1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kaal/136332522/ 16]|first=Chuck|last=Gysi|title=KAAL to get a new owner|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205215735/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kaal-to-get-a-ne/136332469/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Wed --> The station began digital broadcasting on February 20, 2002;<ref>{{cite book|chapter=KAAL-DT|title=Television Factbook|date=2006|page=A-1200}}</ref> the analog signal was turned off on June 12, 2009.<ref>{{cite news|title=KAAL, KIMT set for digital switch|first=Sarah|last=Doty|date=June 11, 2009|work=Rochester Post-Bulletin}}</ref>

Under Hubbard, KAAL has invested resources and shifted the bulk of its operation from Austin to Rochester in an effort to increase news ratings against market-leading [[KTTC]] and shed its reputation as a station solely focused on the Austin area. In 2008, the station opened a new Rochester office on Superior Drive NW, which included equipment allowing for a newscast to be presented from both cities.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jeff|last=Kiger|title=KAAL-TV tunes in Rochester|date=December 1, 2008|work=Rochester Post-Bulletin}}</ref> In 2015, it moved to a new and larger southwest Rochester facility, which became the main studio.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.austindailyherald.com/2014/06/kaal-plans-1m-studio-in-rochester/|work=Austin Daily Herald|title=KAAL plans $1M studio in Rochester|date=June 27, 2014|access-date=July 14, 2014|archive-date=October 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013032552/http://www.austindailyherald.com/2014/06/kaal-plans-1m-studio-in-rochester|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|first=Jeff|last=Kiger|work=Rochester Post-Bulletin|url=http://www.postbulletin.com/business/kaal-tv-to-build-facility/article_da5da3a0-bd9c-5f8d-a268-8567a2917154.html|title=KAAL-TV to build facility|date=June 24, 2014|access-date=July 14, 2014|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205220301/https://www.postbulletin.com/business/kaal-tv-to-build-facility|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Notable former on-air staff===
*[[Butch Stearns]] – sports director, early 1990s<ref name="Aust931128">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kaal-undergoes-p/136335958/|date=November 28, 1993|page=2A|first=Scott|last=Sievers|title=KAAL undergoes personnel shakeup|newspaper=The Austin Daily Herald|location=Austin, Minnesota|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205220202/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-daily-herald-kaal-undergoes-p/136335958/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --><ref name="Bost960818">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-stearns-feels-right-at/136335985/|date=August 18, 1996|page=C4|first=Jim|last=Greenidge|title=Stearns feels right at home at Ch. 68|newspaper=The Boston Globe|location=Boston, Massachusetts|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205220142/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-stearns-feels-right-at/136335985/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun -->
*[[Bill Weir]] – reporter and weekend sports anchor, 1991–1992<ref name="Glob041107">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/globe-gazette-facts-on-weir/136336107/|date=November 7, 2004|page=A4|title=Facts on Weir|newspaper=Globe-Gazette|location=Mason City, Iowa|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205220214/https://www.newspapers.com/article/globe-gazette-facts-on-weir/136336107/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Sun --><ref name="Gree921113">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-wluk-promotes-co/136336077/|date=November 13, 1992|page=C-3|first=Warren|last=Gerds|title=WLUK promotes Conner|newspaper=Green Bay Press-Gazette|location=Green Bay, Wisconsin|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=December 5, 2023|archive-date=December 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205220226/https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-wluk-promotes-co/136336077/|url-status=live}}</ref><!-- Fri -->

==Subchannels==
The station's signal is [[Multiplex (TV)|multiplexed]]:
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Subchannels of KAAL<ref>{{cite web|title=RabbitEars TV Query for KAAL|website=[[RabbitEars]]|access-date=October 22, 2022|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KAAL|archive-date=October 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022045845/https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=station_search&callsign=KAAL|url-status=live}}</ref>
! scope = "col" | Channel
! scope = "col" | [[Display resolution|Res.]]
! scope = "col" | [[Aspect ratio (image)|Aspect]]
! scope = "col" | Short name
! scope = "col" | Programming
|-
! scope = "row" | 6.1 
| [[720p]] || [[16:9]] || KAAL-DT || [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 6.2 
| rowspan=4|[[480i]] || [[4:3]] || StartTV || [[Start TV]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 6.3 
| rowspan=3|16:9 || IonPlus || [[Ion Plus]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 6.4 
| TruReal || [[Bounce TV]]
|-
! scope = "row" | 6.5 
| Ion || [[Ion Television]]
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.kaaltv.com/ KAAL "ABC 6"]
*[http://rochester.thistv.com/ KAAL-DT2 This TV]

{{RMCA TV}}
{{ABC Minnesota}}
{{Iowa TV}}
{{Hubbard Broadcasting Corporation}}
{{Austin, Minnesota}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaal}}
[[Category:1953 establishments in Minnesota]]
[[Category:American Broadcasting Company affiliates]]
[[Category:Bounce TV affiliates]]
[[Category:Hubbard Broadcasting]]
[[Category:Ion Plus affiliates]]
[[Category:Ion Television affiliates]]
[[Category:Start TV affiliates]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1953]]
[[Category:Television stations in the Rochester–Mason City–Austin market|AAL]]