WTND-TV 37

* Main station logo
* RKO Network branding
* EstrellaTV branding

### Call sign meaning

Wildforest Television North Dakota (first part bearing former name of the now defunct Wildforest TV)

**WTND**, (addressed on air as **WTND-TV**) virtual channel 37 and VHF digital channel 27, is a FOX/Univision affiliated television station licensed to Bismarck, North Dakota, United States. The station is owned by Nexstar. WTND's studios are located on RKO Street in downtown Bismarck, its transmitter is located in Fargo, North Dakota.

The station also operates under the affiliations of Univision.

In a few areas of the United States where a FOX station is not receivable over-the-air, WTND is available on satellite via DirecTV and Dish Network on digital channel 27 and virtual channel 37.

## History

WBFT was founded in 1957 by Dorothy Bullitt and first went on the air on April 16, 1959 as North Dakota's first independent station. It's AM and FM stations (WBFT 1500 AM and WBFT 93.8 FM) were founded two years later. The TV station was a CBS affiliate for 13 years and, at the time, was owned by CBS.

In 1971, WBFT began to broadcast in colour from their studios and transmitter, and were also starting to no longer use black and white. That same year, CBS sold WTND to ABC, where they broadcasted for 3 years under that branding. In 1975, they changed their call sign to WRBT. Dorothy then decided to make the Network go independent until at least 1997.

In 1997, UPN became WRBT's new affiliate for only one year. This was done mainly due to low ratings. They then became a 3ABN affiliate in 1998 for 5 years until 2002. The station went independent again for 17 years. In 2017, they changed thier call sign to WPRB. In 2018, Global struck a deal with WPRB and made them a transmitter station of CKND.

In July 2021, the new Wildforest Television bought WPRB for a thousand dollars from Global, and made it their flagship station. They gave them the call sign of WTND. The studios and transmitter were redone for the occasion.

In Mid-September 2022, Midwest brought Wildforest Television (again…yay), causing the station to shut down.

On June 3, 2023, WTND suddenly returned with no explanation. They now are an independent station, broadcasting a bunch of syndicated shows.

## Programming

WTND-37 features programs from the owners (CAF Media Enterprises, RankinBassFan2007, and LindseysWorldAnimation), including "Joshua and Friends Commentaries", "Lightning Bolt Logo Bloopers", and "Object Paper", but also airs syndicated programming and cable programming such as "Wild Cat's Adventures", “The Woody Woodpecker Show”, and "Pretzel and the Puppies", and the other programs that air include "The Kennedy Blue Show", "Nite Time with the Pals", "Electronic Mayhem", among others. It also has its own news show at 6 in the morning, noon, and at 7 at night. It also airs the WTND Kids block on weekdays from 6 to 11, in order to follow the orders of the Children's Television Act.

On 37.5, it broadcasts shows originally aired from the RKO Network library. These shows include (but are not limited to): "Abstract Family", "All Day", and "Angry Blocks". On the kids block, it retains the same name and ident as on 37.1, but broadcasts kids shows from RKO Network such as "Grifth Liker", "It's the Paul Taylor Program!", and "Lil Elvis and the Truckstoppers".

## News operation

WTND-TV presently broadcasts 64½ hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with 10½ hours each weekday, 5½ hours on Saturdays and 6½ hours on Sundays). The network produces newscasts for its Wildforest, RKO, and Estrella affiliations. They are all named "North Dakota News Network". They host a segment called "NewsChat". The theme of the newscasts is "Move Closer to Your World" and has since become the main song of the newscasts due to its popularity.

WTND has at least 7 helicopters, dubbed the "WildEye" helicopters. They also have jet skis of the same name as the helicopters. The jet skis have a camera on the front that is shown on the newscasts.

## Newscasts theme

* "Move Closer to Your World" by Al Ham (1975-present) (General Newscasts Theme)
* "Move Closer to Your World '91" by Cliff Schwarz (1994-present) (Breaking News & Promo Theme)

## Notable current on-air staff

* John Andrews - weekday morning anchor
* Julia Chong - weekday morning anchor
* Johnston McStevenson - weekday morning meteorologist (AMS Seal of Approval)
* Kelly Smith - weekday morning traffic reporter
* George Jackson - weekday evening anchor
* Rebecca Awford Jones - weekday evening anchor (formerly with CKAZ-DT)
* Samuel Maxson - weekday evening anchor
* Alexandra Jones - weekday & weekend evening weatherman (AMS Seal of Approval)
* James Daniel - weekday & weekend evening traffic reporter
* Maria Lopez - weekday reporter
* Matt Brooks - weekday reporter
* Janet Stewart - weekday reporter
* TBA - weekday reporter
* TBA - weekday reporter
* TBA - weekday reporter
* TBA - weekday reporter
* TBA - weekday reporter
* TBA - weekday reporter
* TBA - weekday reporter
* TBA - weekday reporter
* TBA - weekend sports reporter
* TBA - consumer investigator (WTND 37 The TBA Stocks)
* TBA - investigative reporter (WTND 37 TBA and the Mysteries of Today)
* TBA - helicopter reporter (WTND 37 WildEye)
* TBA - helicopter reporter (WTND 37 WildEye)
* TBA - drone operator (WTND 37 WildEye)
* TBA - marine reporter (WTND 37 WildEye)
* TBA - marine boat pilot (WTND 37 WildEye)
* TBA - weather reporter/storm chaser (WTND 37 StormWatchers)