launched its news department in July 2000, when it debuted a half-hour nightly newscast at 9 pm, becoming the first prime time newscast in the Fargo market. In 2009, the station debuted a half-hour weeknight-only newscast at 6 p.m. On September 19, 2011, the 9 p.m. newscast was expanded from 35 minutes to one hour. On February 5, 2014, KVRR became the third and last television news operation in the Fargo-Grand Forks market (after KXJB-TV 4/KVLY 11 and WDAY 6/WDAZ 8) to begin broadcasting its local newscasts in high definition. Technical information Subchannels The station's digital signal is multiplexed: Analog-to-digital conversion In the early 2000s, KVRR became the first commercial television station (the first being Prairie Public Television member stations KFME (channel 13), KGFE in Grand Forks and KCGE-DT in Crookston, Minnesota) in eastern North Dakota to transmit a digital signal. KVRR shut down its analog signal, over UHF channel 15, on February 1, 2009. The station's digital signal remained on its pre-transition UHF channel 19. Through the use of PSIP, digital television receivers display the station's virtual channel as its former UHF channel 15. KVRR and KJRR were the only stations in KVRR's regional network to broadcast programming in high definition until March 2011, when KBRR and KNRR upgraded their digital signals to transmit programming in HD. On March 18, 2011, Midcontinent Communications added KBRR's HD feed on its systems in Grand Forks and Devils Lake as it became available. Satellite stations KVRR operates three full-power satellite stations: KJRR, KBRR, and KNRR. These stations fully simulcast KVRR, but KBRR and KNRR occasionally air separate commercials for Grand Forks and the northern portion of the viewing area. Aside from their transmitters, the satellite stations do not maintain any physical presence in their cities of license. Translators KVRR serves its large coverage area with three translators. All are owned by local municipalities and relay satellite station KBRR. KVRR and its satellite stations originally relayed its programming on a large network of translators throughout eastern North Dakota and west-central Minnesota. However, only one remains relaying KBRR and two more relaying KBRR in Lake of the Woods County were added as multiplexed digital subchannels after their transition to digital broadcasts in 2011. K26OH-D/Roseau is owned by Roseau County and K16KE/Baudette and K36LW/Williams are owned by Lake of the Woods County. K61BJ in Donnelly, Minnesota, K54AT in Brainerd, Minnesota, K33HB in Devils Lake, North