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The Sioux Falls DMA anchors South Dakota’s largest metro area, regional health care, financial services, and agribusiness while stretching west toward Mitchell and east to the I-29 corridor. Local newsrooms highlight Sanford and Avera medical innovation, rural broadband, workforce housing, and downtown redevelopment alongside coverage of agricultural markets, tribal nations, and the state legislature. Viewers rely on terrestrial and streaming media to track blizzards, flooding, and economic growth across the Upper Plains.
Gray Television operates KSFY (ABC) and KDLT (NBC) through a shared newsroom, while Nexstar’s KELOLAND Media Group runs KELO-TV (CBS) and KELOXTRA. PBS member South Dakota Public Broadcasting (SDPB) provides statewide coverage, and local digital outlets like Sioux Falls Simplified, South Dakota Searchlight, and Argus Leader collaborate on accountability reporting. Tribal media from the Flandreau Santee Sioux and Yankton Sioux coordinate with broadcasters on public safety and cultural storytelling.
The Federal Communications Commission manages coverage footprints to ensure Emergency Alert System activation across South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. The South Dakota Office of Emergency Management conducts annual exercises with broadcasters focusing on winter storms, flooding, and pipeline incidents, while SDPB maintains redundant infrastructure to support statewide alerts. Collaborations with Sioux Falls Fire & Rescue and the Department of Public Safety strengthen IPAWS messaging and bilingual resources.
KELOLAND and Dakota News Now (KSFY/KDLT) distribute live newscasts, weather radar, and investigative series through Roku, Amazon Fire, and mobile apps. Podcasts like KELOLAND’s Inside KELOLAND and Dakota News Now’s Matters of Fact cover policy and community issues. Sioux Falls Simplified, Startup Sioux Falls, and 605 Magazine produce newsletters and social video to spotlight entrepreneurship, arts, and civic engagement.
Broadband expansion via ConnectSD grants, Midco fiber, and cooperative providers elevates connectivity across Minnehaha, Lincoln, and Davison counties. Smart agriculture pilots and sensor networks deployed by South Dakota State University feed weather and soil data into media briefings, while Sioux Area Metro and SDDOT share traffic analytics used in newsroom graphics.
Healthcare professionals and financial service workers stream newscasts on connected TVs, using station apps and podcasts to follow policy changes, workforce developments, and local elections. Downtown residents and remote workers rely on newsletters and social video to stay informed about civic projects, arts, and entrepreneurship.
Corporate headquarters and business incubators partner with KELOLAND and Dakota News Now for live town halls, LinkedIn events, and data-driven explainers on workforce and economic trends.
Farmers and rural households maintain OTA antennas, radio, and NOAA alerts for blizzards, flooding, and commodity updates. Podcasts like SDPB’s In the Moment and SDSU Extension webinars provide agricultural briefings, while social channels deliver crop, livestock, and drought information.
Tribal communities and immigrant families rely on Spanish-language radio, public broadcasting, and text alerts for health, education, and emergency resources, with community centers livestreaming town halls and cultural events.
| Indicator | Latest Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| DMA population | approximately 460,000 residents (2023) | U.S. Census Bureau |
| Television households | about 185,000 TV homes, rank 138 (2024-2025) | Nielsen DMA Rankings |
| Median household income | roughly $76,000 across Minnehaha and Lincoln counties (2022) | U.S. Census Bureau ACS |
| Broadband availability | 94% of households with access to 100 Mbps service | ConnectSD / Midco |
| Healthcare employment share | over 17% of metro workforce | South Dakota Department of Labor |
| Banking & finance employment | approximately 12,800 jobs (2023) | Sioux Falls Development Foundation |
| Ethanol production | about 1.3 billion gallons annually in eastern South Dakota | Renewable Fuels Association |
The 2024 South Dakota News Trust Index reports 66% of residents trust local stations and SDPB for weather, agriculture, and civic reporting, compared with 30% for national outlets. Newsrooms publish transparency portals with data sources, budget documents, and corrections policies, and they host community forums with business, tribal, and nonprofit leaders to inform coverage.
Collaborative journalism with SDPB, South Dakota Searchlight, and Solutions Journalism initiatives delivers bilingual explainers on healthcare, housing, and infrastructure, strengthening trust through shared data and community engagement.
Sioux Falls audiences follow USD Coyotes, SDSU Jackrabbits, Augustana Vikings, and Sioux Falls Stampede hockey across KELOLAND, ESPN+, and local streaming platforms. Outdoor recreation, hunting, and Midwest travel content perform well on weekend newscasts and YouTube.
Podcast and newsletter growth centers on KELOLAND On The Road, Sioux Falls Simplified, and SDPB podcasts, while younger residents engage with TikTok creators covering murals, coffee shops, and small business pop-ups. Faith communities and civic groups livestream services and meetings to reach rural and homebound viewers.
