KDLT tower explained
The KDLT towers is the name given to two towers (one analog and one digital) used by South Dakota television station KDLT. In May 2022 the analog tower was destroyed during a wind storm.[1]
The towers were built as high guy-wired aerial masts for the transmission of TV programs. The original analog tower was built in 1976 near Salem, South Dakota, and was 477m (1,565feet). The digital tower was erected in 1998 near Rowena, South Dakota, and is 609.2m (1,998.7feet), making it one of the tallest structures in the world. The digital tower is owned by Gray Media Group, Inc, as was the analog tower.
Beacon lights
The aircraft-warning beacon lights at the top of the digital tower must be replaced when they malfunction. When it was standing, and even when it was not in use, the same applied of the analog tower.[2] [3] Replacement of the beacon bulb at the top of the digital tower was featured in an episode of World's Toughest Fixes in 2010.[4] In 2015, amateur drone video footage of a man changing the light bulb on the analog tower went viral attracting more than 19 million views on YouTube and garnering attention from CNN and a newspaper in Britain.[5] [6] [7] On learning of the drone footage, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) forbade any further flights; without its approval, drones are restricted by law to a ceiling of 400feet, far lower than the height of the tower.[8]
Destruction of analog tower
The analog tower near Salem was destroyed on May 12, 2022 during a wind storm. It had stood since 1976.
See also
Notes and References
- News: Storm downs Dakota News Now broadcasting tower near Salem . Dakota News Now . May 13, 2022.
- News: Cooper . Kindra . The view from this South Dakota TV Tower is as grand & dizzying as any Manhattan skyscraper . 27 September 2021 . The Architect's Newspaper . 16 February 2015 . 31 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210731152307/https://www.archpaper.com/2015/02/video-view-south-dakota-tv-tower-grand-dizzying-manhattan-skyscraper/ . live .
- News: Moran . Lee . SEE IT: South Dakota repairman changes light bulb … on 1,500-foot TV antenna . 27 September 2021 . . 5 January 2015 . 27 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210927015855/https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/s-repairman-light-bulb-1-500-foot-tv-antenna-article-1.2066017 . live .
- Web site: Local man repairs 2,000-foot tower on TV . . Nick . Cruit . November 25, 2008 . September 28, 2021 . September 29, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210929013510/https://www.sierrasun.com/news/local-man-repairs-2000-foot-tower-on-tv/ . live .
- Web site: Sky-high climb in Salem passes 1 million views . Argus Leader . . John . Hult . January 8, 2015 . September 28, 2021 . September 29, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210929015941/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/01/11/sky-high-climb-passes-1-million-views/21616985/ . live .
- Web site: WATCH: Death-defying drone footage shows man changing lightbulb atop 1,500-foot TV tower . . Austin . Fast . April 27, 2017 . September 28, 2021 . September 29, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210929014442/https://www.wcpo.com/entertainment/watch-death-defying-drone-footage-shows-man-changing-lightbulb-atop-1500-foot-tv-tower . live .
- Web site: Spectacular drone footage brings tower repairman his viral moment . . Tom . Kludt . January 6, 2015 . September 28, 2021 . September 29, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210929015737/https://money.cnn.com/2015/01/06/media/drone-television-tower-video-south-dakota/index.html . live .
- Web site: The FAA Was Not a Fan of the TV Tower Drone Video . Ad Week . Kevin Eck . January 3, 2015 . September 28, 2021 . September 29, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210929020521/https://www.adweek.com/tvspy/the-faa-was-not-a-fan-of-the-tv-tower-drone-video/138919/ . live .
