Bakken Economy -- Western North Dakota Television Market Ranking One Of The Nation's Fastest Growing -- September 17, 2015

From a press release:

IRVING, Texas -- Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Inc.announced today that it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of four CBS-affiliated television stations serving the Minot-Bismarck-Dickinson-Williston, North Dakota market (DMA #139) for $44.0 million from Reiten Television, Inc.

In addition, under the terms of the agreement, Nexstar will provide sales and other services to the market’s two ABC-affiliated television stations owned by Forum Communications.

The Minot-Bismarck-Dickinson-Williston television DMA is benefitting from rapid economic expansion related to strong growth of the U.S. domestic energy production industry in the region. From 2006 to 2015 Nielsen’s market rank for Minot-Bismarck-Dickinson-Williston has ascended to DMA #139 from DMA #160, making it one of the fastest rising DMAs in the country.

According to the 2014 BIA Kelsey Television Yearbook the Reiten television stations are the leading revenue share cluster in the market.

		City of License		Market Rank		Station		Affiliation
1		Minot, ND		139		KXMC		CBS
2		Bismarck, ND		139		KXMB		CBS
3		Dickinson, ND		139		KXMA		CBS
4		Williston, ND		139		KXMD		CBS
5		Minot, ND		139		KMCY*		ABC
6		Bismarck, ND		139		KBMY*		ABC
* Forum-owned stations where Nexstar will provide sales and other services.

Rumor has it that Dan Rather and Brian Williams will co-host a late night show on the Bakken. Dan Rather will refer to the Bakken as "hotter than a pistol" and Brian Williams will tell us about his early experiences in Tioga as a roughneck. Details are still being worked out on the seating arrangement; apparently their "good side" is the same for both men.