KVLY-TV mast


The KVLY-TV mast is a television-transmitting mast in Blanchard, North Dakota. It is used by Fargo station KVLY-TV channel 11.
Completed during 1963, it was the tallest structure in the world until succeeded by the Warsaw radio mast during 1974, which collapsed in 1991, again making the KVLY-TV mast the tallest structure in the world until the Burj Khalifa exceeded it in 2008. It remains the fourth-tallest structure in the world, the tallest structure in the Western Hemisphere, and the tallest broadcasting mast in the world.

Location

The mast is located west of Blanchard, North Dakota, halfway between Fargo and Grand Forks. It became the tallest artificial structure, and the first man-made structure to exceed in height, upon the completion of its construction on August 13, 1963.

Construction

The tower was built by Hamilton Erection Company of York, South Carolina and Kline Iron and Steel, and required thirty days to complete, at a cost of approximately US$500,000. Construction was completed August 13, 1963.

Owners

Owned by Gray Television of Atlanta, Georgia, the tower broadcasts at 356 kW on channel 44 for television station KVLY-TV which is based in Fargo, North Dakota. The tower provides a broadcast area of roughly, which is a radius of about.
When the mast was built the call letters of the television station for which it was built were changed to KTHI, the "HI" referring to the height of the mast. The top is reachable by a two-person service elevator or ladder.

Specifications

The tower consists of two parts: a lattice tower of ; topped by the transmitting antenna array of. The total height of both is. The antenna weighs, the lattice tower weighs, giving a total weight of. It takes up of land with its guy anchors. Its height above mean sea level is.

Federal rule change

Some time after its completion, the Federal Communications Commission and Federal Aviation Administration imposed a policy that states, "Although there is no absolute height limit for antenna towers, both agencies have established a rebuttable presumption against structures over 2,000 feet above ground level." The FCC and FAA may approve a taller structure in "exceptional cases."

Gallery

Structures of similar height