KSFY: Hiring, Background Check & Employment Verification FAQs

KSFY-TV debuted on July 31, 1960, as KSOO-TV, becoming the second or third television station in Sioux Falls at the time. The station was originally owned by the South Dakota Broadcasting Company alongside radio station KSOO, initially operating as an NBC affiliate with a secondary ABC affiliation. From 1960 to 1969, KSOO-TV served as the flagship of a regional network alongside the separately owned KORN-TV in Mitchell (now KDLT-TV), with KSOO-TV covering the eastern portion of the market and KORN-TV covering the western portion, until the FCC forced the breakup of this arrangement in 1969.

In 1970, the station acquired KXAB-TV in Aberdeen to expand its coverage into northeastern South Dakota, renaming that station KCOO-TV. In 1975, Forum Publishing Company of Fargo, North Dakota, purchased both stations, changing their call letters to the current KSFY and KABY; a third station, KPRY-TV in Pierre, was added the following year in 1976. In 1982-1983, KSFY swapped network affiliations with crosstown station KDLT (then known as KXON-TV), becoming an ABC affiliate; ABC was the top-rated network at the time and wanted a stronger technical partner, and KSFY had three full-power transmitters compared to KDLT's one.

KSFY changed ownership multiple times over subsequent decades: Forum sold the stations to Aflac in 1985; Aflac sold its broadcasting division to Retirement Systems of Alabama in 1996, which merged it with Ellis Communications to form Raycom Media; Raycom sold the KSFY stations to The Wicks Group of Companies in 2004; and Hoak Media acquired KSFY and its satellite stations in July 2006. In November 2013, Hoak Media announced the sale of most of its stations, including KSFY, to Gray Television (now Gray Media), which also owns KDLT-TV, forming a local news duopoly; the two stations share studios at Courthouse Square in Sioux Falls, having moved there from a longtime North Dakota Avenue facility in 2016.

Today, KSFY-TV broadcasts on channel 13 and operates under the branding Dakota News Now (shared with sister station KDLT), along with a MeTV Sioux Falls subchannel. KSFY has been recognized by independent media analysis organizations for high factual reporting and minimal bias in its local news coverage. KSFY's workforce includes news reporters, anchors, and producers, camera operators and photojournalists, engineering and broadcast technicians, and sales and advertising staff.

Company culture and employee programs: As part of Gray Media, one of the largest television broadcasting companies in the United States, KSFY benefits from shared resources and support across Gray's national network of local news stations. The station emphasizes local news coverage for the Sioux Falls region and surrounding communities. Benefits, training, and advancement opportunities can vary by role, so candidates should confirm specifics with a recruiter during the hiring process.

Yes. Employers in the broadcast media industry, including KSFY-TV, are legally permitted to conduct pre-employment background checks on job candidates, provided they comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws. In the United States, employment screening is governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which requires employers to obtain written consent, provide disclosures, and follow adverse action procedures.

KSFY is generally reported to conduct background checks as part of its hiring process, which is standard for broadcast media employers, particularly for on-air talent and roles involving public visibility and station credibility.

The hiring process for reporter, production, and technical roles at KSFY typically includes an application, an interview, a review of any submitted work samples or reels for on-air roles, and a background check prior to a final offer.

Background check timelines can vary based on the type of screening requested and how quickly records can be verified. Learn more about typical background check turnaround times to understand what factors can affect the process.

A typical pre-employment background check for a broadcast media role may include:

Under the FCRA, criminal history reporting is generally limited to seven years for most background checks, though state laws may extend or restrict this timeframe depending on the type of record and jurisdiction.

Hiring decisions involving candidates with criminal records are generally made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the nature of the offense, how much time has passed, and its relevance to the role. Some states have adopted "ban-the-box" laws that restrict when employers can ask about criminal history during the hiring process.

Candidates can generally expect to provide personal information such as full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number, along with signed consent authorizing the background check, in compliance with FCRA requirements.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) is a federal law that regulates how employers can use background check information in hiring decisions. It requires employers to notify candidates before running a check, obtain written consent, and follow specific adverse action procedures if a decision is made based on background check results.

Running a personal background check with Checkr lets you preview what KSFY-TV may see during the hiring process, helping you address any concerns before you apply. A personal background check can include:

Learn more about Checkr Personal Background Checks and explore your Checkr Profile to see what information may appear in your own background check.

If you're a candidate with a background check in progress through Checkr as part of your application to KSFY-TV or another employer, you can check your status through the Candidate Portal. For additional support, visit the Checkr Help Center.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information is for general informational purposes only. Checkr does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of this information and is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. This article may contain links to other third-party websites. Such links are only for the convenience of the reader. Checkr does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites and disclaims any affiliation with the companies mentioned in this article unless otherwise stated.