WDIO celebrates 60 years on the air

Station looks back on history, including founder Frank Befera's legacy

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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WDIO television in Duluth, Minnesota is celebrating its 60th anniversary this week by highlighting memorable stories and moments from the station's archives. One focus is on the station's founder, Frank Befera, who launched WDIO in 1966 and served as its president and general manager until 1987. Befera was a pioneer in radio and television broadcasting and also a past president of the Duluth Curling Club.

Why it matters

WDIO's 60-year milestone is a significant achievement in the local television landscape, especially given the changes and challenges the industry has faced over the decades. Highlighting the station's history and the legacy of its founder Frank Befera provides insight into the evolution of media in the Duluth region.

The details

WDIO went on the air in January 1966, followed by WIRT one year later. Befera, who was born in Hibbing and graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in electrical engineering, served as WDIO's president and general manager until 1987. He was also a past president of the Duluth Curling Club and helped develop state-of-the-art curling ice facilities. Befera passed away in 2004 at the age of 82.

  • WDIO went on the air in January 1966.
  • WIRT went on the air one year later in 1967.
  • Befera served as WDIO's president and general manager until 1987.
  • Befera passed away in 2004 at the age of 82.

The players

Frank Befera

The founder of WDIO television, who launched the station in 1966 and served as its president and general manager until 1987. Befera was a pioneer in radio and television broadcasting and also a past president of the Duluth Curling Club.

WDIO

A television station in Duluth, Minnesota that is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2026.

WIRT

A television station in Duluth, Minnesota that was launched one year after WDIO in 1967.

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What they’re saying

“Once you're into the game, you realize the shot difficulty and the strategies involved. You almost need a narrator in the beginning.”

— Frank Befera (WDIO.com)

“We went to Edmunton and to Winnipeg and Calgary to see if we could build a state-of-the-art curling ice, which I believe we have.”

— Frank Befera (WDIO.com)

The takeaway

WDIO's 60-year history and the legacy of its founder Frank Befera highlight the enduring importance of local television stations in communities like Duluth, even as the media landscape has evolved over the decades.