KMSP Tower

{{short description|Broadcasting tower in Shoreview, Minnesota, United States}}

{{Update|date=December 2021}}

{{Infobox building

| name = KMSP Tower

| image = File:KMSP Tower aerial, November 2024.jpg

| image_size = 261

| caption = The tower in 2024

| building_type = TV & Radio transmission tower

| location = Shoreview, Ramsey County, Minnesota, U.S.

| coordinates = {{coord|display=inline,title|45|3|30|N|93|7|28|W|region:US-MN_type:landmark}}

| map_type = Minnesota

| completion_date = {{#statements:inception}}

| height = {{convert|1466|ft|m}}

| owner = Fox Television Stations, LLC

}}

The KMSP Tower is a high aerial guyed mast used for the transmission of FM radio and over-the-air television in Shoreview, Minnesota. The structure was apparently the tallest in Minnesota until the construction of the KPXM Tower in 1997.{{Cite news |last=Sturdevant |first=Andy |date=March 17, 2016 |title=Sure, Shoreview has trees — but it's the three giant towers that command attention |work=Minnpost |url=https://www.minnpost.com/stroll/2016/03/sure-shoreview-has-trees-its-three-giant-towers-command-attention/ |access-date=May 23, 2022}}

The tower, which was built in 1971, is owned by KMSP-TV ("Fox 9") parent Fox Television Stations but is shared by several area broadcasters; sister station WFTC ("Fox 9+") and the Twin Cities Public Television stations, KTCA and KTCI. Several FM stations are also on the tower: KQRS-FM 92.5 ("KQ92"), KXXR 93.7 ("93X"), KTCZ 97.1 ("Cities 97"), KTIS-FM 98.5, KSJN 99.5 ("MPR Classical"), KFXN-FM 100.3 ("KFAN"), KDWB 101.3, KEEY 102.1 ("K102"), KMNB 102.9 ("102.9 The Wolf"), and KZJK 104.1 ("Jack FM").{{Cite web|url=https://www.rabbitears.info/tower.php?request=site&asrn=1022899|title=RabbitEars.Info}}

File:KMSP Tower and Telefarm Towers, aerial, November 2024.jpg in the background]]

File:KMSP Tower from ground zoomed, November 2024.jpg

In 2001, a painter working on the tower died from asphyxia upon falling 500 feet down the structure.{{cite web|url=http://www.brainerddispatch.com/content/worker-dies-tv-tower-shoreview|title=Worker dies on TV tower in Shoreview|work=Brainerd Dispatch|accessdate=February 7, 2018|archive-date=February 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208123750/http://www.brainerddispatch.com/content/worker-dies-tv-tower-shoreview|url-status=dead}}

In April 2022, the tower underwent upgrades to increase KMSP-TV's effective radiated power from 30 kW to 36.2 kW, improving signal strength and expanding coverage.{{cite web|url=https://northpine.com/2022/04/10/fcc-monitor-kmsp-upgrades-north-dakota-fm-signal-to-move/|title=FCC Monitor: KMSP Upgrades|publisher=Northpine|date=10 April 2022|access-date=6 January 2025}}