New TV Channel Coming To The Northland In July

A brand new TV channel is coming to viewers in Northern Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin as July begins.

Management for the NBC & CBS-led "Northern News Now" in Duluth announced late last week that they would be adding a brand new channel to their lineup.

The company, owned by Gray Media, has 10 channels of content in Duluth that include the likes of CBS, NBC, CW, Laff TV, Quest, and True Crime Network. The new addition will provide sports-centric programming to the over-the-air offerings available in the region.

Here's what is coming and what you need to know to watch it.

What new TV channel is being added in Northern Minnesota & Wisconsin?

Announced on June 27, a new network called "North Star Sports and Entertainment" will debut in the Northland.

The addition of this new programming builds on Northern News Now's "MY 9 Sports", which highlights local sports like high school sports and UMD athletics.

This new sports content addition builds on that long-running local sports tradition of MY 9 Sports and the recent inclusion of some Minnesota Twins and St. Paul Saints games now made available over the air on what is known as "MY 9", or KBJR 6.3 over the air.

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The name comes from the MY Network TV content that has anchored the primetime slot for several years, also supported by daytime content from the Heroes & Icons (H&I) Network. The new sports content will be seen on 6.3 over the air and in the same places MY 9 is seen on cable & satellite.

What will be on this new TV channel?

No formal details were shared about what specific programs will be available as part of North Star Sports and Entertainment have not been disclosed yet, but the station's General Manager says it will "give viewers more of what they love - quality, entertaining sports programming."

The guide on Northern News Now's website includes programming like the syndicated shows Sports Wrap with Jason Page, Game Time with Boomer Esiason, hunting and fishing shows like A Fishing Story, World Poker Tour broadcasts, and live sports content like boxing and wrestling are all on the guide when there aren't local or regional games to broadcast.

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MY 9's sister station KTTC, also owned by Gray Media, highlighted that some Minnesota Twins, St. Paul Saints games will be on the new channel. MY 9 has been airing some of these games already this season, and will continue to do so with this new sports-centric channel.

Regional college hockey, football, soccer, and ultimate frisbee will be the local centerpieces of this new network that will be seen on Gray's stations like those in Duluth, Rochester, and Mankato. In addition, MY 9's tradition of local high school athletics and UMD coverage will continue for Northland viewers.

Due to the addition of North Star Sports and Entertainment, Heroes & Icons programming will be on the move to a new location.

When does this new station come on the air? Where can I see it?

The new content will hit the air on 6.3 on the over-the-air TV dial starting on July 1. It will also be available on Spectrum Cable on channels 9 and 789, as well as Mediacom channel 9, DISH channel 9, and DirecTV channel 9.

As this programming starts up on "MY 9" on July 1, the Heroes & Icons programming that you used to be able to find on this channel will be moving to 3.7 over the air as well as Spectrum Cable on channels 125 and 805, as well as Mediacom channel 125, DISH channel 293, and DirecTV channel 385.