ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Charter, Northland's NewsCenter strike deal over My9

Charter Cable subscribers in Duluth and Superior again will have access to two TV networks that were removed from the programming lineup earlier this year.

Charter Cable subscribers in Duluth and Superior again will have access to two TV networks that were removed from the programming lineup earlier this year.

Northland's CW and My9/My9 Sports Network, which broadcasts University of Minnesota Duluth hockey and other college and high school sports, are expected to be reinstated soon.

"We're delighted that this dispute is resolved," said David Jensch, vice president and station manager for Northland's NewsCenter. "We feel like these channels are very important to the local community. The entertainment on the CW and the high school and college sports on My9 are very important, we feel, to the people of Duluth and Superior."

Earlier this year owners of the local stations asked Charter to pay a fee for use of the stations, which include local commercials, news and programming, Jensch told the News Tribune in February. Charter opted to not carry the stations and they were no longer available to subscribers as of mid-March.

A spokesman for Charter Communications would not say what led to the change.

ADVERTISEMENT

"The terms were considered in the best interest of Charter costumers," John Miller said in an e-mail. "We are pleased an agreement has been reached with the ownership of the CW and MyNetworkTV stations in Duluth that is in the best interest of all Charter customers."

Jensch said he couldn't comment on what led to the agreement, and referred those questions to Granite Broadcasting, which owns the local NBC affiliate. Calls to Granite Broadcasting were not returned.

In June, UMD's athletic department renewed a contract with My9 Sports Network to televise some football and men's and women's hockey games during the 2012-13 season. Jensch said they also will be carrying a weekly high school football game in the fall in addition to high school hockey games in the winter.

Advertisements that aired on local television stations urging viewers to contact Charter Communications about the loss of My9 and the CW were pulled when the agreement was reached, Jensch said.

Christa Lawler is a former reporter for the Duluth News Tribune.
What To Read Next
Get Local

ADVERTISEMENT