View source for Minnesota Channel

{{Short description|Legislative broadcaster of Minnesota}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Minnesota Channel
| logo = Mn-channel-small.png
| logo_size = 200px
| type = [[Educational television]], [[public affairs (broadcasting)|public affairs]], [[ethnic group|ethnic]] and [[local programming]]
| country = [[United States]]
| area = [[Minnesota]], [[North Dakota]], eastern [[South Dakota]] and surrounding regions
| founded = 2005
| owner = [[Twin Cities Public Television]]
| launch_date = 2007
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20130703181531/http://tptmn.org TPT's Minnesota Productions & Partnerships]
}}
The '''Minnesota Channel''' is an American [[free-to-air]] television channel originating at [[Twin Cities Public Television]]. It features programming related to [[Minnesota]] (and some related to [[Wisconsin]] and [[North Dakota]]), plus coverage of the [[Minnesota Legislature]] when in session. The '''Minnesota Channel''' is carried as a [[digital subchannel]] on all six member networks of the [[Minnesota Public Television Association]].

== History ==
In early 2003, TPT began setting aside time on KTCI for the "Minnesota Channel", an evening dedicated to local and regional related programming, frequently produced in partnership with other nonprofit and public service organizations. The service expanded from one to two evenings in 2004 and, on September 16, 2005, became a new full-time [[digital television|digital channel]], '''''tptMN''''' (digital channel 17.2, [[Comcast]] (Saint Paul) 243, Comcast (Minneapolis) 202, and [[Mediacom]] 102). The Minnesota Channel was expanded to region wide coverage in Minnesota and [[North Dakota]] in February 2008. In October 2012, the Minnesota Channel changed picture formats from 4:3 to 16:9 widescreen.

== Programming ==
Since its inception, the MN Channel has co-produced more than 250 programs with more than 100 partner organizations: non-profits, universities, governmental agencies and other public service organizations.

Among the programs broadcast on the MN Channel are several targeting ethnic communities that now call Minnesota and the Twin Cities home and who are generally under-served by commercial media. Some of these shows are also broadcast on [[Public-access television]] [[cable television]] channels in the region:

*''Zona Latina'' ([[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Latino]])
*''Kev Koom Siab'' ([[Hmong language|Hmong]])
*''Geetmala'' ([[Hindi]])
*''BelAhdan'' ([[Middle East]]ern)
*''Journey to the East'' ([[China|Chinese]])
*''Vietnamese News'' ([[Vietnam]]ese)

The network's website<ref>[http://tptmn.org '''''tpt''''''s Minnesota Productions & Partnerships ]</ref> features information on programs and partners, plus a [http://tptmn.org/blog regularly-updated blog].

== Affiliates ==

===Minnesota===
* [[Twin Cities Public Television|KTCI]] (2.2 and 2.6) [[Template:MSP TV|St. Paul/Minneapolis]] (Available in HD)
* [[WDSE (TV)|WDSE]] (8.4) [[Template:Duluth TV|Duluth]] / [[WDSE (TV)|WRPT]] (31.4) [[Template:Duluth TV|Hibbing]]
* [[KAWE]] (9.6) [[Template:MSP TV|Bemidji]] / [[KAWE|KAWB]] (22.6) [[Template:MSP TV|Brainerd]]
* [[KWCM-TV]] (10.3) [[Template:MSP TV|Appleton]] / [[KWCM-TV|KSMN]] (20.3) [[Template:Sioux Falls TV|Worthington/Sioux Falls]]
* [[KSMQ-TV]] (15.4) [[Template:RMCA TV|Austin/Rochester]]

===North Dakota===
[[Prairie Public Television]] carries Minnesota Channel in North Dakota.

* KGFE (2.3) [[Template:Fargo-Grand Forks TV|Grand Forks]] (Available in HD)
* KBME-TV (3.3) [[Template:Bismarck-Minot TV|Bismarck]]
* KWSE (4.3) [[Template:Bismarck-Minot TV|Williston]]
* KSRE (6.3) [[Template:Bismarck-Minot TV|Minot]]
* KDSE (9.3) [[Template:Bismarck-Minot TV|Dickinson]]
* KFME (13.3) [[Template:Fargo-Grand Forks TV|Fargo]]
* KCGE (16.3) [[Template:Fargo-Grand Forks TV|Crookston, MN / Grand Forks]]
* KJRE (19.3) [[Template:Fargo-Grand Forks TV|Ellendale]]
* KMDE (25.3) [[Template:Fargo-Grand Forks TV|Devils Lake]]

== References ==
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{{North American DTV}}
{{U.S. broadcast television}}
{{Public affairs television channels in the United States}}

[[Category:Television networks in the United States]]
[[Category:Public Broadcasting Service]]
[[Category:Public television in the United States]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2003]]
[[Category:Television in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Television stations in North Dakota]]
[[Category:English-language television stations in the United States]]