File - In this March 13, 2013 file photo, residents greet Kotzebue musher John Baker as he nears the finish line in Nome, Alaska. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race will again have a national presence after race organizers have signed a deal with the Sportsman Channel. The outdoor network and its affiliated websites and magazines will promote the race, and the channel will air specials about the world's longest sled dog race ahead of the March 1 start in Alaska. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)
January 08, 2014 - 1:51 AM
ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race will again have a presence on national television.
Race organizers Wednesday announced they have signed a deal with the Sportsman Channel, making it the official network of the nearly 1,000-mile race from Anchorage to Nome.
The Iditarod hasn't had a network deal since 2009.
Gavin Harvey, the cable channel's CEO, says they hope to reach race fans, and return some of them to the Iditarod. Along the way, he says maybe they can create a whole new generation of fans.
The channel plans two weeks of "Iditarod Unleashed" programming beginning March 24. That's about two weeks after the 2014 race.
The shows will recap this year's race, and feature stories on dogs, mushers, the Alaska wilderness and history of the race.
News from © The Associated Press, 2014