Iditarod renews TV deal with Sportsman Channel

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) Organizers of Alaska's famed Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race have renewed a deal with the Sportsman Channel.

The agreement announced Wednesday continues a national television presence for the nearly 1,000-mile trek across sometimes unforgiving terrain.

The network maintains its status as the official network of the race from Anchorage to the old gold rush town of Nome on Alaska's wind-scoured western coast. The original partnership began before this year's race in March.

As with the 2014 Iditarod, the network won't document the race live in 2015. After next year's event, hours of programming will tell stories of mushers, dogs, race history, the wilderness trail and the intense competition that marks each race.

Sportsman Channel spokesman Tom Caraccioli and race executive director Stan Hooley declined to discuss terms of the deal.