Midco

Midco is a regional communications company based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Historically known as Midcontinent Communications, it operates cable and telecommunications networks serving urban, suburban, and rural communities in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas, and Wisconsin. Its consumer business is built around a traditional triple-play model: multichannel cable television, broadband internet access, and landline telephone service. The company also supplies business customers with dedicated fiber-optic connectivity, leased data circuits, and related communications services. The brand has roots in Midcontinent Media, a diversified company whose history began in Minnesota's theater and broadcasting industries. Midcontinent Media was established in the early twentieth century as the Welworth Theater Company and later expanded into radio and television ownership. In 1952, it acquired the Midcontinent Broadcasting Company in Sioux Falls and adopted the Midcontinent Media name. Its broadcasting activities included KELO radio and KELO-TV, South Dakota's first television station, which began broadcasting in 1953. Over subsequent decades, the company gradually moved away from theaters and broadcasting and toward cable and telecommunications operations. The modern cable business took shape in 1999, when Midcontinent Media combined its cable assets in the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Nebraska with those of AT&T Broadband, formerly TCI. The resulting Midcontinent Communications operated as a joint venture between Midcontinent Media and AT&T Broadband. Comcast became the other major partner after acquiring AT&T Broadband. This structure gave Midco access to a broader regional network while retaining a strong local and rural-market orientation. Midco expanded through selected system acquisitions. In 2009, it assumed control of several Minnesota cable systems formerly associated with Charter Communications, including networks serving Bemidji, International Falls, Fairmont, Ely, Balaton, Canby, Littlefork, and Sherburn, along with nearby communities. In 2011, it acquired approximately 33,000 subscribers in Minnesota and Wisconsin from US Cable. In 2016, it purchased the cable assets serving Lawrence, Kansas, from Wide Open West. These transactions extended the company's footprint beyond the Dakotas and reinforced its role as a regional rather than national operator. The company formally adopted the shorter Midco name across its operations in January 2016, pairing the rebrand with the tagline "Let's Go." The change was intended to give the consumer, business, and media activities a more unified identity. Midco also previously operated a paging service, launched in 1985 and later sold to South Dakota-based Vantek Communications in 2004. That former operation became known as Midco Connections. In addition to connectivity services, Midco operates Midco Sports, a regional sports network formerly known as MC23 and Midco Sports Network. The network focuses on collegiate athletics, including events involving the Summit League, Missouri Valley Football Conference, Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Its programming has particular relevance to universities in the Dakotas and surrounding states. Midco Sports and Midco Sports 2 are distributed to Midco cable customers and, through carriage agreements, to customers of other regional cable systems. Midco's competitive position is based on regional scale, local market knowledge, network ownership, and a bundled service model. It serves roughly 200 communities, including rural areas that may be less attractive to larger national providers, and its network footprint covers more than 1.2 million people according to the referenced company description. Its business services complement the residential operation by offering higher-capacity fiber and dedicated communications products to larger organizations. The company remains an active regional te…

Midco's corporate history is connected to the development of Midcontinent Media. The earlier company began in Minneapolis in 1931 as the Welworth Theater Company, an operator of movie theaters. It remained involved in theatrical exhibition for much of the twentieth century before selling its theaters to various chains during the 1990s. The move away from theaters coincided with a broader transition toward broadcasting, cable, and communications. In 1952, the company purchased the Midcontinent Broadcasting Company, which owned KELO-AM and KELO-FM in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Following the acquisition, the company changed its name to Midcontinent Media. It also acquired the construction permit for South Dakota's first television station. KELO-TV began broadcasting in 1953, and Midcontinent Media subsequently assembled additional radio and television holdings. The company eventually exited broadcasting: KELO-TV and its satellite stations were sold to Young Broadcasting, now associated with Nexstar, while its remaining radio interests were sold by 2004. Midcontinent Media began developing cable television and telephone operations in rural portions of its regional territory during the 1960s. The cable business became the company's principal growth platform as it extended service through the Dakotas, Minnesota, and neighboring states. In 1999, Midcontinent Media combined its cable operations with those of AT&T Broadband, the successor to TCI in the relevant markets. The merged operation was called Midcontinent Communications and functioned as a joint venture. Comcast became the partner on the former AT&T Broadband side after Comcast acquired AT&T Broadband. The company enlarged its network through acquisitions and transfers of existing systems. During Charter Communications' 2008 bankruptcy reorganization, Midcontinent Communications was identified as a purchaser of selected Minnesota assets. Beginning February 1, 2009, Midco took over systems serving communities including Balaton, Bemidji, Canby, Ely, Fairmont, International Falls, Littlefork, and Sherburn, as well as surrounding areas. Other Minnesota assets from the same broader process went to Comcast. In June 2011, Midco acquired approximately 33,000 Minnesota and Wisconsin subscribers from US Cable. The transaction increased the company's density in the Upper Midwest and added customers outside its original Dakotas-centered footprint. In October 2016, it acquired the cable-system assets serving Lawrence, Kansas, from Wide Open West, giving the company another market beyond its core northern plains territory. Midco also had a short-lived presence in paging. It introduced paging services in 1985, but sold that operation in 2004 to Vantek Communications, another South Dakota company. The divested business was subsequently known as Midco Connections. On January 12, 2016, Midcontinent Communications adopted the abbreviated Midco name across its operations. The rebrand standardized the identity used for consumer communications, business services, and media activities and was accompanied by the "Let's Go" tagline. The company also developed a regional sports operation. Midco Sports, previously known as MC23 and Midco Sports Network, became a distribution and production platform for college athletics across the region. Midco Sports carries events associated with the Summit League, Missouri Valley Football Conference, Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Its programming emphasizes institutions such as the University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University, the University of North Dakota, and Augustana University. The network is especially visible during the Northern Sun men's and women's basketball tournaments and selected Summit League tournament games. Midco Sports 2 provides overflow coverage, and both channels are available through Midco's cable systems as well as selected third-party distributors. In 2023, Midco Sports carried a Minnesota Twins game because of a conflict involving the normal regional sports outlet. In November 2025, the company was reported to have acquired cable-system assets in east-central and northern Minnesota from SCI Broadband. Midco's development therefore reflects a shift from a diversified media company to a regional communications operator whose services combine broadband infrastructure, television, voice, enterprise connectivity, and locally relevant sports content.

1. 2025Minnesota cable assets acquired from SCI Broadband

   Midco acquires assets serving east-central and northern Minnesota from SCI Broadband.

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2. 2023Midco Sports carries a Minnesota Twins game

   The regional sports network broadcasts a Twins game because of a conflict affecting the regular regional sports outlet.

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3. 2016Midcontinent Communications becomes Midco

   The company adopts the Midco name and introduces the "Let's Go" brand tagline.

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4. 2016Lawrence cable assets acquired

   Midco purchases the Lawrence, Kansas cable system assets of Wide Open West.

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5. 2011US Cable subscribers acquired

   Midco acquires approximately 33,000 subscribers in Minnesota and Wisconsin from US Cable.

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6. 2009Selected Charter systems transferred to Midco

   Midco assumes control of several Minnesota cable systems during Charter Communications' asset-disposition process.

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7. 2004Paging operation sold

   The paging business is sold to Vantek Communications and later operates under the Midco Connections name.

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8. 1999Midcontinent Communications joint venture formed

   Midcontinent Media and AT&T Broadband combine cable operations in several Upper Midwest states and Nebraska.

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9. 1985Paging service introduced

   The company begins offering paging services, which it later divests.

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10. 1960Cable and telephone diversification begins

    Midcontinent Media starts extending cable television and telephone services into rural parts of its regional territory.

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11. 1953KELO-TV begins broadcasting

    The television station associated with Midcontinent Media goes on air as South Dakota's first television station.

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12. 1952Midcontinent Broadcasting Company acquired

    The theater company acquires the Sioux Falls radio properties KELO-AM and KELO-FM and adopts the Midcontinent Media name.

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13. 1931Welworth Theater Company is established

    The corporate predecessor associated with Midco begins in Minneapolis as a movie-theater operator.

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A locally oriented regional telecommunications provider combining broadband, television, telephone, business fiber, and collegiate sports media across the Upper Midwest.

• Midco InternetBroadband internet

  Midco's residential broadband service is delivered through its regional cable network and forms a central part of the company's consumer connectivity portfolio. It is commonly marketed alongside television and telephone services as part of a bundled communications relationship. The service reaches both urban and rural communities across the company's Upper Midwest footprint.

• Midco Cable TelevisionPay television

  Midco provides multichannel cable television service to customers in its network communities. The offering supports the company's traditional triple-play model and also provides the distribution platform for regional channels such as Midco Sports. Programming is delivered through Midco-owned cable systems and is oriented toward the local and regional markets in which the company operates.

• Midco TelephoneFixed-line telecommunications1960

  Residential telephone service is one of Midco's legacy communications products. It is offered as part of the company's bundled services alongside broadband and cable television. The service reflects Midco's expansion from rural cable television into broader telecommunications during the second half of the twentieth century.

• Midco Business Fiber and Data CircuitsBusiness telecommunications

  Midco's business-class portfolio includes direct fiber-optic communications and leased data circuits for larger organizations. These services provide dedicated connectivity distinct from the company's mass-market cable products and support enterprise, institutional, and other high-capacity users within the regional network footprint.

• Midco SportsRegional sports network

  Midco Sports is a regional sports network formerly known as MC23 and Midco Sports Network. It specializes in collegiate athletics, including coverage connected with the Summit League, Missouri Valley Football Conference, Central Collegiate Hockey Association, and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. Its programming has a strong emphasis on universities in the Dakotas and surrounding states, and it is particularly known for extensive Northern Sun basketball tournament coverage.

• Midco Sports 2Sports television overflow channel

  Midco Sports 2 is an overflow and companion channel used to distribute additional regional and collegiate sports programming. It is available to Midco cable customers and may also be distributed through carriage arrangements with other regional cable operators.

• 2016Midco rebrand and "Let's Go" launch

  North Dakota · South Dakota · Minnesota · Kansas · Wisconsin

  Midcontinent Communications transitioned to the shorter Midco identity across its operations, supported by the "Let's Go" tagline. The initiative unified the company's consumer, business, and media-facing activities under a more concise regional brand.

  Outcome. The Midco name became the company's principal public-facing identity.

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• 2025Acquire SCI Broadband cable assetsM&A

  Midco continued to expand in Minnesota through the purchase of assets from SCI Broadband, also known as Savage Communications.

  What changed. The company acquired assets associated with cable systems serving east-central and northern Minnesota.

  Aftermath. The transaction further increased Midco's presence in Minnesota.

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• 2016Acquire Lawrence cable assets from Wide Open WestM&A

  Midco continued extending its regional network through selective cable-system purchases.

  What changed. In October 2016, Midco acquired the assets of Wide Open West's cable system serving Lawrence, Kansas.

  Aftermath. The acquisition added a Kansas service area to Midco's operating footprint.

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• 2011Acquire US Cable subscribersM&A

  Midco pursued additional density in neighboring Upper Midwest markets.

  What changed. The company acquired approximately 33,000 subscribers in Minnesota and Wisconsin from US Cable.

  Aftermath. The transaction broadened Midco's customer base beyond its core Dakotas markets.

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• 2009Acquire selected Charter Communications systemsM&A

  Charter Communications placed selected non-core assets on the market during its 2008 Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring.

  What changed. Midco took over several Minnesota cable systems, including operations serving Bemidji, International Falls, Fairmont, Ely, Balaton, Canby, Littlefork, and Sherburn.

  Aftermath. The acquisition expanded Midco's Minnesota presence and added communities to its regional network.

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• 1999Combine regional cable operations with AT&T BroadbandStrategy

  Midcontinent Media sought to consolidate cable assets across the Dakotas, Minnesota, and Nebraska with the regional systems operated by AT&T Broadband, formerly TCI.

  What changed. The companies formed Midcontinent Communications as a joint venture. Comcast later became the partner on the AT&T Broadband side after acquiring that business.

  Aftermath. The transaction established the modern regional cable operator and gave it a larger Upper Midwest network.

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• 2025Midco acquires cable assets from SCI Broadband

  Midco acquired assets associated with cable systems in east-central and northern Minnesota from SCI Broadband, also known as Savage Communications.

  M&A
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• 2023Midco Sports airs a Minnesota Twins game

  Midco Sports carried a Minnesota Twins game on April 21, 2023, because of a scheduling conflict affecting the usual regional sports network arrangement.

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• 2016Midcontinent Communications adopts the Midco brand

  The company formally shortened its operating name from Midcontinent Communications to Midco and introduced the "Let's Go" tagline across its operations.

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• 2016Midco acquires Lawrence, Kansas cable assets from Wide Open West

  Midco expanded its service footprint into Lawrence, Kansas, through the acquisition of cable-system assets from Wide Open West.

  M&A
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1. Midco