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 channel, tptMN (digital channel 17.2, Comcast (Saint Paul) 243, Comcast (Minneapolis) 202, and Mediacom 102).

In October 2012, the Minnesota Channel changed picture formats from 4:3 to 16:9 widescreen.

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.

Prairie Public Television carries Minnesota Channel in North Dakota.