Insight Communications, cable provider for Lexington and other parts of Kentucky, plans to launch a cable television channel this spring that focuses on the Bluegrass State.

A specific programming direction hasn't been determined, but areas of interest include weather, public affairs and sports talk, said Insight spokesman Jason Keller.

"Research showed 93 percent of Insight customers in Kentucky are interested in a channel containing this kind of programming," Keller said.

The channel will be an expansion of the local-origination channels — including Channel 17 in Lexington — that Insight has in each of its Kentucky markets, including Louisville, Northern Kentucky and Bowling Green. Some of that programming might find its way to the new channel, he said. The new channel also will appear on all of Insight's Kentucky markets on cable Channel 2. In Lexington, that's now The Weather Channel, which will be moved, Keller said.

"Our vision for this channel is for it to become a channel where people can get information about this state that they can't get anywhere else," he said.

He said it's not clear what staffing will be for the advertising-supported channel.

The station, which will roll out with a soft launch without much publicity, will be in standard definition, but Keller said Insight might explore offering it in high definition.

Asked whether it would compete with the offerings of Kentucky Educational Television, Keller said, "We're not looking to go head to head against KET."

"KET's programming has a place and appeal to all Kentuckians, but we feel like there's more out there waiting to be tapped," he said. Reach Scott Sloan at (859) 231-1447 or 1-800-950-6397, Ext. 1447.