Efforts to add the Black Entertainment Television station to local cable programming could become a reality if a $2.6 million upgrade plan goes through, representatives from Warner Cable say.

DeKalb’s franchise agreement with Warner Cable expires in May, and new details are being worked out right now.

The plan for upgrading the system was discussed at a recent public meeting in which adding BET was the main topic of discussion, in addition to hearing public preferences for cable stations.

Andy Bast, Warner Cable’s general manager, said he’s interested in adding BET, but there just isn’t the space to add BET or any other channel immediately without bumping existing channels.

“We’re very interested in adding BET as well as TNT (a Ted Turner station), both of which have been requested by local viewers, because we want as many subscribers as possible and want to provide a more diverse package as the population of DeKalb becomes more diverse,” Bast said.

Marilyn Monteiro, NIU’s affirmative action director, was among the proponents for BET present at the public meeting. She is positive about the prospects of receiving BET, but is not sure when DeKalb will receive it.

“The city will be evaluating the previous contract and will probably let Warner in on a new 15-year contract. Unfortunately, it may take up to two years before we receive BET,” she said.

Monteiro added that some of the people wanting to receive BET are working on ways to receive the channel sooner, along with other channels the public wants.