C-SPAN facts for kids
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| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Headquarters | Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) (downscaled to letterboxed 480i for SDTV feeds) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | National Cable Satellite Corporation |
| Sister channels | C-SPAN2 C-SPAN3 C-SPAN Radio |
| History | |
| Launched | March 19, 1979 (C-SPAN) June 2, 1986 (C-SPAN2) January 22, 2001 (C-SPAN3) |
| Founder | Brian Lamb |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| WCSP-FM/HD (C-SPAN Radio) |
90.1 FM / HD Radio (Washington, D.C. / Baltimore) |
| Selective TV, Inc. (Alexandria, Minnesota) |
K33DB-D 50.3 |
| Streaming media | |
| Available to current cable/satellite subscribers | C-SPAN Live and on demand |
C-SPAN (which stands for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network) is an American TV network. It was started in 1979 by the cable TV industry. C-SPAN is a special kind of organization called a nonprofit public service. This means it doesn't try to make money for owners.
C-SPAN shows what happens in the U.S. government. It also covers other important public events. The network is funded by cable and satellite companies. It doesn't show commercials or ask for donations on TV. C-SPAN works on its own. The cable industry and the U.S. Congress do not tell it what to show.
The C-SPAN network has three main TV channels. C-SPAN focuses on the U.S. House of Representatives. C-SPAN2 covers the U.S. Senate. C-SPAN3 shows other government meetings and related programs. There's also a radio station called WCSP-FM and several websites. These websites let you watch live shows and old programs.
About 100 million homes in the U.S. can watch C-SPAN's TV channels. WCSP-FM broadcasts in Washington, D.C.. You can also listen to it across the U.S. on SiriusXM. Plus, you can stream it online or use phone apps.
C-SPAN shows many U.S. political events. It often provides live, complete coverage of the U.S. Congress. It also covers other big events around the world. The network shows these events without adding opinions or commentary. This helps viewers get information directly. Besides politics, C-SPAN also has shows about history and non-fiction books. It also features interviews with important people involved in public policy.
Contents
How C-SPAN Started and Grew
The Idea Behind C-SPAN
Brian Lamb is the founder of C-SPAN. He thought of the idea for C-SPAN in 1975. At that time, he worked for Cablevision magazine. Cable TV was growing fast. Lamb imagined a network that would show Congress and public events. This network would be a nonprofit and funded by cable companies.
People like Bob Rosencrans and John D. Evans helped Lamb start the network. Rosencrans gave $25,000 to begin. Evans helped with the technical parts of sending the signal. Lamb and Rosencrans promised that C-SPAN would be fair and not take sides. This helped them get permission to show Congress.
C-SPAN started on March 19, 1979. The first televised session of the House of Representatives was shown. It began with a speech by Tennessee representative Al Gore. When it first started, only 3.5 million homes could watch C-SPAN. The network had only three employees.
For the first few years, C-SPAN shared satellite time with the USA Network. It broadcast about 9 hours a day. In 1982, C-SPAN got its own satellite space. It then broadcast 16 hours a day. By September 13, 1982, C-SPAN was on full-time.
More Channels and Wider Access
C-SPAN2 began on June 2, 1986. It was created to cover the Senate meetings. It started broadcasting full-time on January 5, 1987. The Senate had discussed allowing TV cameras for over two years before this happened.
In 1992, a rule called "must-carry" was passed. This rule made cable companies carry local TV stations. Because of this, some cable providers stopped showing C-SPAN, especially C-SPAN2. People who watched C-SPAN protested these changes. In some places, like Eugene, Oregon and Alexandria, Virginia, C-SPAN was brought back. Later, technology improved, and C-SPAN became widely available again.
C-SPAN3 is the newest channel. It started full-time on January 22, 2001. On weekdays, it shows public policy and government events. On weeknights and weekends, it shows historical programs. It also acts as an extra channel when C-SPAN or C-SPAN2 have too many live events.
In 2010, C-SPAN started broadcasting in HD. This made the picture much clearer. Brian Lamb, the founder, stepped down from his main role in 2012. He handed control to Rob Kennedy and Susan Swain.
C-SPAN Online
In 1997, C-SPAN began showing live streams of C-SPAN and C-SPAN2 on its website. For the 2008 political conventions and debates, C-SPAN made special websites. These sites were called the Convention Hub and the Debate Hub. C-span.org also shows live committee hearings and speeches. These are often broadcast before they appear on TV.
On January 12, 2017, the C-SPAN1 online feed was briefly interrupted. It was replaced by a feed from a Russian TV network for about 10 minutes. C-SPAN said they were looking into it. They thought it was an internal technical problem.
Camera Access and Rules
C-SPAN shows video from the House and Senate. However, C-SPAN does not control where the cameras are placed. Arguments about camera angles started as early as 1984. At first, C-SPAN only showed a close-up of the person speaking. Some politicians used this to give speeches to an empty room.
After an incident in 1984, the House allowed both wide-angle shots and close-ups. But in 1994, they went back to only close-up shots. The Senate, which allowed cameras since 1987, always used only close-ups.
C-SPAN has asked many times to bring its own cameras into Congress. They wanted to show wider shots and have their own employees operate the cameras. These requests have been turned down.
In June 2016, C-SPAN showed video from individual House members. This happened during a sit-in about gun control. The official House cameras could not be used because the House was not in formal session. C-SPAN noted that these live streams broke House rules.
In January 2023, C-SPAN got a lot of attention for its coverage of the Speaker of the House vote. Because the House was not in session, C-SPAN was allowed to move its cameras around. This gave viewers new angles. After the Speaker was chosen, the camera rules went back to normal.
What C-SPAN Shows
U.S. House and Senate Coverage
C-SPAN's main job is to show live coverage of the U.S. House and Senate. The C-SPAN channel focuses on the House of Representatives. C-SPAN2 gives full live coverage of the Senate. By watching both, viewers can follow new laws as they move through Congress.
C-SPAN has covered many important debates. These include the Persian Gulf conflict in 1991. It also covered the House impeachment vote and Senate trial of President Bill Clinton. More recently, it covered the impeachment proceedings of President Trump. When the House or Senate are not meeting, C-SPAN channels show other public affairs programs. They also show recordings of past events.
Public Affairs Programs
C-SPAN shows a wide range of public affairs events. It is a good source of information for journalists, teachers, and anyone interested in politics. This is because it shows political events without editing them. C-SPAN sees its job as giving the public access to the political process.
The networks cover U.S. political campaigns. This includes the major party conventions. They show these events completely. C-SPAN also covers midterm elections.
All three channels show events like congressional hearings. They also show White House press briefings and presidential speeches. Other government meetings, like those from the Federal Communications Commission, are also shown. C-SPAN also covers State of the Union speeches and presidential press conferences.
C-SPAN also broadcasts press conferences and meetings from news groups. This includes events at the National Press Club. While C-SPAN cannot show video from the Supreme Court, it uses audio recordings. It pairs these with photos of the judges and lawyers.
Sometimes, C-SPAN shows meetings from other countries' governments. This happens when they discuss topics important to U.S. viewers. For example, it has shown parts of the Parliament of the United Kingdom's "Prime Minister's Questions." C-SPAN also shows news reports from around the world during major events. It covered Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Ike using local news feeds. It also showed Al Jazeera broadcasts during events like the Egyptian revolution. C-SPAN also broadcasts NASA Space Shuttle launches and landings live.
C-SPAN tries to show different points of view. It allows time for many opinions on a topic. The network aims to be neutral and unbiased. When hosts are on camera, they just help explain what is happening. They do not state their names on TV.
Main Shows on C-SPAN and C-SPAN2
C-SPAN focuses on the House of Representatives. Its daily programming starts with Washington Journal. This is a phone-in and interview show. It airs from 7:00 to 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Washington Journal started in 1995. It features elected officials, government leaders, and journalists. Guests answer questions from hosts and the public.
On weeknights, C-SPAN2 shows Politics and Public Policy Today. This is a block of recordings of the day's important events. On Sunday evenings, C-SPAN's main program is Q&A. This is an interview show hosted by Susan Swain. Guests include journalists, politicians, and authors.
On weekends, C-SPAN2 shows Book TV. This is 48 hours of programs about non-fiction books, book events, and authors. Book TV started in 1998. It includes shows like In Depth, a long interview with one author. Another show is After Words, where guest hosts interview authors. Book TV also covers book fairs and author readings.
C-SPAN3: History and Public Events
C-SPAN3 shows public affairs events, congressional hearings, and history programs. On weekdays, it features live public affairs events from Washington, D.C. Each weekend, it broadcasts 48 hours of programming about U.S. history. This is called American History TV.
American History TV covers U.S. history from the nation's start to the late 20th century. Programs include American Artifacts, which explores museums and historical sites. Lectures in History features university professors teaching U.S. history.
Special Programs
C-SPAN has also made special shows and series. In 1989, it celebrated its 10th anniversary with a look back at its history. In 1994, it showed reenactments of the 1858 Lincoln–Douglas debates.
Series like The Alexis de Tocqueville Tour: Exploring Democracy in America and American Writers: A Journey Through History took viewers on tours. They explored America through the eyes of famous writers and a French observer. The year-long series American Presidents: Life Portraits won an award. C-SPAN has also made documentaries about American institutions and landmarks.
Radio and Online Access
C-SPAN also has C-SPAN Radio. It broadcasts on WCSP-FM (90.1 FM) in Washington, D.C. It is also available nationwide on XM Satellite Radio. You can stream it online and use phone apps. C-SPAN Radio does not just copy the TV programs. It also has unique shows like oral histories and some meetings not shown on TV.
All C-SPAN programs since 1987 are available in the C-SPAN Video Library. This library is in West Lafayette, Indiana. By March 2010, it had over 160,000 hours of programming. Older C-SPAN shows are still being added. The library is a great resource for students and researchers. It won an award in 2010 for creating a free, easy-to-use archive of American policymaking.
C-SPAN has changed its copyright policy. Now, you can copy, share, and post C-SPAN video of official government events online for non-commercial use. This means you can use it for school projects or to share with friends.
In 2014, C-SPAN started limiting access to its live TV feeds online. You now need to be a cable or satellite subscriber to watch them live. However, all government meetings, hearings, and conferences can still be streamed live for free. They are also available in the C-SPAN Video Library without needing a login. Live audio feeds of all three channels are also free on the mobile app.
How C-SPAN Works
C-SPAN is run by the National Cable Satellite Corporation. This is a nonprofit organization. C-SPAN gets most of its money from fees paid by cable and satellite companies. In 2012, C-SPAN received about 6 cents from each subscriber's cable bill. This gave it an annual budget of about $60 million. C-SPAN started showing online ads in 2021 and also sells merchandise.
Because C-SPAN is independent, neither the cable industry nor Congress controls what it shows. As of 2013, the network had about 282 or 337 employees. C-SPAN is led by co-CEOs Rob Kennedy and Susan Swain. Founder Brian Lamb is still the executive chairman of the board. Most of C-SPAN's employees work at its headquarters in Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. It also has studios in New York City and Denver, Colorado.
Who Watches C-SPAN?
The C-SPAN networks are available in over 100 million homes. This does not include people who watch on the C-SPAN websites. C-SPAN does not use official viewing statistics like Nielsen ratings. This is because it has no commercials.
However, surveys have given estimates:
- A 1994 survey found that 8.6% of the U.S. population regularly watched C-SPAN.
- In 2004, this number grew to 12% of the U.S. population. Another 31% watched sometimes.
- A 2009 survey found that 20% of homes with cable TV watched C-SPAN at least once a week. This is about 39 million Americans.
- A 2013 survey showed that 47 million adults, or 24% of adults with cable TV, watched C-SPAN weekly.
- In 2017, a survey found that 70 million adults, or 36% of adults with cable TV, watched C-SPAN over a six-month period.
What People Think of C-SPAN
A 2009 survey of C-SPAN viewers found that they most valued the network's balanced programming. Viewers were a mix of liberals, conservatives, and moderates. They were also an equal mix of men and women of all ages.
C-SPAN is praised for being a public service. It helps people learn about the government. In 1987, The New York Times said C-SPAN had expanded TV journalism. It brought politics to a wider audience. The network is also praised for showing important events like the Goldman Sachs Senate hearings. Its everyday programs help people understand U.S. politics.
Many people are impressed that C-SPAN does this without government funding or commercials. The Washington Post noted that C-SPAN's programming has been copied by TV networks worldwide. The New York Times called C-SPAN "one of a kind" for recording official events.
Some groups have said that C-SPAN has a conservative bias. In 2005, a group called Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) studied Washington Journal. They found more "right-of-center" guests than "left-of-center" guests. A 2007 survey also reported that C-SPAN covered conservative think tanks more often.
Other C-SPAN Services
C-SPAN offers many services to help people learn. C-SPAN Classroom is a free service for teachers. It helps them use C-SPAN resources in their classes. The C-SPAN School Bus started in 1993. It traveled around the U.S. to teach people about government and politics. The bus also recorded videos of the places it visited. Two original buses were replaced in 2010 by the C-SPAN Digital Bus. C-SPAN also has Local Content Vehicles (LCVs). These vehicles travel the country to record unique political and historical stories.
C-SPAN has published ten books based on its programs. These books include original material and interviews. Some titles are C-SPAN: America's Town Hall and Gavel to Gavel: A C-SPAN Guide to Congress. Other books cover U.S. presidents and the Supreme Court. Five books came from the Booknotes program.
Prank Calls on C-SPAN
Because Washington Journal has open phone lines, C-SPAN has had some prank calls. These calls have included jokes and other inappropriate comments. In 2015, a caller recited the theme song of the TV show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In 2014, a caller used a disrespectful term for President Barack Obama. C-SPAN started using a 3-second broadcast delay in 2016 to help stop these types of calls.
Images for kids
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Sen. Robert Byrd (right), C-SPAN's founder Brian Lamb (left) and Paul FitzPatrick flip the switch for C-SPAN2 on June 2, 1986. FitzPatrick was C-SPAN president at the time.
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C-SPAN's HDTV coverage of the beginning of the 112th Congress on January 5, 2011. The on-screen design seen here was used from April 19, 2010, to January 17, 2016.
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Home page of the C-SPAN Video Library, 2013
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Founder Brian Lamb (center) in 2012 with co-CEOs Rob Kennedy (left) and Susan Swain (right)
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C-SPAN Digital Bus, which tours the U.S. educating the public about C-SPAN resources
