C-SPAN

Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
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C-SPAN (Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network) is an American cable television network that was created in 1979 by the cable television industry as a public service. C-SPAN televises many proceedings of the United States federal government, as well as other public affairs programming.

History

C-SPAN was founded by Brian Lamb, who was inspired by the idea of providing unfiltered access to government proceedings. The network was launched on March 19, 1979, with the first televised session of the United States House of Representatives. Initially, C-SPAN was available to a limited number of cable subscribers, but it has since expanded to reach millions of households across the United States.

Programming

C-SPAN's programming includes live coverage of the U.S. Congress, including the House of Representatives and the Senate. It also covers other governmental proceedings, such as Supreme Court hearings, White House press briefings, and political events like party conventions and presidential debates.

In addition to live coverage, C-SPAN offers a variety of public affairs programs, including "Washington Journal", a daily call-in show, and "Book TV", which features discussions with authors of non-fiction books.

Channels

C-SPAN operates three television channels:

• C-SPAN – Focuses on the House of Representatives and other public affairs programming.
• C-SPAN2 – Covers the Senate and features "Book TV" on weekends.
• C-SPAN3 – Offers additional public affairs programming, including historical programming and coverage of congressional hearings.

Online Presence

C-SPAN has a significant online presence, offering live streaming of its channels and an extensive video library on its website. The C-SPAN Video Library is a comprehensive archive of C-SPAN programming, providing access to thousands of hours of video content.

Impact

C-SPAN has been praised for its role in increasing transparency in government by providing the public with direct access to governmental proceedings. It has become an essential resource for educators, researchers, and citizens interested in the workings of the U.S. government.

Criticism

While C-SPAN is generally well-regarded, it has faced criticism for its lack of commentary and analysis, which some viewers find necessary to understand complex political issues. However, this approach is also seen as a strength, as it allows viewers to form their own opinions based on the raw footage.

Also see

• Public broadcasting in the United States
• United States Congress
• Supreme Court of the United States
• Cable television
• Brian Lamb