C-SPAN

==History==

===Development===
[[File:C-SPAN Robert Byrd.jpg|thumb|right|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.]]
[[Brian Lamb]], C-SPAN's [[chairman]] and former [[chief executive officer]], conceived C-SPAN in 1975 while working as the [[Washington, D.C.]], bureau chief of ''[[Cablevision]]''.<ref>{{cite book |title=Peer Participation and Software: What Mozilla Has to Teach Government |publisher=[[MIT Press]] |year=2010 |first=David R. |last=Booth |page=[https://archive.org/details/peerproductionso0000boot/page/81 81] |isbn=978-0-262-51461-3 |url=https://archive.org/details/peerproductionso0000boot/page/81 }}</ref> Cable television was a rapidly growing industry, and Lamb envisioned a non-profit network, financed by the cable industry, that televised Congressional sessions, public affairs events, and policy discussions.<ref name=Barnhart>{{cite news |title=Win like a lamb; C-SPAN remains a reliable source thanks to founder's fair approach |first=Aaron|last=Barnhart |newspaper=[[Kansas City Star]] |page=F1 |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=48H7-J1B0-010F-S1NX&csi=145214&oc=00240&perma=true |date=May 3, 2003 |access-date=May 22, 2013}}</ref><ref name=NewsCheck>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/2010/04/20/41591/cspan-the-other-washington-monument |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130205063150/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/2010/04/20/41591/cspan-the-other-washington-monument |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 5, 2013 |title=C-SPAN: The Other Washington Monument |date=April 20, 2010 |work=tvnewscheck.com |publisher=News Check Media |access-date=November 30, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Legislative Television As Political Advertising: A Public Choice Approach |publisher=[[iUniverse]] |first=Franklin G. |last=Mixon |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-595-27086-6 |page=2}}</ref>  [[Bob Rosencrans]], providing $25,000 of initial funding in 1979,<ref name=Barnhart/><ref name="Columbia College">{{cite web|url=http://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/jan05/features3.php|title=Original Cable Guy|work=college.columbia.edu|publisher=[[Columbia College, Columbia University|Columbia College]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829153957/http://www.college.columbia.edu/cct/jan05/features3.php <!--Added by H3llBot-->|archive-date=August 29, 2008|access-date=August 5, 2008}}</ref>  and [[John D. Evans]], providing wiring and access to the [[cable television headend|headend]] needed for the distribution of the C-SPAN signal,<ref name="Paddock">{{cite news|url=http://www.ur.umich.edu/9798/Apr08_98/cspan.htm|title=C-SPAN chief says network has 'extended the gallery'|last=Paddock|first=Travis|date=April 8, 1998|work=The University Record|access-date=October 8, 2012|publisher=The University of Michigan|location=Ann Arbor, Michigan|archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729024731/http://www.ur.umich.edu/9798/Apr08_98/cspan.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=The C-SPAN Revolution|last=Frantzich|first=Stephen E.|author2=John Sullivan|publisher=[[University of Oklahoma Press]]|year=1996|isbn=0-8061-2870-4|page=30}}</ref> were among those who helped Lamb launch the network. At meetings with House of Representatives leadership, Lamb and Rosencrans promised that the network would be non-political, which helped override broadcast and local network resistance.<ref name="Columbia College" />

C-SPAN launched on March 19, 1979,<ref>{{cite news |title=Lamb opened government with C-SPAN |newspaper=[[Journal & Courier]] |location=Lafayette, Indiana |page=6A |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=4R2X-FHC0-TWWX-S08V&csi=256482&oc=00240&perma=true |date=November 3, 2007 |access-date=May 22, 2013}}</ref> for the first televised session made available by the House of Representatives, beginning with a speech by then-[[Tennessee]] representative [[Al Gore]].<ref name=TWP>{{cite news |title=C-SPAN By the Numbers |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=4BXM-NJT0-TW87-N2B1&csi=8075&oc=00240&perma=true |date=March 14, 2004 |access-date=May 22, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The C-SPAN Revolution |first=Stephen E. |last=Frantzich |author2=John Sullivan |publisher=[[University of Oklahoma Press]] |year=1996 |page=23 |isbn=0-8061-2870-4}}</ref>  Upon its debut, only 3.5&nbsp;million homes were wired for C-SPAN,<ref name=Marcus>{{cite news |title=Confessions of a C-SPAN Junkie |author=[[Ruth Marcus (journalist)|Ruth Marcus]] |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |page=A31 |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=4BYF-XSH0-TW87-N26J&csi=8075&oc=00240&perma=true |date=March 18, 2004 |access-date=May 22, 2013}}</ref> and the network had just three employees.<ref name=Wallace>{{cite news |title=Power Player of the Week Brian Lamb |author=[[Chris Wallace]] |newspaper=[[Fox News Network]] |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=4D3J-4CJ0-00MM-P4FJ&csi=174179&oc=00240&perma=true |date=August 15, 2004 |access-date=May 22, 2013}}</ref> For the first few years C-SPAN leased satellite time from the [[USA Network]] and had approximately 9 hours of daily programming. On February 1, 1982, C-SPAN launched its own transponder and expanded programming to 16 hours a day; the arrangement with the USA Network was discontinued two months later.<ref>{{cite news |title=C-SPAN goes on campaign trail |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/82-OCR/1982-01-25-BC-OCR-Page-0099.pdf |access-date=August 8, 2021 |work=Broadcasting Magazine |date=January 25, 1982 |page=99}}</ref> C-SPAN began full-time operations on September 13, 1982.<ref>{{cite news |title=24 -hour milestone |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-BC-IDX/82-OCR/1982-08-02-BC-OCR-Page-0008.pdf |access-date=August 12, 2021 |work=Broadcasting Magazine |date=August 2, 1982 |page=8}}</ref>

===Channel expansion and access===
C-SPAN2 launched on June 2, 1986, to cover Senate proceedings, and began full-time operations on January 5, 1987.<ref name=Shales>{{cite news |title=C-SPAN, America's Town Hall; Looking Back on the Decade That Brought Government Home |author=[[Tom Shales]] |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1183350.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105213910/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1183350.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 5, 2013 |date=April 3, 1989 |access-date=May 22, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Ragsdale">{{cite news |title=C-SPAN has taken viewers on tour of history, government for 20 years |first=Shirley|last=Ragsdale |newspaper=[[Argus Leader]] |page=10C |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=470F-B6D0-01G9-9184&csi=256478&oc=00240&perma=true |location=Sioux Falls, South Dakota |date=March 14, 1999 |access-date=May 22, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Milestones">{{cite web |url=http://legacy.c-span.org/about/company/index.asp?code=MILESTONES |title=C-SPAN Milestones |work=c-span.org |publisher=C-SPAN |access-date=October 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717175854/http://legacy.c-span.org/about/company/index.asp?code=MILESTONES |archive-date=July 17, 2011 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> The Senate had debated allowing television coverage for over two years, with Majority Leader [[Howard Baker]] introducing the first, failed, resolution to allow cameras onto the floor and Senator [[William L. Armstrong]] finally succeeding in televising Senate proceedings.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Life and Career of William Armstrong {{!}} C-SPAN.org|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?14519-1/life-career-william-armstrong|access-date=June 25, 2020|website=www.c-span.org|language=en-us}}</ref>

In 1992, Congress passed [[must-carry]] regulations, which required cable carriers to allocate spectrum to local broadcasters. This affected the availability of C-SPAN, especially C-SPAN2, in some areas as some providers chose to discontinue carriage of the channel altogether.<ref name=Love>{{cite news |title=C-SPAN Cut in 95 Cities Around the Country For Total Loss of About Four Million Viewers Brian Lamb Says Competition for Air Time May Lead Network to Liven Up Its Format |author=Alice A. Love |newspaper=[[Roll Call]] |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=3S4T-HMV0-0001-S02F&csi=3624&oc=00240&perma=true |location=Washington, D.C. |date=August 8, 1994 |access-date=May 22, 2013}}</ref><ref name=Oregonian>{{cite news |title=Federal Law Forced Paragon into Programming Changes |newspaper=[[The Oregonian]] |page= B08 |location=Portland, Oregon |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=4JN0-GVH0-TX1M-R2CG&csi=235910&oc=00240&perma=true |date=January 24, 1995 |access-date=May 22, 2013}}</ref> Between 1993 and 1994, cable systems in 95 U.S. cities dropped or reduced broadcasts of C-SPAN and C-SPAN2.<ref name=Love/> Viewers protested these decisions, and some communities, such as [[Eugene, Oregon]] and [[Alexandria, Virginia]], were successful in restoring C-SPAN availability.<ref name=Morrison>{{cite news |title=Some of U.S. Want Our C-SPAN2 |author=Bayard H. Morrison |newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]] |url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2001-04-08/news/0104080011_1_lake-county-senate-debate-county-residents |date=April 8, 2001 |access-date=May 22, 2013 |archive-date=March 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327021841/http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2001-04-08/news/0104080011_1_lake-county-senate-debate-county-residents |url-status=dead }}</ref> C-SPAN availability was broadly restored when technological improvements expanded channel capacity and allowed for both mandatory stations and the C-SPAN networks to be broadcast.<ref name=Love/>

C-SPAN3, the most recent expansion channel, began full-time operations on January 22, 2001.<ref name="Milestones" /> It airs public policy and government-related events on weekdays, historical programming on weeknights and weekends, and sometimes serves as an overflow channel for live programming conflicts on C-SPAN and C-SPAN2.<ref name="NewsCheck" /> C-SPAN3 is the successor of a digital channel called C-SPAN Extra, which was launched in the [[Washington, D.C., area]] in 1997, and televised live and recorded political events on weekdays.<ref name="Milestones" /><ref name="Moss">{{cite news|url=https://www.multichannel.com/news/time-warner-gives-lift-c-span3-136166|title=Time Warner Gives Lift to C-SPAN3|last=Moss|first=Linda|date=February 19, 2001|newspaper=[[Multichannel News]]|access-date=May 22, 2013}}</ref> C-SPAN Radio also began operations in 1997, covering similar events as the television networks and often [[simulcast]]ing their programming.<ref name=Stoddard>{{cite news |title=Rosty to be Released from Custody Today |url=http://w3.nexis.com/new/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=3SKN-K9R0-00BY-M0BK&csi=153182&oc=00240&perma=true |author=A.B. Stoddard |newspaper=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]] |location=Washington, D.C. |date=October 15, 1997 |access-date=May 22, 2013}}</ref>

In 2010, C-SPAN began a transition to [[high-definition television|high definition]] telecasts, planned to take place over an 18-month period.<ref name="NewsCheck"/> The network provided C-SPAN and C-SPAN2 in high definition on June 1, 2010, and C-SPAN3 in July 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.multichannel.com/article/452819-IN_BRIEF.php |title=Cable Show Draws News of HD Channel Launches |date=May 18, 2010 |work=multichannel.com |publisher=[[NewBay Media]] |access-date=December 3, 2010}}</ref>

Lamb semi-retired in March 2012 and gave executive control of the network to his two lieutenants, Rob Kennedy and [[Susan Swain]].<ref name=Stelter/>

===Online presence===
In January 1997, C-SPAN began real-time streaming of C-SPAN and C-SPAN2 on its website.<ref name=Milestones/> To cover the [[2008 Democratic National Convention|Democratic]] and [[2008 Republican National Convention|Republican]] conventions and the [[United States presidential election debates, 2008|presidential debates]] of 2008, C-SPAN created two standalone websites: the Convention Hub and the Debate Hub.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2008/09/26/don%E2%80%99t-like-twitter%E2%80%99s-election-site-c-span-has-a-way-cooler-alternative-really/ |title=Don't like Twitter's Election Site? C-SPAN Has a Way Cooler Alternative (Really!) |first=Adam |last=Ostrow |date=September 26, 2008 |work=mashable.com |publisher=[[Mashable]] |access-date=January 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808142229/http://mashable.com/2008/09/26/don%E2%80%99t-like-twitter%E2%80%99s-election-site-c-span-has-a-way-cooler-alternative-really/ |archive-date=August 8, 2010 }}</ref> C-span.org features further live programming such as committee hearings and speeches that are broadcast later in the day, after the House and Senate have left.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.c-span.org/About/The-Company/Viewer-FAQ/ |title=Viewer FAQs |work=c-span.org |publisher=C-SPAN |access-date=September 27, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925045216/http://www.c-span.org/About/The-Company/Viewer-FAQ/ |archive-date=September 25, 2013 }}</ref>

On January 12, 2017, the online feed for C-SPAN1 was interrupted and replaced by a feed from the Russian television network [[RT America]] for approximately 10 minutes.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bromwich|first1=Jonah Engel|title=C-Span Online Broadcast Interrupted by Russian Network|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/12/business/media/cspan-russia-today.html|work=The New York Times|date=January 12, 2017}}</ref> C-SPAN announced that they were troubleshooting the incident and were "operating under the assumption that it was an internal routing issue."<ref>{{Cite tweet|user=cspan|author=C-SPAN|number=819652454237278208|date =January 12, 2017|title=This afternoon the online feed for C-SPAN was briefly interrupted by RT programming.}}</ref>

===Camera access===
C-SPAN broadcasts video feed, but does not control the placement or number of cameras on the House and Senate floor. Arguments over C-SPAN's camera in the House and Senate began as early as 1984, with a fight between Democrats and Republicans over camera angles. At the time C-SPAN only broadcast a shot of the person speaking. The Conservative Opportunity Society, led by [[Newt Gingrich]], took advantage of this by delivering speeches to an empty chamber, at times referring to Democrats who were not actually there. Speaker [[Tip O'Neill]], annoyed by the speeches, ordered the camera to display a wide-shot of the empty chamber without alerting the Republicans.<ref name=Weiner>{{cite news |title=C-SPAN denied cameras in the House of Representatives, again |first=Rachel|last=Weiner |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=February 4, 2011 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/04/AR2011020407317.html |access-date=February 8, 2011}}</ref> The incident turned into a widely publicized argument between Gingrich and O'Neill.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bencks |first1=Jarret |title=When Partisanship Got Polarized |url=https://www.brandeis.edu/magazine/2020/fall/arts-and-culture/gingrich.html |website=Brandeis Magazine |access-date=January 12, 2023}}</ref>

After the 1984 incident, the House allowed both wide-angle shots and close-ups of the speaker until 1994, when they reverted to just close-up shots in an effort to make the House look "more dignified."<ref name=Weiner /> The Senate, which had allowed cameras since 1987, had always only allowed close-ups.

In 1994, C-SPAN requested increased camera access from both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and for permission to bring their own cameras.<ref name=Weiner /> They asked permission to pan for wide reaction shots, and install cameras for House-Senate conference committees and off-floor interviews, among other things. They also asked permission to have C-SPAN employees man the cameras instead of government employees.<ref>{{cite news |title=C-Span asks Congress for greater camera access to sessions |url=https://www.rcfp.org/c-span-asks-congress-greater-camera-access-sessions/ |access-date=January 12, 2023 |publisher=Reporters Committee |date=November 29, 1994}}</ref> These requests were rejected. Speaker [[Dennis Hastert]] rejected similar requests in 1999, as well as incoming Speaker [[Nancy Pelosi]] in 2006.<ref name=Weiner /> A December 2009 request to film healthcare negotiations was similarly denied.<ref name=FoxNews>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/01/05/c-span-challenges-congress-open-health-care-talks-tv-coverage/ |title=C-SPAN Challenges Congress to Open Health Care Talks to TV Coverage |date=January 5, 2010 |work=foxnews.com |publisher=[[Fox News Channel|Fox News]] |access-date=November 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101118140658/http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/01/05/c-span-challenges-congress-open-health-care-talks-tv-coverage/ |archive-date=November 18, 2010 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

In 2011, C-SPAN again requested to bring cameras onto the House floor. Incoming Speaker [[John Boehner]] rejected the request, though he did allow reporters on the floor for 'special events.'<ref name=Weiner />

On June 22 and 23, 2016, C-SPAN took video footage of the House floor from individual House representatives via streaming services [[Periscope (app)|Periscope]] and [[Facebook features#Facebook Live|Facebook Live]] during a [[sit-in]] by House Democrats asking for a vote on gun control measures after the [[Orlando nightclub shooting]]. The sit-in was out of formal session and while the House was in official recess, so the existing House cameras could not be used to cover the event.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/politics/cant-see-house-sit-c-span|title=Why You Can't See the House Sit-In on C-SPAN|last=Akin|first=Stephanie|date=June 22, 2016|work=[[Roll Call]]|access-date=June 23, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/06/22/the-real-reason-c-span-cameras-arent-showing-democrats-gun-control-sit-in/|title=C-SPAN cameras couldn't show Democrats' gun control sit-in – so Democrats did it themselves|last=Phillips|first=Amber|date=June 23, 2016|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=June 23, 2016}}</ref> These live streams violated House rules on use of personal devices on the floor, which C-SPAN noted through on-air disclaimers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/23/us/politics/house-democrats-stage-sit-in-to-push-for-action-on-gun-control.html|title=House Democrats' Gun-Control Sit-In Turns into Chaotic Showdown With Republicans|website=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 22, 2016 |last1=Herszenhorn |first1=David M. |last2=Huetteman |first2=Emmarie }}Herszenhorn</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/cspan/status/745643506786504704|title=@cspan: C-SPAN has no control over the U.S. House TV cameras.|date=June 22, 2016|work=Tweet|publisher=C-SPAN [[Twitter]] account|access-date=June 23, 2016}}</ref>

In January 2023, C-SPAN gained widespread attention for its broadcast of the [[January 2023 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives election|Speaker of the House vote]]. As the House was not in session, C-SPAN had been given permission for its cameras to roam the House floor, and capture new angles in addition to the often-permitted wide-angle and speaker close-up. After [[Kevin McCarthy]] was confirmed as Speaker, camera permissions reverted to what had previously been permitted.<ref>{{cite news |last1=DeChalus |first1=Camila |title=With the House in chaos, C-SPAN shows footage Americans don't usually see |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/01/05/c-span-cameras-house-speaker-vote/?&wpisrc=nl_evening&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F38bc806%2F63b74897ef9bf67b234c8422%2F596d08e2ade4e24119db5461%2F12%2F51%2F63b74897ef9bf67b234c8422&wp_cu=466552ee2313957ce7b379e29fbed753%7CF0F747E7294BBEAAE040007F01004453 |access-date=January 12, 2023 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=January 5, 2023}}</ref>