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"A popular government, without popular information or the
means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy;
or, perhaps both.
"Knowledge will forever govern ignorance.And a people who mean
to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power
knowledge gives." -James Madison
Today many debate the effects of television. In fact, some argue that television has actually
led to the decline of Americas interest in politics.
In the beginning television was hailed as a marvel that would bring Americans closer to their government. But it never happened that way - mainly because radio and television found that in order to attract viewership they had to move things quickly. Now your typical television news story on state government lasts less than 60 seconds - that is if they run any story at all.
Many political pundits blame inadequate media coverage of government for undermining the quality of representative democracy and contributing to the extreme level of ignorance on the part of the citizenry. Many believe that constituents have become isolated from legislators and other government officials. Many are ill-prepared to understand and act upon the problems facing government.
Yet, there can be a difference in your television!
First there was C-SPAN, created by the cable television industry to cover the proceedings of the nations Congress. Now, two decades years later, many are convinced that this national public service represents power and truth. In fact, many Americans view C-SPAN as a national treasure. Building upon the success of that venture, Californias cable television industry is now investing heavily in The California Channel as a means of bringing civic understanding and balance to state policy questions.
The California Channel, like its model C-SPAN, is powerfully simple because of its unselfish display of completely unedited, unbiased legislative news. So many people complain about the news media distorting reality to the right or the left, misusing sound bites and shaping quotes and content to their advantage. If you really want truth in government, then stop consuming the talk-show/tabloid television spin and settle in with the stoic California Channel.
The glory of The California Channel is what you see - a focused camera, simply watching as the inevitable political theater happens. The camera does not blink, so no one edits what you see. Nobody talks over the proceedings to tell you what to think, they let the electeds do the talking - sometimes to the amazement of their constituents. The California Channel simply watches: whether it is the Governor addressing a crisis confronting Californians, or some member of the legislature talking about the long-term effects of industrial deregulation.
The California Channel is a basic journalistic concept - the television camera serving as the eyes and ears of a private California citizen. The network gives each viewer a front-row seat to state policy debates. The network's most important task remains their original one - daily gavel-to-gavel coverage of California legislative debates in the hopes of educating a new generation of civic leaders and voting citizens.
The longer you watch The California Channel the more you see that time is the key to everything. Time makes it possible to deal with issues, whether highly emotional or extremely complex, that seem beyond the grasp of traditional TV news. When you hear an ultra-conservative Republican Caucasian Assembly- member from northern rural California passionately voice the plight of the African-American male in today's society you realize that such a thing could never be captured on another network. Time creates the potential for boredom, of course, but also for something that has been virtually banished from television: spontaneity.
The California Channel is the people's television. The California Channel asks only for your time and involvement. You won't have to endure pledge drives, nor blatant appeals to donate your hard-earned funds to perpetuate the programs - because Californias cable television industry is picking up the entire tab. But after watching, you may just want to get involved.
With each passing month, The California Channel becomes more valuable than ever and your personal involvement is imperative. When The California Channel presents a hearing, you don't get the evening news anchor giving you the network's spin. You get that quiet camera, focused, unrelenting, critically objective. That's your eye. And the microphone, that is your ear.
What you see and hear may surprise you.
Our current Board Of Directors represent the major cable systems in California.
The California Channel Board of Directors
Chair
Marc Farrar, Time Warner Cable
Vice-Chair
Andrew Johnson, Comcast Cable
Treasurer
Thomas “Duffy” Leone Cox Communications
Secretary
Suzanne Curtis, Charter Communications
State Association Representative
Carolyn McIntyre, California Cable Television Association
Boardmembers
Sam Attisha, Cox Communications
Patricia Fregoso, Time Warner Cable
Sam Rodriguez, Comcast Cable
Fred Lutz, Charter Communications
April 1988
Research indicates that the public is dissatisfied with news coverage of state government proceedings and would support and watch a public affairs channel devoted to covering the state legislature.
October 1989
The California Channel is created by the Center for Governmental Studies based on a report by Tracy Westen and Beth Givens, in cooperation with the USC Annenberg School of Communications.
August 1990
Test of televising began with coverage of the State Assembly for 7.5 hours a day, 5 days per week (Monday through Friday), for the last four weeks of the 1990 legislative session. Carried on 30 systems to 1.6 million homes.
February 1991
Broadcasting began February 4, 1991. Assembly floor sessions and committee hearings were broadcast from 10am to 3pm on Mondays and Thursdays. The channel was available in 1.5 million cable homes in California.
June 1991
Coverage of the State Assembly was extended to 35 hours a week beginning on June 3, 1991. The channel began broadcasting Assembly proceedings from 9am until 4pm Monday through Friday.
July 1991
The channel cut hours back to 10am through 3pm Mondays and Thursdays for the Legislature's summer recess beginning on July 19th. During the recess the channel broadcast various programs on current statewide issues including: a legislative hearing on the Sacramento River/Cantera Toxic spill, a roundtable discussion on health care costs, a debate on Proposition 140, seminars on health care, Assembly budget debates, a keynote address of the National Health Foundation, and interviews with state public officials.
August 1991
The Legislature reconvened for the conclusion of the 1991 session and began with debates on Proposition 140 on August 19, 1991. Programming hours remained at 10am to 3pm Mondays and Thursdays. The channel was available in two million cable homes statewide.
September 1991
The channel broadcast oral arguments before the California Supreme Court on the constitutionality of Proposition 140 on September 12, 1991. The channel was available in two million cable homes in California on Mondays and Thursdays from 10am until 3pm.
January 1992
The channel broadcast oral arguments before the California Supreme Court on the Master's Reapportionment Plan on January 16, 1992. The channel was available from 10am until 3pm in two million cable homes in the state.
February 1992
Coverage of the state Senate was added to the current programming mix of Assembly floor sessions and committee hearings.
May 1992
The channel expanded programming hours to 20 hours per week and began broadcasting from 12pm to 4pm Monday through Friday on May 18, 1992. The channel was carried by cable systems to 2.5 million homes in the state.
June 1992
A donation of satellite time from TCI, Inc. allowed the channel to expand hours beginning June 16, 1992. The expanded hours allowed the channel to provide coverage of the extended budget battle as the legislature debated billion dollar budget deficits and emergency relief efforts in the aftermath of the Oakland Hills fire, the Ferndale earthquake, and the Los Angeles Riots. New programming hours were 9am until 4pm Monday through Friday for the remainder of 1992.
January 1993
The channel began televising the 1993 legislative session on January 4, 1993 from 11am to 4pm Monday through Friday. Programming hours did not change during 1993. The channel was available in over 2.8 million homes throughout the state.
October 1993
The California Cable Television Industry assumed responsibility for the governance and financial viability of the channel. The non-cable founding board members resigned and cable television industry representatives were elected to fill the vacated board seats.
March 1994
The channel expanded programming hours to offer legislative and public affairs programming from 9am through 3:45pm Monday through Friday. The channel was available on 82 cable systems serving 3.2 million homes in the state.
August 1994
The Legislature launched The Legischool Project. The Project is a bi-partisan collaboration of the Legislature and California State University consisting of a video library, classroom lesson plans, and town hall meetings. It is designed to educate high school students about government and heighten their awareness of civic issues and responsibility. The California Channel agreed to broadcast the town hall meetings live.
January 1995
Programming hours remained 9am through 3:45pm Monday through Friday for the 1995 legislative session. The channel was available to 90 cable systems serving 3.9 million cable subscribers in the state.
March 1995
The California Channel served as sole "gavel-to-gavel" distributor of hearings on the Orange County Fiscal Crisis which took place in the first quarter of 1995. The channel also served as a valuable resource and provided coverage of these hearings to a number of news organizations and other agencies both inside and outside of California, including many firms on New York City's Wall Street.
April 1995
The California State Assembly began providing two microwave feeds for televising their floor sessions and committee hearings. The California Channel was now receiving two Senate feeds and two Assembly feeds, allowing for greater parity in programming.
December 1995
The California Channel was available on 94 cable systems serving 4.4 million cable subscribers.
January 1996
The California Channel served as the state's primary news source for live coverage of the Governor's 1996 State of the State Address and the legislative response. The channel purchased additional satellite time and expanded hours for purposes of broadcasting the event live. Normal broadcast hours continued to be 9am through 3:45pm Monday through Friday.
May 1996
The California Channel was available to 99 cable systems serving 4.5 million cable subscribers.
June 1996
The California Channel launched an Internet Web Page featuring information about the channel's operations, funding history, editorial endorsements, mission statement and weekly programming schedule.
November 1996
The California Channel was available to 104 cable systems serving 4.6 million cable subscribers
March 1997
The California Channel began delivering its satellite signal in a compressed, digital format, utilizing Scientific Atlanta's PowerVu System.
June 1997
The California Channel provided extended coverage of the Legislative Budget Deliberations with expanded broadcast hours of 9am to 8pm. The network was available to 4.8 million homes.
August 1997
On August 6th, The California Channel transmitted the first ever live broadcast from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals as they heard oral arguments regarding California's Proposition 140, the 1990 Legislative Term Limit Law.
August 1997
The California Channel was presented a special Diamond Award for Programming Excellency by the Southern California Cable and Telecommunications Association.
August 1997
The California Channel was recognized by the South Bay Producers Guild with their Media Arts Award for Outstanding Service to Community and Communication. California State Senator Ralph Dills joined with the South Bay Producers Guild in recognizing and presenting the network with this award.
November 1997
On November 20th, The California Channel, in partnership with C-SPAN, transmits the first ever live broadcast of an En Banc hearing of a U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, as the 9th Circuit Court heard arguments in Rand v. Rowland and in Bates v. Jones
March 1998
The California Channel announces Cable's Free Airtime for Candidates program. The Channel, in partnership with The League of Women Voters of California and the California Voter Foundation will produce five minute one-on-one interviews with all bona fide general election candidates for statewide office.
April 1998
The California Channel began delivering legislative hearings over the internet through RealVideo.
September 1998
The California Channel began distribution of Cable's Free Airtime for Candidates. The network, in partnership with The League of Women Voters of California and the California Voter Foundation produced one-on-one interviews with all bona fide candidates for the General Election for the following offices: Governor; Lieutenant Governor; Attorney General; Controller; Treasurer; Secretary of State; Insurance Commissioner; Superintendent of Public Instruction; U.S. Senate and California Supreme Court.
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