Pages

Friday, May 27, 2011

What is The California Channel?

Any Californian who watches the news, listens to the radio, reads the paper, or browses the web learns about political happenings in the state. But these reports are rarely or totally objective. What you are reading or hearing is someone’s interpretation of what they heard or read. If you ever played the game of “telephone” you know how a simple message can be dramatically changed in just a few short relays.

There is no substitute for seeing events unfold in their actual context in person. This is why thousands flock to ball games, or pack dark theatres to watch actors skillfully tell a story. That is what The California Channel offers – and in the comfort of your own home 24-hours each and every day.

Following the C-SPAN model, The California Channel provides unbiased and unedited coverage of all three branches of state government. We broadcast and webcast both live and archived coverage of State Assembly and Senate sessions and committees, addresses from the Governor, debates during elections, and special events around the Capitol. Politicians can also be seen in a more casual setting as they discuss political happenings on programs such as “Capitol Views” and “Politics on Tap."

The California Channel has proudly been broadcasting Capitol events for more than 20 years. While the elected officials have changed over that time, our commitment and dedication to providing an honest look into state politics has remained the same. We won’t edit what you see, nor tell you what is important to see. We won’t tell you what to think, but will allow you to decide for yourself what demands your attention.

Ever since I was a child, I’ve been fascinated with the idea and preservation of democracy. Democracy creates a platform for everyone’s voice to be heard. The California Channel embodies the basic principle of democracy by bringing unbiased information directly to the people and giving them the opportunity to see our government at work first-hand. I hope the information The California Channel provides not only interests you, but also inspires and motivates you to get involved in the democratic process.

The California Channel is a public service made possible solely by the California cable television industry. Their voluntary monthly contributions, commitment and carriage on 128 California cable systems make our channel available to over 5.5 million California homes.

I am grateful to the cable industry for their dedication to this effort. Their commitment has made it possible for the broad public to better understand the political and legislative processes. This greater understanding fosters greater public participation so we can collectively govern ourselves better. The more people get involved in the process, the better the process will become. Can you imagine the difference in the ways things are done in Sacramento if all 5.5 million California households were to make their voices heard?
One of the challenges of this effort is that, like many nonprofit organizations, we are constrained by limited resources. We can’t afford expensive advertising campaigns, but must rely on friends and interested parties to tell others of our unique resource. TV is an expensive business and we must spend our dollars wisely, investing in equipment and technologies that enhance the viewer’s experience. We continually seek out ways to improve the services we offer and the ways that they are delivered. 

If you have any recommendations for us, or questions about The California Channel, please contact us by phone (916.444.9792) or by email (contact_us@calchannel.com). To stay updated on up-to-the minute happenings in California politics, visit us on Facebook and Twitter.