5 Reasons Why C-SPAN is a Must for Broadcasters!

FCC’s Renewed Commitment to Local Broadcasters: A Pivotal Moment for Democracy

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is revitalizing its focus on empowering local broadcasters and reinforcing the public interest standard. This shift presents a distinct opportunity for broadcasters to reaffirm their essential function in American democracy. With the FCC considering easing ownership regulations, mandating a shift to the ATSC 3.0 digital standard, and maintaining the retransmission consent framework that bolsters broadcaster profitability, it’s an opportune moment to explore strategies for enhancing public service. A compelling and practical suggestion is for broadcasters to consider carrying C-SPAN’s channels across their platforms.

C-SPAN’s Civic Value and Distribution Challenges

C-SPAN, established by cable companies as a non-profit public affairs network, provides unprecedented access to governmental proceedings and civic events. Its commitment to transparency uniquely positions it as an essential resource for an informed citizenry, offering uninterrupted broadcasts of congressional hearings, town halls, and other political events without editorializing or the sound bites characteristic of commercial news. This unvarnished access is crucial for the vitality of American democracy.

However, as more viewers abandon traditional cable in favor of streaming services, C-SPAN’s audience has dwindled significantly—from approximately 100 million households in 2013 to just 51 million currently, despite a total of 69 million pay-TV households existing today. Major streaming platforms like Google’s YouTube TV and Disney’s Hulu + Live TV notably exclude C-SPAN, citing its minimal advertising revenue potential. This decline poses serious risks not just to C-SPAN’s financial health, but also jeopardizes the public’s access to objective government coverage.

FCC’s Vision: Empowering Local Broadcasters and Upholding Public Interest

FCC Chair Brendan Carr has clearly articulated the agency’s vision to empower local broadcasters, underscoring their vital role in meeting community needs. He emphasizes that local stations should not serve merely as conduits for national content but must engage with the specific needs of their communities.

Carr reiterates that broadcasters, as custodians of limited public airwaves, hold a unique responsibility to serve the public interest—an obligation the FCC is poised to enforce more rigorously. This may include measures as severe as license revocations for those who fail to comply with public interest standards, underscoring the seriousness of this initiative.

Why C-SPAN Carriage is a Common-Sense Proposal

Amid this evolving regulatory landscape, broadcasters find themselves at a crucial juncture. With the potential for relaxed ownership rules and technological advancements, they must also show a genuine commitment to public service. Mandating or incentivizing the carriage of C-SPAN channels—potentially in collaboration with the cable industry—could fulfill this obligation effectively:

  • Enhancing Public Interest Compliance: Carrying C-SPAN directly aligns with the FCC’s mandate for broadcasters to serve community interests by providing unfiltered, nonpartisan government coverage. This mirrors the FCC’s renewed focus on localism.

  • Preserving Democratic Transparency: As mainstream networks increasingly face accusations of bias, C-SPAN offers indispensable coverage. Ensuring that this content remains widely accessible can significantly bolster broadcasters’ credibility and foster public trust.

  • Leveraging ATSC 3.0 Capabilities: The transition to ATSC 3.0 will enable broadcasters to deliver improved services and more channels. This technological upgrade creates opportunities to include public affairs channels like C-SPAN without compromising commercial content.

  • Balancing Profitability and Public Service: While C-SPAN operates without advertising, broadcasters can rely on strong retransmission consent fees and ad revenues to support its carriage—particularly if the FCC links such carriage to regulatory advantages.

  • Addressing Streaming Service Gaps: With major streaming platforms failing to carry C-SPAN channels, local broadcasters can bridge this gap, offering C-SPAN over-the-air and through their streaming apps to preserve access for millions of viewers.

A Win-Win Situation for Broadcasters, Regulators, and the Public

For broadcasters, agreeing to carry C-SPAN channels as part of their offerings would be a concrete demonstration of their commitment to localism and public service. This action could serve as leverage in negotiations with the FCC, particularly in securing favorable regulatory conditions such as relaxed ownership caps and aid for the expensive transition to ATSC 3.0.

For the FCC, mandating or incentivizing C-SPAN’s carriage would not only enforce the public interest standard but also reinforce the agency’s credibility and fulfill its mission of ensuring that broadcast licensees serve their communities effectively.

From the public’s perspective, this initiative would guarantee ongoing access to transparent and comprehensive government coverage during a time when misinformation and media fragmentation abound. Furthermore, it would help mitigate the revenue challenges posed by declining traditional multichannel video programming distributor (MVPD) subscriptions and the lack of support from novel virtual MVPDs or streaming platforms.

A Practical and Compelling Proposition

As the FCC charts a course to empower local broadcasters and tighten enforcement of the public interest standard, broadcasters have a crucial opportunity to reaffirm their indispensable role in American democracy. Mandating or incentivizing the carriage of C-SPAN channels stands as a logical step that aligns with regulatory priorities, technological advancements, and the public’s pressing need for transparent government coverage. This is a compelling opportunity that broadcasters should embrace to secure their ongoing relevance and fulfill their public service responsibilities as they transition into the digital age with ATSC 3.0.

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