Two major digital platforms \u2014 YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV \u2014 have agreed to carry C-SPAN two months after the nonprofit organization made a public plea for wider distribution.<\/p>\n
Changing industry economics have taken a toll on C-SPAN, prompting the U.S. Senate to urge streaming companies to begin offering customers the privately funded television service, which has provided nonpartisan gavel-to-gavel television coverage of congressional hearings and roll call votes for decades. <\/p>\n
\u201cAll television providers, including streaming services, should make delivery of C-SPAN a priority so Americans can watch Congress in action, in real time,\u201d senators said in their June resolution.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, C-SPAN announced separate distribution agreements with YouTube and Hulu + Live TV.<\/p>\n
The agreements expand \u201caccess to C-SPAN\u2019s unfiltered coverage of U.S. government for millions of subscribers nationwide, further strengthening the network\u2019s role as an indispensable source of public affairs programming,\u201d C-SPAN said in a statement. <\/p>\n
C-SPAN stands for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network. It relies heavily on revenue generated from license fees paid by cable, satellite and other multi-TV channel operators. But as the number of traditional pay-TV homes continues to shrink, C-SPAN found itself running a troubling financial deficit.<\/p>\n
Last year, C-SPAN collected $46.3 million in revenue, a 37% decline from $73 million in 2015. That\u2019s largely because C-SPAN and other basic cable channels were available in more than 100 million homes 10 years ago. <\/p>\n
Since then, the number of homes has been cut nearly in half. <\/p>\n
The three C-SPAN channels \u2014 C-SPAN, C-SPAN2 and C-SPAN3 \u2014 will be added to YouTube TV\u2019s base package of channels this fall, the companies said. C-SPAN video clips, archival programming and event coverage also will run on the main YouTube video platform. <\/p>\n
In addition, Google-owned YouTube will sponsor the network\u2019s coverage of \u201cAmerica 250\u201d \u2014 the celebrations to mark the nation\u2019s founding two and a half centuries ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor nearly half a century, C-SPAN has partnered with cable and satellite providers who recognize the value of our important public service,\u201d C-SPAN Chief Executive Sam Feist said in a statement. \u201cWe now look forward to working closely with YouTube to bring C-SPAN\u2019s unfiltered coverage of the democratic process to millions more Americans.\u201d<\/p>\n