In The Public Interest: Why Broadcasters Should Carry C-SPAN
As the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) signals a renewed commitment to empowering local broadcasters and enforcing the public interest standard, a unique opportunity emerges for broadcasters to reaffirm their vital role in American democracy. With the FCC poised to loosen ownership regulations, mandate the transition to the ATSC 3.0 digital standard, and maintain the retransmission consent regime that sustains broadcaster profitability, it is an ideal moment to consider how broadcasters can best serve the public interest going forward. One compelling and practical proposal is for broadcasters to incentivize — or even be mandated — to carry C-SPAN’s channels across their platforms.
C-SPAN’s Civic Value And Its Current Distribution Challenges
C-SPAN, created by cable companies as a non-profit public affairs network, offers unfiltered access to government proceedings and civic events, providing a transparency that no other network matches. It broadcasts congressional hearings, town halls, and other political events in their entirety, without editorializing or sound bites. This service is crucial for an informed citizenry and the health of American democracy.
However, as more viewers cut the cable cord and migrate to streaming services, C-SPAN’s reach has dramatically declined — from about 100 million households in 2013 to only 51 million today, despite there being 69 million pay-TV households overall. The two largest live TV streaming platforms, Google’s YouTube TV and Disney’s Hulu + Live TV, notably refuse to carry C-SPAN, citing its limited advertising revenue potential and a lack of commercial incentive. This decline threatens C-SPAN’s financial viability and, more importantly, the public’s access to transparent government coverage.
FCC’s Vision: Empowering Local Broadcasters And Enforcing Public Interest
FCC Chair Brendan Carr has articulated a clear vision to empower local broadcasters to serve their communities better and to rigorously enforce the public interest standard. He distinguishes local broadcasters from national programmers, emphasizing that local stations should not merely be conduits for Hollywood and New York content but should actively engage with and reflect their communities’ needs.
Carr also warns that broadcasters, as holders of scarce public airwaves, have a unique obligation to serve the public interest, an obligation that the FCC intends to enforce more vigorously. This includes potential license revocations for violations of the public interest standard — a regulatory “death penalty” that underscores the seriousness of this commitment.
Why Mandating or Incentivizing C-SPAN Carriage Makes Sense
Given this regulatory landscape, broadcasters stand at a crossroads. They are poised to benefit from relaxed ownership rules and technological upgrades but must demonstrate their commitment to public service. Mandating or incentivizing carriage of C-SPAN channels (in partnership with the cable industry that largely funds it) offers a straightforward way to fulfill this obligation:
Enhancing Public Interest Compliance: Carrying C-SPAN would directly support the FCC’s mandate that broadcasters serve the public interest by providing unfiltered, nonpartisan government coverage. This aligns perfectly with the FCC’s renewed enforcement goals and focus on localism.
Preserving Democratic Transparency: As mainstream networks face criticism for biased or incomplete news coverage, C-SPAN’s comprehensive government access is a rare and vital resource. Broadcasters can bolster their credibility and public trust by ensuring this content remains widely accessible.
Leveraging ATSC 3.0 Capabilities: The transition to the ATSC 3.0 digital standard will enable broadcasters to offer more channels and enhanced services. This technical upgrade creates the capacity to carry additional public affairs channels like C-SPAN without sacrificing commercial programming.
Balancing Profitability And Public Service: While C-SPAN carries no advertising, broadcasters’ retransmission consent fees and ad revenue streams remain robust and strong. This financial stability can subsidize C-SPAN carriage, especially if the FCC ties such carriage to regulatory benefits like ownership rule relaxations.
Addressing Streaming Service Gaps: With major streaming platforms refusing to carry C-SPAN channels, broadcasters can fill this void by making C-SPAN available over-the-air and via their own streaming apps, thus preserving access for millions who rely increasingly on digital platforms.
A Win-Win For Broadcasters, Regulators — And Especially The Public
For broadcasters, agreeing to carry C-SPAN channels as part of their lineup is a tangible demonstration of their commitment to localism and public service. It could serve as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the FCC, helping to secure favorable regulatory treatment such as relaxed ownership caps and support for the costly ATSC 3.0 transition.
For the FCC, mandating or incentivizing C-SPAN carriage (in partnership with the cable industry) would be a clear enforcement of the public interest standard, reinforcing the agency’s credibility and fulfilling its mission to ensure that broadcast licensees serve their communities.
For the public, it guarantees continued access to transparent, comprehensive government coverage at a time when misinformation and media fragmentation are rampant. It also helps bridge the revenue gap being created by declining legacy MVPD subscriptions and the absence of vMVPD or streaming platform carriage to keep the channels alive and viable.
A Compelling Proposition?
As the FCC moves to empower local broadcasters and tighten public interest enforcement, broadcasters must seize the moment to reaffirm their indispensable role in American democracy. Mandating or incentivizing the carriage of C-SPAN channels is a logical, practical step that aligns with regulatory priorities, technological advancements, and the public’s need for transparent government coverage. It is a compelling proposition that broadcasters should embrace to ensure their future relevance and fulfill their public service obligations — especially as it attempts to leap (via ATSC 3.0) into the digital age.
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