C SPAN is celebrating its 47th Anniversary, having been started on March 19, 1979, covering American politics and government in a non partisan way, unmatched by any other news media source.
The public service began through its founder, executive Chairman, and now retired CEO Brian Lamb, and co-CEO Susan Swain, to provide the American people gavel to gavel coverage of Congress, but also of the Presidency, the Supreme Court, and major news events and gatherings, along with coverage of British, Australian, and Canadian government events.
Major news events in domestic and foreign affairs, all balanced without any clear bias, including election campaigns and national Presidential conventions, and Supreme Court case arguments, are also offered.
The cable television industry formed C SPAN as a nonprofit public service, and operates independently, as a non biased presentation of public affairs.
It offers gavel to gavel coverage of both houses of Congress, with the US House of Representatives on C SPAN One, and the US Senate on C SPAN Two, and also has American History lectures and specials on American History on C SPAN Three.
Washington Journal allows citizens to call in with their views and questions on public affairs, and Book Notes covers lectures and interviews with authors on non fiction topics.
C SPAN began full time operations in September 1982, and Senate coverage on C SPAN Two in June 1986, and C SPAN Three in January 2001.
Brian Lamb spent many years interviewing non fiction authors on Booknotes, including this author, scholar, and blogger on his book, “Assassinations, Threats, and the American Presidency: From Andrew Jackson to Barack Obama” in the Fall of 2015, and he was a gracious interviewer.
Overall, it is estimated about 40 percent of Americans watch C SPAN in any calendar year, and it is a significant service in promoting knowledge of public affairs.