Free Speech TV

Free Speech TV (FSTV) is an American progressive-leaning television network focused on news, commentary, documentaries, and public-affairs programming concerning social, economic, political, cultural, environmental, and human-rights issues. The network presents itself as a platform for independent media and underrepresented viewpoints, particularly voices connected with social, economic, and environmental justice. Unlike commercial cable news networks, it has operated without conventional advertising since its launch and has relied principally on viewer contributions, philanthropic support, and foundation funding. The service emerged in the 1990s from a group of experiments intended to broaden the distribution of progressive and independent television. These included The 90's, a public-television series; The 90's Channel, an effort to create a group of full-time independent-media cable channels; and the Free Speech TV Program Service, which curated programming for community-access and other local cable outlets. Free Speech TV began in 1995 as a part-time programming service and gradually developed into a national network. Its early work in online video and streaming received recognition through a 1998 Streamers Award and a 1999 Webby Award. A major turning point came in January 2000, when Free Speech TV became a full-time national channel on Dish Network under a Federal Communications Commission public-interest channel arrangement. It continued to distribute selected programming through local cable affiliates while expanding its satellite presence. During its formative years, the network covered the 1999 World Trade Organization protests in Seattle, the 2000 presidential election, the September 11 attacks and their aftermath, the international anti-war movement, and the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Democracy Now! became one of the network's signature programs after its television debut around the 2000 party conventions. Free Speech TV moved from Boulder to Denver in 2007. During the following years it expanded its political and current-affairs schedule through programs such as The Thom Hartmann Program, The Big Picture with Thom Hartmann, GRITtv with Laura Flanders, and selected Al Jazeera English programming. In 2010 it obtained a national DirecTV channel, and in 2011 it piloted an over-the-top service on Roku. It also developed full-time local cable channels in Burlington, Vermont, and Ashland, Oregon, while continuing to syndicate individual programs through community stations. The network provided substantial coverage of the Wisconsin workers' rights disputes, the Occupy Wall Street movement, and the 2011 Arab Spring. During the latter, it temporarily gave increased schedule priority to Al Jazeera English reports from Cairo and other locations. The end of Current TV in 2013 reshaped FSTV's programming strategy: it lost several Al Jazeera English programs when Al Jazeera America launched, but subsequently added The Bill Press Show and The Stephanie Miller Show, helping preserve a block of progressive radio and television talk programming. Other additions included Uprising with Sonali and Karel's Life in Segments. Free Speech TV distributes a 24-hour linear feed and video-on-demand through its website and connected-TV platforms, in addition to carriage on satellite and selected cable systems. Its programming has also been distributed through services and platforms including Roku, Sling TV, YouTube, Facebook, and Vimeo. The network has reported availability in more than 40 million U.S. television homes, although channel lineups and reach can change over time. It remains a nonprofit media project of Public Communicators Incorporated, a 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1974, and its current identity is built around nonprofit distribution, progressive analysis, independent production, and audience-supported media.

Free Speech TV developed from efforts to create a broader distribution system for progressive and independently produced television. Its institutional predecessor, Public Communicators Incorporated, was established as a nonprofit organization in 1974. In the 1990s, the projects The 90's, The 90's Channel, and the part-time Free Speech TV Program Service explored different ways to place independent news and public-affairs material on public television, cable, and community-access systems. Free Speech TV formally launched in 1995 as a curated program service distributed through a network of local cable outlets. The service's early strategy combined local carriage with experimentation in digital distribution. Its online streaming work received a Streamers Award in 1998 and a Webby Award in 1999. In January 2000, an FCC public-interest channel arrangement enabled FSTV to become a full-time national service on Dish Network. The change gave the organization a stable national platform while it continued to work with part-time cable affiliates. The network became known for covering subjects that received limited attention from mainstream commercial broadcasters. Its early programming included reporting from the 1999 WTO protests in Seattle, coverage of the 2000 U.S. presidential election, and the television debut of Democracy Now! around the Democratic and Republican conventions. After the September 11 attacks, FSTV produced daily reporting and a weekly current-affairs program. It also provided extensive coverage of anti-war demonstrations and the U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2007 the network relocated from Boulder to Denver. It subsequently increased its daily political and news programming, carrying shows such as GRITtv with Laura Flanders, The Big Picture with Thom Hartmann, The Thom Hartmann Program, and Al Jazeera English content. During the Arab Spring, the channel gave substantial schedule space to Al Jazeera English's live reporting from Cairo's Tahrir Square and other locations. The network's combination of daily news, call-in programs, documentaries, and issue-focused series made The Thom Hartmann Program and Democracy Now! especially important audience drivers. Distribution expanded during the early 2010s. FSTV secured national DirecTV carriage in 2010, tested a Roku channel in 2011, and added full-time cable channels in Burlington, Vermont, and Ashland, Oregon, in 2012. It also continued syndicating selected shows to community cable stations. The network's coverage of Wisconsin labor-rights disputes and Occupy Wall Street reflected its editorial focus on grassroots politics, labor, and social movements. The closure of Current TV and the 2013 launch of Al Jazeera America altered the network's schedule. FSTV lost several Al Jazeera English programs, including The Stream and Fault Lines, but gained programming associated with former Current TV personalities. The Bill Press Show arrived in September 2013, followed by The Stephanie Miller Show in January 2014 after a successful Indiegogo fundraising effort. In October 2013 FSTV and Karel.Media launched Karel's Life in Segments, and in October 2014 the network premiered Uprising with Sonali in cooperation with Pacifica station KPFK-FM. FSTV's later distribution model combined satellite carriage, selected full-time and part-time cable outlets, web streaming, video-on-demand, Roku, Sling TV, and social-video platforms. The network has described a footprint exceeding 40 million U.S. television homes and has reported substantial growth in cumulative monthly household viewership during the early 2010s. It remains a nonprofit, viewer- and foundation-supported network operated by Public Communicators Incorporated. Its defining characteristics are commercial-free operation, progressive editorial positioning, independent and syndicated production, and an emphasis on voices connected to social, economic, environmental, racial, gender, and LGBTQ justice.

1. 2014Uprising with Sonali premieres

   FSTV launches a television version of Sonali Kolhatkar's public-radio program.

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2. 2013The Bill Press Show joins the schedule

   The program moves to FSTV following the closure of Current TV.

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3. 2012Local full-time channels launch

   FSTV launches full-time cable channels in Burlington and Ashland.

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4. 2011Roku distribution is piloted

   The network tests its first over-the-top connected-TV channel on Roku.

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5. 2010DirecTV carriage begins

   FSTV adds national satellite distribution through DirecTV.

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6. 2007Headquarters move from Boulder to Denver

   The network relocates its operations within Colorado.

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7. 2000National Dish Network launch

   FSTV becomes a full-time national channel on Dish Network.

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8. 1999Online work receives a Webby Award

   FSTV's streaming-media activity is recognized with a Webby Award.

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9. 1998Streaming work receives a Streamers Award

   The network's early online-video efforts receive recognition from the Streamers Awards.

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10. 1995Free Speech TV launches as a program service

    FSTV begins curating and distributing independent programming through community-access and local cable outlets.

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11. 1974Public Communicators Incorporated is founded

    The nonprofit organization that operates Free Speech TV is established.

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A nonprofit, commercial-free alternative television network that distributes progressive news, commentary, documentaries, and independent voices, with particular emphasis on social, economic, environmental, racial, gender, and LGBTQ justice.

• Free Speech TV linear networkTelevision network1995

  The core 24-hour television service carries syndicated news, political talk, documentaries, interviews, cultural programming, and issue-oriented series. It has historically been distributed through Dish Network, DirecTV, selected cable systems, and local community affiliates. The schedule is designed around progressive analysis and independent voices rather than commercial entertainment or advertising-supported mass-market programming.

• Free Speech TV streaming serviceStreaming and video-on-demand

  FSTV provides a live online feed and on-demand video through its website and connected-media distribution. Its digital strategy has included Roku and Sling TV, as well as video publication through platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, and Vimeo. Streaming extends access beyond households receiving the satellite or cable channel.

• Community cable syndicationProgram distribution1995

  In addition to its national feed, Free Speech TV syndicates selected programs to community-access and local cable stations. This model preserves the network's original emphasis on distributing independent media through local outlets and allows individual programs to reach markets without full-time FSTV carriage.

• 2014The Stephanie Miller Show Indiegogo campaign

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  Supporters used an Indiegogo campaign to help finance studio construction, equipment, and production for a television version of The Stephanie Miller Show.

  Outcome. The fundraising effort was described as successful, and the program joined Free Speech TV's schedule in January 2014.

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• 2013Rebuild the schedule after the Al Jazeera America transitionStrategy

  The launch of Al Jazeera America ended FSTV's access to several Al Jazeera English programs that had been important parts of its news schedule.

  What changed. FSTV replaced the affected programming with content including France 24 news and added programs associated with former Current TV personalities.

  Aftermath. The network retained a progressive current-affairs identity while diversifying its programming sources.

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• 2011Test over-the-top distribution through RokuStrategy

  Internet-connected television devices were creating additional routes for niche networks to reach viewers outside traditional cable systems.

  What changed. FSTV piloted a 24-hour Roku channel and later maintained web and connected-TV distribution.

  Aftermath. The move complemented satellite, cable, and community-station distribution with direct digital access.

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• 2000Convert the service into a national full-time channelStrategy

  Free Speech TV had operated primarily as a part-time service distributed through local cable and community-access outlets.

  What changed. The network used an FCC public-interest channel arrangement to obtain full-time national carriage on Dish Network while retaining local affiliates.

  Aftermath. The change gave FSTV a national satellite platform and became a foundation for later expansion.

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• 2014The Stephanie Miller Show joins Free Speech TV

  FSTV added The Stephanie Miller Show after a crowdfunding campaign helped finance a new television and radio production studio.

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• 2013Free Speech TV loses Al Jazeera English programs after Al Jazeera America launch

  The launch of Al Jazeera America replaced Al Jazeera English's U.S. distribution arrangement, causing FSTV to lose programs including The NewsHour, The Stream, and Fault Lines.

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• 2013The Bill Press Show joins Free Speech TV

  The syndicated program moved to FSTV after Current TV ceased operations.

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• 2012Free Speech TV expands local cable presence

  The network launched full-time cable channels in Burlington, Vermont, and Ashland, Oregon, while maintaining a larger network of part-time community-cable affiliates.

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• 2011Free Speech TV pilots a Roku channel

  FSTV began testing an over-the-top Roku channel, extending its programming to internet-connected television devices.

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• 2010Free Speech TV receives National Professional Freedom and Responsibility Award

  Free Speech TV and general manager Jon Stout were recognized by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication for contributions to free expression, media accountability, inclusion, and public service.

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• 2010Free Speech TV adds DirecTV distribution

  The network secured a national channel on DirecTV, broadening its satellite distribution beyond Dish Network.

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• 2000Free Speech TV becomes a full-time national Dish Network channel

  The network expanded from a part-time independent-media service into a full-time national channel on Dish Network through a public-interest channel set-aside.

  Product launch
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1. Free Speech TV
2. Free Speech TV official website