C-SPAN - Organization and Operations

Organization and Operations

C-SPAN is operated by the National Cable Satellite Corporation, a nonprofit organization the board of directors of which consists primarily of representatives of the largest cable companies. Early chairmen of C-SPAN include Bob Rosencrans, John Saeman, Ed Allen and Gene Schneider. Funding for C-SPAN does not derive from advertising; instead, it receives nearly all of its funding from subscriber fees charged to cable and Direct-broadcast satellite (DBS) operators. As the network is an independent entity, neither the cable industry nor Congress controls the content of its programming.

As of June 2010, the network has more than 225 full and part-time employees. C-SPAN's chairman and CEO is Brian Lamb, who is assisted in managing the organization by co-presidents, Robert Kennedy and Susan Swain. The majority of C-SPAN's employees are based at C-SPAN's headquarters located on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., however during 2003 TV studios were opened in New York and Denver, Colorado. These studios use digital equipment that can be controlled from Washington. C-SPAN also maintains archives in West Lafayette, Indiana at the Purdue Research Park under the direction of Dr. Robert X. Browning.