C-SPAN A brief look

Downtown Youngstown got a visit from C-SPAN’s digital bus Saturday. Some facts about the Washington, D.C.-based cable network’s three channels:

The first C-SPAN network was launched in March 1979 and offered live coverage of the U.S. House of Representatives.

C-SPAN 2 debuted in 1986 to provide live coverage of the U.S. Senate.

The network has evolved to include a wider variety of programming such as congressional hearings, campaign and election coverage and National Press Club presentations, as well as White House, State Department and Pentagon briefings.

Additional offerings include live viewer call-in shows.

C-SPAN 3, which first aired in September 2001, offers programming that includes press conferences, live committee hearings and political speeches.

The network also is available to radio and online listeners, and offers podcasts of some programs.

Source: C-SPAN