Draft:The Colorado Channel
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This draft has been resubmitted and is currently awaiting re-review. |  |
 | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Denver, Colorado |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Colorado Channel Authority Board |
| History | |
| Launched | 2009 |
| Links | |
| Website | https://coloradochannel.net/ |
The Colorado Channel is a public television network that provides live and archived coverage of the Colorado General Assembly, including floor proceedings and other governmental events. The channel is operated under the direction of the Colorado Channel Authority Board (CCAB), a political subdivision of the State of Colorado established by the General Assembly to improve public access to state government.
The General Assembly declared that televising and broadcasting legislative proceedings serves the public purpose of making Colorado state government "more open and accessible to the citizens of this state."[1] In addition to legislative coverage, the Authority may coordinate programming related to civic education and other governmental functions authorized by law.
History
[edit]The Colorado Channel Authority Board was created in 2009 following the passage of House Bill 09-1307.[2] The legislation established the Authority as an entity independent from the administrative direction of state agencies while authorizing it to coordinate televised coverage of the General Assembly.
During its early years, the Board focused primarily on establishing governance procedures and developing operating policies. Early discussions included expanding the network's broadcasting capabilities to allow simultaneous coverage of both legislative chambers. Board members also explored partnerships with educational institutions, PBS affiliates, and nonprofit organizations to develop additional civic education programming beyond legislative proceedings.[3]
Throughout 2010 and 2011, the Board created several standing subcommittees addressing additional programming and fundraising. The Authority also explored methods of increasing public viewership, including expanding cable access and internet streaming. By 2011, the Board had adopted a formal mission statement, guiding principles, and fundraising plan.[4] Additional discussions during this period addressed long-term equipment replacement, accessibility, and governance issues.
Programming
[edit]
The Colorado Channel's primary mission is the live and recorded broadcast of proceedings of the Colorado General Assembly. However, the Board has periodically discussed expanding original programming, including educational content explaining legislative procedures and state government.[5]
Live video coverage of proceedings in the Colorado House of Representatives began in January 2008, when the House launched gavel-to-gavel broadcasts on Comcast cable channel 165.[6] [7] Live coverage of the Colorado Senate followed in 2010, expanding the Colorado Channel to provide video broadcasts of proceedings in both legislative chambers.[8] The Colorado Channel now provides live and archived coverage of House and Senate floor proceedings through its website, YouTube channel, and cable television distribution.[9]
In recent years, the Colorado Channel Authority Board has advocated for expanding the Colorado Channel's coverage to include live video webcasts of legislative committee hearings. Board members have argued that video coverage would improve public access to the legislative process and align Colorado with the practice of nearly every other state legislature. The Board has worked with the Colorado General Assembly to explore implementation, including requesting authorization to conduct internal testing using existing equipment and pursuing legislation that would authorize internet broadcasting of committee proceedings.[10]
Following a pilot program in 2025, the Executive Committee of Legislative Council voted in December 2025 to authorize year-round video livestreaming of all legislative committee meetings beginning with the 2026 legislative session. The 2026 session was the first in Colorado history in which committee hearings were routinely available to the public through live video streaming. Unlike floor proceedings, however, committee hearings are livestreamed directly by the Colorado General Assembly rather than by the Colorado Channel.[11]
Funding
[edit]The Authority receives appropriations through the legislative department budget for its core broadcasting operations.[12]
Historically, the Board has explored obtaining grants, sponsorships, underwriting, and private contributions to support supplemental civic education programming while maintaining that fundraising should not be used to finance the core function of broadcasting legislative proceedings.[13]
Governance
[edit]Under Colorado law, a political subdivision includes municipal, quasi-municipal, and public corporations created pursuant to state law to perform public functions.[14] The Colorado Channel Authority Board is established by statute as a political subdivision of the State of Colorado.[1] It is responsible for policy decisions governing the Colorado Channel, including broadcast policies, programming priorities, and equipment replacement.
The Board consists of nine members appointed pursuant to Colorado law. Membership includes appointments made by the Governor, the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court, and the four leaders of the Colorado General Assembly. Five members constitute a quorum. The Board elects officers from among its membership and conducts regular public meetings.[1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "Colorado Revised Statutes § 24-49.9-101 (2026): Colorado Channel Authority—Creation—Legislative Declaration". Colorado Revised Statutes. Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved 6 August 2026 – via LexisNexis.
- ↑ "House Bill 09-1307: Colorado Channel Authority Board" (PDF). Colorado General Assembly. May 22, 2009. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "Colorado Channel Authority Board Meeting Minutes, November 4, 2009" (PDF). Colorado Channel. Colorado Channel Authority Board. 4 November 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "Colorado Channel Authority Board Meeting Minutes, March 24, 2011" (PDF). Colorado Channel. Colorado Channel Authority Board. 24 March 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "Civic Education Content Subcommittee Meeting Minutes, June 11, 2010" (PDF). Colorado Channel. Colorado Channel Authority Board. 11 June 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 April 2025. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ Hoover, Tim (21 January 2008). "Lights, camera, House action". The Denver Post. The Denver Post. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ Brown, Jennifer (9 January 2008). "Curtain rises on 2008 legislature". The Denver Post. The Denver Post. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ Hoover, Tim (29 November 2009). "Live TV from the Capitol, It's the Colorado Senate". The Denver Post. The Denver Post. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ "General FAQs". Colorado Channel. Colorado Channel Authority Board. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ Roberts, Jeffrey A. (5 September 2024). "Colorado Channel Authority Board members push for video webcasting of legislative committee meetings". Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition. Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ Roberts, Jeffrey A. (31 December 2025). "Coming soon to your laptop and phone: Video (not just audio) of Colorado legislative committee meetings". Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition. Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition. Retrieved 2026-08-07.
- ↑ "Legislative Department Budget Package and Legislative Appropriations Bill Narrative: Fiscal Year 2025–2026" (PDF). Colorado General Assembly. Colorado General Assembly. March 2025. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
- ↑ "Colorado Channel Authority Board Meeting Minutes, January 25, 2013" (PDF). Colorado Channel. Colorado Channel Authority Board. 25 January 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 August 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2026.
- ↑ "Colorado Revised Statutes § 29-1-901 (2026): Definitions". Colorado Revised Statutes. Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved 6 August 2026 – via LexisNexis.
External links
[edit]Category:Television networks in the United States Category:Legislature broadcasters in the United States
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