C-SPAN Secures Wider Reach Amid Battle for Democracy’s Spotlight

C-SPAN has finalized agreements to stream its three channels—C-SPAN, C-SPAN2, and C-SPAN3—on YouTube TV and Hulu’s live TV feed, marking a significant development for the public affairs network amid a broader financial and distribution challenge. The move, announced on Wednesday, expands the reach of C-SPAN’s nonpartisan coverage of U.S. government proceedings to millions of households nationwide. The network emphasized that the deal would enhance access to its unfiltered coverage of the democratic process, a key function since its inception [1].

The decision follows months of public appeals from C-SPAN to streaming providers and even a resolution passed by the U.S. Senate urging platforms to prioritize the distribution of the service. The resolution called on providers—including streaming services—to make C-SPAN available to customers so that Americans could access real-time coverage of congressional activities. The outcome aligns with this push and reflects a compromise between C-SPAN’s public service mission and the shifting economics of the television industry [2].

Financially, C-SPAN has faced significant strain as the number of traditional pay-TV subscribers has declined. The network reported a drop in revenue from $64 million in 2019 to $45.4 million in 2023 [2]. This decline is attributed to the shrinking number of homes subscribing to traditional cable and satellite services, which historically paid license fees to carry C-SPAN’s content. With the rise of virtual multichannel video program distributors (MVPDs) like YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV, the network’s revenue model has struggled to adapt to the cord-cutting trend. These platforms, now serving around 20 million households, had previously excluded C-SPAN from their offerings [1].

Under the new agreements, both YouTube TV and Hulu + Live TV will pay the same rate of approximately $0.87 per subscriber annually, mirroring the payment structure used by traditional cable and satellite providers. C-SPAN will maintain its no-advertising policy, preserving its unique model of unbiased, ad-free coverage [2]. The deal also enables C-SPAN to expand beyond linear programming by launching nonprocedural series such as “Ceasefire,” which will feature debates among political figures, and covering the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations [2].

C-SPAN’s CEO, Sam Feist, expressed optimism about the new partnership with YouTube, particularly with the platform supporting the “America 250” initiative. The inclusion of C-SPAN on these digital platforms is expected to strengthen the network’s role in civic engagement and democratic transparency, according to YouTube’s chief business officer, Mary Ellen Coe [2]. The resolution of the dispute also appears to have been influenced by the political pressure exerted by senators, including U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, who highlighted the importance of unfiltered coverage in an increasingly polarized media environment [2].

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[1] C-SPAN Joins Hulu Live TV (https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2025-09-03/c-span-joins-hulu-live-tv)

[2] C-SPAN Announces Deal for Its Service to Be Carried on ... (https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/span-announces-deal-service-carried-youtube-tv-hulu-125231728)

[3] C-SPAN Heads to YouTube TV! Senate Goes Nuclear as ... (https://www.politicspoliticspolitics.com/p/c-span-heads-to-youtube-tv-senate)