Free Speech TV delves into social issues, but searches for way to expand revenues

BOULDER — Since 1995, Boulder-based Free Speech TV has been delivering unique programming to audiences located nationwide. As a publicly supported, nonprofit TV channel, Free Speech TV broadcasts independently produced documentaries dealing with social, political, cultural and environmental issues. To date, the station is available in more than 11 million households.

“Free Speech TV is the only full-time TV network out there delivering messages about social change,´ said General Manager Jon Stout. “We’re dedicated to providing platforms that are traditionally not represented in programs by and about such groups as people of color, the GLTB (gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual) community and youth. Our mission is not just to inform but to localize viewers to become socially engaged.”

Free Speech TV began as an outgrowth of the The 90’s public television show, a syndicated program on PBS from 1989 through 1992, and The 90’s Channel, seven full-time cable channels that broadcast independent media. The 90’s show and channel featured thematic clips from independent producers, addressing eclectic topics ranging from political oppression in Central America to lifestyles of taxi drivers.

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90’s Channel

Although The 90’s TV show went out of production in 1992, The 90’s Channel signed a three-year lease with United Cable and continued to air work by independent producers. But when the lease was about to expire, The 90’s Channel contacted TCI Cable, which acquired United Cable, and discovered that the renewal rate was much higher than what they could afford.

“We knew it was unlikely that TCI would renew us so we explored other options to distribute programming,´ said Stout, who joined The 90’s Channel in 1994.

As a result, The 90’s co-founder, John Schwartz, used revenues from a handful of Instructional Television Fixed Service channels that he established to launch Free Speech TV. Instructional Television is a band of television channels licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to non-profit educational entities. Each Instructional Television channel is required to air a minimum of 20 hours per week of educational materials. However, groups are able to lease excess capacity to commercial operators to generate revenue.

Using approximately $100,000, primarily obtained from Schwartz’s Instructional Television channels, and staffed with three employees, Free Speech TV provided programming via videotape to a network of 50 community cable channels from 1995 to 2000. Then, in 2000, Free Speech TV was awarded a full-time satellite channel on DISH Network (channel 9415) thanks to an FCC policy that set aside 4 to 7 percent of satellite channels for public interest channels.

“We continued to provide video to 50 affiliates, and eventually were able to allow these cable stations to retransmit our satellite programs,” Stout said. “We now have 80 affiliates (that broadcast Free Speech TV programming) on a part-time basis” as well as the full-time channel. Free Speech TV also streams some programs on its Web site, www.freespeech.org.

Today, Free Speech TV has 20 employees and 20 volunteers/interns who help run the station with a $1.9 million budget. Free Speech TV member contributions, Instructional Television companies and foundations provide funding for operations.

“Our goal is to have one-eighth of the budget come from individual contributions,” Stout explained. Membership donations range from $10 up to $5,000 or more.

Free Speech TV is developing a five-year budget and has its sights set on uncovering means to generate greater revenue.

“It’s almost impossible to run on $2 million a year,” Stout said. “We really need to increase (revenues) several fold.”

In addition to paying for staff salaries, the budget is used for program acquisitions and broadcast rights from independent producers and for fees to DISH Network for channel access. So far, Free Speech TV acquires the majority of its programs due to lower costs.

“We have 24 hours, seven days a week to fill. To be within budget, we need to acquire programming. Original productions are more expensive,” Stout said. Going forward, however, Free Speech TV hopes to produce more of its own programs to provide an even greater platform for diverse voices.

“There are a lot of organizations on the front lines of social activities who are not covered in the media who need a TV arm,” Stout concluded. “Free Speech TV seeks to provide that arm.”