About Free Speech TV

What Democracy Looks Like

Finally, after 50 years of television broadcasting, there now exists a national television channel that reflects the diversity of our society, provides perspectives that are under-represented or ignored by the mainstream media, and shines a national spotlight on engaged citizens working for progressive social change.

Our Structure
Free Speech TV is a publicly-supported, independent, non-profit TV channel that is a project of Public Communicators, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit, tax-exempt organization. It is available nationally, 24/7, on DISH Satellite Network. Selected programs are available on 189 community access cable stations in 38 states. Click here to see the members of the Free Speech TV Advisory Board

The Vision
Seizing the power of television to expand social consciousness, FSTV fuels the movement for progressive social, economic, and political transformation. By exposing the public to perspectives excluded from the corporate-owned media, FSTV empowers citizens to fight injustices, to revitalize democracy, and to build a more compassionate world.

Programming
Free Speech TV broadcasts independently-produced documentaries dealing with social, political, cultural, and environmental issues; commissions and produces original programming; develops programming partnerships and collaborations with social justice organizations; provides special live broadcasts from remote locations; and maintains an adjunct Web site that hosts one of the Internet's largest collection of progressive audio and video content.

  Core Strategies

• Movement Building — Empowering global citizens, by exposing abuse of power in all its forms, and by highlighting efforts of resistance.
• Partnerships — Building partnerships with social justice organizations and directing viewers to their work.
• Independent Media — Working with, and supporting the growth of independent media.
• Creativity — Celebrating creativity and artistic expression as a vital part of any healthy society.

  History
Free Speech TV was founded in 1995, but our roots extend back to The 90's public television show and The 90's Channel on cable television, both of which were founded in 1989. From 1995 to 2000, we provided weekly programming via videotape to a network of 50 community cable channels. In 2000, FSTV realized its goal of launching the first national progressive television network when it was awarded a full-time satellite channel on DISH Network as a result of an FCC policy to set aside 4%-7% of satellite channels for public interest channels.

Our fastest growing source of funding is our individual donors. We also receive support from the following foundations:
Alphawood Foundation, Bioneers/Collective Heritage Institute. Chicago Instructional Technology Foundation, Denver Area Educational Telecommunications Consortium, Instructional Telecommunications Foundation, Lannan Foundation, LEF Foundation, Liberty Hill Foundation, Otto Haas Charitable Trust, Park Foundation, Portland Regional Educational Telecommunications Corporation, Quixote Foundation, River Foundation, Tides Foundation, Twin Cities Schools Telecommunications Group, Wallace Global Fund

Become a Friend of Free Speech TV.

"Every day and night, hard-working people come home from their jobs and turn on their TV sets. Never before have they had so many channels to choose from, yet never before have their choices been so limited. ... Americans want a channel that is dedicated to asking the hard questions about the issues affecting their kids’ future. They want a channel that's not afraid to confront abuses of power that rob them of jobs, health care, a meaningful education, a clean environment, civil rights for all, and a government by, for and of the people. . . . Free Speech TV stands alone in the industry in its dedication to creating such a channel."

  — Michael Moore. Director, Roger and Me, Bowling for Columbine