Link TV, originally WorldLink TV, was a non-commercial American satellite television network providing what it described as "diverse perspectives on world and national issues." It was carried nationally on DirecTV (ch. 375) until January 2023 and on Dish Network (ch. 9410) until November 1, 2023. Link TV was launched as a daily, 24-hour non-commercial network on December 15, 1999. It received no money from the satellite providers, but relies instead on contributions from viewers and foundations.
 | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Burbank, California (with production offices in Washington, D.C. and San Francisco, California) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Public Media Group of Southern California |
| Sister channels | KCET KOCE-TV |
| History | |
| Launched | December 15, 1999 |
| Closed | November 1, 2023 (end of satellite broadcasts) |
| Former names | WorldLink (1999–early 2000s) |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| KRCB (Cotati, California) | Channel 22.1 (1-5 AM) |
| Streaming media | |
| Link TV | Watch Live |
Link TV broadcast a mix of documentaries, global and national news, music of diverse cultures, and programs promoting citizen action. The network also aired English language news from Al Jazeera English, Deutsche Welle, NHK and France 24, as well as various documentaries and world music videos.[1] Select Link TV programs were streamed on the Internet, via the channel's website.[2]
The network also produced Mosaic: World News from the Middle East, a program of translated news reports from the Middle East.
History
editDirect satellite broadcasters were mandated to set aside 4% of its channel space for noncommercial educational and informational programming. ITVS, Internews Network and Internews Interactive joined in forming Link Media Inc. to program a channel, WorldLink TV, for this mandate. WorldLink TV was one of the nine channels select to meet the mandate for DirecTV.[3]
In October 2012, Link TV announced that it was merging with KCET, an independent public television station in Los Angeles, to form a new nonprofit entity, to be called KCETLink. The entity was headquartered at KCET's Burbank facilities.[4] In 2018, KCETLink merged with the KOCE-TV Foundation to form the Public Media Group of Southern California.
The channel was removed from the DirecTV lineup on January 15, 2023, as Link TV has chosen not to renew its yearly public interest contract with the satellite provider.[5] On November 1, 2023, due to financial issues, Link TV ceased broadcasting on satellite television, with the website recommending viewers to watch licensed programs on the websites and channels of their original broadcasters while the Public Media Group seeks alternative methods to continue operations.[6]
Production and projects
editIn 2010, Link TV announced the launch of ViewChange.org, an online video platform funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that aims to raise awareness of global development issues. It applies Semantic Web technology to video, in order to automatically create links to related content from other online sources.[7]
In conjunction with the New York City Human Rights Watch International Film Festival, LinkTV broadcast a "Youth Producing Change" program which showcases the works of youth from all over the world.[8] They also support efforts to fund groups such as imMEDIAte Justice Productions which help youth create their own film works.
Production facilities for Link TV are in San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Burbank, California.
Programs
editOriginal
edit- Mosaic: World News from the Middle East
- Mosaic Intelligence Report
- Global Pulse
- Latin Pulse
- CINEMONDO
- Global Spirit
- Explore
- Earth Focus
- Who Speaks for Islam
- Bridge to Iran
- Real Conversations
- Global Lens
- Oceans 8
- DOC-DEBUT
- 4REAL
- Men of Words
- Lunch with Bokara
- Bokara's Conversations on Consciousness
- U.S.-Muslim Engagement Project
- Ethics and the World Crisis
- ColorLines
- Future Express
- Connections
- The Israel Lobby
- Youth Producing Change
- LinkAsia
- World Music
Licensed
edit- DW News
- Borgen
- France 24 World News
- Democracy Now!
- DocFilm (Deutsche Welle)
- Newshour (Al Jazeera English)
- NHK Newsline
- Sleepless in Gaza...and Jerusalem
- TED Talks
- Arab Labor
- Rappers, Divas, Virtuosos: New Music From the Muslim World
- bro'Town
Affiliates
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ Wilner, Paul. "Broadcasting a Global Sampler, The New York Times, January 13, 2008.
- ^ Link TV FAQ
- ^ Behrens, Steve; Bedford, Karen Everhart (December 13, 1999). "DirecTV okays channels from PBS and ITVS". Current. American University School of Communication. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
- ^ a b Collins, Scott (October 17, 2012). "KCET announces merger with satellite network Link TV". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
- ^ "Why is Link TV No Longer on DIRECTV? (And Where Can I Watch It Now?)". Link TV. January 12, 2023. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
- ^ "Link TV". Link TV. Retrieved November 9, 2023.
- ^ Ingram, Mathew. "LinkTV Building a YouTube for Social Change", GigaOM, February 26, 2010. Archived May 28, 2022, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Youth Producing Change Archived April 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine - LinkTV.com
- ^ Garofoli, Joe (April 18, 2007). "A new accent on the news". SF Gate. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved December 19, 2014.