Re: [backstage] Fwd: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web
FYI http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/mar/22/video-clips-parliament On 22 March 2010 17:58, Mo McRoberts wrote: > On Tue, Mar 16, 2010 at 12:49, Brian Butterworth > wrote: > > > > I understand that the BBC trash the output from the News channel after 28 > days. Shame, really. > > My sources suggest that it exists within the BBC in at least one > (internally-accessible) place (probably more). > > M. > > - > Sent via the backstage.bbc.co.uk discussion group. To unsubscribe, please > visit http://backstage.bbc.co.uk/archives/2005/01/mailing_list.html. > Unofficial list archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/backstage@lists.bbc.co.uk/ > -- Brian Butterworth follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/briantist web: http://www.ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002
Re: [backstage] Fwd: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web
I asked a few of the News Channel production staff up at the MGEITF about 18 months ago. On 22 March 2010 17:51, Ian Forrester wrote: > Where did you hear that? > > Secret[] Private[x] Public[] > > Ian Forrester > Senior Backstage Producer > > BBC R&D North Lab, > 1st Floor Office, OB Base, > New Broadcasting House, Oxford Road, > Manchester, M60 1SJ > > > -- > *From:* owner-backst...@lists.bbc.co.uk [mailto: > owner-backst...@lists.bbc.co.uk] *On Behalf Of *Brian Butterworth > *Sent:* 16 March 2010 12:49 > *To:* backstage@lists.bbc.co.uk > *Subject:* Re: [backstage] Fwd: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web > > I understand that the BBC trash the output from the News channel after 28 > days. Shame, really. > > On 16 March 2010 12:02, Dave Crossland wrote: > >> Hi, >> >> Good stuff. >> >> Regards, Dave >> >> -- Forwarded message -- >> From: "Dave Farber" >> Date: 16 Mar 2010, 11:56 AM >> Subject: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web >> To: "ip" >> >> >> >> >> >> Begin forwarded message: >> >> *From:* Richard Forno >> *Date:* March 16, 2010 7:31:59 AM EDT >> *To:* Undisclosed-recipients: <>; >> *Cc:* Dave Farber >> *Subject:* *C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web* >> >> March 16, 2010 >> C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web >> By BRIAN STELTER >> >> http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/arts/television/16cspan.html?pagewanted=print >> WASHINGTON — Researchers, political satirists and partisan mudslingers, >> take note: C-Span has uploaded virtually every minute of its video archives >> to the Internet. >> >> The archives, at C-SpanVideo.org, cover 23 years of history and five >> presidential administrations and are sure to provide new fodder for pundits >> and politicians alike. The network will formally announce the completion of >> the C-Span Video Library on Wednesday. >> >> Having free online access to the more than 160,000 hours of C-Span footage >> is “like being able to Google political history using the ‘I Feel Lucky’ >> button every time,” said Rachel Maddow, the liberal MSNBC host. >> >> Ed Morrissey, a senior correspondent for the conservative blog Hot Air ( >> hotair.com), said, “The geek in me wants to find an excuse to start >> digging.” >> >> No other cable network is likely to give away its precious archives on the >> Internet. (Even “Book TV” is available.) But C-Span is one of a kind, a >> creation of the cable industry that records every Congressional session, >> every White House press briefing and other acts of official Washington. >> >> The online archives reinforce what some would call the Web’s single best >> quality: its ability to recall seemingly every statement and smear. And it >> is even more powerful when the viewer can rewind the video. >> >> The C-Span founder, Brian Lamb, said in an interview here last week that >> the archives were an extension of the network’s public service commitment. >> >> “That’s where the history will be,” Mr. Lamb said. >> >> C-Span has been uploading its history for several years, working its way >> to 1987, when its archives were established at Purdue University, Mr. Lamb’s >> alma mater. >> >> The archive staff now operates from an office park in West Lafayette, >> Ind., where two machines that can turn 16 hours of tapes into digital files >> each hour have been working around the clock to move C-Span’s programs >> online. They are now finishing the 1987 catalog. >> >> “This is the archive’s coming of age, in a way, because it’s now so >> accessible,” said Robert Browning, director of the archives. >> >> Historically, the $1 million-a-year operation has paid for itself partly >> by selling videotapes and DVDs to journalists, campaign strategists and >> others. >> >> Mr. Browning acknowledges that video sales have waned as more people have >> viewed clips online. “On the other hand, there are a lot of things people >> now watch that they never would have bought,” he said. >> >> The archives’ fans include Ms. Maddow, who called it gold. “It’s raw >> footage of political actors in their native habitat, without media >> personalities mediating viewers’ access,” she wrote in an e-mail message. >> >> Similarly, Mr. Morrissey said the archives made “for a really intriguing >> reference set.” He pointed out, however, that the volume of videos “is so >> vast that finding valua
Re: [backstage] Fwd: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web
On Tue, Mar 16, 2010 at 12:49, Brian Butterworth wrote: > > I understand that the BBC trash the output from the News channel after 28 > days. Shame, really. My sources suggest that it exists within the BBC in at least one (internally-accessible) place (probably more). M. - Sent via the backstage.bbc.co.uk discussion group. To unsubscribe, please visit http://backstage.bbc.co.uk/archives/2005/01/mailing_list.html. Unofficial list archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/backstage@lists.bbc.co.uk/
RE: [backstage] Fwd: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web
Where did you hear that? Secret[] Private[x] Public[] Ian Forrester Senior Backstage Producer BBC R&D North Lab, 1st Floor Office, OB Base, New Broadcasting House, Oxford Road, Manchester, M60 1SJ From: owner-backst...@lists.bbc.co.uk [mailto:owner-backst...@lists.bbc.co.uk] On Behalf Of Brian Butterworth Sent: 16 March 2010 12:49 To: backstage@lists.bbc.co.uk Subject: Re: [backstage] Fwd: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web I understand that the BBC trash the output from the News channel after 28 days. Shame, really. On 16 March 2010 12:02, Dave Crossland wrote: Hi, Good stuff. Regards, Dave -- Forwarded message -- From: "Dave Farber" Date: 16 Mar 2010, 11:56 AM Subject: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web To: "ip" Begin forwarded message: From: Richard Forno Date: March 16, 2010 7:31:59 AM EDT To: Undisclosed-recipients: <>; Cc: Dave Farber Subject: C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web March 16, 2010 C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web By BRIAN STELTER http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/arts/television/16cspan.html?pagewanted=print WASHINGTON — Researchers, political satirists and partisan mudslingers, take note: C-Span has uploaded virtually every minute of its video archives to the Internet. The archives, at C-SpanVideo.org, cover 23 years of history and five presidential administrations and are sure to provide new fodder for pundits and politicians alike. The network will formally announce the completion of the C-Span Video Library on Wednesday. Having free online access to the more than 160,000 hours of C-Span footage is “like being able to Google political history using the ‘I Feel Lucky’ button every time,” said Rachel Maddow, the liberal MSNBC host. Ed Morrissey, a senior correspondent for the conservative blog Hot Air (hotair.com), said, “The geek in me wants to find an excuse to start digging.” No other cable network is likely to give away its precious archives on the Internet. (Even “Book TV” is available.) But C-Span is one of a kind, a creation of the cable industry that records every Congressional session, every White House press briefing and other acts of official Washington. The online archives reinforce what some would call the Web’s single best quality: its ability to recall seemingly every statement and smear. And it is even more powerful when the viewer can rewind the video. The C-Span founder, Brian Lamb, said in an interview here last week that the archives were an extension of the network’s public service commitment. “That’s where the history will be,” Mr. Lamb said. C-Span has been uploading its history for several years, working its way to 1987, when its archives were established at Purdue University, Mr. Lamb’s alma mater. The archive staff now operates from an office park in West Lafayette, Ind., where two machines that can turn 16 hours of tapes into digital files each hour have been working around the clock to move C-Span’s programs online. They are now finishing the 1987 catalog. “This is the archive’s coming of age, in a way, because it’s now so accessible,” said Robert Browning, director of the archives. Historically, the $1 million-a-year operation has paid for itself partly by selling videotapes and DVDs to journalists, campaign strategists and others. Mr. Browning acknowledges that v
Re: [backstage] Fwd: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web
On Wed, Mar 17, 2010 at 12:15, Brendan Quinn wrote: > You guys have seen this site, haven't you? > > http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/ Oooh, I always forget about democracylive. Trés useful. One of these days, I’m going to do some hacking with HTML and WebSaver[0] and set the video wall as my screensaver… M. [0] http://github.com/uliwitness/WebSaver - Sent via the backstage.bbc.co.uk discussion group. To unsubscribe, please visit http://backstage.bbc.co.uk/archives/2005/01/mailing_list.html. Unofficial list archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/backstage@lists.bbc.co.uk/
Re: [backstage] Fwd: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web
On 17 March 2010 12:15, Brendan Quinn wrote: > You guys have seen this site, haven't you? > > http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/ > > You can search by transcript (even in welsh), it has all the local > parliament channels, it archives everything that they recorded AFAIK, plus > some old stuff they've added. > > Hopefully this goes at least part of the way towards meeting your needs... > admittedly only for official parliament business, not for press conferences, > doorstep interviews etc. > Yes, just the interesting bits. > > Brendan. > > -- > *From:* owner-backst...@lists.bbc.co.uk [mailto: > owner-backst...@lists.bbc.co.uk] *On Behalf Of *Brian Butterworth > *Sent:* 16 March 2010 13:19 > *To:* backstage@lists.bbc.co.uk > *Subject:* Re: [backstage] Fwd: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web > > I think it's a particular shame that we are about to have an election, and > it would be just great if the whole campaign's News Channel output was > retained on the iPlayer system, along with the TV debates and Question time. > > > IMHO It would be a great service to the public if every single utterance > that was made could be found and replayed, and possibly transferred to > YouTube. > > Add to that a little bit of an index on the subtitles output of the News > Channel and Bingo - real accountability. > > As I presume that the coverage will include lots of news conferences and PR > events too, it would be great to hold these candidates to what they say > during the election to the process afterwards, in particular if there is no > party with a seat majority. > > > On 16 March 2010 12:57, Mo McRoberts wrote: > >> On Tue, Mar 16, 2010 at 12:49, Brian Butterworth >> wrote: >> > >> > I understand that the BBC trash the output from the News channel after >> 28 days. Shame, really. >> >> Really? Christ. >> >> On a similar note, the whole PARLBUL/BBC Parliament structure really >> needs an overhaul. Wasn't terribly forward-thinking, that one :( >> >> - >> Sent via the backstage.bbc.co.uk discussion group. To unsubscribe, >> please visit >> http://backstage.bbc.co.uk/archives/2005/01/mailing_list.html. >> Unofficial list archive: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/backstage@lists.bbc.co.uk/ >> > > > > -- > > Brian Butterworth > > follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/briantist > web: http://www.ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover > advice, since 2002 > > -- Brian Butterworth follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/briantist web: http://www.ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002
RE: [backstage] Fwd: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web
You guys have seen this site, haven't you? http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/ You can search by transcript (even in welsh), it has all the local parliament channels, it archives everything that they recorded AFAIK, plus some old stuff they've added. Hopefully this goes at least part of the way towards meeting your needs... admittedly only for official parliament business, not for press conferences, doorstep interviews etc. Brendan. From: owner-backst...@lists.bbc.co.uk [mailto:owner-backst...@lists.bbc.co.uk] On Behalf Of Brian Butterworth Sent: 16 March 2010 13:19 To: backstage@lists.bbc.co.uk Subject: Re: [backstage] Fwd: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web I think it's a particular shame that we are about to have an election, and it would be just great if the whole campaign's News Channel output was retained on the iPlayer system, along with the TV debates and Question time. IMHO It would be a great service to the public if every single utterance that was made could be found and replayed, and possibly transferred to YouTube. Add to that a little bit of an index on the subtitles output of the News Channel and Bingo - real accountability. As I presume that the coverage will include lots of news conferences and PR events too, it would be great to hold these candidates to what they say during the election to the process afterwards, in particular if there is no party with a seat majority. On 16 March 2010 12:57, Mo McRoberts wrote: On Tue, Mar 16, 2010 at 12:49, Brian Butterworth wrote: > > I understand that the BBC trash the output from the News channel after 28 days. Shame, really. Really? Christ. On a similar note, the whole PARLBUL/BBC Parliament structure really needs an overhaul. Wasn't terribly forward-thinking, that one :( - Sent via the backstage.bbc.co.uk discussion group. To unsubscribe, please visit http://backstage.bbc.co.uk/archives/2005/01/mailing_list.html. Unofficial list archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/backstage@lists.bbc.co.uk/ -- Brian Butterworth follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/briantist web: http://www.ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002
RE: [backstage] Fwd: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web
Donkeys years ago I was involved in the very early stages of a project to provide access to parliamentary footage for ITV regions. I think the idea was that users would be able to go to their regional ITV site and call up footage of their MP making speeches, etc. I was only a humble dev at the time, and to the best of my knowledge the project never got much past the "this would be a great idea", but it's an interesting thought as to what could have been at the time. Of course more recently the folks at mySociety have done some clever things at http://www.theyworkforyou.com/video/ (although I don't know if they store copies of the footage themselves or merely hotlink to the BBC). Andrew _ From: owner-backst...@lists.bbc.co.uk [mailto:owner-backst...@lists.bbc.co.uk] On Behalf Of Brian Butterworth Sent: 16 March 2010 12:49 To: backstage@lists.bbc.co.uk Subject: Re: [backstage] Fwd: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web I understand that the BBC trash the output from the News channel after 28 days. Shame, really. On 16 March 2010 12:02, Dave Crossland wrote: Hi, Good stuff. Regards, Dave -- Forwarded message -- From: "Dave Farber" Date: 16 Mar 2010, 11:56 AM Subject: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web To: "ip" Begin forwarded message: From: Richard Forno Date: March 16, 2010 7:31:59 AM EDT To: Undisclosed-recipients: <>; Cc: Dave Farber Subject: C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web March 16, 2010 C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web By BRIAN STELTER http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/arts/television/16cspan.html?pagewanted=pr int WASHINGTON - Researchers, political satirists and partisan mudslingers, take note: C-Span has uploaded virtually every minute of its video archives to the Internet. The archives, at C-SpanVideo.org, cover 23 years of history and five presidential administrations and are sure to provide new fodder for pundits and politicians alike. The network will formally announce the completion of the C-Span Video Library on Wednesday. Having free online access to the more than 160,000 hours of C-Span footage is "like being able to Google political history using the 'I Feel Lucky' button every time," said Rachel Maddow, the liberal MSNBC host. Ed Morrissey, a senior correspondent for the conservative blog Hot Air (hotair.com), said, "The geek in me wants to find an excuse to start digging." No other cable network is likely to give away its precious archives on the Internet. (Even "Book TV" is available.) But C-Span is one of a kind, a creation of the cable industry that records every Congressional session, every White House press briefing and other acts of official Washington. The online archives reinforce what some would call the Web's single best quality: its ability to recall seemingly every statement and smear. And it is even more powerful when the viewer can rewind the video. The C-Span founder, Brian Lamb, said in an interview here last week that the archives were an extension of the network's public service commitment. "That's where the history will be," Mr. Lamb said. C-Span has been uploading its history for several years, working its way to 1987, when its archives were established at Purdue University, Mr. Lamb's alma mater. The archive staff now operates from an office park in West Lafayette, Ind., where two machines that can turn 16 hours of tapes into digital files each hour have been working around the clock to move C-Span's programs online. They are now finishing the 1987 catalog. "This is the archive's coming of age, in a way, because it's now so accessible," said Robert Browning, director of the archives. Historically, the $1 million-a-year operation has paid for itself partly by selling videotapes and DVDs to journalists, campaign strategists and others. Mr. Browning acknowledges that video sales have waned as more people have viewed clips online. "On the other hand, there are a lot of things people now watch that they never would have bought," he said. The archives' fans include Ms. Maddow, who called it gold. "It's raw footage of political actors in their native habitat, without media personalities mediating viewers' access," she wrote in an e-mail message. Similarly, Mr. Morrissey said the archives made "for a really intriguing reference set." He pointed out, however, that the volume of videos "is so vast that finding valuable references may be a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack." C-Span executives said they hoped that its search filters would be up to the task. Mr. Lamb said, "You can see if politicians are saying one thing today, and 15 years ago were saying another thing." He added, "Journalists can feast on it." One of the Web site's features, the Congr
Re: [backstage] Fwd: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web
I think it's a particular shame that we are about to have an election, and it would be just great if the whole campaign's News Channel output was retained on the iPlayer system, along with the TV debates and Question time. IMHO It would be a great service to the public if every single utterance that was made could be found and replayed, and possibly transferred to YouTube. Add to that a little bit of an index on the subtitles output of the News Channel and Bingo - real accountability. As I presume that the coverage will include lots of news conferences and PR events too, it would be great to hold these candidates to what they say during the election to the process afterwards, in particular if there is no party with a seat majority. On 16 March 2010 12:57, Mo McRoberts wrote: > On Tue, Mar 16, 2010 at 12:49, Brian Butterworth > wrote: > > > > I understand that the BBC trash the output from the News channel after 28 > days. Shame, really. > > Really? Christ. > > On a similar note, the whole PARLBUL/BBC Parliament structure really > needs an overhaul. Wasn't terribly forward-thinking, that one :( > > - > Sent via the backstage.bbc.co.uk discussion group. To unsubscribe, please > visit http://backstage.bbc.co.uk/archives/2005/01/mailing_list.html. > Unofficial list archive: > http://www.mail-archive.com/backstage@lists.bbc.co.uk/ > -- Brian Butterworth follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/briantist web: http://www.ukfree.tv - independent digital television and switchover advice, since 2002
Re: [backstage] Fwd: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web
On Tue, Mar 16, 2010 at 12:49, Brian Butterworth wrote: > > I understand that the BBC trash the output from the News channel after 28 > days. Shame, really. Really? Christ. On a similar note, the whole PARLBUL/BBC Parliament structure really needs an overhaul. Wasn't terribly forward-thinking, that one :( - Sent via the backstage.bbc.co.uk discussion group. To unsubscribe, please visit http://backstage.bbc.co.uk/archives/2005/01/mailing_list.html. Unofficial list archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/backstage@lists.bbc.co.uk/
Re: [backstage] Fwd: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web
I understand that the BBC trash the output from the News channel after 28 days. Shame, really. On 16 March 2010 12:02, Dave Crossland wrote: > Hi, > > Good stuff. > > Regards, Dave > > -- Forwarded message -- > From: "Dave Farber" > Date: 16 Mar 2010, 11:56 AM > Subject: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web > To: "ip" > > > > > > Begin forwarded message: > > *From:* Richard Forno > *Date:* March 16, 2010 7:31:59 AM EDT > *To:* Undisclosed-recipients: <>; > *Cc:* Dave Farber > *Subject:* *C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web* > > March 16, 2010 > C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web > By BRIAN STELTER > > http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/arts/television/16cspan.html?pagewanted=print > WASHINGTON — Researchers, political satirists and partisan mudslingers, > take note: C-Span has uploaded virtually every minute of its video archives > to the Internet. > > The archives, at C-SpanVideo.org, cover 23 years of history and five > presidential administrations and are sure to provide new fodder for pundits > and politicians alike. The network will formally announce the completion of > the C-Span Video Library on Wednesday. > > Having free online access to the more than 160,000 hours of C-Span footage > is “like being able to Google political history using the ‘I Feel Lucky’ > button every time,” said Rachel Maddow, the liberal MSNBC host. > > Ed Morrissey, a senior correspondent for the conservative blog Hot Air ( > hotair.com), said, “The geek in me wants to find an excuse to start > digging.” > > No other cable network is likely to give away its precious archives on the > Internet. (Even “Book TV” is available.) But C-Span is one of a kind, a > creation of the cable industry that records every Congressional session, > every White House press briefing and other acts of official Washington. > > The online archives reinforce what some would call the Web’s single best > quality: its ability to recall seemingly every statement and smear. And it > is even more powerful when the viewer can rewind the video. > > The C-Span founder, Brian Lamb, said in an interview here last week that > the archives were an extension of the network’s public service commitment. > > “That’s where the history will be,” Mr. Lamb said. > > C-Span has been uploading its history for several years, working its way to > 1987, when its archives were established at Purdue University, Mr. Lamb’s > alma mater. > > The archive staff now operates from an office park in West Lafayette, Ind., > where two machines that can turn 16 hours of tapes into digital files each > hour have been working around the clock to move C-Span’s programs online. > They are now finishing the 1987 catalog. > > “This is the archive’s coming of age, in a way, because it’s now so > accessible,” said Robert Browning, director of the archives. > > Historically, the $1 million-a-year operation has paid for itself partly by > selling videotapes and DVDs to journalists, campaign strategists and others. > > Mr. Browning acknowledges that video sales have waned as more people have > viewed clips online. “On the other hand, there are a lot of things people > now watch that they never would have bought,” he said. > > The archives’ fans include Ms. Maddow, who called it gold. “It’s raw > footage of political actors in their native habitat, without media > personalities mediating viewers’ access,” she wrote in an e-mail message. > > Similarly, Mr. Morrissey said the archives made “for a really intriguing > reference set.” He pointed out, however, that the volume of videos “is so > vast that finding valuable references may be a bit like looking for a needle > in a haystack.” > > C-Span executives said they hoped that its search filters would be up to > the task. Mr. Lamb said, “You can see if politicians are saying one thing > today, and 15 years ago were saying another thing.” > > He added, “Journalists can feast on it.” > > One of the Web site’s features, the Congressional Chronicle, shows which > members of Congress have spoken on the House and Senate floors the most, and > the least. Each senator and representative has a profile page. Using the > data already available, some newspapers have written about particularly > loquacious local lawmakers. > > C-Span was established in 1979, but there are few recordings of its > earliest years. Those “sort of went down the drain,” Mr. Browning said. But > he does have about 10,000 hours of tapes from before 1987, and he will begin > reformatting them for the Web soon. Those tapes include Ronald Reagan’s > presidential campaign speeches and the Iran-Contra hearings. > > In a tour of the site last week, Mr. Browning said the various uses of the > archives were hard to predict. He found that a newly uploaded 1990 United > Nations address by the Romanian president Ion Iliescu was quickly discovered > and published by several Romanian bloggers. > > While C-Span does not receive Nielsen ratings, a recent poll by Fairleigh >
[backstage] Fwd: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web
Hi, Good stuff. Regards, Dave -- Forwarded message -- From: "Dave Farber" Date: 16 Mar 2010, 11:56 AM Subject: [IP] C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web To: "ip" Begin forwarded message: *From:* Richard Forno *Date:* March 16, 2010 7:31:59 AM EDT *To:* Undisclosed-recipients: <>; *Cc:* Dave Farber *Subject:* *C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web* March 16, 2010 C-Span Puts Full Archives on the Web By BRIAN STELTER http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/arts/television/16cspan.html?pagewanted=print WASHINGTON — Researchers, political satirists and partisan mudslingers, take note: C-Span has uploaded virtually every minute of its video archives to the Internet. The archives, at C-SpanVideo.org, cover 23 years of history and five presidential administrations and are sure to provide new fodder for pundits and politicians alike. The network will formally announce the completion of the C-Span Video Library on Wednesday. Having free online access to the more than 160,000 hours of C-Span footage is “like being able to Google political history using the ‘I Feel Lucky’ button every time,” said Rachel Maddow, the liberal MSNBC host. Ed Morrissey, a senior correspondent for the conservative blog Hot Air ( hotair.com), said, “The geek in me wants to find an excuse to start digging.” No other cable network is likely to give away its precious archives on the Internet. (Even “Book TV” is available.) But C-Span is one of a kind, a creation of the cable industry that records every Congressional session, every White House press briefing and other acts of official Washington. The online archives reinforce what some would call the Web’s single best quality: its ability to recall seemingly every statement and smear. And it is even more powerful when the viewer can rewind the video. The C-Span founder, Brian Lamb, said in an interview here last week that the archives were an extension of the network’s public service commitment. “That’s where the history will be,” Mr. Lamb said. C-Span has been uploading its history for several years, working its way to 1987, when its archives were established at Purdue University, Mr. Lamb’s alma mater. The archive staff now operates from an office park in West Lafayette, Ind., where two machines that can turn 16 hours of tapes into digital files each hour have been working around the clock to move C-Span’s programs online. They are now finishing the 1987 catalog. “This is the archive’s coming of age, in a way, because it’s now so accessible,” said Robert Browning, director of the archives. Historically, the $1 million-a-year operation has paid for itself partly by selling videotapes and DVDs to journalists, campaign strategists and others. Mr. Browning acknowledges that video sales have waned as more people have viewed clips online. “On the other hand, there are a lot of things people now watch that they never would have bought,” he said. The archives’ fans include Ms. Maddow, who called it gold. “It’s raw footage of political actors in their native habitat, without media personalities mediating viewers’ access,” she wrote in an e-mail message. Similarly, Mr. Morrissey said the archives made “for a really intriguing reference set.” He pointed out, however, that the volume of videos “is so vast that finding valuable references may be a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack.” C-Span executives said they hoped that its search filters would be up to the task. Mr. Lamb said, “You can see if politicians are saying one thing today, and 15 years ago were saying another thing.” He added, “Journalists can feast on it.” One of the Web site’s features, the Congressional Chronicle, shows which members of Congress have spoken on the House and Senate floors the most, and the least. Each senator and representative has a profile page. Using the data already available, some newspapers have written about particularly loquacious local lawmakers. C-Span was established in 1979, but there are few recordings of its earliest years. Those “sort of went down the drain,” Mr. Browning said. But he does have about 10,000 hours of tapes from before 1987, and he will begin reformatting them for the Web soon. Those tapes include Ronald Reagan’s presidential campaign speeches and the Iran-Contra hearings. In a tour of the site last week, Mr. Browning said the various uses of the archives were hard to predict. He found that a newly uploaded 1990 United Nations address by the Romanian president Ion Iliescu was quickly discovered and published by several Romanian bloggers. While C-Span does not receive Nielsen ratings, a recent poll by Fairleigh Dickinson University found that 52 percent of voters said they watched it at least once in a while. The poll did not distinguish among C-Span’s three channels. The original one, C-Span, shows every House of Representatives session; C-Span2 does the same for the Senate; and C-Span3 shows committee hearings, briefings, conferences and other
