|
Find out all about Community Channel, including who funds us, who supports us and how to get in touch.
Who we are?
Community Channel makes you think again about the world around you, and inspires you to take action on the causes and issues that matter to you. Broadcasting original shows, the best of terrestrial TV and showcasing the work of new directors and community programme makers, Community Channel is the place for real-life stories.
Community Channel was launched in September 2000 as a three hour a day TV channel, mainly showing charity advertisements and selling charity merchandise. We’ve come a long way!
Where and when can I watch?
Community Channel is broadcast 24 hours a day, every day, on Sky 539, Virgin TV 233. The Channel is also on Freeview 87 from 6am to 9am, everyday. Click here to see our schedules.
The channel is a free-to-air TV station available to 16.5 million digital households in the UK and to 41 million potential viewers. Around 1.2 million people tune in every month (source: BARB) and we receive more than 10,000 responses a week from viewers to our calls to action.
What can I watch?
Community Channel is the only TV station totally dedicated to highlighting issues from both local and international communities as well as the voluntary and charitable sectors. Programmes like The Jon Snow Interviews, The New Heroes, RHS Britain in Bloom, World Challenge and Cause Celeb showcase the people that go the extra mile every day.
We also run programming seasons over weekends, weeks and months throughout the year, i.e. Black History Month, Fairtrade Fortnight, Mental Health Week, International Women’s Day, Change Makers Week. On the website, the features section is where you can find information all about what's on and coming up on the Channel.
We commission about 10% of our programming and receive the rest from major broadcasters, independent producers and charities.
How do I get in touch?
Community Channel loves to hear from its viewers, so do get in touch (see Contact Us)! If you would like more information on our programming, the charities and organizations involved, or just want to make a comment about a programme or have a positive story to tell, here’s how you do it:
Website: Use our search engine or browse our factsheets.
Call: 08708 505 500
email: info@communitychannel.org
Or if you’re a satellite viewer, you can have your say, look for volunteering opportunities or donate to your favourite charity or appeal just by pressing the red button.
Our innovative and groundbreaking interactive TV service is unique and can put you in touch with new opportunities. Join the thousands that have already pledged to the tsunami and Asia Quake appeals and offered their times as volunteers. Find out more about our interactive TV service and how it raises money for charity here.
If you’re a filmmaker and want to send us a film you’ve made, or want to know more about how to get in touch with us, visit our Filmmakers Guide.
Who owns us?
Community Channel is owned by the Media Trust, registered charity no.1042733.
The Media Trust works in partnership with the media industry to build effective communications for the charity and voluntary sectors. It consists of the following components:
The Media Trust events team provides first class seminars, media training and media-matching opportunities for voluntary and not-for-profit organizations by encouraging media professionals to volunteer their time and skills. They work across the UK on PR and press, marketing, design, online media and video.
Media Trust Productions make TV programmes for major broadcasters and produce award-winning films, DVDs and CD-Roms for charities and the not-for-profit sector.
Community Newswire, launched by the Home Office in 2004, is a free service run by the Media Trust and The Press Association, the national news agency of Britain and Ireland, to help community and voluntary groups gain coverage in the media.
The board of trustees of the Media Trust include Channel Four News presenter Jon Snow, Director General of the BBC Mark Thompson, Tony Ball, and Greg Dyke.
Who funds us?
Community Channel is majority funded by the Cabinet Office (Office of the Third Sector).
We receive free airtime from the Sky, Virgin TV and Freeview and we thank them for their support.
The channel is always actively looking for other sources of funding. It can offer a range of online and on-air advertising packages, sponsorships and advertising funded programming deals.
Who are our partners?
All major UK broadcasters pledged to help support Community Channel by signing a Joint Declaration in November 2004.
BBC Director General Mark Thompson and Sky's CEO James Murdoch agreed to a Joint Declaration of support for the Community Channel along with eight other major players in the British media industry - Channel Four, Five, ITV, ITN, Discovery, Flextech, GMTV and the independent producers' body PACT. In 2006, MTV, Disney and Turner joined the group. In 2007, Joost signed the declaration.
Here’s what it said:
"We agree to make the Community Channel a key external TV partner in our efforts to bring news, information and enthusiasm about the work of the voluntary, charitable and community sectors to our viewers.
Wherever possible we undertake to make relevant programming available to the Community Channel once it has fulfilled its uses on our own services.
Wherever editorially relevant we will use on-air references and pointers to inform viewers about the programming and information available on the Community Channel. We will develop a marketing plan jointly with the Community Channel to help viewers to find it. We will work with regulators and others to ensure that effective information can be given about the Community Channel."
Agreed by BBC, BSkyB, Channel Four, Five, Flextech Television, Discovery Networks Europe, GMTV, ITN, ITV and Pact.
Read the press release about the Joint Declaration.
|
About Us 
