Worldnet Television and Film Service
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaWorldwide
HeadquartersWashington, D.C.
Programming
Language(s)Multilingual
Ownership
OwnerBroadcasting Board of Governors
History
Launched1983
ClosedMay 16, 2004 (merged to VOA)
Links
Websitewww.ibb.gov/worldnet (closed)

Worldnet Television and Film Service was an American state-funded cable and satellite television channel directed to audiences outside of the United States. Its studios were located in Washington, D.C.[1] It broadcast 24 hours a day.[1] Worldnet had the mission to show "a balanced and accurate picture of American society, policies, and people".[1]

History

Worldnet was launched in 1983.[1][2] In the beginning, it worked under the umbrella of the United States Information Agency (USIA).[3] Later, Worldnet became part of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG).[1][4]

Between 1993 and 1997, under the leadership of Clinton appointee Charles Fox, Worldnet’s audience expanded from less than 300 to 1400 broadcast and cable outlets in Africa, the Americas, Europe, and the Middle East. In 1997, Fox led the organization from analog to a digital platform and supervised the production and distribution of "Window on America" series that encouraged Ukraine's adoption of democracy.

On September 11, 2001, Worldnet, using Bloomberg Television, interrupted its regular programming on 7 satellites to broadcast raw footage of terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington, DC.[5]

On May 16, 2004, Worldnet was merged into the Voice of America to reduce costs.[5][6]

Programs

Programs produced and syndicated by Worldnet were provided in Arabic, Croatian, English, French, Mandarin, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Serbian, Ukrainian, among others.[1] They were transmitted via satellite, and also via foreign TV broadcast and cable systems.[1]

Some of the syndicated programming produced by other U.S. networks included the NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, Nightly Business Report, Computer Chronicles, and Bloomberg Information Television.[1]

American English-teaching telecourses were part of the list of programs.[7] One of them was Crossroads Cafe, which combined comedy, drama, and English skills training.[7]

Law

The Smith–Mundt Act of 1948 prohibited Worldnet from broadcasting directly to American citizens.[8] The intent of the legislation was to protect the American public from propaganda by its own government.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Worldnet Fact Sheet". Worldnet. Archived from the original on 21 April 1999. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  2. ^ McPhail, Thomas L. (2006). Global Communication: Theories, Stakeholders, and Trends. Blackwell Publishing. p. 168. ISBN 9781405150101. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  3. ^ Blanchard, Margaret A. (2013). History of the Mass Media in the United States: An Encyclopedia. Routledge. p. 101. ISBN 978-1-57958-012-4. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  4. ^ Vaughn, Stephen L. (2008). Encyclopedia of American Journalism. Routledge. p. 549. ISBN 978-0-203-94216-1. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Innovations for a New Century – Multimedia Expansion". Voice of America. 1 March 2007. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  6. ^ "WORLDNET merges with VOA". Voice of America. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  7. ^ a b "The Message and the Medium". Website of WORLDNET. Archived from the original on 7 December 1998. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  8. ^ "Legal information". Worldnet. Archived from the original on 6 December 1998. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  9. ^ Broderick, James F., and Darren W. Miller. Consider the Source: A Critical Guide to 100 prominent news and information sites on the Web. Medford, NJ: Information Today, 2007. ISBN 0-910965-77-3, ISBN 978-0-910965-77-4. p. 388
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