Worldnet Television and Film Service

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-hour-a-day.[1] Worldnet had the mission to show "a balanced and accurate picture of American society, policies, and people".[1]

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)

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]

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

In 2002, Worldnet switched from an analog system to a digital one.[5]

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

Programs

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

Besides, Worldnet offered some programs produced by other U.S. networks, such as 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 restricted Worldnet to broadcast directly to American citizens.[8] The intent of the legislation was to protect the American public from propaganda actions by its own government.[9]

References
  1. "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. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  3. Blanchard, Margaret A. (2013). History of the Mass Media in the United States: An Encyclopedia. Routledge. p. 101. ISBN 1-57958-012-2. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  4. Vaughn, Stephen L. (2008). Encyclopedia of American Journalism. Routledge. p. 549. ISBN 0-203-94216-7. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  5. "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. "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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