C-SPAN contact: Joel Bacon, jbacon@c-span.org, 864-616-5350
Comcast contact: Amanda Vallejo, Amanda_Vallejo@comcast.com, 847-651-0757
C-SPAN’s state-of-the-art 45-foot customized motor coach is traveling to Springfield on Sept. 18 &19a s part of C-SPAN’s “50 Capitals Tour.” Partnering with Comcast to engage teachers, students, community members and elected officials through interactive demonstrations of C-SPAN’s multi-platform public service resources, the C-SPAN Bus will welcome visitors at events over two days. On the 18th, parked outside the capitol building, C-SPAN will host State Representative Tim Butler aboard the Bus for a live interview for its signature morning call-in program, Washington Journal.
C-SPAN embarked on a “50 Capitals Tour” in September 2017 and is heading to every U.S. state capital, culminating in November 2018 for the 25th anniversary of the Bus program. Throughout this 14-month tour, the C-SPAN Bus will open its doors at each state capitol to welcome visitors. C-SPAN Representatives will also gather video responses from visitors as part of “Voices from the States” – an opportunity for visitors to share viewpoints on the 2018 midterm elections.
The high-tech, interactive C-SPAN Bus includes these resources:
- Access to an exclusive interactive experience available on 11 large-screen tablets featuring C-SPAN programming and myriad of political and educational resources
- A smart TV and classroom area for conversations with students and teachers
- A high-definition TV production studio for taped and live programming
- A 360-degree video station featuring C-SPAN’s unfiltered coverage of high-profile events and insightful, behind-the-scenes tours of U.S. landmarks
- A D.C.-themed selfie station where visitors can share their Bus experiences through social media
While on the “50 Capitals Tour,” the C-SPAN Bus will visit local schools in each state. Students and teachers will learn about C-SPAN’s national documentary competition, StudentCam. Awarding $100,000 in prize money, the competition challenges students to produce a 5- to 6-minute documentary around the theme, “What does it mean to be American?” Students are asked to choose a constitutional right, national characteristic, or historic event and explain how it defines the American experience.
Since 1993, a C-SPAN Bus has traveled across the nation in partnership with C-SPAN’s cable and satellite providers for local interactions through visits to schools and community events. Visitors to the Bus will engage with the C-SPAN Bus crew and the onboard interactive tools to learn about the unique public service television network, C-SPAN’s online presence and
C-SPAN Classroom’s comprehensive educational resources. Bus visitors will learn about C-SPAN’s unique non-commercial, editorially balanced, non-biased coverage of public affairs and political events and the cable industry’s commitment to funding its operations.
“Comcast is thrilled that the C-SPAN Bus is visiting Springfield, sharing its political and educational resources with the community,” said Debra Marton, Comcast’s regional senior manager of Community Investment. “We are proud to partner with C-SPAN and look forward to local teachers, students, residents and organizations stepping aboard to experience all that C-SPAN has to offer.”
EVENTS (press invited):
Tuesday, September 18
8:40 – 9 a.m. Washington Journal Interview with State Rep. Tim Butler
Aboard the C-SPAN Bus at the Capitol
9:30 – 11 a.m. Open Bus Event at the Capital (open to the public)
South Side of East Capitol Ave, near 2nd street
12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Springfield High School
101 S Lewis St, Springfield, IL 62704
Wednesday, September 19
8 – 10 a.m. Grant Middle School
1800 West Monroe, Springfield, IL 62704
(near the basketball courts)
11 a.m.- 1 p.m. University of Illinois Springfield (open to the public)
Students Union, Parking Lot J, Springfield, IL 62703
In Springfield, C-SPAN programming is provided by Comcast as a commercial-free public service and can be seen on channels 15, 445 and 667; C-SPAN2 on channels 446; and C-SPAN3 on channel 447 and on the web at C-SPAN.org. All funding for C-SPAN operations, including Bus visits, is provided by cable and satellite providers.
Media can access photos and videos of the new C-SPAN Bus online here for reporting purposes. Fans can follow the adventures of the C-SPAN Bus on Twitter and Instagram @cspanbus and online at C-SPAN.org/community.
About C‐SPAN: Created by the cable TV industry and now in nearly 100 million TV households, C‐SPAN programs three public affairs television networks; C‐SPAN Radio, heard in Washington D.C., at 90.1 FM and available as an App; and C-SPAN.org, a video‐rich website offering live coverage of government events and access to the vast archive of C‐SPAN programming. C-SPAN established the C-SPAN Bus community outreach program on Nov. 2, 1993.
About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company with two primary businesses, Comcast Cable and NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation’s largest video, high-speed internet, and phone providers to residential customers under the XFINITY brand, and also provides these services to businesses. It also provides wireless and security and automation services to residential customers under the XFINITY brand. NBCUniversal operates news, entertainment and sports cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, television production operations, television station groups, Universal Pictures and Universal Parks and Resorts. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information.
With around 6,500 local employees, Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region (http://chicago.comcast.com) serves customers in central and northern Illinois, including the Chicago area, northwest Indiana and southwest Michigan. “Like” Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region on Facebook by visiting @Comcast. “Follow” Comcast’s Greater Chicago Region on Twitter at @ComcastIllinois
