Link TV and KCET Bring Republican and Democratic National Conventions to Viewers

CONTACT
Ariel Carpenter
747.201.5243
acarpenter@kcet.org

Crowd Funding Campaign Sends Independent News Teams to Conventions

For Daily Videos and News Posts on SOCAL CONNECTED’s BALLOT BRIEF Web Hub Link TV Hosts Special Convention Coverage on THE LAURA FLANDERS SHOW, DEMOCRACY NOW! and MOSAIC

kcet.org/ballotbrief and linktv.org/ballotbrief
BURBANK, Calif. – July 18, 2016 – KCETLink Media Group, a leading national independent nonprofit public broadcast and digital network, which includes both Southern California's KCET public television service as well as the Link TV national satellite network, announced today plans to take their respective television viewers and website users to the Republican and Democratic National Conventions – for an alternative perspective to the coverage by mainstream media.

KCETLink’s on-air and online audience will get a unique insight into both political parties thanks to a crowd-funding campaign with Razoo.com that started in early July and reached a goal of $40,000. On-the-ground independent journalists will be in Cleveland and Philadelphia from July 18 through the close of the Democratic National Convention on July 28. Two of Link TV’s most distinctive voices, acclaimed broadcast journalist and award-winning syndicated columnist Amy Goodman as well as former Air America Radio Host and best-selling author Laura Flanders, will take their shows behind the scenes as both Democrats and Republicans rally for their candidates.

Convention coverage highlights from KCET and Link TV are as follows:

• Starting today, KCET’s award-winning newsmagazine series SOCAL CONNECTED launches an online voter resource called BALLOT BRIEF featuring daily videos, news posts, blogs and more from the convention. The BALLOT BRIEF online destination will be continually refreshed, giving voters constant updates breaking down the party platforms for each Presidential candidate and what they have committed to do if elected. In addition, the site will feature the latest on the California ballot measures, updates on the United States Senate races, and provide information about voter resources. The hub can be accessed on KCET at KCET.org/BallotBrief and on Link TV at LinkTV.org/BallotBrief.

• Two separate convention specials from THE LAURA FLANDERS SHOW will air on Link TV (available to viewers nationwide on DirecTV 375 and DISH Network 9410) at 9 p.m. ET/PT on July 22 and July 29, highlighting interviews directly from the floor of both conventions with a goal of bringing an independent perspective of both events to viewers.

• Ten additional hour-long telecasts focused on convention coverage from DEMOCRACY NOW! - anchored by acclaimed author, international journalist and award-winning syndicated columnist Amy Goodman - will follow the regularly scheduled broadcasts of DEMOCRACY NOW! on Link TV (available to viewers nationwide on DirecTV 375 and DISH Network 9410) each weekday during the convention starting at 9 a.m. PT (12 noon ET). DEMOCRACY NOW! airs weekdays on KCET in Southern California at 7 a.m. and on Link TV nationwide at 8 a.m. ET/PT.

•   Offering a global pulse on the elections to online users, Link TV’s acclaimed MOSAIC series will host a five-minute special report on LinkTV.org which will look at the conventions from the perspective of international broadcasters from the world’s most prestigious organizations including BBC, China State Television and Russian TV.

•  KCET and Link TV’s social media platforms will also feature timely Tweets (@KCET and @LinkTV), Instagram photos, Facebook posts (Facebook.com/KCET and Facebook.com/LinkTV) and Facebook Live opportunities direct from the floor of the conventions.

Earlier this year, KCETLink Media Group announced the “Your Choice. Your Voice” initiative dedicated to the importance of voting and spearheaded by actress and voting activist Kate Walsh (“Private Practice,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Fargo”). The campaign, with a particular emphasis on diversity and a goal of appealing to multicultural voters of all ages, partners KCETLink Media Group with local and national organizations to air public service announcements (PSAs) on KCET in Southern California and Link TV nationwide starting Aug. 29 through the national election on Tues., Nov. 8.

Join the conversation on social media by using #BallotBrief, #LauraFlanders, #DemocracyNow! and #Mosaic. 

ABOUT KCET

On-air, online and in the community, KCET plays a vital role in the cultural and educational enrichment of Southern and Central California. KCET offers a wide range of award-winning local programming as well as the finest public television programs from around the world. Throughout its 50-year history, KCET has won hundreds of major awards for its local and regional news and public affairs programming, its national drama and documentary productions, its quality educational family and children's programs, its outreach and community services and its website, kcet.org. KCET is a donor-supported community institution. For additional information about KCET productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org. KCET is a part of the KCETLink Media Group. Select original programming from KCET is also available for streaming on Hulu and Roku platforms.

ABOUT LINK TV

Link TV is a viewer-supported 501(c)(3) organization, distributed nationally via satellite on DirecTV channel 375 and DISH Network channel 9410 -- reaching more than 34 million US households. As independent public media, Link TV bring viewers different perspectives on the news and politics by connecting American viewers with people at the heart of breaking events, organizations in the forefront of social change and the cultures of an increasingly global community. Link TV is dedicated to programs that engage, educate and activate viewers to become involved in the world. Founded in 1999, Link TV provides a unique perspective on international news, current events, and diverse cultures, presenting issues not often covered in the US media. Link TV is a service of KCETLink Media Group, the national, nonprofit independent digital and broadcast network. For complete background information, program schedule and Internet streaming, go to www.LinkTV.org. Follow on Twitterand on Facebook. Select original programming from Link TV is also available for streaming on Hulu, Apple TV and Roku platforms.