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Who We Are and How We Work
What is Channel One News?
We are the leading television news network for teens nationwide. Our mission is to inform, educate and inspire by making news relevant and engaging for young people and sparking discussion around the important issues impacting youth today.
Broadcasting since 1990, Peabody Award-winning Channel One News, now a division of Alloy Media + Marketing, is the top source of high quality, unbiased news and information for young people. The dynamic 12-minute news broadcast, produced in partnership with CBS News, is delivered daily to nearly six million teens in approximately 8,000 middle schools and high schools across the country, providing global and national headlines from a teen perspective with a fast-paced production style, youthful reporters and contemporary music.
Our 12-minute show includes two minutes of corporate sponsorships, which allows us to bring the program to schools cost-free. We follow strict guidelines as to who may participate as sponsors, and ensure distinct separation of editorial and advertising.
Our second free programming stream is Channel One Connection, which delivers hundreds of hours of educational video content correlated to core curricula and annotated according to McREL standards. The video library at each member school is stocked with hundreds of free programs annually, courtesy of Channel One News.
How do you deliver this programming to schools?
Each member school receives, at no cost to the school, a satellite video system, including a dedicated satellite dish, a digital head-end unit with a DVR, and multiple classroom TVs (one TV per 23 students in grades six through 12). In addition, we cover networking, installation and maintenance at no cost to participating schools.
What do your schools think of the service?
Click here to see comments from educators.
What is ChannelOne.com?
A Webby Award winner for Best Youth Site, and the official online partner to Channel One News. Teens visit to delve deeper into the day's newscast with quizzes, games and contests, and also for after-school interests, like music, sports and college info.
What video can I watch on ChannelOne.com?
ChannelOne.com features five days of our daily broadcasts, web-exclusive video, behind-the-scenes footage and extras from Channel One News, and interesting video coverage or news or funny/odd/random videos from around the globe.
Help! Our school's Channel One News equipment isn't working.
We can help. Talk to your school's Key Operator (the person who maintains Channel One News equipment). They will need to call our Help Desk at 1-800-251-4039 or send us a quick email.
Our school/district is interested in receiving Channel One News.
At Channel One Help, you'll find information on our service as well as contact information if you're ready to join.
How does Channel One News better equip educators to teach public affairs and current events?
Channel One News gives educators many different tools, including lesson plans corresponding to each day's programming (comprehension questions, vocabulary, media literacy and writing experiences). Channel One News also provides a weekly current events quiz for teachers to administer to their students, as well as show scripts that provide additional clarity and a better understanding of events discussed.
How many schools currently subscribe to Channel One News?
There are thousands of public and private secondary schools viewing Channel One News in 48 states and the District of Columbia. This totals millions of students -- nearly 25% of America's teens -- and hundreds of thousands of educators.
Does Channel One News have educators on staff?
Channel One News works closely with more than 2,000 educator advocates via our Community Relations department. Here, educators give feedback that is then evaluated and often instituted into Channel One News content. In addition, Channel One News has an Advisory Board, comprised of 10 educators selected via a nomination and interview process. The board's mission is to help Channel One News meet the needs of educators and their students. Membership spans two years.
Does Channel One News have partners for its technology?
Channel One News partners with leading technology manufacturers and suppliers to build and service its infrastructure in schools and online. Channel One News is committed to the use of advanced technology that enables it to maintain its position as an innovative news and public affairs content provider. To that end, the Channel One News technology platform will continue to evolve into new areas of innovation, always exploring new ways to create exciting, real-time interactions between content and its viewers. As of April 2008, our entire network is now digital, providing even greater efficiencies and benefits to schools.
How does Channel One News choose its anchor-reporters?
Channel One News is serious about its commitment to journalistic excellence, and its recruitment process reflects this commitment to setting high standards. Candidates are carefully selected by our Executive Producer and Talent Executives at our production partner, CBS News. The newsroom of Channel One News is run by talented veterans of broadcast journalism and has served as the starting point for many respected broadcast journalists on network and cable TV, including CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper,, Lisa Ling, host of National Geographic Explorer and a special correspondent for The Oprah Winfrey Show and CNN, Today Show contributor Maria Menounos and CBS correspondent Serena Altschul.
Are there issues Channel One News will not cover?
Please review our Editorial Standards.
Does Channel One News broadcast to both public and private schools?
Channel One News's vast network of member schools spans all demographics and geographies, bringing news and public affairs to thousands of public and private secondary schools across the country.
Have a question that isn't covered here? OK, just send us an email.
Joining the Network
Here you'll find answers to frequently asked questions about joining Channel One Network. Also, please visit our Joining and Using Channel One News page for basic information about our program.
Click here to read the Terms & Conditions of Network participation.
Click here to print a School Agreement, which the school principal will need to sign.
What is the incentive for schools to partner with Channel One News?
Channel One News is recognized for providing world-class journalism to classrooms. As such, Channel One News is doing important work educating our young people about the world around them. Its programming is often a good springboard for teachers to have conversations with their students about pressing world issues. The 12-minute daily news broadcast covers national and international topics, as well as programs presenting moral or ethical issues and individuals overcoming challenges. It also showcases positive role models for teens. The programming is an impetus for sparking interest and a dialogue that broadens the lens of and supplements many educators' planned course curriculum.
How is it possible for Channel One News to provide free video content and electronic equipment to schools?
Channel One News, the flagship program of the Channel One Network service, includes two minutes of corporate sponsorships, thereby empowering us to provide our services to schools for free.
How do schools fit the 12-minute daily news show into their day?
Our system is flexible enough for the busiest school schedule:
- Homeroom or classroom:
Most schools broadcast Channel One News to all students during homeroom or another class period. - Daily rotation:
All students view Channel One News at once, but during a different period each day of the week. - Alternate lunch:
Schools with divided lunch periods have one group eat lunch while the other views the news, then vice-versa. - Staggered:
A few schools cannot show the program at one time, so they show it to a portion of students at various times throughout the day.
How long does it take to install a school with Channel One News service?
We typically install within 90 days of receipt of a school's application. It takes an average of 60 labor hours on-site to install the satellite dish, cable distribution system and wall-mounted classroom TVs.
What happens if questions arise or something needs repairing?
We provide toll-free Help Desk services (800.251.4039) staffed by friendly associates eager to provide assistance or dispatch a technician.
How does a school qualify for Channel One News service?
You must have at least 200 grade six and above students, and agree to broadcast Channel One News daily. See Terms & Conditions above for full details.
How do you decide how many TVs to provide to each school?
To ensure fairness, we use a formula. We provide one TV per 23 students in grades six through 12. To make this calculation for your school, divide your grade six through 12 enrollment by 23, and the result is the number of TVs Channel One News will offer to install and maintain for free. To view equipment descriptions and diagrams, click here.
What method is used to send schools your programming?
We transmit our programming via satellite each night. The satellite system we install for free in your school will automatically receive and record the content using the digital head end provided. The programming is waiting for teachers and students when they arrive every morning.
Who are your sponsors?
Channel One News is very restrictive in our selection of sponsors, following strict guidelines and maintaining the distinction between editorial and sponsorship. Recent sponsor categories include: apparel, entertainment, health/beauty, beverages, electronics, retail, and the U.S. government (military recruitment).
Let us help you get Channel One News service for your school!
Call us toll free (888.CH1.NTWK, ext. 2) or email us at schoolsales@channelone.com and let us know:
- How many information packets and videotapes of sample programming you need us to send to local community leaders and decision-makers.
- How you would like a Channel One News representative to present our free offerings-- via telephone or in person.
Technical Questions
How do I access ChannelOne.com?
Our site takes advantage of cutting-edge technologies. In order to access everything, you'll need to make sure you've got the latest browser-- we recommend Firefox 3 and up or IE 6 and up and the latest version of Flash. Once you've got those two things, you'll be set.
Following are answers to some common technical issues:
I can't see videos.
First, make sure you have Flash 9.0.115.0 or higher. You can identify your Flash version by right-clicking a Flash feature, such as the video player or a game. If you are on a Mac, press your control key while mouse clicking the Flash item.
Next, make sure you have a broadband connection to the Internet. The video player won't work with dial-up. If you have Flash 9.0.115.0 or higher and a broadband connection, then you might have found a system bug. You can report it using our contact form.
Video plays, but not very well…
If you're on an older computer, you may notice more buffering delays. Also, your broadband connection may not connect at maximum speed depending on what time of day you access the player. Note: We strongly encourage users to upgrade to Flash 10 in order to prevent frequent buffering of the media. Flash 8 and 9 players will still work, but you may experience more buffer pauses as a result. To upgrade your player, click here.
Video isn't working anymore! I can't see anything.
Some school districts create filters on their firewalls to prevent users on the network from accessing streaming media. This can be a content consideration or an effort to curb use of bandwidth. Contact your district or school IT specialist to see if there is such a block in place and request they unblock these domains:
- channelone.com
- ooyala.com
- quantserve.com
- liverail.com
- tremormedia.com
- edgesuite.net
- edgefcs.net
- visiblemeasures.com
I have broadband, IE8 and Flash 10. Video still isn't playing well…
This could be a case of low bandwidth or slow computer-processor speed. The speed and bandwidth needed by your computer in order to view the videos without frequent stopping, or buffering, is high. We recommend you shut down any excess applications, like Outlook or Word, before viewing video.
Additionally, you may wish to consider upgrading your service. Many basic broadband connection providers offer slower download speeds. This will affect how quickly the stream downloads to your computer. Furthermore, if you are on a large shared network, such as that of a school, you may experience issues related to bandwidth congestion during heavy Internet-traffic hours.
What connection speed does ChannelOne.com recommend?
For your connection speed, you need at least 500kbps download speed. 600kbps is better. In addition, the faster your computer processor, the better. We recommend Pentium 3 or faster and G4 or faster for Mac users.
Still stumped?
If your question still isn't answered, contact us.
Contributing to Channel One News
How can I contribute to Channel One News?
There are many ways for you to be a part of the website and the show! To learn more, visit our Contribute to Channel One News page.
I have a great story you should cover.
Thanks. Just click here to email us about it.
How do I apply for a job at Channel One News?
Check AlloyMarketing.com for jobs at Channel One News or any other Alloy Media + Marketing properties. You can also send a cover letter, resume and reel to our executive producer, Angela Hunter, at:
Channel One News - CBS
524 W. 57th St.
New York, NY 10019
No phone calls, please.
How do I apply for an internship at Channel One News?
We offer internships through our partner, CBS. Visit the CBS Internships page and scroll down to CBS NEWS for more details.
How do I apply for a job at ChannelOne.com?
Check AlloyMarketing.com for jobs at ChannelOne.com or any other Alloy Media + Marketing properties.
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