NASA TV
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NASA TV (originally NASA Select) is the
The network airs a large amount of educational programming and provides live coverage of an array of crewed missions (including the International Space Station), robotic missions, and domestic and international launches. The network completed its conversion from analog to digital transmission in late 2005 following the launch of STS-114, ending a period of dual analog and digital broadcasting. However, some cable television systems may still have transmitted in analog before the U.S. digital television transition. The satellite link uses the DVB-S system for transmission.
Channels
NASA TV operates three channels. The "Public Channel" provides 24-hour broadcasting of live and recorded events and documentaries aimed toward the general public, as well as space and science programming for schools, museums, and other educational institutions. The "Media Channel" is dedicated to broadcast news organizations and other members of the press, featuring press release video, interviews, mission press conferences and other services. The final is "NASA TV UHD", an experimental ultra-high-definition television channel created through a Space Act Agreement with Harmonic Inc., featuring content from NASA's archives that takes advantage of the large format, with a musical audio track.[5][6] A high definition simulcast feed of the "Public Channel" was launched on July 19, 2010.[7] The "Education Channel" was discontinued in 2016, with its programming merged into the main Public Channel. The NASA TV website also provides a channel featuring continuous live footage from inside and outside the ISS, established to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the station in orbit.[8]
While NASA distributes NASA TV in high definition, some redistributors, such as Dish Network and DirecTV, downconvert to standard definition before delivering to their customers.[9][10]
Programming
NASA TV carries various regularly scheduled, pre-recorded educational and public relations programming 24 hours a day on its various channels. Programs include NASA Gallery, which features photographs and video from NASA's history; Video File, which broadcasts
The network also provides an array of live programming, such as ISS events (spacewalks, media interviews, educational broadcasts), press conferences and rocket launches. These often include running commentary by members of the NASA Public Affairs Office who serve as the "voice of Mission Control", including Rob Navias, Nicole Cloutier, Brandi Dean, and formerly, Josh Byerly and the retired George Diller.
Past issues with Canada's broadcasting authority
Before 2007, the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) prohibited NASA TV from being aired by local satellite and cable providers within Canada, except for specific broadcast events. Under existing CRTC rules, a cable or satellite provider had to offer a minimum amount of Canadian content from domestic Canadian companies, and the only involvement the equivalent Canadian Space Agency had with space missions involved shared American space shuttle missions at the time, along with the Canadarms. Additionally, CRTC stated in September 2000 that there simply was not enough room left under the analog television frequency allocation plan, and standards for dealing with foreign digital television signals had not been finalized.[12] On April 20, 2007, the Commission issued a notice stating that after receiving an initial request from Mountain Cablevision and support from other Canadian broadcasters and members of the public, NASA TV had been added to the list of foreign television channels available in Canada.[13]
Broadcast partnerships
NASA has used external companies to provide streaming services for online viewers, both embedded into NASA's website and through streams branded by those companies. The variety of stream formats used have varied with the available technology and with the popularity of formats, including
In July 2005, NASA entered into an agreement with
In July 2023, NASA announced that it would form a new streaming platform known as NASA+, accessible via the agency's mobile apps and apps for digital media player platforms such as Apple TV and Roku.[16]
Broadcast television affiliates
As NASA TV is a service of the
Awards
In 2009, NASA TV received two
See also
- ESA Television, the European Space Agency's television service
- Roscosmos State Corporation's television service
- TLC, co-founded and operated by NASA in the 1970s before being privatized in 1980
References
- ^ Ecuer, Marie-Sophie (April 12, 2018). "NASA TV HD and NASA TV UHD distributed on Eutelsat satellites" (Press release). Eutelsat. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ McAuliffe, Tom Patrick (September 2007). "The Video Horizon". Digital Content Producer. Archived from the original on October 15, 2008. Retrieved December 31, 2009.
- ^ Heimberger, Mike (July 12, 2005). "NASA Digital Conversion Information". NASADigitalTV.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
- ^ a b Smith, Yvette (August 20, 2009). "NASA Television Receives Philo T. Farnsworth Primetime Emmy Award". NASA.gov. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
- ^ "NASA TV UHD Channel Access Information" (PDF). NASA/Harmonic. April 11, 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
- ^ Dunbar, Brian (July 15, 2010). "Digital NASA TV". NASA.gov. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
- ^ "NASA Television Debuts Full-Time High Definition Channel" (Press release). PR Newswire. July 15, 2010. Archived from the original on December 26, 2010. Retrieved July 16, 2010 – via HDTV Magazine.
- ^ Wilson, Jim (January 29, 2010). "Live Space Station Video". NASA.gov. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
- ^ "Channel Guide" (PDF). Dish Network. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
- ^ "Channel Lineup" (PDF). DirecTV. 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 4, 2018. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
- ^ Wilson, Jim (April 6, 2010). "NASA TV Schedule". NASA.gov. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
- ^ Anderson, Stephen (September 20, 2000). "NASA TV: Banned In Canada?". Space.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2001.
- ^ Secretary General (April 20, 2007). "Broadcasting Public Notice CRTC 2007-43" (PDF). Ottawa: Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved December 15, 2009.
- ^ Dunbar, Brian; Mirelson, Doc (July 12, 2005). "NASA Signs With Yahoo! and Akamai To Bring Shuttle Mission Online". NASA.gov. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
- ^ "Amendment to Ustream.tv's Terms of Service Applicable to Government Users/Members" (PDF). Webcontent.gov. September 25, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 4, 2012. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
- ^ Malik, Aisha (July 28, 2023). "NASA is launching its own streaming service later this year". TechCrunch. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- ^ "Stations for Network - NASA". RabbitEars. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
- ^ Cabbage, Michael; Storey, Angela (January 22, 2009). "NASA Television Honored by Midsouth Emmy Chapter". NASA.gov. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
- ^ "NASA Wins Emmy for Apollo 11 Moon Broadcast". Space.com. August 20, 2009. Retrieved January 1, 2010.
External links
- Official website
- NASA TV's channel on YouTube