Chicago Access Network Television

In 1983, the Chicago Access Corporation (CAC) was established by the City of Chicago as an independent nonprofit tasked with managing the public access channels in Chicago.[3]

CAN TV operates five cable television channels in Chicago. They are available on AT&T, Comcast, RCN, and WOW:

• CAN TV19: Public Affairs, entertainment, documentary and arts
• CAN TV21: Live, call-in Hotline shows, community events and arts coverage
• CAN TV27: 24/7 local news and information
• CAN TV36: Religious and inspirational programming
• CAN TV42: Interactive community bulletin board with blues and jazz from WDCB-FM[4]

Any Chicago nonprofit or resident can submit noncommercial content to CAN TV for free, and over 10,000 new, local programs are shown on the network every year.[5] Submitted videos include independent productions and programs made using equipment and facilities provided by CAN TV.

Groups who produce programs using CAN TV's publicly accessible studio and equipment represent a wide range of communities, including seniors,[6] attorneys,[7] and people with disabilities.[8]

Chicago-based nonprofits also host live call-in shows from a dedicated studio at CAN TV. These programs are shown live on cable television in Chicago and online, with topics including youth media training,[9] neighborhood development,[10] and domestic violence.[11]

CAN TV also provides unedited coverage of community events in Chicago, offering live coverage of some events on cable television and online. Past coverage includes public forums,[12] political events like protests and hearings,[13] and arts events.[14]

Programs produced by CAN TV include:

• Chicago Newsroom, where journalists and newsmakers analyze the week's top local stories.
• Perspectivas Latinas, which highlights community organizations serving the Latino community in Chicago.
• Political Forum, which gives Chicagoans a direct line to their government.[15]

Past community-produced programs on CAN TV include:

• Chic-a-go-go[16]
• JBTV[17]
• Labor Beat
• SAIC's ExTV

Independent programming carried on CAN TV includes:

• Free Speech TV
• Illinois Channel

Chicago residents can choose from a wide range of classes at CAN TV to gain the skills needed to make a video. After becoming members, residents then get access to the equipment they trained to use, including digital cameras, edit suites, and a TV studio.[18]

• cantv.org

• List of public-access TV stations in the United States