About Channel 3

Channel 3 was created October 5,1982 when the City of Longmont awarded the Cable TV Franchise for the city to Scripps Howard Cable Company. In 1997 Scripps Howard Cable Company sold its cable TV interests to Comcast Cable Company. Channel 3 is governed by the Longmont Cable Trust (LCT) and its Board of Trustees. The Longmont Cable Trust is an independent entity that facilitates programming; reflecting the cultural, educational, civic, ethnic and spiritual interests of Longmont. LCT creates a vital communication link for Longmont citizens operating Channel 3 under a Service Contract with the City of Longmont. LCT manages and controls Local, Public, Governmental, Informational and Educational Cable TV Access.

Channel 3 became the flagship cable station of the Longmont Cable Trust, providing local cable television access for the community of Longmont. Channel 3's programming includes: local origination programs, the Longmont City Council Meetings, Planning & Zoning Meetings, St. Vrain Valley School Board Meetings, Partnership programming with the police department and other community organizations, High School sports (Game of the Week and a weekly sports update show), local community highlight shows, Public Access programs and acquired programs.

The Longmont Cable Trust is comprised of a seven member Board of Trustees: two members from the Longmont City Council, two representatives form the St. Vrain Valley School Board, the General Manager of Comcast Cable Company and three citizen members. This diverse pool of members have the mission of preserving the Channel 3's programming mission. The Channel 3 Staff includes: the General Manager, Production Manager, one Local Origination Producer and a Public Access Coordinator.

The Longmont Cable Trust oversees the local cable TV channels and the creation local of cable TV programming for the cable subscribers within the Longmont community. In addition to operating Channel 3, the LCT Board oversees Channel 14 (Longmont City Government information) and Channel 16 (St. Vrain Valley School District information). The Longmont Cable Trust is a non-profit organization that relies on funding from the annual service contract, customer pass-through fees, contract production and editing fees, and donations.

Channel 3 began cablecasting in 1983 with an ambitious "Channel 3 Nightly News" program, airing five nights a week. Although the "Nightly News" program is no longer part of Channel 3's programming, the staff has produced numerous award-winning programs. Channel 3's current program schedule includes: programs about the community, government meetings, election coverage, high school sports coverage, public access and acquired programs from various sources.

Channel 3 first began cablecasting from the Career Development Center on Sunset Street, sharing studios and facilities with the school's Radio and TV department. In 1997, Channel 3 moved into the newly renovated Carnegie Library Building in downtown Longmont; using funds from the Colorado Historical Society, the Scripps Howard Cable Company and the City of Longmont. Originally constructed in 1912, the library now houses the studio, offices and production facility for Channel 3.