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| C-SPAN Archives |
September 8, 2008 |
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C-SPAN Archives Collection |  |
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The Archives Collection
The C-SPAN Archives collection begins in September, 1987 with the Robert Bork nomination to the Supreme Court. All programs that have aired since October, 1987 are recorded, indexed, abstracted, and archived. Duplicate copies of most of these programs are available for purchase.
The collection includes all House and Senate proceedings, call-in programs, committee hearings, speeches, forums, conventions, rallies, BookTV programming and other special programming such as Lincoln-Douglas debates, Tocqueville, American Presidents, and American Writers. Remember there are many congressional hearings every day and C-SPAN only covers 2-4 of these.
Restricted Programs
Programs that C-SPAN acquires from other networks or affiliates are not available for purchase. These programs include foreign legislatures, including British House of Commons Question Time, the occasional newscasts from local stations, and political debates sponsored by local television.
Prices
Prices are set by the length, age, and type of programs. Popular programs of predicatable length such as Booknotes, American Perspectives, and National Press Club are priced at $24.95. Other programs are priced at $29.95 for the first hour and $15.00 for each additional 30 minutes. Congressional hearings are priced at $60.00 per hour because of their length and the time it takes to duplicate them. Programs that are five years and older are priced at $60.00 per hour.
Custom Duplication
Please remember that an archive operates differently than a video store or a retail store that sells videos. Most of our programs are ordered in very small quantities and are duplicated on demand. This duplication involves retrieving the original master tape from the climate-controlled storage unit and duplicating it in real time.
Videos that are viewed cannot be sold to others as new videos. Consequently, we cannot accept videos for refund without a restocking fee.
Special Requests
If you are uncertain if it is the video that you are looking for, please consult with a researcher to identify the video. Many titles may appear the same. Many people appear on similar programs. An author may appear on Booknotes and also on BookTV discussing the same book.
If you are looking for yourself on a videotape and you are not listed as appearing on a program, please check with a researcher before ordering. Because of our public affairs coverage, we may not cover all the audience shots or all the people who may shake hands with the president. Similarly, if you looking to hear a call that you made in an open phones call-in segment, we cannot guarantee that the program contains what you are looking for. These requests require a signed order form and are nonrefundable.
Segments
It is usually cheaper to purchase the entire program than a segment. Segments require a signed acknowledgement, a $40 edit fee, and are nonrefundable. This form is available on the web site.
Copies for Home Viewing
The Archives distributes DVD and VHS copies for home viewing. Any use that requires a special format (Beta, PAL) requires a special use approval. Any use in a presentation or a new work requires special use approval. This form is available on the web site.
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