Showcasing the excellence and diversity of the nation's premier research university, UCTV embraces the core missions of the University of California - teaching, research and public service - through quality, in-depth television that informs, educates and enriches the lives of people around the globe.
Mission and GoalsUCTV creates a place where viewers can participate in the life of the University of California and the communities that surround its ten campuses. As part of the nation's largest and preeminent public university system, the station is at the center of new thinking, scientific breakthroughs, and fresh ideas.
Knowledge and achievements in science, health and medicine, art, music, theater, humanities and public affairs are shared through a wide range of programs, including documentaries, lectures, interviews and performances. Since its "launch" in January of 2000, UCTV has broadcast over five thousand programs on a wide variety of topics, increasing public knowledge and appreciation of research, including its impact on everyday life.
BackgroundIn 1998, a multi-campus workgroup was established to assess the viability and desirability of creating a University of California television station based in part on the model of UCSD-TV (a low-power local broadcast station operated by the UC San Diego campus). The workgroup assessed logistical implications, developed projected budgets, and evaluated television program production capabilities throughout the UC system. The group recommended acquiring the necessary capabilities and UCTV launched in 2000 with financial support from the UC Office of the President.
UCTV has provided robust distribution platforms to video content created on and around the campuses and national labs ever since. With thousands of programs featuring faculty, researchers and guests, UCTV has been successfully connecting the university to the public through television distribution to over 4 million homes, a website that receives over 4 million hits a month, a YouTube Channel with over 1 million subscribers and a video collection that attracts over 5 million hits a month.
Through the generous support of UC OP during UCTV’s first decade of development and growth, UCTV built these media platforms and offered services to UC affiliates at little or no cost. But due to system-wide changes, the UC OP funding ended in 2012. UCTV is now a self-supporting entity.
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