Community Channel

Community Channel is a British free-to-air television channel wholly owned by Media Trust and supported by major broadcasters including the BBC. Launched in September, 2000, the channel broadcasts from 05:00am – 08:00am each day on Freeview, 24 hours a day on Sky and Virgin TV, and anytime with video on demand. The channel is available to 16.5 million digital households in the UK.

Community Channel is dedicated to raising awareness and inspiring its audiences into action on issues and causes that matter to them in their community and beyond. It broadcasts programmes about local and global community events and the work of the charitable and voluntary sector. In addition, the channel offers online, interactive and on-demand services which allow opportunities for immediate involvement.

Director-General of the BBC Mark Thompson and Sky's CEO James Murdoch agreed to a Joint Declaration of support for the Community Channel along with eight other major players in the British media industry – Channel 4, Five, ITV, ITN, Discovery Channel, Flextech, GMTV and the independent producers' body PACT. MTV, Disney and Turner Broadcasting System joined the group in 2006 and Joost signed the declaration in 2007. Community Channel is majority funded by the Cabinet Office (Office of the Third Sector). They receive free airtime from Sky, Virgin TV and Freeview. The channel can offer a range of online and on-air advertising packages, sponsorships and advertising funded programming deals.

London-based news and features series London 360 launched on the Community Channel in Spring 2010. The programme is currently in its second series and is produced by a team of 10 young reporters. Its 'Riot Special' programme in Series 1 received critical praise for its exploration of the London riots and attained the week's highest viewing figures for the channel.