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Boston Neighborhood Network Television, a nationally recognized, award-winning community media center and 501(c)(3) nonprofit, acts as a public forum for all Boston residents, nonprofit and community-based organizations, and governmental and educational institutions and provides them with affordable training and access to emerging media technologies. BNN operates Boston's two public access cable television channels: BNN's News & Information Channel 9 and BNN's Community Access Channel 23. Members have access to three television studios, digital field production and editing equipment, a multimedia lab, and a mobile production truck.

BNN's resources attract people from all over Boston, offering a platform to a wide array of cultural and socio-economic groups. Boston residents and organizations produce more programming than all other local channels combined, and in over a dozen languages. 24 hours a day, BNN channels reach over 162,000 homes of Boston cable subscribers — that's over 80% of Boston households.

Established by Boston's cable franchise agreement in 1983, BNN is managed by the Boston Community Access and Programming Foundation, Inc., and supported by membership fees, grants, supporters, sponsorships, donations and franchise fees from Comcast and RCN provided through the Boston Charitable Trust. BNN is governed by nine board directors and operated by a staff of 11 full-time and 23 part-time employees, numerous college interns and community volunteers, and 500 adult and youth members.



BNN's membership demographics indicate the diversity of participation: 42% Black or African-American; 32% White/non-Hispanic; 7% Hispanic; 6% Haitian; 4% Cape Verdean; 4% Asian or Pacific Islander; 9% other.

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BNN's mission is to use the unique capabilities of cable television and other technologies to serve the City of Boston and expand the constitutional rights of freedom of expression for all people by:

• Giving a more direct voice to and fostering understanding among various neighborhoods, groups and points of view.
• Expanding the variety of information about local topics that address the specific needs of targeted populations.
• Increasing residents' access to the city's educational, cultural, political, health and human service resources.
• Strengthening institutions' ability to serve Boston's residents by providing a mechanism through which they can effectively share their resources with the community.
• Providing local television programs and opportunities not available on other television channels in Boston.

A cornerstone of BNN's mission is our dedication to youth development. Over the years, BNN has worked with many youth-serving organizations to develop programming and training workshops, and provide after-school programs and summer media camps. We have long-standing associations with a number of educational institutions such as Boston Public Schools, Emerson College, University of Massachusetts Community Media and Technology Program, the MATCH School, the Digital Bridge Foundation, Roxbury Community College and Boston University.

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BNN's vision is to stabilize the organization financially and to create long-term organizational viability to ensure that we continue to represent the diversity and wealth of experiences of Boston's residents and community institutions. Our new home in Egleston Square is a giant leap towards making our vision a reality. Find out how you can help us Turn on the Power!

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