Viewer call-ins have been a staple of C-SPAN programming since October 7, 1980, when the 19-month-old network televised its first live viewer call-in from the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Following a speech by then Federal Communications Chair, Charles Ferris, three TV trade reporters-Pat Gushman, Tack Nail, Don West and George Mason Professor, Mike Kelley-were the first call-in guests. The first-ever C-SPAN caller hailed from Yankton, S.D.

With that launch, C-SPAN inaugurated television's first-ever regularly scheduled national viewer call-in program, building on a format used by Phil Donahue on WLWD-TV in Dayton, OH, in 1967.

Since its first program, C-SPAN has continually incorporated viewer call-ins into its programming schedule, both in regularly scheduled call-ins and open-line programs that allow people to react to breaking news events (recent examples include the retirement of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, or the days of continuous viewer calls following 9/11.) Over 25 years, the network has produced some 46,000 call-in segments with more than 12,000 individual guests, and has aired more than a half-million calls.

Since the early '80s, C-SPAN has simulcast radio talk show programs, beginning in 1983 with Larry King's nighttime program on Mutual Radio. These call-in simulcasts allow C-SPAN to merge the views of the national C-SPAN audience with talk radio listeners. To date, C-SPAN has televised nearly l00 local and national radio talk show programs.

In January 1995, the three-hour Washington Journal (7 to 10 am ET) replaced the network's earlier call-in incarnations as the network's flagship viewer call-in program. Throughout the quarter-century, one theme has remained constant: C-SPAN encourages citizen interactivity by enabling viewers to talk directly to elected officials, policymakers, and journalists covering the day's news.

A look at viewer call-ins on C-SPAN reveals that average citizens, notable names, and policymakers alike watch the call-in segments. While recognized names from Cher to Ted Kennedy to Ronald Reagan have phoned in, the 25th anniversary of call-ins is an opportunity to celebrate the average viewer. In that spirit, C-SPAN is conducting an essay contest, asking viewers why they watch or participate in viewer call-ins on the network. The grand prizewinner will travel to Washington and serve a brief stint as co-host during the live anniversary program. More information about the contest is available at www.c-span.org.

Thank you for calling …And we look forward to hearing from you in the years to come!