Media

The 2001 Legislature established a state public affairs television and internet broadcasting service “to provide Montana citizens with increased access to unbiased information about state government deliberations and public policy events through unedited television coverage and other communications technologies.” The Legislative Services Division administers a contract with MontanaPBS to provide production services for the channel formerly known as “TVMT.” The channel underwent a rebranding process in 2018 and is now known as the Montana Public Affairs Network (MPAN). The Legislative Council assists the Division in monitoring the broadcasting service to ensure that broadcasts comply with the principles of good conduct enumerated in law. Programming Policy and Operating Guidelines adopted by MontanaPBS and Legislative Services also guide operations.

During legislative sessions, MPAN provides gavel-to-gavel coverage of Senate and House floor sessions and selected committee meetings. Outside the regular session, MPAN also broadcasts interim committee hearings, legislative meetings, and other state government and public policy events of interest to Montanans. Programming is presented in an unedited, C-SPAN-style format designed to provide transparent public access to government proceedings.

MPAN programming is distributed through closed-circuit television within the Capitol, cable television systems serving communities across Montana, Montana PBS digital broadcast channels, and online livestreaming services. Many legislative meetings and hearings are also recorded and archived for on-demand viewing through the Montana Legislature and MontanaPBS websites