Dear Friends far and wide:
Link TV in San Francisco is a precious resource for the progressive/transpartisan communities, and we¹re asking you to join us in making a gift to Link.
In December 1999, our good friend and colleague, Kim Spencer,
http://www.linktv.org/whoweare/staff launched Link TV, the first nationwide television network dedicated to providing Americans with global perspectives on news, events and culture. In the wake of media consolidation. Americans have little access to diverse perspectives on critical global issues, and Link challenges this trend. Today, Link is now broadcast into 35 million homes across the US (largely through DISH, DIRECT TV and with some cable outlets), has 6.7 million regular viewers (many across the political and cultural divides), and provides coverage not found anywhere else in the US.
Link is the only US provider of Al Jazeera English, broadcasts Amy Goodman's Democracy Now! daily, and has won a Peabody Award for its Middle East news program, Mosaic.
At the start of this past fiscal year, Link was facing enormous fiscal challenges. In just 10 months, Link has restructured, substantially reduced its deficit, and has secured almost to $2 million in viewer support (from a membership base of nearly 50,000. Do consider joining if you're not currently a member).
In four weeks, Link TV closes its fiscal year, and is just $250K shy of its goal. We are making a donation by July 1, and are asking that you do as well. Success of this Year-End Campaign will launch Link forward to build on its incredible and unique assets.
In the coming year, Link is exploring delivery of content via an iPad application, is launching a new ³semantic² tagging technology for global news aggregation, and is soon to air LinkAsia, an original international news program, debuting this summer. Also see their remarkable documentary library ‹ perhaps the best in the world on subjects that matter – http://www.viewchange.org/ and their new Beta version of the Link news player http://news.linktv.org — an innovative tool that allows access to sources/connections to documentaries and the news ‹ a classroom at our fingertips.
A recent audience survey notes that 60% of Link's viewers are young people, ages 18 to 34. So your support connects these up and coming leaders with compelling, issue-driven media with diverse perspectives that serves them and all of us in an increasingly shrinking world.
You can give on-line today at https://www.linktv.org/contribute?hmb Or mail a donation to Link TV at 901 Battery Street, Ste 308, San Francisco, CA 94111.
We are deeply grateful for your consideration of Link, and if you have any questions, please contact Sara Leedom, Director of Development at sleedom@linktv.org or 415-248-3950, ex 103.
Thank you for joining with us to help Link end this fiscal year strong!
Very best,
John and Margo
