When the cable television industry created C-SPAN in 1979, it provided the American people with an unprecedented view into government proceedings. In the past 30 years, the non-profit company has expanded to include three TV channels, a radio station, an online community, a range of educational programs and more.

Today, C-SPAN reaches 97 million homes, with an estimated 39 million individuals watching the station regularly. But when the station began cablecasting three decades ago, it reached only 3.5 million households. And the coverage was far more limited than we see today.

With the broader scope it has developed over the years, C-SPAN has been able to delve deeper into the political process, covering election campaigns, caucuses and conventions, without losing its focus. In an era where many news programs have become more editorial, C-SPAN has remained a tool for transparency in all aspects of government.

The station’s balanced programming is the primary reason viewers continue to tune in, followed close by its live coverage and its coverage that “you can’t find elsewhere,” a recent survey reports.

The Journal & Courier in Lafayette, Ind., compiled an interesting list of stats marking C-SPAN’s impact over the years:

28,603 hours of live debate televised from the U.S. House of Representatives.

26,954 hours of live debate televised from the U.S. Senate.

Over 156,000 hours of programming stored in C-SPAN's video archives since they were established in 1987.

All done while taking zero federeal dollars to support its operations.

Congratulations, C-SPAN. Yours is an achievement the whole industry can be proud of.