Q. Who produces the Pentagon Channel? I assume its oursourced to some production company. Which one or ones?
A. The Pentagon Channel was created by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs (OASD(PA))- which also manages its day-to-day operation. Distributed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the Pentagon Channel delivers timely Department of Defense (DoD) news and information to the men and women on active duty in the Armed Forces, those serving in the Reserve and National Guard- as well as retired military people, DoD civilian employees and military family members. A team of government employees, military personnel, and contracted personnel are involved in operating the channel.
Q. What is the cost of producing the Pentagon Channel? I realize the cost of airing it is gratis per Dish and some other providers.
A. $6.5 million dollars have been allotted for operations over a one year period.
Q. Since it is paid for from taxpayer money, what area in the budget specifically is it being allocated from?
A. Pentagon Channel funding was first approved in the Fiscal Year 2004 Defense Authorization Bill. Current funding was approved in the Fiscal Year 2005 Defense Authorization Bill.
Q. Was the Pentagon Channel expressly approved by Congress? If so, which members of the House and Senatae approved it, on what bill(s)?
A. Funding for the Pentagon Channel was contained in the specified auhorization bills approved by the US House of Representatives and the US Senate.
Q. Who is in charge of the Pentagon created Iraq channel? (Producer, etc) Are any of the programs that are shown on the Pentagon Channel in the United States shown on the Iraq Pentagon Channel? (and vice versa)
A. There is only one Pentagon Channel; it is broadcast worldwide, and is not associated with an DoD or US State Department broadcasts intended for viewing by audiences other than those specified above. While the channel draws programming from a variety of sources- principally within the Department of Defense organizations and the military services- its original programming is not shared with broadcasters targeting non-US audiences. Nor does the Pentagon Channel broadcast material created by or for such internationally focused broadcasting organizations.
Q. Who heads the Pentagon Channel? Is there a board and if so, who is on it?
A. The Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs), Mr. Allison Barber leads the Pentagon Channel team, in addition to overseeing all other Internal Communications Initiatives within DoD. As Director of Broadcasting within OASD(PA), Mr. Melvin W Russell, supervises news, operations, and long-term planning. Mr. Chas Henry is the channel's executive producer. All three personnel are civilian employees of the DoD and Messrs Russell and Henry are career civil servants.
Q. Who heads the Iraq Pentagon Channel? Is there a board, and if so, who is on it?
A. As noted, the Pentagon Channel is not associated with any such initiative; the Pentagon Channel staff, therefore, is unfamiliar with the operation of such other organizations.
