Our History

Napa Valley TV has been serving Napa County for over 30 years. Take a journey through our history — from humble beginnings to present day. 

Late 1970s
In the late 1970s, a group of citizens with interests in video production approached the City of Napa & the Napa Valley Unified School District with an idea to start a The City of Napa helped give the formation committee a monetary grant of $4,000 to create a local public access station. The Napa Valley Unified School District provided the group with space in a District building to get started.
1980s
By the early 80’s the then “TV 6” was operating on a shoestring & mainly included school-based programs. On December 30, 1985, they incorporated the station as Napa Public Access Cable Television, or NPACT, as a California Public Benefit Nonprofit Corporation, ID #C1295018 In early 1986 they were granted IRS 501 (c)(3) tax-exempt status, IRS #68-0096506
1990s
In 1991 the new Franchise Agreement with then Viacom Cablevision was signed. Provisions of the new agreement relative to Napa Public Access Cable Television, NPACT, were: Grantee was to make up to two channels available for Napa’s Public, Education, and Government use.

They were also to provide an initial grant of $100,000 for PEG equipment and facility upgrades and a second grant of $200,000, 30 months after signing & upon submittal by NPACT of an operating plan.NPACT began building out a studio in the Napa Unified School District Administrative Offices.
2004
NPACT moved to the Valley Oak High School campus. The space was remodeled to include offices, playback, and a new studio and control room.
2006
NPACT began expanding its services and signed a Franchise Agreement with the City of American Canyon, to provide cable services to American Canyon Residents. NPACT officially made its dba, Napa Valley TV, to include the entire Valley as its service area.
2008
NVTV launched 24/7 Live Streaming and Video on Demand services for all of its programming. NVTV also partnered and signed a Franchise Agreement with the Town of Yountville, which provided cable services to Yountville Residents.
2009
NVTV updated its Franchise Agreements with Partner Cities to reflect the new Digital Infrastructure Video Competition Act (DIVCA) Ordinance enacted by the state of California. NVTV expanded its viewer base by launching TV27 and TV28 on AT&T’s U-Verse television service, which reaches 20+ cities in Northern California.
2010
Rebuilt our studio green screen facility and brought our Control Room Facility up to a more technological standard by implementing Hard-Disk Recording.

After over 10 years of use, we retired our old Analog SVHS record deck and now have a 100% digital, tapeless workflow for our Studio Shows. We also upgraded our staff field equipment to tapeless workflows.
2011
Created our First Annual “Boot Camp” geared for training High School Students at Napa Valley TV

After over 10 years of use, we retired our old Analog SVHS record deck and now have a 100% digital, tapeless workflow for our Studio Shows. We also upgraded our staff field equipment to tapeless workflows.
2012
NVTV once again expanded its viewer base and partnered with the City of St. Helena, which provided cable services to St. Helena Residents.
2013
Napa Valley TV started airing live sports broadcasts from Memorial Stadium. Starting with Vintage High School Soccer in March, this was the first live sports broadcast in Napa Valley TV’s history. We plan to expand to various other sports, including football in the Fall 2013 School year.After over 10 years of use, we retired our old Analog SVHS record deck and now have a 100% digital, tapeless workflow for our Studio Shows. We also upgraded our staff field equipment to tapeless workflows.
2015
Napa Valley TV entered into a Franchise Agreement with the City of Calistoga. Napa Valley TV is proud to now now to be throughout the entire Napa County.
2018
Napa Valley TV underwent a major renovation and rebuilt the TV studio and control room with Ultra High Definition 4K Cameras and Switching equipment.

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