Terry Martin, a former member of C-SPAN's Congressional coverage team, who had also worked in local news covering Illinois politics, was selected as the study's Project Director.
The study was guided by a 50-member Blue Ribbon panel, led by former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar and former US Senator Paul Simon.
During the first meeting of the Planning Study's Advisory Board, the name Illinois Channel was selected as the new name for this effort to launch a statewide public affairs network.
During the study other states' efforts were examined, the nonprofit corporation was established under IRS rules, and initial production and distribution was begun.
Among the initial Board members to serve on the new nonprofit were former US Senator Adlai Stevenson, whose father had twice run for President (1952 & 1956), and Illinois newsman Mike Lawrence, who was a confidant of both Gov.
Obama, who was running behind candidate Blair Hull at the time, went on to win the nomination, the seat in the US Senate, and in 2008, was elected the 44th President of the United States.