The Research Channel was an educational television network based at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, and operated by a consortium of leading research and academic institutions who contribute science-related programming to viewers in the United States and in other countries via satellite and cable television.
The University of Washington subsidized the operation of ResearchChannel since its founding, without direct compensation from the ResearchChannel consortium. This including providing all staff time and efforts, satellite uplink, and commodity internet bandwidth.
In March 2010, citing budget issues, the University of Washington informed the ResearchChannel Board that UW end this subsidy; and cease programming and uplinking the channel and maintaining the website. The ResearchChannel board was unable to find a new sponsor and service provider. At midnight on August 31, 2010, ResearchChannel shut down on Galaxy 18, which also shut down broadcast on DishNetwork, Comcast, and other terrestrial broadcast services.