Trinity Broadcasting Network
television network | ||
Country | United States | |
---|---|---|
Broadcast area | Worldwide | |
Headquarters | Tustin, California | |
Programming | ||
Language(s) | English | |
Picture format | ||
Ownership | ||
Owner | Trinity Broadcasting of Texas, Inc. (a non-profit church corporation) | |
Key people |
| |
History | ||
Founded | 1973 | |
Launched | 1973 | |
Founder | Digital media receiver Amazon Fire TV | |
Watch TBN | Watch live (Free account required) |
The Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN; legally Trinity Broadcasting of Texas, Inc.) is an international
TBN owns and operates six broadcast networks, each reaching separate demographics. In addition to the main TBN network, TBN owns
History
The Trinity Broadcasting Network was co-founded as the Trinity Broadcasting Systems in 1973 by
Initially, the station ran Christian programs for about six hours a day, expanding its programming to 12 hours a day by 1975, and began selling time to other Christian organizations to supplement its local programming. The station eventually instituted a 24-hour schedule in 1978.
The fledgling network was so weak in its first days, that, according to Crouch in his autobiography, Hello World!, it almost went bankrupt after just two days on the air. TBN began national distribution through cable television providers in 1978. The ministry, which became known as the Trinity Broadcasting Network, gained national distribution via communications satellite in 1982. The network was a member of the National Religious Broadcasters association until 1990.
In 1977, the ministry purchased KPAZ-TV in Phoenix, Arizona, becoming its second television station property. During the 1980s and 1990s, TBN purchased additional independent television stations and signed on new stations around the United States; the purchase of the existing stations was done in order to gain cable carriage, due to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)'s must-carry rules. TBN's availability eventually expanded to 95% of American households by early 2005.[10]
Broadcast outlets
TBN owns 35 full-power television stations serving larger metropolitan areas in the United States; at its peak, the network also owned 252
Many of TBN's stations are owned by the ministry outright, while others are owned through the subsidiary Community Educational Television, in order to own stations that TBN cannot acquire directly due to FCC ownership limits (which restrict companies from owning stations with a combined market reach of 39% of the United States), or are allocated for educational use and require additional programming to comply with that license purpose. TBN's programming is available by default via a national feed distributed to cable and satellite providers in markets without a local TBN station (this contrasts with the major commercial networks, which under FCC regulations, allow providers to import an owned-and-operated or affiliate station from a nearby market if no local over-the-air affiliate exists).
Worldwide, TBN's channels are broadcast on 70 satellites and over 18,000 television and cable affiliates. The TBN networks are also
During 2010, citing economic problems and a lack of donations, TBN closed down and sold many of its low-powered television repeaters. Of those, 17 were sold to another Christian television network,
Another 151 translators were donated to the Minority Media and Television Council (MMTC),
On October 22, 2012, TBN acquired WRBJ-TV in Jackson, Mississippi from Roberts Broadcasting. Following FCC and bankruptcy court approval on January 17, 2013,[26] TBN officially took over operational control of WRBJ on May 24, 2013, dropping all secular and CW network programming and converting it into a full-time satellite of TBN (the network was previously available in the Jackson area on WJKO-LP, which was later sold to Daystar).[27]
On July 8, 2013, TBN announced an affiliation with the
In December 2023, TBN announced a distribution partnership with Phil McGraw's new venture Merit Street Media.[29]
Digital television
The signals of TBN's television stations are multiplexed into digital subchannels, which carry additional networks operated by the organization. These subchannels typically include:
- worship music programming. The network previously had an output deal with Australia's Hillsong Church[30][31]until 2022
- Smile (DT3), a channel which carries children's Christian programming.
- TBN Enlace USA (DT4), a localized feed of the Costa Rica-based Spanish-language Christian broadcaster Enlace.
- Christian films.
Programming
Overview
TBN produces a variety of original Christian programs, such as gospel music concerts, live coverage of major Christian events, talk shows, health/fitness/nutrition programs with Christian family doctors, children's programs, contemporary Christian music videos, marriage enrichment series, holiday specials, Christian dramas, and full-length, family-oriented movies.[32] In addition, the network airs local religious programming on each of their feeds.
The network's flagship program Praise is hosted by various regular and guest hosts, including TBN president Matt Crouch and his wife Laurie Crouch. It features interviews with celebrities, ministers, and laypeople discussing faith-based topics and their personal relationship with God; as well as musical performances from gospel and contemporary Christian artists. The program originated as Praise the Lord, was regularly hosted by TBN founders Paul and Jan Crouch, and was originally two or three hours long. Until 2017, local versions of Praise the Lord were produced by TBN owned-and-operated stations and affiliates in order to fulfill public affairs content guidelines.[citation needed]
Children's programming
TBN runs
Regularly scheduled shows
- Source:[34]
- Classic Billy Graham Crusades
- Changing Your Life with Gregory Dickow
- Changing Your World with Creflo A. Dollar
- Destined to Reign with Joseph Prince
- End of the Age with Irvin Baxter, Jr.
- Equip and Empower with Christine Caine
- Enjoying Everyday Life with Joyce Meyer
- Gospel Truth with Andrew Wommack
- Grace with Max Lucado
- Harvest with Greg Laurie
- Hour of Power
- In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley
- Joel Osteen Ministries
- John Hagee Today
- Kingdom Connection with Jentezen Franklin
- Leading the Way with Michael Youssef
- Life Today with James Robison
- Living Proof with Beth Moore
- Manna-Fest with Perry Stone
- The Potter's Touch with Bishop T. D. Jakes
- Power Point with Jack Graham
- Praise (flagship program; various hosts)
- The 700 Club (hosted by Gordon P. Robertson)
- Touching Lives with Dr. James Merritt
- Turning Point with David Jeremiah
- Winning Walk with Ed Young Sr.
Personalities featured on TBN
Movies
Since 2009, TBN has broadcast feature-length religious- and/or inspirational-themed films; these films air primarily on weekend evenings (with films based on biblical stories most commonly airing on Sundays), with more contemporary films – which often incorporate moral lessons, faith-based lessons or a combination thereof, and are commonly targeted at youth audiences – airing on Saturday nights as part of the network's "preview" block of JUCE TV programs and intermittently on Monday through Fridays during the late-afternoon and overnight hours.
Films produced by or for TBN have included The Revolutionary and The Revolutionary II (based on the life of
TBN also broadcasts films from other production companies on its main network and some of its sister networks (in particular, JUCE TV and Smile of a Child TV in the U.S.). One notable film was Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, which had its television premiere on TBN on April 17, 2011. TBN presented the film with much of the graphic violence included (due to its depiction of the events leading to and including the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as illustrated in Biblical teachings); as a result, TBN assigned a "TV-MA-V" rating for the film – a rarity for many Christian networks.[37][38]
TBN HD
On December 15, 2009, the Trinity Broadcasting Network became the first Christian television network to broadcast completely in
Charitable and humanitarian initiatives
Smile of a Child Foundation
The Smile of a Child Foundation is a compassion-focused ministry, founded in 2005 by TBN co-founder Jan Crouch initially as a vehicle to reach the children of Haiti, providing food, medical care, toys and disaster relief to people in need. Crouch has over 20 years of personal involvement with the island country, having established a children's hospital, an orphanage and a school in Haiti. TBN spent millions in donations and other funding on these humanitarian projects.[40]
Following the January 12, 2010, Haiti earthquake, TBN made immediate contributions of $100,000 through Lake Charles, Louisiana-based Friend Ships, which speeds emergency relief aid and medical expertise all over the world in its fleet of dedicated cargo/ministry ships.[41] Friend Ships has been partnering with TBN and Smile since 1992, Paul Crouch personally donated a Bell 206 Jet Ranger helicopter to the humanitarian organization.
In May 2009, the United Nations officially recommended the Smile of a Child Foundation to receive special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council for the Democracy Coalition Project.[42]
Attractions
Trinity Music City
Trinity Christian City International
Trinity Christian City International was a complex in Costa Mesa, California, which served as the headquarters for TBN as well as a tourist attraction. On March 3, 2017, it was announced by The Christian media network that Trinity Christian City International had been sold to Greenlaw Partners, because TBN now finds its campus "obsolete". A sales price was not disclosed.[45] On April 12, 2017, it was revealed that the sales price was $18.25 million.[46]
Holy Land Experience
In June 2007, TBN purchased the bible-themed adventure park Holy Land Experience in Orlando, Florida, for $37 million.[47][48]
Controversies
Theology
Trinity Broadcasting Network had previously come under heavy criticism for its promotion of the
TBN has always broadcast programming featuring Protestant pastors who are not into the prosperity gospel, such as
Wealth and transparency
TBN is a
Another charity watchdog group, Ministry Watch, gave TBN an "F" in 2011 for its failure to provide financial statements, lack of timeliness in responding to correspondence, and its lack of clarity in the provided information. As a result, TBN was placed on the group's alert list annually since 2009.[55][56]
TBN's annual financial information is monitored by the
In 2011, Paul Crouch, Jr. resigned from his position as co-vice president on TBN. On November 10 of that year, Crouch, Jr. joined The Word Network as its Director of Project Development.[58]
In February 2012,
Lawsuits
In September 2004, the Los Angeles Times reported that Paul Crouch had paid former TBN employee Enoch Lonnie Ford a $425,000 formal settlement to end a
In late 2003, Ford attempted to
In June 2012, the
Pre-emption of programs due to criticism of other religions
In June 2011, TBN refused to rebroadcast an episode of Jack Van Impe's weekly program Jack Van Impe Presents, in which the evangelist criticized pastors Rick Warren and Robert Schuller for participating in interfaith conferences alongside Muslim leaders. Both Warren and Schuller denied the accusations.[71] Paul Crouch defended TBN's decision, stating that it was against network policy for personalities to attack each other on-air[72] (Schuller had a regular show on TBN). As a result, Jack Van Impe Ministries announced that it would no longer air Van Impe's program on TBN.[73]
Travel the Road in Afghanistan
TBN produces and airs the Christian
Scott defended the trip to Afghanistan, telling ABC, "It wasn't like we were hiding in the back saying we're going to preach. [The military] knew what we were doing. We told them that we were born again Christians, we're here doing ministry, we shoot for this TV station and we want to embed and see what it was like. We were interviewing the chaplains and we talked to them. We spoke at the services and things like that. So we did do our mission being over there as far as being able to document what the soldiers go through, what it's like in Afghanistan. So I could say that we were on a secular mission as well as far as documenting. I would say we were news reporters as well, we were delivering news of what was actually happening there, but we were also there to document the Christian side." Scott argued that since the pair were acting as Christian journalists, they had the same right to cover the war in Afghanistan as secular networks.[74]
Awards and honors
- 2008: Parents Television Council Entertainment Seal of Approval[32]
See also
- Christian Broadcasting Network
- Daystar Television Network, another Christian television network which features many of the same programs
- Glorystar
- Well to Hell hoax
References
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- ^ "Heavenly success: TV's largest religious network continues to expand around the world, while adding shows aimed at reaching a much wider audience. (30th Anniversary)". Multichannel News. May 26, 2003. Archived from the original on November 4, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
- ^ Elaine Woo (December 2, 2013). "Paul Crouch dies at 79; founder of the Trinity Broadcasting Network". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
He bought more television stations, then piled on cable channels and eventually satellites until he had built the world's largest Christian television system...
- ^ Kalfus, Marilyn. (March 3, 2017). "Trinity Broadcasting Network announced Friday that it has sold its landmark campus along the 405 on Bear Street in Costa Mesa". Orange County Register website Retrieved March 6, 2017.
- ^ "NOV. 6 - 12, 2010 Program". Trinity Broadcasting Network. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
- ^ "TBN Films". Trinity Broadcasting Network. Retrieved November 11, 2010.
- ^ Colby May, tbn.org, MATTHEW CROUCH NAMED CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE TRINITY BROADCASTING FAMILY OF NETWORKS, USA, September 8, 2015
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- ^ Mark Ward Sr., The Electronic Church in the Digital Age: Cultural Impacts of Evangelical Mass Media [2 volumes]: Cultural Impacts of Evangelical Mass Media, ABC-CLIO, USA, 2015, page 206
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- ^ "TBN losing LPTV stations in Minnesota and North Dakota and Wisconsin". Rapture Forums. March 30, 2010. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011 – via Northpine.com.
- ^ "Asset Purchase Agreement: Trinity Christian Center Of Santa Ana, Inc. / Trinity Broadcasting Of Arizona, Inc. (Sellers) and Regal Media, Inc. (Buyer)". Federal Communications Commission.
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- ^ Steinberg, Brian (December 6, 2023). "Dr. Phil Will Team With Trinity Broadcasting to Launch New TV Network". Variety. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ "Hillsong Launches 24/7 TV Channel Featuring Music, Bible Teaching". ChristianHeadlines.com. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
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Give, and it will be given to you. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken down, and running over will be put into your lap, because you will be evaluated by the same standard with which you evaluate others.
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- ^ a b Erik Eckholm (May 4, 2012). "Family Battle Offers Look Inside Lavish TV Ministry". The New York Times.
- Orange County Register(OC Watchdog).
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External links
- Official website
- Trinity Broadcasting Network on YouTube
- Income Statement from Charity Navigator
- Summary Report from Ministry Watch
- Modern Day Heroes of Faith, an analysis of technology and religion on TBN.