10 years of Christian TV

by

Al Gibson, Central Communications Officer, GOD TV

 

 

It's hard to believe that just 10 years ago there were no Christian TV channels in the UK & Europe, nor was there much chance of obtaining a broadcast licence. What God used Rory & Wendy Alec to pioneer in 1995, in the face of many obstacles, has grown miraculously from broadcasting just two hours a day, to having the GOD Channel and GOD 2 on air around the clock.

 

 

 

 

From its home base in Britain, GOD TV has also expanded to seven different GOD Channel feeds broadcast 24/7 on 15 satellites across more than 200 nations and territories to a potential viewing audience of 275 million people, who can watch via a click of their remote control.

 

As Europe's only Christian television broadcaster with a global presence, GOD TV continues to pioneer Christian television around the globe and the ministry now has offices in the USA, UK, Germany, Scandinavia, Israel, South Africa, India, Hong Kong and Australia.

 

"Great Britain forges ahead with its great missionary call through Christian television," said GOD TV Chief Executive, Rory Alec. "It's such a privilege for our partners and ministry to take the all-powerful Gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations."

 

GOD TV launched the GOD Channel in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year and is currently launching in the USA, where it has studios in Washington DC and an office Florida. Already 21 million homes in India are connected via cable as well as 2 million people in Hong Kong and millions more viewers are able to watch in Africa via satellite and new terrestrial transmitters in Kenya.

 

In the UK & Ireland, the ministry of GOD TV continues to flourish.   The GOD Channel can be accessed via any satellite decoder including Sky, on cable via Telewest, NTL and NTL Ireland and via the Internet. "The UK remains our anchor," says GOD TV's Network controller, "we are very excited about what the Lord is doing in Britain.

 

"Our new studio in Westminster will soon start broadcasting our LIVE current affairs programme with Evangelists J. John and Rob Frost and we know that is going to be a great blessing to our viewers", she says. "We are equally pleased to broadcast the finest British Bible teachers around the globe, bringing balanced international Christian programming to the nations."

 

GOD TV's 10 th birthday will be celebrated on 1 October 2005 with a special LIVE broadcast around the globe from David's Citadel in Jerusalem - the highlight of a 1000 member strong 10 th Anniversary tour, Rory & Wendy Alec are leading to Israel.  

For more information about the GOD TV Israel Tour, visit www.god.tv

 

GOD TV has also recently launched its new 'GODshop' website making Christian books, bibles and music resources much more accessible to believers in the UK & Europe. For more information how you can receive door-to-door delivery of a wide range of materials from featured ministries visit www.godshop.com

 

Christian TV to break the mould

A recent survey, conducted by Sovereign Creative Marketing, into the TV viewing habits of Church members suggests that while almost two thirds of those interviewed had watched Christian TV at some time in the past, only a quarter of them tune into these programmes on a regular basis.
 
The survey, commissioned by Inspiration Network International (INI) who have just launched on Sky channel 678, also invited people to choose the programming that would make up their ideal TV station. The most popular choices were found to be teaching, traditional and modern worship, teens, family and children's programmes plus news and current affairs.
 
So to meet the needs of the viewing public, INI TV are aiming to broadcast a distinct schedule of programmes that will distinguish it from many other networks.
 
As one of the largest Christian TV stations in the USA, its UK broadcasting schedule will be both varied and relevant, including popular inspirational entertainment programmes, music from urban ("I Gospel") to Southern ("Gospel Music Southern Style"), while teenagers will readily connect with "Steelroots" and other original programmes featuring sports and music.  
 
Children will be captivated by "Discovery Jones Expeditions" and "The Bedbug Bible Gang," whilst families and adults alike will find the magazine styled programmes on relationships, health, finance and finance matters both stimulating and challenging.
 
"This announcement culminates more than 10 years of research and planning," said David Cerullo, President and CEO of the Inspiration Networks, "and it is our first step in fulfilling the international scope of our corporate objectives.
 
"Our original programmes have proven immensely popular in the United States and throughout the Caribbean on INSP and i-Lifetv," Cerullo said.  "Many of these will feature on INI, but at the same time, we will be actively introducing programmes with a British flavour so as to appeal to as wide a section of the Church as possible".

 

 

 

 

Some results of the Survey  .

 

 

•   72% of the respondents have watched Christian television at some time in their lives

• 28% have never watched Christian television

 

  Viewing media:

 

• 32% of respondents have Sky  

• 21% of respondents have Freeview  

• 18% of respondents have Cable TV

 

 

Respondents recognised channels as follows:

 

• God TV    .......... 76%
• TBN                     27%
• Inspiration           26%
• Revelation           26%
• Genesis                5%
• Gospel TV          13%
• UCB                     68%
• Daystar                19%

 

 

Likes and dislikes:

 

 

There was little distinguishable pattern of popular programmes. Three names were

quoted more than once: Joyce Myer, The Potters House, Benny Hinn.

Common dislikes are 'OTT preaching', 'Hype' and   'programmes asking for donations'.

 

 Top Ideal programmes

 Preaching         87%

Teaching           63%

Modern worship     65%

Music     58%

News      56%

Current affairs      52%

Kids        48%

Family matters     48%

   

 

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