Contact: Susan M. Zahn, WDC Media PR, 877-862-3600, 530-963-3496, SusanZahn@wdcmedia.com, Office@wdcmedia.com

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 11 /Christian Newswire/ -- Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), the world's largest religious network and America's most-watched faith channel, announced its second annual INNOVATE! Program Challenge.
 
The INNOVATE! contest inspires producers to rise to the top of their craft by submitting fresh, original ideas for high quality programming to air on TBN's four specialized networks – Smile of a Child, for viewers age 2 to 12; JCTV, for teens and young adults age 13 through 29; the Church Channel, for viewers who enjoy worship, teaching, and preaching; and TBN Enlace USA, for Hispanic viewers.
 
"TBN viewers have come to expect thought-provoking, well-written, and spiritually-charged programming that entertains and positively influences their lives," says Paul Crouch, Jr., Chief of Staff at TBN. "Last year's INNOVATE! contest confirmed to us just how much hidden talent is out there, just waiting to be uncovered," said Crouch.
 
Last year's INNOVATE! winners, Tim and Carla White of Touch Studios, produced a powerful, funny, and engaging, thirty-minute animated video about friendship and forgiveness. The program, We Stick Together Like Glue, brought joy to TBN's Smile of a Child viewers.
 
The overwhelming response to INNOVATE! 2007 inspired TBN to give plenty of advance notice for this year's contest, in order to afford prospective producers the time to submit their programs by mail or in person.  
 
INNOVATE! Program Challenge 2008 contest winner(s) will be unveiled by Crouch on TBN's popular Behind the Scenes program (date to be announced).  The winning program(s) will première on TBN and then begin airing on one or more of TBN's digital networks, which are picked up around the globe and seen by millions.
 
"TBN's unique brand of inspirational programming continues to fill an ever-increasing world-wide demand for powerful, engaging, faith and family-friendly content," says Crouch. "The TBN family of networks is continuously on the lookout for programs that will capture the imagination of our viewers, who have come to expect the very best offerings in faith and family-friendly fair."
 
"Producers wishing to submit programs can do so in two ways," says Amy Fihn, TBN's Cable Affiliate Promotion Manager. "Attendees of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention in Las Vegas, which runs April 14th through 17th, are invited to submit DVDs of their programs in person at the Technologies for Worship Pavilion in the Central Hall at the TBN Networks booth, C11445." 
 
Those who bring their programs in person to NAB will have a unique opportunity to discuss their pre-produced show with a TBN program executive. NAB attendees are encouraged to set up meetings with TBN program executives in advance by emailing Joan Higley at jhigley@tbn.org.  
 
Producers not attending the NAB can submit their program on DVD to The Ultimate TBN Networks Program Challenge, 2442 Michelle Drive, Tustin, CA 92780, by April 30th. For more information visit www.tbnnetworks.com/innovate or www.tfwm.com/innovate.

"In association with the INNOVATE! Program Challenge, Technologies for Worship Pavilion and Conferences is offering a free subscription to Technologies for Worship Magazine," says Fihn. "TBN viewers wishing to sign up for a complimentary issue may do so by visiting http://www.tfwm.com/subscribepromocode, and entering the word INNOVATE! in the promotional code box."  
 
About TBN 
TBN is the world's largest religious network and America's most watched faith network. Each day TBN offers 24 hours of commercial-free inspirational programming that appeals to people in a wide variety of denominations. Beginning in 1973 as a single UHF station in southern California, TBN now reaches every major continent via 65 satellites and more than 12,500 television and cable affiliates worldwide. In the United States, TBN is available to 92 percent of the total households. Its website receives more than 27 million visitors monthly. For more information on TBN, visit www.tbn.org.