Trinity Broadcasting Network to Lead Faith and Family Based Television into High Definition Era
Contact: Carole Marie, WDC Media, 877-862-3600 ext. 2, 303-248-9650, carole@wdcmedia.com; On-Site, Bob Higley, 972-523-3377; Booth 3657
LOS ANGELES, May 7 /Christian Newswire/ -- Trinity Broadcasting Network, America's leader in faith and family-based television programming, has announced it will be the first faith-based television network to offer a dedicated High Definition channel beginning in the fourth quarter of 2007. The announcement comes at the National Cable Show in Las Vegas, where cable operators can discuss with TBN executives the plans to take the network into the HD era.
Photo: The majestic architectural beauty of Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Ca., is showcased on the "Hour of Power" program in HD technology.
"The resolution and clarity of HDTV will enhance our audience's ability to experience the gospel in ways that are not noticeable under current technology," says Paul Crouch, Jr. Vice President of Administration for TBN. "Quite honestly, we see this as an extension of the Great Commission, of being able to deliver the highest quality programming known on earth."
TBN's HD network, according to the network. TBN's HD channel will feature the most popular, highest rated shows and films that have made TBN America's most watched faith network. California-based TV Magic was hired by TBN to transform the network's main production studios in Costa Mesa, CA. The decision to upgrade will help prepare the way for TBN to leap into the future by adding an HD-only channel to its programming lineup.
The power of HD on TBN will also encourage other faith-based programs to embrace the new state of the art. The "Hour of Power," a television ministry of Crystal Cathedral's Robert Schuller in Garden Grove, Ca., has already made the leap into HD and the ministry sees TBN's commitment as extraordinarily positive.
"I'm thrilled that TBN is moving into the wonderful world of High Definition. Once again, Trinity Broadcasting is blazing a cutting edge trail across the airwaves of America and the world – first with their tremendous push onto U.S. cable systems, and now by delivering healthy, positive programming in High Definition," says Jim Penner, Senior Producer for "Hour of Power." "The Crystal Cathedral and its Hour of Power telecast are excited about being a part of this bold new opportunity. I cannot imagine a more stunning image than the Crystal Cathedral, a world renowned architectural masterpiece, presented in High Definition. Congratulations to the TBN family for making this technological leap forward."
"TBN is already America's most requested and most-watched faith-based channel," Crouch said. "Now we are making our ongoing commitment to quality programming perfectly clear by becoming the first faith-based with a 24 hour dedicated HD channel. We are planning to launch an HD-only channel later this year, using programming shot at Costa Mesa and supplied by other HD faith-based programmers. We will still down-convert Praise the Lord and other shows that are staples of our analog channels, but HD-equipped TBN viewers will soon start to enjoy the resolution and clarity of our HD shows as they were meant to be seen."
TBN will be featuring a demonstration of its new TBN HD channel at the National Cable Convention in Las Vegas at the TBN Networks Booth # 3657. "Multichannel providers are encouraged to include TBN HD to their affiliate agreements in order to be able to add TBN's free HD service to their HD packages later this year," says Bob Higley, TBN's Vice President, Affiliate Sales and Marketing.
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.
