GOD TV
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| Type | Satellite & Cable television network |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom, United States, Israel |
| Availability | Worldwide |
| Founded | by Rory Alec Wendy Alec |
| Slogan | "The Revolution Has Begun!" |
| Owner | Owned by several Angel Charities globally. Worldwide Broadcast Licence is held by Angel Christian Television Trust Inc[1] |
| Launch date | 1995: Christian Channel Europe (CCE) 1997: GOD Channel 2002: GOD TV |
| Official website | www.god.tv |
GOD TV is an international Christian television broadcaster that transmits the GOD Channel worldwide from Jerusalem.[2]
The GOD Channel’s Free-to-air (FTA) signal is carried via multiple satellites 24-hours-a-day providing programming at no charge to viewers. This ranges from Bible teaching to motivational seminars, youth concerts, live events and fund raising.
GOD TV was founded by Rory Alec and Wendy Alec in the UK in 1995. It now operates globally via seven regional offices in the USA, UK, Europe, Scandinavia, Africa, Asia and Australasia, with a global tranmission centre in Israel.
GOD TV claims a viewership nearing half a billion people.[3] Its mission states "With a servant's heart we will equip His Body to reach the lost through media. This ministry exists to enable every television household to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ so that they may believe in Him, call upon His name, and be saved."[4]
GOD TV is owned by several Angel Charities internationally; its worldwide Broadcast Licence is held by Angel Christian Television Trust Inc, a US not for profit corporation; and its charities adhere to the UK Evangelical Alliance Basis of Faith.[5]
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[edit] Early History
GOD TV commenced broadcasting in the United Kingdom on 1 October 1995, initially as the Christian Channel Europe (CCE), and became Europe’s first daily Christian Network.[6] It began in Rory & Wendy Alec's home in London, broadcasting one hour a day, but grew to seven hours, then to 24-hours covering the European continent.
In 1997 The Independent newspaper described Rory and Wendy Alec as "the new faces of religious broadcasting.” [7] and the name of the network changed to The GOD Channel. In 2002 it became known as GOD TV and the network's broadcast headquarters moved to Israel. Since then the network has grown exponentially and now broadcasts worldwide.
[edit] Programming content
The GOD Channel's 24-hour schedule includes Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, John Hagee, Mike Bickle, Rick Joyner, TD Jakes, Andrew Wommack, Chuck Missler, Sam P. Chelladurai, Brian Houston, as well as John Kilpatrick and Nathan Morris (evangelist) of the Bay Revival
The GOD Channel schedule is the same worldwide, time-shifted for each region:[8] with some local programming. The network can be watched worldwide via satellite, cable, IPTV, terrestrial transmission and online via the Internet.
The GOD Channel features live broadcasts, including worldwide satellite link-ups such as the Global Day of Prayer, founded by Graham Power where GOD TV broadcast from South America for the first time in 2009.[9]
GOD TV’s programming sometimes supports causes such as making a stand against human trafficking [10] or benefit concerts to raise funds to drill water wells in Africa.[11]
Much of GOD TV's programming caters for a youth audience [12] with LIVE broadcasts from teen events like Acquire the Fire, Soul Survivor (charity) and Live Audacious, and concerts featuring Christian bands such as Delirious? (disbanded in 2009), Leeland and Switchfoot.
Charisma magazine reported in January 2011 that GOD TV's theme for 2012 is 'Conquer Your Mountain' an ambitious initiative whereby GOD TV CEO Rory Alec will lead a group of climbers up Mount Kilimanjaro in January 2013. This will be televised live for several days in a television world first.[13]
[edit] GOD TV in the USA
GOD TV launched in the USA in 2006 on the DirecTV satellite platform and can now also be found on the Glorystar Christian Satellite as well as via cable in some cities. About 20 million American homes can now access the GOD Channel in North America.[14]
DirecTV is America's largest satellite platform and the GOD Channel can be found on its channel 365. [15]
Glorystar Christian Satellite Christian Satellite includes the GOD Channel as channel 102. It is also distributed on satellite Galaxy 19 (97W) as a free to air channel providing the GOD Channel as a free service via satellite in the USA, Canada, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
The GOD Channel can be watched in some US cities via cable.[16]
GOD TV's most recent North American launch was in Orlando, Florida on 5 January 2012, when it became available on Channel 55.2 via digital terrestrial transmission. [17] As part of the Orlando launch, the Bay Revival on Tour was broadcast live from Calvary Assembly of God in Winter Park with John Kilpatrick, Nathan Morris and Lydia Stanley. [18]
GOD TV has offices in Washington, D.C.; Orlando, Florida; and Kansas City, Missouri.
American singer, actor and writer Pat Boone endorses GOD TV, and has participated in its work.[19]
[edit] GOD TV in Europe
The GOD Channel can be watched via satellite in the UK on Sky channel 580, and Freesat channel 694.[20] It can also be seen on cable on Virgin Media channel 249 as well as WightCable and Smallworld Cable.
The Angel Foundation is GOD TV's registered charity in the UK and is regulated by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Based at Angel House in Sunderland, England, the Angel Foundation states that it is committed to "the advancement of the Christian religion and education, and the relief of poverty, distress and sickness." [21]
GOD TV is "potentially available to up to 14 million homes in the UK". [22] This includes one million homes added in August 2010 with the network's launch on free-to-air digital satellite platform Freesat.
GOD TV's programming has won several awards from the UK Christian Broadcasting Council, including Best Live Event Programme in 2011 for Angus Buchan's Mighty Men Event [23] and Best Youth Programme for Soul Survivor Extr.a [24]
Some European networks carry GOD TV in their satellite/cable television packages in Belgium, France,[25] Germany,[26] Ireland, Malta, the Netherlands and Scandinavia. The channel is also available through P2PTV service Zattoo. GOD TV has a European Regional Office in Hamburg, Germany and a Scandinavian Regional Office in Denmark.
[edit] GOD TV in Africa
The GOD Channel became available via satellite throughout in Africa in 2002 [27] It is available in Southern Africa via the public bouquet of DSTV and can be watched on the TOP TV satellite platform in South Africa.[28] In December 2011 an agreement was concluded for the terrestrial transmission of the GOD Channel throughout Kenya on KISS TV. [29]
Angus Buchan's Mighty Men Conference has been carried live on the GOD Channel worldwide from South Africa with 400,000 men in attendance.[30] and evangelist Reinhard Bonnke has been filmed live from Nigeria.[31]
GOD TV has an Africa office in Cape Town and an East Africa office in Nairobi, Kenya.
In December 2011 GOD TV hosted its first major Christmas production, entitled 'Christmas With GOD TV' which was recorded in Cape Town and broadcast globally. [32]
[edit] GOD TV in Asia & The Middle East
GOD TV has broadcast from Israel since 2001 where it's global broadcast headquarters is situated in Jerusalem.
The network hosts major tours to Israel, which include visiting Bible sites and staging events that are broadcast worldwide. The largest tour was in 2008 when 1,800 pilgrims toured Israel with GOD TV and attended 'A Celebration of Israel's 60th Anniversary'. Held at the Davidson Center alongside the Western Wall in the Old City, this was attended by Jewish and Christian guests.[33]
In 2009 GOD TV gave the Jewish National Fund US$ 500,000 to plant trees on land inhabited by Bedouin tribes in Israel's Negev region. A coalition of Jewish and Arab human rights groups denounced the project, accusing GOD TV and the JNF of teaming up to force the Bedouin out of the area to make way for Jewish-only communities.[34]
GOD TV launched in Asia in 2002. The GOD Channel can be viewed by cable in cities across India and Indian Television.com includes the GOD Channel in its list of "best-known spiritual channels."[35]
The network started reaching China in 2008.[36] It can now also be accessed via satellite in Greater China and via cable in Nepal, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong and Macau.[37]
GOD TV's Asia & The Middle East regional office is situated in Chennai, India. Local programming in India includes prominent Indian evangelist, Sam P. Chelladurai
[edit] GOD TV in Australasia
GOD TV launched in Australasia in 2005 [38] and the GOD Channel can be watched on the Optus 3B satellite.[39] GOD TV's Regional office for Australia & New Zealand is situated in Melbourne.
[edit] Charitable Work
Through its network of Angel charities, GOD TV supports humanitarian projects internationally. The organisation sees this as part of its tithe and as a response to James 1:27 - "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress." GOD TV assists children in South Africa through the Jesus Cares Children's Feeding Scheme, an organisation in Rustenburg led by Cliff & Andre Scott and cares for HIV/AIDS orphans by supporting Kondanani Children's Village in Malawi, founded by Annie Chikhwaza. [40] It also supports an orphanage in Sri Lanka and the International Children's Mission in Kenya.
A major recipient of aid from GOD TV is the The Foundation for Reconciliation and Relief in the Middle East and St George's Church in Baghdad, led by Andrew White (clergyman), which was the beneficiary of funds given by GOD TV following its Middle East Special. [41]
In the UK GOD TV supports Mercy Ministries a charity supporting young women suffering from abuse and The Goshen Trust, a charity which assists charities in the UK and abroad.
A target of GOD TV's humanitarian work is providing clean water in arid regions of Africa (Kenya and Tanzania) where it has drilled water wells. A community 'Life Center' has also been built in Tanzania in conjunction with Pat Boone. [42]
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.god.tv/node/1
- ^ Linde, Steve. "Live from Jerusalem, it's GOD TV!", The Jerusalem Post, Jerusalem, 26 May 2007.
- ^ Linde, Steve. 'Live from Jerusalem, it's GOD TV!' - "GOD TV's "global transmission center" in Jerusalem beams up satellite feeds of "a new breed of Christian broadcasting" to some 200 nations and territories 24 hours a day, claiming a potential viewership of up to half a billion people.", The Jerusalem Post, Jerusalem, 26 May 2007.
- ^ "Mission Statement". GOD TV. http://www.god.tv/node/1.
- ^ http://www.god.tv/node/1
- ^ Popham, Peter. 'Putting the Spirit in the Sky' - “Two young charismatic Christians have come out of nowhere and... enabled the televangelists to get a foot inside British television's door. Their names are Rory and Wendy Alec… Their baby is Christian Channel Europe (CCE), and it is the first dedicated Christian channel to cover the continent of Europe.”, The Independent on Sunday, London, 1 October 1995.
- ^ McCann, Paul. "Rory and Wendy Bring God up to date", The Independent, London, 2 December 1997.
- ^ New World Schedule' GOD TV
- ^ 'GOD TV to broadcast Global Day of Prayer live', Christianity Today 25 May 2009.
- ^ 'GOD TV, Musicians Partner Against Human Trafficking', Dakota Voice, 29 January 2009.
- ^ 'Benefit Concert strikes water for Africa' - "Angel Mission Benefit Concert raises funds to drill wells in Kenya as water gushes LIVE from a drilling rig on GOD TV", Angel Mission, 2009.
- ^ '30 Emerging Voices' - "The Alecs... produce programs that are hip and sophisticated for younger viewers who can't stomach most other religious programming. Unless other broadcasters figure out a way to reconnect with younger viewers, it is likely that GOD TV's debut in the United States will send channel surfers in the Alecs' direction.", Charisma (magazine), Lake Mary, FL, 31 July 2005.
- ^ [http://www.charismanews.com/us/32729-god-tv-aims-to-help-viewers-conquer-your-mountain 'GOD TV Aims to Help Viewers Conquer Your Mountain’ - ""GOD TV's theme for this year is Conquer Your Mountain and we are here to serve our viewers and help them to find the breakthrough they're believing for," says Wendy Alec, GOD TV's director of television.
- ^ 'GOD TV Tops 20 Million Homes in the USA', Christian Newswire, 20 July 2009
- ^ [1]
- ^ 'GOD TV Tops 20 Million Homes in the USA' - "Global Christian broadcaster expands its distribution base to several key cities."
- ^ 'GOD TV: What would Jesus watch?'- "GOD TV, a global Christian broadcasting network, today announces that viewers throughout Central Florida can now watch the network on channel 55.2."
- ^ [2]
- ^ Boone, Pat 'Living What We Believe', WorldNetDaily, July 31, 2010.
- ^ [3]
- ^ 'Angel Foundation, the' Charities Direct.com
- ^ [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/business-diary-krugman-sticks-it-to-the-fed-2050081.html 'Where to hear the word of God', The Independent Business Diary, Thursday, 12 August 2010.
- ^ 'Excellent directing from God TV. A very special production with excellent teaching from Angus.' CBC Media Awards, Best Live Event Programme, Angus Buchan's Mighty Men Event, Gold, The Christian Broadcasting Council of the UK, London
- ^ 'A different way to produce a major youth event... exciting, vibrant and beyond the norm.' CBC Media Awards, Best Youth Programme, Soul Survivor Extra, Gold, The Christian Broadcasting Council of the UK, London
- ^ "God TV, la télévision évangéliste, propose une programmation basée sur la foi et la lecture de la Bible. Leur objectif : inviter un milliard d'âmes à assister à des conférences, des débats, de l'enseignement religieux. Aider à mieux vivre sa foi, voilà l'objectif de God TV."
- ^ 'CHRISTLICHES TV IN DEUTSCHLAND'
- ^ Carew, Douglas. 'Switch on to GOD TV - a heavenly new channel' - “South Africans now have satellite access to a TV station named after God, after GOD TV hit the country's television airwaves"., Cape Argus, Cape Town, 31 May 2002 .
- ^ 'TOP TV'
- ^ - "Yesterday saw the conclusion of an agreement between Kiss TV and the world's biggest christian broadcaster, GOD TV... We have come to an agreement with Kiss TV to broadcast only the best content from GOD TV. Kiss viewers will watch GOD TV between 5-9 am every morning."
- ^ 'GOD TV to air Angus Buchan men's conference', Christianity Today 23 April 2009
- ^ 'Christian Television World First for GOD TV' - "America's newest Christian network, GOD TV today announced that it will be screening world-renowned Evangelist, Reinhard Bonnke’s latest mass crusade – LIVE from West Africa to the USA and across the globe next week", 25 May 2007.
- ^ [http://www.christianpost.com/news/god-tv-to-air-christmas-music-event-special-65520/ 'GOD TV will air footage of its Christmas event, which was pre-recorded in Cape Town, South Africa. Some of South Africa’s finest musicians will be shown during their on-stage performances. The Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, joined by these artists, will be performing jazz renditions of Silent Night, Jingle Bells and Oh Holy Night. - "Our Christmas concert in Cape Town blessed all who attended and will touch even more lives when it is broadcast globally on the GOD Channel. This is the first time we've done a Christmas production on a large scale and judging from the response from the audience, viewers are going to love it!"said Rory Alec, one of the founding fathers of GOD TV.
- ^ 'Thousands Gather for GOD TV Israel Tour', Christianity Today 2 November 2007.
- ^ 'Jesus Recruited: God-TV Helps Israel Oust Bedouin.' - "Half a million trees planted over the past 18 months on the ancestral lands of Bedouin tribes in Israel's Negev region were bought by a controversial Christian evangelical television channel that calls itself God-TV.", Palestine Chronicle, 28th December 2010.
- ^ Pherwanieema, Sseema. 'Indiantelevision.com Special Report' "There are millions of viewers across the country seeking salvation via the tube. In an angst driven and time-pressed society, viewers are lapping up the best of what the spiritual channels have to offer. A few years ago, there were just a few of them… Now there are many more - there is Aastha, Sanskar, Sadhana, Jagran, GOD TV , Miraclenet and QTV, to name the better known ones.", 4 June 2005.
- ^ 'GOD TV debuts in China' - “For the past four years, global Christian broadcaster GOD TV has been steadily making inroads into the Far East with daily broadcasts in Hong Kong. But now, in an unprecedented development, millions in China can access GOD TV's mix of Christian programming 24-hours-a-day."., Christianity Today 20 October 2008.
- ^ "This video was made by us for GOD TV to showcase the effect GOD TV has had in the country of India. We have used a concept of a map in 3d, where the protagonist walks through the country as such and points to different locations explaining the reach and progress God TV has made in that area."
- ^ 'Free Christian Satellite TV - Australia and NZ'
- ^ - 'FREE CHRISTIAN SATELLITE TV - Australia and NZ'
- ^ 'GOD TV Celebrates 10 Years in Africa' - GOD TV also has a strong charitable outreach in several African nations. In South Africa it helps feed hundreds of school children daily through Jesus Cares Ministries and it supports Kondanani Childrens’ Village in Malawi, a country of one million orphans. It has assisted with a hydro-electric water project in Zambia and the drilling of several wells to provide clean water to desperate villagers in arid areas of Kenya and Tanzania." Faith That Inspires Action - Posted by Rev. Robert A. Crutchfield.
- ^ 'GOD TV Focuses on the Middle East' - "The GOD TV family will also be praying for the people of the Middle East and extending a hand of compassion by giving a portion of the funds raised through the broadcasts to the persecuted congregation of St Georges Church in Baghdad, Iraq. GOD TV regularly supports these Iraqi believers who are making a bold stand for Christ, and Rory Alec led a GOD TV team to Iraq in May to bring viewers an update on how they are making a difference in people's lives in this war-torn country." Christian Newswire, June 7, 2011
- ^ 'GOD TV Brings Christian Values to Millions' - "I’ve been participating in a fabulous project mounted by GOD TV, the worldwide satellite Christian channel... They’ve launched a gigantic program called “Cape Town to Cairo,” a beautifully conceived plan to drill deep freshwater wells up and down the whole continent of Africa, where people by the millions are languishing without clean water." Pat Boone, Newsmax, Monday, 02 Aug 2010,
