GOD TV

GOD TV is an evangelical Christian media network that started in the UK and is now worldwide. The network has a strong presence in Israel and the US and its main offices are located in Plymouth, England, UK,[2] and Orlando, Florida, US. Regional offices are situated in India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and Australia.

GOD TV
TypeReligious broadcasting
Country
United Kingdom, United States, Israel, India
AvailabilitySatellite worldwide, Cable and Terrestrial in some countries, Online.
HeadquartersJerusalem, Plymouth, Chennai, Orlando
OwnerOwned by several Angel Charities globally. Worldwide broadcast licence is held by Angel Christian Television Trust Inc[1]
Key people
Wendy Alec
Launch date
1995
Former names
Christian Channel Europe, GOD Digital
Official website
www.god.tv www.godtv.com

The network broadcasts non-denominational programming guided by theological positions of the UK Evangelical Alliance. Programming includes Christian leaders from Anglican, Pentecostal, Full Gospel, and Messianic Judaism backgrounds. GOD TV broadcasts 24 hours a day.

GOD TV's original productions have won awards from the Christian Broadcasting Council of the UK. Its schedule has five regional variations: USA; UK & Europe; Africa; Asia and Australasia each with local programming.

GOD TV employs 200 people[3] with Ward Simpson as President and CEO[4] Simpson hosts Today With Ward on GOD TV.

The Plymouth Herald quotes a GOD TV regional director in 2014 as stating that it can reach 262 million homes worldwide including 93 million homes in India.[5]

History
Rory and Wendy Alec in GOD TV's first transmission suite in Newcastle, England.

GOD TV was founded by Rory and Wendy Alec in England in 1995 as the Christian Channel Europe, the Continent's first daily Christian television network. It started broadcasting on 1 October, two hours each day.[6] This increased to seven hours in 1997 and 24-hours in 1999. The 'GOD' logo appeared in 1997 and the Christian Channel was rebranded as the GOD Channel. The GOD Channel became part of the Dream Family Network, later known as GOD Digital and then GOD TV in 2002. The same year GOD TV's broadcast uplink was moved to Israel.[7] This provided for international expansion via satellite and GOD TV was launched across Africa and Asia with new offices in Cape Town and Chennai.

In 2003 a GOD TV office was established in the US in Orlando FL and in 2005 GOD TV launched across Australia and New Zealand. GOD TV launched on DIRECTV, America's largest satellite platform in 2006[8] and opened a new office in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2008. GOD TV also expanded into China during 2008.[9] Further offices were opened in Nairobi and Melbourne in 2009.

Rory Alec was the network's CEO from 1995 to 2014, when GOD TV announced his resignation due to "moral failure."[10] The couple divorced in 2015. Wendy Alec attributed the end of their marriage to Satan leading her husband to have an affair.[11] Wendy Alec took over as President and CEO, a position she held for two years, before appointing Ward Simpson.

In January 2018, GOD TV launched www.godtv.com as a new digital publishing arm of the organization.

Communications scholar Pradip N. Thomas places the history of GOD TV into the larger context of a neo-imperialist project within Christian fundamentalism, comparing GOD TV's Christian Zionist messages to Franklin Graham's travel to wartime Baghdad, which Graham presented as a triumph of Christianity over Islam. Thomas notes that in India, GOD TV provides a platform for a "closing of ranks" among different Indian Christian groups, allowing an expression of Christian unity which is partly a reaction against Hindu nationalism.[12]

Programming

Much of GOD TV's programming caters to a youth audience.[13] The network aims to air 'relevant youth programming' that comprises series and events from leading youth ministries and featuring bands such as Leeland, Switchfoot, Rend Collective, Jars of Clay, Guvna B and Newworldson.

GOD TV publishes content by Exodus International and Focus on the Family that advocates for conversion therapy,[14] the pseudoscientific practice of attempting to change sexual orientation.[15]

GOD TV themed series support causes such as ending Human Trafficking[16] Themed weekends have included The Persecuted Church season and the Refugees #LoveYourNeighbour Season.

GOD TV's original programming includes In Depth interview series and documentaries. The network often features live broadcasts.

Criticism

According to the BBC, GOD TV was criticized by the organizations Pride in Plymouth and Plymouth Humanists for inviting televangelist Andrew Wommack to "publicly preach discrimination towards LGBT people" at an annual gathering in 2015.[17]

David Amsalem, Israeli Minister of Communications, warned GOD TV's Israeli affiliate in May 2020 that it may be in violation of a law against proselytising and risks being shut down.[18] It was later determined to violate said law and was ordered off Israeli airspace a month later in June.[19]

Television satirist and critic Victor Lewis-Smith described GOD TV's programming as "hour upon hour of hate-filled, rabble-rousing, homophobic bigotry, much of it featuring (and funded by) right-wing American evangelists" in 2002.[12]

Regional programming

GOD TV has several specific regions, each with its own regional director and office overseeing local content, distribution and providing viewer services. The regions are: the USA; UK, Europe, Scandinavia and Nordic countries; Africa and East Africa; Asia and the Middle East; Israel; Sri Lanka and Australasia.

United States

GOD TV launched in the US in 2006 on DirecTV. It is also available in some US cities via cable.[20]

GOD TV launched in Orlando, Florida in 2012 via WACX's second subchannel over-the-air; some GOD TV programming is also seen on the station's main schedule.[21] As part of the Orlando launch, the Bay Revival on Tour was broadcast from Calvary Assembly of God in Winter Park with John Kilpatrick, Nathan Morris and Lydia Marrow.[22] The network maintains an office in Orlando.

Europe
GOD TV broadcasting live from Plymouth in 2014

The Angel Foundation is GOD TV's registered charity in Europe and is regulated by the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Based in Plymouth 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."[23] As of 2010 GOD TV was "potentially available to up to 14 million homes in the UK".[24]

Fergus Scarfe is GOD TV's Regional Director for the UK & Ireland, based in Plymouth[25]

GOD TV's programming has won awards from the UK Christian Broadcasting Council, including Best Live Event Programme in 2011 for Angus Buchan's Mighty Men Event[26] and Best Youth Programme for Soul Survivor Extra.[27]

Some European networks carry GOD TV in their satellite and cable television packages in Belgium, France,[28] and Germany.[29]

Africa

Angel Television Africa was established in South Africa in 2002 and GOD TV launched across Africa on 31 May of the same year.[30] Marcél Olivier is GOD TV's Regional Director for Africa and heads up the office in Cape Town. Erastus Maina oversees GOD TV's East Africa Region, with an office in Nairobi.

GOD TV's programming can be accessed across Africa via satellite. It can be watched via ViewSat covering 20 million homes across Sub-Saharan Africa on the IS20 satellite.[31] In Kenya GOD TV is carried on Kiss TV.[32]

Angus Buchan's Mighty Men Conference was transmitted live on GOD TV from South Africa, with 400,000 men in attendance,[33] and evangelist Reinhard Bonnke was filmed live from Nigeria.[34]

Israel
GOD TV Camera Crew on location in Israel.

The network hosts tours to Israel which include visiting Bible sites and staging events that are broadcast worldwide. The largest tour to date was in 2008 with 1,800 tour goers who 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 both Jewish and Christian guests.[35] GOD TV's Arise Zion Tour will take place in 2018 as part of Israel's 70th Anniversary celebrations.

In 2009 GOD TV partnered with the Jewish National Fund (JNF) US$500,000 to plant trees on land said to be 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 communities.[36]

GOD TV's CEO Ward Simpson was in Israel in October 2017 at the invitation of the Israeli government, to address a Christian Media Summit in Jerusalem.[37]

In June 2020, the channel was ordered to shut down for violating the country's laws concerning proselytism.[19]

Asia and Middle East

Angel Christian Charitable Foundation India was founded in 2002 with an office in Chennai headed by Thomas Robinson.[38]

GOD TV can be viewed by cable in cities across India; Indian Television.com includes GOD TV in its list of "best-known spiritual channels."[39] Local programming includes Indian evangelist Sam P. Chelladurai.

GOD TV has broadcast a 'Middle East Special' helping to provide food for beleaguered Christians and Muslims in war-torn Iraq.[40]

Sri Lanka

GTV Lanka Foundation is GOD TV's company in Colombo, with David Nicolle as regional director. Dialog Satellite Television, Sri Lanka Telecom and Apstar Satellite carry GOD TV in Sri Lanka. GOD TV has supported Sri Lankan victims of the Asian tsunami.[41]

Australasia

Angel Christian Television Australia Limited was established in 2005[42] enabling GOD TV to be watched on the Optus D2 satellite.[43] GOD TV's office for this region is in Melbourne and is managed by Wayne Knapman.[44]

Local content in Australia includes series such as Victory Life Church - Margaret Court; PlanetShakers[45] and Brian Houston @ Hillsong TV[46] as well as conferences from Hillsong,[47] Stairway Church, Arise NZ,[48] Influencers and C3 Church.

Corrective Services Queensland has allowed Instal-Life to provide equipment enabling inmates across the state to access GOD TV in their cells. Prisons in Western Australia have also installed GOD TV and it is available in other rehabilitation centres and remote indigenous communities.[49]

The Melbourne office also manages Hong Kong, Macau and Greater China. Macau Cable has been broadcasting the GOD TV signal into Macau since 1 October 2006. GOD TV launched its Greater China service on 16 October 2008[9] and has televised events from China.[50] The Kingdom Culture Conference has aired on GOD TV from Hong Kong.

Charitable work

In Malawi, it cares for HIV/AIDS orphans by supporting Kondanani Children's Village, founded by Annie Chikhwaza.[51] and is involved in various charitable initiatives in Sri Lanka. In the UK it supports Mercy Ministries, a charity helping young women suffering from abuse.

GOD TV has raised funds to help Christians in Iraq at St George's Church in Baghdad, through a Middle East Special.[52] A target of its humanitarian work has been to provide clean water in arid regions of Africa (Kenya and Tanzania) where it has drilled water wells. A community 'Life Center' was built in Tanzania in conjunction with Pat Boone.[53]

Further reading
  • Pradip Ninan Thomas. 2008. Strong Religion, Zealous Media: Christian Fundamentalism and Communication in India. SAGE Publishing India. ISBN 978-81-7829-834-4
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gollark: Presumably, internet, power or server hardware finished.

References
  1. "Mission Statement". GOD TV. Archived from the original on 31 August 2011.
  2. Daly, Patrick. 'GOD TV buys former Land Registry property' - "GOD TV has purchased the former Land Registry property in Burrington Industrial Estate and plans to use it as a base for its European operation." Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine, The Herald (Plymouth), 19 February 2014.
  3. Telford, William.'GOD TV buys former Land Registry property' - "Two hundred people work for GOD TV worldwide, but the core team will be in Plymouth." Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine, The Herald (Plymouth), 30 April 2014.
  4. - "GOD TV founder Wendy Alec just appointed Ward Simpson as CEO. Simpson's installation is being positioned as a 'new season' for the global network.", Jennifer LeClaire Charisma (magazine), Lake Mary, FL, 3 October 2016.
  5. Telford, William (19 February 2014). "GOD TV investment paves way for Plymouth Union Street Development". The Herald (Plymouth). Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015. Mr Scarfe said The channel can reach 262 million homes worldwide, including 92.6 million in India.
  6. "The Christian Channel Europe the first Christian cable TV channel in the UK is now being aired". Cross Rhythms. 1 December 1995.
  7. "'GOD TV' broadcasts from the Holy Land". Charisma. 31 October 2002.
  8. "Europe's "GOD TV" Expands to the United States". Christian Today. 29 September 2005. Europe’s Christian broadcaster GOD TV is scheduled to officially launch in the United States on DirectTV on 6 October 2005.
  9. 'GOD TV debuts in China' - "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. The expansion follows the launch of GOD TV's dedicated Greater China service on 16 October 2008, which is broadcast directly from Jerusalem via two new satellites, providing the entire Far East region with Christian programming.", Christian Today, 20 October 2008.
  10. LeClaire, Jennifer (2 October 2014). "Citing Moral Failure, GOD TV Co-Founder Rory Alec Resigns". Charisma News.
  11. "God TV founder led astray by the devil". Times of Israel. 11 October 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  12. Thomas, Pradip Ninan (2008). Strong Religion, Zealous Media: Christian Fundamentalism and Communication in India. SAGE Publications India. p. 15, 130. ISBN 9788178298344.
  13. '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.
  14. Shannon, Jill (28 July 2011). The Seduction of Christianity: Overcoming the Lukewarm Spirit of the Church. Shippensburg, Pennsylvania: Destiny Image. p. 126. ISBN 0768432596.
  15. "LGBTQ change efforts (so-called "conversion therapy")" (PDF). AMA-ASSN. American Medical Association. 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2020. Underlying these techniques is the assumption that homosexuality and gender identity are mental disorders and that sexual orientation and gender identity can and should be changed. This assumption is not based on medical and scientific evidence.
  16. 'GOD TV, Musicians Partner Against Human Trafficking', Dakota Voice, 29 January 2009.
  17. "'Anti-gay' preacher talk in Plymouth council venue 'unacceptable'". BBC. 19 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  18. Maltz, Judy (5 May 2020). "Israeli Minister Threatens to Shut Down God TV Channel Preaching 'Gospel of Jesus'". Haaretz. Retrieved 8 May 2020.
  19. "Israel orders US-based Christian TV channel off air". The Telegraph. 28 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  20. 'GOD TV Tops 20 Million Homes in the USA' - "Global Christian broadcaster expands its distribution base to several key cities."
  21. '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."
  23. 'Angel Foundation, the' Archived 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine Charities Direct.com
  24. "Business Diary: Where to hear the word of God". The Independent. 12 August 2010.
  25. "GOD TV: Supporting of Carer of the year award at Plymouth Community Awards". The Herald (Plymouth). 7 December 2016. GOD TV is thrilled to be sponsoring the Carer of the Year Award again this year," says Fergus Scarfe, GOD TV Regional Director. In the midst of so much hardship faced by many in our community, it is amazing to see so many wonderful Plymouthians contributing to the daily lives of those in need.
  26. 'Excellent directing from GOD TV. A very special production with excellent teaching from Angus.' Archived 25 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine CBC Media Awards, Best Live Event Programme, Angus Buchan's Mighty Men Event, Gold, The Christian Broadcasting Council of the UK, London
  27. 'A different way to produce a major youth event... exciting, vibrant and beyond the norm.' Archived 25 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine CBC Media Awards, Best Youth Programme, Soul Survivor Extra, Gold, The Christian Broadcasting Council of the UK, London
  28. "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."
  29. 'CHRISTLICHES TV IN DEUTSCHLAND'
  30. 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 .
  31. 'ViewSat Helps GOD TV Expand Audience' - "Whilst GOD TV is a global television network with over 264 million connected homes, GOD TV Africa has been expanding its footprint on the continent to over 20 million connected homes since it was launched in 2002."., InBroadcast International Industry News, 8 January 2015.
  32. - "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."
  33. 'GOD TV to air Angus Buchan men's conference', Christianity Today 23 April 2009
  34. '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.
  35. 'Thousands Gather for GOD TV Israel Tour', Christianity Today 2 November 2007.
  36. '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, 28 December 2010.
  37. Schiavi, N.J. (26 October 2017). "Christian reporters call Israel's media summit a success". Kehila News Israel. Israeli officials were able to connect with leading Christian media personalities. The heads of several large outlets attended the summit including Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) CEO Gordon Robertson, Trinity Broadcasting Network President Matt Crouch, Good TV International Manager Winifred Yeh, God TV CEO Ward Simpson and author Mike Evans who founded Friends of Zion Museum in Jerusalem.
  38. Harsh Kabra. 'God rides the ether as his angels, in many flavours' "Which way do you then look at the likes of God TV? Reveals Thomas Robinson, channel director for Asia and Middle East: "Our channel is about spreading the love of God, helping people find God. It’s not about a religion but about the person Jesus who brings joy and peace into our lives... We respect the varied culture and beliefs of everyone...", Outlook India, 20 October 2003.
  39. 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.
  40. Russ Bravo. 'Christian broadcasting awards celebrate rising standards' "Gold for the best broadcast interview went to God TV’s Middle East Special – Baghdad, where Christians are living under the ever-present threat of suicide bombs. Rory Alec interviewed Canon Andrew White, the Vicar of Baghdad, in a programme described by the judges as “Brilliant, revealing what it is like for Christians to live each day as if it were their last.” The programme was produced and directed by Graeme Spencer, who picked up two other gold awards."
  41. Chathuri Dissanayake 'Buddhist leaders say God TV on Dialog no threat' - "GOD, the evangelical channel of the American New Church is now available to Sri Lankan viewers on request...The God TV Channel has also been involved in the provision of tsunami relief to Sri Lankan victims.". The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka, Sunday, August 05, 2007.
  42. Angel Christian Television Australia Limited is a limited by guarantee Australian public company
  43. Optus D2 at 152.0°E
  44. Wayne is currently the GOD TV Regional Director for Australasia, Hong Kong & Greater China.
  45. Planetshakers on GOD TV
  46. Hillsong Church on GOD TV
  47. Hillsong Conference to broadcast on God TV
  48. Arise Church New Zealand on GOD TV
  49. Instal-Life puts GOD TV into Prisons
  50. GOD TV Airs Ground-Breaking Event from China - Faith News Network
  51. 'GOD TV Celebrates 10 Years in Africa' - "GOD TV also has a strong charitable outreach in African nations. GOD TV supports Kondanani Children's 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.
  52. '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, 7 June 2011
  53. '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, 2 August 2010,
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