High spiritual community TBN to broaden focus, add faith-friendly life-style programming

The nation’s prime faith-based satellite tv for pc/cable channel — TBN —  is refocusing to satisfy the evolving wants of its viewers and can supply viewers “more than just pulpit ministry,” says its director of content material and improvement.

The 50-year-old community will produce extra applications just like the nightly “Centerpoint” newscast, a weekly discuss present with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and a monetary recommendation present by Dave Ramsey, stated Tom Newman, TBN’s content material boss for eight years.

Special applications that includes Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and British adventurer Bear Grylls are engaging to TBN viewers, “but they also want to hear something about their faith,” Mr. Newman stated.

However, exhibits that includes evangelical broadcasters will proceed to air for less than a interval after their deaths, he stated, noting that TBN has aired the Rev. Charles Stanley’s syndicated program, “In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley,” since his demise in April.

“Charles Stanley was a champion. He was a giant among giants in what he did and what he accomplished. You know, his own son Andy Stanley’s doing a great job,” Mr. Newman stated. “But there’s other folks out there that it’s their time. So we look at that passing as a time that we want to make sure that there’s a time to celebrate and the time to glean from that.”

The TBN government stated those that want to view Stanley’s outdated applications “can find a steady diet” of his messages through the web and video streaming companies.

“TBN will always remain true to its core” of faith-based programming and can develop ancillary channels “into some things that will be more Christian lifestyle” together with ministry-related exhibits, Mr. Newman stated.

Founded because the Trinity Broadcasting Network in 1973, TBN now includes greater than 30 broadcast retailers and has an estimated 2 billion potential every day viewers. Nielsen Media Research ranks TBN because the “most-watched” religion channel within the U.S.

“We’re growing in unique audience viewers each month,” Mr. Newman stated.

News programming from a Christian perspective will improve in significance in coming months, he stated.

TBN’s 2022 launch of “Centerpoint,” a five-nights-per-week newscast, was a major step for the community. On May 22, Lyndsay Keith, a former Newsmax co-host, took over the anchor’s chair.

Ms. Keith stated in an announcement that the transfer is “a great opportunity to cover the news with the goal of equipping viewers to have a better understanding of issues that matter to them.”

Mr. Newman stated that providing information programming that respects viewers’ religion is vital.

“We’re going to expand our news outlets, especially as we head into 2024,” he stated. “We feel that the nation’s at a critical juncture, and we want to be able to cover things … [in] more of a fair and equitable position that also offers people hope.”

Presenting a hopeful message is a core objective for TBN, he stated, including that a lot of these calling in for prayer and counsel accomplish that at sudden occasions.

“It’s amazing that so many people are hurting every day in this country,” he stated. “Between midnight and 4 in the morning, the [number] of people that tune in to TBN who are just looking for comfort for peace, to be able to rest — it’s an amazing journey.”