GOD TV is a word of faith Christian media network that started in the United Kingdom. The network's main offices are located in Plymouth, England, UK,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." , The Herald (Plymouth), 19 February 2014. and Orlando, Florida, US. Regional offices are situated in India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, Ghana and Australia.
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.
History
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 and was on air for three hours each day, broadcasting between 4am and 7am. This increased to seven hours (4am to 11am) 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. 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, Florida, and in 2005 GOD TV launched across Australia and New Zealand. GOD TV launched on DIRECTV, America's largest satellite platform in 2006, and opened a new office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 2008. GOD TV also expanded into China during 2008. 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." The couple divorced in 2015. Wendy Alec attributed the end of their marriage to Satan leading her husband to have an affair. Wendy Alec took over as president and CEO, a position she held for two years, before appointing Ward Simpson.
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.
In 2014, the network can reach 262 million homes worldwide including 93 million homes in India and employs 200 peopleTelford, William.'GOD TV buys former Land Registry property' - "Two hundred people work for GOD TV worldwide, but the core team will be in Plymouth." , The Herald (Plymouth), 30 April 2014. with Ward Simpson as president and CEO.- "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, Lake Mary, FL, 3 October 2016.
Programming The network heavily promotes the teachings of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), a neo-charismatic movement, and of Pentecostal Christian minister Paul Cain
In 2008, GOD TV's viewership doubled as it broadcast the Lakeland Revival, with evangelist and faith healer Todd Bentley, nightly. It featured an apostolic alignment ceremony in which NAR leader C. Peter Wagner and other NAR apostles brought Bentley, who they saw as an apostolic leader, under their wing.
Much of GOD TV's programming caters to a youth audience.'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, Lake Mary, FL, 31 July 2005. 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, the pseudoscientific practice of attempting to change sexual orientation.
GOD TV themed series support causes such as ending human trafficking.'GOD TV, Musicians Partner Against Human Trafficking' , Dakota Voice, 29 January 2009. Themed weekends have included The Persecuted Church season and the Refugees #LoveYourNeighbour Season.
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.
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. It was later determined to violate said law and was ordered off Israeli airspace a month later in June.
In 2002, 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".
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.
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. 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. The network maintains an office in Orlando.
Europe
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."'Angel Foundation, the' Charities Direct.com , GOD TV was "potentially available to up to 14 million homes in the UK".
Fergus Scarfe is GOD TV's Regional Director for the UK & Ireland, based in Plymouth Chris Cole – Broadcaster is a trustee of the Angel Foundation.
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'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 and Best Youth Programme for Soul Survivor Extra.'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
Some European networks carry GOD TV in their satellite and cable television packages in Belgium, France, and Germany.'CHRISTLICHES TV IN DEUTSCHLAND'
Africa
Angel Television Africa was established in South Africa in 2002 and GOD TV launched across Africa on 31 May of the same year.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 . 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.'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. In Kenya, GOD TV is carried on Kiss TV.
Angus Buchan's Mighty Men Conference was transmitted live on GOD TV from South Africa, with 400,000 men in attendance,'GOD TV to air Angus Buchan men's conference', Christianity Today 23 April 2009 and evangelist Reinhard Bonnke was filmed live from Nigeria.'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.
Asia
Angel Christian Charitable Foundation India was founded in 2002 with an office in Chennai headed by Thomas Robinson.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.
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."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. 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.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."
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.'Thousands Gather for GOD TV Israel Tour', Christianity Today 2 November 2007. GOD TV's Arise Zion Tour took place in 2018 as part of Israel's 70th Anniversary celebrations.