CBN starts 24/7 OTA news channel

[tested]

The Christian Broadcasting Network is launching a 24/7 news channel. It starts with 15 stations and hopes to add more.
While I'm not real keen on the idea of CBN doing this, I've seen enough of their work to know that it's fairly well produced and covers a wide range of topics.
The digital OTA market has lacked a 24/7 news channel. This may not entirely fill that need. It will also be available on OTT devices and their app.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-rel...stian-perspective-on-october-1-300722100.html

 

[Mgomrjsurf]

KAJF meaning Accuweather needs a new home.

 

[gr8oldies]

"Asked about the latest developmemts, Jesus said "vote Republican".

 

[Megatron]

700 Club 24/7 with Pat Robertson being the news anchor since he owns CBN.

 

[umfan]

Good deal. In my market, on a channel I can receive. I will be tuning in!

 

[FreddyE1977]

It will be interesting to see if they can make a go of this.
All News Channel was available on a 24/7 OTA basis in some places back in the 90's
(Mansfield, Ohio comes to mind). It didn't succeed.

 

[Channel 83]

The Christian Broadcasting Network is launching a 24/7 news channel. It starts with 15 stations and hopes to add more.
While I'm not real keen on the idea of CBN doing this, I've seen enough of their work to know that it's fairly well produced and covers a wide range of topics.
The digital OTA market has lacked a 24/7 news channel. This may not entirely fill that need. It will also be available on OTT devices and their app.

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-rel...stian-perspective-on-october-1-300722100.html

I remember Pat Robertson as having said on-air, (possibly as far back as the late 70's / early 80's)...was that one of his visions for CBN was that it could one day be a Christian alternative to the BBC.

From what little CBN news coverage I've seen over the years, I would agree that the production values and presentation seems very well done. As to whether or not I agree with the content...

Well...I suppose if Al-Jazeera can be on TV, why not CBN. I've always thought more voices are always better than fewer voices!

 

[TheBigA]

I've always thought more voices are always better than fewer voices!

At some point, everyone will be talking and no one will be listening.

As it is with radio, access is no longer exclusive. The real challenge will be attracting an audience.

And also as we've seen with radio, the audience for this is built-in.

 

[umfan]

I remember Pat Robertson as having said on-air, (possibly as far back as the late 70's / early 80's)...was that one of his visions for CBN was that it could one day be a Christian alternative to the BBC.

From what little CBN news coverage I've seen over the years, I would agree that the production values and presentation seems very well done. As to whether or not I agree with the content...

Well...I suppose if Al-Jazeera can be on TV, why not CBN. I've always thought more voices are always better than fewer voices!

I agree with your analysis. CBN Newscasts and the '700 Club' do have very good production values. Another resource for news instead of infomercials is useful. Considering how poorly informed some posters here are, there is a need for this.

 

[Groove1670]

For the Family Channel/Freeform (or whatever ABC is calling it now). CBN hgets a mandatory hour or two that airs daily as part of the original sales agreement.

 

[CTListener]

For the Family Channel/Freeform (or whatever ABC is calling it now). CBN hgets a mandatory hour or two that airs daily as part of the original sales agreement.

Now that's an ironclad contract! The people running Family/Freeform over the years since Robertson's group sold it have, almost certainly, wished they could get that ratings killer out of their prime time schedule, but here we are many years later and it's still there, a reliably entertainment-free break plopped into the middle of a mass-appeal entertainment lineup.

 

[zeebre12]

It's a wonder CBS and ABC don't add their news channel CBSN and ABC News Live as subchannels on their O&O stations? I know the intend to have them as streaming channels but surely it would be another platform to view them.

 

[TheBigA]

It's a wonder CBS and ABC don't add their news channel CBSN and ABC News Live as subchannels on their O&O stations? I know the intend to have them as streaming channels but surely it would be another platform to view them.

I think they view the whole sub-channel thing as trying to hold on to an old technology. The whole broadcasting thing is too expensive and too outdated. My sense is that ABC in particular can't wait to get ride of the towers and transmitters.

NBC Universal, on the other hand, was an early believer, and devoted resources to programming for subchannels.

 

[LKellerIII]

NBC Universal, on the other hand, was an early believer, and devoted resources to programming for subchannels.

Well, yeah. NBC Universal is owned by Cable Town...uh...Comcast.

 

[TheBigA]

Well, yeah. NBC Universal is owned by Cable Town...uh...Comcast.

NBC began its subchannel programming before the sale.

 

[LKellerIII]

NBC began its subchannel programming before the sale.

But Comcast bought their controlling interest in NBCU (51%) in 2009. That's a lifetime in the fast moving world of high-tech. So back before 2009, NBC might have thought sub-channels were a great idea. Nine years later, not so much.

What's ironic to me, is that when I had Comcast, they offered almost no sub-channels on their cable lineup. Then I switched to DirecTV, and they offered quite a few.

 

[MarcB]

Now that's an ironclad contract! The people running Family/Freeform over the years since Robertson's group sold it have, almost certainly, wished they could get that ratings killer out of their prime time schedule, but here we are many years later and it's still there, a reliably entertainment-free break plopped into the middle of a mass-appeal entertainment lineup.

There are a few days a year during their 25 days of Christmas programming block where The 700 Club ends up only airing at 3AM Eastern on Freeform. (Normally it's on 930AM-11AM and 11PM-Midnite). It's also complete BS that The 700 Club is on at least a half dozen other networks besides Freeform. (Like all the other religious crap). Plus it still airs OTA in some markets.

They also air a big disclaimer before the 930AM showing. "FREEFORM IS TAKING A BREAK. WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT SEE."