Christian Broadcasting Network: Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox broadcasting network
{{Infobox broadcasting network
| name = Christian Broadcasting Network
| name               = Christian Broadcasting Network
| logo = CBN Network logo.svg
| logo               = CBN Network logo.svg
| image = Regent University and CBN.jpg
| image             = Regent University and CBN.jpg
| caption = Sign for CBN and [[Regent University]]
| caption           = Sign for CBN and [[Regent University]]
| type = [[Christian media]] [[television network]]/[[production company]]
| type               = [[Christian media]] [[television network]] / [[production company]]
| country = United States
| country           = United States
| available = International; some shows carried by [[Trinity Broadcasting Network]], [[FamilyNet]], [[Lester Sumrall|LeSEA]], [[Tri-State Christian Television|TCT]], and [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]], as well as through [[broadcast syndication|syndication]]
| available         = International; some programs are carried by [[Trinity Broadcasting Network]], [[FamilyNet]], [[LeSEA Broadcasting|LeSEA]], [[Tri-State Christian Television|TCT]], and [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]], as well as through [[broadcast syndication|syndication]]
| founded = {{start date and age|1960}}
| founded           = {{start date and age|1960}}
| founder = [[Pat Robertson]]
| founder           = [[Pat Robertson]]
| headquarters = [[Virginia Beach]], [[Virginia]]
| headquarters       = [[Virginia Beach, Virginia]]
| owner = The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc.
| owner             = The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc.
| former_affiliations = [[Freeform (TV channel)|CBN Satellite Service]] (1977–1983)
| former_affiliations= [[Freeform (TV channel)|CBN Satellite Service]] (1977–1981)
| key_people = [[Gordon P. Robertson]] ([[chief executive officer|CEO]])<br>Rob Allman ([[news director]])<ref>{{cite web|title=Rob Allman's LinkedIn profile|url=http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rob-allman/9/92/18|publisher=LinkedIn|access-date=January 2, 2014}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=January 2021}}
| key_people         = [[Gordon P. Robertson]] ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])<br>Rob Allman ([[news director]])<ref>{{cite web|title=Rob Allman's LinkedIn profile|url=http://www.linkedin.com/pub/rob-allman/9/92/18|publisher=LinkedIn|access-date=January 2, 2014}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=January 2021}}
| launch_date = {{start date and age|1961}}
| launch_date       = {{start date and age|1961}}
| website = {{URL|cbn.com}}
| website           = {{URL|cbn.com}}
}}
}}


The '''Christian Broadcasting Network''' ('''CBN''') is an American [[Christian media]] production and distribution organization. Founded in 1960 by [[Pat Robertson]], it produces the long-running TV series ''[[The 700 Club]]'', co-produces the ongoing ''[[Superbook (1981 TV series)|Superbook]]'' [[anime]], and has operated a number of TV channels and radio stations. Its headquarters are in [[Virginia Beach]], [[Virginia]], [[United States]].
The '''Christian Broadcasting Network''' ('''CBN''') is an American [[Christian media]] production and distribution organization founded in 1960 by [[Televangelism|televangelist]] [[Pat Robertson]]. It produces the long-running television program ''[[The 700 Club]]'', co-produces the animated ''Superbook'' franchise<ref>{{Cite web |last=Villacin |first=Paige |date=2022-07-05 |title=How a Christian Anime Became One of the Most Successful Collaborations With an American Company |url=https://www.cbr.com/superbook-anime-japanese-american-studio-collaboration/ |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref> (including the original ''[[Superbook (1981 TV series)|1981 series]]'' and its [[Superbook (2011 TV series)|2011 reboot]]), and operates multiple television channels and radio stations. The organization's international headquarters are in [[Virginia Beach, Virginia]]. Since its inception, CBN has been described as being "at the forefront of the [[culture war]]s".<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|author=Tara Isabella Burton|url=https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/8/5/16091740/christian-broadcasting-network-cbn-pat-robertson-trump|title=Understanding the Christian Broadcasting Network, the force behind the latest pro-Trump TV newscast|work=Vox|date=August 5, 2017|access-date=January 13, 2018}}</ref>


CBN has been described as having been "at the forefront of the [[culture war]]s since the network's inception in the early 1960s".<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|author= Tara Isabella Burton|url=https://www.vox.com/identities/2017/8/5/16091740/christian-broadcasting-network-cbn-pat-robertson-trump|title=Understanding the Christian Broadcasting Network, the force behind the latest pro-Trump TV newscast|work=vox.com|date=August 5, 2017 |access-date=January 13, 2018}}</ref>
==Operations==
CBN primarily functions as a [[production company]] for its flagship program, ''[[The 700 Club]]'', and other news and religious programming.<ref name=":0" /> Other syndicated programs include ''CBN NewsWatch'', ''Christian World News'', and ''700 Club Interactive''.<ref>{{cite book|last=Marley|first=David John|title=Pat Robertson: An American Life|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|year=2007|isbn=978-0-7425-5295-1}}</ref>


== Operations ==
''The 700 Club'' began as a local telethon in the 1960s and evolved into a daily religious variety program featuring sermons, interviews, and music. By the late 1970s, the show had incorporated news segments and political commentary, becoming one of the longest-running religious television programs in the United States.<ref name=":0" />
One of the company's mainstays is ''[[The 700 Club]]'', which uses a religious variety program that mixes sermons, interviews, and religious music (such as hymns and gospel).<ref name=":0" /> The name refers to a fundraising drive where Robertson successfully sought 700 viewers willing to contribute $10 a month to sustain the station.<ref name=":0" /> ''The 700 Club'' is the longest-running program in the variety format.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 700 Club {{!}} TCT Network |url=http://www.tct.tv/watch-tct/watch-live/tct-family/the-700-club |access-date=May 3, 2019 |website=www.tct.tv}}</ref> Initially focused on devotional content, ''The 700 Club'' became increasingly political in the late 1970s, adding news segments.<ref name=":0" />


Today, CBN News provides news updates to ''The 700 Club'' and produces religious news and political opinion commentary programs such as ''CBN NewsWatch'' and ''Christian World News''; it also produces a special hour-long block of [[prime time]] election coverage hosted by Robertson during American presidential and mid-term elections, airing on [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]], which also carries ''The 700 Club'' and the half-hour talk show ''700 Club Interactive''. CBN also operates the CBN News Channel.<ref>David John Marley. Pat Robertson: An American Life. {{ISBN|978-0-7425-5295-1}}.</ref>{{page needed|date=January 2021}} The company also produces a version of ''The 700 Club'' aimed at Spanish speaking Americans (''Club 700 Hoy'').
CBN News produces daily and weekly news programming for both Christian and general audiences. It operates the CBN News Channel, launched in 2018, and maintains news bureaus in [[Virginia Beach, Virginia|Virginia Beach]], [[Washington, D.C.]], and [[Jerusalem]].<ref>{{Cite press release |title=The Christian Broadcasting Network Launches CBN News Channel, The First 24-Hour News Channel from a Christian Perspective, on October 1 |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-christian-broadcasting-network-launches-cbn-news-channel-the-first-24-hour-news-channel-from-a-christian-perspective-on-october-1-300722100.html |date=October 1, 2018 |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=PR Newswire}}</ref>


[[CBN Asia]] manages [[Operation Blessing]] International Relief and Development Corporation (OBI), an international relief and [[missionary]] effort, and has international programming, producing local programs including ''Solusi'' in Indonesia and ''From Heart to Heart'' in Thailand.
Internationally, CBN has produced content in more than 70 languages through affiliated organizations such as [[CBN Asia]] and CBN India, which create localized versions of ''The 700 Club'' and other programming.<ref>{{cite web |title=NRB Media Awards 2014 Recipients |url=http://nrb.org/news_room/articles/recipients-of-the-2014-nrb-media-awards-announced/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192404/http://nrb.org/news_room/articles/recipients-of-the-2014-nrb-media-awards-announced/ |archive-date=January 2, 2014 |access-date=January 2, 2014 |publisher=National Religious Broadcasters}}</ref>


CBN India produces three shows, a daily [[Hindi]] program ''Ek Nayee Zindagi'', a bi-weekly [[Telugu language|Telugu]] program ''Nireekshana'' and an award-winning weekly [[Bengali language|Bengali]] program ''Samadhan''.<ref>{{cite web |title=NRB :: Recipients of the 2014 NRB Media Awards Announced! |url=http://nrb.org/news_room/articles/recipients-of-the-2014-nrb-media-awards-announced/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192404/http://nrb.org/news_room/articles/recipients-of-the-2014-nrb-media-awards-announced/ |archive-date=January 2, 2014 |access-date=January 2, 2014 |publisher=NRB}}</ref>
Some CBN programs are distributed by other evangelical networks, including the [[Trinity Broadcasting Network]] and [[Tri-State Christian Television]]. ''The 700 Club'' continues to air under syndication agreements with secular broadcasters, including [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]].<ref name=":0" />
 
CBN has broadcast programs in over 70 languages.
 
CBN now serves mainly as a [[production company]] for ''The 700 Club'', and four other [[broadcast syndication|syndicated]] shows: ''CBN NewsWatch'', ''Christian World News'', ''700 Club Interactive'' and ''The Brody File'', a news-analysis program hosted by one-time political journalist David Brody.
 
Some of CBN's programs also air on the [[Trinity Broadcasting Network]], [[Cornerstone Television]], [[FamilyNet]], [[Lester Sumrall|LeSEA Broadcasting Corporation]], [[Tri-State Christian Television|TCT]] and [[Middle East Television]], all of which are [[Evangelicalism|Evangelical Christian]] networks. The secular commercial stations that continue to air ''The 700 Club'' in syndication (along with Freeform) air CBN's annual telethon during the last week of January.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}
 
The [[Charity Navigator]] gave CBN a 3-star overall rating (out of a maximum four stars), a 3-star financial rating and a 2-star accountability and transparency rating.<ref>[https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3498 The Christian Broadcasting Network] - Charity Navigator</ref>


==History==
==History==
{{Conservatism US|media}}
{{Multiple issues|
=== Beginnings ===
{{Primary sources|section|date=August 2025}}
CBN was founded in 1960 in [[Portsmouth, Virginia]] by [[Pat Robertson]], who had recently become a [[born again|born-again]] Christian.<ref name=":0" /> CBN entered into the broadcasting industry in October 1961, when '''[[WYAH-TV]]''' (WTOV-TV) in Portsmouth – the group's [[flagship (broadcasting)|flagship]] station – signed on the air.<ref> Randall Herbert Balmer, ''Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and expanded edition'', Baylor University Press, USA, 2004, p. 157</ref> Its programming was funded by small donations from individuals and local churches.<ref name=":0" />
{{More citations needed section|date=August 2025}}|section=y}}
 
CBN was founded by [[Pat Robertson]] in 1960 in [[Portsmouth, Virginia]].<ref name=":0" /> In 1980, the company moved its headquarters from Portsmouth to [[Virginia Beach]].<ref>{{cite web|date=June 26, 2024|title=History of CBN|url=https://cbneurope.com/history-of-cbn-2/|website=CBN Europe|access-date=September 4, 2025|language=en-US}}</ref>
In August 1962, WYAH-TV was joined by an [[FM broadcasting|FM]] sister station, [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]]-licensed '''WXRI''',<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Media Pioneer - PatRobertson.com |url=http://www.patrobertson.com/mediapioneer/ |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=www.patrobertson.com}}</ref> which broadcast a format of Christian music and teaching programs.
 
In 1966, a daily talk program began on WYAH, which eventually became known as ''[[The 700 Club]]''.<ref name=":3" />
 
On July 7, 1968, CBN acquired the '''Nuevo Continente''' radio station in Bogota, Colombia (which was the first evangelical radio station in that country).<ref name=":3" />
 
In 1969 the organisation established '''CBN Northeast''', a simulcast network of five FM radio stations in upstate [[New York (state)|New York]] (WBIV in [[Wethersfield, New York|Wethersfield]], WEIV in [[Ithaca, New York|Ithaca]], WJIV in [[Cherry Valley, New York|Cherry Valley]], WMIV in [[South Bristol, New York|South Bristol]] and WOIV in [[DeRuyter, New York|DeRuyter]]). (The stations were previously the [[Rural Radio Network]].)
 
CBN signed on [[WHAE-TV]] in [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]] in June 1971. In January 1973, CBN purchased KBFI-TV in [[Dallas]] and changed its callsign to [[KXTX-TV]]. The ministry signed on its final station, [[WXNE-TV]] in [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], in October 1977.
 
The ministry's broadcasting subsidiary, the '''Continental Broadcasting Network''', ran its four over-the-air outlets as family-oriented [[Independent station (North America)|independent stations]] – featuring a mix of religious programming (which took up most of its stations' Sunday schedules) and secular acquired programs, including [[western (genre)|westerns]], sitcoms, drama series and children's programming. (This format that would be later adopted by the LeSEA Broadcasting Corporation when it began launching its own television stations in the 1970s.)
 
CBN transferred Neuovo Continente to Colombian pastor and broadcaster Ignacio Guevara on June 7, 1972.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pastor Guevara – Nuevo Continente |url=https://www.nuevocontinente.org/pastor-guevara/ |access-date=2022-06-01 |language=es}}</ref>
 
''The International 700 Club'' was first broadcast on November 7, 1976, in the Philippines.<ref name=":3" /> This 30 minute version of the US show was to go on to be broadcast in many other countries. This later became known as ''The 700 Club International''.
 
On April 29, 1977, CBN launched a religious channel in the United States, the '''[[History of Freeform (TV channel)|CBN Satellite Service]]'''.
 
Also that year, '''[[Regent University|CBN University]]''' was founded. It was established for "the specific purpose of preparing leaders who would not only succeed in their professions but also advance as Christians equipped to effectively impact their world."<ref name="regent.edu">{{cite web |date=2010-08-01 |title=Regent University - History |url=https://www.regent.edu/about_us/overview/history.cfm#today |access-date=2015-11-13 |publisher=Regent.edu}}</ref> Its first classes began in September 1978.<ref name="regent.edu" />
 
Affiliated charity ''[[Operation Blessing International|Operation Blessing]]'' was set up on November 14, 1978. It was initially intended to help struggling individuals and families by matching their needs for items such as clothing, appliances, and vehicles with donated items from viewers of ''The 700 Club''. Coordinating with local churches and other organizations, OBI expanded their matching funds program to also include food provisions and financial assistance for low-income families.
 
In June 1979, CBN joined George Otis Ministries to build a combined radio and TV station in Southern Lebanon. It then began to broadcast Christian programming 28 hours a week in Hebrew.<ref name=":3" />
 
=== The 1980s ===
CBN relocated its main headquarters from Portsmouth to [[Virginia Beach]] in 1980. About this time, CBN co-commissioned the first [[Superbook (1981 TV series)|Superbook]] series of anime. This series was subsequently dubbed in many languages and distributed broadly across the world.
 
In June 1981,''The 700 Club'' changed from being a religious talk show to having a news magazine format.<ref name=":3" />
 
The CBN Satellite Service became the '''CBN Cable Network''' on September 1, 1981, and adopted a more secular programming format featuring a mix of family-oriented series and films while retaining some religious programs from various [[Televangelism|televangelists]] (mirroring the format used by CBN's broadcast stations). Its carriage grew to 10.9 million homes with a cable television subscription. The channel was notable for being one of the first cable channels to distribute its signal across the United States through [[Communications satellite|satellite]] transmission (the third overall, after HBO and TBS). CBN Cable Network began airing a late night block of classic family oriented shows like ''[[You Bet Your Life]]'' with [[Groucho Marx]], ''[[I Married Joan]]'', and ''[[The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis]]''.
 
The upstate New York radio stations were sold in 1982.
 
On April 10, 1982, a Christian-based television station in [[South Governorate|South Lebanon]], Hope TV, was donated to CBN, and became '''[[Middle East Television]]''' (METV). At this time METV broadcast from [[Marjayoun]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 2019 |title=Middle East Pullouts: CBN News Perspective on a Tragic History |url=https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/israel/2019/january/middle-east-pullouts-news-perspective-on-a-tragic-history}}</ref> In Israel, METV was known for broadcasting [[WWE|WWF]] wrestling that was not available on Israeli TV. The station broadcast news, sports, family entertainment, and religious programming.
 
In August 1988, the CBN Cable Network became '''The CBN Family Channel'''.
 
Three of the over-the-air TV stations were sold between 1984 and 1989. WXRI radio in Portsmouth was also sold in 1989.
 
=== The 1990s ===
On January 8, 1990, the national TV network was sold to related entity [[ABC Family Worldwide|International Family Entertainment]] (IFE). IFE was majority owned by the Robertson family, with a minority interest held by [[John C. Malone]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Joseph Pryweller |date=January 10, 1990 |title=Sold Family Channel Keeps Lineup |newspaper=[[Daily Press (Virginia)|Daily Press]] |publisher=[[Tribune Publishing]] |url=https://www.dailypress.com/1990/01/10/sold-family-channel-keeps-lineup/ |url-status=live |access-date=October 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124152130/http://articles.dailypress.com/1990-01-10/news/9001100076_1_family-channel-timothy-robertson-international-family-entertainment |archive-date=November 24, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=October 15, 2003 |title=Interview with Pat Robertson |url=http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/pat-robertson# |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924012927/http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/pat-robertson |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |access-date=February 14, 2014 |website=Archive of American Television}}</ref> The sale was said{{by whom|date=June 2022}} to have been done because the channel had become too profitable for CBN to maintain its non-profit status. On September 15 that year, the newly sold channel rebranded as '''[[History of Freeform (TV channel)|The Family Channel]]'''. It remained the most watched outlet for CBN programs. IFE went on to launch other TV channels in the US and UK, and planned to extend itself further.
 
1990 also saw CBN University become known as ''Regent University''.<ref name="regent.edu" /> CBN built luxury hotel ''The Founders Inn and Spa'' at the university campus, and this was completed in 1990. The name of the hotel refers to the US [[Founding Fathers]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Hotels in Virginia Beach VA &#124; The Founders Inn and Spa – The Hotel &#124; Hotels near Virginia Beach Sportsplex |url=http://www.foundersinn.com/hotel-overview/virginia-beach-hotels |access-date=2015-11-13 |publisher=Foundersinn.com}}</ref>
 
The year 1990 was also when CBN programs began to be broadcast in the Soviet Union, and then in its successor states after they declared independence. It started with primetime specials, and later The 700 Club and Superbook. These broadcasts were followed by 190 rallies throughout the region that resulted in the establishment of 190 churches.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2020-06-17 |title=History of CBN - days of small beginnings |url=https://www.cbneurope.com/updates/australia/history_cbn/ |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=CBN Europe |language=en-GB}}</ref> Similar special projects were implemented in the Philippines and Romania in 1994.<ref name=":1" />
 
'''[[CBN Asia]]''' was established in the [[Philippines]] & [[Hong Kong]] on October 1, 1994.
 
CBN launched its first website in March 1995.<ref name=":3" /> Also that year, Tagalog-language ''The 700 Club Asia'' began.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.cbnasia.org/about-us/ |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=CBN Asia {{!}} Proclaiming Christ and Transforming Lives through Media, Prayer Counseling, Humanitarian, and Missionary Training |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
'''CBN Africa'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://cbnafrica.org/ |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=CBN Africa |language=en-ZA}}</ref> was established. In 1997, ''Turning Point International'' (TPi), an English-language magazine program for people of African descent around the world, began.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ABOUT TPi |url=https://tpizone.com/turning-point-international/ |access-date=2022-06-01 |language=en-US}}</ref>
 
On June 5, 1997, METV launched its 24-hour programming broadcast on the [[Israel Aerospace Industries|Israeli satellite]] [[Amos-2|Amos 2]]. This allowed it to reach a potential audience of 200 million people in 15 nations including Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Cyprus.<ref name=":1" />
 
IFE was sold to [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] later in June 1997.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Fabrikant |first=Geraldine |date=1997-06-12 |title=Murdoch Set To Buy Family Cable Concern |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/12/business/murdoch-set-to-buy-family-cable-concern.html |access-date=2022-06-03 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> At this time, The Family Channel was the US's ninth largest cable network, reaching 67 million homes.<ref name=":6" /> The terms of the sale stipulated that the channel continue carrying ''The 700 Club'' in perpetuity.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 6, 1991 |title=Family Channel Strays from Religion, Embraces Clean Fun |newspaper=[[Albany Times Union]] |publisher=[[Hearst Corporation]] |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-156256899.html |url-status=dead |access-date=February 27, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105164105/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-156256899.html |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |via=[[HighBeam Research]]}}</ref> Pat Robertson said that "We expect to continue to benefit from The Family Channel's... growing family entertainment franchise."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mills |first=Mike |date=1997-06-12 |title=MURDOCH TO BUY HALF OF FAMILY CHANNEL |language=en-US |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1997/06/12/murdoch-to-buy-half-of-family-channel/5eede35b-5463-4065-87fe-72181010c3ff/ |access-date=2022-06-03 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> (The Family Channel was renamed ''Fox Family Channel'' in August 1998. The channel was then sold to [[The Walt Disney Company]] in 2001, which renamed it as ''ABC Family'', later renaming it again to [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]].)
 
On March 24, 1999, the inaugural live broadcast of ''The 700 Club Asia'' aired.<ref name=":2" />


=== The 2000s ===
===Radio===
'''CBN India''' was established in 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us – CBN INDIA |url=https://cbnindia.org/about/ |access-date=2022-06-01 |language=en-US}}</ref> It has gone on to produce a number of TV shows in Hindi, Tamil and Bengali.
CBN began broadcasting in October 1961 with [[WYAH-TV]] (now [[WGNT|WGNT-TV]]) in Portsmouth.<ref>{{cite book|last=Balmer|first=Randall Herbert|title=Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism: Revised and Expanded Edition|publisher=Baylor University Press|location=USA|year=2004|isbn=9781932792041|page=157}}</ref> The ministry's subsidiary, Continental Broadcasting Network, operated several family-oriented [[Independent station (North America)|independent stations]]. Their programming combined predominantly religious content on Sundays with acquired secular shows such as [[western (genre)|westerns]], [[sitcom]]s, [[drama series]], and children's programs.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}} Funding primarily came from small donations by individuals and local churches.<ref name=":0" />


CBN's Dallas TV station was sold in 2000. METV was sold to LeSEA Broadcasting in July 2001.<ref name=":1" />
The organization acquired several stations across the United States, including:


In 2001, youth-oriented show, ''One Cubed'', began in Asia.<ref name=":2" /> This later screened as ''One Cubed International'' in the US.
* An [[FM broadcasting|FM]] sister station, [[Norfolk, Virginia|Norfolk]], Virginia-based [[WXRI]],<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Media Pioneer |url=http://www.patrobertson.com/mediapioneer/ |access-date=June 1, 2022 |website=PatRobertson.com}}</ref> acquired in August 1962
* In 1969, CBN Northeast was launched as a simulcast network of five New York FM radio stations formerly part of the [[Rural Radio Network]]:
** WBIV in [[Wethersfield, New York|Wethersfield]]
** WEIV in [[Ithaca, New York|Ithaca]]
** WJIV in [[Cherry Valley, New York|Cherry Valley]]
** WMIV in [[South Bristol, New York|South Bristol]]
** WOIV in [[DeRuyter, New York|DeRuyter]]
* [[WHAE-TV]] in [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]], Georgia, acquired in 1971
* KBFI-TV in [[Dallas]], Texas, acquired in 1973, which later changed its call sign to [[KXTX-TV]]
* [[WXNE-TV]] in [[Boston, Massachusetts|Boston]], Massachusetts, acquired in October 1977<ref>{{Cite web |title=FOX 25 History |url=https://www.newenglandone.com/massachusetts/boston/wfxt/history.html |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=www.newenglandone.com}}</ref>


In September 2001, saw the launch of ''Living the Life,'' a new 30-minute magazine style show for women.<ref name=":1" />
CBN expanded outside the US in 1968 when it acquired the Nuevo Continente radio station in [[Bogota, Colombia|Bogotá, Colombia]], the first evangelical radio station in that country.<ref name=":3" /> CBN transferred ownership of Nuevo Continente to Colombian pastor and broadcaster Ignacio Guevara on June 7, 1972.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pastor Guevara|url=https://www.nuevocontinente.org/pastor-guevara/|website=Nuevo Continente|access-date=June 1, 2022|language=es}}</ref> In June 1979, CBN partnered with George Otis Ministries to establish a combined radio and TV station in southern Lebanon, broadcasting 28 hours per week of Christian programming in Hebrew.<ref name=":3" />


In October 2002, CBN launched ''CBN NewsWatch'', a new half-hour weekend program.<ref name=":1" />
The upstate New York radio stations were sold in 1982. Three over-the-air TV stations were sold between 1984 and 1989. WXRI radio in Portsmouth was also sold in 1989.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About CBN |url=https://cbn.com/article/not-selected/about-cbn |access-date=24 September 2025 |website=The Christian Broadcasting Network}}</ref>


Also in 2002, ''Le Club 700'' began for people in Francophone Africa.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Le Club 700 l'émission - CBN Afrique Francophone |url=https://cbnafrica.org/channel/le-club-700/ |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=CBN Africa |language=en-ZA}}</ref>
===Television===
On April 29, 1977, CBN launched its national cable network, the [[History of Freeform (TV channel)|CBN Satellite Service]], a [[Christian television]] service in the United States.<ref name="regent.edu">{{cite web|date=August 1, 2010|title=History|url=https://www.regent.edu/about_us/overview/history.cfm#today|website=Regent University|access-date=November 13, 2015}}</ref> The channel was among the earliest cable channels to distribute its signal across the United States through [[Communications satellite|satellite]] transmission.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cable Television, History of {{!}} Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/media/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/cable-television-history |access-date=2025-09-29 |website=www.encyclopedia.com}}</ref>


On September 18, 2003, a US version of ''One Cubed'' launched, featuring extreme sports, music videos, and celebrity interviews.<ref name=":1" /> A Nigerian version was also later created.<ref>{{Cite web |title=One Cubed Naija |url=https://cbnafrica.org/channel/one-cubed-naija/ |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=CBN Africa |language=en-ZA}}</ref>
The CBN Satellite Service became the CBN Cable Network on September 1, 1981. It adopted a more secular programming format featuring family-oriented series and films while retaining some religious programs from various [[Televangelism|televangelists]]. Its coverage grew to 10.9 million households with cable television subscriptions and began airing a late-night block of classic family-oriented shows such as ''[[You Bet Your Life]]'' with [[Groucho Marx]], ''[[I Married Joan]]'', and ''[[The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis]]''. In August 1988, the CBN Cable Network became The CBN Family Channel.{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}}  


In 2004, ''Club 400 Hoy'' began as a daily program for Spanish speakers throughout the Americas.<ref name="PRWeb">{{Cite web |title=Christian Broadcasting Network Launches a New "Club 700 Hoy" Spanish-Language Television Program |url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/christian_broadcasting_network_launches_a_new_club_700_hoy_spanish_language_television_program/prweb18231301.htm |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=PRWeb}}</ref>
In January 1990, the network was sold to an affiliated entity, [[ABC Family Worldwide|International Family Entertainment]] (IFE). IFE was majority-owned by the Robertson family, with a minority interest held by [[John C. Malone]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Pryweller |first=Joseph |date=January 10, 1990 |title=Sold Family Channel Keeps Lineup |url=https://www.dailypress.com/1990/01/10/sold-family-channel-keeps-lineup/ |work=[[Daily Press (Virginia)|Daily Press]] |publisher=[[Tribune Publishing]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124152130/http://articles.dailypress.com/1990-01-10/news/9001100076_1_family-channel-timothy-robertson-international-family-entertainment |archive-date=November 24, 2015 |access-date=October 9, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=October 15, 2003|title=Interview with Pat Robertson|url=http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/pat-robertson#|website=Archive of American Television|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924012927/http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/pat-robertson|archive-date=September 24, 2015|access-date=February 14, 2014}}</ref> On September 15 of that year, the newly sold channel rebranded as [[History of Freeform (TV channel)|The Family Channel]]. It remained the most-watched outlet for CBN programs. IFE went on to launch other TV channels in the US and UK, with plans to expand further.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}} IFE was sold to [[News Corporation (1980–2013)|News Corporation]] in June 1997.<ref name=":6">{{cite news |last=Fabrikant |first=Geraldine |date=June 12, 1997 |title=Murdoch Set to Buy Family Cable Concern |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/12/business/murdoch-set-to-buy-family-cable-concern.html |access-date=June 3, 2022 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> At this time, The Family Channel was the US's ninth-largest cable network, reaching 67 million households.<ref name=":6" /> The terms of the sale stipulated that the channel continue carrying ''The 700 Club'' in perpetuity.<ref>{{cite news |date=January 6, 1991 |title=Family Channel Strays from Religion, Embraces Clean Fun |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-156256899.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105164105/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-156256899.html |archive-date=November 5, 2012 |access-date=February 27, 2011 |work=[[Albany Times Union]] |publisher=[[Hearst Corporation]] |via=[[HighBeam Research]]}}</ref> Pat Robertson said that "We expect to continue to benefit from The Family Channel's growing family entertainment franchise."<ref>{{cite news |last=Mills |first=Mike |date=June 12, 1997 |title=Murdoch to Buy Half of Family Channel |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1997/06/12/murdoch-to-buy-half-of-family-channel/5eede35b-5463-4065-87fe-72181010c3ff/ |access-date=June 3, 2022 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> The channel was then sold to [[The Walt Disney Company]] in 2001, which renamed it as ''ABC Family'' later that year, and again to [[Freeform (TV channel)|Freeform]] in 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ABC Family Becomes Freeform in January 2016 |url=https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/abc-family-becomes-freeform-in-january-2016/ |website=The Walt Disney Company}}</ref>


'''CBN Europe''' was established in the UK. In October 2004, ''The 700 Club With Paul and Fiona'' began airing for UK audiences. It was hosted by [[Paul Jones (singer)|Paul Jones]] and Fiona Hendley Jones. It was later dubbed in Dutch.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2013-10-17 |title=New CBN Programs in Europe |url=https://www1.cbn.com/about/new-cbn-programs-in-europe |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=CBN.com - The Christian Broadcasting Network |language=en}}</ref>
In October 2002, CBN launched ''CBN NewsWatch'', a new half-hour weekend program. On April 29, 2008, the 24-hour CBN News Channel was launched as an online-only channel.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |date=June 17, 2020 |title=History of CBN - Days of Small Beginnings |url=https://www.cbneurope.com/updates/australia/history_cbn/ |access-date=June 1, 2022 |website=CBN Europe |language=en-GB}}</ref> On October 1, 2018, the CBN News Channel was relaunched and became available over the air via 15 stations in the United States, as well as continuing online. It was based in Virginia Beach, with bureaus in Washington, D.C., and Jerusalem.<ref>{{cite press release |title=The Christian Broadcasting Network Launches CBN News Channel, The First 24-Hour News Channel from a Christian Perspective, on October 1 |publisher=Christian Broadcasting Network |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-christian-broadcasting-network-launches-cbn-news-channel-the-first-24-hour-news-channel-from-a-christian-perspective-on-october-1-300722100.html |language=en |access-date=June 1, 2022 |website=PR Newswire}}</ref>


In 2005, kids program, ''A.S.T.I.G.'' (All Set to Imitate God), was launched by CBN Asia.<ref name=":2" />
In addition to its networks in the US, CBN has expanded into international television. On April 10, 1982, a Christian-based television station in [[South Governorate|South Lebanon]], Hope TV, was donated to CBN and became [[Middle East Television]] (METV). At this time, METV broadcast from [[Marjayoun]].<ref>{{cite web |date=January 2019 |title=Middle East Pullouts: CBN News Perspective on a Tragic History |url=https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/israel/2019/january/middle-east-pullouts-news-perspective-on-a-tragic-history |website=CBN News}}</ref> In Israel, METV was known for broadcasting [[WWE|WWF]] wrestling, which was not available on Israeli TV. The station also broadcast news, sports, family entertainment, and religious programming. On June 5, 1997, METV launched its 24-hour programming broadcast on the [[Israel Aerospace Industries|Israeli satellite]] [[Amos-2|Amos 2]]. This allowed it to reach a potential audience of 200 million people in 15 nations, including Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Cyprus.<ref name=":1" /> METV was sold to LeSEA Broadcasting in July 2001.<ref name=":1" />


'''CBN Deutschland''' was established in 2007.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=This is our History |url=https://cbndeutschland.org/en/about-us/our-history/ |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=CBN Deutschland |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Club 700'' for German speakers, began on January 9, 2007.<ref name=":4" /> It was later renamed ''Erlebt TV'' in December 2019.<ref name=":5" />
In 1990, CBN programs began broadcasting in the [[Soviet Union]], and then in its successor states after they declared independence. It started with prime time specials, then later added ''The 700 Club'' and ''[[Superbook (1981 TV series)|Superbook]]''. These broadcasts were followed by 190 different rallies throughout the region that each resulted in the establishment of a new church. Similar special projects were implemented in the Philippines and Romania in 1994.<ref name=":1" />


On April 30, 2007, ''First Landing'', a CBN and [[Regent University]] produced movie about the English settlement of Jamestown, aired on ABC Family and various broadcast stations across the United States.<ref name=":1" />
===Television programming===
A daily talk program began on WYAH in 1966; this program would eventually become known as ''[[The 700 Club]]''.<ref name=":3" /> ''The International 700 Club'' was first broadcast on November 7, 1976, in the Philippines.<ref name=":3" /> International versions of the show continued with:
* ''The 700 Club Asia'' in 1999<ref name=":2">{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.cbnasia.org/about-us/ |access-date=June 1, 2022 |website=CBN Asia |language=en-US}}</ref>
* ''Le Club 700'' for [[Francophone Africa]] in 2002<ref>{{cite web|title=Le Club 700 L'émission|url=https://cbnafrica.org/channel/le-club-700/|website=CBN Africa|language=en-ZA|access-date=June 1, 2022}}</ref>
* ''Club 700'' for German speakers in 2007<ref name=":4">{{cite web|date=October 17, 2013|title=New CBN Programs in Europe|url=https://www1.cbn.com/about/new-cbn-programs-in-europe|website=CBN.com|language=en|access-date=June 1, 2022}}</ref> (renamed ''Erlebt TV'' in December 2019)<ref name=":5">{{cite web |title=This Is Our History |url=https://cbndeutschland.org/en/about-us/our-history/ |access-date=June 1, 2022 |website=CBN Deutschland |language=en-US}}</ref>
* ''The 700 Club with Paul and Fiona'' for UK audiences, hosted by [[Paul Jones (singer)|Paul Jones]] and [[Fiona Hendley]] in 2004<ref name=":4" />
* ''The 700 Club Canada'' in 2011<ref>{{cite web|title=700 Club Canada|url=https://700club.ca/|language=en-CA|access-date=June 1, 2022}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
* ''700 Club Nigeria''{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}}


On April 29, 2008, the 24-hour '''CBN News Channel''' was launched as an online-only channel.<ref name=":1" />
In June 1981, ''The 700 Club'' shifted away from its talk show format to a structure more akin to a news-magazine broadcast.<ref name=":3" />


In November 2008, a new '''CBN Radio''' service was launched.<ref name=":1" />
The TV program ''700 Club Interactive'' began on May 25, 2009.<ref name=":1" />


New TV program ''700 Club Interactive'' began on May 25, 2009.<ref name=":1" />
In 1997, ''Turning Point International'' (TPI), an English-language magazine program for people of African descent worldwide, was established.<ref>{{cite web |title=About TPi |url=https://tpizone.com/turning-point-international/ |access-date=June 1, 2022 |website=TPi Zone |language=en-US}}</ref>


=== The 2010s ===
In 2001, a youth-oriented show, ''One Cubed'', began in Asia.<ref name=":2" /> On September 18, 2003, a US version of ''One Cubed'' launched, featuring extreme sports, music videos, and celebrity interviews.<ref name=":1" /> A Nigerian version of ''One Cubed'' was also later created.{{When|date=August 2025}}<ref>{{cite web |title=One Cubed Naija |url=https://cbnafrica.org/channel/one-cubed-naija/ |access-date=June 1, 2022 |website=CBN Africa |language=en-ZA}}</ref>
In 2011, a newly rebooted ''Superbook'' series began to air in various countries, commissioned by CBN.


''The'' ''700 Club Canada'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=700 Club Canada {{!}} |url=https://700club.ca/ |access-date=2022-06-01 |language=en-CA}}</ref> a weekdaily program, was launched in November 2011.<ref name=":1" />
In 2004, ''Club 400 Hoy'' began as a daily program for Spanish speakers throughout the Americas.<ref name="PRWeb">{{cite web|title=Christian Broadcasting Network Launches a New "Club 700 Hoy" Spanish-Language Television Program|url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/christian_broadcasting_network_launches_a_new_club_700_hoy_spanish_language_television_program/prweb18231301.htm|website=PRWeb|access-date=June 1, 2022}}</ref> In October 2021, ''Club 400 Hoy'' was relaunched as a weekly US-focused program.<ref name="PRWeb" />


''700 Club Nigeria''<ref>{{Cite web |title=700 Club Nigeria |url=https://cbnafrica.org/channel/700-club-nigeria/ |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=CBN Africa |language=en-ZA}}</ref> began in about 2013.
On April 30, 2007, ''First Landing'' was produced by CBN and [[Regent University]] documenting the English settlement of Jamestown. It aired on ABC Family and various broadcast stations across the US.<ref name=":1" />


New program ''Oyayi'' began to be made by CBN Asia in 2016.<ref name=":2" />
===Other ventures===
In 1977, [[Regent University|CBN University]] was established for "the specific purpose of preparing leaders who would not only succeed in their professions but also advance as Christians equipped to effectively impact their world." CBN University rebranded as Regent University in 1990.<ref name="regent.edu" /> The university built the luxury hotel The Founders Inn & Spa on its campus. The hotel's name refers to the US [[Founding Fathers]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Hotels in Virginia Beach VA|url=http://www.foundersinn.com/hotel-overview/virginia-beach-hotels|website=The Founders Inn and Spa|access-date=November 13, 2015}}</ref>


On October 1, 2018, the CBN News Channel was relaunched. It was now made available over-the-air via 15 stations in the United States, as well as continuing online. It was based in Virginia Beach, and had bureaus in Washington DC and Jerusalem.<ref>{{Cite press release |last=Network |first=Christian Broadcasting |title=The Christian Broadcasting Network Launches CBN News Channel, The First 24-Hour News Channel from a Christian Perspective, on October 1 |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-christian-broadcasting-network-launches-cbn-news-channel-the-first-24-hour-news-channel-from-a-christian-perspective-on-october-1-300722100.html |access-date=2022-06-01 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}</ref>
The affiliated charity [[Operation Blessing International|Operation Blessing]] was established on November 14, 1978.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Odom |first=Jennifer |title=Help for others flows from warehouse in Ocala |url=https://www.ocala.com/story/news/local/2012/07/30/help-for-others-flows-from-warehouse-in-ocala/31906702007/ |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=The Star Banner |language=en-US}}</ref> It was initially intended to help struggling individuals and families by matching their needs for items such as clothing, appliances, and vehicles with donations from viewers of ''The 700 Club''. Coordinating with local churches and other organizations, Operation Blessing expanded its matching funds program to include food provisions and financial assistance for low-income families.{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}}


During the Trump administration (2017–2021), CBN hosted events at [[Donald Trump|Trump]] properties, paying at least $170,000. Subsequently, CBN obtained access to the White House that far larger news outlets typically received, and were given frequent exclusive interviews with senior administration staff, including Trump himself.<ref name=":02">{{Cite news |last1=Confessore |first1=Nicholas |last2=Yourish |first2=Karen |last3=Eder |first3=Steve |last4=Protess |first4=Ben |last5=Haberman |first5=Maggie |last6=Ashford |first6=Grace |last7=LaForgia |first7=Michael |last8=Vogel |first8=Kenneth P. |last9=Rothfeld |first9=Michael |date=2020-10-10 |title=The Swamp That Trump Built |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/10/us/trump-properties-swamp.html |access-date=2020-10-10 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
CBN launched its first website in March 1995.<ref name=":3" />


=== The 2020s ===
CBN has established international offices, including CBN Europe in the UK in 2002,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Regulator |first=The Fundraising |date=2026-08-31 |title=CHRISTIAN BROADCASTING NETWORK (UK) {{!}} Fundraising Regulator |url=https://www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk/directory/christian-broadcasting-network-uk |access-date=2025-11-01 |website=www.fundraisingregulator.org.uk |language=en}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}} CBN Deutschland in 2007,<ref name=":5" /> CBN Africa in 1994,<ref>{{cite web |title=Home |url=https://cbnafrica.org/ |access-date=June 1, 2022 |website=CBN Africa |language=en-ZA}}</ref> and CBN India in 2000.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://cbnindia.org/about/ |access-date=June 1, 2022 |website=CBN India |language=en-US}}</ref> [[CBN Asia]] was established in the Philippines and Hong Kong on October 1, 1994.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}} Since then, CBN Asia has launched the children's program ''A.S.T.I.G.'' (All Set to Imitate God);<ref name=":2" /> ''Oyayi'';<ref name=":2" /> and the music program ''CBN Asia Reverb'', later renamed ''Reverb Worship PH''.<ref name=":2" />
In 2020, music program ''CBN Asia Reverb'' began'','' which was later renamed ''Reverb Worship PH.<ref name=":2" />''


In October 2021, ''Club 400 Hoy'' was relaunched as a weekly US-focused program.<ref name="PRWeb"/>
During the first Trump administration (2017–2021), CBN paid at least $170,000 to host events at [[Donald Trump|Trump]] properties. Subsequently, CBN obtained access to the White House similar to that of larger news outlets and was given frequent exclusive interviews with senior administration staff, including Trump himself.<ref name=":02">{{cite news|last1=Confessore|first1=Nicholas|last2=Yourish|first2=Karen|last3=Eder|first3=Steve|last4=Protess|first4=Ben|last5=Haberman|first5=Maggie|last6=Ashford|first6=Grace|last7=LaForgia|first7=Michael|last8=Vogel|first8=Kenneth P.|last9=Rothfeld|first9=Michael|date=October 10, 2020|title=The Swamp That Trump Built|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/10/us/trump-properties-swamp.html|work=The New York Times|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|access-date=October 10, 2020}}</ref>


==Programs==
==Programs==
Line 156: Line 107:


===Current===
===Current===
*''[[The 700 Club]]'' – a daily newsmagazine that debuted in 1966, one of the longest runs of any program within that genre; the program is hosted by Pat Robertson (retired in 2021), Terry Meeuwsen and Gordon Robertson. ''The 700 Club'' features a daily news segment with commentary on certain stories, as well as interviews; it is distributed to an average daily audience of one million viewers, both on cable and through syndication.
*''[[The 700 Club]]'' – a daily news magazine that debuted in 1966. The program is currently hosted by [[Gordon P. Robertson|Gordon Robertson]], [[Terry Meeuwsen]], [[Ashley Key]], [[Wendy Griffith]], and Andrew Knox. ''The 700 Club'' features a daily news segment with commentary on certain stories, as well as interviews.
*''Club 700 Hoy'' – a half-hour weekly Spanish-language version of ''The 700 Club'' that is syndicated throughout [[Latin America]], and previously aired in the United States on [[Azteca (TV network)|Azteca America]]. The magazine-style formatted morning program features opinions on current issues; interviews; informative features; stories about people, places and music; and life advice.
*''Club 700 Hoy'' – a half-hour weekly Spanish-language version of ''The 700 Club'' syndicated throughout [[Latin America]], and previously aired in the United States on [[Azteca (TV network)|Azteca America]]. The magazine-style formatted morning program features opinions on current issues, interviews, informative features, stories about people and places, music, and life advice.
*''CBN NewsWatch'' – produced by CBN News, it is a half-hour daily news program featuring reports on national and international news stories from a conservative, Christian perspective. It is broadcast nationally on several Christian-oriented cable and satellite networks.
*''CBN NewsWatch'' – produced by CBN News, it is a half-hour daily news program featuring reports on national and international news stories from a conservative, Christian perspective. It is broadcast nationally on several Christian-oriented cable and satellite networks.
*''Christian World News'' – produced by CBN News, it is a half-hour weekly conservative news program, that is broadcast nationally on the [[Trinity Broadcasting Network]].
*''Christian World News'' – produced by CBN News, it is a half-hour weekly conservative news program broadcast nationally on the [[Trinity Broadcasting Network]].
*''One Cubed USA'' and ''One Cubed International'' – aimed at teenagers and young adults between the ages of 13 and 24 years of age, the two programs focus on youth culture, action sports and music videos. It claims a [[mission statement]] "to reach this generation to express the unconditional love and salvation that God freely offered to everyone in this world. In everything that is One Cubed, we want to bring glory to God, never compromising and never settling, and always striving to be used by Him to the best of our abilities".
*''One Cubed USA'' and ''One Cubed International'' – aimed at teenagers and young adults between the ages of 13 and 24, the two programs focus on youth culture, action sports, and music videos.


==Notable personalities==
==Notable personalities==
{{more references needed section|date=February 2024}}
{{more citations needed section|date=February 2024}}
Some of this info comes from ''[[The 700 Club]]'', which lists ''The 700 Club'' hosts, as well as CBN News reporters, as well as former hosts of both.


===Current===
===Current===
Line 171: Line 121:
* [[Terry Meeuwsen]] – co-host of ''The 700 Club'' and ''700 Club Interactive''
* [[Terry Meeuwsen]] – co-host of ''The 700 Club'' and ''700 Club Interactive''
* [[Chuck Holton]] – military correspondent
* [[Chuck Holton]] – military correspondent
* Ashley Key – co-host for 700 Club Interactive and co-host of The 700 Club.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ashley Key |url=https://www2.cbn.com/person/ashley-key |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=CBN |language=en}}</ref>
* Ashley Key – co-host for ''700 Club Interactive'' and co-host of ''The 700 Club''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ashley Key |url=https://www2.cbn.com/person/ashley-key |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=CBN |language=en}}</ref>


===Former===
===Former===
Line 178: Line 128:
* [[Victor Oladokun]]  
* [[Victor Oladokun]]  
* [[Sheila Walsh (author/singer)|Sheila Walsh]] – co-host of ''The 700 Club''
* [[Sheila Walsh (author/singer)|Sheila Walsh]] – co-host of ''The 700 Club''
* [[Danuta Rylko Soderman]] – co-host of ''The 700 Club''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/biblestudyandtheology/discipleship/ans-haraldbredesen85.aspx?mobile=false&q=spirituallife/biblestudyandtheology/discipleship/ans-haraldbredesen85.aspx|title = CBN Spiritual Life – Celebritites, Dignitaries, and Politicians Gather for Harald Bredesen's 85th Birthday}}</ref>
* [[Danuta Rylko Soderman]] – co-host of ''The 700 Club''<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbn.com/spirituallife/biblestudyandtheology/discipleship/ans-haraldbredesen85.aspx?mobile=false&q=spirituallife/biblestudyandtheology/discipleship/ans-haraldbredesen85.aspx|title = CBN Spiritual Life – Celebritites, Dignitaries, and Politicians Gather for Harald Bredesen's 85th Birthday}}</ref>
* [[Lisa Ryan]] – co-host of ''The 700 Club''  
* [[Lisa Ryan]] – co-host of ''The 700 Club''  
* [[Susan Howard]] – co-host of ''The 700 Club''
* [[Susan Howard]] – co-host of ''The 700 Club''


== Final stations ==
==Final stations==
In the following tables, final CBN-owned stations are arranged alphabetically by state and [[city of license|community of license]].
In the following tables, final CBN-owned stations are arranged alphabetically by state and [[city of license|community of license]].


Note: Two boldface asterisks appearing following a station's call letters ('''**''') indicate a station which was [[Planning permission#In specific industries#broadcasting|built]] and [[broadcast license|signed on]] by CBN.
Note: Two boldface asterisks appearing following a station's call letters ('''**''') indicate a station that was [[Planning permission#In specific industries#broadcasting|built]] and [[broadcast license|signed on]] by CBN.


=== Television ===
===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! [[City of license]] / [[Media market|market]]
! [[City of license]] / [[Media market|market]]
Line 199: Line 149:
| 46
| 46
| 1971–1984
| 1971–1984
| [[CBS]] affiliate [[WANF]], owned by [[Gray Media]].
| [[Independent station]] [[WANF]], owned by [[Gray Media]].
|-
|-
| [[Boston|Boston, MA]]
| [[Boston|Boston, MA]]
Line 222: Line 172:
| 27
| 27
| 1961–1989
| 1961–1989
| [[Independent station]] [[WGNT]], owned by the [[E. W. Scripps Company]].
| Independent station [[WGNT]], owned by the [[E. W. Scripps Company]].
|}
|}


In addition, CBN planned to build a television station in [[Richmond, Virginia]], WRNX on UHF channel 63. However, CBN sold the [[construction permit]] for that station to National Capitol Christian Television in 1982, which signed on the station as WTLL in 1984. That station was eventually sold and in 1986, converted into secular independent station [[WVRN-TV]], which shut down in 1988.
In addition, CBN planned to build a television station in [[Richmond, Virginia]], WRNX on UHF channel 63. However, CBN sold the [[construction permit]] for that station to National Capitol Christian Television in 1982, which signed on the station as WTLL in 1984. That station was eventually sold and, in 1986, converted into a secular independent station [[WVRN-TV]], which shut down in 1988.


Notes:
Notes:
*<sup>1</sup> CBN traded the broadcast license for KXTX-TV on channel 33 to Doubleday Broadcasting, in exchange for Doubleday's license to operate KDTV on channel 39, in November 1973;
*<sup>1</sup> CBN traded the broadcast license for KXTX-TV on channel 33 to Doubleday Broadcasting in exchange for Doubleday's license to operate KDTV on channel 39 in November 1973;
*<sup>2</sup> Operated by [[LIN Media]] under a [[local marketing agreement]] from 1993 until 1997.
*<sup>2</sup> Operated by [[LIN Media]] under a [[local marketing agreement]] from 1993 until 1997.


=== Radio ===
===Radio===
{|
{|
| style="border: 1px solid #a3b0bf; cellpadding="2"; margin: auto" bgcolor="#ddcef2" | '''FM stations'''
| style="border: 1px solid #a3b0bf; cellpadding="2"; margin: auto" bgcolor="#ddcef2" | '''FM stations'''
Line 286: Line 236:
[[Category:Evangelical television networks]]
[[Category:Evangelical television networks]]
[[Category:Christian mass media companies]]
[[Category:Christian mass media companies]]
[[Category:Television networks in the United States]]
[[Category:Religious television networks in the United States]]
[[Category:Companies based in Virginia Beach, Virginia]]
[[Category:Companies based in Virginia Beach, Virginia]]
[[Category:Freeform (TV channel)]]
[[Category:Freeform (TV channel)]]

Latest revision as of 22:47, 6 November 2025

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The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) is an American Christian media production and distribution organization founded in 1960 by televangelist Pat Robertson. It produces the long-running television program The 700 Club, co-produces the animated Superbook franchise[1] (including the original 1981 series and its 2011 reboot), and operates multiple television channels and radio stations. The organization's international headquarters are in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Since its inception, CBN has been described as being "at the forefront of the culture wars".[2]

Operations

CBN primarily functions as a production company for its flagship program, The 700 Club, and other news and religious programming.[2] Other syndicated programs include CBN NewsWatch, Christian World News, and 700 Club Interactive.[3]

The 700 Club began as a local telethon in the 1960s and evolved into a daily religious variety program featuring sermons, interviews, and music. By the late 1970s, the show had incorporated news segments and political commentary, becoming one of the longest-running religious television programs in the United States.[2]

CBN News produces daily and weekly news programming for both Christian and general audiences. It operates the CBN News Channel, launched in 2018, and maintains news bureaus in Virginia Beach, Washington, D.C., and Jerusalem.[4]

Internationally, CBN has produced content in more than 70 languages through affiliated organizations such as CBN Asia and CBN India, which create localized versions of The 700 Club and other programming.[5]

Some CBN programs are distributed by other evangelical networks, including the Trinity Broadcasting Network and Tri-State Christian Television. The 700 Club continues to air under syndication agreements with secular broadcasters, including Freeform.[2]

History

Script error: No such module "Unsubst". CBN was founded by Pat Robertson in 1960 in Portsmouth, Virginia.[2] In 1980, the company moved its headquarters from Portsmouth to Virginia Beach.[6]

Radio

CBN began broadcasting in October 1961 with WYAH-TV (now WGNT-TV) in Portsmouth.[7] The ministry's subsidiary, Continental Broadcasting Network, operated several family-oriented independent stations. Their programming combined predominantly religious content on Sundays with acquired secular shows such as westerns, sitcoms, drama series, and children's programs.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Funding primarily came from small donations by individuals and local churches.[2]

The organization acquired several stations across the United States, including:

CBN expanded outside the US in 1968 when it acquired the Nuevo Continente radio station in Bogotá, Colombia, the first evangelical radio station in that country.[8] CBN transferred ownership of Nuevo Continente to Colombian pastor and broadcaster Ignacio Guevara on June 7, 1972.[10] In June 1979, CBN partnered with George Otis Ministries to establish a combined radio and TV station in southern Lebanon, broadcasting 28 hours per week of Christian programming in Hebrew.[8]

The upstate New York radio stations were sold in 1982. Three over-the-air TV stations were sold between 1984 and 1989. WXRI radio in Portsmouth was also sold in 1989.[11]

Television

On April 29, 1977, CBN launched its national cable network, the CBN Satellite Service, a Christian television service in the United States.[12] The channel was among the earliest cable channels to distribute its signal across the United States through satellite transmission.[13]

The CBN Satellite Service became the CBN Cable Network on September 1, 1981. It adopted a more secular programming format featuring family-oriented series and films while retaining some religious programs from various televangelists. Its coverage grew to 10.9 million households with cable television subscriptions and began airing a late-night block of classic family-oriented shows such as You Bet Your Life with Groucho Marx, I Married Joan, and The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. In August 1988, the CBN Cable Network became The CBN Family Channel.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

In January 1990, the network was sold to an affiliated entity, International Family Entertainment (IFE). IFE was majority-owned by the Robertson family, with a minority interest held by John C. Malone.[14][15] On September 15 of that year, the newly sold channel rebranded as The Family Channel. It remained the most-watched outlet for CBN programs. IFE went on to launch other TV channels in the US and UK, with plans to expand further.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". IFE was sold to News Corporation in June 1997.[16] At this time, The Family Channel was the US's ninth-largest cable network, reaching 67 million households.[16] The terms of the sale stipulated that the channel continue carrying The 700 Club in perpetuity.[17] Pat Robertson said that "We expect to continue to benefit from The Family Channel's growing family entertainment franchise."[18] The channel was then sold to The Walt Disney Company in 2001, which renamed it as ABC Family later that year, and again to Freeform in 2016.[19]

In October 2002, CBN launched CBN NewsWatch, a new half-hour weekend program. On April 29, 2008, the 24-hour CBN News Channel was launched as an online-only channel.[20] On October 1, 2018, the CBN News Channel was relaunched and became available over the air via 15 stations in the United States, as well as continuing online. It was based in Virginia Beach, with bureaus in Washington, D.C., and Jerusalem.[21]

In addition to its networks in the US, CBN has expanded into international television. On April 10, 1982, a Christian-based television station in South Lebanon, Hope TV, was donated to CBN and became Middle East Television (METV). At this time, METV broadcast from Marjayoun.[22] In Israel, METV was known for broadcasting WWF wrestling, which was not available on Israeli TV. The station also broadcast news, sports, family entertainment, and religious programming. On June 5, 1997, METV launched its 24-hour programming broadcast on the Israeli satellite Amos 2. This allowed it to reach a potential audience of 200 million people in 15 nations, including Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Cyprus.[20] METV was sold to LeSEA Broadcasting in July 2001.[20]

In 1990, CBN programs began broadcasting in the Soviet Union, and then in its successor states after they declared independence. It started with prime time specials, then later added The 700 Club and Superbook. These broadcasts were followed by 190 different rallies throughout the region that each resulted in the establishment of a new church. Similar special projects were implemented in the Philippines and Romania in 1994.[20]

Television programming

A daily talk program began on WYAH in 1966; this program would eventually become known as The 700 Club.[8] The International 700 Club was first broadcast on November 7, 1976, in the Philippines.[8] International versions of the show continued with:

  • The 700 Club Asia in 1999[23]
  • Le Club 700 for Francophone Africa in 2002[24]
  • Club 700 for German speakers in 2007[25] (renamed Erlebt TV in December 2019)[26]
  • The 700 Club with Paul and Fiona for UK audiences, hosted by Paul Jones and Fiona Hendley in 2004[25]
  • The 700 Club Canada in 2011[27][20]
  • 700 Club NigeriaScript error: No such module "Unsubst".

In June 1981, The 700 Club shifted away from its talk show format to a structure more akin to a news-magazine broadcast.[8]

The TV program 700 Club Interactive began on May 25, 2009.[20]

In 1997, Turning Point International (TPI), an English-language magazine program for people of African descent worldwide, was established.[28]

In 2001, a youth-oriented show, One Cubed, began in Asia.[23] On September 18, 2003, a US version of One Cubed launched, featuring extreme sports, music videos, and celebrity interviews.[20] A Nigerian version of One Cubed was also later created.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".[29]

In 2004, Club 400 Hoy began as a daily program for Spanish speakers throughout the Americas.[30] In October 2021, Club 400 Hoy was relaunched as a weekly US-focused program.[30]

On April 30, 2007, First Landing was produced by CBN and Regent University documenting the English settlement of Jamestown. It aired on ABC Family and various broadcast stations across the US.[20]

Other ventures

In 1977, CBN University was established for "the specific purpose of preparing leaders who would not only succeed in their professions but also advance as Christians equipped to effectively impact their world." CBN University rebranded as Regent University in 1990.[12] The university built the luxury hotel The Founders Inn & Spa on its campus. The hotel's name refers to the US Founding Fathers.[31]

The affiliated charity Operation Blessing was established on November 14, 1978.[32] It was initially intended to help struggling individuals and families by matching their needs for items such as clothing, appliances, and vehicles with donations from viewers of The 700 Club. Coordinating with local churches and other organizations, Operation Blessing expanded its matching funds program to include food provisions and financial assistance for low-income families.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

CBN launched its first website in March 1995.[8]

CBN has established international offices, including CBN Europe in the UK in 2002,[33]Script error: No such module "Unsubst". CBN Deutschland in 2007,[26] CBN Africa in 1994,[34] and CBN India in 2000.[35] CBN Asia was established in the Philippines and Hong Kong on October 1, 1994.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Since then, CBN Asia has launched the children's program A.S.T.I.G. (All Set to Imitate God);[23] Oyayi;[23] and the music program CBN Asia Reverb, later renamed Reverb Worship PH.[23]

During the first Trump administration (2017–2021), CBN paid at least $170,000 to host events at Trump properties. Subsequently, CBN obtained access to the White House similar to that of larger news outlets and was given frequent exclusive interviews with senior administration staff, including Trump himself.[36]

Programs

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Current

  • The 700 Club – a daily news magazine that debuted in 1966. The program is currently hosted by Gordon Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen, Ashley Key, Wendy Griffith, and Andrew Knox. The 700 Club features a daily news segment with commentary on certain stories, as well as interviews.
  • Club 700 Hoy – a half-hour weekly Spanish-language version of The 700 Club syndicated throughout Latin America, and previously aired in the United States on Azteca America. The magazine-style formatted morning program features opinions on current issues, interviews, informative features, stories about people and places, music, and life advice.
  • CBN NewsWatch – produced by CBN News, it is a half-hour daily news program featuring reports on national and international news stories from a conservative, Christian perspective. It is broadcast nationally on several Christian-oriented cable and satellite networks.
  • Christian World News – produced by CBN News, it is a half-hour weekly conservative news program broadcast nationally on the Trinity Broadcasting Network.
  • One Cubed USA and One Cubed International – aimed at teenagers and young adults between the ages of 13 and 24, the two programs focus on youth culture, action sports, and music videos.

Notable personalities

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Current

Former

Final stations

In the following tables, final CBN-owned stations are arranged alphabetically by state and community of license.

Note: Two boldface asterisks appearing following a station's call letters (**) indicate a station that was built and signed on by CBN.

Television

City of license / market Station Channel Years owned Current ownership status
Atlanta, GA Template:Ubl 46 1971–1984 Independent station WANF, owned by Gray Media.
Boston, MA WXNE-TV ** 25 1977–1987 Fox affiliate WFXT, owned by Cox Media Group.
Dallas–Fort Worth, TX KXTX-TV 1 33 1973 CW station KDAF, owned-and-operated (O&O) by Nexstar Media Group.
KXTX-TV 1, 2 39 1973–2000 Telemundo owned-and-operated (O&O).
Portsmouth, VA WYAH-TV 27 1961–1989 Independent station WGNT, owned by the E. W. Scripps Company.

In addition, CBN planned to build a television station in Richmond, Virginia, WRNX on UHF channel 63. However, CBN sold the construction permit for that station to National Capitol Christian Television in 1982, which signed on the station as WTLL in 1984. That station was eventually sold and, in 1986, converted into a secular independent station WVRN-TV, which shut down in 1988.

Notes:

  • 1 CBN traded the broadcast license for KXTX-TV on channel 33 to Doubleday Broadcasting in exchange for Doubleday's license to operate KDTV on channel 39 in November 1973;
  • 2 Operated by LIN Media under a local marketing agreement from 1993 until 1997.

Radio

FM stations
City of license / Market Station Years owned Current ownership
Cherry Valley–Albany, NY WJIV 101.9 1969–1982 owned by Christian Broadcasting System, Ltd.
DeRuyter–Syracuse, NY WOIV 102.7 1969–1982 WCIS-FM, owned by Family Life Ministries
Ithaca, NY WEIV 103.7 1969–1982 WQNY, owned by Saga Communications
South Bristol–Rochester, NY WMIV 95.1 1969–1982 WAIO, owned by iHeartMedia
Wethersfield–Buffalo, NY WBIV 107.7 1969–1982 WLKK, owned by Audacy, Inc.
Norfolk, VA WXRI 105.3 ** 1962–1989 WNOH, owned by iHeartMedia

References

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  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b c d e f g Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ a b c d e f g h Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  25. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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External links

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