Vision Interfaith Satellite Network
Encyclopedia
The Vision Interfaith Satellite Network (VISN) was a religious television network formed in the late 1980s. The channel became known as the PBS of religion for the inclusive nature of its programming, which was designed to "place its accent on dialogue rather than apologies."
The network was formed by cable operators and intended to be programmed by an interfaith group called the National Interfaith Cable Coalition. The channel went through several names including Faith and Values Channel and Odyssey Channel before becoming the Hallmark Channel
with minimal religious content in 2001. Throughout the latter 1990s, the channel hosted a continuously diminishing roster of religious programming.
, whose membership had experienced trouble keeping airtime for local religious programming following media deregulation in the 1980s. The startup costs of VISN were covered by several cable companies. Spearheaded by Tele-Communications Inc, early financial backers of the channel included American Television & Communications
, United Cable, Jones Intercable
, Post-Newsweek Cable
, and Heritage Communications. The network was owned by the NICC and the Liberty Media Corporation, a subsidiary of Tele-Communications Inc. Although the network was advertising supported, it disallowed on-air solicitation by its programming.
In part the network was a response to the televangelist scandals of Oral Roberts
, Jim Bakker
, and the PTL
, and the general popularity of conservative religious television such as CBN
. Another goal of the network was to help ease the crowding of local cable networks by combining their programming into one channel. This goal was enumerated by Robert Thomson of founding company Tele-Communications Inc., who reported that "No operator has the capacity for a separate channel for each denomination."
VISN went on-air July 1, 1988. At launch the NICC was represented by 23 faith groups covering all branches of Christianity. Also, certain existing channels were represented with the inaugural members of the NICC, the Gospel Music Network
among them. The hope was to have an audience potential of 35 to 40 million viewers after five years.
VISN reached 6.4 million viewers by 1990. The network continued to expand rapidly, reaching 12.8 million two years later. By 1992 VISN represented 54 faith groups including a full range of Christian denominations from Episcopalians
to Latter Day Saints, to non-Christian groups such as Buddhists
, and Muslims. In late 1992, VISN merged channels with the American Christian Television System
, a network owned by the Southern Baptist Radio and Television Commission. Both networks would share the same satellite space and be independently owned, but each would run their own programming and maintain separate logos and identities. The ACTS network brought 8.2 million viewers, increasing VISN's total coverage to about 20 million. The combined network was called VISN-ACTS.
The Channel was renamed to the Faith & Values Channel in 1993, and its programming refocused to include more news and information.
In 1995 Tele-Communications Inc, the originating founding sponsor, bought a 49% stake in the channel and began to rebuild its programming with a focus on entertainment, eliminating all preaching programs. VISN had long been pressured by the competition created by other religious channels in cable markets. Long-time rivals included TBN
, EWTN, and FamilyNet
. In 1995 the Trinity Broadcasting Network called the Faith and Values Channel "a failed experiment in religious programming", stating that its overarching approach to faiths and entertainment programming hurt its efforts at attracting viewers. By 1996 the channel programming was such that it was said to eschew its own religious label.
Citing poor growth, the channel was renamed to the Odyssey Network in 1996 and given the tagline "Exploring Life's Journey". At the time of the name change, viewership potential had increased to 25.6 million, and the NICC espoused representatives from 65 faith groups.
The network continued to have problems throughout the late 1990s. External competition from PaxNet and CBS
, the need for internal harmony, and general funding issues kept the channel from garnering high quality programming like Touched By An Angel
and Nothing Sacred
. The channel sought new partners to rectify the situation, landing the Jim Henson Company and Hallmark Entertainment in 1998. Their 1999 relaunch refocused the network's programming to include more family and values-oriented entertainment and even less direct religious content.
In 2001 the channel was renamed to The Hallmark Channel. The station now had little religious content, and a potential viewership of 30 million. The SBC pulled ACTS out of the network in 2003 and withdrew from the NICC.
Faith & Values Media is a production company owned by the NICC. It continues to produce content both for television and on the internet. The corporation owns about 5% of the Hallmark Channel and has a long-term contract with them. In 2007, a subsidiary of Faith & Values Media acquired Ecunet, an online, ecumenical discussion forum.
The network was formed by cable operators and intended to be programmed by an interfaith group called the National Interfaith Cable Coalition. The channel went through several names including Faith and Values Channel and Odyssey Channel before becoming the Hallmark Channel
Hallmark Channel
The Hallmark Channel is a cable television network that broadcasts across the United States. Their programming includes a mix of television movies/miniseries, syndicated series, and lifestyle shows that are appropriate for the whole family...
with minimal religious content in 2001. Throughout the latter 1990s, the channel hosted a continuously diminishing roster of religious programming.
Background
The VISN network was formed in late 1987 by the National Interfaith Cable Coalition (NICC). The NICC was an interfaith foundation created to provide programming and guidance to VISN. Many of the initial members of the NICC were also members of the National Council of ChurchesNational Council of Churches
The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA is an ecumenical partnership of 37 Christian faith groups in the United States. Its member denominations, churches, conventions, and archdioceses include Mainline Protestant, Orthodox, African American, Evangelical, and historic peace...
, whose membership had experienced trouble keeping airtime for local religious programming following media deregulation in the 1980s. The startup costs of VISN were covered by several cable companies. Spearheaded by Tele-Communications Inc, early financial backers of the channel included American Television & Communications
Time Inc.
Time Inc. is a subsidiary of the media conglomerate Time Warner, the company formed by the 1990 merger of the original Time Inc. and Warner Communications. It publishes 130 magazines, most notably its namesake, Time...
, United Cable, Jones Intercable
JONES Intercable
Jones Intercable was a cable television company founded by Glenn Jones in 1970. Jones, already a cable television veteran, had bought his first cable system in Georgetown, Colorado after taking a $400 loan on his Volkswagen....
, Post-Newsweek Cable
Cable One
Cable ONE is a United States cable service provider and subsidiary of The Washington Post Company, functioning as its own self-contained corporation within its parent company. The company's name and current focus dates back to 1997; prior to that time the company was known as Post-Newsweek Cable...
, and Heritage Communications. The network was owned by the NICC and the Liberty Media Corporation, a subsidiary of Tele-Communications Inc. Although the network was advertising supported, it disallowed on-air solicitation by its programming.
In part the network was a response to the televangelist scandals of Oral Roberts
Oral Roberts
Granville "Oral" Roberts was an American Pentecostal televangelist and a Christian charismatic. He founded the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association and Oral Roberts University....
, Jim Bakker
Jim Bakker
James Orsen "Jim" Bakker is an American televangelist, a former Assemblies of God minister, and a former host of The PTL Club, a popular evangelical Christian television program.A sex scandal led to his resignation from the ministry...
, and the PTL
PTL Satellite Network
The PTL Television Network -- often referred to as simply PTL -- was a global evangelical Christian television network based in Fort Mill, South Carolina, founded by Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker in 1974. PTL Satellite Network was dedicated in April of 1977...
, and the general popularity of conservative religious television such as CBN
Christian Broadcasting Network
The Christian Broadcasting Network, or CBN, is a fundamentalist Christian television broadcasting network in the United States. Its headquarters and main studios are in Virginia Beach, Virginia.-Background:...
. Another goal of the network was to help ease the crowding of local cable networks by combining their programming into one channel. This goal was enumerated by Robert Thomson of founding company Tele-Communications Inc., who reported that "No operator has the capacity for a separate channel for each denomination."
VISN went on-air July 1, 1988. At launch the NICC was represented by 23 faith groups covering all branches of Christianity. Also, certain existing channels were represented with the inaugural members of the NICC, the Gospel Music Network
Gospel Music Network
The Gospel Music Network was a commercial Christian cable television station which launched in 1986 by Bill and Linda Airy. At the time, the Airy's owned a full-service advertising agency in Albuquerque, New Mexico. One of the agency's clients was Pepsi-Cola Bottling Group. In 1986, Pepsi-Cola...
among them. The hope was to have an audience potential of 35 to 40 million viewers after five years.
VISN reached 6.4 million viewers by 1990. The network continued to expand rapidly, reaching 12.8 million two years later. By 1992 VISN represented 54 faith groups including a full range of Christian denominations from Episcopalians
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
to Latter Day Saints, to non-Christian groups such as Buddhists
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, and Muslims. In late 1992, VISN merged channels with the American Christian Television System
American Christian Television System
The American Christian Television System was a television network developed in the 1980s by the Southern Baptist Convention . Plans for the network involved a combination of low and full-power stations, most of which were to be built, and carriage on local cable TV networks.Religious denominations...
, a network owned by the Southern Baptist Radio and Television Commission. Both networks would share the same satellite space and be independently owned, but each would run their own programming and maintain separate logos and identities. The ACTS network brought 8.2 million viewers, increasing VISN's total coverage to about 20 million. The combined network was called VISN-ACTS.
The Channel was renamed to the Faith & Values Channel in 1993, and its programming refocused to include more news and information.
In 1995 Tele-Communications Inc, the originating founding sponsor, bought a 49% stake in the channel and began to rebuild its programming with a focus on entertainment, eliminating all preaching programs. VISN had long been pressured by the competition created by other religious channels in cable markets. Long-time rivals included TBN
TBN
TBN may mean:* The Bot Net* The Barter Network* The Baseball Network* The Brewing Network* The Buffalo News* Toronto Bicycling Network* Total Base Number, an indicator for the alkalinity of lubricant oil* Trombone* Trinity Broadcasting Network...
, EWTN, and FamilyNet
FamilyNet
FamilyNet is a broadcast television network owned by ComStar Media Fund and based in Atlanta, Georgia. The network was founded in 1979 as the National Christian Network, and took the name FamilyNet in 1988 under the ownership of Jerry Falwell. The channel was acquired by InTouch Ministries in...
. In 1995 the Trinity Broadcasting Network called the Faith and Values Channel "a failed experiment in religious programming", stating that its overarching approach to faiths and entertainment programming hurt its efforts at attracting viewers. By 1996 the channel programming was such that it was said to eschew its own religious label.
Citing poor growth, the channel was renamed to the Odyssey Network in 1996 and given the tagline "Exploring Life's Journey". At the time of the name change, viewership potential had increased to 25.6 million, and the NICC espoused representatives from 65 faith groups.
The network continued to have problems throughout the late 1990s. External competition from PaxNet and CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
, the need for internal harmony, and general funding issues kept the channel from garnering high quality programming like Touched By An Angel
Touched by an Angel
Touched by an Angel is an American drama series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994 and ran for 211 episodes and nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and produced by Martha Williamson, the series stars Roma Downey, as an angel named Monica, and Della...
and Nothing Sacred
Nothing Sacred (TV series)
Nothing Sacred is an American drama series that aired from 1997 to 1998 on ABC. The series was created by a Jesuit priest named Bill Cain and producer David Manson.-Synopsis:...
. The channel sought new partners to rectify the situation, landing the Jim Henson Company and Hallmark Entertainment in 1998. Their 1999 relaunch refocused the network's programming to include more family and values-oriented entertainment and even less direct religious content.
In 2001 the channel was renamed to The Hallmark Channel. The station now had little religious content, and a potential viewership of 30 million. The SBC pulled ACTS out of the network in 2003 and withdrew from the NICC.
Faith & Values Media is a production company owned by the NICC. It continues to produce content both for television and on the internet. The corporation owns about 5% of the Hallmark Channel and has a long-term contract with them. In 2007, a subsidiary of Faith & Values Media acquired Ecunet, an online, ecumenical discussion forum.