View source for Trinity Broadcasting Network

{{short description|International Christian television network, 1973-present}}
{{pp-semi-indef}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Trinity Broadcasting Network
| logo = Trinity Broadcasting Network logo (2015).svg
| logo_size = 200px
| type = [[Religious broadcasting|Religious broadcast]] [[television network]]
| country = United States
| area = Worldwide
| affiliates = See [[List of Trinity Broadcasting Network affiliates|list of affiliates]]
| headquarters = [[Tustin, California]]
| owner = Trinity Broadcasting of Texas, Inc. <br> (a non-profit church corporation)
| language = English
| picture_format = {{Plainlist|
* [[720p]]/[[1080i]] [[High-definition television|HDTV]]
* {{small|(broadcast affiliates exclusively transmit TBN programming in SD)}}
}}
| former_names = Trinity Broadcasting Systems
| key_people = [[Matt Crouch (TBN)|Matt Crouch]] {{small|(president)}}
| founder = [[Paul Crouch|Paul]] and [[Jan Crouch]]
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|1973|p=y}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.tbn.org}}
| terr_serv_1 = [[Digital terrestrial television]]<br>(United States)
| terr_chan_1 = x.1 on TBN stations, listings may vary
| online_serv_1 = [[Digital media receiver]]
| online_chan_1 = [[Roku]]
| online_serv_2 = [[Digital media receiver]]
| online_chan_2 = [[Apple TV (device)|Apple TV]]
| online_serv_3 = [[Digital media receiver]]
| online_chan_3 = [[Amazon Fire TV]]
| online_serv_4 = TBN+
| online_chan_4 = {{url|tbnplus.com|Watch live}}<br>(Free account required)
}}
The '''Trinity Broadcasting Network''' ('''TBN'''; legally '''Trinity Broadcasting of Texas, Inc.''') is an international [[Christianity|Christian]]-based [[terrestrial television|broadcast]] [[television network]]<ref name="mediabiz.com">{{cite web|title=Is Content Kaput?|url=http://www.mediabiz.com/thebridge/?release_id=154#1052|work=The BRIDGE|date=March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122110107/http://www.mediabiz.com/thebridge/?release_id=154#1052|archive-date=January 22, 2010}}</ref><ref name="highbeam.com">{{cite web|title=Heavenly success: TV's largest religious network continues to expand around the world, while adding shows aimed at reaching a much wider audience. (30th Anniversary)|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-102725178.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104054255/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-102725178.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 4, 2012|work=[[Multichannel News]]|date=May 26, 2003|access-date=November 11, 2010}}</ref> and the world's largest religious television network.<ref name = WashPost2013-12-02>{{cite news|title=Paul Crouch dies at 79; founder of the Trinity Broadcasting Network|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/paul-crouch-dies-at-79-founder-of-the-trinity-broadcasting-network/2013/12/02/68e1856e-5b6d-11e3-a66d-156b463c78aa_story.html|author=Elaine Woo|date=December 2, 2013|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|quote=He bought more television stations, then piled on cable channels and eventually satellites until he had built the world's largest Christian television system...|access-date=July 6, 2014}}</ref> TBN solicits donations on its website as cash, vehicles, or legacies.<ref>{{cite web | title=How To Give To TBN | publisher=Trinity Broadcasting Network| url=https://www.tbn.org/give | access-date=3 March 2025}}</ref>

TBN was headquartered in [[Costa Mesa, California]], until March 3, 2017, when it sold its office park, Trinity Christian City,<ref>Kalfus, Marilyn. (March 3, 2017). "Trinity Broadcasting Network announced Friday that it has sold its landmark campus along the 405 on Bear Street in Costa Mesa". [http://www.ocregister.com/articles/network-745579-costa-tbn.html Orange County Register website] Retrieved March 6, 2017.</ref> retaining its studios in nearby [[Tustin, California|Tustin]]. Auxiliary studio facilities are located in [[Irving, Texas|Irving]], [[Hendersonville, Tennessee|Hendersonville]], [[Gadsden, Alabama|Gadsden]], [[Decatur, Georgia|Decatur]], [[Miami]] and [[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]], [[Tulsa, Oklahoma|Tulsa]] and [[New York City]]. TBN has characterized itself as broadcasting programs hosted by a diverse group of ministries from [[Evangelical]], traditional [[Protestant]] and [[Catholicism|Catholic]] denominations, non-profit charities, [[Messianic Judaism|Messianic Jewish]] and other [[Christians|Christian]] media personalities.<ref>{{cite web|title=NOV. 6 - 12, 2010 Program|url=http://www.tbn.org/watch/pdf/schedule.pdf.php|work=Trinity Broadcasting Network|access-date=November 11, 2010}}</ref> TBN also broadcasts original programming, faith-based films, and political opinion commentary from various distributors.<ref>{{cite web|title=TBN Films|url=http://www.tbn.org/tbn-films|publisher=Trinity Broadcasting Network|access-date=November 11, 2010|archive-date=December 4, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204024843/http://www7.tbn.org/tbn-films|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The TBN corporation owns and operates four broadcast networks in the United States—TBN, [[TBN Inspire]], [[Positiv]] and [[Enlace]]—as well as a number of religious networks in other countries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Family of Networks |url=https://www.tbn.org/about/networks |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226102728/https://www.tbn.org/about/networks |archive-date=December 26, 2024 |access-date=January 14, 2025 |website=Trinity Broadcasting Network |language=en}}</ref> [[Matt Crouch (TBN)|Matt Crouch]] has been TBN's president and head of operations since 2015.<ref>Colby May, tbn.org, [https://www.tbn.org/press-releases/matthew-crouch-named-chairman-board-trinity-broadcasting-family-networks MATTHEW CROUCH NAMED CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF THE TRINITY BROADCASTING FAMILY OF NETWORKS], USA, September 8, 2015</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=TBN founder Paul Crouch dies|url=http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2013/11/trinity_broadcast_network_foun.html|work=AL.com|date=November 30, 2010}}</ref>

==History==
The Trinity Broadcasting Network was co-founded as the '''Trinity Broadcasting Systems''' in 1973 by [[Paul Crouch]], an [[Assemblies of God]] minister, and his spouse [[Jan Crouch]].<ref>Mark Ward Sr., ''The Electronic Church in the Digital Age: Cultural Impacts of Evangelical Mass Media [2 volumes]: Cultural Impacts of Evangelical Mass Media'', ABC-CLIO, USA, 2015, page  206</ref> TBN began its broadcasting activities by renting time on the [[Independent station (North America)|independent station]] KBSA (now [[UniMás]] [[owned-and-operated station]] [[KFTR-DT]]) in [[Ontario, California]]. After that station was sold, he began buying two hours a day of programming time on KLXA-TV in [[Fontana, California]], in early 1974. That station was put up for sale shortly afterward. Paul Crouch then placed a bid to buy the station for $1 million and raised $100,000 for a [[down payment]]. After many struggles, the Crouches managed to raise the down payment and took over the station outright, with the station becoming [[KTBN-TV]] in 1977 and its [[city of license]] being reassigned to TBN's original homebase, [[Santa Ana, California|Santa Ana]], in 1983.

Initially, the station ran Christian programs for about six hours a day, expanding its programming to 12 hours a day by 1975, and began selling time to other Christian organizations to supplement its local programming. The station eventually instituted a 24-hour schedule in 1978.

[[File:TBN logo 1982-1992.jpg|thumb|left|TBN logo used from 1982 to 1992]]
The fledgling network was so weak in its first days, that, according to Crouch in his autobiography, ''Hello World!'', it almost went bankrupt after just two days on the air. TBN began national distribution through [[cable television]] providers in 1978. The ministry, which became known as the Trinity Broadcasting Network, gained national distribution via [[communications satellite]] in 1982. The network was a member of the [[National Religious Broadcasters]] association until 1990.

In 1977, the ministry purchased [[KPAZ-TV]] in [[Phoenix, Arizona]], becoming its second television station property. During the 1980s and 1990s, TBN purchased additional independent television stations and signed on new stations around the United States; the purchase of the existing stations was done in order to gain cable carriage, due to the [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC)'s [[must-carry]] rules. TBN's availability eventually expanded to 95% of American households by early 2005.<ref>{{cite web|title=TV's Religious Revival|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA527238.html|work=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|year=2005|access-date=June 19, 2008}}</ref>

==Broadcast outlets==
{{main|List of Trinity Broadcasting Network affiliates}}
TBN owns 35 full-power television stations serving larger metropolitan areas in the United States; at its peak, the network also owned 252 [[low-power broadcasting|low-power television stations]], which are mixed among stations serving medium-sized cities and rural translator stations in order to maximize the network's reach as much as is permissible. TBN also has several hundred affiliate stations throughout the United States, although just 61 of these are full-power UHF or VHF stations; the rest are low-powered stations, requiring a viewer to be within several miles of the transmitter to receive the signal. According to ''TVNewsCheck'', TBN was the third largest over-the-air television station group in the country as of 2010, besting the station groups of [[CBS Television Stations|CBS]], [[Fox Television Stations|Fox]] and [[NBC Owned Television Stations|NBC]], but behind [[Ion Media Networks]] and [[Univision Communications]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Top Station Groups Stay The Course|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/2010/04/07/41240/top-station-groups-stay-the-course|work=TVNewsCheck|date=April 7, 2010}}</ref>

Many of TBN's stations are owned by the ministry outright, while others are owned through the subsidiary [[Community Educational Television]], in order to own stations that TBN cannot acquire directly due to FCC ownership limits (which restrict companies from owning stations with a combined market reach of 39% of the United States), or are allocated for educational use and require additional programming to comply with that license purpose. TBN's programming is available by default via a national feed distributed to cable and satellite providers in markets without a local TBN station (this contrasts with the major commercial networks, which under FCC regulations, allow providers to import an owned-and-operated or affiliate station from a nearby market if no local over-the-air affiliate exists).

Worldwide, TBN's channels are broadcast on 70 satellites and over 18,000 television and cable affiliates. The TBN networks are also [[streaming media|streamed]] live on the internet globally;<ref name="TBN.org">{{cite web|title=Watch Us|url=http://www.tbn.org/watch-us|publisher=Trinity Broadcasting Network|access-date=November 11, 2010|archive-date=November 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115205457/http://www7.tbn.org/watch-us|url-status=dead}}</ref> the network also provides select archived shows [[video on demand|on demand]], through the website and select [[IPTV]] services.<ref>{{cite press release|title=IPTV Service Provider Auroras Entertainment Signs Content Deals with Eight New Programming Partners|url=http://www.pr.com/press-release/20478|work=PR.com|date=October 19, 2006|access-date=November 11, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Trinity's channels to bless Japan via IPTV |url=http://www.onscreenasia.com/article-2037-trinityschannelstoblessjapanviaiptv-onscreenasia.html |work=OnScreenAsia.com |date=October 29, 2007 |access-date=November 11, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002231119/http://www.onscreenasia.com/article-2037-trinityschannelstoblessjapanviaiptv-onscreenasia.html |archive-date=October 2, 2011 }}</ref>

During 2010, citing economic problems and a lack of donations, TBN closed down and sold many of its low-powered television repeaters. Of those, 17 were sold to another Christian television network, [[Daystar (TV network)|Daystar]].<ref>{{cite web|title=TBN losing LPTV stations in Minnesota and North Dakota and Wisconsin |url=http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/apostasy-local-church/33782-tbn-losing-lptv-stations-minnesota-north-dakota-wisconsin.html |work=Rapture Forums |via=Northpine.com |date=March 30, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728075535/http://www.raptureforums.com/forum/apostasy-local-church/33782-tbn-losing-lptv-stations-minnesota-north-dakota-wisconsin.html |archive-date=July 28, 2011 }}</ref> On April 13, 2012, TBN sold 36 of its translators to Regal Media, a broadcasting group headed by George Cooney, the CEO of [[EUE/Screen Gems]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Asset Purchase Agreement: Trinity Christian Center Of Santa Ana, Inc. / Trinity Broadcasting Of Arizona, Inc. (Sellers) and Regal Media, Inc. (Buyer)|url=https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101499020&qnum=5030&copynum=1&exhcnum=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202233742/https://licensing.fcc.gov/cdbs/CDBS_Attachment/getattachment.jsp?appn=101499020&qnum=5030&copynum=1&exhcnum=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 2, 2013|publisher=Federal Communications Commission}}</ref>

Another 151 translators were donated to the Minority Media and Television Council (MMTC),<ref>{{cite web|title=FCC document: "COMMENTS OF LPTV ENTREPRENEURS"|url=http://mmtconline.org/lp-pdf/LPTV%20Comments%20121710.pdf|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|date=December 17, 2010}}</ref> an organization designed to preserve equal opportunity and civil rights in the media;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mmtconline.org/|title=Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council - Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council|website=mmtconline.org}}</ref> MMTC would later sell 78 of these translators to [[Luken Communications]], parent company of the [[Retro Television Network]].<ref>{{cite web|title=RTN Parent Buys 78 TV Translators|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/2011/06/16/51942/rtn-parent-buys-78-tv-translators|work=TVNewsCheck|date=June 16, 2011}}</ref> Four more translators in [[Dothan, Alabama]]; [[Kirksville, Missouri]]; [[Jonesboro, Arkansas]]; and [[Jackson, Tennessee]], were sold by MMTC to New Moon Communications, with the intent to convert them into [[NBC]] affiliates.<ref name=b&c-mmtcnewmoon>{{cite news|last=Malone|first=Michael|title=New Moon Brings NBC to Four Tiny Markets|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/470358-New_Moon_Brings_NBC_to_Four_Tiny_Markets.php|access-date=June 28, 2011|newspaper=[[Broadcasting & Cable]]|date=June 28, 2011}}</ref> However, in September 2012, New Moon put all four of these translators for sale.<ref>Per [http://www.radiotvdeals.com/ radiotvdeals.com]</ref><!-- Unable to present full URL, as coding in URL interferes with Wikipedia's markup language. Also unable to provide shortcut version, as it is blacklisted by Wikipedia. --> Only [[Gray Television]] would purchase a transmitter in Dothan, which was converted into NBC affiliate [[WRGX-LD]]; the licenses in Ottumwa (KUMK-LP)<ref>{{cite web|title=March 2014|url=http://northpine.com/broadcast/archive/news0314.html|work=Northpine.com}}</ref> and Jackson (WZMC-LP) would later be canceled<ref>{{cite web|title=Request for Cancellation of License, WZMC-LP, Jackson, TN, Facility Id. 68047|url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=42605|publisher=Federal Communications Commission|date=July 30, 2013}}</ref> (the NBC affiliate in Jackson, [[WNBJ-LD]], operates using a different license). Its Jonesboro transmitter, [[KJNE-LD|KJNE-LP]] remained [[Dark (broadcasting)|silent]] but with an active license; however, that market's [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate [[KAIT]] ended up obtaining the NBC affiliation instead, via a subchannel.<ref name=ab-kaitnbc8.2>{{cite news|title=KAIT Says It Will Launch An NBC Affiliate|url=http://www.arkansasbusiness.com/post/102631/kait-to-broadcast-nbc-affiliate|work=[[Arkansas Business]]|date=December 29, 2014|access-date=December 29, 2014}}</ref> KJNE-LP ended up becoming a translator station of [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] affiliate [[KJNB-LD]]. Another 44 of the licenses that were donated by TBN to the MMTC would be canceled on December 1, 2011, due to remaining silent for over a year.<ref name=fcc-tbndeletions>{{cite web|title=Re: Applications for Assignment of License…|url=https://cdbs.recnet.com/corres/?doc=29804|format=PDF|date=November 30, 2011|work=CDBS Public Access|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|access-date=December 3, 2011}}</ref>

On October 22, 2012, TBN acquired [[WRBJ-TV]] in [[Jackson, Mississippi]] from [[Roberts Broadcasting]]. Following FCC and bankruptcy court approval on January 17, 2013,<ref name=stlpd-courtapproval>{{cite news|title=Roberts Cos.' Mississippi TV station sale approved|url=http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/roberts-cos-mississippi-tv-station-sale-approved/article_c5ded9b7-ad9e-5b80-a3c5-f5985ff2ba77.html|author=Lisa Brown|newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]]|publisher=[[The McClatchy Company]]|date=January 18, 2013|access-date=January 19, 2013}}</ref> TBN officially took over operational control of WRBJ on May 24, 2013, dropping all secular and [[The CW|CW]] network programming and converting it into a full-time [[broadcast relay station#satellite stations|satellite]] of TBN (the network was previously available in the Jackson area on [[WJKO-LP]], which was later sold to Daystar).<ref>{{cite web|title=Roberts brothers' TV station in new hands|url=http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20121023/BIZ/310230036/Roberts-brothers-TV-station-new-hands?nclick_check=1|newspaper=[[The Clarion-Ledger]]|date=October 22, 2012}}</ref>

On July 8, 2013, TBN announced an affiliation with the [[Lethbridge]], Alberta, Canada religious station [[CJIL-DT|Miracle Channel]]; as part of the agreement, Miracle Channel added some of TBN's flagship programs, including ''Praise The Lord'' and ''Behind The Scenes'', while TBN picked up programs shown on Miracle Channel, including services from the Springs Church (of which Miracle Channel CEO Leon Fontaine is a pastor), and ''The Leon Show'' on [[The Church Channel]]. Plans were also announced for Fontaine to become a regular host on ''Praise the Lord'' and four episodes per-year to originate from Canada, and for Miracle Channel and TBN co-produce a new weekly program.<ref name=mcn-tbnmc>{{cite web|title=TBN, Canada's Miracle Channel To Share Shows|url=http://www.multichannel.com/content/tbn-canadas-miracle-channel-share-shows/144329|work=Multichannel News|access-date=September 26, 2013}}</ref>

In December 2023, TBN announced a distribution partnership with [[Phil McGraw]]'s new venture [[Merit TV]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=2023-12-06 |title=Dr. Phil Will Team With Trinity Broadcasting to Launch New TV Network |url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/dr-phil-trinity-broadcasting-tv-network-launch-1235823927/ |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> TBN entered into a joint venture with McGraw hold a controlling equity stake in its parent company Merit Street Media, in exchange for distribution and access to production resources. In July 2025, Merit Street Media filed for [[Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code|Chapter 11 bankruptcy]] and sued TBN, accusing the company of reneging on its commitments and "[abusing] its power as a controlling shareholder to advance its own interests and those of its CEO Matthew Crouch".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Jill Goldsmith,Ted |date=2025-07-02 |title=Dr. Phil's Merit Street Media JV Files For Bankruptcy, Sues Partner Trinity Broadcasting For Breach Of Contract |url=https://deadline.com/2025/07/dr-phil-merit-street-media-jv-bankruptcy-sues-trinity-1236448188/ |access-date=2025-07-02 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Hannah |date=July 2, 2025 |title=Dr. Phil's Media Company Files for Bankruptcy Amid Dispute |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-07-02/dr-phil-s-media-company-files-for-bankruptcy-amid-dispute |access-date=July 2, 2025 |website=Bloomberg |language=en}}</ref>

=== Digital television ===
The signals of TBN's television stations are multiplexed into [[digital subchannel]]s, most of which carry networks owned by TBN. Subchannel lineups vary, but as of January 2025, most stations use the one below.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Market Listings |url=https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php |access-date=January 14, 2025 |website=[[RabbitEars]]}}</ref>
* x.1: TBN – flagship network
* x.2: [[Merit TV]] – news discussion, [[Talk show|talk shows]], and [[true crime]]; joint venture with [[Phil McGraw]]
* x.3: [[TBN Inspire]] – programming similar to TBN's, but focused more on church services
* x.4: [[Cannella Media#Operations|OnTV4U]] – paid programming
* x.5: [[Positiv]] – Christian and [[family-friendly]] films; network owned by TBN

A small number of stations broadcast TBN's Spanish-language [[Enlace]] network.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stations for Network – Enlace USA |url=https://www.rabbitears.info/search.php?request=network_search&network=Enlace+USA |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240824065606/https://www.rabbitears.info/search.php?network=Enlace+USA&request=network_search |archive-date=August 24, 2024 |access-date=January 14, 2025 |website=RabbitEars}}</ref>

==Programming==
[[File:TBN NYC.jpg|thumb|293x293px|TBN's New York City production facility]]

===Overview===
TBN produces a variety of original Christian programs, such as gospel music concerts, live coverage of major Christian events, [[talk show]]s, health/fitness/nutrition programs with Christian family doctors, children's programs, contemporary Christian [[music video]]s, marriage enrichment series, holiday specials, Christian dramas, and full-length, family-oriented movies.<ref name="parentstv.org">{{cite web|title=TBN Awarded Seal of Approval by Parents Television Council|url=http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/news/release/2008/0228.asp|publisher=Parents Television Council|date=February 28, 2008|access-date=November 11, 2010|archive-date=April 24, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424211838/http://www.parentstv.org/PTC/news/release/2008/0228.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> In addition, the network airs local religious programming on each of their feeds.

The network's flagship program ''[[Praise (TV program)|Praise]]'' is hosted by various regular and guest hosts, including TBN president Matt Crouch and his wife Laurie Crouch. It features interviews with celebrities, ministers, and [[laity|laypeople]] discussing faith-based topics and their personal relationship with God; as well as musical performances from [[gospel music|gospel]] and [[Contemporary Christian music|contemporary Christian]] artists. The program originated as ''Praise the Lord'', was regularly hosted by TBN founders Paul and Jan Crouch, and was originally two or three hours long. Until 2017, local versions of ''Praise the Lord'' were produced by TBN owned-and-operated stations and affiliates in order to fulfill [[public affairs (broadcasting)|public affairs]] content guidelines.{{citation needed|date=May 2016}}

====Children's programming====
TBN broadcasts ''[[VeggieTales]]'' under the "Smile" banner on Saturdays 8{{En dash}}10 a.m [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern Time]] to fulfill [[E/I]] programming requirements as per the [[Federal Communications Commission|FCC]]'s [[Children's Television Act]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=TBN Schedule 2021-12-01 |url=https://www.tbn.org/sites/default/files/2021-12/tbn-schedule-2021-12-01-web-a_0.pdf |access-date=30 October 2023 |website=TBN}}</ref> Programs previously featured as part of the lineup, and the defunct [[Smile (TV network)|Smile]] spin-off network, ranged from contemporary programs (such as ''[[3-2-1 Penguins!]]''), classic series (such as ''[[Davey and Goliath]]''), and TBN originals (such as ''iShine Knect'' and ''[[Mary Rice Hopkins]] & Puppets with a Heart'').<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

====Regularly scheduled shows====
:Source:<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web|title=Broadcast Schedule - Watch Us|url=http://www.tbn.org/watch-us/broadcast-schedule|publisher=Trinity Broadcasting Network|access-date=November 11, 2010}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* Classic [[Billy Graham]] Crusades
* ''Changing Your Life'' with Gregory Dickow
* ''Changing Your World'' with [[Creflo A. Dollar]]
* ''Destined to Reign'' with [[Joseph Prince]]
* ''End of the Age'' with [[Irvin Baxter, Jr.]]
* ''Equip and Empower'' with [[Christine Caine]]
* ''Enjoying Everyday Life'' with [[Joyce Meyer]]
* ''Gospel Truth'' with [[Andrew Wommack]]
* ''Grace'' with [[Max Lucado]]
* ''Harvest'' with [[Greg Laurie]]
* ''[[Hour of Power]]''
* ''[[In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley]]''
* ''[[Joel Osteen]] Ministries''
* ''[[John Hagee]] Today''
* ''Kingdom Connection'' with Jentezen Franklin
* ''Leading the Way'' with Michael Youssef
* ''Life Today'' with [[James Robison (televangelist)|James Robison]]
* ''Living Proof'' with [[Beth Moore]]
* ''Manna-Fest with Perry Stone''
* ''The Potter's Touch'' with Bishop [[T. D. Jakes]]
* ''Power Point'' with [[Jack Graham (pastor)|Jack Graham]]
* ''Praise'' (flagship program; various hosts)
* ''[[The 700 Club]]'' (hosted by [[Gordon P. Robertson]])
* ''Touching Lives'' with Dr. James Merritt
* ''Turning Point'' with [[David Jeremiah]]
* ''Winning Walk'' with Ed Young Sr.
{{div col end}}

====Personalities featured on TBN====
* [[Steven Furtick]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Molina |first1=Alejandra |title=Steven Furtick to Replace Kenneth Copeland on TBN |url=https://www.christianheadlines.com/blog/steven-furtick-to-replace-kenneth-copeland-on-tbn.html}}</ref>
* [[Mike Huckabee]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/351094-huckabee-lines-up-trump-as-first-guest-on-new-talk-show-report/|title=Huckabee lines up Trump as first guest on new talk show: report|first=Olivia|last=Beavers|newspaper=The Hill |date=September 17, 2017}}</ref>

====Movies====
Since 2009, TBN has broadcast feature-length religious or inspirational-themed films; these films air primarily on weekend evenings (with films based on biblical stories most commonly airing on Sundays), with more contemporary films (which often incorporate moral lessons, faith-based lessons or a combination thereof, and are commonly targeted at youth audiences) airing on Saturday nights as part of the network's "preview" block of JUCE TV programs and intermittently on Monday–Fridays during the late-afternoon and overnight hours.

Films produced by or for TBN have included ''The Revolutionary'' and ''The Revolutionary II'' (based on the life of [[Jesus Christ|Jesus]]); ''The Emissary'' (a film on the life of the apostle [[Paul (apostle)|Paul]]); ''[[The Omega Code]]'' and its sequel ''[[Megiddo: The Omega Code 2]]''; ''Carman: The Champion''; ''Time Changer''; and ''Six: The Mark Unleashed'' (starring [[Stephen Baldwin]] and [[David A.R. White]]).<ref name="TBN.org"/> Some of these films were produced by [[Gener8Xion Entertainment]], TBN's [[Hollywood, Los Angeles, California|Hollywood, California]]-based Christian motion picture studio, which was co-founded by Matt and Laurie Crouch.

TBN also broadcasts films from other production companies on its main network and some of its sister networks (in particular, JUCE TV and Smile of a Child). One notable film was [[Mel Gibson]]'s ''[[The Passion of the Christ]]'', which premiered on television on TBN on April 17, 2011. TBN presented the film with much of the graphic violence included (due to its depiction of the events leading to and including the crucifixion of Jesus Christ as illustrated in Biblical teachings); as a result, TBN assigned a "[[TV Parental Guidelines#TV-MA|TV-MA-V]]" rating for the film, a rarity for many Christian networks.<ref>{{cite web|title=TBN: "The Passion of the Christ"|url=http://www.tbn.org/watch-us/our-programs/the-passion-of-the-christ|publisher=Trinity Broadcasting Network|access-date=April 18, 2011|archive-date=June 6, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606022007/http://www.tbn.org/watch-us/our-programs/the-passion-of-the-christ|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title="The Passion" Movie Premier Alert! |url=http://www.skyangel.com/blog/index.php/2011/04/11/the-passion-movie-premier-alert/|website=Sky Angel |date=April 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929025910/http://www.skyangel.com/blog/index.php/2011/04/11/the-passion-movie-premier-alert/ |archive-date=September 29, 2011 }}</ref>

==TBN HD==
{{Original research section|date=August 2024}}
On December 15, 2009, the Trinity Broadcasting Network became the first Christian television network to broadcast completely in [[High-definition television|high definition]].<ref name="Web Wire.com">{{cite web|title=TBN Launches High Definition Channel on AT&T's U-Verse TV Service|url=http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=111013|work=Webwire.com|date=January 15, 2010|access-date=November 11, 2010}}</ref> However, until 2018 only the national cable-satellite feed was transmitted in HD; TBN's [[owned-and-operated stations|owned-and-operated broadcast stations]] were not equipped to allow HD broadcasts due partly to the bandwidth limitations caused by its mandatory carriage of five subchannels over a single broadcast signal and the lack of a modern [[multiplexer]] at the transmitter level, disallowing TBN's [[master control]] from sending the main feed in high definition or [[widescreen]] [[standard-definition television|standard definition]] (this is in comparison to Ion Media Networks, which carries five to six multiplex services on most of its stations – including its flagship network [[Ion Television]], which is transmitted in high-definition); the primary TBN network feed is transmitted in standard-definition by its owned-and-operated stations and affiliates. Thus, widescreen programming on TBN's broadcast services was offered over-the-air in a [[letterboxing (filming)|letterboxed]] [[4:3]] picture format, though it is offered in native formats on pay television and IPTV services (including TBN's mobile and [[digital media player]] apps, the latter requiring email authentication and an opt-in to the network's mailing list as of June 2018). At some point in 2018, some TBN over-the-air stations upgraded their primary feed and second subchannel to 720p HD, where available and/or technically possible.

==Charitable and humanitarian initiatives==

===Smile of a Child Foundation===
The Smile of a Child Foundation is a compassion-focused ministry, founded in 2005 by TBN co-founder Jan Crouch initially as a vehicle to reach the children of [[Haiti]], providing food, medical care, toys and disaster relief to people in need. Crouch has over 20 years of personal involvement with the island country, having established a children's hospital, an orphanage and a school in Haiti. TBN spent millions in donations and other funding on these humanitarian projects.<ref>{{cite news|title=Filmmaker's bond to Haiti|url=http://larrykinglive.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/29/filmmaker%E2%80%99s-bond-to-haiti/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625051446/http://larrykinglive.blogs.cnn.com/2010/01/29/filmmaker%e2%80%99s-bond-to-haiti/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 25, 2010|work=[[CNN]]|publisher=[[Turner Broadcasting System]]|date=January 29, 2010}}</ref>

Following the [[2010 Haiti earthquake|January 12, 2010, Haiti earthquake]], TBN made immediate contributions of $100,000 through [[Lake Charles, Louisiana]]-based Friend Ships, which speeds emergency relief aid and medical expertise all over the world in its fleet of dedicated cargo/ministry ships.<ref>{{cite web|title=Haiti Mission 2006 - Friend Ships reaches out with tender loving care to the people of Haiti|url=http://www.friendships.org/haiti.html|work=FriendShips.org|access-date=November 11, 2010|archive-date=November 28, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128222705/http://www.friendships.org/Haiti.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Friend Ships has been partnering with TBN and Smile since 1992; Paul Crouch personally donated a [[Bell 206]] Jet Ranger helicopter to the humanitarian organization.

In May 2009, the [[United Nations]] officially recommended the Smile of a Child Foundation to receive special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council for the Democracy Coalition Project.<ref>{{cite web|title=COMMITTEE ON NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS REJECTS SPECIAL STATUS FOR GROUP, CLOSES FILE ON ANOTHER, APPROVES 10 APPLICATIONS WHILE DEFERRING 15 OTHERS|url=https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2009/ecosoc6396.doc.htm|publisher=[[United Nations]]|date=May 26, 2009|access-date=November 11, 2010}}</ref>

==Attractions==

=== Trinity Music City ===
[[Trinity Music City]]<ref>{{citation|title=Trinity Music City, USA|url=http://www.tbn.org/index.php/3/11.html|publisher=Trinity Broadcasting Network|access-date=April 5, 2009}}</ref> is an entertainment complex in [[Hendersonville, Tennessee]]; near [[Nashville]], operated by TBN and serving as the studios for TBN's Nashville-area station, [[WPGD-TV]]. Formerly known as "Twitty City", the former estate of country music legend [[Conway Twitty]], the complex includes the 2,000-seat Trinity Music City Church Auditorium, which is used for TBN-produced concerts, dramas, seminars and special events. A 50-seat virtual reality theater showcases four original productions from TBN Films.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tennessee - About Us|url=http://www.tbn.org/about-us/tennessee|publisher=Trinity Broadcasting Network|access-date=November 11, 2010}}</ref>

=== Trinity Christian City International ===
Trinity Christian City International was a complex in [[Costa Mesa, California]], which served as the headquarters for TBN as well as a tourist attraction.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-07 |title=Redevelopment of former Trinity Broadcasting Network campus gets Costa Mesa City Council support |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2025/08/07/redevelopment-of-former-trinity-broadcasting-network-campus-gets-city-council-support-in-costa-mesa/ |access-date=2025-08-08 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US}}</ref> On March 3, 2017, it was announced by The Christian media network that Trinity Christian City International had been sold to Greenlaw Partners, because TBN now finds its campus "obsolete". A sales price was not disclosed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2017/03/06/trinity-broadcasting-network-sells-its-landmark-costa-mesa-campus-along-the-405-freeway/ |title=Trinity Broadcasting Network sells its landmark Costa Mesa campus along the 405 freeway |publisher=OCregister.com |date=March 6, 2017 |access-date=August 21, 2018}}</ref> On April 12, 2017, it was revealed that the sales price was $18.25 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2017/04/12/trinity-broadcasting-network-campus-sale-price-revealed-18-25-million/ |title=Trinity Broadcasting Network campus sale price revealed: $18.25 million |publisher=OCregister.com |date=April 12, 2017 |access-date=August 21, 2018}}</ref>

=== Holy Land Experience ===
{{main|Holy Land Experience}}
In June 2007, TBN purchased the bible-themed adventure park Holy Land Experience in [[Orlando, Florida]], for $37 million.<ref name="Orlando Sentinel">{{cite news|title=Scores lose jobs as Holy Land undergoes extreme makeover|url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-holyland2107oct21,0,3805392.story?coll=orl-home-utility-sports|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071028072405/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/orl-holyland2107oct21,0,3805392.story?coll=orl-home-utility-sports|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 28, 2007|newspaper=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|publisher=[[Tribune Publishing]]|date=October 21, 2007|access-date=September 17, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Home|url=http://www.holylandexperience.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020123111029/http://www.holylandexperience.com/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=January 23, 2002|work=Holy Land Experience|access-date=November 11, 2010}}</ref>

==Criticisms and incidents==

===Theology===
The Trinity Broadcasting Network had previously come under heavy criticism for its promotion of the [[prosperity gospel]], teaching viewers that they will receive a reward if they donate or give offerings.<ref>{{cite web|title=Luke 6:38|url=http://bible.cc/luke/6-38.htm|work=Bible.cc|quote="Give, and it will be given to you. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken down, and running over will be put into your lap, because you will be evaluated by the same standard with which you evaluate others."}}</ref> In a 2004 interview with the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', [[Paul Crouch, Jr.]] expressed his disappointment that "the prosperity gospel is a lightning rod for the Body of Christ. It's not what drives TBN."<ref>{{cite news|title=TBN's Promise: Send Money and See Riches|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-sep-20-me-tbn20-story.html|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=September 20, 2004}}</ref> Under leadership of Matt Crouch, TBN no longer adheres to or practices that theology, and programming changes such as removing Kenneth Copeland reflect that shift.<ref>{{cite news|title=TBN drops Kenneth Copeland from programming lineup amid upcoming changes|url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/tbn-to-drop-kenneth-copeland-from-programming-lineup-amid-upcoming-changes.html|work=[[The Christian Post]]|date=August 19, 2020}}</ref>

TBN has always broadcast programming featuring Protestant pastors who do not promote the prosperity gospel, such as [[Charles Stanley]], [[Jack Graham (pastor)|Jack Graham]], [[Franklin Graham]], [[Billy Graham]], [[Michael Youssef]], [[David Jeremiah]] and [[Robert Jeffress (pastor)|Robert Jeffress]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Televangelists Living Like Kings?|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/televangelists-living-like-kings/|publisher=[[CBS News]]|date=November 6, 2007|access-date=September 17, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Two Televangelists Making Reform|url=http://www.christianpost.com/article/20080709/two-televangelists-making-reforms-amid-financial-probe/index.html|work=[[The Christian Post]]|date=July 9, 2008}}</ref>

Scholar Steve Snow states that TBN "regularly promotes the teachings of the [<nowiki/>[[New Apostolic Reformation]]]", which he argues "represents what [[Richard Hofstadter]] referred to as the modern [[The Paranoid Style in American Politics|paranoid style in American politics]]".<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Snow |first=Steve |date=2016 |title=Prophets, Demons, and Witch Hunts: American Spiritual Warfare as Scapegoat Ideology |journal=Journal of Religion & Society |volume=18 |pages=3–4 |hdl-access=free |hdl=10504/74593}}</ref>

===Wealth and transparency===
TBN is a [[501(c)(3)]] non-profit company. Full disclosure of TBN's financial statements have been evaluated by [[Charity Navigator]], the largest evaluator of charities and non-profit companies in the U.S. TBN has received a three out of four star rating for four consecutive years, and in 2009 earned a rating of two out of four stars due to a 2% increase in administrative costs in 2009; the report also revealed that for the fiscal year ending December 2009, TBN president Paul Crouch, Sr. earned $419,500; co-vice president Jan Crouch earned $361,000; and co-vice president Paul Crouch, Jr. earned $214,137. TBN is currently under Donor Advisory status with Charity Navigator.<ref name="charitynavigator.org">{{cite news|title=charitynavigator.org|url=http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=4574|publisher=[[Charity Navigator]]}}</ref>

Another charity watchdog group, [[Ministry Watch]], gave TBN an "F" in 2011 for its failure to provide financial statements, lack of timeliness in responding to correspondence, and its lack of clarity in the provided information. As a result, TBN was placed on the group's alert list annually since 2009.<ref name=MinistryWatchTBN>{{cite web|title=Trinity Broadcasting Network|url=http://www.ministrywatch.com/profile/trinity-broadcasting-network.aspx|work=Ministry Watch|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120312220159/http://www.ministrywatch.com/profile/Trinity-Broadcasting-Network.aspx|archive-date=March 12, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=30 Donor Alerts of 2011 |url=http://www.ministrywatch.com/pdf/donoralert2011.pdf |work=Ministry Watch |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306095206/http://ministrywatch.com/pdf/donoralert2011.pdf |archive-date=March 6, 2012 }}</ref>

TBN's annual financial information is monitored by the [[Chronicle of Philanthropy]], where it is ranked 243 out of the top 400 non-profit corporations in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|title=Trinity Broadcasting Network|url=http://philanthropy.com/premium/stats/philanthropy400/index.php?keyword=trinity+broadcasting&search=search|work=Philanthropy.com}} - dead link</ref> TBN is not a member of the [[Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability]].

In 2011, Paul Crouch, Jr. resigned from his position as co-vice president on TBN. On November 10 of that year, Crouch, Jr. joined [[The Word Network]] as its Director of Project Development.<ref>{{cite web|title=Paul Crouch Jr. Joins The Word Network|url=http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2011/November/Paul-Crouch-JrJoins-The-Word-Network|publisher=[[Christian Broadcasting Network]]|date=November 10, 2011}}</ref>

In February 2012, [[Brittany Koper]], TBN's former Director of Finance (and the daughter of Paul Crouch Jr.), filed a lawsuit against her former attorneys, Davert & Loe. The three counts of the complaint were for breach of fiduciary duties, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and professional negligence. In this lawsuit, Koper alleged that TBN unlawfully distributed over $50 million to the ministry's directors. Koper filed the suit following the termination of her employment with TBN. Davert & Loe, who also represented TBN, denied her claims. Koper's suit against Davert & Loe is pending; no official judicial ruling has been made in this matter.<ref name="KoperSuit">{{cite news|title=Family Battle Offers Look Inside Lavish TV Ministry|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/05/us/tbn-fight-offers-glimpse-inside-lavish-tv-ministry.html?_r=1&smid=fb-share|author=Erik Eckholm|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 4, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Suit: TBN board diverted millions from 'charitable assets'|url=http://www.ocregister.com/taxdollars/strong-478558-koper-tbn.html|author=Teri Sforza|newspaper=[[Orange County Register]] (OC Watchdog)|date=February 9, 2013}}</ref> In a May 2012 interview with ''[[The New York Times]]'', Koper claimed, "My job as finance director was to find ways to label extravagant personal spending as ministry expenses." Koper alleged that the network had herself and [[chauffeur]]s and [[sound engineer]]s ordained as ministers in order to avoid paying [[Social Security (United States)|Social Security]] taxes on their salaries.<ref name="KoperSuit"/> Brittany Koper said in a 2015 lawsuit that she was threatened with a firearm and dismissed on refusing to illegally transfer [[US$]]100 million of charitable assets to TBN directors' personal accounts.<ref>{{cite news| last=Blair | first=Leonardo | title=TBN Execs Threatened Founder's Granddaughter With Gun, Fired Her for Refusing to Skim $100M of Charitable Assets, Lawsuit Claims | publisher=Christian Post | date=3 February 2015 | url=https://www.christianpost.com/news/tbn-execs-threatened-founders-granddaughter-with-gun-fired-her-for-refusing-to-skim-100m-of-charitable-assets-lawsuit-claims.html}}</ref>

===Lawsuits===
In September 2004, the ''Los Angeles Times'' reported that Paul Crouch had paid former TBN employee Enoch Lonnie Ford a $425,000 formal settlement to end a [[wrongful termination]] lawsuit in 1998.<ref name="1996scandal">{{cite magazine|title=Former TBN Employee Alleges Gay Tryst With Paul Crouch|url=http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/2004/septemberweb-only/9-13-11.0.html|author=Ted Olsen|magazine=[[Christianity Today]]|date=September 1, 2004|access-date=December 25, 2006|archive-date=February 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207200817/http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/2004/septemberweb-only/9-13-11.0.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ford alleged that he and Crouch had a homosexual tryst during his employment with the ministry.<ref>{{cite web|title=TBN's Crouch Rebuts Sexual Harassment Story|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/tbn-s-crouch-rebuts-sexual-harassment-story-372079|work= nexttv.com |date=September 15, 2004}}</ref> TBN officials acknowledged the settlement but contested Ford's credibility, noting that he had previously been convicted for [[child molestation]] and drug abuse. In 1996, Ford was fired by TBN after he was arrested for drug-related offenses and returned to prison for a year. Ford allegedly threatened to sue TBN for wrongful termination and [[sexual harassment]] after the network refused to hire him following his release, resulting in his claims against Crouch. TBN officials stated that the settlement was made in order to avoid a lengthy and expensive lawsuit.<ref>{{cite news|title=Bad faith, blackmail and a troubled TV evangelist |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/article32197.ece |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |date=September 14, 2004 |access-date=September 17, 2007 }}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In late 2003, Ford attempted to [[extort]] Crouch, threatening to release an autobiographical [[manuscript]] of their alleged affair if TBN did not purchase the document for $10 million.<ref>Justin Camacho, [https://www.christianpost.com/news/tbn-founder-wins-lawsuit-against-former-employee.html TBN Founder Wins Lawsuit Against Former Employee], christianpost.com, USA, October 15, 2004</ref> In October 2004, Judge Robert J. O'Neill awarded Crouch $136,000 in legal fees to be paid by Ford for his violation of the terms of the settlement agreement, specifically the prohibition of discussing the details of the settlement. On March 15, 2005, Ford appeared on the [[Ion Television|PAX TV]] reality series ''[[Lie Detector (TV series)|Lie Detector]]'' to be given a [[polygraph test]]; the results of the test were never broadcast or made public.<ref>{{cite news|title=Born again: Evangelist sex scandal|author=Lloyd Grove|newspaper=[[Daily News (New York)|New York Daily News]]|date=March 31, 2005}}</ref>

In June 2012, the ''[[Orange County Register]]'' reported that Carra Crouch, a granddaughter of Paul and Jan Crouch, alleged in a lawsuit that she had been [[rape]]d by a TBN employee when she was 13 years old.<ref>{{cite web|title=Suit alleges TBN covered up rape of 13-year-old|url=http://taxdollars.ocregister.com/2012/06/21/suit-alleges-tbn-covered-up-rape-of-13-year-old/157357/|newspaper=Orange County Register|date=June 21, 2012}}</ref> Carra claimed to have been [[sexual abuse|sexually abused]] while staying at an [[Atlanta]] hotel during TBN's "Spring Praise-a-Thon" in 2006. She also claimed that Jan Crouch and TBN attorney John Casoria blamed her for the incident, yet agreed not to turn the fired employee in to authorities if he did not file for [[unemployment]], [[worker's compensation|worker's comp]] or [[Equal Employment Opportunity Commission|EEOC]] benefits. TBN attorney Colby May "vehemently denied" Carra's claims.<ref>{{cite web|title=Granddaughter of Paul and Jan Crouch Alleges Cover-up of Rape by TBN Employee When She Was 13|url=http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2012/06/granddaughter_of_paul_and_jan-crouch_alleges_cover-up.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120625224118/http://blogs.ocweekly.com/navelgazing/2012/06/granddaughter_of_paul_and_jan-crouch_alleges_cover-up.php|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 25, 2012|newspaper=[[Orange County Weekly]]|date=June 25, 2012}}</ref> In 2017, a year after Jan Crouch's death, a jury awarded Carra $2 million in damages for "mental suffering", but found that Jan had not been acting as a "Trinity Clergy Member" and therefore wasn't legally required to report the assault.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stevens|first=Matt|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/07/us/trinity-broadcasting-verdict.html|title=Jury Finds Televangelist Jan Crouch Shunned Granddaughter's Report of Rape|work=The New York Times|date=June 7, 2017|access-date=September 26, 2017}}</ref>

===Pre-emption of programs due to criticism of other religions===
[[Bible prophecy]] scholar [[Hal Lindsey]]'s program ''International Intelligence Briefing'', which occasionally aired commentary segments criticizing [[Muslim]]s and [[Islam]], aired on TBN from 1994 to 2005. In December 2005, TBN pre-empted the program for the entire month. Lindsey accused the network of [[censorship]], saying, "some at the network apparently feel that my message is too pro-[[Israel]] and too anti-Muslim."<ref>{{cite web|title=International Intelligence Briefing |url=http://www.hallindseyoracle.com/articles.asp?ArticleID=12130 |work=Hal Lindsey Oracle |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061211103318/http://www.hallindseyoracle.com/articles.asp?ArticleID=12130 |archive-date=December 11, 2006 }}</ref> Paul Crouch issued a press release stating that the show was only pre-empted for [[Christmas]] programming,<ref>{{cite web|title=TBN - Trinity Broadcasting Network<!-- Bot generated title -->|url=http://www.tbn.org/index.php/7.html?nid=87|publisher=Trinity Broadcasting Network|access-date=February 5, 2009|archive-date=June 15, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615162413/http://www.tbn.org/index.php/7.html?nid=87|url-status=dead}}</ref> but eventually admitted that TBN management was concerned that Lindsey "placed [[Arab]]s in a negative light." Lindsey resigned from TBN on January 1, 2006, effectively canceling ''International Intelligence Briefing''. However, one year later, Crouch and Lindsey reconciled and a new program, ''[[The Hal Lindsey Report]]'', premiered on the network.<ref>{{cite web |title=TBN Welcomes Popular Christian Author Hal Lindsey with New Weekly Program |url=http://www.tbnnetworks.org/affiliate/prArticle.php?ID=100 |work=TBN Networks |date=January 22, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315015715/http://www.tbnnetworks.org/affiliate/prArticle.php?ID=100 |archive-date=March 15, 2009 }}</ref>

In June 2011, TBN refused to rebroadcast an episode of [[Jack Van Impe]]'s weekly program ''Jack Van Impe Presents'', in which the evangelist criticized pastors [[Rick Warren]] and [[Robert Schuller]] for participating in [[Interfaith dialogue|interfaith]] conferences alongside Muslim leaders. Both Warren and Schuller denied the accusations.<ref>{{cite news|title=Pastors' Answer: Does Rick Warren Endorse Chrislam?|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/pastors-answer-does-rick-warren-endorse-chrislam-52833/|work=Christian Post}}</ref> Paul Crouch defended TBN's decision, stating that it was against network policy for personalities to attack each other on-air<ref>{{cite web|title=JVI NEW RESPONSE|url=http://www.tbn.org/announcements/files/JVI%20NEW%20RESPONSE%206-24-11b.pdf|publisher=Trinity Broadcasting Network|access-date=June 28, 2011|archive-date=March 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320092645/http://www.tbn.org/announcements/files/JVI%20NEW%20RESPONSE%206-24-11b.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> (Schuller had a regular show on TBN). As a result, Jack Van Impe Ministries announced that it would no longer air Van Impe's program on TBN.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jack Van Impe off TBN after criticizing two pastors|url=http://www.detnews.com/article/20110621/METRO/106210436/1361/Jack-Van-Impe-off-TBN-after-criticizing-two-pastors|newspaper=[[The Detroit News]]|date=June 21, 2011}} {{dead link|date=January 2013}}</ref>

===''Travel the Road'' in Afghanistan===
TBN produces and airs the Christian [[reality television|reality]] show ''[[Travel the Road]]'', which features missionaries Tim Scott and Will Decker in remote and often war-torn locations. In December 2008, the program attracted criticism from the [[Military Religious Freedom Foundation]] (MRFF), a watchdog group that looks for [[religious discrimination]] in the [[United States military]], which claimed that Scott and Decker were embedded with U.S. troops stationed in [[Afghanistan]]. According to MRFF president Mikey Weinstein, the military exercises a "complete prohibition of the proselytizing of any religion, faith, or practice...You see [Scott and Decker] wearing American helmets. It is obvious they were completely embedded." When [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] contacted the [[U.S. Army]] in Afghanistan about Scott and Decker's alleged embed, which had taken place four years previously, they said that they no longer had the documentation of the missionaries' status with the troops.<ref name="abcnews.go.com">{{cite web|title=Missionaries Face Death, Criticism to Preach|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/FaithMatters/Story?id=6786701&page=3|work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=February 2, 2009}}</ref>

Scott defended the trip to Afghanistan, telling ABC, "It wasn't like we were hiding in the back saying we're going to preach. [The military] knew what we were doing. We told them that we were born again Christians, we're here doing ministry, we shoot for this TV station and we want to embed and see what it was like. We were interviewing the chaplains and we talked to them. We spoke at the services and things like that. So we did do our mission being over there as far as being able to document what the soldiers go through, what it's like in Afghanistan. So I could say that we were on a secular mission as well as far as documenting. I would say we were news reporters as well, we were delivering news of what was actually happening there, but we were also there to document the Christian side." Scott argued that since the pair were acting as Christian journalists, they had the same right to cover the war in Afghanistan as secular networks.<ref name="abcnews.go.com"/>

==Awards and honors==
* 2008: [[Parents Television Council]] Entertainment Seal of Approval<ref name="parentstv.org"/>

==See also==
* [[Christian Broadcasting Network]]
* [[Daystar Television Network]], another Christian television network which features many of the same programs
* [[Glorystar]]
* [[TBN Namibia]]
* [[Well to Hell hoax]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://www.tbn.org}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/tbn Trinity Broadcasting Network] on [[YouTube]]
* [http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=4574 Income Statement] from [[Charity Navigator]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120312220159/http://www.ministrywatch.com/profile/Trinity-Broadcasting-Network.aspx Summary Report] from [[Ministry Watch]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090318060901/http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd/send-pdf.cgi?miami1154624326 Modern Day Heroes of Faith], an analysis of technology and religion on TBN.

{{TBN|state=collapsed}}
{{Lists of TV programs by regions}}
{{American broadcast television}}

[[Category:Trinity Broadcasting Network| ]]
[[Category:Christian mass media companies]]
[[Category:Christian mass media in the United States]]
[[Category:Conservative television in the United States]]
[[Category:Evangelical television networks]]
[[Category:Companies based in Orange County, California]]
[[Category:Gospel music media]]
[[Category:Political organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Religious television networks in the United States]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1973]]
[[Category:Non-profit organizations based in Texas]]
[[Category:Sexual abuse scandals in Pentecostalism]]