FamilyNet
Encyclopedia
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 October 2007 from the Southern Baptist Convention
. In December of 2009, FamilyNet was acquired by Robert A. Schuller
's ComStar Media Fund.
FamilyNet has a programming mission geared to family programming, involving a mix of original programming, kid’s-oriented shows, classic movies, action series, sports and lifestyle programs.
The network reaches 15.7 million television households throughout the United States
through a variety of sources, including broadcast affiliates, cable and satellite, and over internet television
on the SkyAngel platform. It won a 2008 Telly Award.
The organization also operated FamilyNet Radio
161, a full-time Christian talk channel on SIRIUS Satellite Radio
, but was dropped on November 30, 2010 in favor of FamilyTalk
.
In January 2009 FamilyNet added a three-hour programming block called "Families on FamilyNet" featuring My Three Sons
, Happy Days
, and Family Ties
. Other secular programming on FamilyNet include Early Edition
and Merv Griffin's Crosswords
.
In October 2009, FamilyNet began a Saturday morning kids programming block called FunTown, featuring airings of Underdog and The Bullwinkle Show and hosted by FamilyNet's original characters, Groove and Sluggo.
In March 2010, Lou Grant
and Trapper John, M.D.
joined the schedule as a result of the acquisition of American Life Network, which held the rights to those shows.
for viewers to discuss programming, family-related topics, and participate in blogs and games.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. The network was founded in 1979 as the National Christian Network
National Christian Network
The National Christian Network was a religious television network in the United States which formed in 1979. The channel was founded by Ray A. Kassis and located in Cocoa, Florida, where it owned studios. The programming was originated from Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant groups; at the time of...
, and took the name FamilyNet in 1988 under the ownership of Jerry Falwell
Jerry Falwell
Jerry Lamon Falwell, Sr. was an evangelical fundamentalist Southern Baptist pastor, televangelist, and a conservative commentator from the United States. He was the founding pastor of the Thomas Road Baptist Church, a megachurch in Lynchburg, Virginia...
. The channel was acquired by InTouch Ministries in October 2007 from the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
. In December of 2009, FamilyNet was acquired by Robert A. Schuller
Robert A. Schuller
Robert Anthony Schuller is an American televangelist, author, and television executive. He was formerly a minister on the Hour of Power weekly television program broadcast from the Crystal Cathedral in Orange County, California, where he was named senior pastor in 2006...
's ComStar Media Fund.
FamilyNet has a programming mission geared to family programming, involving a mix of original programming, kid’s-oriented shows, classic movies, action series, sports and lifestyle programs.
The network reaches 15.7 million television households throughout the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
through a variety of sources, including broadcast affiliates, cable and satellite, and over internet television
Internet television
Internet television is the digital distribution of television content via the Internet...
on the SkyAngel platform. It won a 2008 Telly Award.
The organization also operated FamilyNet Radio
FamilyNet Radio
FamilyNet Radio is a Christian radio station that airs on SIRIUS Satellite Radio channel 161. It is a part of the FamilyNet organizations. It supported the merging of SIRIUS and XM Satellite Radio.- Programs :...
161, a full-time Christian talk channel on SIRIUS Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
, but was dropped on November 30, 2010 in favor of FamilyTalk
FamilyTalk
Family Talk is a Christian focused talk radio channel on the SIRIUS XM Radio service Sirius channel 161 and XM channel 131 . It replaced FamilyNet Radio's SIRIUS XM feed on November 30, 2010. It was added to XM Radio Canada on April 1, 2007...
.
Television programming
- Judie Byrd's Kitchen, a cooking program.
- Kevin McCullough Show, a simulcast of Kevin McCullough's talk radio show.
- Wretched, a theology and commentary program hosted by Todd Friel.
- Liberty UniversityLiberty UniversityLiberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
home football games - Your Health, natural/alternative health advice
In January 2009 FamilyNet added a three-hour programming block called "Families on FamilyNet" featuring My Three Sons
My Three Sons
My Three Sons is an American situation comedy. The series ran from 1960 to 1965 on ABC, and moved to CBS until its end on August 24, 1972. My Three Sons chronicles the life of a widower and aeronautical engineer named Steven Douglas , raising his three sons.The series was a cornerstone of the CBS...
, Happy Days
Happy Days
Happy Days is an American television sitcom that originally aired from January 15, 1974, to September 24, 1984, on ABC. Created by Garry Marshall, the series presents an idealized vision of life in mid-1950s to mid-1960s America....
, and Family Ties
Family Ties
Family Ties is an American sitcom that aired on NBC for seven seasons, from 1982 to 1989. The sitcom reflected the move in the United States from the cultural liberalism of the 1960s and 1970s to the conservatism of the 1980s. This was particularly expressed through the relationship between young...
. Other secular programming on FamilyNet include Early Edition
Early Edition
Early Edition is an American television series that aired on CBS from September 28, 1996 to May 27, 2000. Set in the city of Chicago, Illinois, it follows the adventures of a man who mysteriously receives each Chicago Sun-Times newspaper the day before it is actually published, and who uses this...
and Merv Griffin's Crosswords
Merv Griffin's Crosswords
Merv Griffin's Crosswords is an American game show based on crossword puzzles. The show was created by its namesake, Merv Griffin, who died shortly after beginning production on the series...
.
In October 2009, FamilyNet began a Saturday morning kids programming block called FunTown, featuring airings of Underdog and The Bullwinkle Show and hosted by FamilyNet's original characters, Groove and Sluggo.
In March 2010, Lou Grant
Lou Grant (TV series)
Lou Grant is an American television drama series starring Ed Asner in the titular role as a newspaper editor. Unusual in American television, this drama series was a spinoff from a sitcom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Aired from 1977 to 1982, Lou Grant won 13 Emmy Awards, including "Outstanding Drama...
and Trapper John, M.D.
Trapper John, M.D.
Trapper John, M.D. is an American television medical drama and spin-off of the film MASH, concerning a lovable surgeon who became a mentor and father figure in San Francisco, California. The show ran on CBS from September 23, 1979, to September 4, 1986....
joined the schedule as a result of the acquisition of American Life Network, which held the rights to those shows.
Other features
In April 2009, FamilyNet.com added a FamilyNet Community internet forumInternet forum
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
for viewers to discuss programming, family-related topics, and participate in blogs and games.
See also
- American Christian Television SystemAmerican Christian Television SystemThe 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...
- National Christian NetworkNational Christian NetworkThe National Christian Network was a religious television network in the United States which formed in 1979. The channel was founded by Ray A. Kassis and located in Cocoa, Florida, where it owned studios. The programming was originated from Jewish, Catholic, and Protestant groups; at the time of...
- PTL Satellite NetworkPTL Satellite NetworkThe 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...
- Vision Interfaith Satellite NetworkVision Interfaith Satellite NetworkThe Vision Interfaith Satellite Network 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...