History

TBN'S MIRACULOUS HISTORY!

It's all about availability, faith, and partnership! Over forty years ago Paul and Jan Crouch joined a small core of dedicated friends and partners to step out by faith into a God-birthed dream — to use television to take the life-changing message of Jesus Christ to every corner of the earth. The start of that dream was small, with just one low-power station broadcasting a snowy picture and some homemade Christian programming a few hours a day throughout Southern California.  But God breathed life into those humble beginnings. People from all walks of life and circumstances started tuning in. Lives were changed, the word spread, and before long folks across America and beyond were asking for this miracle of Christian television. Within just a few years the Trinity Broadcasting Network was expanding — first across America, and then to cities and nations throughout the earth, where millions experienced the message of Jesus Christ for the first time through innovative and compelling Christian programming. 

Today TBN is the world's largest religious broadcaster, with over 30 (and growing) global networks airing a broad range of church and ministry programming, Christian music, family-friendly movies, children's programming, and shows for teens and young adults to every inhabited continent. Among TBN's most popular channels are its Trinity Broadcasting Network, the flagship channel and the world's most-watched and requested faith channel; the Hillsong Channel, featuring cutting-edge worship and life-changing ministry; SMILE, a fun and friendly network for kids of all ages; JUCE, with round-the-clock music, extreme sports, comedy, relevant talk, and more for teens and young adults; Enlace, the world's premier Spanish-language Christian network; and SALSA, especially for “next-generation” Hispanics who may not speak Spanish, but who love the unique warmth, passion, and flavor of their Latino-American culture and faith traditions.

Today TBN is the world's largest religious broadcaster, with over 30 (and growing) global networks airing a broad range of church and ministry programming, Christian music, family-friendly movies, children's programming, and shows for teens and young adults to every inhabited continent. Among TBN's most popular channels are its Trinity Broadcasting Network, the flagship channel and the world's most-watched and requested faith channel; the Hillsong Channel, featuring cutting-edge worship and life-changing ministry; SMILE, a fun and friendly network for kids of all ages; JUCE, with round-the-clock music, extreme sports, comedy, relevant talk, and more for teens and young adults; Enlace, the world's premier Spanish-language Christian network; and SALSA, especially for “next-generation” Hispanics who may not speak Spanish, but who love the unique warmth, passion, and flavor of their Latino-American culture and faith traditions.

Internationally, TBN reaches hundreds of millions of viewers 24 hours a day in their own languages via networks throughout Latin America, Africa, Europe, the Baltics, and Asia. This includes two exclusive channels, Al Horreya and TBN Nejat TV, airing the message of the gospel to Arabic and Farsi-speaking Muslims throughout the Middle East. And through TBN’s state-of-the-art studios in key locations like Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, Nashville, New York City, London, Madrid, and Jerusalem, TBN is producing relevant Christian programming for people groups throughout the earth.

From the very beginning, TBN has embraced cutting-edge technologies that extend its reach to more people with the hope of the gospel. In the 1970s, TBN was one of the first networks to use satellite to broadcast its programming globally. TBN was an early leader in using the Internet to share its programming online. And today millions of viewers around the world watch the TBN Networks live on smart phones, tablets, and laptops. Additionally, thousands of hours of content is available to viewers everywhere through TBN's exclusive iTBN online viewing platform.

Recognizing the great need for God's love to reach men and women in prison, several years ago TBN founder Paul Crouch, launched TBN 2nd Chance, a compassionate outreach providing TBN's top Christian networks for free to hundreds of prisons across the U.S. — impacting a potential of nearly one millions inmates.

And, of course, there’s Holy Land Experience, TBN's exclusive family vacation and worship destination in Orlando, Florida, that immerses visitors in the sights, sounds, historical time frames — and impacting truths — of the Bible. With its interactive exhibits, realistic re-creations of ancient Israel, and award-winning theatrical productions, Holy Land Experience has become a must-see attraction for individuals, families, and groups from across America and around the world.

Without a doubt, TBN has come a long way since that special night in May 1973, when Paul and Jan Crouch, along with a small team of partners, dedicated the outreach of TBN to God before going on the air for the very first time. Asked shortly before his passing about the secret behind TBN's fruitfulness and success, Paul reflected: “There were certainly people with far more ability and resources that God could have used to take the message of Jesus to the nations through television. But with all of our lack and limits, we had three essential qualities that made all the difference: We were available, we had faith to believe God for the impossible, and we had a core of partners who shared our vision and stood with us. And it is those qualities that will continue to keep TBN on task, taking hope and healing to the nations — until Jesus returns.”