wfn.org | Hallmark and Henson Join Lutheran Cable Venture 'Odyssey'

[Brenda Williams <BRENDAW@elca.org>]

Reply-To: ElcaNews <ELCANEWS@ELCASCO.ELCA.ORG>
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 2, 1998

HALLMARK AND HENSON JOIN LUTHERAN CABLE VENTURE 'ODYSSEY'
98-24-144-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
is welcoming news that Hallmark Entertainment and the Jim Henson Company
are joining the National Interfaith Cable Coalition (NICC) and Liberty
Media Corporation in ownership of the Odyssey Channel on satellite and
cable television.  The ELCA is one of about 70 faith groups that make up
NICC.
     "This new partnership honors our commitment to help viewers explore
life's spiritual journeys," said the Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding
bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  Anderson is a member
of the NICC board of trustees.  "The ELCA welcomes the opportunity to
expand the reach of the Odyssey Channel," he said.
     The Odyssey Channel is available to more than 30 million homes in the
United States through 1,500 cable systems, the Primestar direct-to-home
satellite service and individual satellite dish owners.
     "The faith portion of Odyssey programming remains a significant
emphasis of the channel identity," said Anderson.  Under the new agreement
there will be at least 40 hours of "faith and values" programming each
week.
     "The ELCA is pleased to be a partner in this venture," said John L.
Peterson, ELCA director for public media ministry and chair of the NICC
membership board.  "Odyssey will grow as a credible witness and a faith
connection because of this new affiliation."
     "Odyssey connects the quest of our individual spiritual journeys with
communities of faith.  The quality of Henson and Hallmark programs on this
channel will increase the illumination of our path with well-crafted
stories and wonderful characters," according to Peterson.
     The Odyssey Channel will keep its name and its standards and
practices.  "The corporate values of Hallmark and Henson are compatible
with those of the faith groups," said Peterson.
     Hallmark and Henson bring $100 million in cash and programming to the
channel.  The new partners will generate new programming on the Odyssey
Channel as well as bring existing programs from their extensive libraries,
said Peterson.
     Hallmark Entertainment is the world's leading producer and
distributor of television movies and mini-series.  The Jim Henson Company,
with 40 years in family entertainment, is an independent multimedia
production company and publisher of children's books.
     NICC will give up controlling interest in the channel.  Liberty, the
programming arm of Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI), will own 32.5 percent
of Odyssey.  Hallmark, Henson and NICC will each own 22.5 percent.
     NICC founded Odyssey in 1988 as VISN -- the Vision Interfaith
Satellite Network.  NICC formed a partnership with Liberty in 1995.

For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html