wfn.org | Southern Baptists Join Religious Cable Coalition

[PCUSA NEWS <pcusa.news@ecunet.org>]

28-January-2000 
00044 
 
    Southern Baptists Join Religious Cable Coalition 
 
    Largest Protestant denomination now part of Odyssey Network 
 
    by Jerry L. Van Marter 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.- The Odyssey Network - the religiously-oriented cable 
television channel co-owned by the Jim Henson Company, Hallmark 
Entertainment and the National Interfaith Cable Coalition (NCC) - took a 
giant step forward last month when the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) 
joined NICC. 
 
    NICC, a consortium of 70 Jewish and Christian faith groups - including 
the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which is a charter member - was the sole 
owner of Odyssey from its inception in 1988 until it joined forces with 
Henson, Hallmark and Liberty Media in November of 1998.  With the addition 
of the Southern Baptists, NICC now includes the largest Protestant 
denomination in the United States. 
 
    "We are very pleased that the SBC's application for membership was 
accepted and that they are full participants in our organization," said 
Edward J. Murray, president and CEO of NICC.  "With all the opportunities 
Odyssey's new partners have brought to the table, NICC will be able to do 
an even better job of spreading faith stories and positive, quality 
programming to an expanding national audience." 
 
    Odyssey broadcasts 24 hours a day to 29 million homes through 1,500 
cable systems nationwide as well as by satellite.  NICC provides 30 hours 
of programming every week to the network, which also features Henson and 
Hallmark productions as well as popular movies and other religious 
values-laden programs. 

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