Family-Friendly Network Adds 1.2 Million Households, New Programming

by Chad Groening
May 4, 2004

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(AgapePress) - FamilyNet television is experiencing growing pains that will broaden and expand the family-friendly network on two fronts. First, FamilyNet News is scheduled to air its first news breaks during the May 5 At-Home Live! series. The news department will soon incorporate a varied mix including headline news, live coverage, in-depth interviews and investigative reporting.

"Every news organization has its own voice based on the news it chooses to cover," said Martin Coleman, FamilyNet's vice president of programming. "We will not ignore breaking news of the day; however, we will put an emphasis on stories that are family-focused. We're not doing different news; we're doing news differently."

Scheduled to premiere in the fall is a prime-time strip of worldview programs, one-hour features that will cover a wide range of topics such as politics, public policy, pop culture, and law – just about any issue which has an impact on the family.

Award-winning journalist Lorri Allen is joining the FamilyNet news team. "As a network committed to quality programming from a perspective of faith and family, it's important for us to deal with the burning issues that are shaping our culture," said Coleman. "In order to do this effectively, it was critical for us to find a veteran newsperson of Lorri Allen's caliber."

In addition to adding the news department, two original FamilyNet documentaries will be on the spring schedule. Saints and Strangers and Sacred Space, produced by FamilyNet, aired originally on ABC and NBC consecutively through the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission.

The hour-long Saints and Strangers takes a look at religious and spiritual roots of the nation's founders, from Jamestown through the pre-Revolutionary period, and the eventual formation of the original colonies into the United States of America. It also examines the groups who were crucial influences during the colonial period – the Church of England, Puritans, Baptists, Quakers, and others. It will air on FamilyNet May 5 at 7 p.m. ET.

Sacred Space features houses of worship along the Eastern seaboard that have shaped our nation's culture. This 60-minute documentary is narrated by Academy Award-winning actress Linda Hunt and examines a nation built upon a foundation of faith. Locations highlighted include Boston's Old North Church and Christ Church in Philadelphia. Sacred Space will air June 23 at 7 p.m. ET.

In addition to more original programming, FamilyNet is expanding its audience with additions that will offer the network in more than 1.2 new households. Comcast Cable in Richmond, Virginia, added FamilyNet on channel 295 as a part of its Cable Digital Classic Package on April 30. The company serves more than 102,000 customers in the Richmond area.

"We are pleased that FamilyNet is now available in the greater Richmond area," said R. Chip Turner, vice president of marketing. "FamilyNet has a large affinity group in this area. We anticipate an enthusiastic, loyal viewing audience as we provide values-based, family-friendly programming to area subscribers."

FamilyNet is also becoming available in about 400,000 additional homes via the Adelphia Cable system. In many cities in the Anaheim, California area, FamilyNet is now seen on channel 184. In Rialto and Mareno Valley, it is available on channel 244.

The largest new audience is likely to come through Cable ONE's addition of a Faith & Families Pack at no additional charge to their customers. FamilyNet will be on channel 394. Cable ONE, a division of The Washington Post Company, operates 52 cable systems serving 720,000 subscribers in 19 states. Their Faith & Families group of channels was slated to be completed by May 1.