THE WORSHIP NETWORK ANNOUNCES PLANS TO BECOME 24-HOUR DIGITAL BROADCAST NETWORK

Negotiates Deal With PAX TV to Give Back Overnight Analog Hours

CLEARWATER, Fla. (June 22, 2005) – The Worship Network begins its move to become a fully 24-hour digital network after making a new agreement with PAX TV that would terminate their five hours of overnight programming on the analog network, announced Bruce Koblish, president of The Worship Network. 

“The Worship Network is excited about diving full force into the world of 24 hour digital television and are satisfied that we have negotiated a deal with PAX that will be beneficial to both organizations, and for us it means the launching of a new strategy to become a 24-hour-a-day digital network,” said Koblish.  “Bud Paxson founded The Worship Network more than a decade ago and he has provided steadfast support to our company’s mission of helping people to experience God through worship via the medium of television.  The Worship Network has thrived in our unique overnight schedule on PAX-TV, but as television moves towards a fully digital experience, we are positioning ourselves to take advantage of the new opportunities this presents, not only for our current loyal viewership, but for millions more in the years to come.”

The new agreement goes into affect on July 1.  From that date on, “Worship” will cease appearing on PAX analog stations.  The settlement, which included undisclosed compensation to The Worship Network, dissolves a carriage agreement which was forged with PAX-TV that included airing Worship, The Worship Network’s signature programming, on all PAX television stations during the overnight hours. The Worship Network retains guaranteed rights to over-the-air digital carriage 24 hours a day in all PAX markets, but can now negotiate its own cable and satellite carriage agreements.

Koblish emphasizes that The Worship Network is now, and will continue to be, available 24 hours every day on over-the-air digital television stations in 44 markets across the country as well as available on The Dish Network through Sky Angel.  In addition, network programming syndicated to more than 100 Christian television stations reaching 46 million homes will be un-interrupted by the change.  The Worship Network’s programming is also seen in more than 50 countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, Central America, and South America.

About The Worship Network

The Worship Network (www.worship.net) has distinguished itself with its signature programming Worship, which is designed to encourage worship of God through nature images, music, Scripture and inspirational messages delivered through the medium of television and via a growing number of other vehicles such as the Internet, publishing and retail.  The Worship Network recently launched an initiative, “I Want My Worship,” aimed at informing viewers about how to contact and request local cable operators to carry The Worship Network.

The Worship Network was formed by its parent company, The Christian Network, Inc., (CNI) a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) organization, which was founded in 1992 by Lowell W. Paxson.  Funding for The Worship Network 24-hour programming comes from individual donors, advertising revenues and shared revenue from licensed and ancillary product sales. 

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