The Christian Broadcasting Network
CBN.com
DESCRIPTION
The Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) is one of the largest Christian television ministries in the world. A multifaceted nonprofit organization, CBN provides programming by cable, broadcast and satellite to 200 countries produced in 70 languages. CBN’s humanitarian arm, Operation Blessing International, includes The Hunger Strike Force and event-driven outreaches designed to provide relief and ministry to those in need.
The CBN studios, located in Virginia Beach, Virginia and Nashville, Tennessee, receive over 2.5 million pieces of mail and welcome more than 11,000 visitors annually. A favorite event for CBN visitors is to attend a live taping of The 700 Club. The popular syndicated news magazine features co-hosts Pat Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen, Gordon Robertson, and Kristi Watts with News Anchor Lee Webb. The 700 Club is watched daily by approximately one million viewers. CBN also provides The 700 Club Prayer Counseling Centers staffed with over 400 counselors who respond to nearly three million requests for prayer each year.
ADDRESS
977 Centerville Turnpike, Virginia Beach, Virginia 23463
KEY OFFICERS
Pat Robertson, Founder and Chairman of the Board
Gordon Robertson, Chief Executive Officer
Michael Little, President and Chief Operating Officer
STRUCTURE
All of CBN’s efforts, including the daily flagship program The 700 Club, international programming projects and Operation Blessing, are focused toward the organization’s primary mission: to prepare the United States and other nations of the world for the coming of Jesus Christ and the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth.
CBN’s most recent evangelical effort is a massive international project . The goal is to extend Gospel programming to targeted international audiences with a goal of leading 500 million people to Christ. CBN partners with other international and local ministries whenever possible toward meeting the goal.
BACKGROUND
CBN, founded in 1960 by religious broadcaster Pat Robertson, first went on the air on October 1, 1961 from WYAH—a UHF station with barely enough power to reach across the city limits of Portsmouth, Virginia. Programming consisted of half-hour blocks of live religious programs. In 1963, Pat Robertson conducted the first telethon to raise $7000 per month needed for the year’s budget by asking a “club” of 700 to give $10 a month. In 1966, The 700 Club was founded when Robertson added prayer and ministry coupled with telephone responses to the end of the station’s broadcast day.
HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS
1960: Pat Robertson opened bank account for CBN with $3.00. CBN was founded.
1961: CBN first went on the air on WYAH-TV, taken from YAHWEH, the Hebrew name of God.
1963: CBN’s first telethon—700 viewers were asked to join “700 Club” by pledging $10 a month to meet CBN’s monthly operating budget of $7,000.
1966: The 700 Club was born after a successful telethon.
1974: National Counseling Center opened, handling calls for prayer 24 hours a day.
1977: First Christian ministry to build and operate its own satellite earth station; first satellite broadcast from Jerusalem. CBN began transmitting Christian and family programming 24 hours daily (beginning of CBN Cable—later to become The Family Channel).
1978: Operation Blessing International (OBI), humanitarian arm of CBN, was founded.
1980: News added to The 700 Club format complete with a news bureau in Washington, D.C.
1981: CBN creates “Superbook,” the animated, episodic children’s tale for a Japanese audience This marks the beginning of CBN’s award-winning collection of Christian animated tales used to share the Gospel internationally.
1982: Middle East Television (METV) begins operations in southern Lebanon and Israel.
1988: CBN receives an Emmy award for “Never Say Goodbye,” an After-School Special produced for CBS.
1990: CBN sells The Family Channel to International Family Entertainment.
1994: OBI’s Hunger Strike Force launches a food distribution campaign delivering more than four million pounds of food to 18 major U.S. cities.
1995: CBN WorldReach is launched with a torch lighting ceremony at Cape Henry, Virginia. Worldwide evangelism goal is to win 500 million to Christianity.
1996: The Flying Hospital is commissioned by former president George Bush. Virginia Governor George Allen launches the first inaugural mission to El Salvador.
1997: International Family Entertainment (owner of The Family Channel) sold to Fox Kids Worldwide, Inc.
1998: Pat Robertson is honorary co-chairman along with Bill and Vonette Bright, with campus Crusade for Christ, for the 40 Days of Fasting and Prayer Campaign.
1999: CBN launches Book of Hope campaign which distributes 10 million books making it the largest Bible reading campaign in America-as well as the largest promotion of any secular or religious book.
2000: Pat Robertson reaffirms his ordination vows and celebrates his 70th birthday.
2001: CBN celebrates its 40th Broadcast Anniversary on October 1.
2002:
• NorthStar Studios, state-of-the-art broadcast facility, opens its doors in May.
• Pat Robertson presented with The State of Israel Friendship Award by the Chicago
chapter of the Zionist Organization of America in July.
• CBN NewsBreak, 60-second news updates shown in various syndicates launches in April.
• CBN NewsWatch, 30-minute news programs launches October 18, 2003:
• Living The Life wins three Telly Awards in March 2003.
• United States goes to war in March 2003 and CBN News covers Operation Iraqi Freedom extensively on The 700 Club by adding daily program, CBN NewsWatch, to their lineup and bringing on Col. William Taylor, military analyst, to contribute to news reports.
• CBN’s domestic One Cubed launches on September 18, 2003.
• Pat Robertson speaks to Israeli leaders at the Herzliya Conference at the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy, and Strategy on December 17, 2003.
• Living the Life wins five Telly Awards for 2003.
2004:
• "The Ten Offenses", Pat Robertson’s cutting edge book regarding the Ten Commandments is released, January 2004.
• Israeli Cabinet Member and Minister of Tourism, Benny Elon, presents Pat Robertson with honorary Ambassadors Award on February 15, 2004 at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) convention.
• 2004: Pat Robertson’s 16th book, “Courting Disaster,” is released by Integrity Publishers
• Operation Blessing readies tons of emergency relief supplies for Hurricane Frances in September.
• November 2004 sweeps show tremendous ratings growth for The 700 Club. December reaches ten year ratings high
• Operation Blessing begins providing emergency relief for Tsunami victims in Asia on December 26th.
2005:
• On January 7, 2005: John Tesh, Connie Sellecca, and family travel with Operation Blessing to Sri Lanka to aid Tsunami victims
• Pat Robertson speaks at The National Press Club luncheon on February 15th.
• On March 11, The 700 Club features exclusive interview with Mel Gibson regarding his film "The Passion of the Christ".
• Pat Robertson celebrates his 75th birthday on March 22nd.
• In April, Pat Robertson, Bono, George Clooney, Brad Pitt and a host of other leaders join together for ONE: The campaign to make poverty history—www.one.org.
• 700 Club Hoy now airing on Azteca America-Hispanic Network in the U.S. in May
• On May 15, Christian World News pioneers global news alliance giving Christian broadcasters the ability to share footage on the internet—Stan Jeter leads the effort.
• Living the Life wins four Telly Awards.
2006:
• Pat Robertson’s new book, “Miracles Can Be Yours Today,” was released by Integrity Publishers in January.
• The 700 Club wins the National Religious Broadcasters Best Television Talk Show Award .
• CBN Animation’s, The Lion’s Den, wins four Telly Awards for Children’s Television Programming, Original Music, Animation and Home Video Production.
