Negotiations for new satellite contracts were concluded early November, according to Brad Thorp, executive director of Adventist Television Network (ATN).
Negotiations for new satellite contracts were concluded early November, according to Brad Thorp, executive director of Adventist Television Network. This latest development, he says, gives essentially full-time worldwide coverage for ATN broadcasts.
“With all needed contracts in place, we have a provision for a significant expansion of current ATN broadcasts,” says Thorp. “Full-time broadcast on these new satellites is expected to begin the first quarter of 2003.
“Since 1995 when the Seventh-day Adventist Church began its satellite Net evangelistic outreach, we have dreamed of the day when we would have full-time broadcasts to provide television programming intended primarily for viewers in their home. With these contracts in place, a major step has been taken to reach this goal.”
ATN concluded negotiation in the last several weeks and signed contracts for AMC 4 satellite, which covers North and Central America, and PAS 7 satellite which covers virtually all of the so-called “10-40 Window,” an area of the globe between 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator where some 60 percent of the world population lives, while only 1 percent are Christian.
According to Thorp, ATN also concluded a contract for NSS 806 satellite, which gives the network a much greater potential audience for the Latin American broadcasts from the ATN-ADSAT station in Brazil. “With these satellites we are covering virtually all the world. ATN is actively planning to find full-time coverage for the remaining portions of the globe—namely Australia, New Zealand and Oceania,” he says.
The importance of the new television contracts for ATN are recognized as significant, Thorp says. Until now, ATN was a church business network and programming was sent from the location of the special events being conducted. The broadcasts were primarily intended for a church audience and were received in churches equipped with downlink antennas. Thorp says that “ATN will continue broadcasting special events, such as Net evangelism events and other special programs. But with these contracts, ATN is transitioning to an in-home target audience.”
Satellite broadcast will be a first step in programming distribution for ATN. “We are inviting the world church to help us establish cable contracts, local terrestrial re-broadcast and any other effective way of placing the ATN programming into the homes of everyone possible. We want the world church to partner with us. Their support will form a lifeline for the network’s success,” Thorp says.
Commenting on ATN’s future, Ted N.C. Wilson, a general vice president of the church and chairman of the ATN Operating Committee, said that ATN “is poised to move into an even greater ministry of evangelism and witnessing. Through the powerful use of satellite technology, God is providing a much wider spiritual impact of the Advent message throughout the world.”
Wilson encourages church members to support the ministry. “As programming expands in various languages, it is hoped that Seventh-day Adventists around the world will encourage friends and neighbors to watch ATN.”
The current development stage zeroes in on programming and marketing issues. “Programming is our greatest challenge,” Thorp says. “We are in the process of finalizing our programming options and will have more to announce later. Some characteristics of our programming will need to reflect the fact that ATN is a television voice of the world Adventist Church. In this context, we represent the global church and we intend to represent the diversity of cultures and the rich heritage of the world church.”
ATN will feature outreach ministries of the church and will focus on evangelism and spiritual nurture. “Our mission is a spiritual mission to support the proclamation of the Three Angels Message of Revelation 14 and lead people to a deep personal relationship with Jesus and be prepared to meet Him when He comes again. The challenge is to present these truths in relevant and meaningful terms to all our viewers,” Thorp says.
Thorp expresses enthusiasm about the new prospects for ATN. “Full-time broadcasting opens many new doors for ATN. We would like to become a truly cutting-edge in-home broadcast ministry for the world church. We will need a continued prayerful support of our believers as we move ahead in the direction God has opened with this communication opportunity.”
