S-VOX Sells Christian Channel

TORONTO: The Canadian channel operator S-VOX has reached a deal to sell The Christian Channel to an Ontario-based Christian charity for an undisclosed sum.

S-VOX, the parent company of VisionTV and One: the Body, Mind & Spirit channel, has sold the The Christian Channel to World Impact Ministries (WIM), which plans to extend the network’s reach in Canada and around the world. The transaction is subject to the approval of the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Once WIM takes control of the channel, it plans to launch a new daily prime-time talk and current-affairs program, Encounter, to be hosted by Peter Youngren, the president and founder of WIM. New ownership will also bring additional Canadian and international religious programming to The Christian Channel’s schedule.

Mark Prasuhn, the president of The Christian Channel and chief content officer for VisionTV, noted: "We launched The Christian Channel in 2005 with the intent of better serving Canadians with a varied and robust schedule of the finest Christian programming from around the world. I’m proud of the accomplishments of our team towards this goal, and at the same time I’m delighted that WIM will be the new owner of the channel. WIM is uniquely well positioned to build on the success that has been achieved to date, and we look forward to working with them to achieve a smooth transition."

Youngren added: "We are proud to continue building on the vibrant Christian television channel that the S-VOX group has established in Canada. WIM looks to create a strong spiritual voice of goodwill and friendship toward all Canadians, and to present relevant religious programming that addresses the needs and interests of society as a whole. WIM will seek to increase the distribution of The Christian Channel both within Canada and around the globe."