Make no mistake: Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) does not align itself with the view expressed by the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) organization that “modernization” of the FCC’s national television ownership cap should be shunned.
Rather, TBN praises the opportunity being championed by the NAB, and is making sure its voice is heard and not drowned out by an organization calling itself “the voice of Christian broadcasters.”
In an ex parte filing made by TBN on Monday (2/2), the dominant Christian-themed broadcast ministry addresses “recent reports” that the NRB opposes any change to the 39% national TV ownership cap put in place by Congress at the start of 2004.
TBN notes the NRB’s comments bring concerns, only because National Religious Broadcasters “never commented on the national television ownership cap during the more than eight years this docket has been open (and still has not submitted any filings for consideration here).
That’s why Trinity has used the ex parte letter to the FCC as an opportunity to reiterate its position on the national cap “because we want to ensure that our voice as a Christian television broadcast licensee is heard.”
For TBN, “changes to the cap are critical to the continued viability of the broadcast
television platform generally and to our stations specifically.” It echoes the NAB in sharing its viewpoint that today’s video marketplace is dominated by streaming platforms, digital giants, and global technology companies “that face no comparable ownership or other
limits on their scale and no public-interest obligations. Meanwhile, broadcasters—who provide free, local serviceto millions of Americans—alone remain constrained by an outdated national reach cap that increasingly threatens our ability to compete and, in some cases, survive.”
For Christian broadcasters, as TBN sees it, “the consequences of outdated rules are especially harmful and could result in fewer stations and fewer ways to reach viewers who depend on free, over-the-air faith-based programming.”
Meanwhile, TBN says it was “surprised to learn that NRB is taking the same position as the pay TV industry,” adding, “Even if many NRB members are radio station owners and programming networks, rather than television station owners, ensuring a healthy broadcast television distribution option for Christian networks remains relevant to NRB’s members and mission. Perhaps the source of NRB’s puzzling position is a vocal minority of NRB members, or even just a lone voice.”
MAXIMUM SWAY
TBN then takes a stab at what NRB member company could be its biggest influencer on the 39% national ownership reach cap. It is “not involved in Christian programming or broadcasting, but is an outspoken opponent of updating the cap for its own business reasons.”
That would be Boca Raton, Fla.-headquartered conservative-leaning cable news channel
Newsmax, led by Chris Ruddy. Ruddy is a known confidant of President Trump, and while some question if he has standing will be among the witnesses appearing Tuesday at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing squarely focused on the 39% national TV owner reach cap.
“While Newsmax does not confront the economic, regulatory, or technical realities of keeping Christian television programming freely available to viewers across the country, Trinity Broadcasting does live that reality,” TBN President Matthew Crouch said in the ex parte letter. “Trinity competes directly with streaming services, digital platforms, and multinational technology companies—many of which control access to audiences through opaque algorithms, subscription fees, or content moderation policies. For Christian broadcasters, free, over-the-air television remains one of the few distribution platforms where religious expression can reach audiences without gatekeepers, paywalls, or platform bias. Policies that weaken broadcast television therefore weaken religious expression itself … Repealing the 39% cap would not diminish Christian broadcasting. It would strengthen it— by ensuring that faith-based broadcasters have a fair opportunity to compete, innovate, and continue delivering Christian voices freely and openly on America’s public airwaves.”
