CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is welcoming news that Hallmark Entertainment and the Jim Henson Company are joining the National Interfaith Cable Coalition (NICC) and Liberty Media Corporation in ownership of the Odyssey Channel on satellite and cable television. The ELCA is one of about 70 faith groups that make up NICC.
"This new partnership honors our commitment to help viewers explore life's spiritual journeys," said the Rev. H. George Anderson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Anderson is a member of the NICC board of trustees. "The ELCA welcomes the opportunity to expand the reach of the Odyssey Channel," he said.
The Odyssey Channel is available to more than 30 million homes in the United States through 1,500 cable systems, the Primestar direct-to-home satellite service and individual satellite dish owners.
"The faith portion of Odyssey programming remains a significant emphasis of the channel identity," said Anderson. Under the new agreement there will be at least 40 hours of "faith and values" programming each week.
"The ELCA is pleased to be a partner in this venture," said John L. Peterson, ELCA director for public media ministry and chair of the NICC membership board. "Odyssey will grow as a credible witness and a faith connection because of this new affiliation."
"Odyssey connects the quest of our individual spiritual journeys with communities of faith. The quality of Henson and Hallmark programs on this channel will increase the illumination of our path with well-crafted stories and wonderful characters," according to Peterson.
The Odyssey Channel will keep its name and its standards and practices. "The corporate values of Hallmark and Henson are compatible with those of the faith groups," said Peterson.
Hallmark and Henson bring $100 million in cash and programming to the channel. The new partners will generate new programming on the Odyssey Channel as well as bring existing programs from their extensive libraries, said Peterson.
Hallmark Entertainment is the world's leading producer and distributor of television movies and mini-series. The Jim Henson Company, with 40 years in family entertainment, is an independent multimedia production company and publisher of children's books.
NICC will give up controlling interest in the channel. Liberty, the programming arm of Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI), will own 32.5 percent of Odyssey. Hallmark, Henson and NICC will each own 22.5 percent.
NICC founded Odyssey in 1988 as VISN -- the Vision Interfaith Satellite Network. NICC formed a partnership with Liberty in 1995.
For information contact:
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
