| Paul Crouch Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | Paul Crouch Jr. March 13, 1959 Rapid City, South Dakota |
| Occupation | TV Network Executive |
| Title | Director of Project Development, The Word Network, and former VP and Chief of Staff of Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) |
| Predecessor | Matt Crouch (Now Vice-President) |
| Religion | Christian |
Paul F. Crouch, Jr. (born March 13, 1959) is an American Christian broadcaster and former Vice President, and Chief of Staff of the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). TBN was founded 38 years ago, by his parents Paul F. Crouch, Sr., and Janice Bethany Crouch.
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Paul Crouch resigned from TBN in October, 2011 to pursue a personal ministry. Prior to his resignation, Paul Crouch and his brother Matt Crouch, managed the day to day operations from the TBN corporate headquarter in Costa Mesa, CA. Crouch also frequently hosted the network's flagship program, Praise the Lord as well as hosting his own daily show, Behind the Scenes. Paul Crouch Jr., was recently named one of the Top 50 Most Influential Christians in America.[1] TBN programming reaches 91% of US households.[2]
In 2003, Paul Crouch Jr., founded JCTV, TBN’s youth network. JCTV is carried by 722 US cable and broadcast affiliates, and is available to 16,359,870 US homes, according to Rentrak 2010 ratings for JCTV. [3] In 2010, JCTV and Smile of a Child were awarded the Parents Television Council Entertainment Seal of Approval, which that organization presents to outstanding networks, films, television shows, and DVDs that emphasize conservative values and do not contain sex, violence, or profanity.[4]
TBN is currently the third largest over-the-air Station Group in the United States, with CBS, FOX, and NBC holding the 4th, 5th and 6th place, according to TV News Check's annual listing of the Top 30 Station Groups.[5] TBN owns and operates 5 independent TV networks, each of which adheres to a faith-based message, but reaching separate demographics. TBN networks include TBN itself, JCTV, TBN Enlace, Smile of a Child, and The Church Channel. TBN also operates 13 international TV networks, which deliver TBN programming via satellite to Europe, Russia, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, India, Australia and South America. Worldwide, TBN's channels are broadcast on 70 satellites and over 18,000 TV and cable affiliates.
TBN is also seen on the internet globally, where viewers can watch TBN programming live,[6] as well as select archived shows on demand, through the website and select IPTV services.[7][8] Crouch's technology upgrades at TBN include the upgrade to broadcast completely in high definition.[9] Paul Crouch Jr., also introduced iMobile apps to TBN viewers as part of an overall technology upgrade. application software,[10] This gives users access to TBN and its channels, plus the Arabic language Healing Channel, and Nejat TV in Persian.[6][11][10]
In 1973, Crouch, known as "PJ" by friends and family, began his apprenticeship in Christian television broadcasting with the founding of the Trinity Broadcasting Network by his parents Paul Crouch Sr. and Jan Crouch. Along with his younger brother Matthew, he spent his teenage years working in TBN's Orange County, California TV production studios. This included sweeping floors, running cameras, helping with lighting and audio work, as well as directing entire productions. Always eager to learn, and ready to take on new and challenging projects, it was not surprising when in 1980, at age 20, Crouch left TBN and ventured out on his own to produce and direct various Christian television programs such as Church in the Home with Fred Jordan and a regular program for Dwight Thompson Ministries.
In 1983, Crouch formed PJ Video, a full service video production company. PJ Video produced and provided video equipment, crews, and post-production services for commercials, television programs, infomercials, and corporate videos. An extensive client list included Dick Clark Productions, Disney, CBS, ABC, NBC, ESPN, Baxter Medical, GTE, Ford Motor Company, Fleetwood Motor Homes, Toyota, Nissan, Lexus, Infinity, Hyundai, Suzuki, and Honda Motor Company. Ministry clients included the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, “Hour of Power” with Dr. Robert Schuller, Campus Crusade and Dr. Bill Bright, Zondervan Publishing, World Vision, Calvary Chapel, Harvest Crusades with Greg Laurie, Focus on the Family, CBN and TBN. Crouch personally ran all aspects of PJ Video while specializing as both producer and director of photography for video and film productions.
In 1985, Crouch founded and began operations of a full service post production company called The Edit Bay. This first-of-its-kind broadcast quality edit facility in Orange County continued under Crouch’s management until he sold the company to his partner Frank Konte in 1990.
In 1990, following in the television pioneering footsteps of his father, Paul Crouch Sr., Crouch, along with Jay Sekulow, established Sonlight Broadcasting Systems, a network of Christian television stations affiliated with the Trinity Broadcasting Network. Crouch served as a member of the board of Sonlight Broadcasting until 1995. During his tenure, Sonlight Broadcasting acquired full powered television stations in Mobile, Alabama; Nashville, Tennessee; Memphis, Tennessee; Montgomery, Alabama; and Chattanooga, Tennessee. Crouch was involved in building these stations, many of them from the ground up, as well as developing and producing television programs that were broadcast on the Sonlight Broadcasting Systems network.
In 1998, after 18 years of establishing and managing independent production companies, Crouch returned to Trinity Broadcasting Network as Vice President of Production to oversee new programs, program development, and special projects. Crouch worked alongside his brother, Matthew Crouch, (8X Entertainment) as second unit Director of Photography on the TBN full-length motion picture, The Omega Code, named #1 Limited Released Motion Picture of the year.[12]
In recent years, Crouch has taken a more prominent role in the management and expansion of TBN's global network. Working alongside his father and mother in the early years, and continuing their goal to establish a global network footprint, Crouch has expanded the networks partnerships with cable and satellite companies in the US and around the world, and introduced TBN to new digital platforms, including the internet and social media sites such as Facebook[13] and Twitter, live video streaming content to mobile platforms,[14] and Video on Demand (VOD), which is available on TBN's website. www.tbn.org.[15] Most recently they have launched iTBN where viewers can stream programming from the channel's 37 year history.[16]
Under the leadership of Crouch and his family, Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) has grown to become the United States' largest Christian television network, offering 24 hour commercial-free programming,[17][18] Headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, TBN also has studio facilities located in Irving, Texas; Hendersonville, Tennessee; Decatur, Georgia; Miami, Florida; Tulsa, Oklahoma; Orlando, Florida; and New York City. TBN is the world’s largest religious network and America’s most watched faith channel.[17] TBN broadcasts programs hosted by a diverse group of ministries from traditional Protestant and Catholic denominations, Interdenominational and Full Gospel churches, Non Profit Charities, Messianic Jewish and well-known Christian media personalities.[19] TBN also offers a wide range of original programming, and faith-based films.[20]