INSP (formerly The Inspiration Network; the
initialism
An acronym is a word or name formed from the initial components of a longer name or phrase. Acronyms are usually formed from the initial letters of words, as in ''NATO'' (''North Atlantic Treaty Organization''), but sometimes use syllables, as ...
is sounded out letter-by-letter) is an American
digital cable television network that features primarily
westerns
The Western is a genre set in the American frontier and commonly associated with folk tales of the Western United States, particularly the Southwestern United States, as well as Northern Mexico and Western Canada. It is commonly referred ...
(both shows and movies) and is headquartered in
Indian Land, South Carolina
Indian Land is an Unincorporated area, unincorporated community in the northernmost part (the "Panhandle") of Lancaster County, South Carolina, Lancaster County, South Carolina, United States. It lies east of Fort Mill, South Carolina, Fort Mill, ...
- a suburb of
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
.
Between 1991 and 2010, INSP was a non-profit ministry focused network. In October 2010, it was re-branded and launched as a socially conservative, commercial-supported family entertainment network (over time becoming centered around westerns), and has
Nielsen C3 ratings status. As of 2021, more than 60 million households receive INSP.
History
INSP was founded in 1978 as the PTL Television Network, a religious television network founded by Christian televangelists
Jim Bakker
James Orsen Bakker (; born January 2, 1940) is an American televangelist and convicted fraudster. Between 1974 and 1987, Bakker hosted the television program '' The PTL Club'' and its cable television platform, the PTL Satellite Network, with ...
and his wife,
Tammy Faye Bakker
Tamara Faye Messner (née LaValley, formerly Bakker ; March 7, 1942 – July 20, 2007) was an American evangelist, singer, author, talk show host, and television personality. She gained notice for her work with ''The PTL Club'', a televangelist ...
. The network was the flagship channel for their daily
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
variety program, ''
The PTL Club
''The PTL Club'', also known as ''The Jim and Tammy Show'', was a Christian television program that was first hosted by evangelists Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, running from 1974 to 1989. The program was later known as ''PTL Today'' and as ''Heri ...
''. The network later became known as the PTL Satellite Network and finally PTL – The Inspirational Network.
In 1990, after Jim Bakker resigned, the PTL Television network filed for bankruptcy.
Morris Cerullo
Morris Cerullo (October 2, 1931 – July 10, 2020) was an American Pentecostal evangelist. He traveled extensively around the world for his ministry. He hosted ''Victory Today'', a daily television program, and published more than 80 books.
Cer ...
World Evangelism eventually purchased the network from the United States Bankruptcy Court in
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the capital of the U.S. state of South Carolina. With a population of 136,632 at the 2020 census, it is the second-largest city in South Carolina. The city serves as the county seat of Richland County, and a portion of the city ...
. Morris’ son, David, was later named CEO of the network. David Cerullo remains as its CEO.
In October 2010, the network announced a major re-branding with an added emphasis on family programming. Along with the re-branding came a new logo, tagline and name change from Inspiration to INSP. At the end of 2021,
Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
reported that INSP's household viewers were up 1,171% since 2010.
In 2022, INSP changed its logo to include a
cowboy hat
The cowboy hat is a high-crowned, wide-brimmed hat best known as the defining piece of attire for the North American cowboy. Today it is worn by many people, and is particularly associated with ranch workers in the western and southern Unit ...
to emphasize the growing success of its family programming, especially
western
Western may refer to:
Places
*Western, Nebraska, a village in the US
*Western, New York, a town in the US
*Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western world, countries that id ...
-based shows and films. Prior to the logo change, INSP had also introduced the tagline, ''“Heroes Live Here.”'' Its focus on western-based programming is said to be the reason behind its continued ratings success, with primetime viewing growing 17% on the previous year.
On March 30, 2022, it was announced that INSP via
Imagicomm Communications
INSP (formerly The Inspiration Network; the initialism is sounded out letter-by-letter) is an American digital cable television network that features primarily westerns (both shows and movies) and is headquartered in Indian Land, South Carolina - ...
would enter the broadcasting business by purchasing 18 stations in 12 markets from
Cox Media Group
CMG Media Corporation ( doing business as Cox Media Group) is an American media conglomerate principally owned by Apollo Global Management in conjunction with Cox Enterprises, which maintains a 29% minority stake in the company. The company pri ...
, namely
KYMA in
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma ( coc, Yuum) is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. The city's population was 93,064 at the 2010 census, up from the 2000 census population of 77,515.
Yuma is the principal city of the Yuma, Arizona, M ...
;
KIEM
KIEM-TV (channel 3) is a television station in Eureka, California, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Imagicomm Communications alongside low-power CBS affiliate KVIQ-LD (channel 14). Both stations share studios on South Broadway ...
and
KVIQ-LD
KVIQ-LD (channel 14) is a low-power television station in Eureka, California, United States, affiliated with CBS. It is owned by Imagicomm Communications alongside NBC affiliate KIEM-TV (channel 3). Both stations share studios on South Broa ...
in
Eureka, California
Eureka (Wiyot: ''Jaroujiji'', Hupa: ''do'-wi-lotl-ding'', Karuk: ''uuth'') is the principal city and county seat of Humboldt County in the Redwood Empire region of California. The city is located on U.S. Route 101 on the shores of Humboldt ...
;
KPVI in
Idaho Falls, Idaho
Idaho Falls (Shoshoni: Dembimbosaage) is a city in and the county seat of Bonneville County, Idaho, United States. It is the state's largest city outside the Boise metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the population of Idaho Falls was 64,8 ...
;
KLAX in
Alexandria, Louisiana
Alexandria is the ninth-largest city in the state of Louisiana and is the parish seat of Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. It lies on the south bank of the Red River in almost the exact geographic center of the state. It is the prin ...
;
WABG,
WNBD and
WXVT in
Greenwood, Mississippi
Greenwood is a city in and the county seat of Leflore County, Mississippi, United States, located at the eastern edge of the Mississippi Delta region, approximately 96 miles north of the state capital, Jackson, and 130 miles south of the riverp ...
;
WICZ
WICZ-TV (channel 40) is a television station in Binghamton, New York, United States, affiliated with Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox and MyNetworkTV. Owned by INSP (TV network), Imagicomm Communications, the station has studios on Vestal Parkway Ea ...
in
Binghamton, New York
Binghamton () is a city in the U.S. state of New York, and serves as the county seat of Broome County. Surrounded by rolling hills, it lies in the state's Southern Tier region near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the conflue ...
;
WSYT
WSYT (channel 68) is a television station in Syracuse, New York, United States, affiliated with the Fox network and owned by Imagicomm Communications. The station's studios are located on James Street/ NY 290 in Syracuse's Near Northeast sect ...
in
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse ( ) is a City (New York), city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, Onondaga County, New York, United States. It is the fifth-most populous city in the state of New York following New York City, Buffalo, New York, Buffa ...
;
KOKI
KOKI-TV (channel 23) is a television station in Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States, affiliated with the Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox network. It is owned by INSP (TV channel), Imagicomm Communications alongside MyNetworkTV affiliate KMYT-TV (channel ...
and
KMYT in
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa () is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 47th-most populous city in the United States. The population was 413,066 as of the 2020 census. It is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with ...
;
KMVU
KMVU-DT (channel 26) is a television station in Medford, Oregon, United States, affiliated with the Fox network. It is owned by Imagicomm Communications alongside low-power dual MyNetworkTV/Telemundo affiliate KFBI-LD (channel 48). Both stations ...
and
KFBI-LD
KFBI-LD (channel 48) is a low-power broadcasting#Television, low-power television station in Medford, Oregon, United States, affiliated with MyNetworkTV and Telemundo. It is owned by INSP (TV network), Imagicomm Communications alongside Fox Broad ...
in
Medford, Oregon
Medford is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, Oregon, in the United States. As of the 2020 United States Census on April 1, 2020, the city had a total population of 85,824 and a metropolitan area population of 223,259, making the Me ...
;
WHBQ in
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Shelby County in the southwest part of the state; it is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 U.S. census, Memphis is the second-mos ...
;
KAYU
Congee or conjee ( ) is a type of rice porridge or gruel eaten in Asian countries. It can be eaten plain, where it is typically served with side dishes, or it can be served with ingredients such as meat, fish, seasonings and flavourings, most ...
in
Spokane, Washington
Spokane ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It is in eastern Washington, along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south of the Canada ...
; and
KCYU-LD
KCYU-LD (channel 41) is a low-power television station in Yakima, Washington, United States, affiliated with Fox and Telemundo. The station is owned by Imagicomm Communications, and maintains studios on West Lincoln Avenue in Yakima; its trans ...
and
KFFX in
Yakima, Washington
Yakima ( or ) is a city in and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, and the state's 11th-largest city by population. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 96,968 and a metropolitan population of 256,728. The uninc ...
for an undisclosed price to help them comply with regulatory requirements related to a proposed merger with
Tegna
Tegna Inc. (stylized in all caps as TEGNA) is an American publicly traded broadcast, digital media and marketing services company headquartered in Tysons Corner, Virginia. It was created on June 29, 2015, when the Gannett Company split into t ...
and
Standard Media
Standard Media Group is an American broadcast and digital media company based in Nashville, Tennessee. Standard Media was founded by Deborah A. McDermott, who serves as the company's CEO. Previously, McDermott was the chief operating officer of ...
. The sale was completed on August 1.
Programming
Currently INSP features mostly Westerns (both series and movies), with
Mike Murdock's ''Campmeeting'' in the early mornings.
Original programming
In its early years, INSP produced numerous original specials, concerts, and inspirational entertainment programs.
The development of original entertainment content became a focus after the 2010 re-brand, beginning with ''A Walton’s Family Reunion'', starring surviving cast members of ''The Waltons'' who journey back to Walton's Mountain almost 30 years after the series ended its iconic run.
In 2011, a web network series entitled ''Moments'' was launched. Originally airing exclusively on INSP, ''Moments'' is an original, short-form inspirational video series that ranges in formats like documentary, narrative, and interviews, with each sharing an uplifting story. One of the featured short videos, '
Thank You For Your Service'', quickly went viral: it has been featured on
ABC
ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet.
ABC or abc may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting
* American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster
** Disney–ABC Television ...
’s ''
The View'', the
Pentagon Channel
DoD News Channel was a television channel broadcasting military news and information for the 2.6 million members of the U.S. Armed Forces. It was widely available in the United States as a standalone television channel, or as part of programming o ...
, and
USAA
The United Services Automobile Association (USAA) is a San Antonio-based Fortune 500 diversified financial services group of companies including a Texas Department of Insurance-regulated reciprocal inter-insurance exchange and subsidiaries offeri ...
’s web site. It has been shown at several national conventions and conferences, including the
American Legion
The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is a non-profit organization of U.S. war
War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militi ...
,
Veterans of Foreign Wars,
Vietnam Veterans of America
Vietnam Veterans of America, Inc. (VVA) is a national non-profit corporation founded in 1978 in the United States that is committed to serving the needs of all veterans. It is funded without any contribution from any branch of government. VVA is th ...
, and
Jewish War Veterans
The Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America (also referred to as the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A., the Jewish War Veterans, or JWV) is an American Jewish veterans' organization created in 1896 by American Civil War veterans to rai ...
. In 2013, INSP was honored by the Vietnam War Commemoration for ''Thank You For Your Service''. General Claude “Mick” Kicklighter noted the video's impact: “This stirring tribute never fails to inspire deep emotions. It has helped bring healing and encouragement to true patriots, many of whom have felt taken for granted and ignored.”
''Old Henry'' is a series of
interstitials on INSP that starred
Ralph Waite
Ralph Waite (June 22, 1928 – February 13, 2014) was an American actor, best known for his lead role as John Walton Sr. on ''The Waltons'' (1972–1981), which he occasionally directed. He also had recurring roles in '' NCIS'' as Jackson Gibb ...
(''The Waltons'') and Rachel Hendrix (''
October Baby''). The drama initially aired in October 2013 as a series of six interstitials, with a 30-minute version produced to incorporate the entire series along with never-before-seen footage and exclusive interviews.
In early 2014, INSP moved forward in their commitment to original content, creating the position of Vice President of Original Programming.
In 2015, INSP co-produced, with Susie Films, an original American reality television series entitled ''
Handcrafted America''. Handcrafted America originally aired exclusively on INSP. After its linear run, the series was licensed by
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime is a paid subscription service from Amazon which is available in various countries and gives users access to additional services otherwise unavailable or available at a premium to other Amazon customers. Services include same, one- ...
. In
Handcrafted America, host
Jill Wagner
Jill Suzanne Wagner (born ) is an American actress and television personality. She was the on-field host for the ABC game show '' Wipeout'' from 2008 to 2014. Since then, Wagner has starred in several made-for-television films for the Hallmark ...
travels the country to seek out talented artisans who continue to make products the traditional way—with their own two hands. Throughout each program, artisans are given the opportunity to reveal the history and cultural heritage that inspire and influence the design of their handcrafted products.
In 2016, INSP co-produced, with RIVR Media, an original American reality television series entitled ''State Plate''. State Plate originally aired exclusively on INSP. It is now available on streaming services. The series stars former ''
American Idol
''American Idol'' is an American singing competition television series created by Simon Fuller, produced by Fremantle North America and 19 Entertainment, and distributed by Fremantle North America. It aired on Fox from June 11, 2002, to Ap ...
'' winner
Taylor Hicks
Taylor Reuben Hicks (born October 7, 1976) is an American singer who won the fifth season of ''American Idol'' in May 2006. Hicks got his start as a professional musician in his late teens and performed around the Southeastern United States fo ...
, who travels the country tasting each state's most symbolic and popular foods, from appetizers and main courses to sides and desserts.
Maureen McCormick
Maureen Denise McCormick (born August 5, 1956) is an American actress. She portrayed Marcia Brady on the ABC television sitcom ''The Brady Bunch'', which ran from 1969 to 1974, and reprised the role in several of the numerous ''Brady Bunch'' ...
also served as a guest host on the show.
During the same year, INSP piloted a reality series, ''
The Cowboy Way''. The show ran until 2020 for a total of seven seasons.
Facilities and studio
INSP originally was headquartered in studios and offices in
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte ( ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located in the Piedmont region, it is the county seat of Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 census, making Charlotte the 16th-most populo ...
. The broadcast facility remains in Charlotte, while the network's offices have been relocated to a newly constructed campus known as CrossRidge (formerly named the City of Light) in
Indian Land, South Carolina
Indian Land is an Unincorporated area, unincorporated community in the northernmost part (the "Panhandle") of Lancaster County, South Carolina, Lancaster County, South Carolina, United States. It lies east of Fort Mill, South Carolina, Fort Mill, ...
, with an eventually consolidation of all operations at CrossRidge to come.
Television stations
Accolades
INSP has been honored with several industry awards in television:
*2012: The PTC Seal of Approval from the
Parents Television Council
The Parents Television and Media Council (PTMC), formerly the Parents Television Council (PTC), is an American media advocacy group founded by conservative Christian activist L. Brent Bozell III in 1995, which advocates for what it considers t ...
*2012: Cablefax FAXIES Awards finalist in two categories; Trade Show Marketing/PR and Direct Response Marketing
*2013: Nominated in the Category for Human Concerns at
The New York Film & Television Festival
*2014: CableFax Digital Awards finalist in their Social Good Campaign for Moments.org
*2014: Telly Awards:
**The Silver award in the Category of Entertainment for ''Going Home''
**The Bronze award in the Category of Entertainment for ''Italian Family''
**The Bronze award in the Category of Use of Humor for ''Italian Family''
*2016: CableFax Program Award: Jill Wagner, Best Family Friendly Host, “Handcrafted America Season 1”
*2017: Telly Awards:
**The Bronze award in the Category of General Cultural for ‘’Handcrafted America’’
**The Bronze award in the Category of General Travel/Tourism for ‘’Handcrafted America’’
*2017: CableFax Program Award: Taylor Hicks, Best Family Friendly Host, “State Plate”
References
External links
*
Moments.orgINSP Affiliates
{{DEFAULTSORT:Insp
Television networks in the United States
English-language television stations in the United States
Religious television
Religious television stations in the United States
Television channels and stations established in 1978