Hope Channel goes to small dish systems in Africa

June 1, 2005 from Johannesburg

History was made as the Hope Channel began broadcasting via the second largest small-dish network to Africa on May 31. Thousands of viewers were waiting. Having learned to love Hope Channel from a previous test that miraculously lasted for 10 months, they had prayed, plead and pledged for 4 months to "get Hope back".

Their pleas were heard by the Church. In a bold, visionary move, the Southern Africa -Indian Ocean Region stepped out in faith, seizing the opportunity to provide this powerful evangelistic medium for all of Sub-Saharan Africa. Strongly supported by the Southern Africa Union, they signed a contract with Sentech to guarantee the $36,000 per month required for Hope Channel to join their popular Vivid Bouquet.

Hope Channel is now temporarily on the Sentech PAS-7 beam covering Southern Africa (Malawi and south). Near the end of June, it will be permanently switched to the PAS-10 beam covering all of Sub-Saharan Africa, making it available to virtually all of our Adventist believers in Africa and by far the largest populations of Africa.

The equipment is very affordable for both homes and churches, as there is no monthly subscription fee and the cost of the equipment is about one-third of previous large-dish installations. Users of the large African DSTV network and other small dish systems may also receive this broadcast.

Providing Hope Channel to local homes is the goal of ATN's "Homes of Home" global initiative. In addition to the VIVID Direct To Home service, ATN is strongly moving ahead with the development of Low Power TV Stations. In Africa the church has recently acquired 18 TV frequency licenses and is in application for many more. These LPTV stations will provide analogue broadcast to millions of homes.

Please remember Hope Channel in your prayers and planning. Hope Channel is a donor supported ministry and we depend on your liberality to support this ministry.

For further details please visit: www.hopeafrica.tv. Program schedules may be found at www.hopetv.org