 | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Indian Land,South Carolina |
| Programming | |
| Language | English |
| Picture format | 1080i (HDTV) 480i (SDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | INSP LLC (The Inspirational Network, Inc.) |
| Key people | David CerulloChairman and Chief Executive Officer Dale ArdizzoneChief Operating Officer Mark FavaroExecutive VP Worldwide Sales Doug ButtsSenior VP Programming |
| History | |
| Launched | 1978; 47 years ago (1978) |
| Former names | PTL – The Inspirational Network (1978–90) The Inspiration Network (1990–2010) |
| Links | |
| Website | insp |
| Availability | |
| Streaming media | |
| Service(s) | Frndly TV,FuboTV,Philo,Sling TV |
INSP (formerlyThe Inspiration Network) is an Americandigital cable television network that features primarilywesterns (both shows and movies) and is headquartered inIndian Land, South Carolina - a suburb ofCharlotte, North Carolina.
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 hasNielsen C3 ratings status. As of 2021, more than 60 million households receive INSP.[1]
INSP was founded in 1978 as the PTL Television Network, a religious television network founded by Christian televangelistsJim Bakker and his wife,Tammy Faye Bakker. The network was the flagship channel for their dailyChristian variety program,The PTL Club. 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 World Evangelism eventually purchased the network from the United States Bankruptcy Court inColumbia, South Carolina. Morris’ son, David, was later named CEO of the network. David Cerullo remains as its CEO.[2]
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 reported that INSP's household viewers were up 1,171% since 2010.[3]
In 2022, INSP changed its logo to include acowboy hat to emphasize the growing success of itswestern-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.[4]
In May 2022, INSP launched theCowboy Way Channel, an Internet streaming service aimed at younger viewers. Named for INSP's original series,The Cowboy Way: Alabama, the channel features other original series and Western- and outdoor-themed movies.[5] On July 25, 2024, it was announced that the channel would be rebranding asWestern Bound on September 3.[6]
Currently, INSP features mostly Westerns (both series and movies), withMike Murdock'sCampmeeting in the early mornings.[7][8] As of January 9, 2024, western TV series regularly aired by INSP includeGunsmoke,Bonanza,Wagon Train,The Virginian,Rawhide,Tales of Wells Fargo,The Rifleman,Laramie,The Big Valley,Cheyenne,Alias Smith and Jones, andHow the West Was Won.[9] Movies regularly aired by INSP (as of January 9, 2024) includeMore Dead Than Alive,Rage at Dawn,Gun the Man Down,High Lonesome,Hardcase,Yuma,Fort Dobbs,Yellowstone Kelly,The Outlaw Josey Wales,They Call Me Trinity,Joe Kidd,Comanche Station,Tall Man Riding,Badman's Territory,Man in the Saddle,Tulsa,Ambush at Cimarron Pass,Colt .45, andOpen Range.[10]
In its early years, INSP produced numerous original specials, concerts, and inspirational[11][12] entertainment programs.
The development of original entertainment content became a focus after the 2010 re-brand,[13] beginning withA Walton’s Family Reunion, starring surviving cast members ofThe Waltons who journey back to Walton's Mountain almost 30 years after the series ended its iconic run.
In 2011, a web network series entitledMoments 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",[14] quickly went viral: it has been featured onABC’sThe View, thePentagon Channel, andUSAA’s web site. It has been shown at several national conventions and conferences, including theAmerican Legion,Veterans of Foreign Wars,Vietnam Veterans of America, andJewish War Veterans. In 2013, INSP was honored by the Vietnam War Commemoration forThank 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.”[15]
Old Henry is a series ofinterstitials on INSP that starredRalph Waite (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.[16]
In early 2014, INSP moved forward in their commitment to original content, creating the position of Vice President of Original Programming.[17]
In 2015, INSP co-produced, with Susie Films, an original American reality television series entitledHandcrafted America. Handcrafted America originally aired exclusively on INSP. After its linear run, the series was licensed byAmazon Prime. InHandcrafted America, hostJill Wagner 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 entitledState Plate. State Plate originally aired exclusively on INSP. It is now available on streaming services. The series stars formerAmerican Idol winnerTaylor Hicks, who travels the country tasting each state's most symbolic and popular foods, from appetizers and main courses to sides and desserts.Maureen McCormick 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.
INSP originally was headquartered in studios and offices inCharlotte, North Carolina. 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) inIndian Land, South Carolina, with an eventual consolidation of all operations at CrossRidge to come.[18][19]
Imagicomm Communications, ashell company controlled by INSP, purchased eighteen stations in twelve markets fromCox Media Group on March 30, 2022, for $488 million;[20] this was to help Cox Media comply with regulatory requirements related to a proposed merger betweenTegna andStandard Media, which Cox was assisting in side transactions.[21][22][23][24] The sale was completed on August 1.[25]
On January 15, 2025, Imagicomm announced it would put its stations up for sale.[26] The chain was dismantled by three separate deals:Marquee Broadcasting purchased four stations,[27]Rincon Broadcasting Group purchased seven stations[28][29][30] and Deltavision Media purchased the remaining seven stations, resulting in Imagicomm exiting the broadcasting business by default.[20]
| Media market | State | Station | Channel | Acquired | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuma | Arizona | KYMA-DT | 11, 13 | 2022 | 2025 |
| Eureka | California | KIEM-TV | 3 | 2022 | 2025 |
| KVIQ-LD | 14 | 2022 | 2025 | ||
| Pocatello–Idaho Falls | Idaho | KPVI-DT | 6 | 2022 | 2025 |
| Alexandria | Louisiana | KLAX-TV | 31 | 2022 | 2025 |
| Greenwood | Mississippi | WABG-TV | 6 | 2022 | 2025 |
| WNBD-LD | 33 | 2022 | 2025 | ||
| WXVT-LD | 17 | 2022 | 2025 | ||
| Binghamton | New York | WICZ-TV | 40 | 2022 | 2025 |
| Syracuse | WSYT | 43, 68 | 2022 | 2025 | |
| Tulsa | Oklahoma | KOKI-TV | 23 | 2022 | 2025 |
| KMYT-TV | 41 | 2022 | 2025 | ||
| Medford | Oregon | KMVU-DT | 26 | 2022 | 2025 |
| KFBI-LD | 48 | 2022 | 2025 | ||
| Memphis | Tennessee | WHBQ-TV | 13 | 2022 | 2025 |
| Kennewick | Washington | KFFX-TV | 11 | 2022 | 2025 |
| Spokane | KAYU-TV | 28 | 2022 | 2025 | |
| Yakima | KCYU-LD[A] | 41 | 2022 | 2025 |
INSP has been honored with several industry awards in television:
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