Emmanuel TV
CountryNigeria
Broadcast areaAfrica
North/Central America
Parts of Europe
Asia Pacific
HeadquartersSynagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN)
Lagos, Nigeria
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format575i (SD – Africa)
480i (SD – US)
Ownership
OwnerEmmanuel Global Network
History
Launched8 March 2006
Availability
Terrestrial
GOtvChannel 82
DStvChannel 390
Zuku TVChannel 874

Emmanuel TV is a Christian television network with headquarters in Lagos, Nigeria. It was founded by T.B. Joshua, former senior pastor of the Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN), in Lagos, Nigeria. It was also the most subscribed Christian ministry channel on YouTube worldwide with well over 1,000,000 subscribers, as of January 2019.[1]

History

In the late 1990s, SCOAN began gaining international attention due to the distribution of video cassettes, showing clips of Joshua's early ministry and alleged miracles. Additionally, Joshua began airing regular programs purporting to show 'miracles' on local Nigerian television. However, when Nigeria's National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), under the instruction of then President Olusegun Obasanjo controversially banned the showing of 'miracles', in 2004, most of his programs were taken off air.[2] This eventually paved the way for the emergence of Emmanuel TV on 8 March 2006 by T.B. Joshua.[3]

Since its inception, Emmanuel TV has broadcast Christian programmes, stating that its mission is 'to preach the Good News to all mankind.'[4] From humble beginnings, it has rapidly grown to become one of Africa's most well known brands and popular television stations. In its profile on Joshua, the BBC described him as "Nigeria's best known televangelist".[5]

Programming

Emmanuel TV broadcasts a range of programmes from Synagogue, Church of All Nations (SCOAN). It has gained a reputation for being a Christian station that does not run any on-air campaigns for financial assistance and among the only Christian stations that does not syndicate programs of other pastors.[6]

Emmanuel TV DStv Channel

Emmanuel TV was also found on DStv Channel 390 and Gotv 82. where biblical readings, testimonies, teaching and Christian kids programmes like cartoons which are mainly about the Bible and Jesus Christ are found.

The channel has been removed from the multichoice platforms on January 17, 2024 and subsequently all other pay-TV providers.[7]

Reach

Emmanuel TV is broadcast worldwide on various satellites. Its programmes air weekly on a number of local television stations across Africa, debuting on DStv and GOtv in November 2015,[8] as well as Startimes in February 2016.[9] Its playout centre is located in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Emmanuel TV's motto is 'Changing Lives, Changing Nations, Changing the World.' The station is also known for its catch-phrase, 'Distance Is Not A Barrier',[10] encouraging viewers to 'pray along' with T.B. Joshua by 'touching the screen'. There are several claims of people receiving miraculous 'healing' through these prayers,[11][12] including popular Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh who said Joshua's prayers ended her 14-year smoking addiction.[13]

T.B. Joshua has donated televisions to prisons and hospitals so that they will be able to watch the Emmanuel TV broadcasts.[14][15]

The channel has stopped airing on DStv and GOtv, on January 17, 2024 and subsequently all other pay-TV providers.[16]

YouTube channel

Emmanuel TV's YouTube channel is the most subscribed Christian ministry YouTube channel worldwide and the third most subscribed in Nigeria. Google ranked one of Emmanuel TV's YouTube videos as the fourth most viewed clip ever within Nigeria.[17] YouTube has shut down the channel, which claimed over 1.8 million subscribers and 600 million viewers, on April 13, 2021. YouTube says that it "prohibits content which alleges that someone is mentally ill, diseased, or inferior because of their membership in a protected group including sexual orientation."[18]

References

  1. ^ Bruce, James (15 April 2015). "Skewed Stats". World Magazine (US). Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  2. ^ Olukoya, Sam (8 June 2004). "Nigerians Divided By TV Miracle Ban". BBC. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  3. ^ Baker, Helen (3 August 2016). "Emmanuel TV: Celebrating A Decade of Blessings". PM News (Nigeria). Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  4. ^ "Who We Are". TB Joshua. Emmanuel TV website. Archived from the original on 5 August 2009.
  5. ^ Oladipo, Tomi (17 September 2014). "TB Joshua: Nigeria's best known televangelist". BBC. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  6. ^ Baker, Helen (3 August 2016). "Emmanuel TV: Celebrating A Decade of Blessings". PM News (Nigeria). Archived from the original on 2 August 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  7. ^ The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations - SCOAN (26 December 2023). "IMPORTANT NOTICE ON EMMANUEL TV!".
  8. ^ Nkawihe, Maurice (14 November 2015). "TB Joshua's Emmanuel TV Goes on DStv And GOtv". Nyasa Times (Malawi). Archived from the original on 10 March 2016.
  9. ^ Akwaja, Chima (6 February 2016). "Startimes Unveils Extra Special Offer for Subscribers". All Africa. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  10. ^ Petesch, Carley (19 April 2014). "Nigeria Preacher: Healer or Controversial Leader". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  11. ^ Osazuwa, Nosa (14 November 2011). "Watching Emmanuel TV Works Miracles?". Modern Ghana. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  12. ^ Allotey, Henry (19 November 2013). "Emmanuel TV, A Channel of Hope". Ghana Web. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  13. ^ Ogunjimi, Opeoluwani (31 August 2012). "TB Joshua's Prayers Ended My 14 Year Smoking Addiction – Tonto Dike". Vanguard (Nigeria). Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  14. ^ T.B. Joshua Donates TV Sets To Khami Maximum Security Prison Archived 22 September 2022 at the Wayback Machine NewsDay, Sunday 12 June 2011
  15. ^ Prophet T.B. Joshua Makes Donation To Accra Psychiatric Hospital Archived 5 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine Ghana News Agency, Sunday, 11 December 2011
  16. ^ The Synagogue, Church Of All Nations - SCOAN (26 December 2023). "IMPORTANT NOTICE ON EMMANUEL TV!".
  17. ^ Mohammed, Amina (21 May 2015). "Patience Jonathan's "There is God" video Nigeria's most viewed YouTube clip ever". Premium Times (Nigeria). Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 27 February 2016 – via Google.
  18. ^ "TB Joshua: YouTube blocks Nigerian preacher over gay cure claim". BBC News. 16 April 2021. Archived from the original on 7 June 2021. Retrieved 19 October 2021.

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