Multichannel News: Networks Put Their Faith In Gospel TV

From Multichannel News:

The popularity of gospel music among African-American audiences has translated into mixed results for faith-based music programming.

For Gospel Music Channel, it was an opportunity to tap a “passionate fan base [that was] totally un-served by television,” according to GMC vice chairman Brad Siegel. Fifty-six percent of GMC's audience is African-American or Latino, and its Sunday night programming typically draws an audience that is 85% African-American. The network is preparing three new programs designed to specifically appeal to black gospel fans. “We will have one of the most powerful lineups targeting African-Americans on television,” Siegel said.

GMC's distribution has soared at the same time that religious music sales have fallen back. The Recording Industry Association of America estimates religious titles accounted for 3.9% of $10.3 billion in sales in 2007. This is down sharply from 6% of $12.3 billion in 2004.

“Before we started five years ago, we believed instinctively that gospel music was going to be one of our programming pillars,” said TV One CEO Johnathan Rodgers. But it hasn't worked out that way. Gospel Challenge, a gospel music-inspired take on American Idol, was produced for the network's first season but it fizzled.

(While) BET has seen its share of success with its own gospel version of an American Idol-like competition show. Last season's finale of Sunday Best generated 1.5 million votes from its audience and attracted 1.7 million viewers.

BET's Bobby Jones Gospel, the network's longest-running show, has been on the air for 28 years. That show's latest season premiered last month, with the first six episodes averaging 727,000 viewers.

Early next year, BET plans to launch a weekly spinoff of its highest-rated show, the weekend music-video countdown series 106 & Park, to be called 106 & Park: Generation Gospel. More...

Photo: BET.com