Rev. Schuller's New Plan: a Major Traditional-Values Network
Until now, the American Life Network has been known primarily as a lower-rated version of TVLand, airing off-net staples such as "L.A. Law" and "Remington Steele."
That could begin to change this Sunday, when the cable channel -- based in Dallas and recently purchased by Comstar Media -- debuts the pilot episode "Everyday Life," its first original scripted series, at 7 p.m.
Clearly Comstar has big plans for the acquisition.
Described as "Crash" meets "The Twilight Zone," the series is narrated by a town pastor portrayed by Robert A. Schuller, the former televangelist who teamed with his Comstar partner and son-in-law Chris Wyatt (also the founder of GodTube) to buy the network.
Their intention, as stated in my current Examiner.com blog, is nothing less than to become a major player in television entertainment. But what’s really interesting is their strategy.
As you might expect from a famous minister and the founder GodTube, American Life is not aiming to be another ABC, CBS or even TNT. American Life will
follow the success path of Fox -- but not the broadcast network. The news channel.
That is, instead of offering a steady diet of “edgy” shows that seek to push the envelope of traditional values, ALN plans to push back with programming aimed at the traditional-values audience that used to be television bread and butter but which is now underserved -- and is often even mocked by the medium.
“Fox News,” Wyatt says, “is an example of what we're talking about. They found that 100 percent of the news outlets were basically programming for about 50 percent of the audience. Well, what about the other 50 percent? Fox News spoke to their perspectives and is now the clear leader in the marketplace. American Life Network can do the same on the entertainment side of the industry. We plan to fill that void.”
It will be an uphill battle, to be sure. But that’s what Fox News faced when it launched in 1996 -- only 13 years ago.
Will ALN succeed? Will it one day dominate cable entertainment the way Fox News now does cable news? I wouldn’t discount that possibility – and for the reason Wyatt suggests.
In any event, it’ll be interesting to tune into "Everyday Life" -- if only to, perhaps, be there for a bit of TV history.
Comments
Patience and Prayer Says
Not Another One Says but did not obviously watch Everyday Life with Robert Schuller, but as we can all do, isolate and twist one comment meant to honour some good aspects but maybe of the one million things, done well, offended "Not Another One" did Fox News.
May I pray for you that you will find something positive today and release your anger at Fox TV, whatever they did, forgive and as Aslan says in The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe on reintroducing the brother who had done or had bad thoughts against his family."Here is your broher and there is no need to talk about what is past"
Give Everyday Life a chance. They are trying. Rome was not built in a day and ome employees wil mk mistaks when out of context/
Jan-Michael Says
I am in Toronto Canada..Just today watched Everyday Life with Robert Schuller and it was awesome good!
From the actors to the music to the story, of course, it was 5*****. Even the photography, with catching the tear in the wife's eye as she wrote a letter to her husband....WOW Thanks to ALN.
They have to keep the show on-line every episode;
it means so much to me and I have sent links to UK and France and Australia family and friends....They are all going to be loving the format and theme!
CONGRATULATIONS>>> ALN It's a winner!!
Not Another One Says
It's a very telling sign of what this network will become when it references Fox News as a shining example of how television should be done. Fabricating stories, promoting anti-government rallies, inciting anger towards and the eventual murder of a controversial abortion doctor...and here I was thinking that a religious person would gravitate towards what is moral as opposed to what is blatantly devious and hateful.
Lanelle Titello Says
Dr. Schuller's upcoming program sounds interesting ~~ hopefully we will be able to get this network in the part of Orange County where we live ~~ soon.
In the meantime please add me to your list of receiving your information.