World Impact Ministries, a Canadian based religious charity known for media and international work, announced that approval from the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) was received for the purchase of The Christian Channel (TCC) from S-VOX group of companies, which includes Vision TV and One: the Body, Mind & Spirit channel.

The CRTC announced in its decision (2009-36) that it had received several supporting interventions, and approved the application for WIM to acquire TCC, a Category 2 specialty television channel broadcasting across Canada. The CRTC also noted in its ruling, “WIM has also committed to expanding the reach of the service to ensure that a sound religious television service will serve a large segment of the viewing audience in Canada through the establishment of a nightly flagship program and through the presentation of educational and entertaining religious programming. In addition, WIM has more than 15 years of experience in producing Christian television programming for the Canadian market and has the studio and the facilities to do so. The Commission considers that this transaction will provide financial stability for the undertaking, allowing it to continue to meet the needs of the community it serves.”

Peter Youngren, President and Founder of WIM, said, “We are committed to programming that will entertain, educate and encourage spiritual dialogue and growth. We also want to rekindle some of the initial sense of purpose that permeated Christian TV, to present the Gospel in a way that causes Canadians to re-discover Jesus Christ as meaningful in their lives”.

WIM will immediately commence producing its own programming, first through the daily “Encounter” show, and also other original programs. Looking forward WIM will look to broadcast live to air programming. The expansion offers new possibilities for employment; Peter Youngren anticipates hiring 20-30 new employees, in addition to those who are already employed by World Impact Ministries.

Youngren continues, “I commit to make TCC into a Gospel channel you will be proud to tell your friends about. Our prime-time flagship program, “Encounter”, and other new and exciting programs will be geared to the spiritual needs of your neighbors and family.”

Said Bill Roberts, President and CEO of S-VOX: “We take great pride in all that The Christian Channel has accomplished since its launch in 2005. Through the unstinting efforts of its president, Mark Prasuhn, and his talented staff, the channel has succeeded in bringing Canadians the richest and most diverse selection of Christian programming available in this country. We look forward to assisting our colleagues at WIM as they build on this impressive track record and take the channel in exciting new directions.”