The Inspiration Network (INSP)

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**INSP - The Inspiration Network**

Type	cable television network
Branding	INSP - The Inspiration Network
Country	United States
Availability	United States, worldwide
Founder	Jim Bakker Tammy Faye Bakker Messner
Owner	Morris Cerullo World Evangelism
Key people	Morris Cerullo David Cerullo
Launch date	1978 (as "PTL") 1990 (as INSP)
Website	The Inspiration Network (INSP)

INSP - The Inspiration Network is a Christian cable television network based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The channel was established in the late-1970s as the PTL network, founded by Jim Bakker, a televangelist notable for his daily Christian variety program, The PTL Club. In 1990, following Bakker's scandalous fall from grace that has bankrupted the PTL ministry and Heritage USA, televangelist Morris Cerullo and his son, David, acquired the network and rebranded it "The Inspirational Network", also known as "INSP". They also relocated the facilities from Heritage USA in Fort Mill, South Carolina to a newly constructed production studio and headquarters in a business park a few miles away just over the state line in Charlotte.

Currently serving over 2,000 cable systems across the United States with a subscriber base of over 22 million households, INSP is a Christian-based network devoted to family values and values-based programming, with programs from more than 70 different ministries representing more than 20 different denominations, plus original programming for children, teens, as well as families.

The Cerullos have expanded their cable broadcast enterprise to include several other networks and services which they created, including:

INI-Inspiration Network International which broadcasts in Europe and overseas
i-Lifetv - Inspirational Life Television a family oriented network
La Familia Cosmovision (LFC), a Spanish speaking network
MediaComm, a full-service production company whose clients include CNN, Coca-Cola, the Speed Channel and ABC Sports, among others

These services are wholly owned subsidiaries of The Inspiration Networks, a division of Morris Cerullo World Evangelism.

Plans were recently announced in late 2005 for the construction of a new broadcast facility and ministry campus/headquarters in Lancaster County, South Carolina.

[edit] Programs Produced by or for INSP

Inspiration Today, a daily teaching program hosted by David and Barbara Cerullo.

I-Gospel: Showcases live performances by the most-popular Christian music artists.

Gospel Music Southern Style: Features live performances of Southern Gospel music artists, recorded at the National Quartet Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

Christian Artists Talent Search (C.A.T.S.): A nationwide Christian talent search for new, rising music artists, along the same lines as Star Search and American Idol; 64 finalists compete over a 24-week period.

Discovery Jones Expeditions: A fast-paced, educational half-hour program for kids 4-10, featuring adventures like hang-gliding at Kitty Hawk and visiting an alligator handler in the swamps of Louisiana.