News

Televangelists Get Kudos

Study: TV preachers don’t talk about money all that much.

Televangelists devote less time to fundraising than commercial television does airing commercials. That is the latest finding of Stephen Winzenburg, a communications professor at Grand View College in Des Moines, Iowa. He just released his eighth independently funded survey of religious programs.

On average, televangelists use 17 percent of their airtime fundraising and promoting their programs, while commercial television devotes 28 percent.

Winzenburg has been studying television ministries for 25 years and takes televangelists to task for some practices (like refusing to reveal financial statements), but his studies have consistently found that fundraising is a different matter. "The criticism so often is that TV preachers spend so much time asking for money," Winzenburg said. "To be honest, they don't."

The programs of Jerry Falwell, Billy Graham, and Paul Crouch were among the least focused on financial appeals, spending less than 2 percent of airtime fundraising.

Leaders at Trinity Broadcasting Network, after being scrutinized by national media last year (CT, November 2004, p.19), were pleased with the results. Winzenburg said his study only surveyed Crouch's Praise the Lord, not the network's full lineup. TBN, for example, has two weeklong fundraising telethons per year. The network's total time spent fundraising is between 4 percent and 6 percent of airtime.

Winzenburg also noted that TBN did not provide adequate financial statements when asked, even after the network requested an endorsement from him.

Copyright © 2005 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

Stephen Winzenburg's page at Grand View College has his full study "2004 TV Preacher Study of Airtime, Politics, and Fundraising" along with his other television studies.

TBN says the study helps show that "the evidence is clear that TBN is primarily about helping people and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ."

TBN has more information about their programs and other activities on their website.

Christianity Today's past coverage of Winzenburg's studies includes:

Televangelist Report Card | A recent study reveals how religious broadcasters actually use their airtime. (Oct. 24, 2001)

Preachers Dwell Less on Fundraising | On-air fundraising and promotional activities by TV preachers have dropped to their lowest level in 15 years, according to televangelism expert Steve Winzenburg. (April 7, 1997)

More on air coverage is available from our Television page.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Our Latest

News

Gaza War Strains Bible Scholarsโ€™ Model of Christian Conversation

How Hamasโ€™ October 7 terror attack and Israelโ€™s response exhausted a group of evangelical Bible professors pursuing unity on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Being Human

The Four Spaces of Anxiety with Lisa Cuss

Learning to identify reactivity in ourselves and others.

News

Gordon Students Count Cells, Hoping to Unlock Cancer Mysteries

Cutting-edge microscopy research could explain why some get sick while others donโ€™t.

News

Chinese Christians Push to Adopt Children with Disabilities

After China banned international adoptions, some believers want the Chinese church to step up.

News

Global Methodist Bishops to Dance

The new denomination tussles over its authority structureโ€”but also finds surprising points of unity.ย 

Excerpt

The Chinese Christian Who Helped Overcome Illiteracy in Asia

Yan Yangchu taught thousands of peasants to read and write in the early 20th century.

The Bulletin

A Brief Word from Our Sponsor

The Bulletin recaps the 2024 vice presidential debate, discusses global religious persecution, and explores the dynamics of celebrity Christianity.

News

Evangelicals Struggle to Preach Life in the Top Country for Assisted Death

Canadian pastors are lagging behind a national push to expand MAID to those with disabilities and mental health conditions.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube