FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

 

The Church of Christ Broadcast Network – COCBN is on the verge of launching COCBN TV using a technology called IPTV (Internet Protocol Television). IPTV allows broadcasters to stream video directly into the television of its viewing audience.

 

COCBN TV will use this technology to broadcast into the homes of subscribers around the world. IPTV functions by converting an Internet video signal to a television signal via a “set top box” which looks similar to a cable box. The set top box allows viewers to subscribe to COCBN channels, view video-on-demand programs, listen to a’cappella music 24/7, view live events, chat with other members, and send email from their televisions.

 

IPTV is the next generation of broadcasting that links the Internet and television together. For the first time, local congregations can broadcast live sermons to a national audience. Church events such as services, musicals, lectureships, and gospel meetings can all be viewed live around the world on television.

 

One particular application of IPTV will be to provide church programming for those in assisted living arrangements. For the first time, church members who cannot leave their homes on Sunday will see full worship services live without a computer.

 

The developer and founder of COCBN TV, Hammond Burke, envisioned this type of technology over five years ago when he founded COCBN. “It does not make sense that the true church of Christ does not have a national or even global broadcast network in this day of modern technology. Not it will!” says Burke. This statement was made before the launching of the Gospel Broadcast Network (GBN), an effort supported by Highland Church of Christ in Dalton Georgia. GBN has acquired the first church of Christ 24/7 satellite feed.

 

Burke says, “Broadcasting by satellite is an awesome accomplishment especially for the church of Christ. However, it costs too much. Most local congregations can not financially support such an expensive technology. With IPTV, COCBN TV will reach as many homes for a tiny fraction of the cost. Money saved will be used to produce better content, build the technology capabilities in local congregations, and reach a wider audience. It is time the church stepped up to the level of other broadcast networks currently seen on television.”

 

COCBN will have information in the next few days on how to receive COCBN TV. To get more information on COCBN and COCBN TV, go to http://cocbn.org.

 

About COCBN:

The Church of Christ Broadcast Network – COCBN is a global online broadcast company that provides technology to local congregations, as well as, broadcasts Christian programming via the Internet. COCBN was founded by its current director Hammond Burke in October 2003.

 

COCBN has established a network of local congregations to provide Christian Bible based programming on the web. Programming is mostly distributed through the websites of these local congregations which COCBN calls COCBN affiliates. COCBN does have a national programming base on its home website http://cocbn.org.