INSP (TV network)

==History==
{{see also|PTL Satellite Network}}
INSP was formed in 1978 as the PTL Television Network, a religious television network founded by Christian televangelists [[Jim Bakker]] and his wife, [[Tammy Faye Bakker]]. The network was the flagship channel for their daily [[Christianity|Christian]] variety program, ''[[The PTL Club]]''. The network later became known as the PTL Satellite Network and finally PTL – The Inspirational Network.

In 1990, after Jim Bakker resigned, the PTL Television network filed for bankruptcy. [[Morris Cerullo]] World Evangelism eventually purchased the network from the United States Bankruptcy Court in [[Columbia, South Carolina]]. Morris’ son, David, was later named CEO of the network. David Cerullo remains as its CEO.<ref>{{cite news |title=S.D. Evangelist Gets OK to Buy Bakker's PTL Cable Network – Deal: At $7 million, Morris Cerullo outbid Oral Roberts for the bankrupt holdings. He also plans to buy the grounds of the former Heritage USA theme park for $45 million |author=Chris Kraul |work=Los Angeles Times |date=June 1, 1990 |url=http://articles.latimes.com/1990-06-01/business/fi-91_1_morris-cerullo}}</ref>

In October 2010, the network announced a major re-branding with an added emphasis on family programming. Along with the re-branding came a new logo, tagline and name change from Inspiration to INSP. At the end of 2021, [[Variety (magazine)|''Variety'']] reported that INSP's household viewers were up 1,171% since 2010.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schneider |first1=Michael |title=Most-Watched Television Networks: Ranking 2021's Winners and Losers |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/network-ratings-2021-top-channels-1235143630/ |publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=December 30, 2021}}</ref>

In 2022, INSP changed its logo to include a [[cowboy hat]] to emphasize the growing success of its [[westerns|western]]-based shows and films. Prior to the logo change, INSP had also introduced the tagline, ''“Heroes Live Here.”'' Its focus on western-based programming is said to be the reason behind its continued ratings success, with primetime viewing growing 17% on the previous year.<ref>{{cite web |title=INSP Reveals New Logo and Brand Refresh, Embracing Westerns and the Cowboy Hat |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/network-ratings-2021-top-channels-1235143630/ |publisher=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=January 11, 2022}}</ref>

On March 30, 2022, it was announced that Imagicomm Communications, a [[shell company]] affiliated with INSP, would enter the broadcasting business by purchasing 18 stations in 12 markets from [[Cox Media Group]], namely [[KYMA-DT|KYMA]] in [[Yuma, Arizona]]; [[KIEM-TV|KIEM]] and [[KVIQ-LD]] in [[Eureka, California]]; [[KPVI-DT|KPVI]] in [[Idaho Falls, Idaho]]; [[KLAX-TV|KLAX]] in [[Alexandria, Louisiana]]; [[WABG-TV|WABG]], [[WNBD-LD|WNBD]] and [[WXVT-LD|WXVT]] in [[Greenwood, Mississippi]]; [[WICZ-TV|WICZ]] in [[Binghamton, New York]]; [[WSYT]] in [[Syracuse, New York]]; [[KOKI-TV|KOKI]] and [[KMYT-TV|KMYT]] in [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]]; [[KMVU-DT|KMVU]] and [[KFBI-LD]] in [[Medford, Oregon]]; [[WHBQ-TV|WHBQ]] in [[Memphis, Tennessee]]; [[KAYU-TV|KAYU]] in [[Spokane, Washington]]; and [[KCYU-LD]] and [[KFFX-TV|KFFX]] in [[Yakima, Washington]] for an undisclosed price to help them comply with regulatory requirements related to a proposed merger with [[Tegna Inc.|Tegna]] and [[Standard Media]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Mark |date=2022-03-30 |title=Cox Sells 18 Stations In 12 Markets To INSP |url=https://tvnewscheck.com/business/article/cox-media-sells-18-tv-stations-to-imagicomm/ |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=TV News Check |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |last=LLC |first=Cox Media Group |date=2022-03-30 |title=Cox Media Group to Sell Television Stations in Twelve Markets to Imagicomm Communications |url=https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/03/30/2413122/0/en/Cox-Media-Group-to-Sell-Television-Stations-in-Twelve-Markets-to-Imagicomm-Communications.html |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=GlobeNewswire News Room |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jacobson |first=Adam |date=2022-03-30 |title=An INSP-ired TV Deal For Cox Is Done {{!}} Radio & Television Business Report |url=https://www.rbr.com/an-insp-ired-tv-deal-for-cox-is-done/ |access-date=2022-03-31 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author1=George Winslow |date=2022-03-30 |title=Cox Media Group to Sell TV Stations in 12 Markets to Imagicomm |url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/cox-media-group-to-sell-tv-stations-in-12-markets-to-imagicomm |access-date=2022-03-31 |website=TVTechnology |language=en}}</ref> The sale was completed on August 1.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/news/cox-media-group-insp-close-deal-for-sale-of-cox-tv-stations-to-imagicomm|title=Cox Media Group, INSP Close Deal for Sale of Cox TV Stations to Imagicomm
|first=George|last=Winslow|website=TVTechnology|date=August 1, 2022|accessdate=August 2, 2022}}</ref>

In September 2023, [[Comcast]]'s cable television division [[Xfinity]] announced that it would be removing INSP from its basic cable package and moving it to its "More Sports & Entertainment Package,"<ref name="Comcast/Xfinity moved INSP 2023">{{cite web |title=INSP moving to More Sports and Entertainment Package in September 2023 |url=https://www.xfinity.com/support/articles/insp-moved-package |website=Xfinity.com |date=16 October 2023 |publisher=Comcast/Xfinity |access-date=January 9, 2024}}</ref> a package that primarily includes sports networks; this was controversial on Xfinity's forum,<ref name="Comcast/Xfinity forum 1">{{cite web |title=Xfinity Community Forum: TV: Channels and Programming: INSP removal??? |url=https://forums.xfinity.com/conversations/channels-and-programming/insp-removal/6463a60b6e567204732ba067 |website=Xfinity.com |date=16 May 2023 |publisher=Comcast/Xfinity |access-date=January 9, 2024}}</ref> and [[Reddit]]'s subreddit devoted to Comcast/Xfinity.<ref name="Reddit thread">{{cite web |title=Reddit: r/Comcast_Xfinity: INSP requires a subscription.. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Comcast_Xfinity/comments/16wfalx/insp_requires_a_subscription/ |website=Reddit.com |date=30 September 2023 |access-date=January 9, 2024}}</ref> Many customers assumed the change was not meant to benefit customers, as Xfinity claimed, but instead was to "charge [seniors] $10 for INSP even though INSP does not charge Xfinity for its programming."<ref name="Comcast/Xfinity thread 2">{{cite web |title=Xfinity Community Forum: TV: Channels and Programming: Xfinity charging for INSP |url=https://forums.xfinity.com/conversations/channels-and-programming/xfinity-charging-for-insp/651369441f2d714c3a6f3d91 |website=Xfinity.com |date=26 September 2023 |publisher=Comcast/Xfinity |access-date=January 9, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Comcast/Xfinity thread 3">{{cite web |title=Xfinity Community Forum: TV: Channels and Programming: INSP Change...just one more reason to dump cable |url=https://forums.xfinity.com/conversations/channels-and-programming/insp-changejust-one-more-reason-to-dump-cable/6542c83ee05b5f65da04bbfe |website=Xfinity.com |date=November 2023 |publisher=Comcast/Xfinity |access-date=January 9, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Comcast/Xfinity thread 4">{{cite web |title=Xfinity Community Forum: Customer Service: Customer Service: Lost channel |url=https://forums.xfinity.com/conversations/customer-service/lost-channel/65215836f8fcd3407e3c4aff |website=Xfinity.com |date=7 October 2023 |publisher=Comcast/Xfinity |access-date=January 9, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Comcast/Xfinity forum 1"/>

===Cowboy Way Channel===
In May 2022, INSP launched the '''Cowboy Way Channel''', an Internet streaming service aimed at younger viewers. Named for INSP's original series, ''[[The Cowboy Way (TV series)|The Cowboy Way: Alabama]]'', the channel features other original series and Western- and outdoor-themed movies.<ref name="Cablefax">{{cite web|url=https://www.cablefax.com/programming/insp-launches-cowboy-way-fast-channel|title=INSP Launches Cowboy Way Fast Channel|work=Cablefax|date=18 May 2022 |access-date=28 January 2023}}</ref>